Even while Obama has been busy generating debacles some of the rest of the world has been performing miracles. The most effective retort has not been despair but the flank attack; to ignore Washington and make things work on our own. And perhaps that is the way of things; for the green shoot has outpaced the termite from the beginning of the world and the candle, though it wavers, never goes out without someone re-lighting it again.
If disaster has a silver lining it is the realization that the Obama cavalry is not racing to rescue just over the horizon. Any chance of getting out of this bind is strictly from initiative. Get going. There’s nobody here but us.
John Buchan, who was part of the generation whose universe was shaken by the Great War remarked upon the tremendous healing power of life. He talked about how “the world must remain an oyster for youth to open. If not, youth will cease to be young, and that will be the end of everything.” We try and try again, if not in one way then another.
Belmont Club via rhhardin
24 comments:
Excellent point.
I agree that giving up solves nothing, but the country still has great opportunity - look at the energy revolution we've seen.
I think if we'd listened to our betters, we'd all be huddled around the heat in one room, rather than developing new methods of getting at the vast reserves that the same people who brought us global warming said weren't there.
The U.S. electorate has a habit of abruptly changing direction, particularly when failed economic policies are at issue.
I expect of reversal of course in upcoming elections.
Unless and until democrat vote fraud is eliminated we will continue to progress towards a totalitarian state.
That's a feature, not a bug, according to progressives.
A great many people go to church because they want to hear the same sermon over and over and over again.
"There is a similar sense today of a collapsing house of cards. Disaster is the new normal. One of the greatest hurts the Obama administration has inflicted on the national psyche is a profound demoralization; an acceptance of hopelessness. People are no longer looking for good news any more than they’re hoping for jobs. Many have stopped fighting the tide of woe and fully expect more to follow, with nothing whatsoever to be done about it. An administration premised on Hope has taught us to give up hoping."
The last hope of the authoritarian left: Politicization of the IRS, targeted witch hunts and institutionalized vote fraud.
The underground economy is already much larger than TPTB are willing to acknowledge.
This is a great and liberating truth: Individuals can and do grow and prosper on entirely different tracks from the society as a whole. You are not limited by your society's limits. Your community is just the safety net below you. It's a bottom limit - not a top one. Don't look down if you want to climb the tower - look up to where you need to reach next.
The idea that someone with Obama's past is gonna motivate you or provide a role model is nuts. He simply got lucky, and played people. He has no transferable knowledge or example that people can use to get ahead in their own lives, unless your career path is as a con man.
Presidents come and go, as do recessions and political stupidity among the electorate. The whole time, thankfully you are really off that grid, skipping levels, cutting new paths, bushwhacking, and chopping your way through obstacles like a machete one after another. The larger political and economic picture cares little about you, and you should give it likewise importance in your own life.
Sure, we need to care about the direction of our country and do what we can to push it in the right direction, but we push it - not the other way around.
Forward to what? I mean, what is the vision that we should be moving forward to? Is it the same vision for each of us? The same envisioned destination? I doubt it.
Some people's 'forward' might not be a place that others want to go towards.
"Forward to what?"
Navigating a future in the presence of growing federal regulation, interference, and power.
For example, your volunteer library sounds lovely. You've taken something on, with your own money, and provided a resource for the community.
But just thinking aloud, how could the government come in and lean on your private library?
Great post, bago.
Ricpic, any examples? You're not boot-legging whiskey, are you?
Ed at 1019, yes, I think the ultimate principal may be money talks, bullshit walks.
ST, yes, but in the neoliberal scheme, both sides are honing in on managing the masses.
"How do we move forward?" Think micro, close and personal. The macro will follow or not, and is entirely out of your control either way. We are not herd animals. We are explorers, hunters, rule breakers, and innovators who mostly choose to live in communities, but our basic nature is also independence.
Concentrate on you, your family, your friends and people close. Motivate them, help them grow, expect better of them, love them. That's the best way to help your larger community. To be secure and self-sustaining as as a family first, and then work with those farther and farther out, but never let those close become dependent on others too far away to really care. The idea of a large community that cares about and provides for individuals directly is a trap.
