When people create a corporate 'shell', it is to protect their personal property from liens in the event of losing litigation. At it's core, corporations are nothing more than the collection of people, who engage in some business activity. Yet legislators have enabled illegal behavior within corporate shields, as evidenced by so many, from the days of Drexel Burnham Lambert, to the 'Keating 5' and the Savings and Loan scandal, the BCCI scandal, Enron, World Com, MCI, and how many others which pay out millions in class action fines from their illegal behavior. And the law keeps letting them off the hook. The only viable conclusion is that either the laws are written poorly, or the legislators are on the take. My bet is for the latter.
I worked in corporate America for a decade plus, and I've seen corruption first hand. It's human nature. Because my ethics are fanatical, I never could cheat at that scale, and it cost me my job once. Corporations (rather, the corrupt men that lead them) don't like employees like me, who point out the flaws. They want the automaton that puts his head in the sand, or looks the other way.
The only way to correct this it to create laws that regulate corporations fairly, and punish corporations more severely when such behavior is caught. If we don't start doing this, the corporation will overthrow our nation, and people will lose their innate empathy and compassion for others. We're at the 'fulcrum', and it may already be too late. We're going to need to demonstrate in Washington. Otherwise, corporations will continue to empower the rationalization of looking the other way when a crime is committed. And the victim will be our very souls. If you are in agreement (or, if you are not), then please leave a comment. I'd like to know how many people with integrity are left.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
The Vitriol
Well, I hate to say "I told you so," but there it is. Here it is, July 2009, and as I predicted, there is talk in the media about needing a second economic stimulus (because the first one didn't go far enough? Nah, it was simply targeted at the wrong part of the economy). If it were my choice, I would apply the trillion dollars to fund a million start-ups with $1 million each. now THAT would jump start the economy and create jobs. Alas, Washington doesn't listen to me or you. I fear for a species whose greed knows no bounds - just ask any Wall Street, Fortune 100, or Hedge Fund exec - they may not tell you, so thank God for the NY Times! But I digress.
It's not the fact that the capitalistic system can't work, but without the proper controls, human greed will not only find the loop holes, it will 'embolden' (how I hate that word now..) white collar criminal behavior. And we have to be careful who to blame as
we don't need another Salem Witch Hunt like the McCarthy Days. But there is a difference between success and excess, largess and crime, and when wealth gets controlled by too few people, society will crumble before its due time. While conspiracy theories like the Bilderberg Society may be true, I believe the fault lies with those who have mental illnesses like addiction (to money and power), lust (for money and power), vanity (needing money and power), and a lack of empathy and compassion. Human nature is the true culprit, because most people 'have their price.' But I digress.
I write this blog as a way of documenting my ideas, comments, and insights (along with a few good condemnations), in the hope that eventually I will get noticed for having an affinity for precognition, perhaps. But I am one voice among millions, and these other voices have PR machines that gain them the spotlight - in part because the status quo is not interested in doing the right thing - it's interested in the wrong things, which has resulted in a few men getting ultra-wealthy while the rest of us struggle. Is this the best we can do? Why should we even allow this kind of behavior? Our entire nation is falling victim to the lowest, basest values, resulting in a fractured fairy tale. But I digress!
So I implore those who have remained generally pure of ethics, integrity, and economy to put away the pettiness and focus on the meat and potatoes. We must unite our causes to get a seat at the table. It might be too late for me to affect any kind of change, so I will keep reminding the internet of humanity's obligation: to live, to grow, to make the world better than you found it - otherwise, you are going to be a part of the problem. Before our culture is dismantled completely, we need more than a few good men to act. And this goes beyond charity or a mindless donation. It requires some unity of purpose and high ideals. Will you find that here? Before I digress, I will simply say that "I'll try." All I have is time, so I am trying to use it wisely, with the goal of some public service. Some say I should run for office because of how I feel. All I do is look at the list of presidents from the past half-century, and my conclusion is that I'm better at the writing - vision thing, versus the pit of vipers that is the Congress. So I write (and write). And if my writing sounds inviting, I'll be delighting until the fighting - because if we stay on the current trail, our nation will be bound to fail, and then there'll be no more sale, and we'll all wind up inside some jail.
Until next time,
Warren Peace
It's not the fact that the capitalistic system can't work, but without the proper controls, human greed will not only find the loop holes, it will 'embolden' (how I hate that word now..) white collar criminal behavior. And we have to be careful who to blame as
we don't need another Salem Witch Hunt like the McCarthy Days. But there is a difference between success and excess, largess and crime, and when wealth gets controlled by too few people, society will crumble before its due time. While conspiracy theories like the Bilderberg Society may be true, I believe the fault lies with those who have mental illnesses like addiction (to money and power), lust (for money and power), vanity (needing money and power), and a lack of empathy and compassion. Human nature is the true culprit, because most people 'have their price.' But I digress.
