Heavy Questions

With Obama, a center-right Republican, the only way the GOP can set itself apart is via wacky culture wars and ignoring science. If you happen to be gay, have skin any shade darker than snow or you are a woman, our problems are all YOUR fault! And if you should follow another religion other than Christianity, you are to blame. As I see the Republicans, gays are anti-family values. That’s great for those narrow minded enough to only see a family as a mom, a dad and the kids. This is 1950's mythology that almost never exists as the form a family takes in the real world. How many of us are from single parent homes or lived with a grandparent or uncle or someone you are not even related to? Do we really have a need for amoral politicians to define family? Who are these people? The women of wild Bill Clinton, the wives of Newt, JFK's multiple adventures, John Edwards’ mistress super-fund and Santorum and dead babies are not exactly criteria I'd look for in a discussion on values or family. Scapegoating our brothers and sisters who have more melanin in their skin, happen to be gay or follow another belief system are not solving our complex problems. I love watching these same amoral clowns talk science.

"Drill Baby Drill" seems to be the only solution they have for higher gas prices. Sarah is the best looking of the right-wing lunatics, at least in my opinion. Hence, the lovely picture! But this non-answer is wrong on so many levels. It is hard to know where to start. I guess at the most basic level will do. Oil is a finite resource that sooner or later will indeed run out. With all the smoke and mirrors it is hard to say when but it is going to happen. We at the moment have no viable alternative. Rather we continue to believe the economy has to grow and grow despite the laws of physics and geology. There is next to nothing either political party offers for solving the looming unavoidable problem of no viable alternative. Look at the correlation between the population explosion and oil. When oil runs out, what path do you think this chart will take?

Here is another related red meat zinger, energy independence. This also ignore economic laws as well geo-political reality. We here in North America do not have anywhere near the vast oil reserves of the Middle East. Oil is a commodity on a world market. The companies who extract and process it are mandated by law to maximized profits, not wave the American flag. Other large players (India, China Brazil etc.) are coming on line now and they also want the good life of two cars for all, buying unneeded shit and limitless shopping malls. Oil production may have peaked already. Supply diminishes and demand goes up. One does not have to have an economics degree to get the picture. If the oil tooth fairy visits North America and bestows on us massive reserves for the taking, other producing states will simply slow production to keep prices high. Keep in mind this is not a help the consumer industry, rather a maximize profits industry (and let the public cover any losses).

Join the reality-based community. Drilling for more and more oil is a short-term solution at best and comes at a huge cost. We are no doubt headed for a crash landing. The only question is what kind of crash, controlled or splat? We need to answer some pretty heavy questions. Can we change from a notion or limitless growth to one of sustainability? Can we change the current neo-liberal economic model to one based on fairness and more human rights focused? Can we give up our middle-class consumerist lifestyle and replace it with a take only what we truly need approach? The answer to all three has to be “yes” or we can let mother nature answer for us.   

Gun Crazy and So It Goes

I’ve been away too long working on books and other assorted projects. Now there’s nothing like more homegrown gun lunacy to bring one back to writing a blog. It’s funny how things seem not to really change at all. Another mass shooting and here we go again. Presidential visits, media blather, and a new cottage industry built around some sick psycho (who will not be named here) but little serious discussion of real issues. Instead of discussing the problem, gun sales spike. I don't care to read all about the perpetrator. I don't give a shit about his motives, why he "snapped," went postal or whatever one wants to call it. But if you want to know, just take a long hard look into the mirror, America. See the deranged nut staring back? That's it. Why do we have concealed carry laws? Why can an average shmo like me own an AK-47 complete with thirty round clips? Why do we have such a thing as the NRA? It is not to protect our Second Amendment right to own arms. No, it is because we are taught to be absolutely scared shitless of each other. Fear is the most powerful tool in the state's tool box. Keep 'em afraid and more importantly, keep 'em dumb. Let's do anything but ask real questions about why these things continue to happen time and time again. After all who can stop watching DWS long enough to ponder things like Structural Violence, a gutted mental health system or a nation hopelessly addicted to violence? Our so called Representatives are too busy doing the biddings of their real masters to address issues that affect everyday people. They got banks to enrich and more invasions pending. Meanwhile, things are only getting worse.  Let's keep income disparity growing and finish shredding the social safety net. Things may soon get very ugly and the sad thing is they don’t have to.

