We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Posts that I especially recommend today: Wednesday, April 8, 2020

  • COVID USA. Bonnie Faulkner of Guns & Butter interviews  Larry Romanoff (nearly one hour) on his knowledge of the coronavirus pandemic. Romanoff, a Canadian, is currently living and working in China. His bio is as follows:
Larry Romanoff is a retired management consultant and businessman. He has held senior executive positions in international consulting firms, and owned an international import-export business. He has been a visiting professor at Shanghai’s Fudan University, presenting case studies in international affairs to senior EMBA classes. Mr. Romanoff lives in Shanghai and is currently writing a series of ten books generally related to China and the West. He can be contacted at: 2186604556@qq.com. He is a frequent contributor to Global Research.
I noted (@ 46:00m) that Romanoff declared the the CDC was part of the US military, but I couldn't confirm that. It is formally under the Department of Health and Human Services. Apparently he was suggesting that there was a kind of informal or sub-rosa arrangement. If you think the government works the way it is supposed work, I have a bridge to sell you (def.).
I never took seriously CDC's mission "to protect America from health, safety and security threats, both foreign and in the U.S." I've read too many news articles and books about their failures in Detroit, Michigan to protect water quality, in the areas of Colorado and Washington state to protect citizens from radiation sickness and cancers, etc. Even the Wikipedia website contains a section faulting them for their weaknesses and failures (scroll down to the section "Popular culture and controversies").