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Doris Wrench Eisler's avatar

Yes, we're in a rut leading to Hell and can't get out of it. Can it be a death wish? I think a feeling of hopelessness is putting many people in a dangerous frame of mind. It doesn't have to be. We should start with the demand that Assange be released immediately, and go from there. No more "help" for Ukraine: Johnson out: Biden out: Trudeau out: Incipient fascism by another name - out, out, out. This is bloody ridiculous. If people are looking for meaning, there has never been a better opportunity to do something meaningful: save humankind and all life on the planet.

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Feral Finster's avatar

Call it an intentional misappropriation of the Sunk Cost Fallacy.

We've already donated so much to the Nazis of Ukraine, Muh American Credibility demands that we keep doubling down.

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Doris Wrench Eisler's avatar

It's a big bet. They really seem to think they can't lose and are betting the rent. That cones from a history of arrogance in which not "winning " works to thier advantage anyway. And at worst, they chalk it up to "good intentions".

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Feral Finster's avatar

The War on Iraq offers us useful lessons on the American establishment and how it got to be that way. None of the people in or out of government who advocated for the war paid any price, neither personal nor professional, for their crimes, when at Nuremberg, men hanged for such things.

In fact, the architects of that war prospered, and they are regularly applauded as Serious Thinkers and Elder Statesmen. Dubya is honored by Team R and Team D alike. Tony Blair received a knighthood. Biden became president.

By contrast, those who opposed the war were cast into Outer Darkness, even as the war went more disastrously than the naysayers would have it.

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The Inquisitive Inquisitor's avatar

From the horse's mouth. In 1994 he cogently laid out all the reasons taking out Saddam Hussein was a bad idea, and then nearly ten years later he advises Dubya to do it anyway. Cheney knew from the get go, winning in the traditional sense was impossible, but if war profit is the name of the game and it's winning, well, they won big, didn't they?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YENbElb5-xY

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The Word Herder's avatar

Can't get out of it? I think we can. HOW to do it is the question. I think it should start with HAVING FUN AGAIN.

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Doris Wrench Eisler's avatar

Yes, it's all about fun and that's what "religion"should have pushed, instead of bloody misery.

But the deed is done snd there is a lot of misery out there, thanks to religion. So it might be a little insensitive to tell people, "get over it, laugh a little". However, if at all possible, enjoy the experience of being alive.

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The Word Herder's avatar

Wherever did I say "get over it, laugh a little"???

I'm not trying to say this isn't SERIOUS. I think you misunderstand me, but I write a lot of comments! What I'm saying is, we've been tortured. We've been hurt. Telling us not to touch each other, stay inside, be afraid, don't sing, don't go to see plays, or musical concerts, don't even have SEX without a stupid mask!!!! This is TORTURE, what these people are doing to us... With. Our. Consent.

I'm saying we need to return Humanity to Humanity. We don't do well in isolation. We don't do well bleaching everything we come in contact with. We don't do well avoiding what gives us joy and meaning. We don't NEED deprivation. We don't just need a "little laugh," we need A LOT OF LIFE.

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The Word Herder's avatar

And FYI, the deed is NOT done. We've seen the beginning, and it's gonna get worse. IF we allow it.

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Doris Wrench Eisler's avatar

The deed I refer to is bloody religion and its dismal message. That's there deed that brought us tooth's point - in my view. But, yes, it's a matter of where to go from here, and it should be in the opposite direction: human beings are not born evil but are socialized by the few evil people, because we allow it.

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ChesterView's avatar

“It's impossible to despise the mainstream western press too much, in my opinion. They're paving the way to destruction and dystopia just as much as the plutocrats and politicians. They whine that the public hates them, but really the public doesn't hate them enough.”

I like you more and more. As Jake Gittes said in ‘Chinatown’, “What can I say, kid? When you’re right, you’re right. And you’re right.”

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Contrarian 33's avatar

"Between 2016 and 2019 smearing Assange was a way of demonstrating to current and prospective mainstream media employers that you will do anything, anything at all, to defend the empire. It was a great way to advance your career, and many did so." So stated Caitlin.

If only they had realised at the time that what they were actually doing would ultimately come back and bite them somewhere. Right now that is what has happened. No one is free to publish anything that contradicts the party line and the creative component of their journalistic careers has vanished, perhaps in today's climate, never to return.

Let no one ever criticise the socialistic controls in Russia. They pale by comparison to the USA, on the downward slope to the end of empire.

