Forum Post: What is 'conservatism' when only The Parasite Class' interests are protected at all costs & everything else is left to perish ?!
Posted 11 years ago on Oct. 25, 2012, 5:03 p.m. EST by shadz66
(19985)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
There was once a time when political 'conservatism' meant roughly what the word implies - attempts to keep things as they are and to prevent economic and societal change in order to defend the interests of the dominant class. However nowadays, 'conservatism' has mutated into quite a different phenomenon though its purpose is still to maintain the position of the dominant class and their corporations.
It's no longer enough to merely own the Land and most of the Capital and to own the media and via the corrupted system of 'party funding' - to own the 'political system'. In order to restore Dickensian levels of inequality, the crazed 'elites' now seek to reverse what political progress has been made in the last hundred years. This particularly involves dismantling any tax system that may redistribute wealth and it means trashing any rules that may prevent 'the powerful' from acting just as they please. Nowhere is the mantra of 'deregulation' more destructive than in the treatment of the natural world.
In the UK, the Right Wing, 'Conservative'/'Liberal Democrat' alliance government has published a list of environmental regulations which it aspires to remove. Amongst the regulations to be removed or diminished are those for controlling hazardous waste, air pollution and contaminated land. Regulations are the means by which modern 'civilised' societies resolve their internal conflicts and it prevents the selfish and the most powerful from spoiling the lives of others. Ministers describe deregulation as "the shrinking of the state", whereas in reality it is the 'Shrinking of Democracy' !!
This kind of 'conservatism' has no regard for what is destroyed. It does not care whom it hurts. It will sacrifice entire species and ecosystems rather than contemplate the slightest check on its own self-interest - as everything else is left to perish !
Also please consider :
http://wagingnonviolence.org/2012/01/how-swedes-and-norwegians-broke-the-power-of-the-1-percent/ ;
http://www.monbiot.com/2012/01/06/why-libertarians-must-deny-climate-change/ &
http://truth-out.org/speakout/item/12014-the-war-of-extraction .
respice, adspice, prospice ...
This is the whole crux of the matter, isn’t it? Conservatives no longer look to conserve anything, not even the things they used to care about, lol. They merely seek to consume…..everything! Everyone’s job, everyone’s health, everyone’s money, the earth’s resources, the earth’s diversity, and on and on. Consumptionists should be their new name. They make like they are oh so careful with budgets and money, but meanwhile they are debilitating our environment, as you point out, and creating poverty and suffering on levels not seen in 50 years. A few more links to add to your excellent ones:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/oct/25/climate-change-david-attenborough
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/climate-of-doubt/
Re. "CLIMATE OF DOUBT" (PBS / 'FRONTLINE'), an alternative lInk :
Your excellent and very timely link to this very recent documentary is really appreciated (by me in the very least !) but it is not available in all regions, hence this above alternative YouTube link.
If anyone thinks Mitt Romney’s recent threats against PBS were actually about budgets or 'Big Bird' - think again. The reason that the 'conservative' rightwing hates PBS is that sometimes it commits the unpardonable sin of journalism, lol.
“Climate of Doubt” the “Frontline” documentary that aired Tuesday (23rd Oct.12) night on PBS, explores how a movement has mobilized to undermine public acceptance of the scientific consensus on global warming and on how human activity contributes to climate change. The conservative 'Heartland Institute' has played a prominent role in seeking to discredit climate science.
Four years ago, the presidential candidates agreed that climate change was a critical issue demanding urgent attention. However that national call to action has disappeared and in the past four years public opinion on the issue of climate has cooled as people worries have centred on The Economy and/or The Imperial Wars. This election cycle, the R&D presidential candidates barely discussed climate change.
Only Jill Stein really addresses the matter and of course she and the other alternative candidates are totally marginalised by The Corporate MSM. New studies find that only about half of Americans believe global warming is caused by human activity. In "Climate of Doubt", the 'Frontline' correspondent John Hockenberry, explores what is behind this dramatic reversal and looks at the inner workings of the movement that changed the debate on climate change.
Thanx 'bw' for your excellent and thought provoking comment and your fantastic first link references Sir David Attenborough, who's mellifluous and dulcet tones have - for 60 years, graced many a BBC Natural History documentary and who is like everyone's favourite uncle in the UK. From your excellent link :
"The current financial crisis has made it problematic for politicians to show leadership on climate change, Attenborough acknowledged. "Well it's a very difficult time to do it [show leadership]. In times of recession, it's a very difficult time to advance these arguments [on the urgency of tackling climate change] that mean you have to spend even more money and take money from taxes to do things," he said.