I write this blog as a way of documenting my ideas, comments, and insights (along with a few good condemnations), in the hope that eventually I will get noticed for having an affinity for precognition, perhaps. But I am one voice among millions, and these other voices have PR machines that gain them the spotlight - in part because the status quo is not interested in doing the right thing - it's interested in the wrong things, which has resulted in a few men getting ultra-wealthy while the rest of us struggle. Is this the best we can do? Why should we even allow this kind of behavior? Our entire nation is falling victim to the lowest, basest values, resulting in a fractured fairy tale. But I digress!
So I implore those who have remained generally pure of ethics, integrity, and economy to put away the pettiness and focus on the meat and potatoes. We must unite our causes to get a seat at the table. It might be too late for me to affect any kind of change, so I will keep reminding the internet of humanity's obligation: to live, to grow, to make the world better than you found it - otherwise, you are going to be a part of the problem. Before our culture is dismantled completely, we need more than a few good men to act. And this goes beyond charity or a mindless donation. It requires some unity of purpose and high ideals. Will you find that here? Before I digress, I will simply say that "I'll try." All I have is time, so I am trying to use it wisely, with the goal of some public service. Some say I should run for office because of how I feel. All I do is look at the list of presidents from the past half-century, and my conclusion is that I'm better at the writing - vision thing, versus the pit of vipers that is the Congress. So I write (and write). And if my writing sounds inviting, I'll be delighting until the fighting - because if we stay on the current trail, our nation will be bound to fail, and then there'll be no more sale, and we'll all wind up inside some jail.
Until next time,
Warren Peace
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Why Republicans in 2009 are So Wrong in So Many Ways
I have come to hate the Republican Party, in part because of their beliefs (or Philosophy, or ideas on government and other topics), and partly because of the people who have taken Republican ideals and perverted them into its current manifestation. I use the term 'hate' very loosely, here, as what I feel toward certain actions of men goes beyond hate to reprehension, disgust, and other viler retributions. "But why?" You ask? "What have pauncey, inarticulate buffoons, who disrespect life, dismiss common sense and intelligence, and greedily siphon off decency, humanity and compassion for all life done to you?" Hmmm.,.. where to begin?
Watching contemporary Republican politicians like Jeff Sessions, I become disgusted by the hate inside of men. I hate that! And you know what's worse than Republicans? Conservatives! These hypocrites believe in the sanctity of life, except in war, poverty, and the bedroom. Why are Republicans automatically considered conservative? What does fiscal prudence, moral indignation, and slave trading have to do with politics anyway? Can't a drunken day trader or pot-smoking software manufacturer share in the 'America is King' mentality espoused by the GOP? And do you know what's worse than Republicans? Democrats! Socially liberal (Commie - Pinko) tree huggers trying to stem the tide of Capitalistic hegemony... tsk, tsk! Anyway, I digress.
In this vitriolic diatribe, I am trying to draw a line in the sand (the Mason-Dixon Line is a good place to start), between those people (typically men, but you do have the occasional foxy FOX commentator who's a princess in the boardroom and a prostitute in the bedroom) and the rest of Modern Man, which usually includes Women (although technically, it's the other way 'round). How can we all get along? I say we can't. But I digress.
If we ask "What would Spock (or,) do?", our society could solve most issues (even by consensus). As long as the Gooey Goodness principle is the standard to which we all aspire, we could save the world. While the status quo is static and a graveyard of extinct thinking, aspiration requires the instigation of inspiration. When a new idea comes along, challenging the intellectual inertia of insouciance, we fight it, railing against innovation. Exacerbating the situation is the vested interest, which rarely abdicates its place of vaunted viability, vulnerable thought it may be. But I digress.
If we're honest with ourselves and stop buying the bullshit being espoused by the government, the media, and/or other dead heads who rationalize their hate, greed, and cheating as the 'American Way," we could instead follow the ideas of a host of good guys like Jesus, Elvis, Luke Skywalker, Gilbert Grape, and Santa Claus. But goodness has its yang, and dang it, we let the good die young. It may be right, and they might be crazy, but if the answer is to act with hate, it must be wrong. Believe what you want to, say what you will, but in the end, the truth will set you free. Act with love, believe in compassion; Act with love, share the best part of yourself; Act with love and save the world. Did I digress?
