I...know that the problem is not necessarily that you and I are economic illiterates. The problem is often that the “experts” discuss these issues as if we’re dealing with hard and fast rules or laws, not to be violated, scientifically based, mathematically sound and rational; when, in fact, a great deal of what takes place in the real world of economics and in the arena of “expert” analysis of that world, is based significantly on partisan party politics, ideology, news headlines, speculation, manipulation, psychology (see the utter meaninglessness and absurdity of the daily rise or fall of stock prices), backroom deals of the powerful, and the excessive power given to and reliance upon thoroughly corrupt credit-rating agencies and insurers of various kinds.
Friday, July 29, 2011
The Occult World of Economics The Anti-Empire Report
Click here to access article by William Blum from Foreign Policy Journal.
What Americans Have to Learn from the Arab Spring
Click here to access article by Jeff Nall from Toward Freedom.
This author, while suggesting some lessons we can learn from the brave Egyptians, exposes the many lies and hypocrisies of our government in its relations with oppressive regimes. Although he has further to go, he is making progress toward realizing Frances Moore Lappé's injunction for progressives to grow up. (See masthead quote)
This author, while suggesting some lessons we can learn from the brave Egyptians, exposes the many lies and hypocrisies of our government in its relations with oppressive regimes. Although he has further to go, he is making progress toward realizing Frances Moore Lappé's injunction for progressives to grow up. (See masthead quote)
Thursday, July 28, 2011
How America Could Collapse
Click here to access article by Matt Stoller from The Nation.
The author provides an excellent portrayal of the vulnerabilities that globalized capitalism presents to current societies. The author takes a quintessential liberal view on this subject: liberals are good at assessing the bad consequences of the system on society, but they usually carefully avoid references to the underlying system whose profit-dynamic inevitably drives such consequences. Hence, the author arrives at a very naive conclusion to his otherwise excellent analysis:
The author provides an excellent portrayal of the vulnerabilities that globalized capitalism presents to current societies. The author takes a quintessential liberal view on this subject: liberals are good at assessing the bad consequences of the system on society, but they usually carefully avoid references to the underlying system whose profit-dynamic inevitably drives such consequences. Hence, the author arrives at a very naive conclusion to his otherwise excellent analysis:
The re-engineering of our global supply chain needs to happen—and it will happen, either through good leadership or through collapse. This means that our government and our society needs to reorient our economy toward manufacturing and rededicate our corporations to productive uses. This will require a new conception of antitrust laws to ensure that monopolistic or oligopolistic practices in pivotal industries aren’t placing our culture at risk. It means understanding the networks of suppliers and sub-suppliers. And it means ending the race to the bottom that pushes deflationary pressures on labor and the social safety net. All of this can insure a more robust culture and economy, one which can withstand national security or environmental challenges. The sooner our leaders, both in public and private institutions, recognize how highly vulnerable we are to a societal collapse, the better chance we have of avoiding collapse.He apparently didn't believe Margaret Thatcher who presented the core belief of capitalists: "there is no such thing as society, there are only individuals and families." And, they believe that there is no alternative to the private enterprise way of reaping their profits--this is actually correct. Only a new system based on truly social values will be able to create a healthy functioning society. It would be ridiculous for us to wait for this profit-addicted class of people to create such a society.
The Great Gulf Coast Holocaust
Click here to access article by Dave Hodges from News with Views.
The author has done an excellent series of articles (this is only part 3) on the government's response to the plight of cleanup workers and the hazards that the general population is subject to who live near the recent BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The well documented material he has uncovered illustrates so dramatically that the ruling class government serves and protects its own interests and not the interests of citizens whom it is supposed to serve and protect.
From Part 1 he offered this moving example of one worker's plight (after the brief commercial):
The author has done an excellent series of articles (this is only part 3) on the government's response to the plight of cleanup workers and the hazards that the general population is subject to who live near the recent BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The well documented material he has uncovered illustrates so dramatically that the ruling class government serves and protects its own interests and not the interests of citizens whom it is supposed to serve and protect.
The interconnections between the major media and BP’s Gulf Coast partners will prevent the public from ever hearing the human side of this tragedy. Below are a few examples of what you will not see or read in the corporate controlled media.As the author points out, this is only the latest example of their media's carefully managed coverage of events which they deem hazardous to their interests. He makes reference to similar coverage of the 9/11 tragedy, and it is the same for the coverage of US military men and women who return from battlefields as broken people, both psychologically and physically. And, of course, any displays of coffins are strictly forbidden. Their TV coverage mostly portrays happy scenes when they arrive at airports to rejoin their families. And they frequently refer to them as heroes and warriors who have sacrificed for their country's safety.
From Part 1 he offered this moving example of one worker's plight (after the brief commercial):
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Norway Massacre: The Role of Western Governments and Media As Accomplices to a Lone NeoNazi
Click here to access article by Finian Cunningham from Global Research.
The author considers various explanations for the recent violence in Norway and finally concludes that the right-wing crazies such as Anders Behring Breivik (and Jared Lee Loughner) have been carefully nurtured by a climate of hate constructed by right-wing political forces to support the Empire's wars and their control of resources and markets.
Numerous well-funded right wing organizations have sponsored rabid right-wing radio and TV propaganda programs and ultra-conservative religious organizations to serve as key instruments of this form of indoctrination. (See this, this, and this.) When unstable people are subject to this indoctrination over a period of time, they begin to see such acts as legitimate forms of political conduct, even as heroic deeds.
The author considers various explanations for the recent violence in Norway and finally concludes that the right-wing crazies such as Anders Behring Breivik (and Jared Lee Loughner) have been carefully nurtured by a climate of hate constructed by right-wing political forces to support the Empire's wars and their control of resources and markets.
Numerous well-funded right wing organizations have sponsored rabid right-wing radio and TV propaganda programs and ultra-conservative religious organizations to serve as key instruments of this form of indoctrination. (See this, this, and this.) When unstable people are subject to this indoctrination over a period of time, they begin to see such acts as legitimate forms of political conduct, even as heroic deeds.
In the aftermath of the Norway killings, a BBC reporter asked incredulously: “Where could such hatred come from?”
The answer is quite simple: from the toxic climate of hate that Western governments and their media have spent 10 years fostering to cover for criminal wars of aggression.
Malalai Joya -- Selections from an Interview [11:09m video]
From The End of Capitalism comes this brief biography of the speaker who provides a sensible antidote to all the propaganda that the Empire has been using to shape your opinions in support of its continued occupation and war in Afghanistan/Pakistan:
Malalai Joya is an Afghan activist, author, and former politician. She served as an elected member of the 2003 Loya Jirga and was a parliamentary member of the National Assembly of Afghanistan, until she was expelled for denouncing other members as warlords and war criminals.
She has been a vocal critic of both the US/NATO occupation and the Karzai government, as well as the Taliban and Islamic fundamentalists. After surviving four assassination attempts she currently lives underground in Afghanistan, continuing her work from safe houses. After the release of her memoir, A Woman Among Warlords, she recently concluded a US speaking tour. She sat down for an interview with David Zlutnick while in San Francisco on April 9, 2011.
Protesters block streets in Tel Aviv after landmark rally
Click here to access article from +972.
I don't know how much to make of this surprising development. Could it be that the Arab Spring Uprising virus has spread to Israel?
I don't know how much to make of this surprising development. Could it be that the Arab Spring Uprising virus has spread to Israel?
Tens of thousands gathered in a Tel Aviv protest organized by the “tent city” movement, demanding affordable housing and social justice. Later, hundreds blocked main streets in the city
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Dictatorship of money and the impotence of the liberal economists
Click here to access article by Jim O’Reilly from his blog, Comments on Global Political Economy
This former banker shows how liberal economists serve the oppressive capitalist system.
In a debt based monetary system privately owned banks known as "central banks" provide credit to governments, often to fund their wars. Some wars can be very devastating to all involved and governments may have difficulty paying back these loans. In such times those who own these debts, the creditors or rentiers, aggressively pursue policies of low inflation and restrictions on bankruptcy for ordinary people. (In 2005 President George Bush, Jr., who loyally served the rich, made things harder for working people burdened with debt by tightening the restrictions on bankruptcy law for ordinary people.)
Now after so many official wars in Iraq, Afghanistan/Pakistan, and many other secret wars elsewhere such as in Somalia and maintaining around a thousand military bases all over the world, the government is very deep in debt to this class of rentiers. You see, the ruling class government supposedly run by two so-called political parties, Democrats and Republicans, had no difficulty accepting more credit during all these wars. There was absolutely no debate then.
Currently we are witnessing a political show in Washington portrayed as a debate between Republicans and Democrats, but in reality it is designed to impress upon the American people that they must accept draconian cuts to public expenditures including cuts to Social Security and Medicare. The latter have been separately funded by equal payroll contributions from workers and employers. However, these funds have been "borrowed" by the government also to fund the wars, and the ruling class refuses to pay higher taxes to pay back these IOUs.
The author of this article correctly sees real solutions to our current dilemma:
What is the alternative? Read this succinct article entitled, "The Need for Monetary Reform", which I think would more appropriately be entitled, "The Need for Monetary Revolution", because it really dramatically changes the nature of money.
This former banker shows how liberal economists serve the oppressive capitalist system.
Their calls for more deficit spending are impotent when they simultaneously defend the fundamental paradigm that the only source of purchasing power must come from the rentiers themselves.In case you didn't know, rentiers is a term used to describe those who live off of low interest government bonds and securities. Rentiers don't like risk. Thus, they don't mind low interest rates when they can lend to governments that can saddle their populations with these debts. Since rentiers are overwhelming found among the ruling class who exercise dominant control of government and all other institutions, they are in an excellent position to enforce the repayment of these debts. To insure that repayments are sound and paid back, they force policies on their governments to curb inflation and discourage the use of bankruptcy laws. (See this excellent, brief article for more details.)
In a debt based monetary system privately owned banks known as "central banks" provide credit to governments, often to fund their wars. Some wars can be very devastating to all involved and governments may have difficulty paying back these loans. In such times those who own these debts, the creditors or rentiers, aggressively pursue policies of low inflation and restrictions on bankruptcy for ordinary people. (In 2005 President George Bush, Jr., who loyally served the rich, made things harder for working people burdened with debt by tightening the restrictions on bankruptcy law for ordinary people.)
Now after so many official wars in Iraq, Afghanistan/Pakistan, and many other secret wars elsewhere such as in Somalia and maintaining around a thousand military bases all over the world, the government is very deep in debt to this class of rentiers. You see, the ruling class government supposedly run by two so-called political parties, Democrats and Republicans, had no difficulty accepting more credit during all these wars. There was absolutely no debate then.