Do the elites and their bought and paid for politicians ever crack a history book? I’d say no based on their actions. If they did, we may get real health care (including mental health), a serious jobs program and the NRA could to return to its roots of gun safety education, outdoorsman activities and informed reasonable input on gun control. But why crack a history book now? The top earners are doing so well and what could possibly go wrong? Allow me to answer. Large numbers of young desperate people plus more guns than people plus utterly clueless leaders equals a gathering bloodbath that will make the rapture seem like a sunny day at the beach. (I personally don’t but into the rapture mythology but it helps get the point across). Conflict arises from inequality, period. It’s simple, the greater the inequality, the deeper the conflict. Ever ask a suicide bomber what’s he got to lose? We are facing massive inequality mixed with a heavily armed populace? Do you really think a few cops and blackwater types can stop well armed mobs at the gate of your little community? Remember at least a few people in the mob will have training and combat experience from illegal wars they were forced to do repeated tours in. It has all happened before but it can be avoided.       

There are people aplenty who can point out problems but very few to offer solutions. I’ll try. Those of us who have read history need to share what we know. Knowledge in the antidote to state sponsored fear. We need to start with knowledge of each other. This will dissolve the notion of “the other” and replace it with “we”. And “we” make elites tremble. Note the violent crackdown on Occupy protests by heavily armed paramilitary forces pretending to be police. Despite their efforts, the national dialogue changed from one of deficit hysteria to a discussion of having the rich pay a fair share of taxes. Somebody noticed. But that is obviously not enough to halt our national (perhaps global) meltdown. What Occupy offers is something long forgotten yet desperately needed community. Think about it, how many of you know more about your neighbors than their names and occupations? TV and AC have conspired to kill off any sense of community we once had. It is drilled into us almost from day one we live in a hypercompetitive individualistic society. It is everyone for themselves and fuck everyone else. Look at the result, a bunch of fear driven hoarders who could care less about the well being of those in the house next door. In fact, they too are to be feared. It’s a pretty damn sad state, I’d say. However, Occupy is just beginning to break through the isolation, the fear and the ignorance of each other fostered so long by popular culture. We are not alone in our homes (fortress?). There are others who know politics is nothing but infotainment at its height. There are others who know our government serves only the interests large corporations and multi-national conglomerations. There are others who know we are fighting wars for anything but real security. Together, we can retake control of our world. Those who are blissfully blind to this are so at their own peril. How many more mass shootings, ruined families and repressive measures will it take to wake up the “we” in all of us?             
       

Sea Change Afoot?

So are we on the verge of a sea change in American politics? I ask this in all seriousness. Given the utter disarray of the current Republican Party nomination process and the sorry field of canidates, will they realize after losing the next election cycle that going to the right of Gingus Khan is no way to win an election? To me, any good ideas they may have on the economy, foreign policy, healthcare or other pressing issues (I'm not saying they have any but if they did) is drowned out by constant pandering to so called "Christians". Gay people are not our problem. I'll decide what family values are for myself, thank you very much. Religion is not under attack, though it should be for some of the lunacy that people are lead to believe in. See "chosen people" for example. As a practicing agnostic, I find the idea of a god / supreme being taking sides in wars, picking one faith over another or one jock over another utterly repulsive. Yet, the current leadership of the Republican Party thinks this is the way to go. Even people who don't believe this bullshit have to pretend they do. That means you, Mittens! Mormon my big black ass, this clown believes in only one thing, money. There's something causing this shift ever rightward, the Democrats.

