GERBIL-WHEEL NATION
A war posture is the fall-back stance for too many politicians and the USA is not an exception. To be a functioning part of the problem takes no effort or imagination. In a nation wrapped in the mantle of exceptionalism, we should be capable of better. Can we recognize our own weak areas? Or like schoolyard bullies will we use threats and intimidation when we could use our intellect to promote peace? Currently heard on MSM is so-called tension between the USA and Russia over the Ukraine with little to nothing mentioned about the ideas from European nations. Do they not have ideas? Or are the battling capitalists in Russia and the USA drowning out other views?
https://www.counterpunch.org/2022/02/16/negotiations-not-war/ –The situation between the United States and Russia over Ukraine is very dangerous. Russia is a capitalist country led by an authoritarian leader, Vladimir Putin. Russia has increased its military build-up to 130,000 troops near their 1300-mile border with Ukraine. This is wrong. Yet, the US mainstream media and our leaders want us to believe that Russia is the only aggressor and threat to peace in Ukraine. That is far from the reality.The United States has consistently intervened in other countries, e.g., it has tried to overthrow the government in Cuba for over 60 years. In 1990, the leader of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev made an agreement with Secretary of State James Baker, who was also a close confidant of then President George H.W. Bush. In return for Gorbachev agreeing to the unification of Germany and permitting the independence of many of the nations within the USSR, there would be no NATO expansion east of Germany, nor stationing of European and US troops east of Germany. Ukraine was specifically mentioned as part of this agreement.Let us educate ourselves, our friends and communities, our workplaces and fellow students about the history and current danger with regards to Ukraine. Let us build an anti-war movement in support of diplomatic solutions along lines I have mentioned: No expansion of NATO into the Ukraine. ——-end ofcounterpunch info—
An updated definition of MSM seems appropariate—-https://mtracey.substack.com/p/crazy-us-media-coverage-is-a-bigger?token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjoyMTU0NTE0LCJwb3N0X2lkIjo0ODg4MzE5NCwiXyI6IitLaThuIiwiaWF0IjoxNjQ1MTEyMjY2LCJleHAiOjE2NDUxMTU4NjYsImlzcyI6InB1Yi0zMDMxODgiLCJzdWIiOiJwb3N0LXJlYWN0aW9uIn0.epFvK8YvUjeT3zwOICybiMlNZn-YX3uDa_mKkog8IXE&r=1a6fm –Nonetheless, Yanchenko describes the conduct of US media as “crazy,” and forecasts that $10 billion in cash infusions will be required stabilize the country as a result of these “alarmist” foreign provocations. It’s this dynamic that is most likely to cause the destruction of the Ukrainian state, she told me — not a purported Russian invasion.–end of mtracey info–It isn’t only Ukrainians who have expressed questions about US MSM.
The same corporate-owned cast of characters in the Republican/Democratic duopoly who passed the laws that have transferred the wealth of the USA from the 100% to the 1%, are cheering tension with Russia, and are responsible for a for-profit sick care policy, probably should be questioned about policy pertaining to a 1-payer comprehensive public health care policy that would be less costly and provide better care for Americans——https://portside.org/2022-02-16/physicians-slam-industry-push-fix-not-end-medicare-privatization-scheme –“The DCE industry represents its own interests and that of its investors, and does not speak for physicians,” Rogers continued. “As physicians, we urge you to end the dangerous DC program and work tirelessly to strengthen and protect Traditional Medicare, both for today and for generations to come.”——-end of portside info–
We are told every day what to think by corporate-owned-politically-controlled MSM talking heads who are paid more for their cavalier persuade by report than for intellectual honesty. Experts are named due to ability to herd the public into containers for hierarchical indoctrination. We have a definition of progress in terms of greed, exploitation and privilege rather than according to terms of good health, peace, and equality. The same can be said for the definition of the economy. We need to reconsider definitions—-https://mronline.org/2022/02/16/folk-economics/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=folk-economics&mc_cid=e6709f551e&mc_eid=2833cdb99b –That’s the problem: all three of them—Shiller, Rubin, and Krugman—see folk economics only “out there,” outside the discipline of economics. They don’t or can’t see everything they ascribe to everyday economics as operating within, as constituting, mainstream economics. And they are unwilling or incapable of understanding the complex interactions between mainstream academic economics and everyday economics—in particular, of how mainstream economics as it is produced within the academy affects the economic ideas of the “folk,” and at the same time how much of folk economics is also a parody of what mainstream academic economists say and write, in a kind of Bakhtinian carnival.Fortunately, such a carnival exists, precisely because it serves as a counter to mainstream academic economics, by creating artifacts that give us a sense of how things might be different, and thus of how alternative economic arrangements might be imagined and created.–end of mronline info–The economy and progress are not FACTS but are ideas. The ideas we embrace shouldn’t hurt people. If our ideas hurt people, that seems to be evil and/or corrupt. We can’t pass laws to control ideas but we can pass laws to address the impact on others when ideas are acted out.
