THE OBSCENITY OF THE “FREE” MARKET
79The Capitalist
Compassion and Capitalism don’t mix.
The monsters that own America and most of planet Earth simply don't care about anything beyond the pathological, insatiable lust they harbor for their own immediate gratification. This small minority of us are genuinely evil creatures that actually revel in the awareness of their loathsome and inhuman actions. They literally worship money and power and will stop at absolutely nothing to obtain more no matter how much they already have or how much suffering and death they cause. How can such a tiny fraction of the human population wield so much power and cause so much harm?
They know our environment, our life support system, is being destroyed by the poisons they sell us and use in their pollution spewing industries.
They don't care. It's what they want.
They know their universal free market economy, based on deceit, machination, obfuscation and outright lies, is unsustainable and destructive.
They don't care. It's what they want.
They know the rotten foundation of global privatization upon which their monolithic lie is built causes massive amounts of misery, suffering, starvation, poverty and death all over the world.
They don't care. It's what they want.
They know the continued burning of fossil fuels will lead to apocalyptic global climate change.
They don't care. It's what they want.
They know world oil production is past its peak and in decline, and that this will soon lead to a cataclysmic energy crisis.
They don't care. It's what they want.
They know the exponential increase in the cost of energy will bring ruin to the global economy and turn America into a third world country.
They don't care. It's what they want.
They know that banks and other financial institutions around the world are about to collapse into economic rubble as a result of the unrestrained greed and fraud that has spawned a monstrosity of debt and insolvency beyond comprehension, let alone resolution.
They don't care. It's what they want.
They know their lust for personal wealth and power is transforming the American middle class into one of indentured serfdom and killing workers in other lands who slave, for next to nothing in deplorable conditions, to provide the cheapest possible product.
They don't care. It's what they want.
They know they are driving the entire human race to certain extinction along with most of the rest of life on Earth. As long as they continue to breath and maintain their power, guess what?
They don't care. It's what they want.
They wreak havoc, fouling the environment, destroying the sources of life and call it progress.
They murder millions of innocents, displace millions more, drive the rest into abject poverty and call it exporting democracy.
They steal the natural resources of entire countries, especially things essential to human survival, and call it acquisition of assets.
They destroy the economies of sovereign nations, crush any individual enterprise, monopolize every product or service and call it free trade.
They lie and call it marketing.
One cannot reason or negotiate with these creatures. They are sociopaths who live in a world devoid of morality, scruples or compassion. Their immorality can't be legislated out of existence. They can't be petitioned into submission. They can't be made to understand that they're doing something wrong. They are fully aware of what they're doing and they revel in the wrongness of it.
They want the death. They want the poverty, the suffering, the starvation, the war (especially the war!), the disease, the hatred, the discord, and the disunity. They thrive on the anguish and pain of others. They revel in the killing, raping, pillaging, and all manner of suffering for the inferior masses of humanity. Racism and all forms of prejudice bring a smile to their evil faces, a glint to their empty eyes.
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING matters to them save their own personal aggrandizement through the acquisition of wealth and especially control over the fate of others. They deem themselves gods, deities with the power of life and death over millions of insignificant humans who are beneath their consideration.
They are anti life. They arise and thrive, in very small numbers, in every ethnic variation of humanity. Skin color, nationality, gender, any surface distinction you care to mention is irrelevant to their psychopathology, though it does seem indisputable that Caucasian males make up a sizeable majority of this hideous, predacious minority.
This evil will only be extinguished when every remnant of their aberrant, inhuman, irrational mentality is completely expunged from the human psyche. This is not an option, it's an evolutionary imperative. They and whatever genetic aberration that makes them what they are must be ferreted out and isolated from the rest of humankind to end the contamination.
Perhaps the ever advancing field of genetics will yield a solution by discovering a gene for sociopaths which can be eliminated from the human genome. Perhaps the next extinction event, which is now just beginning, will wipe them out leaving a remnant of humanity, without their cancerous abnormality, to repopulate the world and create the first true human civilization. There hasn't really been one as of yet.
Perhaps the only solution is their extermination. This brings to mind a lyric: "Kill them. Give them as they give us. Slay them. Burn their children's laughter, on to Hell." (Band: Yes. Album: Relayer. Track: Gates of Delirium. 1974). Is this extreme? Consider the millions upon millions of people, over many generations, many centuries, who have been sacrificed to one manifestation or another of the capitalist god of profit. Think of the countless wars that have been waged for the sole purpose of enriching a few wretched miscreants. Look at the depths of evil to which these abhorrent fiends will descend. What kind of abominations would plan the murder of several thousand people in order to justify the senseless killing of millions more? Can you say 9/11/2001?
Again, how can such a small minority of humanity wield such power and do such harm?
Individuals may sometimes lose control of their lives and do terrible things to others while in some altered state. They may kill out of rage or desperation. They may even murder, with malice aforethought, more than a few people. They generally will not however, willfully put into motion events that will result in the deaths of hundreds, thousands or even millions of innocent, unsuspecting people. This falls within the purview of those who rule.
Some may steal to survive or to obtain what they have been convinced by marketers they must have to be considered valid. They may even plot the theft of very large amounts of money or valuables in the hope of becoming independent. I have never heard of a thief who has stolen the water supply of an entire nation in order to extort money from its people. This requires the power of a corporation.
Time and time again, throughout history, oppressed peoples have risen up against their monstrous masters. Time and time again the monsters still extant have hidden in plain sight, acting as if in concert with the people, waiting for the chance to begin again their devious, murderous ascent to the throne of the master. It has become a vicious cycle. There is a definition of insanity credited to both Benjamin Franklin and Albert Einstein..."doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." Who really cares who said it? I think it's long past time it was taken to heart. Those who ignore history are condemned to repeat it. Until such time as there is no more history, or future.
Are you a Libertarian or a Free Market Capitalist? Do you have children, grandchildren? Are you so enslaved to profit and power that you are willing to sacrifice their lives? Will you leave them a world unfit for human habitation so that you may enjoy a life of waste and opulence? Have you sold your humanity for your wealth and power? Is your greed so insatiable that you are no longer capable of rationality?
