We can all do something most days, but sometimes, just to keep going, I have to stop reading the news for at least half a day and I have to read or do something that is completely unrelated to our sick world. We need to support each other during those times too.
Persuading people that they are powerless is the number one task for the oligarchy’s propaganda apparatus. Because if ordinary people believe that they have power then the next thing they will be doing is working out how to use their power effectively. And once this reaches critical mass, the system can be brought to a screeching halt. To bring down the system you don’t need to destroy anything. You only need to briefly stop the system from functioning. Stop the continuous flow of labor, capital and resources—just for a few weeks. Like a shark in the water, if the system stops moving it will die. And the oligarchs know this and they do everything they can to prevent people from understanding this and acting to shut the system down.
Do it this week--Economic Blackout. No shopping on Black Friday or any day past next Tuesday. Stand in solidarity with the General Strike in Italy and elsewhere. The people have the power!
I'm not so sure your hypothesis will work out as you intend it to (i.e. "stopping the continuous flow of labor, capital and resources—just for a few weeks" amounting to "if the system stops it will die").
As an example, look at events from recent history during the Covid lockdowns (on a global level). The U.S. Govt. simply printed more money (and tons of it), AI and automation is taking more jobs, drones are doing deliveries, and so on and so forth.
Even though there were major disruptions in labor, supply chains, trade, travel (eg. airplane flights stoppage and airport shutdowns), etc., things chugged on (though not in a good way for most people).
Unfortunately, Western economies have been subjugated/held-hostage by 'high-levels' of 'personal debts' (2nd or 3rd morgages, student debt, credit card debt, medical debt, auto debt, other personal debts), thus making people DEBT SLAVES. In such an environment of personal precarity and security, the Capitalist class (TPTB, etc.) have too many points of LEVERAGE to apply pressure to 'prevent people from 'disrupting the economy to greater levels than what the Covid lockdowns did'.
I suspect other strategies will be needed (maybe with 'work stoppage' possibly playing a certain part in this).
Ah, the the COVID lockdowns were instigated by the oligarchs as an experiment/exercise in global-level population control and programming. This is the exact opposite of what I’m talking about. The system kept functioning on their terms. In contrast, if a large percentage of the population withdrew their labour and purchasing activity, and participated in civil disobedience aimed at strategically squeezing the massive logistical and capital flows necessary to sustain the system, it would set off an avalanche of panic in the financial class. I haven’t just dreamt this up. Look at the writings of Yanis Varoufakis. The system has many weak points that can be exploited by ordinary people and groups if they act in a strategic and co-ordinated manner.
"Because the cost of silence is paid in blood, in broken minds, in the slow corrosion of democracy.
"In 2025, the United States stands at a crossroads. Political polarization is at a fever pitch. Trust in institutions is battered. Veterans struggle with invisible wounds. Activists and educators fight for truth in classrooms and streets. Journalists risk everything to report what others would rather keep hidden. Government officials and military leaders face impossible choices, haunted by the knowledge that every decision ripples outward, shaping lives and histories. Complicity in genocide, slaughter, murder for profit is staining and infecting all."
I've read, in India, they start training the baby elephant by anchoring its leg to a peg with a chain. The small elephant tugs at it and can't break the chain and eventually stops trying. It grows up to its full size when the chain is no match for it but by then, internalizing past failures, it had stop trying to free itself.
Didn't know that. Running would've been an instinctive and desperate reaction for them in face of mortal danger, like people jumping out of high risers trying to save themselves from fire. Good for the elephants the chains were not strong enough to hold them, and there was a path to safety. I guess when people feel desperate enough they'll seriously try to break free.
Animals in general and elephants in particular are sensitive to vibrations of the ground. You've got to be impressed that the elephants knew it was vital to get to higher ground. Some people followed the elephants, saving their own lives.
So it's not clear whether the elephants know whether they can break their chains. Maybe they are smart enough to know that breaking the chain will only get them in trouble so why do it.
"There is nothing our rulers can do to take these abilities away from us." Actually they are hoping to do so with their stupid plans for changing the genome.
Nevertheless, Caitlin, you sure are on the right track. How about everybody who wants a revolution puts a ribbon, or elastic, or some kind of visible sign, on one of their 10 fingers.