Currently we are witnessing a political show in Washington portrayed as a debate between Republicans and Democrats, but in reality it is designed to impress upon the American people that they must accept draconian cuts to public expenditures including cuts to Social Security and Medicare. The latter have been separately funded by equal payroll contributions from workers and employers. However, these funds have been "borrowed" by the government also to fund the wars, and the ruling class refuses to pay higher taxes to pay back these IOUs.
The author of this article correctly sees real solutions to our current dilemma:
...how about marginal tax rates approaching 100% at high incomes, recognition we can create our own fiat purchasing power without relying on the rentier, guaranteed jobs, and severely regulating the monopoly-like power of the mega corporations.This debt-based monetary system is a creation of the ruling class, serves their interests, and is the source of most of our current economic problems. Although our central bank, the Federal Reserve ("The Fed"), is hidden behind a maze of government and private banking arrangements, the power really lies with the bankers and those who own the banks, the ruling class. They issue all our money except coins. (Notice at the top of any money you will find the inscription, "Federal Reserve Note", which indicates a debt issued by the Federal Reserve.) And they create this debt-money "out of thin air".
What is the alternative? Read this succinct article entitled, "The Need for Monetary Reform", which I think would more appropriately be entitled, "The Need for Monetary Revolution", because it really dramatically changes the nature of money.
Why Some People Are Just Fine with the Collapse of the Debt Ceiling Negotiations
Click here to access from The Agonist.
This piece provides a good description of how dysfunctional US government has become for ordinary citizens and very functional for the class that "owns" the economy and controls the government.
This piece provides a good description of how dysfunctional US government has become for ordinary citizens and very functional for the class that "owns" the economy and controls the government.
The pantomime of debt ceiling meetings, debates, proposals, and votes, is made almost meaningless by the inability of Congress or the White House to effect any reform of their political system. The system is now designed to provide maximum benefits to the wealthy and to corporations, and to prevent any back-sliding in case the Congress wants to remove these benefits. Significant revenue cannot be raised because Republicans in the House will never countenance an increase in taxes. Real savings cannot be achieved through closing off corporate loopholes because the lobbyists for these corporations will threaten to withdraw campaign donations for the offending Congressmen.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Reading the World In a Loaf of Bread
Click here to access article by Christian Parenti from TomDispatch. (You will need to scroll down to the article.)
I'd like to expand a bit on the capitalist phenomenon of speculation. One of the necessary conditions is a distorted distribution of wealth. The system of capitalism provides this by favoring a class of "owners" in such a way as to increase their "ownership" of the wealth produced by workers. Such a system ultimately ends with a highly skewed distribution of wealth. See this, this, and this.
When commodities such as food and other items are likely to become scarce, members of the owning class use their hordes of cash to invest in futures contracts. Such contracts were originally designed to protect farmers and related processors from wild price fluctuations. But capitalists soon discovered that they could profit from investing in such contracts when they perceived that certain items were likely in the future to be in short supply. They tend to bid up these contracts which results in higher commodity prices at the retail level causing severe hardships for ordinary people.
Of course, such speculative investing could be easily controlled, but this ownership class through their wealth and power long ago became the ruling class, and they make the laws.
What can a humble loaf of bread tell us about the world?By looking at bread, particularly the price of bread, the writer does an excellent job of weaving together many current urgent issues--capitalism, speculation, climate change, revolution.
I'd like to expand a bit on the capitalist phenomenon of speculation. One of the necessary conditions is a distorted distribution of wealth. The system of capitalism provides this by favoring a class of "owners" in such a way as to increase their "ownership" of the wealth produced by workers. Such a system ultimately ends with a highly skewed distribution of wealth. See this, this, and this.
When commodities such as food and other items are likely to become scarce, members of the owning class use their hordes of cash to invest in futures contracts. Such contracts were originally designed to protect farmers and related processors from wild price fluctuations. But capitalists soon discovered that they could profit from investing in such contracts when they perceived that certain items were likely in the future to be in short supply. They tend to bid up these contracts which results in higher commodity prices at the retail level causing severe hardships for ordinary people.
Of course, such speculative investing could be easily controlled, but this ownership class through their wealth and power long ago became the ruling class, and they make the laws.
Their Revolution and Ours
Click here to access article by Al-Masry Al-Youm from Jadaliyya.
"Their revolution" was that of the Egyptian military that took power in July 1952.
"Their revolution" was that of the Egyptian military that took power in July 1952.
...the July Revolution did usher in decades of strong military influence over political life that have yet to come to an end. By the mid-1950s, Nasser and the Free Officers began to champion a social and economic agenda -- including land redistribution, nationalization and investment in public services -- aimed at state-led development and the provision of social welfare. It was partly on this basis that they claimed to be the true representatives of the Egyptian people and their revolutionary aspirations.People all over the world are beginning to come to the realization that nobody can represent them, no segment of people whether "owners", bureaucrats, political parties, or military castes. Only a system that insures grassroots, inclusive, bottom-up control of governments can. Such a system is required not only to insure social justice, but the very survival of the human race.
Off the Pedestal: Creating a New Vision of Economic Growth [Updated as of 1:45pm PDT]
Click here to access article by James Gustave Speth from Environment 360.
He doesn't seem to understand that the present irrational system of capitalism is run by a relatively small segment of people who benefit hugely from their ownership of most of the world's economy. They are essentially a cult whose faith based, addiction-like commitment to economic growth must be promoted in order to continue the system which provides them with so much wealth and dominant status in the world. They are armed to the teeth, they have established sophisticated systems of surveillance (see the latest effort), they have an iron grip on the political system that has enabled them to establish a legal framework to stifle dissent (Patriot Acts), and have set-up an elaborate prison system to deal with political dissidents. In short, they are determined to maintain their system. The writer ignores all this.
Can he really be this naive? Or, is he merely engaging in green rhetoric to enhance his academic status while believing that nothing will come of his remarks? Or, is he fully aware, and in order to avoid repercussions from capitalist agents, he can go no further than stating a rational argument, but must avoid looking at the implications of the argument for political action?
The never-ending drive to grow the overall U.S. economy is ruining the environment; it fuels a ruthless international search for energy and other resources; it fails at generating the needed jobs; it hollows out communities; and it rests on a manufactured consumerism that is not meeting the deepest human needs. Americans are substituting growth and consumption for dealing with the real issues — for doing things that would truly make us and the country better off.Of course, everything that this author states is correct. He is arguing from a rational point of view, but it appears that he naively believes that public policies are rationally determined.
He doesn't seem to understand that the present irrational system of capitalism is run by a relatively small segment of people who benefit hugely from their ownership of most of the world's economy. They are essentially a cult whose faith based, addiction-like commitment to economic growth must be promoted in order to continue the system which provides them with so much wealth and dominant status in the world. They are armed to the teeth, they have established sophisticated systems of surveillance (see the latest effort), they have an iron grip on the political system that has enabled them to establish a legal framework to stifle dissent (Patriot Acts), and have set-up an elaborate prison system to deal with political dissidents. In short, they are determined to maintain their system. The writer ignores all this.
Can he really be this naive? Or, is he merely engaging in green rhetoric to enhance his academic status while believing that nothing will come of his remarks? Or, is he fully aware, and in order to avoid repercussions from capitalist agents, he can go no further than stating a rational argument, but must avoid looking at the implications of the argument for political action?
The difference between scientific debate and phoney talkfests
Click here to access article by Stephan Lewandowsky from Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
...so-called climate "sceptics" refuse to participate in scientific debates: by and large, they do not contribute to the peer-reviewed literature and they do not present their views at scientific conferences....
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Mainstream Media: Presstitutes for the Rich and Powerful
Click here to access article from Washington's Blog.
This piece provides a much deeper analysis of the corruption of mainstream media to serve the needs of the Empire than all the recent reports of the corrupt practices of Rupert Murdoch. As usual this blogger provides an abundance of links dating back over the past 40 years to show how mainstream media has been thoroughly corrupted by the political operatives of the capitalist Empire.
This piece provides a much deeper analysis of the corruption of mainstream media to serve the needs of the Empire than all the recent reports of the corrupt practices of Rupert Murdoch. As usual this blogger provides an abundance of links dating back over the past 40 years to show how mainstream media has been thoroughly corrupted by the political operatives of the capitalist Empire.
While the Rupert Murdoch scandal is justifiably front-page news, there is a much wider problem with the mainstream media.
Libya War Lies Worse Than Iraq
Click here to access article by Thomas C. Mountain from Foreign Policy Journal.
The lies used to justify the NATO war against Libya have surpassed those created to justify the invasion of Iraq. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch both had honest observers on the ground for months following the rebellion in eastern Libya and both have repudiated every major charge used to justify the NATO war on Libya.
Murdoch is only one problem with press
Click here to access article by Djelloul Marbrook from his blog.
Murdoch is only the most successful media moguls. He is a creature of the system run by the one percent for their benefit. He and his media colleagues are indispensable to the successful operation of the system across the globe. They function to keep citizens dis-informed, distracted, and consuming their endless, useless, and often harmful products.
Murdoch is only the most successful media moguls. He is a creature of the system run by the one percent for their benefit. He and his media colleagues are indispensable to the successful operation of the system across the globe. They function to keep citizens dis-informed, distracted, and consuming their endless, useless, and often harmful products.
Publicopoly Exposed
Click here to access article by Beau Hodai from In These Times.
This quite lengthy piece from a left-wing source provides much more information on ALEC than the article I posted yesterday.
Believe it or not, but this is an abridged version of the original article posted on DBA Press website (I discovered that their links were a bit slow to appear.) I think that the people at the DBA Press website are doing excellent work to uncover the methods of government corruption, particularly at the state level, by corporations and influential people of the ruling class.
This quite lengthy piece from a left-wing source provides much more information on ALEC than the article I posted yesterday.
Believe it or not, but this is an abridged version of the original article posted on DBA Press website (I discovered that their links were a bit slow to appear.) I think that the people at the DBA Press website are doing excellent work to uncover the methods of government corruption, particularly at the state level, by corporations and influential people of the ruling class.
DBA Press is an online news publication and archive which delivers in-depth reporting on private and public sector corruption.They also show how others can obtain similar information for their states, and it would be great for activists in each state to obtain and publicize this information. Such information is an education in itself about how real government functions in the US as opposed to the fake version we receive in educational institutions and mainstream media.
WikiLeaks vs News Ltd: Jail Murdoch, not Assange
Click here to access article by Ash Pemberton from Green Left.