Go ahead. Build your empire of death. I only hope that the coming of the global disaster you have set in motion will be sooner rather than later; soon enough to take you along with the rest of us.
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Comments
"How can such a tiny fraction of the human population wield so much power and cause so much harm?" The answer is: We let them! You go a little further than I would, ColdWarBaby, but it's true there are some people who fit your description, and some of them are in positions of power. Nevertheless, in the long run -- if we get there -- good will win out ovr evil.
Medication!
blangrehr, would you care to elaborate?
You want to kill everybody, especially white men, who are successful in business. You want to kill everybody who takes pride in supporting themselves and their families without government assistance. Anybody with lots of money deserves to die, according to you. There should be no competition or individual accomplishment of any kind because that would be evil and those people would need to be killed. Society is better off only if everybody has equaled everything. History was repeatedly proven all this BS as wrong…Socialism and Communism just doesn’t work.
Your position about the destruction of our world as a result of burning fossil fuel is juvenile and petty. You are the destructive force pushing a political agenda. You are part of a world movement determined to destroy this country, you are anti-God and anti-American and a very lonely sad person.
And you, apparently, are a complete religious fundamentalist fanatic. Like the Inquisitors.
I don't want to kill ANYONE. I want to stop all the killing. As long as capitalism exists so will war and death for profit.
like I said!!! lol.
What to do, what to do?
I’m against hate in all its self righteous disguises. Mental disabilities don’t scare me, I work with them daily. You said “Perhaps the only solution is their extermination”, are you so unstable you don’t recognize hate and violence when you write it? You are talking about killing people when you say this. This evil will only be extinguished when every remnant of their aberrant, inhuman, irrational mentality is completely expunged from the human psyche.” Here again my sick friend.
There is no excuse to harm people; there is no rationalization for the hate and evil violence you spew. You are either very ill are pretending derangement. Even your visualization indicates a grotesque’s subconscious. Medication, therapy and most important…prayer.
I think he was talking more about he unseen hand, or like in Christianity, acording to Jahovah, the wicked system. His liturature was little harsh, but he isn't talking about killing people, he talking about a corrupt system in coporate politics.
Anyways Christianity has it's own grotesque principals and politics and a very disguised way of alienating people in disagreement, and usually they alienate the good and accept the ignorant.
I felt something totally different, it seemed an irrational political hate; he described a lack of self-determination for the common good. If I have wrongly interpreted this hub, I apologize. But I do refuse to believe in the absolute evil of capitalism. It’s a system, economic theory that has no life of its own. I know many wonderful rich people. Greed and hate and win at all cost are certainly not restricted to capitalist society.
There are exceptions to every rule, but the majority of capitalists, like those in crime families, are very nice people to those who share their views and lifestyles, but fiercely brutal when dealing with those who do not share their views. They don't give a second thought to those who suffer under their code of conduct. If we do not object to the unjust practices of the wealthy and powerful we become sheep and will be led to the slaughter without so much as a prayer over our graves.
Please, you didn’t interject the Mob in an attack on capitalism. We should always stand up for justice. Rich people deserve justice and fairness as well as poor people. Money should not determine your level of individual wroth, at least not in a free, sane society. You advocate a system of government were even fewer people have all the power and all the money. You want total wealth redistribution, no free market. Somebody will be making those decisions. It will not ever be fair for everybody. In a capitalist society there is a place to go other than the grave.
Capitalism is fair to capitalists, but not to anyone else. If you don't think our country is in danger, read what President Eisenhower, a Republican, had to say in his fairwell address:
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/dwightdei
Of course you are all free to interpret whatever you read in any way you like. Your responses say a lot about whether you are a logical, reasoning person or a knee-jerk reactionary.
I do not advocate violence in any form except self defense. Now some will take that one way and some another. Could the destruction of Hitler’s Nazis be considered self defense, relative to the rest of the human race? I don’t really know. You tell me. Some of our great capitalist leaders were helping to finance Adolf's little adventure. One was a relative of our illustrious president.
There is always more than one solution to any given problem; one answer to any question. Violence is never part of the solution. It’s always part of the problem.
My style of writing is intended specifically to arouse people, to make them think about issues they don’t really want to face.
“Your position about the destruction of our world as a result of burning fossil fuel is juvenile and petty.”
Anyone who actually believes this is in a state of extreme denial. Our pollution of the environment is pushing climate change beyond a point that will soon render this planet uninhabitable by anything more than bacteria or perhaps a few insects. I and my wife are caring for our disabled grandson of four. Since neither of his parents is capable of providing the level of dedication he needs to give him a chance in the world, we elected to take on that responsibility in spite of the fact that we are financially ill equipped to do so. I am outraged beyond expression that a small group of psychopathic money worshippers will deny him any hope for the future regardless of our efforts. If the issue of climate change is not addressed NOW, all our grandchildren will be faced with a living hell on a planet that is unfit for human habitation. But addressing these issues is not good for business. Instant gratification through wealth and power is all that matters. Prayer may soothe your soul but it will not stop the for-profit, wanton destruction of life that is free market capitalism.
Although it has been attempted time and again, throughout history, no libertarian system has ever been successful. The results are ALWAYS misery, destruction and death for multitudes of innocent men, women and children. Those who ignore history are condemned to repeat it.
"Those who ignore history are condemned to repeat it."
That is about you. History demonstrates that hate never creates anything sustainable. Love does.
Try to stop fearing, nobody is out to get you...
"...they will catch us only if we run away
they will find us only if we hide..."
You're obviously not paying attention. Didn't I say "Violence is never part of the solution. It's always part of the problem."?
You are absolutely correct about hate creating nothing sustainable. Libertarianism/capitalism is based largely on the inexplicable hatred directed at people who do productive work to sustain life by those who exploit them.I am paying attention :)
I see a lot of hate in your hub, and in your comments. I can understand why - reading what you have in your profile. I know it is hard to do, but there is only one way to get your life back - stop hating.
If you refuse to understand what you read there is little point in discussion.
