We can start by blocking their access to our minds through not watching their shows or reading their periodicals or using their platforms. Most who resisted the Cooties 19 propaganda did not own a TV set.
I haven't had one for a looong time! of course now computers are a replacement but there is a least some good use to computers, such as having this exchange :)
The label that came to me while reading is "essential workers". What a sick game, labeling some as essential and thus others as not essential, unimportant, not needed. Thank you for your shared thoughts.
the phrase that jumps to mind is "they kill by proxy." which has antisemitic associations since it was so often unfairly leveled against jews.
thorstein veblen had it figured out. early humans followed the alpha male hunters until the beta males (and others) noticed that if you had the goods to pretend to be a hunter, the tribe would follow you. so the hoarders trumped the hunters (hard to imagine, but it happened). we're still dealing with the fallout today.
best not to comply with either hunters or hoarders. each has his own agenda and it's not yours
I finished that, having read Theory of the Leisure Class in college, and have started An Inquiry into the Nature of Peace and the Terms of its Perpetuation, a series of essays from late WW-1 and just after.
I read the last chapter and the introduction, but there is no easy answer within, as long as supranational entities can lend to nations to prosecute war, I fear.
Michael Hudson covers that well.
A question recently arose regarding your age, on another blog. I thought you were a boomer, enjoying live music, but I'll inquire now, and are you on the "Joelist"?
So true. A key is the emphasis on CHOICE, choosing to comply. Seems so many of us, of all stripes, deep down don't/or can't believe that it's possible.
the opportunity is choice. the challenge is to see that we have choice.
we see that we have choice when we are equanimous and not filled with fear of the other, either the chosen deserving or the chosen undeserving. and that can begin when we choose not to blame and complain. first rule of yogic — no blame no complain. and of course that took us back to what is our first opportunity: choice!
I wasn’t able to send you a note I think it’s only for paid subscribers, but you definitely deserve to be paid. I do love your writing, and I do think maybe you are saving more than just the day.
" We don’t have to play the game of musical chairs".
WE (your readers) don't. We are not the problem.
"we do have the power to stop the game."
Really? Then what, exactly, is that power?
While I have a problem with the points above, your description of how well their games work is spot on. THAT is the problem. The nature of humanity is the problem. I'm a lot older than you. And it wasn't until I was a lot older than you that I realized that intrinsic human qualities, that will never change, are the problem. It's not fixable, every society passes through its rise and fall. We're going down, as described in the "strong men make good times, good times make weak men", etc. Everybody's heard it. It's true, and inexorable.
I'm not saying give up. I don't. But let's be realistic here, everything we know about human nature, and how societies move through their phases, says we're not going to prevail.
Thank you, SteelJ!! I think that a lot of what we are conditioned to perceive as "human nature" is more like, "how people act when the children are born into a world where the adults don't have a clue, and so the brokenness gets passed on."
Human beings are born with an opportunity to choose, the ones who want to control the world have been putting a lot of effort into keeping people in a disconnected state from generation to generation, but like all unnatural things, it cannot go on forever like this. People are capable of living in relative harmony with each other and with the world, I don't think it can be accomplished based on intellectual beliefs or ideas but it can be accomplished if the senses are not broken. This is not something that is done once and then it stays this way, this is something that needs to be constantly reinforced but it can be done, and at this point, it would be very helpful. :-)
Thank you for taking my comment in the spirit offered, which is trying to help, believe it or not. The nature vs nurture thing is so complicated. I have 3 siblings, they're NOTHING like me. Doesn't mean nurture wasn't involved (I look different so genetically we might be half-siblings!). Certain events, at key times can make immense difference, regardless of parenting.
I don't know for sure of course, but my conclusion is a bit different. I agree we can live in harmony, in a really pleasant and effective social structure. But only in smaller, isolated groups. When primitives are observed, sure some groups really suck, but it's common to find a terrific dynamic prevails. With the ag revolution, we got away from what we're "designed" for (whether by God, evolution, or both, doesn't matter). In smaller groups, everybody is invested, everybody is held accountable. I like to refer to a memorable passage in a book on psychopathy, where the researcher was questioning an Inuit tribesman, seeking to learn how psychopaths interact in such social structures. The Eskimo said "somebody would just push a person like that off the ice when no one was looking". That works. In our large, impersonal, "civilized" groups with enforced laws against that, such people don't fail, they thrive and rise to the top. And we become not so "civilized". Books could be and probably have been written about the problems that arise as population centers grow, this is just one, easily understood example of intractable problems, for which there really is no solution. We aren't going back to the stone age.
We can start by blocking their access to our minds through not watching their shows or reading their periodicals or using their platforms. Most who resisted the Cooties 19 propaganda did not own a TV set.
I agree! I, for one, don't own a TV. :)
"Most who resisted the Cooties 19 propaganda did not own a TV set."
That fits with my experience as well.
hmmm.
we didn't have one from long before the convid. nor now.
I haven't had one for a looong time! of course now computers are a replacement but there is a least some good use to computers, such as having this exchange :)
computers! tool or weapon? of course, both. it is our choice how we are to use them and to receive them in our home.
I see a tv set as an injection needle.
It’s there.
I can admire its perfection of design, utility of purpose, and success of performance.
But I do not permit it to inject me with its contents!
The label that came to me while reading is "essential workers". What a sick game, labeling some as essential and thus others as not essential, unimportant, not needed. Thank you for your shared thoughts.
That is a very good point, I agree!
Always love your insights, Tessa. Musical Chairs is a mean game! Thank you.