Watching contemporary Republican politicians like Jeff Sessions, I become disgusted by the hate inside of men. I hate that! And you know what's worse than Republicans? Conservatives! These hypocrites believe in the sanctity of life, except in war, poverty, and the bedroom. Why are Republicans automatically considered conservative? What does fiscal prudence, moral indignation, and slave trading have to do with politics anyway? Can't a drunken day trader or pot-smoking software manufacturer share in the 'America is King' mentality espoused by the GOP? And do you know what's worse than Republicans? Democrats! Socially liberal (Commie - Pinko) tree huggers trying to stem the tide of Capitalistic hegemony... tsk, tsk! Anyway, I digress.
In this vitriolic diatribe, I am trying to draw a line in the sand (the Mason-Dixon Line is a good place to start), between those people (typically men, but you do have the occasional foxy FOX commentator who's a princess in the boardroom and a prostitute in the bedroom) and the rest of Modern Man, which usually includes Women (although technically, it's the other way 'round). How can we all get along? I say we can't. But I digress.
If we ask "What would Spock (or,
If we're honest with ourselves and stop buying the bullshit being espoused by the government, the media, and/or other dead heads who rationalize their hate, greed, and cheating as the 'American Way," we could instead follow the ideas of a host of good guys like Jesus, Elvis, Luke Skywalker, Gilbert Grape, and Santa Claus. But goodness has its yang, and dang it, we let the good die young. It may be right, and they might be crazy, but if the answer is to act with hate, it must be wrong. Believe what you want to, say what you will, but in the end, the truth will set you free. Act with love, believe in compassion; Act with love, share the best part of yourself; Act with love and save the world. Did I digress?
Monday, April 20, 2009
On Dominos Booger Pizza
The following post was in response to an Ad Age article: http://adage.com/garfield/post?article_id=136083
Our society has been degenerating for a while now, in part because of the messages being carried by the media. While the act of fouling a pizza is as funny as sliding frozen meat patties on the floor of McDonalds (something a friend confided in me that he did 20 years ago), the hoopla around this event is not, considering the real crimes being perpetrated that go un-broadcast. Hopefully some savvy, socially conscious corporate employee will find a way to capture real crimes of the sort that have poisoned corporate America (and corresponding shareholder value). Imagine the accountant who can capture his boss on videotape advising him to ignore accounting irregularities. Not sexy, but oh, what effect (and evidence?). Who knows what gems lie in waiting? The Yes Men have done wonderful work exposing corporate non-think.
Considering this issue further (as an unemployed strategist like myself does), I find the mass market momentum of contemporary society unsettling, particularly in terms of mass mentality, abdication of principles, and lazy laissez faire (which Obama is attempting to change). History just can't help but repeat itself, it seems, as we traverse the edge of social disintegration. Perhaps a little anarchy to challenge the status quo is a good thing, particularly when the status quo presents a diatribe like New York Magazine's "The Wail of the 1%" (yes, I am deeply saddened by the poor fellow who lost his million+ dollar job at AIG... not!).
What America has lost since the ideological 60's, when the status quo got it's first real threat, is its sense of teamwork. We play all kinds of team sports, yet the media so focuses on individual talent that the team becomes transparent. This is also too true of corporations. Egotism and greed are nothing new, but the lofty heights to which it currently aspires will tear our nation apart, just as it's done in every civilized country since time immemorial.
Dominos' image problem fostering discussion is one thing, but look at the actions in detail: The behavior of Generation Ritalin versus Baby Boomer; The choice by mass media to tell the story; the predictable response by corporations, and finally, the caterwauling public over pizza pablum. We don't have anything better to do?
What if the media chose to not run the story? What if Domino's response was to put web cams in every pizza kitchen in the chain, as prying eyes don't lie? What if parents put a premium on setting boundaries, learning and respect for others? There are too many 'what ifs?' to mention, but the fact that it is BECAUSE of the behavior of the mass media - in concert with the mass market - that we act like spoiled, selfish children who get a rise out of grossing out their friends. Until we start addressing the underlying causes affecting us, we won't have a chance. Now how about some American pie - hold the boogers, please!
Our society has been degenerating for a while now, in part because of the messages being carried by the media. While the act of fouling a pizza is as funny as sliding frozen meat patties on the floor of McDonalds (something a friend confided in me that he did 20 years ago), the hoopla around this event is not, considering the real crimes being perpetrated that go un-broadcast. Hopefully some savvy, socially conscious corporate employee will find a way to capture real crimes of the sort that have poisoned corporate America (and corresponding shareholder value). Imagine the accountant who can capture his boss on videotape advising him to ignore accounting irregularities. Not sexy, but oh, what effect (and evidence?). Who knows what gems lie in waiting? The Yes Men have done wonderful work exposing corporate non-think.