I work with people with devastating disabilities; I to have an eighteen year old, beautiful, daughter with a chronic debilitation condition. She is the most remarkable human being I have ever met; there is no cure, no matter what we do God is going to take her earlier than we want her to go. Capitalism has nothing to do with it. You can rationalize the hate in your heart; you can blame everybody else for what life has laid at your feet or you can thank God for the opportunity to help those around you to a better life. You claim non-violence then urge total destruction; you don’t care about the people of this country. You just hate G. W. Bush, you have a political agenda, just like the rest of those sinister fear mongers perpetrating the largest hoax in the history of mankind; pseudo-science based global warming. You’re not fouling anybody; this is a radical leftist political discussion. Make people think, my eye, you want to bully and scare people into believing the hate filled baloney you do. I’ll say again, mental disabilities don’t scare me; there’s always hope! Love, forgiveness and faith is always the answer
Irrational people such as you are very depressing. You gush love and forgiveness out of one side of your mouth and hate and condemnation out the other.
Evidently you feel that Bush and the rest of the new nazis are doing a great job and anyone who suggests otherwise is a left wing commie pinko. Please. Spare me your insane ranting and make some reasoned contribution to the discussion. Memes and dogma we have in over abundance already.
I don't see any point in attempting to carry on a rational discussion with someone who lives by slogans and propaganda.
Educate yourself instead of spouting banal platitudes. But since you already KNOW that you're right and god is on your side I guess you don't need to deal with reality.
I get a little irritated when people don't see the facts about Global warming.
I am sure almost everyone has heard the story, Never Cry Wolf, the sorry part is that when it's really happening, it had become propagated and exploited to the point where you could rationaly say, it's not true, just another governmental or political game.
I was just telling my husband last night how much I wish that I could just walk up to people and shake them and yell, "Wake the F**k up, and look at the world, take a good friggin look at it." It's not a game, I mean life is a bit of joke, but really...there is a time to be serious and it seems obvious that, what is happening now is no joke.
Anyways, often times, good intentions need a negitive push, it's called tuff love. Something I have come to respect from all my elders.
I don't want to leave this world a worse place for my kid to deal with either. I feel that it is better to try and kick this "unseen hands" ass now so our children don't have to deal with our mess.
It's our mess and I think that the attitude called, well that is just life, is a pretty selfish one to take, and so there is going to be a small group of us who can almost litterally see what is going on, while the rest sit comfortably blind.
Now if someone feels that it's best for them and have no problems with it, than that is fine, but I wonder, why stand in the way or not help those who are really trying to make it better. Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it can't be seen.
Sandy, I too believe global warming is the myth designed to scare people and rip them off their money.
If you give it a thought, you'll see why - everything in this world goes up and down endlessly - and the average temperature does exactly the same. What is called "global warming" is just a part of this alternations, happens naturally, and will be reversed naturally in a due time :)
Well, I believe also that the Earth will fix itself in due time, I am just not so supportive of us being extinct or living in a "hell" of sorts in the mean time. It's cool though Misha, your still my fave.
LOL Sandy, I do think there is nothing to fix in that regard, though :)
And I love you , too :)
Oh, and did I tell you that I feel a great relief seeing your old avatar back? Well, I do :)
Ignorance is bliss.
Agree absolutely :)
The funniest thing about it - there is no way to prove anyone of us is ignorant on this issue. :) Either outcome can be agrued from both sides :P
I think sometimes anger is the only sane response to an insane situation. Comedian Lewis Black does this bit about Enron and how the CEOs of the some of the worst offenders in the corporate accounting scandals lived day to day, what their lavish and degenerate lifestyle was like, and his whole punchline in this bit is that what he really cannot understand to this day is why the workers at Enron did not rise up against their corporate overlords "...and SLAY THEM."
Honestly, I don't think this would have been an overreaction. People have died for way less than what they did to their workers and to America.
I think this hub is angry, not hateful, and the anger is appropriate. That's my view. I believe it will all come to blows eventually, but it will likely be too late by then.
Make-believe science, you don’t like it when you’re wrong, I understand, radicals extremist never do enjoy intelligent debate. As usual you folks resort to name calling. I never spew hate, it does no good. No, I’m not a big fan of President Bush; I believe he has made many mistakes while in office. I also believe him to be a good and honorable man, just as is Barrack Obama and Mrs. Clinton; well not a man, but I’m sure you understand my meaning. I don’t hate anybody; I disagree with people but I deeply respect their right to an opinion. I believe mankind to be inherently good, and will whenever possible do the right thing. We disagree; you hate, I don’t, you scream, I talk, you blame, I work for others. I will respect your wishes for no further dialogue.
I really hope and pray you get some help.
I think the main problem with hate and anger - they damage the one who experience them. They rob him/her from experiencing joy :)
LOL, ok, then like Jesus said: let the one who is without sin cast the first stone. or in regards to this hub, let he who has never been angry speak now or shut the hell up. lol.
I think it's not black and white Sandy. :) There are all shades of grey...
Aww, hell nooo Misha, it's no shade of gray sweats, it many, many wonderful colors! LOL.
Hey, that's even better :)
ColdWarBaby,
A better solution does exist. The problem you appear to be citing isn't capitalism, it's a lack of accountability. Bring the accountability back, and capitalism or any other "ism" is restored to a functional state. Capitalism can even work to restore that accountability. Have a look at how I'm harnessing the profit motive to restore accountability, with Wolfpack.
http://www.cambrianhouse.com/idea-forge/essentials
It's a Wikipedia solely for corruption. But on each page about politicians, corporate executives, and media figures, there will be an "Invest" button. People can micro-fund ($50) attorney's fees to bring them to court, yanking corporate charters, impeaching politicians, and demanding journalistic integrity in every country in the world. And the very people who they have exploited and dominated through their control of the system, the people who are looking to get ahead financially, will find that Wolfpack offers them a significantly better return than any bank would. It's a way of investing in justice and accountability again, since those are in high demand and extremely short supply.
I'd be careful demonizing - well, anyone, actually. Can some people be so blinded by the profit motive that they pursue thoroughly destructive agendas? Evidently so. But I cannot believe that there is a Divine Creator - call it what you will - that makes jerks. Not intrinsically. What we're seeing are good people, indeed Divinely graceful people, distorted and twisted through a lens of their own destructive choices. This makes it almost impossible to feel compassion, love, and tolerance for them - but without those things, there can be no peace, not even a constructive approach.
