Maybe It's Not The Immigrants

If it's the immigrants who are taking our jobs,

how are they taking them to China?

Being In Nature Is Like Going Back To Your Soul

Being in Nature is like going back to your soul.

...You know what I'm talking about; that feeling that you are more complete when you feel you're a part of a natural place.

And you should. No man is an island. We are just a part of life on Earth – but we should relish that.

Have you ever thought about how the words soul and Sol sound so much alike. One word represents the energy within us and the other word represents the energy from the Sun. If this were a coincidence, I would be very surprised. Our ancestors knew. Our ancestors knew that we are more than that which is contained in our bodies.

We are a part of life on Earth.

That is so special.

Just consider the alternative: If we were to be truly alone (say floating in a spacecraft) – we would die – of hunger, stale air, and loneliness. We crave the Grand Central Station of life. We crave the beauty of life all around us. We crave the balance. We crave the feeling of completeness.

We crave the feeling of a complete soul. And we are more likely to feel that feeling when we are in Nature. In fact, fresh air actually feels like the breath of life – because it is.

This perception makes sense if we think of the life all around us as the rest of our soul. And this perception of our soul makes sense if we think of the life around us as that consciousness which lives on after our body dies.

And if this all makes sense, then destroying nature for money is destroying a part of your soul.

It seems some people will do most anything for money...

Including sell their soul.

Egypt Isn't Out Of The Woods Yet

Remember a couple of weeks ago when Senator John McCain called the democracy movement in Egypt a "virus"?

Well, now he's extolling how wonderful the movement is (now that they've won).

That could just mean he's a hypocrite. But it likely means a lot more. It likely means that the change at the top in Egypt isn't really significant.

It likely means that the Egyptian people still have a lot of work to do to get that democracy they so dearly want.

We Americans need to watch for signs such as this here. Those in power have far too many times told us that we got what we wanted, when in reality nothing has significantly changed.

Our Government Should Be Demoted

In my last post I recommended three changes to our U.S. government.

1. Direct Democracy

2. Political Decision Limits

3. Automatic Shutdowns of Illegitimate Programs

Imagine a political system:

1. that inherently makes long-term policy decisions based upon common sense and reason – determined by the majority of citizens (rather than the “invisible hand” of a super-rich, super-greedy plutocracy).

2. that prohibits sell-out politicians from propagating a dysfunctional system of privilege.

3. that automatically defunds dangerous programs as soon as the funding mistake becomes blatantly apparent.

These are major changes – revolutionary. Essentially they are a demotion of all three of our branches of U.S. government.

“We the people” should directly determine our long-term policy.

“We the people” should decide what decisions politicians cannot make.

“We the people” should determine what programs are just bad ideas.

“We the people” should run our own country.

I find it hard to believe we could have done any worse than things have turned out.

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Joe Rogan commentary

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Dennis Kucinich commentary

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Bernie Sanders commentary

The government that ignores our votes, opinions, and best interests ceases to be “our” government.

...In the 2008 election Americans voted (indirectly) to get out of Iraq. But did it happen? Not really – even though we thought we won the election. Like some shell game, our soldiers are still in Far-off-istan.

These “wars” would end immediately – if we had the right to quit paying for them. And why shouldn't we have the right to quit paying for violence we never voted for – and were conned into supporting? Americans are a peace-loving people who have been at war or preparing for war since before most of us were even born. All I'm saying is we should have the right to vote on this.

For example: If our nation has been at war for more than a year, it should go to a vote. We should be asked; “Should America continue its hostilities? Yes or No?” And we should be asked every year thereafter too. And if a majority of voting Americans choose to end the fighting, the funding should be automatically ended.

Essentially, American taxpayers have become slaves for a military/industrial complex never ending war machine. Sadly, we can't trust our politicians to end these wars, no matter how big a waste they are. There's just too much money to skim. I'm not saying that any “war” that lasts more than a year should be canceled automatically. But at least those of us who are paying for it should automatically be able to vote whether to discontinue payments or not.

We should vote on foreign military aid too.

Do you really think that, if we had had the chance to vote on it; we would have been giving Egypt over a billion dollars a year to essentially build up their military? No! Hell No! We wouldn't have supported a dictator so that U.S. military contractors could sell arms to a government that only professed peace with Israel so that they could get more arms... And if Hosni Mubarak hadn't had so much of our money, maybe he wouldn't have been nearly so powerful a dictator. Who knows – we might have been able to avoid 30 years of oppression in Egypt – and save over 40 billion dollars – if only we had had the chance to vote on it.

Of course, our elected officials sometimes do make the right decisions. Events in Egypt should now persuade us that President Obama has now convincingly earned his Nobel Peace prize... But it took 30 years to get to this point, and it still might not have happened now.