The Democrats have appearantly decided the only way to defeat your enemy is to become your enemy. Obama is so far right, he's pushed the Republicans so far right they are falling off a cliff. He's pretty much followed in the steps of George W. and the Cheney Administration. Black sites, drones, new wars bank bailouts and so on and on and on and on. Even the democrats have to pander to the religious wackos. Just try running as an agnostic or dare I say athiest and see what happens. Both parties have completely sold us out for money but change is in the air.

Everyone with three or more functioning brain cells knows our election cycle is a farce. The same group wins every time, the . 1 percent. But this cannot go on forever. As more and more people are enslaved around the world in crushing poverty via capitalsm and neo-liberalism unrest grows exponentially. Sooner or later the myths will stop working and look out world, the wars of the twentyth century will be the good ole days. But unlike religious fanitics of all stripes, I think we have a choice.

Here's how you do it Republicans. Learn how to conserve. Bring back the notion of personal responsibility for all, especially business. Put defense back in the Defense Department. Conserve our strength by pulling out of on going unwinable wars. Conserve our cash by not forever giving it to wreckless business blowhards and while blaming our woes on the poor. And please stop the war on intelligence. Being a dumbass in not a virtue.

A new game called real democracy

It is easy to get on here and whine about our crumbling democracy here in the USA. Finding solutions is harder. I have no magic bullets to fix everything, seems I've ran out but how about a few starting points?

1. If we are ever to have a real democracy here in the USA, we have to find a way to get the massive sums of money out of our political system. I have no secret Swiss bank account and cannot buy influence in the current political system. I think this is the root of much of our troubles and also the hardest problem to solve. But it is not totally hopeless. Check out Move to Amend. Sooner or later, we must stop giving our support to political parties that do nor support us. We the people cannot win when the fix is in.

2. Recreate democracy starting at the most local level possible. The Occupy movements popping up all over are a good start and give me a much need ray of hope. We in the movement and who support it must be careful not to start playing the game the state does so well. Let's all be leaders and work through consensus and not allow ourselves to get bogged down in positions, personalities and power structures. When that happens, Occupy becomes just another failed movement assimilated by the most powerful. Here in Greensboro, NC our local Occupy movement has many sub-working groups; Healthcare, Employment, Arts and Education Enrichment. Each is actively seeking real solutions. The Employment group for example is researching how to set up employee owned co-ops to create jobs. This is the meaning of being the change we want to see in the world.

3. Delegitimize the current two party system. In other words, stop playing the game controlled by the powerful for the powerful. Let Washington continue to play games while we rebuild democracy one community at a time via consensus building. 51% should not be able to hold tyranny over 49%. We need to develop ways beyond the current win / lose oppositional politics that serve only the few. There are alternatives!

4. BE WARNED. If the any of the above starts to show signs of real success, the state will use its favorite tool, direct violence. Once the myths of freedom, land of opportunity, the American dream and the rest evaporate, direct violence will be the state's last card. If we meet violence with violence, we the people will lose. As we have seen the state is very good at violence. What they are not good at is non-violence. This may be a way to transform the game. It is not without cost.

In short, what we have to do is create a new game called real democracy, while we still have a legal means to do so.

Basic question?

Another problem with reform is media consolidation. With basically six conglomerations who have an interest maintaining the status quo controlling our media how can we put fourth an alternative narrative?

Reform, My Ass!

I'd like to think we can somehow take our democracy back via he current two party system but I fail to see how it could be possible. Average everyday citizens, the 99%, don't have the deep pockets it takes to influence most politicians. We now find ourselves with the finest democracy money can buy. Which is not a democracy at all. It is something more like this. As of this writing, we still have more or less freedom of speech (unless you talk about talking to so called terrorist groups and wind up in a cell at an undisclosed location as a guest of the US military, for example). There are other taboo topics where the punishment is not as obvious but still bad enough. Those who question the the on going War on Terror, invasions of other countries and bombing those we label rouge and or terrorist organizations often face ridicule, humiliation, job loss or marginalization.