While your Hub isn't the most diplomatic, I appreciate your sincerity and candor - and I can certainly empathize with your frustration. A constructive approach is what's required - and from where you're coming from you can probably acknowledge that you can hardly expect _them_ to be the one to come forward in the world and introduce it. I gently urge you to focus and direct your fury, your anger, constructively - apply it like a directed stream towards the problems that are causing you misery. You're not disempowered, though your society tells you otherwise. You have options. They simply need to be applied and worked toward. I've learned in life that absolutely nothing that isn't loveless is impossible - with the possible exception of skiing through revolving doors. If something is affecting you this much, you may want to do something about it. Even a comparatively minor change is better than nothing - and it's certainly better than being miserable without applying yourself to improve the situation. If Rosa Parks had just gotten up and moved to the back of the bus, a lot of the later momentum that developed for civil liberties would have been lost. You can be the modern day equivalent, in whatever societal capacity you deem worthy of your personal investment.
Above all, take heart. We're all the same at the core, however estranged from it many people may seem to be in their own lives. If you can see a problem, you're also perceptive enough to find - or create - a solution. By turning that energy towards a constructive solution, you're consciously applying it as a force for forward momentum, rather than an internal venom that will harm you and blunt your effectiveness. Anger is a weapon only to one's opponent. And for what you need to do, you will already have more than enough going against you to be able to afford not to be centered.
Be well,
- Satori
I totally agree you you ColdWarBaby, and I'm a fundamentalist Christian. These days were predicted in the Bible thousands of years ago through the prophets and the solution is not far off. Much of the devestation will fall on the Christian world because the majority of Christianity is rebadged paganism (sun worship mostly). There will be a call to abandon materialism and "turn to God", but the god Christians will turn to is not the True God but the god of their own devising, the god who is the center of sun worship, the god who is in control of the men who a ruling the world. These will be terrible days....
www.4hispeople.com
A few comments referred to global warming, such as my new friend Misha. While I prefer to call it global climate change, I believe that we are in the midst of some sort of climate change, be it warming or cooling, I can't say.
There have been huge swings thorughout the recent (within recorded history, at least) history of our planet. Volcanoes have changed entire seasons, such as the year without a summer, experienced in North America in the early 1800's. A volcanic explosion in the far Pacific ocean sent enough soot and ash into the atmosphere to cause snow to fall in July, and for an entire summer to pass without crops being harvested.
I happen to think there is good reason to believe that human activities do add to the degree of climate change. I would like to see an accurate acounting for carbon products of all kinds that have been released into the air, and what finally becomes of them. The way I see it, the petro-carbons stored in the earth were taken out of circulation, but are now being recirculated at a faster and faster pace. How much is too much?
That said, I do agree with Misha that there are people profiting from this debate. We humans are a strange species! There's always someone there to rake in the dollars in the midst of any disaster, real or imagined!
And as for the shameless commercialism part of my diatribe, check out my hubs. I have a rant about high gasoline prices.
First let’s get on the same page.
No legitimate scientist, to my knowledge, has ever said that cycles of climate change are not a normal occurrence. Neither have I. So why does everyone keep bringing it up? Nor has any legitimate scientist even suggested that human activity is the sole cause of climate change. Neither have I. So why do all the deniers keep suggesting otherwise?
As far as said climate cycles are concerned we should, in fact, now be in a cooling period. Why aren’t we where we’re supposed to be? Could it just possibly have anything to do with the fact that never before in the life of the planet has there been a prolonged introduction of billions of tons of artificially created greenhouse gasses, every year, into our atmosphere? So instead of cooling down, as the natural cycle would have it, we are locked in a warming mode. It is for this disruption of the natural cycle that we are primarily responsible.
Another minor detail that all the “don’t worry, it’s only natural” promoters seem to have missed is the fact that most major climate shifts have resulted in mass extinctions and that they all occurred prior to the infestation of the Earth by the parasite Homosapiens. Such a major event now will, at best, leave a few bands of desperate, starving, sickly nomads crawling through the ruins of our disgusting cities praying for the blessed relief of death.
If you wish to believe the “scientists” on the payroll of Exxon Mobil or those lurking in the depths of ultra right wing neo conservative think tanks, you are by all means welcome to do so. I know it’s easier to just go merrily along with your lives and let god sort it out for you. That’s your privilege. I’m sure your grandchildren or, maybe, great grandchildren will bear you no ill will as they search franticly through the wreckage of “civilization” for a few drops of drinkable water, a few scraps of anything edible.
As far as rip-off artists are concerned; the only people scrambling to make a buck from this crisis are pretty much the same war profiteers that are reaping untold profits from the illegal, immoral invasion and occupation of Iraq. Various monolithic mega corporations are whipping together all kinds of deceptive, obfuscatory ad campaigns to show all the gullible consumers how “green” they are and how buying their products will help save the Earth. These are the very same folks who keep telling you that the whole climate change thing is bogus! Isn’t it great how they play both ends against the middle? Hypocrisy is thy middle name Libertarian. Meanwhile, the people you accuse of making the whole thing up so they can “rip you off” are telling you to conserve! We want to consume and, therefore, spend less! These people have nothing to gain financially from their position. They do not work for giant corporations whose sole purpose for existence is to make a profit. They have no political agenda. They are knowledgeable, intelligent and dedicated people who are trying to prevent a monumental disaster.
I’m not infallible. I don’t have all the answers. I do, however, take the time to research all sides of an issue. The “science” of the climate change deniers is very similar to that of the “abiotic oil” believers and the flat earthers and the folks who KNOW we never sent anyone to them moon and the folks who KNOW that the universe is only six thousand years old.
It’s not all that hard to tell who’s zoomin who. All it takes is common sense. Or you can just lie on the tracks and believe there are no trains.
It’s NOT about politics. It’s NOT about profit. It’s about the survival of the human race.
You know what I like and respect you for ColdWarBaby?