Considering this issue further (as an unemployed strategist like myself does), I find the mass market momentum of contemporary society unsettling, particularly in terms of mass mentality, abdication of principles, and lazy laissez faire (which Obama is attempting to change). History just can't help but repeat itself, it seems, as we traverse the edge of social disintegration. Perhaps a little anarchy to challenge the status quo is a good thing, particularly when the status quo presents a diatribe like New York Magazine's "The Wail of the 1%" (yes, I am deeply saddened by the poor fellow who lost his million+ dollar job at AIG... not!).
What America has lost since the ideological 60's, when the status quo got it's first real threat, is its sense of teamwork. We play all kinds of team sports, yet the media so focuses on individual talent that the team becomes transparent. This is also too true of corporations. Egotism and greed are nothing new, but the lofty heights to which it currently aspires will tear our nation apart, just as it's done in every civilized country since time immemorial.
Dominos' image problem fostering discussion is one thing, but look at the actions in detail: The behavior of Generation Ritalin versus Baby Boomer; The choice by mass media to tell the story; the predictable response by corporations, and finally, the caterwauling public over pizza pablum. We don't have anything better to do?
What if the media chose to not run the story? What if Domino's response was to put web cams in every pizza kitchen in the chain, as prying eyes don't lie? What if parents put a premium on setting boundaries, learning and respect for others? There are too many 'what ifs?' to mention, but the fact that it is BECAUSE of the behavior of the mass media - in concert with the mass market - that we act like spoiled, selfish children who get a rise out of grossing out their friends. Until we start addressing the underlying causes affecting us, we won't have a chance. Now how about some American pie - hold the boogers, please!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
My Own Private Idaho. I mean, Jihad
I'm not famous nor wealthy, so my voice rarely gets heard (except for the odd news media comment I post). But that doesn't make it any less valid. In fact, the talking heads on TV seem out of touch, because they live in that "six-figure bubble" of economic protection, and don't know what it's like living on a quarter of your usual income, the insecurity of an empty savings account, massive debt, and no job. But I do, because I went from one lifestyle to the other. And in my new lifestyle, it is easier to understand how people get to the point of Jihad, because you watch as others make decisions that negatively effect the masses, and you want to do something to help them.
So I have become a statistic. One of the negative ones, (i.e., "unemployed"). I feel like part of the "great unwashed" - a class of citizen below that of politicians, lawyers, CEO's, thieves, and used car salesmen (thief). I don't know about you, but as a late 40's white collar professional, I feel like a dinosaur already, priced out of the market because I have to compete with a twenty-something. And I'm getting bent enough to go demonstrate and get my ass thrown in jail (If I can't get my bailout, at least I can get bailed out). There are 5 million or more of us unemployed folk, and the number is growing. Imagine that! A sector showing “growth”.
But the system has broken down. If we look at the facts, it's clear that we are being screwed by the same system we must use to fix it! THAT will be the biggest challenge for President Obama. Each decision he makes should be considered in the context of “who benefits financially?”, which should have been the same light as George W. Bush (which the system has currently chosen to ignore). It's up to us to hold Obama accountable and be the light (BTW: Can anyone tell me why Bush was given a "by" on this?
Three trillion dollars? We've been ROBBED, America. Remember your American History? We started the Revolutionary War because of "TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION" (although we technically have Representatives), do you feel like they are listening to you? (My Senator is Chris Dodd, and he actually does listen some of the time!) Let’s be clear: It’s always about the money. Notice how you never have any? Why don’t the wealthy offer to share theirs? As an incentive, a system could be legislated to ensure their donated dollars would have a net benefit to them.
I knew the first stimulus would not be enough, and I have been telling everyone to expect another $1T in six months, but it's only been 6 weeks since the first stimulus, and the government is already asking for more. The government and corporate America must be in collusion to steal our wealth. Is our only protest option to not pay taxes? The powers that be are breaking the law (which is another systemic problem - the law no longer serves justice, nor societies best interests' - the law serves wealth), so what are we waiting for? Must we re-don hippy clothing and grow out our hair?
Now that I've had my rant, as I write this in March of '09, I believe we should give Barack some time to correct the corruption, which is systemic. The problem is, it's not enough time to create the five million jobs (or however many are needed, so an experienced guy like me can return to work). Will the system even have a place for honest people?
In the end, we must not "be fooled again" by the usual suspects (leaders), who are often found guilty of some tax law (tax fraud), campaign donation (bribe) or other white collar corruption (CEO Salary). Figure out your issue and make your demonstration sign. So how about one last 'hurrah', in the spirit of our founding fathers, and with the spring weather, head down to D.C. to make the case? Would you join an "American Jobs Action Committee" to do the job of oversight? How much will you suffer before you get off your butt? We'll meet in Washington, and if we can out-do the 'Million Man March" with "Five Million Fanatics For Financial Freedom," we can toss out the bums in Congress, Justice and Treasury, and have a Grand Ol' Tea Party. That is, unless of course, I have a job.