"Yet he also warned that it was becoming clear the impacts of climate change were worst than had been expected. Talking about the record Arctic sea ice melt this summer, he said: "The situation is worse than we thought [in the Arctic]. The processes of melting are more volatile than we thought. More complicated. The ice cap is really melting faster than we thought."
Btw, 'bw' re."Consumptionists should be their new name.", lol ! 'Consumption' was an old synonym for 'TB' & I think that 'consumptionism' may well be a deadly, contagious psychopathology!! Also consider :
e tenebris, lux ...
I fear if we don't heed Attenborough's warnings we will be in deep trouble, probably already are. Being penny wise and dollar foolish is never a good thing. Not spending the money now to protect the environment will only cost much much more later.
Too funny, re: TB. LOLOL. I know consumptionist is not really the right word, but hey, that's what they are doing. Consumer just doesn't cut if for me. LOL. These folks are much more than mere consumers.
And that truth-out article is excellent in outlining the myths of poverty. Shame on those who cling to them.
Re. The Ideology of the New Right & from the "why libertarians must deny climate change" link, in my 'forum-post' above : "It is a pitiless, one-sided, mechanical view of the world, which elevates the rights of property over everything else, meaning that those who possess the most property end up with great power over others. Dressed up as freedom, it is a formula for oppression and bondage. It does nothing to address inequality, hardship or social exclusion. A transparently self-serving vision, it seeks to justify the greedy and selfish behaviour of those with wealth and power."
Regarding Sir David Attenborough ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Attenborough ), he is Lord Richard Attenborough's (Actor/Director - 'Gandhi' etc.) younger brother and is very famous in the UK. He finally came out about 'Climate Change' only recently after he was totally sure of the science, knowing many millions in the UK would respect what he had to say on the matter and yes, we really should take heed.
Finally, from the 'truth-out' article - "rather than addressing the unethical business practices of extracting wealth from workers' labor with less than subsistence-level wages, the "get an education" mantra tells the poor that they should only expect to be treated with dignity once they have earned a college-degree. Both ignoring the working poor, and assuming the solution to the working poor's poverty is education, functions to disappear the routine, systematic exploitation of the poor for the benefit of CEOs and investors".
ad iudicium ...
Also, re: "Climate of Doubt,"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMTVGBGs_40
For those short on time, this documentary gets really interesting around the 33 minute mark when Hockenberry studies a few politicians and the politics surrounding global warming. Really interesting.
"Climate of Doubt" describes the 'Libertarian' individuals and groups behind a well organized effort to attack science by actually undermining scientists and to try to unseat politicians who say they believe there is current climate change caused by human activity. This film also investigates the funding which powers the sceptic movement in the name of free market, anti-regulation, small government causes and finds that funding has shifted away from fossil fuel companies to more ideological & less public sources.
So who are these 'free market think tanks' & 'institutes' behind this pseudo-libertarian crusade ?
I agree with your point and again thoroughly recommend this documentary to all readers, as it seeks to bring some light to this very important matter. As well as thoroughly recommending the Phil Rockstroh article below in my reply to 'Nev1', I append these two links :
http://climatedenial.org/ &
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change_denial .
Finally, with an eye to our 'bw', I inclde this last link for your consideration :
verb. sat. sap. ...
Maybe "think" tanks is not the appropriate word.
Thanks for the great links, as usual, especially the Parenti article. So much to think about there. We tend to think about capitalism, or at least I do, in economic terms, but really it is raping and pillaging the planet in a way that will soon be irreversible. The environmental concerns are maybe even more deleterious to human beings than the economic issues.
In order to maintain the present status quo - "Invitation to 'not think' tanks" ?! Or re. 'war & empire' - "OTT - Only Think Tanks", as in tracks & turrets on someone else's lawn ?!!
"Donor's Trust" ; "The Heritage Foundation" ; "Americans for Prosperity" ; "Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow" ; 'Citizens for Apple-Pie and Motherhood' [sic] - who are these people, who funds them, what is their agenda and we ask ... cui bono ?!!!