You don't delete comments that disagree with your point, when you easily can. This requires courage and honesty :)
As for the global warming - please excuse me, I prefer to just agree to disagree. This is not the topic of my interest, and I touched on it only because Sandra was so passionate about it. May be somebody else with genuine interest will pick the stick...
The choice is yours.
Wow, what a hub.
Sorry, but catastrophic climate change (warming or cooling) isn't happening. 0.17 degrees over 30 years. Wow. Worried into hysteria over that??? By the way, Big Green pumps 100x the money into pro-warming research than the oil Co's ever did. Sorry, but those are the facts.
And yes, I've looked at the science on both sides. The data used on the "pro" side is, in large part, garbage data.
By the way, several reputable scientists say we *are* entering a cooling period and none of them are on Oil Co payrolls, or Al Gore's.
Capticalism, warts and all, is far better than the alternatives. Real world communism has brought about environmental and human degradation far beyond the dreams of your evil capitalists. China's going that way now. And the US is cleaner per unit of anything than pretty much any other country.
Misha made a good point. Most people as angry as you wouldn't accept disenting comments. Actually, given this remark: "...the infestation of the Earth by the parasite Homosapiens...." I don't think "angry" or "passionate" are the right words. Still, kudos on building quite the discussion.
You will note, I hope, that I don't delete comments of those who's view is contrary to mine? Even trolls such as yourself.
ColdWarBaby, you bring up an interesting point when you say that billions of tons of hydrocarbons have been pumped into the atmosphere. In my classroom we are studying this very thing and the students are always amazed at how narrow and fragile the atmosphere is. If I am correct, it only truly extends a few dozen miles above us. After that point, if I understand things correctly, the "air" is too thin.
My greatest concern is all the CO2 and Methane in solution or frozen in or beneath the ocean. I believe methane is more dangerous to the atmosphere than is CO2, but that both together amplify each other's effect.
What I said about these petro-carbons being released after millions of years of being taken out of the system also concerns me, as does the destruction of rain forests where CO2 is converted back into O2. When I was in Florida a few months ago there was a lot of talk about algae blooms off the coast, and red tides as well. What do you know about these phenomenon and climate change?
Sorry for beating the dead horse about natural causes for climate changes. I guess I am just getting to know you and wanted to say something about an area I do know something about.
You have every right to be concerned about methane Chef. The possible carnage that would result from the massive release of methane frozen in permafrost, which is melting as we write, and deep ocean pockets, which are warming even now, is absolutely horrific. Methane is not only a much more potent greenhouse gas, it’s also lethal. http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_does_methane_gas_kil
There is some speculation that methane might have contributed to a mass extinction around 250 million years ago.
http://www.astrobio.net/news/article582.html
Bottom line; there are billions of tons of frozen methane and CO2 just waiting for the temperature to go up a couple of degrees. If it’s suddenly released in massive quantities it will kill millions.
I’ll probably be putting up a blog on this sometime soon.
It seems likely that certain types of harmful algal blooms will increase with continued warming.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleUR
As far as Florida is concerned, it will become a smaller state and the increase in harmful algal blooms will just be part of the package.
http://www.nwf.org/news/story.cfm?pageId=867DBCA1-
I think we all seem to be getting a bit carried away here and frankly a bit immature, not everyone who has a different viewpoint is a troll or evil in some way.
Global warming is going to be a major problem over the next 50 years, however not in the kind of apocalyptic fashion coldwarbaby mentions, there is evidence that the next ten years will actually see cooling, then begin to rise again (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7376301.stm). Developed countries will experience flooding, people will pay more for insurance etc, but it is as with most things like this the developing world that pays the highest price, famines, freak weather causing disasters, oppressive regimes getting in the way of the slim chance of there being enough help (see the terrible situation in Burma now).
But I do think a more objective and reasoned, less hate filled viewpoint is more constructive and will certainly engage people to listen to you. The American rulers may have highly dubious motives and objectives but it is wrong to say they are all evil and they want a disaster to happen.
As for capitalism, it is the best system we have used so far, it is not perfect but it is not an evil system, it can be corrupted just like communism can and usually is. Free markets are good in most cases but many of the people who preach them do not practice them. The EU for example with farming subsidies and unfair trade rules against developing countries, this IS NOT free trade, it is the opposite.
The EU for example with farming subsidies and unfair trade rules against developing countries, this IS NOT free trade, it is the opposite. ----No doyee Captian Planet, that is the point.
good hub but dont get into a stalinist .even capitalism hv its bad and good,i think u r making darkness by closing ur eyes
do u think socialism is possible......iam truly not against it and it is the fact that wealth of worlds first 200 rich people is equal to the wealth of another 40% people...........:(
thinking is quite good
and surveys says utilization of fields to produce bio fuels by the countries like
USA leads lack of food
but as i told earlier DEVILS ALSO HAVE SOME GOOD SIDE
I THINK UR ROLLMODEL IS CHE........REALLY GREAT........
Hi Sandra, the point I was making about free trade is that is quite often said to be a bad thing and the countires that preach it are cited as an example when infact they are not practicing it, only when it suits them. Many advocates of fair trade which I do support will say 'free trade' is wrong and give examples which are the very opposite of free trade just becasue it comes from a country that claims to be free eg US
I certainly doubt we will experience a "sudden catastrophe" like that shown in Hollywood movies, (i.e. “The Day After”), but I do believe that there is a tipping point at which we can't return to where we were.
Yes, the Earth undergoes a lot of changes over time. Where I am standing right now was once an ocean. I guess that was normal back then, but I certainly wouldn't want it to return to THAT normal climate! If this is the climate at which we benefit best, then it is in our collective best interests to maintain it as best we can. And if that means we must change, then I guess we had best prepare for that.
Whether or not the climate cools first and then warms, I can't say. This is all unexplored territory, so I don't know if anyone can say for certain what will occur when. I simply am convinced by the facts I have seen thus far that global climate change is happening, and that we are (at least) partially responsible for it.