When former presidential candidate Senator John McCain called the democracy movement in Egypt a “virus,” it reminded us that things could have turned out very different. Had John McCain been president, it is very likely U.S. “interests” would have taken precedence over democracy. Had John McCain been president, most likely America would have given Hosni Mubarak the go ahead to violently oppress its own people (again).

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McCain democracy “virus” video

Which is another reason why decision limits are so important. No democratically elected leader should be allowed to suppress democracy in other countries. That is simply not what we should stand for. Because ultimately, the oppression spreads – as it has from third world countries to America.

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Jesse Ventura interview

(Of course, there is no way to know for sure whether a political resistance movement will result in democracy. But when a country is afflicted with despotism, we obviously should err on the side of democracy movements. Which is why we should implement these ideas for more democracy – and less corrupt “leadership” autonomy.)

...Inevitably, even in the best run governments, mistakes will be made. Which means decision limits aren't always enough. There has to be a way to automatically shut down bad programs. Because our politicians just don't seem to be able to shut off the flow of money, no matter how bad a program is. We need Constitution driven automatic shutdowns of funding under certain conditions.

For example:

When the fossil fuel industry makes the mistake of destroying a huge chunk of the environment with an avoidable oil spill – such as what happened with BP in the Gulf last summer, and Exxon in Alaska etc. etc.; it should be written into our Constitution that their subsidies, tax breaks etc. etc. be revoked.

No politician should even be asked their opinion on this. The revocations should be automatic – especially when alternative technologies exist that have no significant environmental effects compared to these catastrophes.

Automatic shutdowns are just good management. Or at least they are the avoidance of bad management. These shutdowns don't have to be permanent. We could still vote them back.

If BP or Exxon want their subsidies back, they can petition (or pay) for an election vote on the issue. And if a majority of the voting population (not just a majority of the people voting in the election) choose to reinstate their subsidies, so be it. We would have chosen to pay. But we're not choosing to pay now, and many many people are very very angry about this.

Our present political system has failed us; by making atrocious decisions that have cost us trillions, our health and environment, and the lives of thousands of our soldiers. It doesn't have to be that way.

We can create a system that does a much better job of self-correction – in part because we hardly have one at all now. Let's face it; any implementation of common sense would be better than what we have now.

Americans should have the right to kick the bums out of the Supreme Court too. If over half of Americans capable of voting choose to replace a Supreme Court Justice, we should have the right.

The “Supreme” Court has a long history of supporting plutocracy and corporatocracy over democracy. Or don't you think it's strange that the “Supreme” Court can declare most of the New Deal unconstitutional and now throw out our campaign finance laws, but somehow they just don't seem to be capable of noticing that the Patriot Act is in direct defiance of the Bill of Rights.

Which brings us to issues of freedom and liberty. Shouldn't Americans be allowed to vote on issues that reduce our freedoms? Why is it that unelected bureaucrats should have more power over our freedom than we do? When it comes to issues like net neutrality, we should be the ones to vote on it. Anything else is an attack on our sovereignty. There shouldn't even be a question about it. We should be the ones voting on issues such as this.

...Of course, there are some things even we Americans should not be able to vote on. We should not be allowed to vote against the Bill of Rights. Majority rule is not the answer to everything. But at least it's better than minority rule by a privileged class. Especially when that privileged class is ever faster running our nation and planet to self-destruction.

1. Direct Democracy on long-term policy issues would spread the decision making process out to all those effected, and thus reduce policy manipulation for the benefit of the short-sighted.

2. Political Decision Limits can help keep politicians honest.

3. Automatic Shutdowns of Illegitimate Programs could save us billions if not trillions of dollars on programs, subsidies, and tax breaks that are essentially just socialism for the rich.

What America needs is more democracy.

What America Needs Is More Democracy

Most everyone agrees; America is broken. Our government is dysfunctional. Our future looks uncertain. And worse, our long-term future looks bleak.

Why? At least in part because our “leaders” keep making bad decisions. And they keep making those bad decisions because that's what keeps getting them money to get re-elected... at least until our economy collapses... even worse than it did in 2008.

Casino Jack and the United States of Money Trailer

Inside Job Trailer

Noam Chomsky Democracy Uprising

What we have in America only looks like democracy.

What we have in America is socialism for the highest bidder.

What we have in America does not look at all like equality.

What we have in America is a privileged class running “our” government for their own selfish benefit – a plutocracy.

And what does that mean for the rest of us?

Servitude.

That's right. You are like a slave. You are like a slave who votes for “leaders” who almost always decide against you. Because your vote never counts as much as the privileged class payoffs. Things have been somewhat this way for a long time. But now, we have a free-for-all race to the bottom. This has become totally unsustainable.

Common sense no longer matters.

This is a sign.