When standing in a crowd of people being lectured at by "An Authority", dissidence becomes empowered when ONE VOICE speaks out, saying "NO!. That is not How it is!"- then others in that same crowd will feel equally empowered because they too are feeling uncomfortable with the Authoritarian Rhetoric.
It takes ONE VOICE to break the hypnosis you describe as "Powerless-ness". The Crowd has become entrained by a mythology of "We're All In This Together!" see :- CV19 rhetorical chant! The crowd, we are told, and s sadly reminded of by you, that they have no control, because they're told "they are STUPID."
They are also told that "they believe they are stupid".
The cliche you use "ORDINARY PEOPLE" some how becomes disempowering to many readers, I suspect. The fear of a Totalitarian Speaker is often reinforced by Security Guards surrounding the place, and any One Voice will be rapidly demolished, violently, as is threatened. You dear reader, Must Be that One Voice! Pain is the beginning of healing. Attack is the best defence, and if your friend is that one voice, then stand together. Not simple, but otherwise don't cry "victim."
Following on from Caitlin, we need to remind ourselves that another world is possible.
It is not only personal growth but countries, instead of blindsided by capitalism's obsession with growth at any cost have to be self-reliant, sustainable, and aspire to sovereign progress. In a Trumpian world of wars, sanctions, trade wars, and broken supply chains, mostly global south countries should learn that dependence is a vulnerability. Poverty reduction, just distribution, dignity, and confidence in a moral order are essential for change. COP30 - even if the West with their fossil fuel oligarchs were bent on sabotaging it - had the promise of less pollution, more harmony, and the common good, thanks to the voice of first nations people.
With what are we going to replace the old forms of crumbling capitalism? It is obvious that the elites want to drag us to some kind of neo-feudalism. The enemy in every case is US imperialism. From protest rallies and pro-Palestinian marches the purpose should be the same - an end to empire and the creation of a new multipolar world rooted in our shared humanity and the equal worth of every nation and people.
The US is pushing for a war against Venezuela and beyond. The US wants to hang onto its hegemony of controlling global resources and its political power. And hanging onto to the ability to dictate terms to the rest of the world. The struggle against US imperialism is a global struggle. Therefore to stand with Venezuela, with China and any other nation resisting subjugation is to stand for solidarity among nations. Every act of resistance is our resistance and a step towards a better world.
Caitlin is right. To change things, like solving a problem, you need to perceive and acknowledge the reality of the facts, understand objective priorities, discover the origins and causes of the current situation, set achievable goals, devise the best solutions, predict their effects, equip yourself with the means to implement the solutions found, establish a precise strategy and a flexible practice, anticipate obstacles, and monitor the results gradually achieved. The reality is that approximately 8.4 billion people live on Earth today, the richest 1% of the population holds half the wealth, while the poorest half holds less than 1% of the wealth, about fifty multinationals control four-fifths of world trade, and very few people control the money created by the banking system through interest-bearing loans and appoint the governments through which they control the world. Therefore, to change the situation, we must first take control of money and participate in a new, truly democratic political system. For this reason, on January 1, 2001, I promoted the establishment of the Republic of the Earth (www.asmad.org), on June 14, 2001, I began issuing Dhana (www.dhana.org), the currency of labor, and on June 10, 2012, I established EkaBank (www.ekabank.org), an alternative credit system to banking, providing interest-free money to those who need it to live and/or work. Use these tools and you will change the world.
we need to seek Monad. the world right now is at the behest of the demiurge. this applies to socialists/communists. it's not anyones fault, as humans. seek the Monad. you don't even need to think the Monad is real, im not sure myself.
We can all do something most days, but sometimes, just to keep going, I have to stop reading the news for at least half a day and I have to read or do something that is completely unrelated to our sick world. We need to support each other during those times too.
Persuading people that they are powerless is the number one task for the oligarchy’s propaganda apparatus. Because if ordinary people believe that they have power then the next thing they will be doing is working out how to use their power effectively. And once this reaches critical mass, the system can be brought to a screeching halt. To bring down the system you don’t need to destroy anything. You only need to briefly stop the system from functioning. Stop the continuous flow of labor, capital and resources—just for a few weeks. Like a shark in the water, if the system stops moving it will die. And the oligarchs know this and they do everything they can to prevent people from understanding this and acting to shut the system down.