So, what do you actually want? Do you want a revolution? Just look at what happened in Russia after their Bolshevic socialist revolution. They killed the wealthy landlords, their car, and destroyed their elit. The result was years of suffering of the Russian people. This was supposed to be revolution for the people but turned out to be the beginning of long period of suffering for them. All civilazations need their elit--no matter how bad is this elit. The elit has time for culture, art, and the money to buy luxury goods. They are the necessary evil.
As I've said several times, doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result is not only insane, it's suicidal. What do I want. I want an end to the cycle of exploitation, rebellion, death, oppression, rebellion, death, abuse, rebellion, death...
Sir, there is NO SUCH THING as "necessary" evil!
Rainmakerrain, I think not so much a revolution of blood as a revolution of responsibility. From those who have much, much is expected. If those who have a lot can do more to help make society a better place, that would be one small step in the right direction.
Still, in a society where greed is a virtue, power is a narcotic. and wealth is a goal, I don't see that those with power would be willing to give up any of it. A few do, like Bill Gates, who, like him or hate him, does at least have a large charity organization.
I've been fascinated by this discussion.
In my opinion, capitalism as theory is very sound. Just take look at Mohammed Yunus's ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Yunus ) project of micro-credit. It is major success. Of course, it presupposes that capitialism is an inclusive methodology; whereas Corporatism, otherwise known as fascism, is a very exclusionary practice.
That said, the solutions to systemic problems, are systemic solutions. We are the system, and how we spend our money has the most direct effect on a systemic solution.
Whether in ostensible agreement or not, discussions like this are healthy and help break the cycle of misinformation - particulary since we actually have more power than we perceive, beginning with where and how we spend our money as individuals.
Binx101
The Almost Daily Binx
http://binx101.wordpress.com
Corporatism/capitalism, as long as corporations are legally "persons" the distinction is null. If we must be capitalists then our corporations should all be not-for-profit and exist under very strict charter that must be renewed every five years at maximum. Let us create a new form of capitalism, let us call it Social Capitalism. Am I a new creature, the first Social Capitalist?
Capitalism is supposed to be based upon competition, which makes monopolies just a little off the mark. Corporate charters should strictly limit size and diversity; mergers and acquisitions should be disallowed.
Presupposition is another way of saying assumption. I think it is safe to say that presuppositions are what have brought us the very deep shit we are presently up to our collective necks in. Most Americans supposed their government was acting in their best interests all these years. They supposed the “free” market was. They assumed they were living in a democracy, more or less. They supposed all the corporations they supported all this time were here for the benefit of everyone and not just the CEO’s. Americans assumed theirs was the greatest and most wholesome nation on Earth while, in fact, it has been the most ravenous, deceitful and murderous empire in history.
I think I could go on like this for quite a while but I trust you take my point, assuming I actually have one.
What capitalism has become is killing us all.
Chef Jeff, I don't think that those who have more should be responsible to give more to society. If they want to they can, but if they don't wan't they should not be expected. The reason is that this would encourage lazy slakers to live on food stamps and government help. This would also discourage creative, self-made poeple from working harder -- since they'll have to share the product of their effort with others who don't work as hard, don't work at all, or are less intelligent than them.
The "slakers"[sic] you are so quick to stereotype are primarily a result of the much-vaunted “invisible hand of the market”. I am perfectly willing to admit that under the present debt based capitalist system, there are a few who are looking for a free ride. This is the result of a marketing system that brainwashes people, practically from birth, to believe they are entitled to instant gratification doled out from the beneficent corporations that only wish to provide us all with the best of everything. Some are more susceptible than others. These types, however, are a very small minority that only exists because of a system that creates them. By far, the majority of people are happy to work and contribute to the society of which they are a part. Unfortunately, the Libertarian concept of a perfect society says there is no such thing as society. As a result, huge numbers of hard working blue-collar laborers are deceived, marginalized, exploited and driven into bankruptcy and near poverty on a daily basis. Our system of capitalism has very simple rules; the last one standing is the winner. This does not make for a “civil” society. If our system were an equitable one, you would find that the number of “freeloaders” would dwindle nearly to zero in short order. People in general love to feel they serve a purpose in life even if it means performing simple but essential labor. I know whereof I speak. I am 61 and spent most of my life as a laborer. If a person performs a needed service, however unglamorous, they simply MUST be compensated at a level that will allow them to have a pleasant, comfortable and secure life. Trickle-down economics, the “free” market and capitalism in general do not even begin to create this kind of environment.
http://hubpages.com/hub/MARKETING-THE-LIE
http://hubpages.com/hub/INDOCTRI-NATIONFAIT-ACCOMP
ColdWarBaby,
There are two people on this thread with experience of living under socialism, in different countries. We can compare, and we both think that socialism is much worse. I am from Russia, Rainmaker - from Bulgaria. This is as first-hand witnessing as it ever gets...
Capitalism is not perfect in any way, but socialism is way worse. I do understand your anger, and I agree the problems that cause it are there. But solution you are offering does not work unfortunately - tested on many countries for many years...
Codwar wants to be king...he can fix everything! Truely sick.
The Soviet Union was NEVER a true "socialist" society any more than America has ever been a real democracy. Get your data in order.
Any nation that has begun to show signs of success at socialism has immediately become the target of CIA black ops, American financed coups and propaganda, U.S. backed NGO’s aimed at causing instability and disruption and, often, the installation of oppressive regimes happy to crush the democratic process and do the bidding of the American Empire for their personal gain.
To date there has yet to be a truly successful society of ANY kind among humans. They are ALL eventually perverted by greed and the lust to dominate. Until we learn to value life, above all, we will continue to be bloodthirsty predators dressed in business suits.
blangrehr says:10 minutes ago
"Codwar [sic] wants to be king...he can fix everything! Truely sick."
You have no intelligent or rational contribution to make so you resort to school yard taunting?
I guess I can play that way to if you like.
Are you totally demented or just congenitally stupid?
Some say socialism has never been tried. Cuba's record isn't very impressive fom an economic or a human rights perspective. GNP growth has been significantly greater in market economies, but in most countries income distribution has been quite unequal. The Scandanavian countries are often cited as the most successful politically democratic, primarily market based economies. They seem to be able to combine economic progress, human rights and more equall income distribution than in either the so-called socialist countries and the market economies like the United States.