Disregard for common sense is a sign that our system is falling apart – failing. Even the privileged class should be afraid. This cannot last. And it won't last for much longer.

What we need is an infusion of sanity.

What we need is a way to keep our “leaders” from making decisions that don't make sense.

What we need is to think outside of the box.

But thinking outside of the box is the last thing the privileged class wants us to do. Limiting our thinking is how they keep us in line.

The ultimate point of controlling mass media is to distract us. The mass media only gives you the alternatives they want you to consider. We have been misdirected into believing that the system we have is the ultimate system of democracy. It is not.

Consider this: When was the last time Americans voted on a national issue?

Never.

That's not really democracy.

That's representative democracy.

And it's only pretend democracy when our “representatives” don't really represent us.

America's government has devolved into a culture of compulsory corruption – financed by required bribes (campaign contributions etc.).

Free market politics is payola politics.

Free market politics is legalized corruption.

Free market politics is multi-national corporate control.

And after thirty years of gutting of U.S. manufacturing and suppressing of Americans' wages, there is overwhelming evidence to prove that multi-national corporations don't really care about America.

So, what do we do about it?

I would suggest the opposite of the “Supreme” Court Citizens United decision.

We need less, much less multi-national corporate control.

In fact;

Americans should be directly determining our long-term policies.

There is no reason, with the technology we have today, for not having an election every year – on a dozen or so of the issues. We should be voting for (or against) particular issues – not some candidate who promises to address your issue – and then later acts like you don't exist.

Representative democracy has failed us. Our proxies can too easily be mislead, corrupted, and/or intimidated. Our politicians have failed us. The flaw is systemic. But it doesn't have to be this way.

There is no reason we should have to rely on politicians and bureaucrats to make our most important decisions for us.

What America needs is more democracy.

but what America has been getting is less and less democracy. We've ended up with more and more authoritarianism from the very people who have promised us smaller government. And worse, they keep making poor decisions that have led us closer and closer to total economic collapse.

What we need are limits to bad government.

What we need are guidelines, procedures, decision trees, or at least some kind of limitations on politicians that keep them from making bad decisions. And most importantly, we the people need to set policy. Our “leaders” should only have the power to implement our democratically issued orders. That's what elections were supposed to do. That's what direct democracy can do.

And when certain things happen, with obvious bad consequences; the right to decide on the issue should be out of politicians' hands.

Of course, don't ever expect any politician or bureaucrat to give up their power for us - no matter who we vote for. They have no intention – and never will – of sharing our power with us. We will have to take it.

The process of getting the power we should already have will likely look a lot like Egypt did. Yes it will take us taking to the streets. The protests in Wisconsin and Egypt should only be a beginning.

I don't wish to fight America.

I intend to make America better.

What America (and all of the world's governments) need more of is:

1. Direct Democracy

2. Political Decision Limits

3. Automatic Shutdowns of Illegitimate Programs

(I will give examples on my next post.)

Utilizing the Scientific Method to Fix Things

Here is the next Zeitgeist video:

the Zeitgeist Movement Activist and Orientation Guide

This video shows how the Venus Project wants us to develop a resource based economy that recognizes natural law to develop a sustainable equilibrium and abundance for all – or in other words; how to fix our dysfunctional economy.

Our love of money is the basis for most evil. Profits are earned based upon a system that rewards scarcity – not responsibility. Consequently, so many good ideas are ignored because the profit potential isn't as great as with exploitation.

What makes sense is to develop a system where the best ideas rise to the top, corruption is unprofitable, a functional based spirituality replaces the blind obeying of self appointed leaders, and where people treat each other (and the environment) with respect.

I think they're onto something extraordinary.

But until we develop a system such as they recommend, we can utilize the Internet to communicate what works best.

For example:

The website GoodGuide.com has rated household products we use based upon how healthy they are, how they effect the environment, and how well the company functions in society. If we spend our money wisely, and buy the greenest and most socially responsible products; then we will at least not reward irresponsibility.

Though not nearly as game changing as moving away from a money-based economy, this is something significant we can do right away.

From Truth To Freedom

The truth will not set you free.

The truth only clears your mind for you to set yourself free.

Wikileaks, internet news, and social networks are now much more than just a PR problem for politicians, corporatocracies, and tyrants. They have now become the truth that inspires revolutions.

We saw this happen in Tunisia.

Wikileaks documents showed examples of the vast corruption at the top in Tunisia. This was just too much for the people of Tunisia to take. They stood up and overthrew the tyrant who had oppressed them for years.

And when Egyptians saw this happen, they too stood up against tyranny. We could call this the domino theory of democracy. But you won't hear that from Vice President Joe Biden. Instead we hear Biden say (about Hosni Mubarak); “I would not refer to him as a dictator.” …And why not?