Do it this week--Economic Blackout. No shopping on Black Friday or any day past next Tuesday. Stand in solidarity with the General Strike in Italy and elsewhere. The people have the power!
Doing it — thanks.
I'm not so sure your hypothesis will work out as you intend it to (i.e. "stopping the continuous flow of labor, capital and resources—just for a few weeks" amounting to "if the system stops it will die").
As an example, look at events from recent history during the Covid lockdowns (on a global level). The U.S. Govt. simply printed more money (and tons of it), AI and automation is taking more jobs, drones are doing deliveries, and so on and so forth.
Even though there were major disruptions in labor, supply chains, trade, travel (eg. airplane flights stoppage and airport shutdowns), etc., things chugged on (though not in a good way for most people).
Unfortunately, Western economies have been subjugated/held-hostage by 'high-levels' of 'personal debts' (2nd or 3rd morgages, student debt, credit card debt, medical debt, auto debt, other personal debts), thus making people DEBT SLAVES. In such an environment of personal precarity and security, the Capitalist class (TPTB, etc.) have too many points of LEVERAGE to apply pressure to 'prevent people from 'disrupting the economy to greater levels than what the Covid lockdowns did'.
I suspect other strategies will be needed (maybe with 'work stoppage' possibly playing a certain part in this).
Ah, the the COVID lockdowns were instigated by the oligarchs as an experiment/exercise in global-level population control and programming. This is the exact opposite of what I’m talking about. The system kept functioning on their terms. In contrast, if a large percentage of the population withdrew their labour and purchasing activity, and participated in civil disobedience aimed at strategically squeezing the massive logistical and capital flows necessary to sustain the system, it would set off an avalanche of panic in the financial class. I haven’t just dreamt this up. Look at the writings of Yanis Varoufakis. The system has many weak points that can be exploited by ordinary people and groups if they act in a strategic and co-ordinated manner.
"Because the cost of silence is paid in blood, in broken minds, in the slow corrosion of democracy.
"In 2025, the United States stands at a crossroads. Political polarization is at a fever pitch. Trust in institutions is battered. Veterans struggle with invisible wounds. Activists and educators fight for truth in classrooms and streets. Journalists risk everything to report what others would rather keep hidden. Government officials and military leaders face impossible choices, haunted by the knowledge that every decision ripples outward, shaping lives and histories. Complicity in genocide, slaughter, murder for profit is staining and infecting all."
https://griobhtha1.substack.com/p/x-rubicon-a-gift-for-the-consciencewhy
Time for the US to change wording of its anthem - "land of the enslaved, and home of the yes men" as a start.
Davina
Can I add.....
Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so sadly we see of freedom's last gleaming;
Those ICE men appointed to keep all in sight
But the people were weak and their freedoms, now leaving
With the rocket's red glare, and with genocide there
by a now hated state all their crimes did we share
Now the Five Star of David is our new flag, for which we grieve
Once the land of the free now the home of the naive?
The vast majority of muricans are chicken shits. If we all just gave the government the middle finger, they couldn't do jack shit about it.
Thank You Caitlin
I've read, in India, they start training the baby elephant by anchoring its leg to a peg with a chain. The small elephant tugs at it and can't break the chain and eventually stops trying. It grows up to its full size when the chain is no match for it but by then, internalizing past failures, it had stop trying to free itself.
But when the 2004 tsunami came the Thai elephants broke their chains and ran to higher ground.
Didn't know that. Running would've been an instinctive and desperate reaction for them in face of mortal danger, like people jumping out of high risers trying to save themselves from fire. Good for the elephants the chains were not strong enough to hold them, and there was a path to safety. I guess when people feel desperate enough they'll seriously try to break free.
Animals in general and elephants in particular are sensitive to vibrations of the ground. You've got to be impressed that the elephants knew it was vital to get to higher ground. Some people followed the elephants, saving their own lives.
So it's not clear whether the elephants know whether they can break their chains. Maybe they are smart enough to know that breaking the chain will only get them in trouble so why do it.
Thank you. Sending you & yours unconditional love.
We need to own our personal power to heal ourselves and make change, especially in a time like this.