From Parenti's very good article, "(The) environment cannot defend itself. It is up to us to protect it - or what’s left of it. But all The Superrich want is to keep transforming living nature into commodities and commodities into dead capital. Impending ecological disasters are of no great moment to the corporate plunderers. Of living nature they have no measure. Wealth becomes addictive. Fortune only whets the appetite for still more fortune. There is no end to the amount of money one might wish to accumulate, driven onward by the 'auri sacra fames', the cursed hunger for gold. So the money addicts grab more and more for themselves, more than can be spent in a thousand lifetimes of limitless indulgence, driven by what begins to resemble an obsessional pathology, a monomania that blots out every other human consideration. They are more wedded to their wealth than to the Earth upon which they all live, more concerned about the fate of their fortunes than the fate of humanity, so possessed by their pursuit of profit as to not see the disaster looming ahead."
http://www.michaelparenti.org/index.html and ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Mio5-zXZnI !
sic transit gloria mundi ...
"They are more wedded to their wealth than to the Earth upon which they all live, more concerned about the fate of their fortunes than the fate of humanity, so possessed by their pursuit of profit as to not see the disaster looming ahead."
And, thanks for the tune, ;). True and sweet.
Given your clearly well chosen moniker and your <3 centred politics & planetary thoughts and feelings :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSlqUiF-Vv8 (re. JS) and -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxHG3jUqdQ0 (re. OWS) !
pax, amor et lux ...
Wow, Shadz. You outdid yourself with that second link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxHG3jUqdQ0
I implore everyone here to watch this short, moving video, "The Revolution is Love" about Occupy Wall Street. He lays it all out perfectly. Wow.
A couple of quotes from the video:
“Everybody wants to live a life of meaning.”
“An economist says that essentially more for you is less for me. The lover knows that more for you is more for me.”
The Jill Stein piece was very good too, lolol.
"I implore everyone here to watch this short, moving video, "The Revolution is Love" about Occupy Wall Street.". Thanx & ditto 'bw' et ergo : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxHG3jUqdQ0 "Anything that people can articulate can only be articulated within the language of current discourse and that entire political discourse is already too small".
Thus, I'd suggest that we need to expand the debate and push the envelope for a more holistic approach to the problems we all face - rich or poor, wherever we are on in this Good Earth - our beautiful world ; delicate eco-system and Shared Only Hommme ~*~
Economist, teacher and diplomat John Kenneth Galbraith, said that : "The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy ; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness." & Oxford Professor Richard Dawkins, offers the advice : "Let's try to teach generosity and altruism, because we are born selfish." & so in keeping with the themes of this thread :
fiat justitia ruat caelum ...
Thanks for all you do here, Shadz. It is truly moving to know that there are so many good people out there, including you. So when, hope seems lost, it once again springs eternal. I love the quotes from Galbraith and Dawkins because there is so much truth there. Now, if only we can turn things around and do what you say we need to do, "...expand the debate and push the envelope for a more holistic approach to the problems we all face - rich or poor, wherever we are on in this Good Earth - our beautiful world ; delicate eco-system and Shared Only Hommme ~*~." Yes.
Let's establish enclaves of Good Earth belief.
Places where we can go to observe and learn and refresh and redress.
They don't need to be perfect; they just need to be on the road to being what they need to be; producing something for the people that doesn't carry a logo or a memo or a gmo or a profit fucking margin.
It just is.
Very well said, builder. We need a society that functions for the greater good and an economic system that benefits all people and we need to keep thinking about ways to bring this about.
Answering the above here 'B' and your very welcome & further, please consider :
I hope you enjoyed the 'OccuDoc' as much as I did and I used to make films too. First on good old fashioned Super8 and then later on Beta & VHS tape. These days of course, anyone with a phone is a putative film maker and that is a good thing. Hope you decide to use your kit again & onyer mate ;-)
pax et lux ...
Consider : "American Autumn - An Occudoc" ; http://vimeo.com/47690515 .
This feature length documentary on the Occupy movement not only offers answers for those who continue to ask : “what does the occupy movement stand for ? What are our demands ?” - it offers a challenge and an invitation to engage with the movement.
A year after the birth of the Occupy Wall Street movement in New York City, writer, director and producer Dennis Trainor, Jr. has made a full-length feature documentary capturing the fervour and passion that spread through the nation in Autumn 2011, fuelled a street revolution and introduced the concept of “The 99%” to define the corporate greed that has crippled the US. "American Autumn" lets the protesters and organizers tell in their own words why they joined the protests and what they hoped to accomplish.Thanx for your gracious comment and also for all that you do too bw & SOLIDARITY !!!
fiat lux ...
