Who Will Rule? Citizens Movements Take On Corporate Power
Monday, April 07, 2008
Corporate power lies behind nearly every major problem we face-from stagnant wages and unaffordable health care to overconsumption and global warming. In some cases, it is the cause of the problem; in other cases, corporate power is a barrier to system-wide solutions. This dominance of corporate power is so pervasive, it has come to seem inevitable. We take it so much for granted, we fail to see it. Yet it is preventing solutions to some of the most pressing problems of our time...
After watching America: Freedom to Fascism! - It is hard for me to not associate the ignorance of these people with our direction away from the founding fathers.
Reproduction is the single most important aspect of humanity because without it we could not continue. If you consider humanity as a single organism like I do, reproduction is life. It is the means in which we as a whole continue to live.
I think abortion is a terrible thing. To end the possibility of a new life should be unheard of. However, we live in an unperfect world where our culture simply is not educated and sophisticated enough to have the social structures that makes abortions non-existent.
I do dream of a society like that. A society without money, yes without money. A society that has few priorities which includes happiness, self improvement and self expression. Imagine.
In a world where we are forced to earn money to survive, where we are lied to as part of the masses, where we are ignorant by design of our policies, a woman must have the choice to choose when to have a baby. That was made more clear today then ever before through some words by a Canadian abortion doctor Garson Romalis on Jan. 25 in Why I am an abortion doctor.
This is a great article! It explains why Japan and now Europe are more technologically advanced then the US. Why the US is falling behind in education, production... you name it!
...in the current fiscal year (2008) we are spending insane amounts of money on "defense" projects that bear no relationship to the national security of the United States. Simultaneously, we are keeping the income tax burdens on the richest segments of the American population at strikingly low levels.
...we continue to believe that we can compensate for the accelerating erosion of our manufacturing base and our loss of jobs to foreign countries through massive military expenditures - so-called "military Keynesianism", which I discuss in detail in my book Nemesis: The Last Days of the American Republic. By military Keynesianism, I mean the mistaken belief that public policies focused on frequent wars, huge expenditures on weapons and munitions, and large standing armies can indefinitely sustain a wealthy capitalist economy. The opposite is actually true.
...American strategists began to build up a massive munitions industry, both to counter the military might of the Soviet Union (which they consistently overstated) and also to maintain full employment as well as ward off a possible return of the Depression.
It is often believed that wars and military spending increases are good for the economy. In fact, most economic models show that military spending diverts resources from productive uses, such as consumption and investment, and ultimately slows economic growth and reduces employment.
It is, of course, impossible to know what innovations never appeared as a result of this diversion of resources and brainpower into the service of the military, but it was during the 1960s that we first began to notice Japan was outpacing us in the design and quality of a range of consumer goods, including household electronics and automobiles.
quality of being brave: the ability to face danger, difficulty, uncertainty, or pain without being overcome by fear or being deflected from a chosen course of action.
That is what it takes! I just showed Part 2 of The ZEITGEIST Movie to someone close to me and he asked me, "So what can we do", a very courageous moment, but short lived. He then said, "You know what, I think it's best that we all just live out our lives, there is nothing we can do."
I understand it's hard, so I'll leave it at that. As for me, I refuse to sit idle by. I'm not sure what I can do, but I know I can start by sharing what I've seen and see if my peers see this as something serious. Now that I'm aware of the mere possibility of lies, lies everywhere I can begin to recognize if the lies are truly there or not.
A year or two ago I heard a prominent atheist say that Secular Americans as a society are currently where the gays were in the late 60s right before or right after the Stonewall Riots.
I was very excited to hear this as a homosexual living in America not having the right to adopt or marry. I know how important rights are and how public awareness decreases ignorance and allows people of different walks to stop fearing others around them based on their differences.
Being an Atheist in America can be dangerous depending on where you live. I'm glad I live in a tolerant part of the country.
I see this as the beginnings of a nationwide Freethought, Coming out. I am personally out to everyone I know about my atheism and my homosexuality. I've also helped many people feel confident enough to come out about their homosexuality. I'm so proud :)
The United States was a much greater nation than it is now. I say that because I think we've lost our way. This war we're in, the way we carry ourselves, it's not going in the best direction. That are millions of reasons why that is, and I've said it before, a major reason is the way we perceive capitalism. I'm no commi, but I think things have to improve. This two part interview with Benjamin R. Barber sounds very realistic to me. I suggest you watch it.
He does a very good job of saying that we the citizens are ultimately responsible of how we reward capitalism. We can make capitalism tend to our needs vs us tending to its needs with our never ending buy, buy, buy mentality.
Most people believe that the World Trade Center Towers collapsed because of the two airplanes that few into them.
I've seen lots of evidence showing otherwise. Below are the best explanations I've seen. I believe this was an inside job. Before some of you go off accusing me of being a conspiracy theorist, think about how the media has conditioned you to discount any skeptical information that is against what the government says is true by simply saying the words "Conspiracy Theory".
Here are some other great sources (Move your mouse over the thumbnails to see their titles)
As a homosexual atheist I admit I greet anything that makes the Christian Right look bad with open arms. So when Chris Hedges put the Christian Right in the same sentence with the word Fascist, my ears perked up.
This short interview with him on his new book, American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America, is incredible. Their attempt to legislate their hatred towards scientific fact and homosexuality is just the beginning according to Chris.
I ran across this, this morning from Diana Walker's "The Bigger Picture".
They are laughing so hard that it makes me want to cry from joy.
PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON AND PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN - The two Presidents come out of Franklin Roosevelt’s Hyde Park estate to meet the press following a summit meeting on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the United Nations, October 23, 1995. "This is when I’m howling. Yeltsin says to the press, ‘You think I’m ridiculous. You think we’re ridiculous. But you’re ridiculous!’ I was laughing so hard because Yeltsin loved a good laugh. And he was one of those politicians that could get away with saying something the rest of us could never say. Telling the American press and the world press they were ridiculous-he made them laugh about it, too. We were all laughing. That was Yeltsin’s special quality. He could do that." -Bill Clinton, 2002.
I can't believe it. I simply can't believe this story. It is no doubt the beginning of a potential we've all seen before. It seems to always poke it's ugly head, Fascism
We're living in a most interesting era. We not only have to beware of an ever fascist government, but now we must contend with the naive, ignorant and ill-informed people who support these dangerous policies.
I suggest that everyone who recognizes these policies for the fascism they really are make contingency plans for when conversations like these are no longer possible without some risk of retribution. Learn now whom the persons are that you can trust. Learn now how to fool your way into fascist circles and how to best spy on them for the benefit of your brothers and sisters in freedom. Arm yourselves now. It is your right. Speak out now. It is your duty.
This is not a drill. Whatever this government turns out to be we will all have to live under it for several decades. Tyranny is not a myth and it does not discriminate. The freedom we've been so fortunate to live under is a historical anomaly made possible by the blood of millions of brave souls before us and extreme political turmoil. It may come to pass that we in turn must fight and die for the freedom of our future generations. That is not something to look forward to. It is not something to be taken lightly. But we must perform our duty, if need be.
The right to just insurrection is unalienable. The right to just insurrection is unalienable. The right to just insurrection is unalienable. The right to just insurrection is unalienable. The right to just insurrection is unalienable.
Do not be made to fear invoking your rights. Whomever they arrest, do not let that intimidate you into silence. The truth will keep us free so long as the brave are willing to give it a voice. Live Free or Die.
As I read the article, I can't help but agree how well it compares to the current situation in the US with our "war on terrorism".
War is useful in keeping the population in a state of fear and therefore trustful of their rulers. H.L. Mencken said it best:
The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.
As I always thought, anyone who declares war, wants war to begin with. Rarely if ever must a country go to war.
I really don't know what to say. Not even sure how to approach this. I think the begging question is where do we as a nation draw the line between what we should tolerate when it comes to irrational behavior, religious or not.
Religious belief is irrational by definition and under the protection of privacy and freedom, as it very well should be. Yet, it isn't tollerated when it leaves the realm of privacy which is usually where religious irrationality clashes in our culture.
So let me put myself in their shoes. Let's say that my worldview opposed something, such as the policy prevening gay's from being considered civily equal to heterosexuals in terms of civil union. I would gladly protest on this issue.
So what makes me different than this religious group? Lets see.
I would protest to the governing body responsible for this policy, not a person not responsible for the policy.
My protest would be based on a rational argument that shows at it's core that the policy is unconstitutional and based primarily on religious dogma and no other social predicament.
... just to name a few.
So if your beliefs are not based on something a rational person can understand, that belief should not be a basis for a protest.
Maybe this is too strong a line to draw. It might be too intollerant of me. If so, please tell me how. I know I'm bias when it comes to these topics...
Apparently there two sides to this whole debacle. Those who believe there is an omnipotent being watching over us, and those who don't see evidence for such a being.
It is hard to believe this omnipotent being would allow such misery.
Here are a few arguments made by those you believe. They so funny!
ARGUMENT FROM SCIENTISTS
Some famous scientists believed in God.
Therefore, God exists.
ARGUMENT FROM QUANTUM PHYSICS
Quantum physics uses an uncertainty principle.
There is room for God.
Therefore, God exists.
ARGUMENT FROM WOW
"When I look into the sky and see all the pretty stars, all those galaxies..."
Wow.
Therefore, God exists.
ARGUMENT FROM CHRISTIAN EXPERTS ARE IGNORED
Dembski, Behe and Plantinga are ignored by mainstream intellectuals.
Only a fear of the truth could explain this.
Therefore, God exists.
ARGUMENT FROM CHRISTIAN EXPERTS ARE NOT IGNORED
Mainstream intellectuals are paying some attention to Dembski, Behe and Plantinga.
Only a growing recognition of the truth could explain this.
What a surprise, AT&T is suddenly involved in what could be a class action lawsuit accusing AT&T of illegal monopoly practices with it's latest exclusive venture with Apple's iPhone.
Personally, AT&T is an evil company that conspires with the government breaking any privacy one might hope to have with their telecommunication carrier. (AT&T rewrites rules: Your data isn't yours)
This is no surprise from AT&T, but Apple's involvement really makes me think twice about switching to an Apple computer, an idea I've been entertaining for some time now. Might be a negative move on my part.
I found these very interesting set of articles on Marijuana. I can't believe how backwards or slow the government is in making Marijuana legal.
I can't say I knew for sure from experience, but I'm glad that Marijuana is not like other drugs that causes the brain to produce more Dopamine. Drugs that affect dopamine production produce addiction because the human brain is genetically conditioned to adjust behavior to maximize dopamine production.
The evidence shows that, YES, people can be that dumb. OK, now that we've established that, I wonder, how the hell is someone that dumb even eligible for an award of Miss America? I hear she won 3rd place!
Look, I understand that everyone is different and some of us are either unable or less educated than others, but how did she even get where she is? Where is the integrity?
Business-Week's Ten Likely Events in 2008