This author provides an interesting comparison of two prominent Australian journalists that reveals a lot about the differences between governing class media and grass roots media.
This author provides an interesting comparison of two prominent Australian journalists that reveals a lot about the differences between governing class media and grass roots media.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Koch, Exxon Mobil Among Corporations Helping Write State Laws
Click here to access article by Alison Fitzgerald from Bloomberg News.
This article from a mainstream Wall Street source provides a very revealing report on how major corporations have been guiding state legislatures to enact laws favorable to their interests. Because I have been an avid follower of right-wing so-called think tanks and policy advocate organizations, I was astonished to discover this organization, American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC,--and, it has been in operation for 38 years!
I have been well aware of the numerous right wing political non-profits that influence legislation at the federal level in Washington, DC. But this group functions as a stealth capitalist controller of legislation at the state level. It's obvious why Bloomberg, whose readers are mostly Wall Street connected, finally reported on this organization now: the LA Times recently reported that Common Cause has asked the Internal Revenue Service to investigate the tax status of this nonprofit organization.
(After a few minutes of googling ALEC, it appears to me that information about this stealth conservative organization has been mostly reported only in a relatively few obscure left-wing publications in the last few years.)
Using these hidden think tanks and advocacy non-profits together with their direct and indirect financing of political candidates, the capitalist class effectively controls what laws are passed by our government institutions, and how laws are enforced. These activities along with many forms of indoctrination help to maintain the facade of democratic process in government
It is very important to understand the background and fundamental purpose of these conservative organizations that function behind the scenes of government. The capitalist classes that emerged triumphant after the American and French Revolutions (more gradually elsewhere) were saddled with a lot of democratic rhetoric that they had used to gain the support of peasants and working people of that age in order to topple the rule of the aristocracy. Once they gained power, their next task was to limit as much as possible any real democratic functioning of government. Thus, this new class has had to resort to all kinds of subterfuge and stealth operations to subvert any real democratic organization of society and to pursue their interests of wealth accumulation and power.
The earliest acts of this ruling class in the US serves to illustrate how little support they had for democratic principles and where their real interests lay: the passing of the patently unconstitutional Sedition Act of 1798 and the establishment of the Bank of North America, a private bank to issue loans to our government and to create legal money for US citizens to conduct their business.
The entire history of these practices is difficult to uncover for obvious reasons. Ruling classes always write their own histories and record events to cast a favorable light on their past. Some historians like Howard Zinn have tried to report some of the methods of this class to subvert any real democracy, but I believe that he only scratched the surface. But, there are many other books, not always easy to find, that shed some light on this subject. I recommend reading Wealth By Stealth by Harry Glasbeek, The Anglo-American Establishment by Carroll Quigley, Gangster Capitalism by Michael Woodiwiss, The Secret Team by L. Fletcher Prouty, and other books I've listed on this blog.
This article from a mainstream Wall Street source provides a very revealing report on how major corporations have been guiding state legislatures to enact laws favorable to their interests. Because I have been an avid follower of right-wing so-called think tanks and policy advocate organizations, I was astonished to discover this organization, American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC,--and, it has been in operation for 38 years!
I have been well aware of the numerous right wing political non-profits that influence legislation at the federal level in Washington, DC. But this group functions as a stealth capitalist controller of legislation at the state level. It's obvious why Bloomberg, whose readers are mostly Wall Street connected, finally reported on this organization now: the LA Times recently reported that Common Cause has asked the Internal Revenue Service to investigate the tax status of this nonprofit organization.
(After a few minutes of googling ALEC, it appears to me that information about this stealth conservative organization has been mostly reported only in a relatively few obscure left-wing publications in the last few years.)
Using these hidden think tanks and advocacy non-profits together with their direct and indirect financing of political candidates, the capitalist class effectively controls what laws are passed by our government institutions, and how laws are enforced. These activities along with many forms of indoctrination help to maintain the facade of democratic process in government
It is very important to understand the background and fundamental purpose of these conservative organizations that function behind the scenes of government. The capitalist classes that emerged triumphant after the American and French Revolutions (more gradually elsewhere) were saddled with a lot of democratic rhetoric that they had used to gain the support of peasants and working people of that age in order to topple the rule of the aristocracy. Once they gained power, their next task was to limit as much as possible any real democratic functioning of government. Thus, this new class has had to resort to all kinds of subterfuge and stealth operations to subvert any real democratic organization of society and to pursue their interests of wealth accumulation and power.
The earliest acts of this ruling class in the US serves to illustrate how little support they had for democratic principles and where their real interests lay: the passing of the patently unconstitutional Sedition Act of 1798 and the establishment of the Bank of North America, a private bank to issue loans to our government and to create legal money for US citizens to conduct their business.
The entire history of these practices is difficult to uncover for obvious reasons. Ruling classes always write their own histories and record events to cast a favorable light on their past. Some historians like Howard Zinn have tried to report some of the methods of this class to subvert any real democracy, but I believe that he only scratched the surface. But, there are many other books, not always easy to find, that shed some light on this subject. I recommend reading Wealth By Stealth by Harry Glasbeek, The Anglo-American Establishment by Carroll Quigley, Gangster Capitalism by Michael Woodiwiss, The Secret Team by L. Fletcher Prouty, and other books I've listed on this blog.
A Report from Greece
Click here to access article by Yves Smith from her blog, Naked Capitalism.
She passes on to us some brief observations she received from an American TV/movie industry professional while visiting in Greece. He suggests that the rape of Greece by European capitalists may be what is in store for the US.
She passes on to us some brief observations she received from an American TV/movie industry professional while visiting in Greece. He suggests that the rape of Greece by European capitalists may be what is in store for the US.
Harmonic Divergence: The Wealthy Are Dropping the Dalai Lama’s Name, Literally
Click here to access article by Jamie Johnson from Vanity Fair.
This accomplished filmmaker, and well-known member of the one percent who rule over us, gives us some inside information on his fellow club members who are distancing themselves from the Dalai Lama.
On this subject the brilliant filmmaker seems a bit naive. He doesn't seem to realize that his class has long been using the Dalai Lama and companions as a political weapon against China. Now that they are making so much money off Chinese investments and US corporations operating in China, the Dalai Lama has become somewhat of an embarrassment to them. It seems that they value the accumulation of wealth over everything else. So, what else is new? And, with friends like the one percent, I have my doubts about how "enlightened" the Dalai Lama and associated Buddhists are.
This accomplished filmmaker, and well-known member of the one percent who rule over us, gives us some inside information on his fellow club members who are distancing themselves from the Dalai Lama.
On this subject the brilliant filmmaker seems a bit naive. He doesn't seem to realize that his class has long been using the Dalai Lama and companions as a political weapon against China. Now that they are making so much money off Chinese investments and US corporations operating in China, the Dalai Lama has become somewhat of an embarrassment to them. It seems that they value the accumulation of wealth over everything else. So, what else is new? And, with friends like the one percent, I have my doubts about how "enlightened" the Dalai Lama and associated Buddhists are.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Green is the new red: An interview with Will Potter
Click here to access article by Robert Jensen from Energy Bulletin.
As the ecological crisis accelerates, the accompanying crackdown by corporations and people in power will intensify as well. The people who have the most to lose will cling desperately to that culture as it is threatened, and this includes not just CEOs but much of the overwhelmingly privileged United States and so-called First World.
Worker Co-operatives, Markets and the South African State: An analysis from an Anarchist Perspective
Click here to access article by Oliver Nathan from Infoshop News.
The article takes a critical look at the promises, potential, and pitfalls of worker cooperatives within capitalist societies.
The article takes a critical look at the promises, potential, and pitfalls of worker cooperatives within capitalist societies.
Obama's Budget Betrayal - Questions and Answers
Click here to access article by Michael Collins from his blog, The Money Party.
The author does a very good job of revealing what the current theatrical production in Washington is all about:
The author does a very good job of revealing what the current theatrical production in Washington is all about:
The drama by no-drama Obama and the shrill voices on the right in are in complete alignment with the very big money interests. Those interests can force cuts in Social Security and Medicare (already begun with cuts to the employee payroll rax). They can protect the Bush administration's tax breaks, a major factor in the deficit. They can sneak in all sorts of legislative and regulatory changes while the focus is on this false drama. This is a time honored technique.Some people prefer to use other terms for the ruling capitalist class. This author uses "the money party" to describe them. Others use terms such as "the powers that be", "the ruling elite", "the owning class", etc. But, they are all talking about essentially the same phenomenon: the class of people whose membership is made up of people who, under the rules of capitalism, have been allowed to "own" most of the economy that has been created by many generations of working people. This class of people create nothing. They only play the capitalist game with their money to make more money.
A World to Win Summer School Wales 2011 – People’s assemblies and reconstructing the state
Click here to access article by Paul Feldman from A World to Win.
This appears to be a British born and based website and political organization that is attempting to bring together all the current popular resistance movements across the world. Such an organization could act as a forum for the development of new societies based on real democracy, social justice, and living in harmony with the Earth's ecology. There are lots of interesting articles here--I have chosen this one as an illustration. After reading this article, you may want to explore the website and read other articles they have.
By presenting this article, I am neither endorsing or opposing them. I really don't know much about them. Remember, we must always be alert for well-funded and directed, phony grassroots organizations who say the right things but are designed to subvert any real forms of democracy.
This appears to be a British born and based website and political organization that is attempting to bring together all the current popular resistance movements across the world. Such an organization could act as a forum for the development of new societies based on real democracy, social justice, and living in harmony with the Earth's ecology. There are lots of interesting articles here--I have chosen this one as an illustration. After reading this article, you may want to explore the website and read other articles they have.
By presenting this article, I am neither endorsing or opposing them. I really don't know much about them. Remember, we must always be alert for well-funded and directed, phony grassroots organizations who say the right things but are designed to subvert any real forms of democracy.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
The Billion-Barrel-Per-Day Question
Click here to access article by Alexander Wöstmann from Alexander's Gas and Oil Connections.
