I have a short legal brief touching on that topic posted here. https://relativelyfreepress.blogspot.com/2023/12/palestine-two-state-solution-is-illegal.html (.) There's a very strong legal argument that Israeli government should be abolished and a plebiscite be held to determine the form of government for all of Palestine. All Arab (and other ethnic groups) including registered Palestinian refugees now camped in other countries would vote in such a plebiscite. It's not clear that Jews who migrated to Israel after 1948 would be so entitled, because their citizenship was arguably voided by Israel's government being created illegally; therefore all acts of that government including its grants of citizenship are void. I don't think any nation would take such a case to the International Court of Justice because I learned over my years as a lawyer that the courts simply will not grant Big Reforms. They will nibble at a problem but not solve it. That the opposition would be overwhelming because of Zionist power is foreseable.
The issue is not about legal arguments or laws (though they are necessary), the issue is with ENFORCEMENT of even the existing laws. The U.S. Empire (and Israel is a part of it) works on the basis of 'might is right' (and not 'rule of law' or 'international rules-based order' or whatever other bullshit euphemisms they propagandize the world with).
Without the significant weakening of the U.S. Empire, I'm not sure how adequate 'justice, peace, and freedom' for Palestine can be achieved. Hence I advocate for global unity AGAINST the U.S. Empire (though the reality of this is happening leaves me wanting).
I’ve been following them via their email and website updates, and occasionally on fb, for almost two years. Amazing people. Legitimate grassroots charity. The director is based on the US and his family and their team members are all in Gaza. His brother, chef Mahmoud, was deliberately murdered by the Nazi army. His elderly mother still prepares food in one of their kitchens. They use donations to purchase food and other essential supplies on the commercial markets in Gaza. Even when there was zero aid being let in, the merchants still had some food items for sale, at 20 to 50 times the normal price, because Israeli companies were making a killing (pun intended) from the engineered scarcity and famine. Several options for donation method. Please read their many Gofundme updates from about January 2024.
My friend, above, is Nawal Halawa, author and activist. She runs arabculturalhouse.com. Disclosure: other than donating through them to the various projects they run in Gaza, I have zero involvement.
My friend, mentioned above, is Nawal Halawa, author and activist. She runs arabculturalhouse.com. Disclosure: other than donating through them to the various projects they run in Gaza, I have zero involvement. The site is mostly in Arabic (though she speaks English fluently).
Great article. I really wish people discussed this more.
In his essay 'The World House', MLK Jr. cites the geologist Kirtley Mather . He wrote a book in the 1940s arguing that the world had the resources and means to feed the world. And that was over 80 years ago. Even with the massive population rise since then, we have the means to feed everyone.
Yet we're told to be happy that the current system has reduced poverty and hunger, as long as we accept an obscene poverty line of $3 a day. It's all so cruel, ridiculous, and backwards..
CJ>>"This happened because caring for everyone was never the goal of capitalism. The goal of capitalism is to extract labor from the working class and resources from the global south to sell goods and services at a rate that generates profit for the owners of the means of production. That’s it."
Actually Caitlin, there's more to Capitalism's goals than just the above. It's goals are to create ARTIFICIAL SCARCITY (to increase profits), to exploit anyone and everyone possible all over the globe (using imperialism, colonialism, different forms of slavery, etc.), to create and maintain a 'rigid hierarchy' of socio-economic classes - regardless of the costs to humanity or the planet.
We already have all the technology needed to solve the most important and pressing problems of humanity and the planet. We don't need AI for this, we don't need cryptocurriencies for this, and we definitely don't need Capitalism for this.
And in terms of AI technologies, there is an IMPORTANT distinction to be made between 'AI technologies as a technology/science' and 'AI technologies used in the system of capitalism' (which most people miss and get easily confused about). The SYSTEM is the problem. Any tool/technology used within this 'broken system' will make things worse (AI or not).