It is really important to step back and remember why we are here. We need to stay focused because it is easy to get sidetracked by things like the presidential election that really are not going to bring the change we need.
Thanks Shadz. Watching now.
Just posted this video to all the other sites I visit.
The production gives me a guilt trip about not getting back into the indie film game myself. I have the equipment. Just need to get into it again.
ows = phoney " movement", phoney people.
Absolutely - we can turn our back on the economy and do something completely different at the drop of a hat - the environment however - not so much.
Hello America
More like goodbye, America, sadly.
earth abides , the continents drift slowly
American is named after an Italian Map Maker
Insane Death Wish???
Gosh !!! Ouch !! Harsh but true ?!
Also in keeping with your insightful and acerbic observation : "Profit Pathology and Disposable Planet", by Michael Parenti : http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article27571.htm .
multum in parvo ...
Thanks for the article link = http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article27571.htm
Greed/insanity = we gotta make huge profits or go out of business - so I guess if it means killing ourselves to make a profit - so be it.
Fiscal growth <=> Human death.
Pretty sure that's the intent of the oligarchs anyways.
Can't have all these consumers consuming forever, can we?
Well as long as they are planning to check out at the same time - otherwise who is gonna make and do stuff for them?
Good point. Don't quote me on this, but I believe the southern hemisphere will be in the clear, while the north will be too irradiated to support life.
The doldrums and airflow around the equator will keep the two hemispheres hermetically separated. The capture of Libya's immense Nubian aquifer is part of the plan.
Nah - they'll frack that up as well ( Libyan aquifer ). Those in the southern hemisphere will still have wild weather to contend with as well as solar radiation from the depleted ozone layer.
Yes, we had five states declared disaster areas from flooding, all at the same time last year. Mind you, we only have six states and two territories.
That's why I moved into the mountains.
Just remember if the earth does a sudden shift ( magnetic pole reversal ) that you may want to be further away from the coast.
So many different versions of that story out there, I don't know what to think anymore. Just have to take one day at a time.
If the pole shift is rapid, there'll be very few survivors anywhere.
If it shifts slowly, both our nations will be a lot more tropical. The countdown has started.
Any news on that tsunami in British Columbia > Hawaii?
I have not heard anything about a tsunami - but the talk is hot and heavy about the storm sandy off the east coast.
It must have been a fizzer then. Friends on Hawaii were told to shift to higher ground, and there was an alert status for the east coast of Australia.
Hope that hurricane isn't too damaging, but these climate change deniers won't have a bar of any scientific evidence. Even when the whole east coast of Australia was underwater, they were saying it's just another cycle.
Those who would listen and make changes are not given information - those who would protect their short term interest/money would put out reports denying what is happening.
Chicago Tribune - 2 hours ago HONOLULU (Reuters) - Hawaii state officials on Sunday canceled a tsunami advisory prompted by a powerful earthquake off the Canadian ...
Hawaii is home to the bigwave surfers. When the prediction was for a seven foot tsunami, I figured the locals wouldn't bother waxing their boards.
No doubt some idiot would have been out to try to catch the big ride.
Bam Bachmann - BAMM
Thank you shadz for post.
Thanx for your all your gracious comments over these last months 'Nev1'. Your gentle, nurturing and encouraging words are actually always appreciated. Thus for you (though of course your generous heart will always share with others, lol) :
You are in Nevada, which is an ocean and most of a continent away from me but I'd buy you a drink or share an exotic cigarette with you any day mate ;-)
pax, amor et lux ...
Thank you for kind words.
"Profit Pathology and Disposable Planet", by Michael Parenti : http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article27571.htm .
Peace and Protection over your home, hearth and health 'Nev1' ~*~
pax et lux ; nunc et semper ...
The link, says so much. Thinking about the movie 'The Day The Earth Stood Still'---new version (old one good too).
Well said & good call !!! From "The Day the Earth Stood Still" (1951) :
Klaatu : "I am leaving soon, and you will forgive me if I speak bluntly. The universe grows smaller every day, and the threat of aggression by any group, anywhere, can no longer be tolerated. There must be security for all, or no one is secure. Now, this does not mean giving up any freedom, except the freedom to act irresponsibly. Your ancestors knew this when they made laws to govern themselves and hired policemen to enforce them. We, of the other planets, have long accepted this principle. We have an organization for the mutual protection of all planets and for the complete elimination of aggression. The test of any such higher authority is, of course, the police force that supports it."
per aspera ad astra ...