All we know about Cuba is what our government tells us, unless of course you have lived there. The main sin of Castro was kicking out the US corporate parasites that were sucking the life out of the country. As a result they have been struggling under extreme sanctions ever since. They still manage to provide better healthcare for their people than we do.
I think Venezuela is the best current example of America attempting to oust a democratically elected leader who is leaning very much toward socialism and lifting most of the countries’ population out of poverty in the process.
Oh, my god, what am I thinking? We all know that Chavez is a ruthless commie pinko dictator! Is that not correct blangrehr?
Chavez is riding high because of the rocketing price of oil. Otherwise he's just another in a long line of military dictators, right and left, in Latin America. He is no paragon of socialist democracy.
We know quite a lot about cuba besides what our government tells us. The only bright spot I've heard is the health care system which may well be better than ours.
You are, of course, free to believe as you choose. We will simply have to agree to disagree.
Well, if Cuba's healthcare is anything like Soviet Union had - and I highly suspect this is the case - it is not better than American, probably worse. Yes, you don't have to pay for it officially - but you have to bribe every doctor, nurse, and even cleaning lady so they do what they are supposed to do according to job description...
Castro devoted a lot of resources to the government health care system according to what I've read and Michael Moor'e movie. I have never been to Cuba, before or after Fidel. The system doesn't have to be very good to be better than ours.
Life expectancy at birth in the U.S. is 77.9 years compared to 77.2 in Cuba and 80.9 years in Sweden.
Infant mortality is 5.1 per 1000 in Cuba compared to 6.3 in the U.S. and 2.3 in Sweden.
Again, if Cuba is anything like Soviet Union, its stats are very "creative" :D
US government is not an angel in that sense either - but it is just a kids play comparing to what USSR did with stats. Make sure first you are comparing apples to apples, and then take the results with a huge grain of salt I would say :)
"if Cuba is anything like Soviet Union..."
Let us put an end to it then.
It is not.
Cuba is a little island, not a huge strategically located superpower. It is so close to the U.S., you could spit on it from Miami Beach, and I am sure you would love to. Like any island nation, it has to depend on other countries for many things it just cannot produce on its own. For decades, it has been strangled by a U.S. embargo as punishment for refusing to let American corporations have their way with what few resources Cuba has.
http://www.flamingchickens.com/cuba/embargo.html
http://paulitics.wordpress.com/2008/02/20/the-us-e
It accepted the "protection" of the Soviet Union as the lesser of two evils and the rest, as they say, is history.
I do not know how old you are but I would think your experiences in the USSR would have made it much easier for you to see what is happening in America. Could it be that you do not want to think about the possibility that you have jumped from the frying pan into the fire?
Since you ask, He could be your brother. And that’s exactly what the world needs, more crazy people in power. Moa, Stalin, Napoleon, Hitler, Mussolini, Montt, Taylor, Nguema, Idi AMin, Pol Pot, and of course the brutal dictator want-to- be, Codwar baby. Of course these are your heroes.
Misha, those are World Health Organization figures, and they make sense from what I know about health care in the U.S. (very unequal distribution depending on employer and income level). U.S. health care results are the poorest of any industrialized nation, and from what I've read, Cuba has a pretty good system with competent care accessible to everyone. Again, I have never visited Cuba.
Coldwarbaby, I agree that our policy toward Cuba has been insane. It drove Castro into the hands of the USSR which made no sense for Cuba nor for the United States. As in the case of Palestine-Israel, our Cuba policy was driven politically by a small vocal minority of Cuban ex-patriots in Florida. I heard Castro speak in Cambridge, Mass. in 1959 or 1960 shortly after he drove Batista out of the country and he was treated by the crowd as a hero.
WHO has to base its stats on what countries give to them, right? Now, aside from intentional distortion, there are different definitions that affect those stats heavily. Wikipedia has a good write-up on this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infant_mortality
Now, coming back to Cuban revolution. Whatever the reason was, Cuba accepted "protection" from the Soviet Union, as you put it. :) This is like mafia - easy to join, and impossible to leave alive, and you have to obey the rules - or you are dead, too. Just look what happened in 1956 in Hungary and in 1964 in Czechoslovakia. They both tried to break the rules...
That makes me thinking Cuba was good at following the rules - thus making assumptions you did not like. :)
Not sure I want to continue in Cuba and healthcare direction, cause those are not really the topics of my high interest, neighther they are areas of my expertise.
I am 48, and I am old enough to live under communist rule the most part of my life. I definitely see some troubling trends in America. I do think however, that you guys will overcome this sooner or later. USA is quite young on the countries scale, and it seems to behave like a teenager going through puberty. I do think those problems will be sorted out - I doubt it will happen in our lifespan however...
CWB said something earlier that was very clear. It was about corporations. While I reserve the right to beat a dead horse later about the corporatism / capitalism differentiation - I think the key was about renewable charters. This in fact was the doctoral origin of corporations in US public practice. They had to demonstrate a "public good" That was the quid pro quo to be able to act as an aggregator and also a multiplier of public services. This began to end at a point when states rights started to eclipse the collective agreement as a United States. That being said - companies began 'Home State" shopping for better corporate practices deals - the Rockefellers and other Rail and Steel magnates, almost blackmailing of states - lead to the widespread adoption of the current corporate manifesto. It is time to revisit that history in order to improve the public good and at the same time inspire commerce. it doesn't have to remain a corporate dominant game and certainly a more uniform Code among states would aid in tort reform and corporate abuse in an unlikely marriage.
As for the invisible hand of the market. My opinion is Friedman has been widely dis-reputed for conflating his ideology with economic fundamentals and arriving at some illogical assertions that were perfect for the time and his team. The only thing that is invivislbe about the hand of the market is when its picking our pocket. Friedman completely overlooked the exponential effect of targeted marketing and market demographic practices. Nothing invisible about that at all. Had he addresses it as the subliminal assistant of the market - the observations couldn't have possible concluded in the way he did. Supply side economics was voo doo (as George Bush 41 observed, but recanted later for political expediency)
There is much more to discuss about this collective of subjects. That's my two cents for today. Thanks for the opportunity CWB - Binx101
You are absolutely right about Friedman. He made some original contributions to economic theory, but his libertarianism was more akin to Ayn Rand's pseudo-philosophy. As I see it the biggest problem comes from the campaign finance laws which permit corporations to buy and pay for our senators and congressmen. The best fix for that would be government financed election campaigns. However, we're stuck with some First Amendment court opnions that make strict limits on campaign spending difficult.