A Canadian Grandma
Thank you, Canadian Grandma!! Much love to you
the phrase that jumps to mind is "they kill by proxy." which has antisemitic associations since it was so often unfairly leveled against jews.
thorstein veblen had it figured out. early humans followed the alpha male hunters until the beta males (and others) noticed that if you had the goods to pretend to be a hunter, the tribe would follow you. so the hoarders trumped the hunters (hard to imagine, but it happened). we're still dealing with the fallout today.
best not to comply with either hunters or hoarders. each has his own agenda and it's not yours
Veblen is an interesting writer, sly and subtle humor, and easier to read than Marx.
dr. john, are you enjoying theory of business enterprise? :)
I finished that, having read Theory of the Leisure Class in college, and have started An Inquiry into the Nature of Peace and the Terms of its Perpetuation, a series of essays from late WW-1 and just after.
I read the last chapter and the introduction, but there is no easy answer within, as long as supranational entities can lend to nations to prosecute war, I fear.
Michael Hudson covers that well.
A question recently arose regarding your age, on another blog. I thought you were a boomer, enjoying live music, but I'll inquire now, and are you on the "Joelist"?
Thanks for sharing ❤️
So true. A key is the emphasis on CHOICE, choosing to comply. Seems so many of us, of all stripes, deep down don't/or can't believe that it's possible.
Indeed!! Thank you, Howard!
Really
Glad you got a chance to disconnect, so that you can reconnect Tessa.
We just got back from a camping trip. So worth it!
Thank you, Roman, and I am glad you enjoyed your camping trip!!
Being honest and compassionate, and calling out the "profitable" game of divide-and-rule when I see it is what I work on, and can recommend.
Thanks for doing-the-work, Tessa.
Thank you yet again, Brother John! You are doing amazing work!
yes.
the opportunity is choice. the challenge is to see that we have choice.
we see that we have choice when we are equanimous and not filled with fear of the other, either the chosen deserving or the chosen undeserving. and that can begin when we choose not to blame and complain. first rule of yogic — no blame no complain. and of course that took us back to what is our first opportunity: choice!
I wasn’t able to send you a note I think it’s only for paid subscribers, but you definitely deserve to be paid. I do love your writing, and I do think maybe you are saving more than just the day.
I would love to be comped for your live access today. Thank you so much. You are absolutely a favorite ❤️
Hi Cynthia, thank you so much for your note, today's call is over but I will very gladly comp you for next week! Hope to see you then! xoxo
Was innocently watching 'J'accuse' on TCM...
Wow...
A few weeks later:
'The Life of Emile Zola'
- EYE opener,
Not much has changed, right down to hired mob rabble rousers and instigators...
What has changed, is in our age, Dreyfus would probably die from 'unknown disease' he may never have been given a chance.
Suggest viewing before these are AI altered, in that order...
Great, astounding commentary...
Thank you, Vinnie!
" We don’t have to play the game of musical chairs".
WE (your readers) don't. We are not the problem.
"we do have the power to stop the game."
Really? Then what, exactly, is that power?
While I have a problem with the points above, your description of how well their games work is spot on. THAT is the problem. The nature of humanity is the problem. I'm a lot older than you. And it wasn't until I was a lot older than you that I realized that intrinsic human qualities, that will never change, are the problem. It's not fixable, every society passes through its rise and fall. We're going down, as described in the "strong men make good times, good times make weak men", etc. Everybody's heard it. It's true, and inexorable.
I'm not saying give up. I don't. But let's be realistic here, everything we know about human nature, and how societies move through their phases, says we're not going to prevail.
Thank you, SteelJ!! I think that a lot of what we are conditioned to perceive as "human nature" is more like, "how people act when the children are born into a world where the adults don't have a clue, and so the brokenness gets passed on."
Human beings are born with an opportunity to choose, the ones who want to control the world have been putting a lot of effort into keeping people in a disconnected state from generation to generation, but like all unnatural things, it cannot go on forever like this. People are capable of living in relative harmony with each other and with the world, I don't think it can be accomplished based on intellectual beliefs or ideas but it can be accomplished if the senses are not broken. This is not something that is done once and then it stays this way, this is something that needs to be constantly reinforced but it can be done, and at this point, it would be very helpful. :-)
Thank you for taking my comment in the spirit offered, which is trying to help, believe it or not. The nature vs nurture thing is so complicated. I have 3 siblings, they're NOTHING like me. Doesn't mean nurture wasn't involved (I look different so genetically we might be half-siblings!). Certain events, at key times can make immense difference, regardless of parenting.
I don't know for sure of course, but my conclusion is a bit different. I agree we can live in harmony, in a really pleasant and effective social structure. But only in smaller, isolated groups. When primitives are observed, sure some groups really suck, but it's common to find a terrific dynamic prevails. With the ag revolution, we got away from what we're "designed" for (whether by God, evolution, or both, doesn't matter). In smaller groups, everybody is invested, everybody is held accountable. I like to refer to a memorable passage in a book on psychopathy, where the researcher was questioning an Inuit tribesman, seeking to learn how psychopaths interact in such social structures. The Eskimo said "somebody would just push a person like that off the ice when no one was looking". That works. In our large, impersonal, "civilized" groups with enforced laws against that, such people don't fail, they thrive and rise to the top. And we become not so "civilized". Books could be and probably have been written about the problems that arise as population centers grow, this is just one, easily understood example of intractable problems, for which there really is no solution. We aren't going back to the stone age.
Non-compliance is the only option, but not without preparations. The end is near:
https://rayhorvaththesource.substack.com/p/why-are-humans-still-around-part-052
Music it is, but it's a countdown:
https://rayhorvaththesource.substack.com/p/the-final-countdown
It's more like as George Carlin put it, "It's a club and you ain't in it."