This is good.
what country do you live in?
You 'andover' your info & I'll 'andover' mine - possibly, lol !!
nosce te ipsum ...
LOL. The Sweeney revisited.
P'raps I should've gone with "Oi, Shut It - You Slaag" - LOL !!! Cult 70's TV ?!! You too, huh ?! Ergo :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D99O6oTJVHo &
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OEapAYjsMg lol
respice, adspice, prospice ...
Yep, luvvit. The Sweeney are seen at about the two minute mark in this old Kenny Everett show. The poms used to have humour pretty well sewn up.
http://youtu.be/IsC0T0pKwfw
Funny clip 'B' & incredibly Kenny Everett turned out to be a rampant, full on Crazy Tory !!!
verum ex absurdo ...
I thought you were gonna say he's gay.
A tory you say? The ratbag. You can't pick 'em.
He was gay & also performed at the Tory Party conference in front of Thatcher - there'll YouTube of it. I shall leave it to you as I have to roll a medicinal one here ~;-) How's pork-bone puppy, lol ? Onyer M8 !
pax, amor et lux ...
Little pup is growing. I'm raising 18 bubba chickens, so pup is taking a backseat for a while.
Enjoy.
Bubba chucks, huh ?! You're too "Cool For Cats" 'B' !! Don't forget to ruffle the pup now and again. Thanx for that 'Squeeze' song btw, forgot to say - temporary short term memory issues here, lol !!!
in vino veritas ...
Pup comes for a "ruffle" several times a day. Pretty much my most regular visitor. When we are walking downhill (this is a steep property) he drags his back legs to rub his own tummy. He's a funny one.
Awwwwww!
I live in the USA. Now that I told you what country I live in , I know you will not tell me where you are.
Closely read the forum-post and see my comments and links on this thread and IF you still can't work out the answer to your quandary - well, 'andover' back to me & I'll consider spelling it out for you further.
ad iudicium ...
Good post! Thanks.
"Money Talks in Many Ways : Election-Season Reflections on How the Ruling Class Rules",
by Paul Street :
Thanx Andy :-) & *SOLIDARITY !!!
per aspera ad astra ...
Those are some amazing links, especially the first one. Thank you.
You're very welcome 'A4C' and further to the other links here on this thread, please also consider :
e tenebris lux ...
Thank you for the article. Climate change will be THE biggest issue my kids will face in the future. Some of my kin still work the land and they know that change is already upon us.
"People who shut their eyes to reality simply invite their own destruction and anyone who insists on remaining in a state of innocence long after that innocence is dead turns himself into a monster”, from :
I append this article in reply to your gracious comment and because all too often these days, 'Liberals' are merely a variation on the theme of 'Conservative' ! A spectrum shift is needed and it is happening tho' perhaps slowly and with much resistance by Corporate and Conservative elements in society, enabled by their wholly owned MSM. OWS has planted important seeds & memes for the future. "Go Occupy !"
multum in parvo ..
We can't count on Liberals, that's for sure! Never Give Up! Go Occupy! Thanks for all the good links and http://www.nationofchange.org/growing-global-movement-against-austerity-1352979025 , from me to you!
Excellent link from a new web-site to me. Many thanx and further :
fiat lux ...
'Roosevelt understood that true individual freedom can not exist without economic security and independence. 'Necessitous men are not free men.' People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made. He saw these economic truths … as self-evident and called for an Economic Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established for all -- regardless of station, race, or creed.' - from your very good linked article, so thank you again for posting. Never Give Up! Go Occupy!
Roosevelt was a lion in comparison with the muppets we have these days and the two term limit was brought in specifically to thwart a sustained progressive or populist course of policy implementation.
Finally here's further insights to the state of affairs now :
"Between 2009 and 2011 70% of top generals and admirals went to work for contractors, consultants."
"What do Lockheed Martin, Boeing, General Dynamics, Raytheon, and Northrop Grumman have in common? Each of these corporations is one of the top five largest defense contractors in the nation. In 2011 alone, the Department of Defense committed to spending nearly $100 billion with just these five companies. To put that in perspective, that is about the same amount spent on the entire federal education budget for 2011."
fiat lux et fiat pax ...