It's surprising to run across a website like this which appears to be serving those connected with the oil and gas industry. Take this article for example. It starts off by looking into the increasing price of oil over the past few years when oil supply has been fairly abundant, and concludes that speculation and manipulation are driving the price up in spite of Wall Street explanations to the contrary. Well, that is not an earthshaking observation. What grabbed my attention was what followed this conclusion. He writes:
Read his article to see how he weaves his observations into the final fabric of this conclusion:
It's surprising to run across a website like this which appears to be serving those connected with the oil and gas industry. Take this article for example. It starts off by looking into the increasing price of oil over the past few years when oil supply has been fairly abundant, and concludes that speculation and manipulation are driving the price up in spite of Wall Street explanations to the contrary. Well, that is not an earthshaking observation. What grabbed my attention was what followed this conclusion. He writes:
It would be easy to leave it at that and just conclude that we (the ‘normal’ people) are being lied to and our money is being stolen by overcharging in combination with scare stories about how either supply is being disrupted, or how some countries are consuming so much.He then launches into a broad-scale attack on what I regard as the current state of capitalist controlled societies, but he never mentions the system. This is quite common among critics of the current social-economic arrangements, and one can never be sure if they are intentionally engaging in self-censorship for fear of reprisals from agents of the capitalist class or that they have been thoroughly brainwashed into thinking that there is no alternative (TINA). He only goes as far as mentioning "the system" or the "economic system". In any case, he makes some very cogent observations about the present dismal state of capitalist societies.
But it is too easy to just look at the surface and then conclude that everything is rotten or manipulated and just continue our day.
Read his article to see how he weaves his observations into the final fabric of this conclusion:
In the end it will be the rising consciousness of the people that realize they do not want to be sheeple (sheep people) anymore and will start to build up the ways that are natural to the human, the planet and the times.
...As the old and massive structure will ever more break up, and the planet is going through a period of rapid change, there will be those that will seek to live in a more natural and respectful way, and there will be those that will practice agriculture in a humane and natural way, and there will be those that will promote education that enhances the unique individual features and qualities in the person, preparing the younger lives to live, not just to be productive....
President Obama’s big deal: Cuts for Social Security but no taxes for Wall Street
Click here to access article by Dean Baker from Real-World Economics Review Blog.
Let me be clear--I am only posting this to illustrate how limited and superficial a liberal critique of current government policies are. This sort of attack on current and recent policies are what passes for "left" criticism in the US political spectrum which has steadily drifted to the right over the past 40 years. As such, it serves several purposes in keeping the system as it is.
First, although it does attack the real problems of injustice in the US, the author explains its failings as incompetence by the managers of the economic system, and suggests only some reforms to solve the problems. Second, it carefully avoids any mention of the underlying system of capitalism which shapes the unjust policies mentioned by the author. Third, attacks like this serve the system by posing as critical views and thereby serve to demonstrate that there is diversity of political opinions, and that this is an indication of real democracy. In other words, the ruling class requires critical pieces like this to sustain its fake version of democracy. However, to the author's credit in contrast to most liberal critics, he does argue that there is little difference between the Republicans and the Democrats on these issues.
To me, it is so obviously wrong to argue that the current economic collapse was brought about because of incompetence. ("These people’s lives are being ruined due to the mismanagement of the economy.") So many people were in on the mortgage scam and profited hugely by it: from real estate sales people, to financial institutions that packaged and peddled the mortgage snake oil all over the world, to rating agencies that gave their stamps of approval on the packages, and to hedge funds who gambled on them. There was widespread knowledge of the scam and yet it continued simply because it was so lucrative for all the players involved. I think it likely that a lot of this financial trash was sold via Goldman Sachs to compliant European government officials, who likely also benefited from scam, in order to undermine the Euro which had been competing very well against the US dollar.
His comments about the attacks on Social Security are superficial. The fact is that the political operatives of the ruling class have been using the huge Social Security pot of money to fund their many wars without raising taxes. Instead of this money being kept in a separate trust fund and invested, it was made available to the Empire's war criminals. They blew it and now they don't want to raise taxes to pay it back to the current baby-boom retirees. See this, this, this, and this.
But, it is the system itself whose dynamic of private ownership of socially produced wealth that makes this sort of corruption inevitable, and it is not surprising that the self-serving class of private owners insist that working people pay for their criminal practices.
Let me be clear--I am only posting this to illustrate how limited and superficial a liberal critique of current government policies are. This sort of attack on current and recent policies are what passes for "left" criticism in the US political spectrum which has steadily drifted to the right over the past 40 years. As such, it serves several purposes in keeping the system as it is.
First, although it does attack the real problems of injustice in the US, the author explains its failings as incompetence by the managers of the economic system, and suggests only some reforms to solve the problems. Second, it carefully avoids any mention of the underlying system of capitalism which shapes the unjust policies mentioned by the author. Third, attacks like this serve the system by posing as critical views and thereby serve to demonstrate that there is diversity of political opinions, and that this is an indication of real democracy. In other words, the ruling class requires critical pieces like this to sustain its fake version of democracy. However, to the author's credit in contrast to most liberal critics, he does argue that there is little difference between the Republicans and the Democrats on these issues.
To me, it is so obviously wrong to argue that the current economic collapse was brought about because of incompetence. ("These people’s lives are being ruined due to the mismanagement of the economy.") So many people were in on the mortgage scam and profited hugely by it: from real estate sales people, to financial institutions that packaged and peddled the mortgage snake oil all over the world, to rating agencies that gave their stamps of approval on the packages, and to hedge funds who gambled on them. There was widespread knowledge of the scam and yet it continued simply because it was so lucrative for all the players involved. I think it likely that a lot of this financial trash was sold via Goldman Sachs to compliant European government officials, who likely also benefited from scam, in order to undermine the Euro which had been competing very well against the US dollar.
His comments about the attacks on Social Security are superficial. The fact is that the political operatives of the ruling class have been using the huge Social Security pot of money to fund their many wars without raising taxes. Instead of this money being kept in a separate trust fund and invested, it was made available to the Empire's war criminals. They blew it and now they don't want to raise taxes to pay it back to the current baby-boom retirees. See this, this, this, and this.
But, it is the system itself whose dynamic of private ownership of socially produced wealth that makes this sort of corruption inevitable, and it is not surprising that the self-serving class of private owners insist that working people pay for their criminal practices.
The Invisible Army
Click here to access article by Sarah Stillman from The New Yorker.
More than seventy thousand “third-country nationals” work for the American military in war zones; many report being held in conditions resembling indentured servitude by subcontractors who operate outside the law.This treatment of foreign workers by the Empire's operatives illustrates how they intend to place all working people everywhere in the world in indentured and debt servitude to secure their profits and power. And they will succeed if all of us sit dazed in front of the boob-tube and passively swallow all their propaganda and be diverted by their packaged entertainment.
Pentagon Seeks to Manipulate Social Media for Propaganda Purposes
Click here to access article from Washington's Blog.
This blogger provides a lot of information regarding the Pentagon's efforts to use social media to further their control of the Empire.
This blogger provides a lot of information regarding the Pentagon's efforts to use social media to further their control of the Empire.
...SMISC [Social Media in Strategic Communication] won’t be content to just to hang back and monitor social media trends in strategic locations. It’s about building a better spin machine for Uncle Sam, too. Once SMISC’s latches on to an influence operation being launched, it’s supposed to help out in “countermessaging.”
The Weather Becomes the News: An Interview With Earth Policy Institute Founder Lester Brown
Click here to access article by Christal Smith from Huffinton Post.
...I wanted to point out that there's a really BIG disaster coming down the road [which will] actually threaten civilization itself. And, there's no way that we're going to be able to manage that one.
But, what we have to do is to begin reversing the trends that are undermining global warming, whether that's rising CO2 levels, shrinking forests or inefficient population growth. How many failures and mistakes before we have a failing global civilization?
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Iran Opens Oil Bourse - Harbinger of Trouble for New York and London?
Click here to access article by John Daly from Oil Price.
You see, the US had sold much of its gold supply to finance the Vietnam War adventure which seriously threatened the value of its debt based currency. Then Saddam Hussein of Iraq threatened to sell his oil in Euros, and you can see where that got him. Now Iran which is a major supplier of China's oil is making plans to sell their oil in non-US dollars. Yikes!
Iran is working a program, that, if it succeeds, could help undermine the dollar’s preeminence as the world’s reserve currency more effectively than a Republican filibuster.A major factor in supporting the US Empire and its ability to borrow money to finance its never ending wars, is their control of the oil market. The key linchpin of this control is the 1974 Kissinger engineered arrangement with that Middle Ages kingdom of Saudi Arabia whereby the Saudi monarchy agreed to sell their vast supplies of oil only in US dollars in return for protection by the Empire. If this appears like a Mafia style arrangement, it is because it is.
Iran’s sly weapon against the Great Satan’s currency? An oil bourse on Kish Island in the Persian Gulf, which has now begun selling high-grade Iranian crude oil.
You see, the US had sold much of its gold supply to finance the Vietnam War adventure which seriously threatened the value of its debt based currency. Then Saddam Hussein of Iraq threatened to sell his oil in Euros, and you can see where that got him. Now Iran which is a major supplier of China's oil is making plans to sell their oil in non-US dollars. Yikes!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Is Shutdown of Investigative Journalism Department of Beijing Paper Harbinger of USA Things to Come?
Click here to access article by Rob Kall from OpEd News.
In the context of the recent reports of a shutdown of a Chinese investigative journalism unit and the concentration of media in the hands of a few who engage in corrupt practices like Murdoch's News Corp in Britain, he asks some very important questions about the freedom of journalists to pursue the truth.
My answer is that the Chinese incident is no "harbinger of things to come"--it has been an increasing reality over the past 40 years in the US. Thus, it seems to me that Rob Kall's belated observations are another example of how naive "progressives" in the US have been. As Frances Moore Lappé once wrote, it's "time for progressives to grow up."
In the context of the recent reports of a shutdown of a Chinese investigative journalism unit and the concentration of media in the hands of a few who engage in corrupt practices like Murdoch's News Corp in Britain, he asks some very important questions about the freedom of journalists to pursue the truth.
My answer is that the Chinese incident is no "harbinger of things to come"--it has been an increasing reality over the past 40 years in the US. Thus, it seems to me that Rob Kall's belated observations are another example of how naive "progressives" in the US have been. As Frances Moore Lappé once wrote, it's "time for progressives to grow up."
2011 Heat Wave [in the US]
Click here to access articles from Huffington Post. And we are seeing more dust storms.
The damage caused by spewing so much carbon into the atmosphere, especially over the past century, is now coming back to haunt us, to threaten our very existence. But don't be alarmed--Exxon, Shell Oil, and the other carbon proliferating industries are busy solving the problem, that is, if you believe their ads.
The damage caused by spewing so much carbon into the atmosphere, especially over the past century, is now coming back to haunt us, to threaten our very existence. But don't be alarmed--Exxon, Shell Oil, and the other carbon proliferating industries are busy solving the problem, that is, if you believe their ads.
The grand alliance for the commons: the task of 21 cy. politics
Click here to access article by Michel Bauwens from P2P Foundation.