But as long as Capitalism is allowed to reign supreme, we won't be able to fix climate change, we won't be able to address the problem of rising inequalities globally, and we won't be able to solve problems like hunger, diseases, and miserable existences due to poverty, etc.
But there's enough jobs for everyone if the goal was fulfillment of the needs and wants of people. Need not Greed! Enough food, housing, medical care, education . . . This is what humane socialism aims to do but is thwarted by capitalisms' henchmen with the armies and economic sanctions. For those of you who think that socialism is inherently bad, LOL you have bought the lie presented by the predator class to deceive you. Yes, profound errors have been made, but they are not inherent, as they are with the present order. Time to reinvent a socialist order the avoids the major errors and creates an abundant world for free and loving people.
As much as your suggestions above are the most relevant and lasting conditions I have read so far in this narrative, there may be 2 issues that you raised as solutions which may need more scrutiny.
Jobs and greed are debatable as to the changes that could bring an end to the present stranglehold of empires. Otherwise, everything you suggested , most especially food and housing, should be part and parcel of the human condition.
John, I hope you didn't think I was PROMOTING greed, as it appears you may have! My intent was to say that the current system promotes greed, but that due to need, there are enough jobs for the foreseeable future. For instance, massive investment in labor intensive organic farming to produce high quality fresh food, replacing thousands of square miles of corn used for high fructose corn syrup as one simple example. Organically grown corn for human consumption is another matter! Nearly everyone can be trained to engage in agriculture productively.
Jon, no, I was not in any way objecting to your comments and ideas. I only mentioned “greed” because I think the concept is not used in ways that can promote N awareness of the human condition. It was critical in any way.
Ted Turner, the original founder of CNN, was once asked why he wanted to increase his wealth since he already had enough to satisfy anyone. His response was, as a child, he saw what the effects of extreme poverty could do and promised himself that he would never be in a situation that would bring hurt to his family. In short, for him, was it greed or fear of being poor that best described his need to make more money?
Greed for some may be Survival for others, but if survival is never an issue for anyone because of the care from humanity, then greed in getting excess wealth is indeed an issue, otherwise there may be a fine line that separates the two conditions.
Jobs are an entirely different matter. If anybody who loses a ‘job’ is threatened with homelessness or starvation, jobs should never be a criteria for well being. That is a while other area in which a healthy debate could and should ensue. Otherwise Jon, you pretty well covered the basics that are needed for peaceful coexistence between all.
Then we are aligned. I think the least violent method of getting there is bio-reginal secession, modeled somewhat on how the USSR imploded. But of course I am dismayed that those former USSR countries aligned themselves with NATO as a reaction!
We could end poverty but we don't. We could end inequality but we don't. We could end injustice but we don't. We could end war but we don't. We could end genocide but we don't. We could end ecocide but we don't. The list is long, but we keep on going like there's no tomorrow! What we do seem determined to end is life as we know it on this planet!
Even if just one country, one small country, implemented even a facsimile of what Caitlin is suggesting, a semblance of compassionate democracy, it could cause the dam to burst and change the world. So who's stepping up? Come on!
Duh! Why do you think the U.S. declares war on ANY country that challenges or poses a threat to its system of Capitalism? While the U.S. is in charge, it will NOT ALLOW any socialist alternatives (eg. Cuba, Venezuela, even China) to challenge its hegemony.
Take a look at all the wars the U.S. has been involved in over the last 100+ years. Now, attempt to understand many of the 'real' reasons behind such wars.
Look no further than Libya under Gaddafi’s rule to see what the empire does to leaders that utilize natural resource wealth to implement successful social policies and infrastructure.
The “people in charge” are more interested in augmenting their personal wealth and power. The tolerant masses will allow them to do so until their patience runs out.
Unfortunately it requires the governed to actually hold the governing accountable, and I have little hope that will happen in the US. For starters, people would have to en masse stop voting for the duopoly which has continued to make the rich richer and the rest of us poorer.
