The new issue of JOHNSTONE is now available to order in print or download as a pay-what-you-want e-book version. This issue features a painting of Jeff Bezos.
"the most revered and respected among us are emotionally stunted man-babies......yet they’re the ones calling the shots for the trajectory our species is going to follow into the future.......They’re the ones our warped civilization points to as role models we should all strive to be like."
Part of the reason this is happening is because children are taught from kindergarten on that they need to get an education so they can grow up and make a lot of money. Never mind so they will have a lot of knowledge. We, as a society, consider people with big salaries to be successful. We don't go on about all the great people who really work to help other people get out of poverty, find decent housing, live safe lives. Sure we make a few comments about what great work some of those people are doing, but it is having a big car, a big house, designer clothes that really seems to be what impresses people. That is as big a problem as the greedy money grubbers themselves are.
"having a big car, a big house, designer clothes that really seems to be what impresses people."
I had a job in Silicon Valley. I did a good job but the thing by far most impressive to my co-workers was when I bought a new car.
Con men generally make conspicuous displays of wealth. It gives them credibility. Real estate agents tell me that it's vital to have an expensive automobile.
When confronted with paintings like the Mona Lisa what impresses most people the most is the price.
Money is status, and status is pretty much the same thing as success.
I have read statements by people who know very rich people like John Rockefeller or Musk. The pattern is that they are really good at making money in their specialty but don't have much on the ball outside of that.
That's the problem with aristocracy/oligarchy. The power concentrates with a few people who may be eccentric, ignorant, nuts, dumb, or just plain evil. Weird things happen. The people lose confidence in the system. The system can endure a very long time but eventually it collapses, is overwhelmed by stronger forces, or both.
So I don't know that the techno guys are any worse than your average oligarch.
أحسنت النشر والقول – سلام غزة و القدس عليكم - العزة والنصر حليف محورالمقاومة وحلفاءها والذلة والعار لمحور الشر وجماعة أبستين (امريكا و بريطانيا وفرنسا وتركيا والسعودية وقطر والامارات و دول الناتو والنازية الجديدة والماسونية والصهيونية و أسرائيل) وحلفاءه
And yet, I have to pay Jeff Bezos to get a paperback copy. Please seek out an alternative distributor/printer for your hard copies. I recommend Lulu.com.
It's a big task to take on and change a repressive system run by oligarchs - and needs a bigger than life leader who can ignite the ordinary masses. Will we see such a leader and change in our lifetime?
Don't know. But yes, Caitlin is right, the system is the problem.
"the most revered and respected among us are emotionally stunted man-babies......yet they’re the ones calling the shots for the trajectory our species is going to follow into the future.......They’re the ones our warped civilization points to as role models we should all strive to be like."
Part of the reason this is happening is because children are taught from kindergarten on that they need to get an education so they can grow up and make a lot of money. Never mind so they will have a lot of knowledge. We, as a society, consider people with big salaries to be successful. We don't go on about all the great people who really work to help other people get out of poverty, find decent housing, live safe lives. Sure we make a few comments about what great work some of those people are doing, but it is having a big car, a big house, designer clothes that really seems to be what impresses people. That is as big a problem as the greedy money grubbers themselves are.
Susan - I would agree that all greed is the cause of almost all issues, so agree here. Greed is a spiritual disorder and if we can solve for it, we can solve for a lot of things: https://unorthodoxy.substack.com/p/humanity-vs-the-deadening-part-two
"having a big car, a big house, designer clothes that really seems to be what impresses people."
I had a job in Silicon Valley. I did a good job but the thing by far most impressive to my co-workers was when I bought a new car.
Con men generally make conspicuous displays of wealth. It gives them credibility. Real estate agents tell me that it's vital to have an expensive automobile.
When confronted with paintings like the Mona Lisa what impresses most people the most is the price.
Money is status, and status is pretty much the same thing as success.
I thought it was a painting of Elmer Fudd on the cover at first! You gotta admit that Bezos and Elmer look (and act) an awful lot alike. :-)
I have read statements by people who know very rich people like John Rockefeller or Musk. The pattern is that they are really good at making money in their specialty but don't have much on the ball outside of that.
That's the problem with aristocracy/oligarchy. The power concentrates with a few people who may be eccentric, ignorant, nuts, dumb, or just plain evil. Weird things happen. The people lose confidence in the system. The system can endure a very long time but eventually it collapses, is overwhelmed by stronger forces, or both.
So I don't know that the techno guys are any worse than your average oligarch.
These will be collectibles one day. Do you sell back issues or whole sets?
أحسنت النشر والقول – سلام غزة و القدس عليكم - العزة والنصر حليف محورالمقاومة وحلفاءها والذلة والعار لمحور الشر وجماعة أبستين (امريكا و بريطانيا وفرنسا وتركيا والسعودية وقطر والامارات و دول الناتو والنازية الجديدة والماسونية والصهيونية و أسرائيل) وحلفاءه
And yet, I have to pay Jeff Bezos to get a paperback copy. Please seek out an alternative distributor/printer for your hard copies. I recommend Lulu.com.
Is there any way to order a paperback directly from you WITHOUT spreading my ass cheeks for Amazon?
This!!!👆
I sent this to my mom. She turned to the right in 2016 after coming from the left. About this piece: 🥺
She’s the artist. I used to dismiss people like this doncha know. I won’t any longer.
We always thought (you on left; me on the right) we were all part of the resistance against an Empirical Power.
What a splendid trick that was. 😉
It's a big task to take on and change a repressive system run by oligarchs - and needs a bigger than life leader who can ignite the ordinary masses. Will we see such a leader and change in our lifetime?
Don't know. But yes, Caitlin is right, the system is the problem.
jamenta, As Caitlin says neurotic freaks are ruling us. The system to function needs these freaks and they got the biggest freak in charge.
Unfortunately there is no ' bigger than life' leader like Mao, Fidel and Che, or Ho Chi Minh on the horizon!