If you check out my other blog, http://fentrosphere.blogspot.com, you may find some challenging ideals. So I challenge you to create your "own private Jihad" on your own blog. Add your voice to the burgeoning cacophony of the blogosphere.
So I have become a statistic. One of the negative ones, (i.e., "unemployed"). I feel like part of the "great unwashed" - a class of citizen below that of politicians, lawyers, CEO's, thieves, and used car salesmen (thief). I don't know about you, but as a late 40's white collar professional, I feel like a dinosaur already, priced out of the market because I have to compete with a twenty-something. And I'm getting bent enough to go demonstrate and get my ass thrown in jail (If I can't get my bailout, at least I can get bailed out). There are 5 million or more of us unemployed folk, and the number is growing. Imagine that! A sector showing “growth”.
But the system has broken down. If we look at the facts, it's clear that we are being screwed by the same system we must use to fix it! THAT will be the biggest challenge for President Obama. Each decision he makes should be considered in the context of “who benefits financially?”, which should have been the same light as George W. Bush (which the system has currently chosen to ignore). It's up to us to hold Obama accountable and be the light (BTW: Can anyone tell me why Bush was given a "by" on this?
Three trillion dollars? We've been ROBBED, America. Remember your American History? We started the Revolutionary War because of "TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION" (although we technically have Representatives), do you feel like they are listening to you? (My Senator is Chris Dodd, and he actually does listen some of the time!) Let’s be clear: It’s always about the money. Notice how you never have any? Why don’t the wealthy offer to share theirs? As an incentive, a system could be legislated to ensure their donated dollars would have a net benefit to them.
I knew the first stimulus would not be enough, and I have been telling everyone to expect another $1T in six months, but it's only been 6 weeks since the first stimulus, and the government is already asking for more. The government and corporate America must be in collusion to steal our wealth. Is our only protest option to not pay taxes? The powers that be are breaking the law (which is another systemic problem - the law no longer serves justice, nor societies best interests' - the law serves wealth), so what are we waiting for? Must we re-don hippy clothing and grow out our hair?
Now that I've had my rant, as I write this in March of '09, I believe we should give Barack some time to correct the corruption, which is systemic. The problem is, it's not enough time to create the five million jobs (or however many are needed, so an experienced guy like me can return to work). Will the system even have a place for honest people?
In the end, we must not "be fooled again" by the usual suspects (leaders), who are often found guilty of some tax law (tax fraud), campaign donation (bribe) or other white collar corruption (CEO Salary). Figure out your issue and make your demonstration sign. So how about one last 'hurrah', in the spirit of our founding fathers, and with the spring weather, head down to D.C. to make the case? Would you join an "American Jobs Action Committee" to do the job of oversight? How much will you suffer before you get off your butt? We'll meet in Washington, and if we can out-do the 'Million Man March" with "Five Million Fanatics For Financial Freedom," we can toss out the bums in Congress, Justice and Treasury, and have a Grand Ol' Tea Party. That is, unless of course, I have a job.
If you check out my other blog, http://fentrosphere.blogspot.com, you may find some challenging ideals. So I challenge you to create your "own private Jihad" on your own blog. Add your voice to the burgeoning cacophony of the blogosphere.
Friday, January 30, 2009
New thinking about the causes of the global economic downturn
All these so-called experts on television, who wax on about the reasons for unemployment (or any issue, for that matter). If they are Republican, they are largely hypocrites. Democrats like Pilosi and Reid are damn fools letting all that pork into the proposed stimulus package, which many experts are saying is not big enough (heck, a trillion dollars doesn't go as far as it used to...).. These people are all thinking one-dimensionally. All of these things are inter-connected: The Economy, Corruption, Energy, Climate Change, War and Cultural Ideology. It's a big network of factors that depend on one another.
People need to start embracing systems theory, which is to understand that we are connected to the planet - the mother of humanity - and to each other. Instead, we fight one another, one-up one another, "dis"(respect) one another. That's our animal nature, the part that fights to survive (only now, since for some wealthy cultures like the U.S., we don't have survival pressures and conflict, so we make them up with our sporting events, and bring the fight to pay-per-view). We started holistic thinking in the 60's, but then the Republicans or greed-mongers (who know who they are, like the Bilderberger) largely killed it off in the 80's. The media sold us that Jimmy Carter was a bad president, the hippies were stoned out, lazy and unwashed, and that "Greed is Good." Greed is not good.