Oh for a Roosevelt in these days! Thank you for the links and please see - 'The Story of Citizens United v. FEC (2011)' - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5kHACjrdEY - This is really an EXCELLENT animated video gem and everyone here should watch this 9 minute video. It perfectly encapsulates our corporation captured and controlled government. Never Give Up! Go Occupy Thanksgiving! Peace.
http://www.storyofstuff.org/ is the source of your excellent link. Try the 'Movies' tab for the full list of of these great little films. I'm not giving up anytime soon & a 'Happy Thanksgiving' to you and yours 'A4C'.
pax ...
What a great link! I will so enjoy showing these to friends and family so 'giving thanks' to you for this and other links makes total sense on this day!. Happy Holidays. Peace :)
'The Story of Broke', is a corker - http://www.storyofstuff.org/movies-all/story-of-broke/ . Happy Hols!
pax et lux ...
That was an excellent little film and the link led to some really excellent other short films, some of which were much viewed over the Thanksgiving Holiday. Thanks again for all the information you provide here.
That is a great film, Shadz always has excellent info.
It is important that we avail and share all the good information. Never Give Up! Go Occupy!
"American Wage Slaves Fight Over Chinese Slave Goods", by Patrick Henningsen : http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article33152.htm & thanx for your kind words A4C and Solidarity ~*~
pax ...
A very good and instructive article and I attach a link to a recent article that takes a look from a different angle - http://www.nationofchange.org/tax-rates-america-s-wealthiest-fell-2010-1353938328 . Thank you for all your links and commentary. Never Give Up! Go Occupy!
Agreed
Yes - a fundamental shift in paradigm is what Occupy is addressing - through protest, discussion, outreach. The conversation has changed in this last year due to Occupy and all of the world wide protests. More and more people are beginning to pick up on the conversation and the related issues. Paradigm shift will happen as this process continues.
There is no doubt that OWS is seeding for future "paradigm shift" and increasingly young people see the vacuity of selfish materialism. 'Radical' is becoming chic again and 'engaged and educated' is cool too !!!
dum spiro, spero ...
Talk about an excellent short video that says so much. Thx for posting it. This video should go viral to feed the needed education of the public - to feed the needed national conversation - to feed the needed national public involvement.
TWEETED http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article29772.htm
Gr8 Vid & 4 sure, you are Capt. Tweet 'Em !!! Great comms officer !! Top salute, sir ! & ...
pax, amor et lux ...
Thx 4 the article - the more things change - the more they stay the same?
OH - HELL NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Keep-on Keeping-ON Occupy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LOL - maybe I got something useful from my dad - He was Radio operator in the Pacific fleet back in the WWII.
WoW !!! Cosmic Coincidence !! Or 'Time's Spiral' ! Please note new link above ... ~{:-) - ohmmm.....
..~*~..
My Bad ( major migraine ) - failed to see the synchronicity - cosmic connection?
a) That I said 'Comms Officer' when your Dad was 'R.O.' in Pacific & b) My Pops [RIP, 2011] was in British Army {41-47} and ended in Allied Occupation Forces in Japan.
pax et lux ; nunc et semper ...
I wonder if they ever met - even in passing.
Pops had "ANZAC" buddies but any Americans in Japan as part the 'Occupying' allied forces were stationed in different sectors, so probably not & further :
"George Santayana wrote 'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it' [18]. If it is true that we are being deliberately misinformed and poorly educated about still-relevant historical events, shouldn't we begin to at least question why this is the case? Might there be something more sinister at work in the world today?"
e tenebris ...
I was not thinking of meeting while on duty in Japan. But there was a lot of to-ing and fro-ing in the travels of the fleet - my dad went shore-side on a few assignments on some of the islands as well as occasional ship hopping.
OK - the fog has been lifted {:-]) Small world - Hey? The world war of the greatest evil. My dad ( RIP 2008 ) was on the Admiralty Flag Ship.
Admiralty Flag Ship ? 'The Missouri' ? Not sure - I may be thinking of the signing of surrender, also :
respice, adspice, prospice ...
Yep - Missouri Flag Ship out of Pearl Harbor. Thx for the article ( untold history ) I was taught a lot of this in school back in the way back of the early 60's. But in the sense that it is not talked about not discussed - that is very true - much easier and clean cut to only present an altruistic edited version for bandying about in public.
LOL - I was Occupy before Occupy was cool. Isn't there a song?