The commons which is the heritage of humanity has been largely privatized by agents of the comparatively recent system of capitalism and are threatening humanity by attacking the ecological health of the planet in order to satisfy their addiction to profits and power. Activists all over the world in a grand alliance must save humanity from the drug addicted 1% by...
The commons which is the heritage of humanity has been largely privatized by agents of the comparatively recent system of capitalism and are threatening humanity by attacking the ecological health of the planet in order to satisfy their addiction to profits and power. Activists all over the world in a grand alliance must save humanity from the drug addicted 1% by...
...reversing pseudo-abundance and artificial scarcity in the context of social justice, by looking at existing and emerging social movements.
Imagine – Playing for Change [4:06m video]
Click here to access the website of Play for Change Foundation which has produced this video.
This foundation is producing some really great music that can greatly assist in bringing all the people of the world together to celebrate their humanity, to reaffirm their power to change the world, and to take back the commons from the ruling capitalist classes.
"Imagine all the people sharing all the world."
This foundation is producing some really great music that can greatly assist in bringing all the people of the world together to celebrate their humanity, to reaffirm their power to change the world, and to take back the commons from the ruling capitalist classes.
"Imagine all the people sharing all the world."
Monday, July 18, 2011
Debt : The Greeks and Deptocracy [A must-read]
Click here to access article by Aldous from Committee for the Abolition of Third World Debt.
Because this film is so excellent at shedding much needed light on the crises affecting so many hundreds of millions of people across the globe, I am astonished as to why this film has not been provided with English subtitles! This English translation of excerpts from the film is very helpful, and I thank the folks at CADTM for this contribution.
Meanwhile, in addition to reading these translated excerpts, I highly recommend that you also view this 13 minute video entitled, "Europe in Peril: Debts and Social Cuts".
It must be clearly understood that under globalized capitalism we now have a tiny first world scattered throughout the world like islands lying in oceans of third world people made up of people like you and me. Thus, the first world and the third world exists everywhere in the world. As the global capitalist elites have erased boundaries for themselves, we productive people of the world must also join hands across boundaries if we are to liberate ourselves from the debt slavery we find ourselves in. We can no longer quietly submit to the demands of our capitalist masters who insist that we slash funding for education, health, and welfare to pay these debts to them.
What has brought us to this present crisis is the organized efforts of the global capitalist elites who have created fake democratic governments throughout the world that have actively colluded with them to produce this debt enslavement. We must not limit ourselves to protests in the hope that we can get better debt payback terms from our capitalist masters. We must overturn the system of class rule based on the private ownership of the economy and a fake democracy. We must do the hard work of creating an equitable and sustainable economic system along with real democracies not only because it is just, but because it is necessary if the human race is going to survive in an ecologically stable environment.
A documentary film entitled Deptocracy – ChrĂ©okratia (ChrĂ©os is the Greek word meaning “debt”) has become wildly popular in Greece since that country has been systematically drained while in the clutches of the IMF. Here is a translation of the film which explains the mechanisms for subjugating a country by what economists call “Odious Debt”.(The link to the series of You Tube videos which are in the Greek language did not work for me. Here is the link for video 1 of 5 which also provides links to the rest. There are a few English speakers featured who provide some excellent insights.)
Because this film is so excellent at shedding much needed light on the crises affecting so many hundreds of millions of people across the globe, I am astonished as to why this film has not been provided with English subtitles! This English translation of excerpts from the film is very helpful, and I thank the folks at CADTM for this contribution.
Meanwhile, in addition to reading these translated excerpts, I highly recommend that you also view this 13 minute video entitled, "Europe in Peril: Debts and Social Cuts".
It must be clearly understood that under globalized capitalism we now have a tiny first world scattered throughout the world like islands lying in oceans of third world people made up of people like you and me. Thus, the first world and the third world exists everywhere in the world. As the global capitalist elites have erased boundaries for themselves, we productive people of the world must also join hands across boundaries if we are to liberate ourselves from the debt slavery we find ourselves in. We can no longer quietly submit to the demands of our capitalist masters who insist that we slash funding for education, health, and welfare to pay these debts to them.
What has brought us to this present crisis is the organized efforts of the global capitalist elites who have created fake democratic governments throughout the world that have actively colluded with them to produce this debt enslavement. We must not limit ourselves to protests in the hope that we can get better debt payback terms from our capitalist masters. We must overturn the system of class rule based on the private ownership of the economy and a fake democracy. We must do the hard work of creating an equitable and sustainable economic system along with real democracies not only because it is just, but because it is necessary if the human race is going to survive in an ecologically stable environment.
Predator Drones and the International Mafia
Click here to access article by Dr. Reza Pankhurst from Foreign Policy Journal.
After CIA lists of targets that were sought to be “neutralized” (a bland word for assassinated), Rizzo was one of those who would sign off on the mission. If it sounds similar to the kind of activity you would expect from organized criminal gangs, Rizzo himself described it as “basically a hit list”. Just as any small-time organized crime network has a few paid lawyers to help defend the indefensible, the American administration is acting like an international mafia outfit complete with requisite legal team. But being the most militarized government in the World by far, they have access to Predator Drones, rather than being compelled to use a paid contract killer.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Opposition fighters are losing battles – but winning the war
Click here to access article by Kim Sengupta from The Independent.
It appears that the recent recognition of the Libyan rebels as the legitimate government by Western countries was a desperate attempt to salvage some kind of victory out of the latest NATO imperial adventure.
It appears that the recent recognition of the Libyan rebels as the legitimate government by Western countries was a desperate attempt to salvage some kind of victory out of the latest NATO imperial adventure.
While foreign countries were hailing Libya's rebel administration as the country's legitimate government, rebel fighters were showing their usual failings in combat as another much-heralded offensive in the east failed to capture the oil town of Brega.
Greece and the Gods of Neo-Liberalism
My thanks to Khalil Bendib from Jadaliyya.
In case you didn't know, Greek authorities have been acting as enforcers for the Israeli government to prevent Flotilla 2 from leaving Greek ports in order to bring humanitarian supplies through the Israeli blockage of Gaza.
The current Prime Minister Papandreou, and his father before him, were carefully indoctrinated and supported by US political operatives to enforce neo-liberal policies in Greece which have led to the current crisis.
In case you didn't know, Greek authorities have been acting as enforcers for the Israeli government to prevent Flotilla 2 from leaving Greek ports in order to bring humanitarian supplies through the Israeli blockage of Gaza.
The current Prime Minister Papandreou, and his father before him, were carefully indoctrinated and supported by US political operatives to enforce neo-liberal policies in Greece which have led to the current crisis.
Manifesto
Click here to access this manifesto from Democracia Real YA! [Real Democracy, now!]
This is only one of the latest products reflecting the evolution of the thinking of activists who are leading the fight in Spain against the slashing of public funding and burdening working people with debts resulting from collusion of political leaders with their banking buddies. As such, it reveals the crucial recognition that the present system of "democracy" is fake, and they insist on a genuine version now. But, of course, they also realize that it will be up to them to create this system.
Their concerns and hopes are very similar to those of working people in many Western countries. They, too, are fed up with the fake version of democracy that has led to the present economic disaster facing working people.
Now, read the following article as the latest progress report from Spanish activists and their efforts to create a real democracy. It is entitled, "Why / How to Camp".
(Although my Spanish language ability is limited, it appears they are preparing for another big event on the 15th of October.)
This is only one of the latest products reflecting the evolution of the thinking of activists who are leading the fight in Spain against the slashing of public funding and burdening working people with debts resulting from collusion of political leaders with their banking buddies. As such, it reveals the crucial recognition that the present system of "democracy" is fake, and they insist on a genuine version now. But, of course, they also realize that it will be up to them to create this system.
Their concerns and hopes are very similar to those of working people in many Western countries. They, too, are fed up with the fake version of democracy that has led to the present economic disaster facing working people.
Now, read the following article as the latest progress report from Spanish activists and their efforts to create a real democracy. It is entitled, "Why / How to Camp".
(Although my Spanish language ability is limited, it appears they are preparing for another big event on the 15th of October.)
Saturday, July 16, 2011
How the U.S. government uses its media servants to attack real journalism
Click here to access article by Glenn Greenwald from Salon.
This article illustrates how the US ruling class operatives carefully controlled media, or propaganda machine, manages news that it deems inconsistent with the Empire's image of respectability and legitimacy. Also, it illustrates how nothing has changed under the "change" regime of Obama simply because the same political operatives are in charge of Obama, the media, and most everything else.
This article illustrates how the US ruling class operatives carefully controlled media, or propaganda machine, manages news that it deems inconsistent with the Empire's image of respectability and legitimacy. Also, it illustrates how nothing has changed under the "change" regime of Obama simply because the same political operatives are in charge of Obama, the media, and most everything else.
While the establishment media has been largely ignoring Scahill's revelations, a few particularly government-pleasing journalists have been dutifully following the CIA's script in order to undermine the credibility of Scahill's story. CNN's long-time Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr -- one of the most reliable DoD stenographers in the nation (she actually announced that the real Abu Ghraib scandal was the unauthorized release of the photographs, not the abuse they depicted) -- has been predictably tapped by the CIA to take the lead in this effort.
New Zealand: Greed is good, as long as it's green
Click here to access article by Sue Bradford from Pundit.
Big business is driven by the imperative to maximise profits for its shareholders, which means continually pushing for more – more resource extraction, higher margins from those whose labour it uses and more pollution, all often just shifted from one part of the world to another.
No amount of "greening" of the nature of this growth takes away from the fundamental fact that this planet cannot sustain infinite growth.
Let's make money [6:47m video]
John Perkins provides a summary of what he learned as an economic hit man for banking institutions and reported in his book entitled, Confessions of an Economic Hit Man. He chose this Mafia associated title intentionally because neo-liberal capitalism has functioned in a similar fashion with the notorious Mafia that used such tactics against their victims. This book is necessary reading for all activists.
Where Were Your Kids This Summer?
Click here to access article by Jamie Johnson from Vanity Fair.
Once a week I like to pay a visit to those who rule over us to see what concerns they have in their lives. Jamie Johnson, who is of this class and a critical observer, is the perfect guide for us.
Should you wish to learn more about our capitalist aristocracy, I highly recommend that you view both his films: "Born Rich" and "The One Percent".
Once a week I like to pay a visit to those who rule over us to see what concerns they have in their lives. Jamie Johnson, who is of this class and a critical observer, is the perfect guide for us.
Should you wish to learn more about our capitalist aristocracy, I highly recommend that you view both his films: "Born Rich" and "The One Percent".