We need to evolve our consciousness, to re-awaken the hippie, the environmentalist, the idealist. I don't want to let John Lennon's death be the end of idealism. The time has come to change our thinking before we kill ourselves. So while we have to enact laws that limit a person's wealth, we also have to penalize the cheaters. Sure, everyone did it (i.e., the "shameful bonuses" of Wall Street), but that doesn't excuse it. If you could do it, would you have the entire Congress fired? How do we maintain civility and fight stupidity and greed? If evolution is true, then evolve, damn it humanity, evolve!
The television media that I am hopelessly addicted to, forces every issue into a 3 minute sound byte. The public will never understand the reason for unemployment when limited in these terms. Because if you take the "Mind Walk" and truly know and feel our interconnectedness, then you stop thinking of 'me', and start thinking of 'we,' because we are a large family. We are the children of the Sun and the Earth, and like the native Americans knew, we are the brother of the wolf and the sister of the eagle. What a loss when the Europeans committed patricide against the native Americans. That goes beyond shameful.
We need more than the usual talking heads of media personalities and politicians. How about professors and plumbers, New Age gurus with the politicians - now that would be television! Perhaps that is my mission, so if you read this, and later see it, then you can say "you read it when you were unemployed," because who has time for anything if you are working these days? We've put so much pressure on ourselves that we are doing two jobs, which creates a schism of employed versus unemployed. Will we end up fighting each other for a job? If we over-simplify, then one can say "greed has caused the unemployment," and in a large part, that's true. But the truth is, it's our system that's broken, and we'd better understand that before we try to fix it, else we'll spend trillion after trillion while unethical, illegal, corrupt and criminal people will take our money. And that unethical, illegal, corrupt and criminal entity is the US Government.
Alas, the politicians are lemmings, following the money that buys the votes. They should all be required to attend US History and review the Declaration and the Constitution - on a weekly basis, because very few seem to "get it." The entire roster of government employees should be term-limited. Everyone should be required to serve in government, because we're supposed to have a government, to quote Lincoln "by the people, for the people."
Let us hope that Barack Obama is a Lincoln. He seems to "get it"; to be able to think multi-dimensionally, to be smart enough to understand the system, and a willingness to evolve. If he fails in this task, I entertain so many fears (which was Bush and Cheney's domain). Their policies brought on this new century depression, and they should be forced to reconcile. The system needs balance, which means if you commit the crime, you have to do the time. Otherwise, the Middle Class will fall into poverty, or worse - history will repeat itself, and Rome will burn. I could go on, but I have to find a real job.
Peace
People need to start embracing systems theory, which is to understand that we are connected to the planet - the mother of humanity - and to each other. Instead, we fight one another, one-up one another, "dis"(respect) one another. That's our animal nature, the part that fights to survive (only now, since for some wealthy cultures like the U.S., we don't have survival pressures and conflict, so we make them up with our sporting events, and bring the fight to pay-per-view). We started holistic thinking in the 60's, but then the Republicans or greed-mongers (who know who they are, like the Bilderberger) largely killed it off in the 80's. The media sold us that Jimmy Carter was a bad president, the hippies were stoned out, lazy and unwashed, and that "Greed is Good." Greed is not good.
We need to evolve our consciousness, to re-awaken the hippie, the environmentalist, the idealist. I don't want to let John Lennon's death be the end of idealism. The time has come to change our thinking before we kill ourselves. So while we have to enact laws that limit a person's wealth, we also have to penalize the cheaters. Sure, everyone did it (i.e., the "shameful bonuses" of Wall Street), but that doesn't excuse it. If you could do it, would you have the entire Congress fired? How do we maintain civility and fight stupidity and greed? If evolution is true, then evolve, damn it humanity, evolve!
The television media that I am hopelessly addicted to, forces every issue into a 3 minute sound byte. The public will never understand the reason for unemployment when limited in these terms. Because if you take the "Mind Walk" and truly know and feel our interconnectedness, then you stop thinking of 'me', and start thinking of 'we,' because we are a large family. We are the children of the Sun and the Earth, and like the native Americans knew, we are the brother of the wolf and the sister of the eagle. What a loss when the Europeans committed patricide against the native Americans. That goes beyond shameful.
We need more than the usual talking heads of media personalities and politicians. How about professors and plumbers, New Age gurus with the politicians - now that would be television! Perhaps that is my mission, so if you read this, and later see it, then you can say "you read it when you were unemployed," because who has time for anything if you are working these days? We've put so much pressure on ourselves that we are doing two jobs, which creates a schism of employed versus unemployed. Will we end up fighting each other for a job? If we over-simplify, then one can say "greed has caused the unemployment," and in a large part, that's true. But the truth is, it's our system that's broken, and we'd better understand that before we try to fix it, else we'll spend trillion after trillion while unethical, illegal, corrupt and criminal people will take our money. And that unethical, illegal, corrupt and criminal entity is the US Government.