To consider whether we understand our local bioregion suggests the question of how well we know ourselves.
https://www.treehugger.com/how-well-you-know-bioregion-5219133?utm_campaign=treehugger&utm_medium=email&utm_source=cn_nl&utm_content=26737836&utm_term= –My favorite weekly newsletter is written by Rob Walker. It’s called “The Art of Noticing,” which is also the title of his 2019 book. Today, when I opened the latest newsletter, a list of questions caught my eye. Titled “Where You At? A Bioregional Quiz,” there were a number of questions aimed at testing the reader’s knowledge of their natural surroundings. These struck me as difficult and baffling questions, such as “Name five resident and five migratory birds in your area” and “From what direction do winter storms generally come in your region?”–end of treehugger info—
When laws are directed toward promoting economic ideology over human and natural rights, the artificial lifestyle result may be deeply unhealthy both physically and mentally.https://www.treehugger.com/what-bioregion-why-matters-garden-design-5210795?utm_campaign=treehugger&utm_medium=email&utm_source=cn_nl&utm_content=26737836&utm_term= –But what is often forgotten is that gardeners need to consider broader human impact and systems. A bioregional approach means looking at indigenous knowledge and history, as well as recognizing contemporary human impact on the land. It can be helpful to look at the gifts nature gives us and to think about what we can give nature in return, wherever we live.–end of treehugger info–
What we spend our money on is an indication of what we value—-https://www.facebook.com/sandra.ballew.75/posts/5588820527799586 –Animals bridge in Netherlands built with respect to the nature. 
–end of twitter info–
Anyway, C-Span hosted discussion about crime in the USA. This topic generally refers to so-labeled lower-class communities when the bulk of crime is accomplished from the upper class. Again, the definition of crime that includes drug abuse, driving with a broken taillight or stealing cash or property are one type, while imperialism, sending US jobs overseas, and insider trading by lawmakers is another. Definition is important. –From c-span.org—
- 8:03AM EST
Washington Journal: Jim Kessler Discusses Gun Policy & Crime Trends - 8:43AM EST
Washington Journal: Rafael Mangual Discusses Crime Trends & Policy - 9:25AM EST
Washington Journal: Hans Menos Discusses Policing & Public Safety in the U.S.
–end of c-span info–
7:45AM–caller–retired police officer–paraphrase–after retirement started studying the US Constitution. Had he done so before his career he would have done his job differently.
Indeed, as a trained financial consultant, if a prelude had been a study of the US Constitution, the same could be said. The employment/hierarchical gerbil wheel seems specific to maintaining confusion among citizens.
Of interest is that after retirement, some people have the time, sanity, and leisure to think. This should be the case for life in general, that probably wouldn’t however benefit hierarchic control.
One uses such words as capitalism, communism, and socialism to express ideas. But they are generally meaningless and out of context. We would be better served to attempt to follow the US Constitution for a start.
But to go back to socialism, and having read The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx, one took something from it that seems utilitarian. The concept seemed to imply that capitalists worked to maintain a barely-livable workforce devoid of the ability to accumulate sufficient wealth to become self-reliant.
This seems to be an abysmal system. It seems diabolical. But who in the USA in 2022 would say this is not FACTual? But that’s just my interpretation. Fear keeps other people from actually reading that which they criticize.
Just as the American middle class gained power, globalism shut it down. It’s almost like capitalists knew what they were doing. This isn’t a conspiracy, just good business practice.
We deserve better. https://www.lwv.org/newsroom/press-releases/league-refuses-help-perpetrate-fraud–LEAGUE REFUSES TO “HELP PERPETRATE A FRAUD”