Seeing that these sort of things work by means of consensus of the elites, and that when it that comes from the those elites it going to look best for those elites. I think that change from the bottom is more of a revolution than consensus because it will have to displace or reform the elites.
There is a social economic split which is then supported by the various myths about what it means to be a citizen in America, then there are the political divisions. So really the only ones who can make the decisions are the elites, because they have the one thing that despite the various divisions unite them, power and the control of the system. That's why so much of what they do seems like theater, there playing to the power they control. They keep us divided and split into factions for there theater.
For change to happen 80 to 90% of us need to realize that only with common purpose can we change the power equation and I don't see that happening until more of us are angry enough to over look the divisions between us.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
What I think is wrong.
I blame Reagan for the state of the nation, but it falls in the realm of unintended results. He gave us the idea that we, each of us could do no wrong because we are Americans. He believed that most people were good and that our society would self correct because we were everything that was right in the world. He failed to see a dark side in ourselves and by a blind believe in things American he glossed over it. He gave us the start of our hubris and entitlement that is the root cause of today's troubles.
"W" was the pinnacle of this thinking and we might have been OK if not for 9/11. Being completely blind to the world around us 9/11 only fueled the darker side of our society. The fact that we were surprised by 9/11, the Iraq war, the failure in Afghanistan, two wars with Tax cuts, the increase in Executive power, attack on our civil liberties and failure to provide checks and balances on business. It was hubris and entitlement that fueled them to take us to the point we are at today.
Even now with the crisis in full swing there are many that still cling to the faith. For all the talk of globalization, we think that we have all the answers. Wall Street still clings to their entitlement in spite of bringing us to global meltdown. The rage of the masses some how confuses them because they work hard to earn those salaries. The change in society that money equates to self worth and that the more you get the better, in spite it could be more than you could ever use.
We need to start to listening to the better angels of our nature, and I believe all the data is there to make those choices. We just need to turn away from our dark side and work for the common good.
"W" was the pinnacle of this thinking and we might have been OK if not for 9/11. Being completely blind to the world around us 9/11 only fueled the darker side of our society. The fact that we were surprised by 9/11, the Iraq war, the failure in Afghanistan, two wars with Tax cuts, the increase in Executive power, attack on our civil liberties and failure to provide checks and balances on business. It was hubris and entitlement that fueled them to take us to the point we are at today.
Even now with the crisis in full swing there are many that still cling to the faith. For all the talk of globalization, we think that we have all the answers. Wall Street still clings to their entitlement in spite of bringing us to global meltdown. The rage of the masses some how confuses them because they work hard to earn those salaries. The change in society that money equates to self worth and that the more you get the better, in spite it could be more than you could ever use.
We need to start to listening to the better angels of our nature, and I believe all the data is there to make those choices. We just need to turn away from our dark side and work for the common good.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Social Darwinism
Ya know, I listen to Larry Kudlow on CNBC and he really pisses me off. I am really tired to the Free Market knows best mantra, I mean, is this not how we got to this point. Voodoo economics has been running since the 80's, seems long enough to know and I would say it has failed to live up to the promise, it didn't raise all the boats and didn't self regulate. The idea of a free market and smaller government is nothing more than Social Darwinism. I realize that is a loaded term and some what hard to label any group with, but if I carry free markets, smaller government I can't help but come up with a permanent lower class and a great divide between
the haves and the have not, thus survival of the fittest.
I am not sure that divide between government and business is necessary or wanted, and in many ways it seems a myth. If anything these past 20+ years has blurred the lines that everybody seem to switch sides every two years. The hue and cry now is the wrong set of business persons are in the halls of government.
Frankly we need a strong government to serve as our voice in the world, a defender of our freedoms, a referee among the states, a regulator of our excess, safety net for all citizens.
the haves and the have not, thus survival of the fittest.
I am not sure that divide between government and business is necessary or wanted, and in many ways it seems a myth. If anything these past 20+ years has blurred the lines that everybody seem to switch sides every two years. The hue and cry now is the wrong set of business persons are in the halls of government.
Frankly we need a strong government to serve as our voice in the world, a defender of our freedoms, a referee among the states, a regulator of our excess, safety net for all citizens.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Think about it, before you talk.
What can come of all the division, as the idea of me and mine, then the tribal howl looking for equally wounded individuals, then pits itself against another equally wounded and outraged tribe. The angry statements of support and the unreasonable actions based on dogma.
We forget where we been, forget what it was like, once a nation indivisible, we compete against the other for what we see as a limited good. Howling when the other is awarded extra, and they are left out, or it's taken from them. We call it Taxes and Entitlements, my taxes are your entitlement, yet my entitlement isn't really your taxes, just depends on which tribe your howling with at that moment.
The trick is that no taxes means no entitlement which means the ones who have continue and those without remain. Now there is always will be a flow from one to the other, yet there will be those that dwell at the bottom, which will always be a threat to the ones above.
