well, long past time...
We need a new movement of true political force, truly of the people.
Good citizenship and patriotism does not exclude challenge. This government is ours. We must learn and accept this, and exert our power. Because, "when the people lead, the leaders will have to follow."
We can't be totally emotional, this time. This means that we have to do more than protest. In fact, out right public protest is the last method. First we must educate, we must unite, we must build. The time for youthful expressions of fists and rage has passed. We can no longer afford to scare the people and to rebuke them from our liberal moral high horse. We need them. And we need them to understand that they are needed because they have the power.
-30 hour work weeks and a guaranteed livable wage
-A progressive tax system for wealth redistribution
-Federally funded education, with curricular and administrative reform
-Withdrawal from the WTO and a push for reform in the Global Economy
-Re-evaluation of the "Realist" ideology, especially in its International articulation by the US, as a self-declared "super-power"
-New social policy, including universal health care that works, and social services to eliminate poverty's harshest effects
-Budgetary reform that involves down-sizing "defense" spending
Ultimately, the elimination of class-valued social structure.
These things can be done.
Culture is a collective system that exists only as the people of a society articulate it. We can change our culture. Tradition as identity is to be embraced, but not to the extent that it stifles the dynamic nature of culture.
To any that might read this, keep the faith friends, it is possible; but we have to work, and we have to work together. PEACE
Wednesday, November 03, 2004
Saturday, October 30, 2004
where's the defender of the status quo?
I don't think that even the man of steel could defend the bullshit that "law and order" are promoting...
It's funny that the video (you know, the video) has come out...I'm not even sure if anyone is shocked...I think that most of us have become numb: the ones that have always bought in, have always been numb; the ones fighting to think for themselves are just tired.
I'm worried that the system's rolling steadily towards violent recycling, just as it has done throughout the years...or even worse, that it won't...there are more than enough distractions to keep people happily numb and fearful...christ, 1984 was a warning, not a fucking handbook...
How do we change minds?
It's funny that the video (you know, the video) has come out...I'm not even sure if anyone is shocked...I think that most of us have become numb: the ones that have always bought in, have always been numb; the ones fighting to think for themselves are just tired.
I'm worried that the system's rolling steadily towards violent recycling, just as it has done throughout the years...or even worse, that it won't...there are more than enough distractions to keep people happily numb and fearful...christ, 1984 was a warning, not a fucking handbook...
How do we change minds?
Friday, October 29, 2004
Mead had to have been having "one hell of a trip..."
that's the only way she could have gotten through it. the more I try to think and understand humanity, especially the culture and mentality of the US, the more strange and alien I feel...it's a strangely candid thing to offer out to the potential nothingness or nakedness of "cyber-space." I'm working on a structural anthropology paper that, with some edits, I may post...
I'm sad to say that anthrocide seemed to be a strangely gleeful contemplation the other day, riding down I-40, from western to central NC, looking at the lovely yellows and oranges...I wonder if van gogh would have painted the bomb...
I'm sad to say that anthrocide seemed to be a strangely gleeful contemplation the other day, riding down I-40, from western to central NC, looking at the lovely yellows and oranges...I wonder if van gogh would have painted the bomb...
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
some small steps
It's strange, my generation, I believe globally, are reaching the age when we step on to the big stage. It's daunting to think about. We're inheriting lots of fucked-up situations; and what's worse, the ones we're receiving this great gift from try to hold it in a death grip. In spite of all of their efforts, the time will come.
The question is, what can we do, now, to ensure that we are not trapped in the paths that they want for us? How do we mobalize? It's there, the potential to shake the world and topple the "hallowed" power structures, but what are we waiting for? Even more than that, what can be done to insure that there is no Gandhi, no Buddha, no [insert ego/icon here]? How can we make this the movement of the WE?
All things have their source, how will we focus on the fact the the total act, not the actors, is what matters?
The question is, what can we do, now, to ensure that we are not trapped in the paths that they want for us? How do we mobalize? It's there, the potential to shake the world and topple the "hallowed" power structures, but what are we waiting for? Even more than that, what can be done to insure that there is no Gandhi, no Buddha, no [insert ego/icon here]? How can we make this the movement of the WE?
All things have their source, how will we focus on the fact the the total act, not the actors, is what matters?
Monday, July 19, 2004
Saturday, July 17, 2004
Brief
Politics: Aristocracy/Oligarchy/Totalitarian/Democracy-Human social structure established and "agreed" upon by a social unit, used for resourse distribution.
Politics: Aristocracy/Oligarchy/Totalitarian/Democracy-Human social structure established and "agreed" upon by a social unit, used for resourse distribution.
Theocracy/Philosophers(Platonic)-The use of metaphysical indoctrination to establish social hierarchy, allowing for smooth governing of resource distribution.
Economy-Manner in which resources are distributed among a society.
Democratic economics- Free Market with social benefits
Aristocratic economics- Ideally positive capitalism- sensible intellectuals in control of distribution
Totalitarian economics- Ideally negative capitalism- centralized self-rewarding policy allowing one group to enforce its dominance over resources as legitimacy or ownership
The progression from Aristocratic to Totalitarian does not occur in one step. The logical intermediate step would be that of oligarchic. This would follow a trend of consolidation, which is caused by capitalism's push for absolute efficiency and profit.
It could be argued that the state of oligarchy best describes the current situation in the United States. Numerous instances, both fictionalized and documented, can be provided to support this claim. In fact, it could be argued that this has been the dominating factor in the development of the United States through the late 19th, the 20th, and entering into the 21st. One only has to think of the term Manifest Destiny and the [US]American conquest.
It is getting to critical points, now; how many other administrations have attempted, some succeeding to an extent, to disrupt the democratic process in the US? If there were no professional politicians, would they, could they? Do we really need the executive branch? How can this be changed? Is it really the end of the "American Century?" Are we in the post-postmodern, yet? What does any of this have to do with anything?
Democratic economics- Free Market with social benefits
Aristocratic economics- Ideally positive capitalism- sensible intellectuals in control of distribution
Totalitarian economics- Ideally negative capitalism- centralized self-rewarding policy allowing one group to enforce its dominance over resources as legitimacy or ownership
The progression from Aristocratic to Totalitarian does not occur in one step. The logical intermediate step would be that of oligarchic. This would follow a trend of consolidation, which is caused by capitalism's push for absolute efficiency and profit.
It could be argued that the state of oligarchy best describes the current situation in the United States. Numerous instances, both fictionalized and documented, can be provided to support this claim. In fact, it could be argued that this has been the dominating factor in the development of the United States through the late 19th, the 20th, and entering into the 21st. One only has to think of the term Manifest Destiny and the [US]American conquest.
It is getting to critical points, now; how many other administrations have attempted, some succeeding to an extent, to disrupt the democratic process in the US? If there were no professional politicians, would they, could they? Do we really need the executive branch? How can this be changed? Is it really the end of the "American Century?" Are we in the post-postmodern, yet? What does any of this have to do with anything?