Sixty, I think the Independent vote will always be available to swing the vote, but whichever side wins it will essentially be a case of six of one, half a dozen of the other.
April, I agree. People will learn not to make noise, or worse, pretend to be a Dem, in order not to be targeted.
But my worry is it becoming a tool for both sides, i.e., when the next Republican gets in, will he use it?
I like to think this is a blip, and the American people will not stand for it, it's so blatant.
Bat.
But deb, they are standing for it. They reelected the guy.
Nice pick up, Ice :)
That doesn't much matter if there's a dime's worth of difference between the parties. Either party will do what it takes to get in. Like the frantic call for a Latino presidential candidate, post 2012 election.
I think we are to the point that both parties are at heart neoliberals who feel duty-bound to contain and regulate the masses.
Obama's reelection was to a large degree because people were afraid of Romney's Mormonism, and Republicans didn't want a RINO. Another candidate probably could have won.
Hence my question. How do we go ahead in the face of a government that wants to manage, contain, and milk us? How do we finessed the government?
You're not bootlegging whiskey, are you?
I told you and I told you, Deb, mum's the word. :^+
Ricpic's Rocket Juice
But just thinking aloud, how could the government come in and lean on your private library?
Well, even though we are a 501-C3 the building is open to the public so we are subject to all of the idiotic minutia of the handicapped rules. The whole bathroom complex and the entry way had to be remodeled to be ADA acceptable. In addition the parking lot had to be reconfigured to allow a rear ADA ramp accessible entry. It cost us over 40K. I'm sure that they could find other picky building issues or other safety issues. We wanted to have a fund raiser with specialty Margaritas and a salsa contest. Each contestant would give a small cup of salsa for people to taste and judge. Nope....public health said no way could we bring food from home kitchens wasn't allowed. They didn't like the size of the cups either and of course we needed a special liquor license to serve etc etc etc. Basically the ladies on the board of directors said 'fuck it' (not in those words but the same idea) and went back to the annual raffle/yard sale.
How do we go ahead in the face of a government that wants to manage, contain, and milk us? How do we finessed the government?
The underground economy is doing quite well. All those illegal aliens from Mexico are basically working under the table,and driving wages into the tank at the same time. Anyone who can does work under the table. Buying and selling between people things like cars, tools...pretty much anything you can think of goes unremarked by the government. Barter and trade of services.
I think it is too late for finesse. Something a bit more direct, forceful and with larger numbers of determined people is going to be required. Trying to work within the system is now a fool's game and a waste of time, breath and is likely to bring the wrong sort of attention. Ask any Tea Party organization how all that is working out for them?
By finesse, I mean more what you're saying about the bartering. As far as the fund-raiser, were they strict about the food because it was in a 'public' building? If held at a large church hall or Moose club, and the salsa was prepared there, would they butt out some? 'Sides, you don't want anyone sneaking store-bought in!
As far as something 'a bit more direct, forceful, and with larger numbers,' I think the days of ssurectioninay are pretty much over. Too much oversight on communications, too much ammo and humvees at Homeland Security, too much google earth.
I think it is too late for finesse. Something a bit more direct, forceful and with larger numbers of determined people is going to be required. Trying to work within the system is now a fool's game and a waste of time, breath and is likely to bring the wrong sort of attention. Ask any Tea Party organization how all that is working out for them?
As has been remarked, revolutions generally come when one part of the elite decides they've had enough of the other part of the elite.
Great link, Ice.
"Here in the United States our own elites benefit mightily from the system as it is. They like the way things are. Unless the snow doesn’t get removed on the QT from their neighborhoods, of course. It will take a lot more than that to make one group of our elites unhappy enough to rebel against another. On behalf of the poor, of course."
Nice comments, also:
"In the US, there is a “liberation” every 3 -4 years. It may not be 100% to anybody’s liking, but it is usually not 100% to anybody’s not liking. There are a number of safety valves to relieve revolutionary pressure, and the First Amendment guarantees several.
Recently, the firebreathing partisans have taken to using the primaries as a means of fighting a revolutionary war. This may seem silly and pointless to some, but it is an important mechanism. In other countries, these would be accompanied by gallons of blood."
Post a Comment