Alas, the politicians are lemmings, following the money that buys the votes. They should all be required to attend US History and review the Declaration and the Constitution - on a weekly basis, because very few seem to "get it." The entire roster of government employees should be term-limited. Everyone should be required to serve in government, because we're supposed to have a government, to quote Lincoln "by the people, for the people."
Let us hope that Barack Obama is a Lincoln. He seems to "get it"; to be able to think multi-dimensionally, to be smart enough to understand the system, and a willingness to evolve. If he fails in this task, I entertain so many fears (which was Bush and Cheney's domain). Their policies brought on this new century depression, and they should be forced to reconcile. The system needs balance, which means if you commit the crime, you have to do the time. Otherwise, the Middle Class will fall into poverty, or worse - history will repeat itself, and Rome will burn. I could go on, but I have to find a real job.
Peace
Friday, January 16, 2009
The Real Bush Legacy
How will history judge President George W. Bush? What impact has his administration had on the world? Why should we care? Regardless of your political affiliation, you should demand truth and embrace ethics. Unless you have blind allegiance (or un-thinking faith), one must acknowledge the Bush legacy as not just a travesty, but a tragedy as well.
It has been suggested that George Bush is a spoiled imbecile (albeit smart enough to follow puppet-like, the advice strings of Karl Rove and Dick Cheney). The man can't think (or speak, for that matter) on his feet, and as a "decider," has shown the poorest judgment of the most inept nincompoop. Yes, people will argue the US hasn't been attacked since 9/11, and the surge in troops in Iraq was the right thing to do, but both of these points can be debated.
Terrorism is a worldwide problem, and although the U.S. hasn't been attacked in 8 years, there have been malicious international attacks (Bali, London and Madrid and Mumbai). Terrorists have shown great patience when planning significant schemes - it was 8 years from the first 1993 World Trade Center bombing to September 11 - so it is not unexpected that there have been no American attacks during the Bush term. This is all fine and well, but what is neglected in the media is the analysis of the cause of terrorism, which is poverty, ideology, and desperation.
The media should be ashamed of itself for the way it presents information, and in some way has added to the problems of our planet by buying in to the obfuscation of the issues through the 'bandwagon thinking' in which issues are reduced to 3 minute sound bites repeated throughout the day, instead of an intelligent discussion with fact-checking, so readily available with the internet (although much of the internet also suffers from a lack of factual data). There seems to be broad acceptance that the media-buying public has the mind of an 8 year-old dolt (and given Bush's 2004 re-election, that perception is easily justified). To the thinking public, the Bush legacy is that of a dim-witted bully who tried to dictate an alien ideology onto a culture of misogyny and intellectual repression. Yeah, that's going to work.
In time, historians will make the point that Bush misused his authority by invading Iraq. Instead of following Osama Bin Laden into Afghanistan, Bush used what would later be described as "faulty intelligence about weapons of mass destruction" as an excuse to create a western-leaning Middle Eastern country and to control that country's oil. And it's all about the oil - from American imperialism and a lust for power, to global warming and the pure greed of those that control the energy markets, further polluting the planet with dirty and unsustainable resources.
For those who have already made up their mind, these points either resonate to confirm our worst fears, or by now the reader has long-since turned away. This is the schism that George Bush "the Divider" has created. Not since the Civil War has American been so fractured. And as one seeing the repetition of history, from U.S. political issues like whether or not to nationalize banks, to the rise and fall of great nations, the lack of societal wisdom prevails. Indeed, human nature itself seems to be the cause of our ills (even evolution is suspect, for where is the evolved consciousness?) As we teeter on the brink of our very existence, men of seeming good will - men (or women) with families that love them are making decisions of selfish, material gratification, at the expense of our future. How does one not care?
In the end, the life span of humanity may be just a wink in time so that the planet can live. Perhaps our fate is the deep impact of a comet or asteroid, or a global pandemic or nuclear war, or destruction by GORT (Genetically Organized Robotic Technology from "The Day the Earth Stood Still"). So difficult to believe would be that we ourselves are the cause of our own demise. It would be hard to pin it all on BUSH (Beyond Understanding Shit Head). Is it possible that our destiny now lies in the hands of the choices that Barack Obama makes? If he makes the right choices, can we turn it all around?