An award for journalism (as in the old days), something of a farce in 2022. Pulitzer Prize, (Excellence in newspaper journalism, literary achievements) renamed the BlackRock Prize for Journalistic Acquiescence.

They are now nothing but word arrangers, the topic, emphasis and structure being the mandate of the government of the day as they respond to their masters, the BlackRocks, Vanguards and the like added to which are the military / industrial complex ....which means the BlackRocks and Vanguards all over again, a.k.a the corrupted American Merry-go-Round.

Capitalism at its best!

With exceptions, there are a few, just a few, who refuse to join the MSM and rot away following a demeaning career in what journalism has become, hardly a career worth pursuing in 2022. The majority sell their souls working for the publications of false record, found in almost every city near you.

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Feral Finster's avatar

The MSM and its stenographers play the same role as renaissance courtiers, whose job it is to flatter and act as p.r. agents to power.

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Boozookee's avatar

People should stop subscribing to these media. How many times have I seen special bargains from certain newspapers ‘Subscribe now – 0.99 cents a week for six months.’ I wouldn’t even subscribe for a nickel a week. There is more honest reporting elsewhere. The propagation of lies is so rampant with these journalists. Their conscience and the truth went out the window a long time ago to serve the Evil Empire.

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The Inquisitive Inquisitor's avatar

I agree. RT and Sputnik are the places we need to be. They have fair and honest and balanced reporting.

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Rosemary B's avatar

agree

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Mara's avatar

This: "...if you look at the vast quantity of sophisticated psyops distorting everyone's picture of the world it's very understandable there's so much confusion."

I consider myself one of the more aware & sophisticated in seeing these psyops - but even so, I don't have the time (or expertise/background) to do the necessary research on ALL of the issues.

Mixed in with heaps of frustration about the brain-dead state of the general populace, I find increasing amounts of sympathy (on my good days, my more compassionate broader-awareness days) for all those people who don't yet get that the government (EVERY government) is lying to us.

Blatantly, knowingly, condescendingly, manipulatively lying.

My sympathy sometimes extends (in nano-filaments) to those in power, who must surely be puppets of some greater evil puppet-master (since most of them do not have the brains to have come up with these narratives). Like Faust, they have sold their souls to the devil for worldly gains - and pretty soon their debt will be called in. (And I won't be supporting the appeal for clemency.)

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Feral Finster's avatar

Power strongly selects for sociopathy.

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J M Hatch's avatar

A mildly sociopathic society like most of the EU want to have strong sociopaths doing things in their name, because it's easy to overlook the part about "in their name" and the Hoi Polli even surrender to secrecy laws to make intentional ignorance even easier to fain. When it comes to a strongly dysfunctional society of sociopaths ala USA, then society absolutely must have nasties in charge to keep the place from going to pieces.

If qualms hit, then light a candle, speak in tongues. For those of both great and little faith it's always available to blame those darkies, gooks, or people with strange names, or even those Patchouli smokers next door for starting it. What do facts matter as long as some of scraps of empire meant for the lapdogs will fall down to the swine brought in to rummage on the floor (to soften them up for next week's dinner).

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The Inquisitive Inquisitor's avatar

For once we agree — Putin is a sociopath.

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Landru's avatar

That is poetry my friend : ) I feel myself slipping away with the fierce firestorm of war. We are to few, friends who were standing in protest over Vietnam think nuclear war is a must thing to bring order, yes and they are no longer friends. Pascal Robert has some interesting writing on this topic.

TIR This is revolution podcast.

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The Inquisitive Inquisitor's avatar

Hell, the Ronald Reagan administration never ended.

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Landru's avatar

That is spot on. I think the primary evidence, Bernie in the South Carolina debate when asked about Biden's ability to be president, " Joe Biden would make a great president" . For me that was the end of voting for either of the two/one party in power. In 2016 I wrote in Bernie who still had some sense of people over corp. 2020 I voted for Jim Earl a comedian friend who would certainly be better in office than any person elected today other than Kashama Swant who can not run. 2024 I think I am writing in Jimmy Dore, at least the end of the world will have a few laughs.

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Rosemary B's avatar

Bernie Sanders 😂😂😂

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Indie's avatar

Can’t gush enough about you. The. Best. Thank you for letting us in for a little bit sometimes.

