More Blog Posts Coming in These Exciting Times

After a trip to New York last week, I will return to the "cloud" this week with more posts here on pertinent topics of the day.  While traveling I met a former campaign worker for Pres. Jimmy Carter who visited the White House several times.  I will share his story here soon.

Capitalism Eating Into the Bone

America is at the stage of gathering the facts, just as the officer used to say in Dragnet:  "Just the facts, ma'am."  This is an important step, because after decades of propaganda, the facts against capitalism must be marshalled and presented in a compelling form before Americans can take action.  Such a gathering of facts is found in the important article linked to below.  It is by Paul Buchheit, a college professor, published author, and web site host. 

It is sad that the average American does not really understand just how large is the disparity between rich and poor in this country.  However, even a cursory review of the facts shows a disparity which has made for revolution in the past.

In the case of our time, my contention is the revolution is already underway, and -- beautifully -- in a non-violent form.  The refusal of many to work at minimum wage, the expectation that the government has an obligation to provide for the needs of the unemployed and unemployable, are just a couple of examples of a new attitude in America, an attitude which is essentially and profoundly un-capitalistic.  This is the good news underlying the turmoil of now. 


Capitalism's Dismembering of America

Beginning to Connect the Dots

Regular readers here will note I have had little to say about the horrible bombing in Boston last week.  In the interest of maintaining accuracy, my hesitation will likely continue for some time.

In the meantime, I recommend the following page for your review now. 

9/11/01 Truth

Doing the Media's Job

Most of the elite media have made it clear in both their opinion and news pages that they want to see benefits cut. In keeping with this position they highlight the views of political figures who push cuts to the program, treating them as responsible, while those who oppose cuts are ignored or mocked. 

This pattern of coverage was clearly on display last weekend. Both the New York Times and Washington Post decided to ignore the Senate's passage by voice vote of the Sanders Amendment.

 

-- Truthout

One would have thought that a vote by the Senate to reject cuts in benefits to Social Security would have been big news.  Not so, according to Truthout.  This news was simply ignored by the major media. 

But the reality was indeed that the Senate voted not to change the way cost-of-living increases are determined which would have resulted in a 3% cut in benefits over 20 years, according to the Truthout web site. 

This leaves web sites like Truthout and blogs like this one to report the truth.  While I eagerly accept the challenge of passing along this news, it means any meaningful opposition media in the United States is essentially dead.  This leaves Internet media and a few print journals as the only true advocates for the people. 

Senate Votes Against Cuts to Social Security

Nation Opposes Cuts to Social Security

Rush Post --

The organization MoveOn.org is helping to organize demonstrations at various Congressional offices around the country next week.  More information is at the link below. 

It is high time the effort to cut benefits to needy seniors is stopped in its tracks. 


Nation Opposes Cuts to Social Security

Curious Times

We have had curious times before, but the world has suddenly seemed topsy-turvy with a Democratic President scheming to cut Social Security benefits, and a bombing under suspicious circumstances at the Boston Marathon. 

Being at best a part-time writer I am not able to instantly propound meaningful theories on every subject.  (Who can?)  Thus, I am left with a rather generalized comment today.  In keeping with the description of this blog, however, I see signs amidst the chaos that the world is struggling to come to something different.  The new interest in the general subject of capitalism v. socialism shows this.  (See earlier post here.)  The world is lurching toward a better order, and by that I do not mean the "New World Order."  What I do mean is a new way of being and doing and relating among nations and peoples, a way of justice and something like love, however charged those words may be. 

"Capitalism" and "Socialism" Two Most Popular Words Looked Up According to Merriam-Webster

According to Merriam-Webster the two most popular words looked up in 2012 were "capitalism" and "socialism."  This shows that people are interested in the subject.  It also seems to indicate people may not be so happy with capitalism, or at least not with the attendant propaganda hoopla. 


Article on "Capitalism" and "Socialism"

Ways Religious People Can Respond to the Truth About 9/11

Readers here over the past couple of weeks have been following my posts about David Ray Griffin and the 9/11 Truth Movement.  At this time I am continuing to read his important work The New Pearl Harbor Revisited.  It was already apparent to me after thirty pages that there was sufficient question about the official story that a completely independent and new investigation was needed.  Now, after many more pages, my feeling is only stronger:  the official story is not now and never has been truly credible. 

As a person of faith (something I have preferred not to dwell on in these blog posts over the last seven years), I have had particular concerns.  In the transcript linked to below, David Ray Griffin talks about some of these concerns.


How Religious People Should Respond to 9/11

Mental Health Professionals Discuss Why it Is So Hard to Deal with the Subject of 9/11

9/11 Truth Movement Rising

David Ray Griffin, formerly professor at the School of Theology at Claremont University in California, continues to write and speak out about inconsistencies in the official explanation for the 9/11/01 attacks.  Particularly useful at the web site linked below are psychologists who speak about the reasons why it is so difficult to entertain the notion that our government would lie to us.  It has to do with one's world view being upset, according to these experts. 

With myself, from a fairly early time, it was the official story and how it was used to attempt to change the nature of America, which became upsetting.  As early as about 2005 or '06 I had come to the belief -- after research -- that the 9/11 attacks were essentially an inside job, or done with the knowledge of persons within the U.S. government. 

Part of the background for this belief was my research into the controversy over the election of 2000, and my knowledge of voter suppression efforts on the part of Republican-tied operatives.  I came to the understanding that if everyone who voted or intended to vote for Al Gore had had his vote cast properly, we would have had a President Gore. 

Even further back, as one who lived in Texas for two years I was already acquainted (not personally) with the Hunt brothers, the Bushes, and the entire oil industry and somewhat how it operated. 

So I come at this with some background and history which the average person does not have.  This, of course, does not qualify me to make any special pronouncements, but with experience and education behind me I do feel qualified to call for a new and truly independent investigation of the horrific events of September 11, 2001, a day on which thousands of our fellow citizens died.  May their memory be eternal. 


Important 9/11 Author

Alledged Torture of Guantanamo Detainees Amidst Hunger Strike

At the link below you will find an up-date of the almost-forgotten prisoners at the Guatanamo detention center.  With the beginning of the Afghan war now more than eleven years in the past (!), many of these prisoners are giving up hope.  Many were actually cleared for release years ago, but are being held anyway.

It is time to give these men a trial, return them to their homes, or provide them with support and protection for normal lives in the U.S. if that is what they want. 

Guantanamo Hunger Strikers' Fate