In wealthy circles, how a person spends his or her summer says everything about social class. Having family ties to a prestigious resort enclave and country club provides crucial cul-de-sac cred, the assumption being that those who vacation in the best spots have the necessary prerequisites for American aristocracy: money, access, and taste.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Spanish Revolution [7:37m video]
Many thanks to Yonny Galactico for this excellent, inspiring video .
Actually the title of this video is a bit misleading. The Spanish Revolution has only just begun. But, it portrays the new consciousness that has arisen among Spanish workers, and they wish to communicate their optimism to the workers of the world, to encourage them to believe in themselves, to believe in their power to create a new society that is just, free of corruption, and sustainable.
This new consciousness is infectious. It has been spreading across the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe. We in the US are lagging behind. Mostly activism has been shown only by people in the state of Wisconsin. But, I'm confident that when it really takes hold here, the current system will collapse like a house of cards.
Actually the title of this video is a bit misleading. The Spanish Revolution has only just begun. But, it portrays the new consciousness that has arisen among Spanish workers, and they wish to communicate their optimism to the workers of the world, to encourage them to believe in themselves, to believe in their power to create a new society that is just, free of corruption, and sustainable.
This new consciousness is infectious. It has been spreading across the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe. We in the US are lagging behind. Mostly activism has been shown only by people in the state of Wisconsin. But, I'm confident that when it really takes hold here, the current system will collapse like a house of cards.
Barack Obama: America's First Tea Party President
Click here to access article by Marshall Auerback from New Economic Perspectives.
I think that these people have gotten away with so much since WWII that they are filled with the arrogance of power. They have nearly eliminated the power of unions, they have engaged in one foreign adventure after another and now have a world empire in their grasp, they have subverted and concentrated the media into a few, well-controlled hands, they have wiped away most opposition to their foreign wars by using a "war on terror" following what many knowledgeable people believe was largely a staged 9/11 event to shock Americans into compliance with imperialist policies.
They now occupy or control most important areas of the world in terms of resources and markets through bribery, collusion, threats, military occupation, military bases all over the world, and their control of financial institutions .
What we now have are global capitalists who recognize few national boundaries--they were mostly eliminated for capitalists by the "free trade" policies they have managed to impose on most of the world. Thus, they view Americans only as consumers, not as a society. In fact, they view most people in the world this way. Given that this class largely "owns" the means of production and distribution in the world, they no longer feel concern about any particular region of the world, unless, of course, it directly affects their profits. The US society means no more to them than does the Republic of Botswana. In fact, they prefer workers from Botswana because they will work for less wages and benefits.
Given all these accomplishments on behalf of the owning class, the political operatives are now ready and eager to dismantle the expensive social spending measures created by the New Deal that have sustained US working people through all the booms and busts of a capitalist casino economy. They have cleverly selected a "change" candidate who came wrapped in "minority" clothing to spearhead this effort. They have bamboozled the American public through their control over every significant societal institution and thereby produced a public that is mostly too dazed to think straight.
And, in case Americans should wake up and take action, the Empire's political operatives have in place very sophisticated surveillance systems, well-equipped police forces, stacked judiciaries, and an elaborate prison system to handle any opposition. This, I believe, is how they see the world and informs their policies accordingly.
They largely do not see the rot of doubt, questioning, and defiance that is taking hold in many populations all over the world. Or, they don't take these symptoms seriously; and finally, the dynamics of a capitalist system forces them to keep moving ahead because they instinctively know that if they stop, the system that lays their golden eggs of power and wealth will die.
Marshall Auerback has over 28 years’ experience in investment management.This writer is no anti-capitalist radical, but he is astute enough to realize what Keynesian capitalists have long realized that in order to rescue the system from its own contradictions then...
Cutting public spending at this juncture is the last thing the US government should be doing. Yet this President is pushing for the largest possible cuts that he can on the Federal government debt. He is out-Hoovering the GOP on this issue. He is providing “leadership” of the sort which is infuriating his base, but should endear him to the Tea Party. This is “the big thing” for Barack Obama, as opposed to maximizing the potential of his fellow Americans by seeking to eliminate the scourge of unemployment. Instead, his big idea is to become the president who did what George Bush could not, or did not, dare to do: cut Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. What more could the Tea Party possibly want?So, how can we understand the ruling class political operative's pursuit of what, at first glance, appears to be a self-destructive course of action? I think it is due to a combination of factors.
I think that these people have gotten away with so much since WWII that they are filled with the arrogance of power. They have nearly eliminated the power of unions, they have engaged in one foreign adventure after another and now have a world empire in their grasp, they have subverted and concentrated the media into a few, well-controlled hands, they have wiped away most opposition to their foreign wars by using a "war on terror" following what many knowledgeable people believe was largely a staged 9/11 event to shock Americans into compliance with imperialist policies.
They now occupy or control most important areas of the world in terms of resources and markets through bribery, collusion, threats, military occupation, military bases all over the world, and their control of financial institutions .
What we now have are global capitalists who recognize few national boundaries--they were mostly eliminated for capitalists by the "free trade" policies they have managed to impose on most of the world. Thus, they view Americans only as consumers, not as a society. In fact, they view most people in the world this way. Given that this class largely "owns" the means of production and distribution in the world, they no longer feel concern about any particular region of the world, unless, of course, it directly affects their profits. The US society means no more to them than does the Republic of Botswana. In fact, they prefer workers from Botswana because they will work for less wages and benefits.
Given all these accomplishments on behalf of the owning class, the political operatives are now ready and eager to dismantle the expensive social spending measures created by the New Deal that have sustained US working people through all the booms and busts of a capitalist casino economy. They have cleverly selected a "change" candidate who came wrapped in "minority" clothing to spearhead this effort. They have bamboozled the American public through their control over every significant societal institution and thereby produced a public that is mostly too dazed to think straight.
And, in case Americans should wake up and take action, the Empire's political operatives have in place very sophisticated surveillance systems, well-equipped police forces, stacked judiciaries, and an elaborate prison system to handle any opposition. This, I believe, is how they see the world and informs their policies accordingly.
They largely do not see the rot of doubt, questioning, and defiance that is taking hold in many populations all over the world. Or, they don't take these symptoms seriously; and finally, the dynamics of a capitalist system forces them to keep moving ahead because they instinctively know that if they stop, the system that lays their golden eggs of power and wealth will die.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Culture of Concealment: Corruption South Africa Style
Click here to access article by Danny Schechter from Global Research.
This is an important read for people who need to understand how capitalist elites strategize to control opposition to their rule. According to the narrative put out by Western media and educational institutions, the overthrow of the apartheid system in South Africa was a "successful struggle for freedom and democracy...one of the most dramatic stories of our time." (Ref. link)
In actuality, it became too expensive for the capitalist class to maintain this racial system of exploitation, and so they decided merely to co-opt black power activists into a more typical system of capitalism which is based on class exploitation--and it worked! Schlechter gives us the details.
This is an important read for people who need to understand how capitalist elites strategize to control opposition to their rule. According to the narrative put out by Western media and educational institutions, the overthrow of the apartheid system in South Africa was a "successful struggle for freedom and democracy...one of the most dramatic stories of our time." (Ref. link)
In actuality, it became too expensive for the capitalist class to maintain this racial system of exploitation, and so they decided merely to co-opt black power activists into a more typical system of capitalism which is based on class exploitation--and it worked! Schlechter gives us the details.
I never imagined that the “new” South Africa, a country that I, and so many millions around the world fought for, would succumb so quickly to deep and blatant corruption. Much of it had its origins in the private sector’s “helping”/bribing willing politicians.
Its painful for me to write about this because I have been a believer in South Africa’s potential as a “Rainbow Nation” that has a lot to teach the world.
The great billion dollar drug scam [Parts 1 and 2]
Click here to access article by Khadija Sharife from Al Jazeera.
Read part 2 here.
Khadija Sharife is a journalist and visiting scholar at the Center for Civil Society (CCS) based in South Africa, and a contributor to the Tax Justice Network. She is the Southern Africa correspondent for The Africa Report magazine, assistant editor of the Harvard ‘World Poverty and Human Rights’ journal and author of ‘Tax Us If You Can Africa’.I nearly missed this in-depth report "examining methods used by multinational drug corporations to control markets - and lives."
Read part 2 here.
Yes or No For a Climate-Killing Oil Pipeline -- and Obama Gets to Make the Call
Click here to access article by Bill McKibben from Tom Dispatch.
This noted environmentalist reports on plans for a new oil pipeline that will accelerate the transmission, and thus the production, of the dirtiest form of oil on earth. As you can see, this political liberal, by referring only to Obama, obscures the real decision makers and their system which makes such plans inevitable.
This noted environmentalist reports on plans for a new oil pipeline that will accelerate the transmission, and thus the production, of the dirtiest form of oil on earth. As you can see, this political liberal, by referring only to Obama, obscures the real decision makers and their system which makes such plans inevitable.
So there will be a battle, and there will be nothing complicated or abstract about it. It will be based on one question: Does that carbon stay in the earth, or does it pour into the atmosphere? Given the trillions of dollars at stake it will be a hard fight, and there’s no guarantee of victory. But at least there’s no fog here, no maze of technicalities.
Debt Political Theater Diverts Attention While Americans' Wealth is Stolen
Click here to access article by Dennis Kucinich from OpEd News.
This U.S. Representative from Ohio's 10th congressional district recognizes the reality of all the media hoopla currently being staged in Washington DC for what it is--political theater. And, this theatrical production is not even entertaining. It's mostly designed to frighten citizens and preparing them for more devastating cuts. And, it's designed to divert attention away from the one-sided class war that is going on throughout the US.
Some of you may be wondering why the ruling class allows such political renegades as Kucinich and Senator Bernie Sanders from Vermont to sit in the halls on Congress. I think there are basically two reasons. First, neither of them questions the system of capitalism. They only want to reform it. Second, the ruling class needs a few renegades in government to help create the illusion of diversity--this helps them sell their fake form of democracy.
This U.S. Representative from Ohio's 10th congressional district recognizes the reality of all the media hoopla currently being staged in Washington DC for what it is--political theater. And, this theatrical production is not even entertaining. It's mostly designed to frighten citizens and preparing them for more devastating cuts. And, it's designed to divert attention away from the one-sided class war that is going on throughout the US.
Some of you may be wondering why the ruling class allows such political renegades as Kucinich and Senator Bernie Sanders from Vermont to sit in the halls on Congress. I think there are basically two reasons. First, neither of them questions the system of capitalism. They only want to reform it. Second, the ruling class needs a few renegades in government to help create the illusion of diversity--this helps them sell their fake form of democracy.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
The Syntagma Experiment – Democracy From The Bottom Up
Click here to access article by JĂ©rĂ´me E. Roos from The New Significance.