Wikileaks has published U.S. documents that point out that Hosni Mubarak definitely fits the description. Our government knows this. They're just lying to us – and worse. “Our” U.S. Government gives $1.3 billion to Egypt every year in “aid.” (That's Orwellian speak for military support to a totalitarian government.) And our tax dollars have been going towards this for over 30 years now!

Why? Supposedly so that Egypt won't go to war with Israel again. But, the money we've sent to Egypt has resulted in that nation now having the 11^th largest military on the planet. So, if we cut off their aid, they now have the military buildup to go to war with Israel. WTF? We've been played... We've been hosed by Hosni. But not just Egypt is behind draining our National treasure. You can bet that much of that (military) aid money got spent on U.S. made weaponry (enriching the usual military/industrial complex suspects).

And what do we hear about this from the mass media? Not much. But we do hear about the Muslim Brotherhood. We hear about terrorism. We hear about rioting, looting, and anarchy... all of which are minor issues so far. However, we also hear about the stock market dropping. U.S. “interests” are at risk.

Most people don't really think about what the term “U.S. interests” really means. Personally, I (and most Americans) don't have any “interests” in Egypt – other than my concern for the welfare of the Egyptian people. However; U.S. (and international) corporations do. (Once again, capitalists are favoring a totalitarian government over a democracy.) And just why should international corporations care who runs the Egyptian government? Of course, the answer is obvious. The present Egyptian government gives"favors" to these corporations – at the expense of the Egyptian people. The only logical conclusion is that the corporate economic cycle of oppression is at risk if the Egyptian people take over.

And we're supposed to be concerned about that.

... I guess I am.

I want Egypt to be free.

But maybe I'm asking too much. Maybe the radicals are on their way to power.

Is this another Iran? Maybe. But it doesn't look like it. Iran had the Ayatollah Khomeini. Egypt doesn't seem to have an equivalent. One thing for sure however; if we continue to support a tyrant in Egypt, and he continues to suppress his people, when they finally do overthrow him, we will have another Iran – with a military infrastructure we paid for.

One more thing. It's obvious that the events in Tunisia aren't the only reason Egyptians are out in the streets demanding democracy. The crippled Egyptian economy has played a major role in the peoples' unrest. Yes, the 2008 banking crisis hurt Egypt's economy too. Which means U.S. and international banks played a significant role in this political turmoil. In other words, we helped bring all this on.

That's right; we.

The American people have allowed our politicians to gut responsible laws that regulated the banks. We too, have to deal with rampant corruption. The banking meltdown may not have been our fault, but the dysfunctional government we have allowed to exist is.

We know the problem here. Campaign contributions are essentially required bribes. If a candidate refuses to take these “contributions,” they won't win any elections. And if business owners don't give out these “contributions,” their markets will eventually be legislated away. This is how a democracy slowly becomes a corporatocracy, and then eventually a fascist state. So far, we've just let it happen. And things just continue to get worse.

We've seen that when the free market dominates democracy, our government is for sale. And when our laws are for sale, we no longer have effective laws. And when our laws are for sale to the highest bidder, those with the gold make the rules with no regard for right and wrong. When established industries dominate a market, innovation gets stifled. When a monopoly dominates a market, eventually quality goes down and price goes up. When international corporations control our government, domestic issues get ignored.

Eventually, the consequences of systematic corruption will inevitably lead to our downfall. The consequences of doing things callously wrong result in poverty, sweatshops, resource depletion, pollution, and Climate Change. Even in America, we can only ignore this for so long...

Maybe someday things will get so bad here that Americans will take to the streets too.

Which is likely why we see “our” U.S. Government taking preemptive steps to stop democracy on the streets here.

“Our” government is trying to legislate an Internet “kill switch” which could shut down the U.S. Internet during those times revolutionaries might need it to communicate (during any uprising against the powers that be). Also, the Internet is being privatized right before our eyes, against our will. Freedom of speech is gradually being usurped on the Internet by an undeserving system of greed - controlled by monopolistic corporations intent on charging you for what we built for free!

Like Egypt; the U.S. has been in a state of emergency for years (almost a decade now).

Moreover, it has been exposed that rampant civil liberties violations (approximately 40,000) have occurred in the U.S. since 9/11.

Of course, there's much more. Just check out Project Censored.

And what are we doing about all this? Not much.

At least the Tunisians and the Egyptians love freedom enough to do something about it.

...Freedom is more than just the freedom to pay taxes.

We know that, but we aren't hungry enough yet to assert ourselves.

Apparently, that time is coming.

Robert F. Kennedy (in a speech to the US Senate):

“A revolution is coming – a revolution which will be peaceful if we are wise enough, compassionate if we care enough, successful if we are fortunate enough – But a revolution which is coming, whether we will it or not. We can effect its character. We cannot alter its inevitability.”