There will (I hope) be plenty of time for the next generation to research, ponder and promote the Bush retrospective. If our society will have learned anything, that is, if academia and the media are not under strict government control, then the people might yet uncover the truth. But I am doubtful. At a time where the biggest swindlers in history have flourished - from Enron to Bernie Madoff, AIG of Citigroup (and this after the junk bond king Michael Milken "made off" with millions due to legal loopholes, where he was allowed to keep some wealth after less than 2 years in prison), our government continues to cheat us by allowing - even empowering! - those who create great wealth, regardless of the legality or ethics. What is clear is that the worst of America's tendencies - from graft to greed and hypocrisy to hegemony, has occurred under George W. Bush. No matter how he tries to whitewash it, this dangerously dimwitted demagogue is by far the worst president in over 200 years. Hopefully, Obama can make up for it.
It has been suggested that George Bush is a spoiled imbecile (albeit smart enough to follow puppet-like, the advice strings of Karl Rove and Dick Cheney). The man can't think (or speak, for that matter) on his feet, and as a "decider," has shown the poorest judgment of the most inept nincompoop. Yes, people will argue the US hasn't been attacked since 9/11, and the surge in troops in Iraq was the right thing to do, but both of these points can be debated.
Terrorism is a worldwide problem, and although the U.S. hasn't been attacked in 8 years, there have been malicious international attacks (Bali, London and Madrid and Mumbai). Terrorists have shown great patience when planning significant schemes - it was 8 years from the first 1993 World Trade Center bombing to September 11 - so it is not unexpected that there have been no American attacks during the Bush term. This is all fine and well, but what is neglected in the media is the analysis of the cause of terrorism, which is poverty, ideology, and desperation.
The media should be ashamed of itself for the way it presents information, and in some way has added to the problems of our planet by buying in to the obfuscation of the issues through the 'bandwagon thinking' in which issues are reduced to 3 minute sound bites repeated throughout the day, instead of an intelligent discussion with fact-checking, so readily available with the internet (although much of the internet also suffers from a lack of factual data). There seems to be broad acceptance that the media-buying public has the mind of an 8 year-old dolt (and given Bush's 2004 re-election, that perception is easily justified). To the thinking public, the Bush legacy is that of a dim-witted bully who tried to dictate an alien ideology onto a culture of misogyny and intellectual repression. Yeah, that's going to work.
In time, historians will make the point that Bush misused his authority by invading Iraq. Instead of following Osama Bin Laden into Afghanistan, Bush used what would later be described as "faulty intelligence about weapons of mass destruction" as an excuse to create a western-leaning Middle Eastern country and to control that country's oil. And it's all about the oil - from American imperialism and a lust for power, to global warming and the pure greed of those that control the energy markets, further polluting the planet with dirty and unsustainable resources.
For those who have already made up their mind, these points either resonate to confirm our worst fears, or by now the reader has long-since turned away. This is the schism that George Bush "the Divider" has created. Not since the Civil War has American been so fractured. And as one seeing the repetition of history, from U.S. political issues like whether or not to nationalize banks, to the rise and fall of great nations, the lack of societal wisdom prevails. Indeed, human nature itself seems to be the cause of our ills (even evolution is suspect, for where is the evolved consciousness?) As we teeter on the brink of our very existence, men of seeming good will - men (or women) with families that love them are making decisions of selfish, material gratification, at the expense of our future. How does one not care?
In the end, the life span of humanity may be just a wink in time so that the planet can live. Perhaps our fate is the deep impact of a comet or asteroid, or a global pandemic or nuclear war, or destruction by GORT (Genetically Organized Robotic Technology from "The Day the Earth Stood Still"). So difficult to believe would be that we ourselves are the cause of our own demise. It would be hard to pin it all on BUSH (Beyond Understanding Shit Head). Is it possible that our destiny now lies in the hands of the choices that Barack Obama makes? If he makes the right choices, can we turn it all around?
There will (I hope) be plenty of time for the next generation to research, ponder and promote the Bush retrospective. If our society will have learned anything, that is, if academia and the media are not under strict government control, then the people might yet uncover the truth. But I am doubtful. At a time where the biggest swindlers in history have flourished - from Enron to Bernie Madoff, AIG of Citigroup (and this after the junk bond king Michael Milken "made off" with millions due to legal loopholes, where he was allowed to keep some wealth after less than 2 years in prison), our government continues to cheat us by allowing - even empowering! - those who create great wealth, regardless of the legality or ethics. What is clear is that the worst of America's tendencies - from graft to greed and hypocrisy to hegemony, has occurred under George W. Bush. No matter how he tries to whitewash it, this dangerously dimwitted demagogue is by far the worst president in over 200 years. Hopefully, Obama can make up for it.
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