Political scientist and author of this article offers his observations of Greek activists attempting to create a new form of inclusive democracy to replace the capitalist fake version of democracy called representative democracy where the representatives are controlled by the owners of economic property.
Political scientist and author of this article offers his observations of Greek activists attempting to create a new form of inclusive democracy to replace the capitalist fake version of democracy called representative democracy where the representatives are controlled by the owners of economic property.
What we are witnessing here in Athens — and in Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon, Paris, and hundreds of other squares around the continent — is a genuine experiment in direct, participatory democracy. Democracy from the bottom up. Democracy for and by the people. Democracy without representation, hierarchy or borders.
People's Assembles
Click here to access this website.
Activists all over the world are seeing the necessity to move beyond protests to start the challenging work of building a new type of society based on an inclusive democracy. This website is devoted to bringing those activists together and furthering their absolutely essential work. View their 11:31m video below as an excellent introduction, and then read their articles to find out what these activists are doing.
Israel expands its borders into Europe
Click here to access article by Dahr Jamail from Al Jazeera.
Read how Israelis are making extraordinary efforts, including sabotage of ships, to thwart Freedom Flotilla II from bringing humanitarian supplies through Israeli's criminal blockade of Gaza.
Read also how Flotilla "Activists prepare to set sail for Gaza".
Read how Israelis are making extraordinary efforts, including sabotage of ships, to thwart Freedom Flotilla II from bringing humanitarian supplies through Israeli's criminal blockade of Gaza.
Read also how Flotilla "Activists prepare to set sail for Gaza".
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
France Says NATO Bombing Has Failed
Click here to access article by Franklin Lamb from Information Clearing House.
If this young Libyan is correct, then the latest Empire invasion may be its Waterloo, or at least, a decisive turning point that will dramatically change the future chain of international events. Cracks are definitely appearing in the ranks of political actors within the Empire.
If this young Libyan is correct, then the latest Empire invasion may be its Waterloo, or at least, a decisive turning point that will dramatically change the future chain of international events. Cracks are definitely appearing in the ranks of political actors within the Empire.
“What your American government has done in the region to destroy yourselves since 9/11 is amazing to Libyans. Now you are going to fight us?The world was shocked when poorly armed Hizbollah led the Lebanese to fight the US armed-to-the-teeth Israelis to a draw a few years ago. Just think what inspiration other insurgents will get from a NATO defeat in Libya?
Why?
You already had all our oil you wanted at a bargain prices, we stupidly put our sovereign funds in US banks and we did not even bother Israel much. Every day that NATO bombs it kills more Libyan civilians.
We sacrificed nearly 1/3 of our population or more than one million of our brothers and sisters expelling the Italians 70 years ago. Doesn’t anyone in your government study history? We are not Bahrainis or Syrians. We are armed and will use our weapons. Among the errors our leadership has made, one of the worst is that it believed the US agreements we made in 2004. The Iranians and North Koreans laugh at us for trusting you and giving up nuclear and biological weapons programs. Believe me dear, if Qadaffi leaves power you will miss him because the Libyan people will be tougher against your projects than he has been.”
Thanks to Terry Everton and Dissident Voice where I found his cartoon.
This reminded me of a scene I witnessed just yesterday while shopping in a newly opened food market owned by a large corporation. I noticed a young woman working at an extremely fast pace arranging items on a shelf and exhibiting signs of fear. I recognized these signs immediately because I, too, have experienced that fear--the fear of losing one's job.
This reminded me of a scene I witnessed just yesterday while shopping in a newly opened food market owned by a large corporation. I noticed a young woman working at an extremely fast pace arranging items on a shelf and exhibiting signs of fear. I recognized these signs immediately because I, too, have experienced that fear--the fear of losing one's job.
The Fourth Estate is bankrupt
Click here to access article by William Bowles from his blog.
The recent hacking scandal by involving members of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp in Britain illustrates the close ties that big media corporations have with the political operatives of the ruling class and their combined role--the management of information available to ordinary citizens. This is precisely why we need WikiLeaks.
The recent hacking scandal by involving members of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp in Britain illustrates the close ties that big media corporations have with the political operatives of the ruling class and their combined role--the management of information available to ordinary citizens. This is precisely why we need WikiLeaks.
No wonder the word ‘toxic’ has been appearing with increasing frequency in the MSM, a word that parallels the state’s ‘loss of legitimacy’ in its significance. Such events put the fear of God in the ruling elite. Put the two together and you’d think that it would be obvious that it’s not only about corporate/state power ganging up to suppress knowledge of the unholy alliance that exists between Murdoch’s News Corp and the ruling political class. And not just News Corp. And not just the News of the World. And not just the current government, Labour had an equally comfortable, incestuous relationship with Murdoch’s empire. It’s about a global conglomerate, News Corp deciding what kind of government we get and of course, what kind of economy.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Deficit Reduction Versus Democracy
Click here to access article by Shamus Cooke from Global Research.
The author provides some insightful comments on the political theater in Washington DC where "The Budget Crisis" is currently being performed.
The author provides some insightful comments on the political theater in Washington DC where "The Budget Crisis" is currently being performed.
Listening to Congress debate deficit deduction is like listening to a den of lions discuss the welfare of zebras. In both cases the debate is very one-sided. Democrats and Republicans sound disagreeable on TV, but their arguments differ by the tiniest of degrees (like lions fighting over how best to eat a zebra.)
The zebras in this case are U.S. working people, who are not seeing their interests represented by their so-called representatives. Instead of fixing the national deficit in the way that the vast majority of Americans would like, only the opinions of a tiny minority of very rich people are being considered. Both political parties are uniting to reduce the deficits on the backs of working people.
The Great Unravelling
Click here to access article by Stephen Lendman from Counter Currents.
The neo-conservative policies begun most aggressively under Reagan are now dismantling American society. But then neo-conservatives like Margaret Thatcher stated quite openly that they believe "...there is no such thing as society. There are individual men and women, and there are families."(Margaret Thatcher) So, what we have today has followed their logic completely: a narrow strata of rich individuals and families and a huge population of unemployed and underemployed, and many others soon to follow into a human garbage dump. Society is being ripped to shreds.
Unless and until people stop listening to their ruling class media and submitting to their policies like sheep to the slaughterhouse, we will witness increasing scenes of crime, domestic violence, homelessness, police atrocities, prisons, drug addiction, etc. The descent into a social nightmare must stop, and stop soon.
The neo-conservative policies begun most aggressively under Reagan are now dismantling American society. But then neo-conservatives like Margaret Thatcher stated quite openly that they believe "...there is no such thing as society. There are individual men and women, and there are families."(Margaret Thatcher) So, what we have today has followed their logic completely: a narrow strata of rich individuals and families and a huge population of unemployed and underemployed, and many others soon to follow into a human garbage dump. Society is being ripped to shreds.
Unless and until people stop listening to their ruling class media and submitting to their policies like sheep to the slaughterhouse, we will witness increasing scenes of crime, domestic violence, homelessness, police atrocities, prisons, drug addiction, etc. The descent into a social nightmare must stop, and stop soon.
It's not hard seeing where this trend is heading. It portends hard times getting harder when many millions already lost jobs, steady incomes, homes and future prospects because governments at all levels plan tougher than ever conditions ahead to transfer more wealth to America's super-rich already with too much.
Popular Assemblies in Revolts and Revolutions
Click here to access article by Sveinung Legard from New Compass.
As societies within the Empire descend into chaos along with their neo-colonial regimes, people are increasingly realizing the necessity of taking back power in the form of popular assemblies. This author provides some perspectives on this phenomenon.
As societies within the Empire descend into chaos along with their neo-colonial regimes, people are increasingly realizing the necessity of taking back power in the form of popular assemblies. This author provides some perspectives on this phenomenon.
From the main square Puerto del Sol in Madrid, to Syntagma square in Athens, Rossio square in Lisbon and other central squares in major cities throughout Europe, popular assemblies have been convened to discuss pressing economic and political issues, to place demands on governments, and to decide on the future actions of these movements.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Why Do the Police Have Tanks? The Strange and Dangerous Militarization of the US Police Force
Click here to access article by Rania Khalek from AlterNet.
While most of the American populace shop and mindlessly listen to their boob tubes, the political operatives of the ruling class are preparing their forces to deal with citizens when they eventually wake up. Because they have nothing else to base their rule on, their faith in the use of violence to protect their system of capitalism, which has largely succeeded up till now in the rest of the world, will be coming home to the USA.
While most of the American populace shop and mindlessly listen to their boob tubes, the political operatives of the ruling class are preparing their forces to deal with citizens when they eventually wake up. Because they have nothing else to base their rule on, their faith in the use of violence to protect their system of capitalism, which has largely succeeded up till now in the rest of the world, will be coming home to the USA.
...why is it that local police departments are looking more and more like paramilitary units in a combat zone? The line between military and civilian law enforcement has been drawn for good reason, but following the drug war and more recently, the war on terror, that line is inconspicuously eroding, a trend that appears to be worsening by the decade.I think what we are now witnessing is a calm before the storm. I see people nearly everywhere in the US in denial regarding the lies of their Imperial country, about their fake democracy, and the grand illusions of consumer society.
The Zombie Shopping Empire Maintains "It Can't Happen Here"
Click here to access article by Jan Lundberg from Culture Change.
The author describes what I believe is the great calm before the storm.
The author describes what I believe is the great calm before the storm.
...as collapse approaches, the Grand Idiocy is increasingly about denying "it can't happen here" regarding social unrest. The seemingly oblivious masses, calm for now, may celebrate the Fourth of July, but holidays have become more of a respite from overwork and are rare instances of minimal convivial social interaction. The throngs of humanity on beaches on summer weekends, where people are generally getting along, is deceptive. No one seems to be conscious to the folly of "it can't happen here" pandemonium.Although the political operatives of the Empire are trying hard to get Americans to believe in their system, they know full well, like Brezinski, that the fundamental contradictions of capitalism and a sustainable planet will reach the point where only the ruling 1% will be able to survive in anything like decent conditions. They know full well that ordinary citizens are bound to wake up from their stupor--and when they do, the only salvation for this tiny ruling class is to use their means of violence to suppress dissent.
On flotillas and the law: civil society versus Israel lobbies in US and Europe
Click here to access article by Lawrence Davidson from Redress.
I have seen absolutely no mention in US mainstream media of Freedom Flotilla II to breech Israel's blockade of Gaza to starve out its inhabitants. Zionist influence remains supreme over the established media organs in the US and to a lesser extent in Europe. Despite the gross violations of international law by Israeli attempts to stop the flotilla, Western governments cooperate with their favorite heavily militarized outpost in the Middle East.