Then what, do we keep them outside the "dome", kill them off, perhaps we could keep them from breeding more of there type. So that would disturb most people, your talking about some sort of entitlement, which then means you are going to be taxed.
We forget where we been, forget what it was like, once a nation indivisible, we compete against the other for what we see as a limited good. Howling when the other is awarded extra, and they are left out, or it's taken from them. We call it Taxes and Entitlements, my taxes are your entitlement, yet my entitlement isn't really your taxes, just depends on which tribe your howling with at that moment.
The trick is that no taxes means no entitlement which means the ones who have continue and those without remain. Now there is always will be a flow from one to the other, yet there will be those that dwell at the bottom, which will always be a threat to the ones above.
Then what, do we keep them outside the "dome", kill them off, perhaps we could keep them from breeding more of there type. So that would disturb most people, your talking about some sort of entitlement, which then means you are going to be taxed.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Personal Responsibility, My Ass!
When people claim that personal responsibility wasn't used by a group of people it basically means; Don't raise my taxes because your stupid! I can't care about you, I have got mine and I am OK (for now, and perhaps I am worried also).
Frankly personal responsibility would mean that today you would have never listened to anyone, governments, banks, Websites, TV, friends, neighbors and perhaps your family. (you would be an exceptional person then)
This is also the cry of the people who worry about moral hazard, which of course we don't want to encourage, those kind of people, those who also don't have personal responsibility.
Then where was that personal responsibility and moral hazard in the best and brightest who set up these systems that would not hold up, who were blinded by greed, a social agenda, or power. Do they not share a greater part of the blame? Yet today the very same people decry the lack of personal responsibility and the fear of moral hazard, as they received bailouts and lines of credit from taxpayers.
Perhaps a change of language is in order, we are not providing welfare, but a bailout for people who just as easily been could have been us.
Frankly personal responsibility would mean that today you would have never listened to anyone, governments, banks, Websites, TV, friends, neighbors and perhaps your family. (you would be an exceptional person then)
This is also the cry of the people who worry about moral hazard, which of course we don't want to encourage, those kind of people, those who also don't have personal responsibility.
Then where was that personal responsibility and moral hazard in the best and brightest who set up these systems that would not hold up, who were blinded by greed, a social agenda, or power. Do they not share a greater part of the blame? Yet today the very same people decry the lack of personal responsibility and the fear of moral hazard, as they received bailouts and lines of credit from taxpayers.
Perhaps a change of language is in order, we are not providing welfare, but a bailout for people who just as easily been could have been us.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Stimulate this!
Ya know I am pretty sick of this shit, our government what the hell? How can these guys come up with data that 180 out from the others and claim that only they have the truth of it. When I first got a copy the economic stimulus package via THOMAS, I went through the bill and I thought this was pretty much a Democratic bill with spending directed places where I am sure for the last 8 years there was little money spent.
Yes, it was stimulus, but I could see that it was directed at turning things around, politically. So was there any real surprise that the Repubs would have a major hissy fit, so the endgame on the stimulus was a change of the political landscape, oh and the help the country in a deep fiscal crisis. To the Democrats was this as a win-win, but they didn't think about the country's reaction to the TARP and continued Wall Street stupidity and the polls would seem to suggest the country is not high on the stimulus.
I don't have a problem with the spending, I don't like the tax changes, don't want them, give them to families who make under $100,000 a year, and singles who make under $60,000, let's not forget to cut the payroll taxes for the people who don't even pay income taxes. How about a lot more infrastructure, a lot of the spending is nice, but can be done later, ie Hybrid cars for the government. Also some to put a bottom in the housing market, an interest drop to 4% on all refinanced and new mortgages. Oh and while we are at it, do you think we can get a claw-back on those pay raises for Congress
Bottom line it's business as usual in DC, Repubs vs Dems, and we have to sit and watch, where is the change I voted for in November?
Yes, it was stimulus, but I could see that it was directed at turning things around, politically. So was there any real surprise that the Repubs would have a major hissy fit, so the endgame on the stimulus was a change of the political landscape, oh and the help the country in a deep fiscal crisis. To the Democrats was this as a win-win, but they didn't think about the country's reaction to the TARP and continued Wall Street stupidity and the polls would seem to suggest the country is not high on the stimulus.
I don't have a problem with the spending, I don't like the tax changes, don't want them, give them to families who make under $100,000 a year, and singles who make under $60,000, let's not forget to cut the payroll taxes for the people who don't even pay income taxes. How about a lot more infrastructure, a lot of the spending is nice, but can be done later, ie Hybrid cars for the government. Also some to put a bottom in the housing market, an interest drop to 4% on all refinanced and new mortgages. Oh and while we are at it, do you think we can get a claw-back on those pay raises for Congress
Bottom line it's business as usual in DC, Repubs vs Dems, and we have to sit and watch, where is the change I voted for in November?
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