"There is nothing our rulers can do to take these abilities away from us." Actually they are hoping to do so with their stupid plans for changing the genome.
Nevertheless, Caitlin, you sure are on the right track. How about everybody who wants a revolution puts a ribbon, or elastic, or some kind of visible sign, on one of their 10 fingers.
Good idea.
When standing in a crowd of people being lectured at by "An Authority", dissidence becomes empowered when ONE VOICE speaks out, saying "NO!. That is not How it is!"- then others in that same crowd will feel equally empowered because they too are feeling uncomfortable with the Authoritarian Rhetoric.
It takes ONE VOICE to break the hypnosis you describe as "Powerless-ness". The Crowd has become entrained by a mythology of "We're All In This Together!" see :- CV19 rhetorical chant! The crowd, we are told, and s sadly reminded of by you, that they have no control, because they're told "they are STUPID."
They are also told that "they believe they are stupid".
The cliche you use "ORDINARY PEOPLE" some how becomes disempowering to many readers, I suspect. The fear of a Totalitarian Speaker is often reinforced by Security Guards surrounding the place, and any One Voice will be rapidly demolished, violently, as is threatened. You dear reader, Must Be that One Voice! Pain is the beginning of healing. Attack is the best defence, and if your friend is that one voice, then stand together. Not simple, but otherwise don't cry "victim."
Following on from Caitlin, we need to remind ourselves that another world is possible.
It is not only personal growth but countries, instead of blindsided by capitalism's obsession with growth at any cost have to be self-reliant, sustainable, and aspire to sovereign progress. In a Trumpian world of wars, sanctions, trade wars, and broken supply chains, mostly global south countries should learn that dependence is a vulnerability. Poverty reduction, just distribution, dignity, and confidence in a moral order are essential for change. COP30 - even if the West with their fossil fuel oligarchs were bent on sabotaging it - had the promise of less pollution, more harmony, and the common good, thanks to the voice of first nations people.
With what are we going to replace the old forms of crumbling capitalism? It is obvious that the elites want to drag us to some kind of neo-feudalism. The enemy in every case is US imperialism. From protest rallies and pro-Palestinian marches the purpose should be the same - an end to empire and the creation of a new multipolar world rooted in our shared humanity and the equal worth of every nation and people.
The US is pushing for a war against Venezuela and beyond. The US wants to hang onto its hegemony of controlling global resources and its political power. And hanging onto to the ability to dictate terms to the rest of the world. The struggle against US imperialism is a global struggle. Therefore to stand with Venezuela, with China and any other nation resisting subjugation is to stand for solidarity among nations. Every act of resistance is our resistance and a step towards a better world.
Empire is protected by the uniforms - Without them empire falls.
In order for humanitarian ideology to prevail it's absolutely crucial to have them on our side.
Thanks Caitlin - your reminders are timely 🙏💖
see also:
https://alonmizrahi.substack.com/p/a-call-to-radicalism
Caitlin is right. To change things, like solving a problem, you need to perceive and acknowledge the reality of the facts, understand objective priorities, discover the origins and causes of the current situation, set achievable goals, devise the best solutions, predict their effects, equip yourself with the means to implement the solutions found, establish a precise strategy and a flexible practice, anticipate obstacles, and monitor the results gradually achieved. The reality is that approximately 8.4 billion people live on Earth today, the richest 1% of the population holds half the wealth, while the poorest half holds less than 1% of the wealth, about fifty multinationals control four-fifths of world trade, and very few people control the money created by the banking system through interest-bearing loans and appoint the governments through which they control the world. Therefore, to change the situation, we must first take control of money and participate in a new, truly democratic political system. For this reason, on January 1, 2001, I promoted the establishment of the Republic of the Earth (www.asmad.org), on June 14, 2001, I began issuing Dhana (www.dhana.org), the currency of labor, and on June 10, 2012, I established EkaBank (www.ekabank.org), an alternative credit system to banking, providing interest-free money to those who need it to live and/or work. Use these tools and you will change the world.
we need to seek Monad. the world right now is at the behest of the demiurge. this applies to socialists/communists. it's not anyones fault, as humans. seek the Monad. you don't even need to think the Monad is real, im not sure myself.