The Israeli writer Uri Avnery describes the paranoid state of Israeli citizens due to massive indoctrination by Israeli media.
I have seen absolutely no mention in US mainstream media of Freedom Flotilla II to breech Israel's blockade of Gaza to starve out its inhabitants. Zionist influence remains supreme over the established media organs in the US and to a lesser extent in Europe. Despite the gross violations of international law by Israeli attempts to stop the flotilla, Western governments cooperate with their favorite heavily militarized outpost in the Middle East.
When it comes to the struggle against Israel’s policies of oppression there are two conflicting levels: that of government and that of civil society. The most recent example of this duality is the half dozen or so small ships held captive in the ports of Greece. The ships, loaded with humanitarian supplies for the one and half million people of the Gaza Strip, are instruments of a civil society campaign against the inhumanity of the Israeli state. The forces that hold them back are the instruments of governments corrupted by special interest influence and political bribery.Meanwhile the Israeli state is taking extraordinary measures to prevent this flotilla from reaching Gaza. See Dahr Jamail's excellent coverage here, here, and here.
The Israeli writer Uri Avnery describes the paranoid state of Israeli citizens due to massive indoctrination by Israeli media.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Extreme weather link 'can no longer be ignored'
Click here to access article by Steve Connor, Science Editor from The Independent.
Like addicts, capitalists use every psychological trick to deceive themselves and us: denial, pretending to do something about the problem (e.g.,carbon pricing schemes, running ads on TV touting the development of some new exotic energy source like algae), or simply ignoring the problem.
Watch a good parody of climate change denial presented by Bill McKibben and Stephen Thomson:
Scientists are to end their 20-year reluctance to link climate change with extreme weather – the heavy storms, floods and droughts which often fill news bulletins – as part of a radical departure from a previous equivocal position that many now see as increasingly untenable.The unstable climate is a result of drug addicted actions of capitalist elites who in their mad pursuit of profits must turn every fossil fuel they can find into energy needed to make things that can be sold regardless of their necessity to sustain human life. Meanwhile the consumption of this form of energy is loading our planet's atmosphere and oceans with carbon and destroying the planet's ecosystem.
Like addicts, capitalists use every psychological trick to deceive themselves and us: denial, pretending to do something about the problem (e.g.,carbon pricing schemes, running ads on TV touting the development of some new exotic energy source like algae), or simply ignoring the problem.
Watch a good parody of climate change denial presented by Bill McKibben and Stephen Thomson:
The FBI's Next Generation Identification: Bigger and Faster but Much Worse for Privacy
Click here to access article by Jennifer Lynch from Electronic Frontier Foundation.
It appears that the FBI is building a huge database on all of us by accessing many governmental department files --of course, in the name of fighting terrorism.
It appears that the FBI is building a huge database on all of us by accessing many governmental department files --of course, in the name of fighting terrorism.
This week, the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) and several other organizations released documents from a FOIA lawsuit that expose the concerted efforts of the FBI and DHS to build a massive database of personal and biometric information. This database, called “Next Generation Identification” (NGI), has been in the works for several years now. However, the documents CCR posted show for the first time how FBI has taken advantage of the DHS Secure Communities program and both DHS and the State Department’s civil biometric data collection programs to build out this $1 billion database.
Revolution is A Legitimate Option
Click here to access article by Timothy Gatto from OpEd News.
The author argues that US citizens are justified in seeking a revolutionary change from the present form of government because it has become destructive of the "unalienable Rights [of citizens] that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
The author argues that US citizens are justified in seeking a revolutionary change from the present form of government because it has become destructive of the "unalienable Rights [of citizens] that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
Friday, July 8, 2011
Debt Ceiling Charade a Move to the Right [9:28m video]
Click here to access video interview on Real News Network conducted by Paul Jay with economist Michael Hudson.
Hudson talks about what I think of as the "good cop, bad cop" strategy that the current political operatives are using via Obama to slash more public benefits.
I see Obama and Rep. Boehner as merely the starring actors in this drama. The reason why the capitalist political party of Democrats selected Obama for their Presidential candidate was because they saw him as a gifted orator and a "minority" person that would have widespread appeal among the naive electorate, but someone they could trust to carry on their agenda. He has not disappointed them.
Of course, Hudson is no radical: he would like to see capitalism reformed. But, that is something like trying to train a wolf to become a vegetarian.
Hudson talks about what I think of as the "good cop, bad cop" strategy that the current political operatives are using via Obama to slash more public benefits.
I see Obama and Rep. Boehner as merely the starring actors in this drama. The reason why the capitalist political party of Democrats selected Obama for their Presidential candidate was because they saw him as a gifted orator and a "minority" person that would have widespread appeal among the naive electorate, but someone they could trust to carry on their agenda. He has not disappointed them.
Of course, Hudson is no radical: he would like to see capitalism reformed. But, that is something like trying to train a wolf to become a vegetarian.
Alternatives
Click here to access article by Dennis Kelleher from Rebel Capitalist.
This TINA religion has been bad for workers. But yet we’ve brainwashed into thinking there is no alternative or that anything else is bad. TINA has a very good propaganda machine behind it.
There are examples all over the world and in even in the U.S.of alternatives to this TINA religion. Examples where people and workers matter more than short-term profit and exploitation of the environment. Examples where the way of doing business is more conducive to democracy than TINA.
Dante's Slope
Click here to access article by David Glenn Cox from OpEd News.
Mr. Cox tells us about his journey from the middle-class into the hell of unemployment, a descent that many of his fellow Americans are also experiencing. Unlike many others he appears to be coping well. He has a place to stay, he fights back with articles like this, and finds a few rewards by being out of the system of wage/salary slavery. Shorn of his property, his things, and his economically secure status, he appears to be a better human being because of his ordeal. Read his story.
Mr. Cox tells us about his journey from the middle-class into the hell of unemployment, a descent that many of his fellow Americans are also experiencing. Unlike many others he appears to be coping well. He has a place to stay, he fights back with articles like this, and finds a few rewards by being out of the system of wage/salary slavery. Shorn of his property, his things, and his economically secure status, he appears to be a better human being because of his ordeal. Read his story.
I have been at loose ends now for two, could it be going on three years? Without a phone or an address to call my own, I have access to these things but they aren't mine. For the last six months I have been staying like Dick Cheney, in an undisclosed location. I wonder now, if I've become a gentleman of the road? I've been placing an ad in Craigslist offering to do day labor, I've built fences, stained decks, built brick retaining walls. No job application, credit check or drug testing needed. We talk, we meet, I do the job, I get paid and I go on my way.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
In U.S. Monetary Policy, a Boon to Banks
Click here to access article by Jesse Eisinger from Pro Publica.
Banking is the biggest scam of all scams, and it has been a key industry for the most powerful capitalists since the beginning of capitalism. One of the first acts of the American capitalists such as Hamilton and financier Morris and with Washington's approval (these people are often referred to reverently as "our Founding Fathers") following the US War of Independence from Britain was to establish a central bank.
We have all been brainwashed into thinking that the founding of our nation was to establish "democracy" here in North America. The American Revolution was sold to the public as such, but they soon learned what the War of Independence was really about--to give freedom to plunder the continent to the local capitalists in North America free from any restrictions of the British Crown.
Once this was achieved, local capitalists and rich investors from all over Europe joined in the plunder. Working people (mostly farmers) fought back in such insurrections as Shay's Rebellion and the Whiskey Rebellion, but they were soon crushed through the use of force. (If youreducation indoctrination was like mine, you learned very little about these events. To learn more of the reality, I suggest you read Unruly Americans by Woody Holton and The Whiskey Rebellion by William Hogeland.)
What we actually have is a capitalist banking system, backed by a socialist system, that benefits a limited number of people, that the rest of the taxpayers support.Eisinger explains the truth of this comment that was posted by John Lucas following the article.
Banking is the biggest scam of all scams, and it has been a key industry for the most powerful capitalists since the beginning of capitalism. One of the first acts of the American capitalists such as Hamilton and financier Morris and with Washington's approval (these people are often referred to reverently as "our Founding Fathers") following the US War of Independence from Britain was to establish a central bank.
We have all been brainwashed into thinking that the founding of our nation was to establish "democracy" here in North America. The American Revolution was sold to the public as such, but they soon learned what the War of Independence was really about--to give freedom to plunder the continent to the local capitalists in North America free from any restrictions of the British Crown.
Once this was achieved, local capitalists and rich investors from all over Europe joined in the plunder. Working people (mostly farmers) fought back in such insurrections as Shay's Rebellion and the Whiskey Rebellion, but they were soon crushed through the use of force. (If your
Empire of bases
Click here to access article by Nick Turse from Voltaire Net.
The cost of establishing and maintain these bases must be astronomical, and thus must be hidden from view--not even discussed as an issue in mainstream media. The many cutbacks in education, Social Security, welfare, and public services are needed to sustain these bases and the power of the ruling class.
The United States boasts hundreds of military bases around the world, perhaps even thousands, constituting a planetary military deployment of a sort never before seen in history. Yet no one knows exactly how many. Everywhere it has a military base, the U.S. is able to swing the necessary political, economic and coercive power to impose its will. But as the U.S. economy shrinks, so will inevitably its empire of bases and its shadowy military footprint, predicts Nick Turse.It is precisely these arsenals of violence to enforce their demands on the rest of the world that informs the arrogant policies of the US and international ruling class of capitalists. Should their organs of propaganda, methods of co-optation, loans and "foreign aid" fail to sustain their policies, they are ready to use violence to enforce their rule as they are currently demonstrating in Afghanistan/Pakistan. This dependence upon violence to have their way is also a weakness because they depend upon the sons and daughters of working people to use these weapons.
The cost of establishing and maintain these bases must be astronomical, and thus must be hidden from view--not even discussed as an issue in mainstream media. The many cutbacks in education, Social Security, welfare, and public services are needed to sustain these bases and the power of the ruling class.
The Powers of Manipulation: Islam as a Geopolitical Tool to Control the Middle East
Click here to access article by Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya from Empire Strikes Back.
As Washington and its cohorts march towards the Eurasian Heartland, they have tried to manipulate Islam as a geo-political tool. They have created political and social chaos in the process. Along the way they have tried to redefine Islam and to subordinate it to the interests of global capital by ushering in a new generation of so-called Islamists, chiefly amongst the Arabs.The author provides a good explanation of the general strategy that the political operatives of the Empire are using to control that area of the world. But, can they contain the newly aroused democratic aspirations of the people?
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