The same can be said of anyone who questions capitalism or Neo-liberalism. "What are you, some kinda commie or socialist?" Try to get a job with this label. Hell, this may be worse than doing time in the American gulag. I think we still feed prisoners and let them have shelter which is more than I can say for our ever shrinking social safety net. But if you are a massive financial intuition who has paid BOTH political parties failure is not an option. Read 'em and weep; here here and here. How can average citizens compete?

Financial deregulation under former President Bill Clinton helped pave the way for mega-mergers and big banks gone wild. Did they really expect this industry to police itself? Those who say the market will weed out the dirty players may have been correct but some how they became "Too Big To Fail" and we the tax payers got stuck with the bill. Thus the cycle begins again. For an easy to understand explanation of what's driving the financial crisis check out the documentary, "The Greed Game". The super rich are building wealth on a massive scale while people in so called wealthy western countries are being stuck with "austerity". Those cashing in spend millions on our elections and rake in billions. That's a damn good ROI (Return on Investment)! Are the Republicans any better?

Republicans are all about pro business at the expense of the ever growing underclass. They confuse being a good business man with being a good political leader. Romney offers his business skills as a big qualification to be president but is a good businessman the right person to be president? I think business are two different things. Well duh! Business is all about making money. It is the whole point. Government should be about protecting liberty, providing defense (not an empire) and seeing to it every one's basic needs are being met. What happens when doing the work of good government clashes with making money? Now it seems money wins out every time, no matter the party in power. For a good objective article on Romney click here. Republicans play on people's fears to protect business interests. Government run health care is bad! The old lady on TV says "Big government stay out of my Medicare!" GROOOOAN. Death panels under your bed! They want to take away your guns! The Mexicans are taking our jobs! The list is almost endless but people buy in. Both parties do a hell of a job on selling us on war!

In the beginning George W. had me sold on the Iraq war but I started to listen to those opposed to it and woke up. "War made Easy" is a documentary which exposes the same script presidents use to sell us on war for more than fifty years now. "They are a grave threat to us.", "We must protect freedom." 'We must prevent genocide." Bla bla bla... Neither party questions the fact that a president can start a war and now has a private army in both the CIA and Contractors such as Dyncorp and Academi (formerly known as Xe, Formerly known as Backwater).

There are others who feel this way.

Stan Goff "Why I wont vote (and you shouldn't either)"

Ted Rall Blog

Chris Hedges "This is what revolution looks like"

Chalmers Johnson Read here!

I hope I'm full of shit and those who want to change the system / game from with in are right but how? If not, what are the possible alternatives? Let the dialogue begin! Keep it positive.

Reasons to Occupy...

Can our current system be reformed? I'm not so sure. Neither major political party looks out for those they were sent to serve. Rather, they look out for those who financed their campaigns. Almost from their first day in office, a new senator starts fund raising for their re-election. Yet, they will all say I'm not influenced by campaign contributors, which is a lie. How can they NOT be? So what has this best democracy money can buy system got us? Here are just four things to consider...

1. The soul crushing Earth raping system of neoliberalism that's never discussed, much less questioned, in mainstream media outlets. Businesspeople and their lapdog politicians talk about economic growth completely disregarding the facts we have limited resources and the environment is being destroyed. There's no room for even a discussion of alternatives.

2. The so called Health care debate. The recent reforms are not "socialist." In fact, they are opposite having been largely written by insurance and drug companies for the bottom line. 30 million new customers for health insurance companies courtesy of Uncle Sam will be great for the shareholders!

3. The bank bailouts cost in the TRILLIONS and counting. Meanwhile, congress argues over extending Unemployment benefits for the needy. (more on unemployment later...)

4. Ongoing wars generating disposable veterans while making defense contractors billions in profits. See here for some of the big players.

This list could go on and on. Reformers want to work within this system for positive change. I must concede the past is not without success, there has been progress on Civil Rights but where else has mass protest worked? There have been and are a few good people in politics. Time and time again the system fails to change from within. Can it be saved / reformed?

Your thoughts?