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Landru's avatar

BTW, Guerilla History is amazing : ) Say hello to Adnan and Henry for me : )

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Ray's avatar

not sure what your issue with ron desantis is, hes doing a pretty good job of reining in the covid bs, he seems to be doing a pretty good job as a governor from what ive seen. feel free to expand and explain

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Carol Diane Bevis's avatar

Ron is a neocon and like all politicians he says some good things but he is not a true populist. He plays for the red team secretly allied with the blue team. Vote independents and third party.

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The Inquisitive Inquisitor's avatar

Ron DeSantis is an autocrat on the rise and get this, he's a Harvard grad just like Obama. The fact you would defend him here says everything I need to know about you. You are my enemy. Florida has become a disgusting shithole with wet bulb temperatures approaching unlivable all presided over by Batista 2.0.

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Rosemary B's avatar

🌶 wow.

rather severe thinking. Are you really Keith Olbermann?

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The Inquisitive Inquisitor's avatar

Alan Dershowitz News Letter? Too funny.

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Ray's avatar

youre a judgy little turdbag huh, i never defended him, i just said i didnt see much that warranted such hostilities and would like Caitlin to expand why. yes the governor is responsible for the temp (eyeroll)

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The Inquisitive Inquisitor's avatar

Like I said, you're my enemy.

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Ray's avatar

what a sad bear

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Feral Finster's avatar

Don't. Feed. The. Troll.

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Doris Wrench Eisler's avatar

I often think I've heard the dumbest possible comments any human being that can read has ever offered to the pubic: but then James Ball of the Guardian comes along and it's all up for grabs. Because what he claims about Julian Assange and the Ecuadorian Embassy is beyond nonsense,

it is beyond belief. And they've been looking for an excuse to bring it all down for some time now, the mad war mongers (how did that mad cow thing finally end, or did it? Might explain a lot, because something's in the air or brains, and it isn't good). Is it to be tiny Lithuania, the powder keg? Or huge Ukraine? or Taiwan, where most people are not unhappy under China's wing? C'mon, what about a dartboard approach, or slips in a hat? We've turned a blind eye to bullshit for so long we've convinced ourselves it's all good : coin of the realm.

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russian_bot's avatar

This wouldn't be the first time. And just like before, slowly but surely it's heading that same way too. The only question this time is how fast it'll get to nukes. Too many seem to be curious enough to actually observe how it's going to look. Life's got to be so boring otherwise.

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Tereza Coraggio's avatar

adding to SBN's quote, "As long as only a small minority of people have the willingness and ability to put in long hours to try and understand what's going on, it will remain easy to manipulate all leftward movement into impotence or complicity. Something very, very big is going to have to change."

I think that change is happening now, under the skin and in the veins. I just put out a retrospective of my long hours trying to understand what's going on during the last year: https://youtu.be/Pt5eB7D8JUQ

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The Revolution Continues's avatar

Your last paragraph says it well. How many have the time, energy, and ability to muck through all the propaganda and "disinformation" dumped on them by the mainstream media? Not many. And so we thank you Caitlin for your tireless work to keep us all better informed and sane in this insane world.

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Scott William James Wright's avatar

Another Brilliant Article by Ms. Johnstone. The Ruling Class has lost ALL Legitimacy & the Political "Puppet Class" has as well. 3rd Party is the only option for Western Democracies now - in order to take our Countries back from these International Mobsters. SWJW.

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J M Hatch's avatar

To the tune of California here I come. **blog.education.nationalgeographic.org/2014/08/28/tbt-danzig-and-the-beginnings-of-world-war-ii/

When the wintry winds starts blowing

And the snow is starting in the fall

Then my eyes went eastward knowing

That's the gas that I love best of all

Lebensraum, I've been blue

Since I've been lusting for you

Nazi Blackshirts better get going

Even now Joe's starting in a call

Danzig Free Port,** Here I Come

Right back where I started from

Where Agent Orange on flowers

Stop blooms every spring

Each morning at dawning

88s shoot at everything

Chrystia Freeland said, "Don't be late!"

That's why I can hardly wait

Open up that Hell's gate

Danzig, Here I Come again

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GadflyBytes's avatar

https://medium.com/@ennuid/george-lakoffs-framing-101-7b88e9c91dac

George Lakoff has some good ideas on liberal strategy.

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PoliceRiotJunky's avatar

multiple ways to kill leftward movement

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Boris Petrov's avatar

Remember - Trump wanted to pardon Assange and Snowden. Mitch McConnell threatened him he would vote for impeachment if he does that...

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russian_bot's avatar

To translate - Trump is a coward.

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The Inquisitive Inquisitor's avatar

That's not fair. His bone spurs were acting up again. Give a guy a break.

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