My Bad - I Was Country When Country Was'nt Cool
Here's why you do what you do :
4U & 'on the fours' Keep Keepin' On !!! The Struggle Is Hard & Long - But It Can Be Done !! Go Occupy !
per ardua ...
Yep - Keep-on Keeping-ON
From the article - it kinda sums it up nicely - "re-colon-ization."
Basically I think that means we are all getting shit on.
We have so much work to do!
Here's to History & 'Work' : 'KEEP ON KEEPING ON' ;
foot tappin' good, bro ...
Very very good. I gotta lay down again ( nasty migraine today ) but I will leave you with this - we will search for tomorrow on every shore
Thanx & http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-l91O9VxN0 :-)
pax ...
We Do Have To - Keep-on Keeping-on. {:-])
Thanx, Jimi got fixed and yep, sometimes I do wonder just what is "happening" !!
verum ex absurdo ...
Thanx & : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MNtzBlZWHc ~*~
minima maxima sunt ...
Builder shared this one this morning ( my AM - Builder was just goin to bed ):
Here is a starter for all: Free your mind - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLTAf6SDIqQ
Jimi got yanked - But - Occupy the Happening
People who shut their eyes to reality? You have the lock on reality? Please enlighten us..
People like you "who shut their eyes to reality", you mean ? Did you notice the quotation marks ? Look again by scrolling up or clicking here :
"Enlighten" yourself and ask yourself why you are so querulous and abrasive as patently my comment to which you replied with such a thunderous brainfart, was all about this excellent and insightful article :
nosce te ipsum ...
Hey, Shadz-I can't find my stash. I can't remember the thread that we were on before. Can you give me the link to the Chicago School dirtbags again?
LOL ! It was extracted from Renneye's thread on the IMF - I never lose my stash and have used some of it just now and thus have some motivation issues here, lol, so you'll have to do the search yrslf ~{:-) Let me know how that goes cos if u can't find it, i'll sort it L8r whn i'm nt so relaxed {:-p)
pax ...
Thanks. I got it. All I need is what you just gave me.
Shux. Gorra <3 Mary Jane ;-) Here's to a sacred vibration communication situation ~*~ ohmmm if you are anywhere near The Storm ~ + Would you also copy the link from that IMF report here too please ?
pax et lux ...
http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/wp/2012/wp12202.pdf
Outstanding !!! Thanx 'GF' !! + Did you watch the doc. ?!
pax, amor et lux ...
Frontline? I have it on pause right now.
Yep, that's the one and there's the original link from 'bw' at the top of the thread too. It comes highly recommended - especially the second half that she highlights, as it dovetails completely with two of your most recent 'forum-posts' on the matter of 'Dark Money'.
multum in parvo ..
Got it. Thanks.
A step in the right direction to promote sanity and health for ALL:
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Immediately following Election Day, the rhetoric flowing from our elected officials in Washington was all about the ‘fiscal cliff.’ Unfortunately they were not referring to the costs of this election.
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, this campaign season was the most expensive in history, topping out at an estimated $6 billion.
The presidential race was slightly less costly than the last one; slightly more money was spent in House and Senate races this year. “Dark” money from Super PACs, unleashed by Citizens United, totaled over $540 million, while non-profit interest groups spent $351 million. Incumbents, who spend 30% to 70% of their time raising money, continued to retain a big advantage over challengers.
When you consider the amount of money flowing into our elections and the time elected officials spend raising money, it’s no wonder we are nearing a fiscal cliff. Policies that benefit only corporate America and their wealthy allies have brought us to this precipice, and there’s no end in sight. It is more than likely that the majority of us will be further victimized by pending austerity measures on the horizon.
It is said we have the best democracy money can buy. We wonder how long our democracy can survive under the principle that money is speech, which is why Move to Amend is calling for a Constitutional amendment that clearly states money is not speech, and corporations are not entitled to the same rights as people.
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None of this is surprising the Royals have always felt this way, too bad you shout a pox on both your houses rather than encourage effective action, but it seems to be much more popular to shout at the wind than talk about what could actually be done.