Misha
No one is a better distorter than the US of A. The history taught in the schools is almost pure revisionist rubbish.
Wikipedia is not one of my favorite sources.
The Soviet Union is dead and Cuba is still alive and kicking.
I've already told you, I don't like assumptions and try very hard never to make them.
Maybe you have lots of money and/or great health insurance but to over 40 million uninsured Americans healthcare is an area of GREAT interest.
I don't know who you think these "you guys" are. It sounds like you don't really consider yourself part of the American dream. Are you one of "us guys" or just a visitor? Beyond that, you guys, whoever they may be, don't have a whole lot of time to attend to your "troubling trends". Mother nature will soon take care of all of us.
Your lack of comprehension or willful ignorance, whichever, is very trying. I wish you nothing but peace and prosperity in your complacency but, please, don't ever expect me to adopt your lackadaisical attitude.
"All that is necessary for the forces of evil to win in the world is for enough good men to do nothing." -- Edmund BurkeBinx101, Ralph Deeds, thank you for your cogent responses.
ColdWarBaby,
You must be a good person, but to people like Misha and I, your ideas sound rather like a nightmare--first-hand experience with Utopian society. The things you are talking about have been tried many times, and have been proven to be Utopia. It is understandable why many people today are still interested in works like Das Kapital and ideas like Marxism, socialism, and proletarian revolution. If we destroy the poeple with economic and political power right now and take all they have, the ones who come next (we can't have a society without leaders) will be worse. Greed and lust for power are in human nature, and once new leaders come to power, they'll inevitably become susceptible to them.
Maybe the truth is somewhere in the middlle. By the way, did anyone hear about the study that says conservatives are happier than moderates and especially liberals? The problem is that conservatives would be those in power:-)
I love your writing style.
Thank you very much!
blangrehr,
As far as I can tell, you have posted nine comments to only one of my HUBS without bothering to read any of the others. You are, of course, free and welcome to disagree. However, I must point out that none of your comments has contained any reasoned argument or valid refutation of anything I have said. In nearly every instance, you resort to the jingoism, immature name-calling and vilification used by those who have been thoroughly indoctrinated. It is as if you were a mindless member of some cult, incapable of independent thought.
It is very evident that you are dealing with a lot of pent up rage. Since you are so completely controlled by your socio/religious indoctrination you are apparently unable to release that anger in any constructive way. If it helps you in some way to use me as a target for your rage and frustration then so be it. I will not block or delete any comments you choose to post however offensive they may be. I fact, the more you rant, the more you demonstrate your willful ignorance, the more you validate much of what I say in my blogs.
Am I angry at the destruction and oppression I see all around me? You bet your ass I am and I will not hesitate to express that anger and direct it at those whom I believe to be responsible! The difference is that I spend a tremendous amount of time LEARNING. I have dug, studied and researched from every angle I could find and the preponderance of evidence leads me to the conclusions I present in my writing. I have NEVER accepted, without question, ANY particular school of thought. You, on the other hand, have chosen to let the Bible and the propaganda machine of capitalism do your thinking for you.
Since I cannot set you free from the mental prison you have locked yourself in, I will simply offer my sympathy and wish you well. I will not waste any more time, however, responding to comments from someone incapable of seeing beyond the dogma to which they have succumbed. I hope you find peace and prosperity on your chosen path and I swear to you, though I know you will not believe that ultimately we share the same desire for peace and harmony among ALL the people of the world.
Binx101
"As for the invisible hand of the market. My opinion is Friedman..."
Minor discrepancy. Wasn't Adam Smith the one who came up with "The Invisible Hand"
I’m confused when I do attempt civil dialogue you attack. When I say fine, you don’t want to exchange ideas I respect your wishes, it is after all you article, and I do not post or respond. It is obvious, to me at least, that you are an extremely intelligent and passionate individual but we disagree. Your opinion of me is of no concern nor does it keep me awake at night. I try hard to live my life in services to my family, my friends and my community. The discussions I take part in on hubpages and a half dozen other blog sites I do for enjoyment and entertainment. I’m certainly not trying to offend or feud with anyone. I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and savior, consequently I will not apologize for that core set of beliefs that I admit colors all others opinions. As far as being indoctrinated or expressing myself in platitudes, I again disagree.
If you’ll go back and look, this response and the last, I am responding to you calling me out. Again that confuses me; you aren’t going to change my mind and I lack the wordsmanship and intellect to change yours. I have read all your hubs and I have not responded for many reasons the foremost being that we are miles apart in much of our ideology, and to be honest your anger and rage scare me. It’s not a physical fear, it’s more of a shock and baffled surprise, much the same feelings I get when viewing one of Reverend Wrights sermons. I understand most of the philosophy and economics powering your views being that I spent most of my undergraduate and graduate years studying sociology and political science. I think you are wrong, very wrong, but again we are not going to changed each other’s opinion. There many people reading and responding to your hubs some that fawn over and agree with you and some that seem to be trying to at least rationally discuss your chosen topic; they get abused. I’ve left you alone, yet you continue to berate, belittle and call me names. That is of course your right. I do however apologize for the "sick" comment.
working
sandra rinck says:
2 weeks ago
I agree. Though this time, I don't think that the little people have enough courage or whatever to stand up for what is right these days.
There is so much control over people, that control is being done without people even realizing they are feeding the monsters.
I think there should be a law againts any one person having even .5% of total global monies. But then even the innocent and nieve people, say, well they worked for it, but never realy considered they they themselves are being ripped off and feeding the institutions.
Then some get all panty hurt when someone wants to tell it like it is. What to do, what to do.
I say stop giving them your money, give it to the small people, but even then the malice comes out.
Great hub, a bit strong, but great non-the-less.