Re. "a pox on both your houses", well 'frf', a major point may be that there are actually more than just two houses as 'Duopoly' is the problem !!! Furthermore :
"US Elections - The Empty Politics of Duopoly", by Nile Bowie : http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article32989.htm ;
"America's Duopoly of Money in Politics and Manipulation of Public Opinion", by Charles Ferguson : http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article32655.htm &
"A New Political Party Is Needed, by Joel S. Hirschhorn : http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article21224.htm .
e tenebris, lux ...
there are always many sides
like I said too bad you do not agree with taking effective action now
we could kill this beast, in the past the cycle has been people get angry shout at the system but the system goes on, there is another way
I saw Gary Johnson in the first debate I think 1% is a little high, but that Rocky Anderson he made a lot of sense and had something to say I thought but politics kept him out of the rest of the debates so I didn't see those
It seems everyone wants to control message to some extend
"The Medium Is The Message" and one message is - 'Corporate Duopoly Stinks' !!!
ad iudicium ...
so does shit, but have you ever tried to live without shitting, reality sucks....
I'm a conservative. I don't have much money so I conserve the hell out it. I used to be a consumer but now I'm too busy conserving to be a real consumer. I think all 99ers should become conservatives and stop spending money, that's assuming you have any. This will ruin the economy but I don't care anymore. Stop spending money, tell the 1% to shove it and let's get on with it.
"Silences Louder Than Their Words : Effective Economic Policies Neither Candidate Advocates", by Richard Wolff :
Thanx for your comment 'sb' and I'd sooner call you a 'conserver' than a "conservative" but do let me know if you take issue with that and/or feel free to enlighten me further !!
pax, amor et lux ...
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The difference is that in the US it's not the Conservatives controlling wealth; in fact the Conservatives have never controlled wealth here. The Conservative party was always a party of the poor and the working class; we have always been at war with the money mongers and those who inhabit Federal government to their benefit.
Re."The Conservative party was always a party of the poor and the working class" ? Huh ?! Really ?!!
Exactly which "Conservative party" is this ?!!!
verum ex absurdo ...
Yea, always... the Conservative party was started and maintained by working class individuals, always.
http://www.cpnys.org/history
We are non-religious, non-partisan, and support the parties who support our views of limited taxation and some maximum freedom for all.
I appreciate your interesting reply & that history is nothing like the 'Conservative Party' in the UK for example. Consider, we all love "Freedom" for sure but there is the 'freedom to' - do as we please and then there is the 'freedom from' ...
minima maxima sunt ...
[Removed]
"Conservative" is just a word used for RW RepubliCon Deception. Like "Freedom" and "Liberty."
I'm not sure that I fully agree with you there 'Winston' ;-) & thus please also consider :
http://occupywallst.org/forum/the-conservative-psyche-how-ordinary-people-come-t/ &/or
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article32287.htm .
ad iudicium ...
Just as "Liberal" is a code word for Democrats' Socialist agenda deception. Like "Forward" and "Progressive" and "Fairness".
OR: Just as Sieg Heil is the secret code ethic for RepubliCons!
Actually what regulations seem to do is grant the rights of a majority to those of a minority; without them would pluralism even exist?
I've read your comment several times - but I'm still none the wiser ! Care to expand ?
fiat lux ...
All legislation is regulation that seeks to empower the rights of a minority over the majority; if it is a right held by the majority and all are satisfied there is no need of legislation and no legislation related to the right is enacted. A simple example - seat belts laws - the minority (insurance companies) imposed their will on the majority. This is true though of all regulation. And the government favors it because, a, it serves to empower them as the authority, b, legislation is what they do, and c, it attracts a lot of money determined to circumvent the regulation. It's all nonsense.
Does 'democracy' factor into this view of "government" ? What about the 'Lincolnian Definition' of democracy (Govt. 'of, by, for' "the people") ?
vox populi vox dei ?
What do these words mean, "by, for, and of the people"? Well the last word is the most telling - government is "of" the people; we, the people, comprise government; those whom we elect to represent us, are of us. In a "democracy" the people themselves are government.
The authority of government is not democratic in any sense - government is always totalitarian in its authority - but when we "constitute" democracy, we appoint ourselves, or our representatives, to govern ourselves; and government is us. Democratic government does not have the authority to impose law without majority approbation because theoretically we are government and we decide future direction for ourselves; in this sense, government is but a tool of the absolute sovereign which is us.
Republics have a tendency to empower the plebeians it rise as an aristocracy, and eventually, a dictatorship as those in republican power are overthrown.
This, in part, is why we were intended as "Constitutional Republic" empowered by the existing democracy. The other part of this goes into how the human mind conceives of contracts and covenants.
It's not Lincoln-ian either by the way; it dates in this country to the Mayflower.