You are probably right, at least the current form of capitalism. For sure the unspoken cast system we have, as those that consider themselves upper class think that the rest of us shouldn’t even be allowed to vote.
Aye. I suspect many politicians secretly resent having to answer to constituents, and consider them inferior. It would explain why they don't really work for us other than doing the minimum to keep up appearances and prevent outright revolt.
Your analogy is defective. Why: Cats can love catnip one moment but not for days after. And not all cats want anything to do with catnip. For sociopaths, Power is far light years more addictive.
yeah, but she was really a patriarch in women's clothing. It is the system of patriarchy that is the problem so it doesn't matter who is heading it up. Patriarchy hurts everyone. Men, boys, women, girls. Old, young, white, people of colour: everyone.
Matriarchy MIGHT help if it is the right kind of matriarchy but really, I think we need to look to a person oriented system that does not favour any particular group of people
It probably would be different from a Patriarchy, but probably not be as Utopian as one would hope. It could be smothering in a "motherly" type of overly-protective way. But heck, I'd be willing to give it a try.
A long time ago, I read a book about different matriarchies that had existed in other countries (of course). I cannot remember the title or who wrote it. It did leave an impression with me though, that systems other than patriarchy had existed and could still exist. Patriarchy is pretty much just capitalism.
Opposing the patriarchy is not man hating. If anything, it is respectful toward men because the patriarchy is not good for men either. It is called the patriarchy because it is a system whereby men have power over everything, including women. Also including men of a "lower class"
Won't really fix the things that really need fixing (like our system of capitalism - unless you are suggesting that a matrirchal system will overthrow capitalism). I suggest studying some anthropology to understand why.
If more people could better explain the horrible economic damage that military spending does, we would have overcome all the warmongering long ago. Please consider reading "Trump Keeps Delighting Osama Bin Laden: The Economics of Military Spending"
Good article — too complex for the illiterate and feeble-minded to comprehend.
One of my longtime arguments is that all employees who produce military hardware/weapons, including all employees in the related supply chains, could be paid to stay home and do nothing, thereby eliminating the related environmental damage and wars, for the same price that taxpayers are already paying.
If those employees did something useful with paid their time off, society would benefit at no extra cost.
This is not a utopian argument. It’s just a mathematical argument.
This was a moronic, neoliberal capitalist article that gets so many things wrong (including basic economics), that it would take an article multiple times the size of the original to explain to readers the 'neoliberal narratives' used to gaslight people.
For instance, take this paragraph -> "Action must be coordinated in a manner that leads to profitability, in other words, more production (sales revenue or paycheck) than consumption (costs),..."
This statement is so flawed (on many levels - including the stress on profititability, production, and consumption instead of stressing LESS production, LESS consumption, and resource-based utilization).
This article is a complete HACK and attack on everything that is 'against neoliberal capitalism' (like Keynesian economics with its focus on job growth and full-employment, etc.).
CK, are you a neoliberal capitalist? Because THAT is what this article espouses.
That was very interesting. Will President Trump's government layoffs give a boost to the economy the way the GI's leaving the military and returning to work did after WWII? Obviously comparatively smaller.
The short answer is “no”. Literally hundreds of thousands of jobs for civilian production and services were available for the returning GIs. Today, most of such jobs have been eliminated by automation or sent offshore.
Many employers continue to seek ways to eliminate the jobs that remain. The government layoffs eliminated many important service jobs that are not appreciated by people who are ill-informed.
Wrong... Again, same economic fallacies... If the government cuts "service jobs that are not appreciated" (by your views).... Taxpayers now have additional money to spend elsewhere which will create jobs that taxpayers actually value... again... all you see is a transfer of where the spending occurs.. it either occurs in bullshit taxpayers were coerced into payng and they dont want.. or it occurs for things taxpayers actually value.. Again.. this is just basic economcs.. but then again.. millions fooled themselves into communism. Try this next:
"How Economic Competition, Rational Economic Calculation, and Civilization Emerge from Private Property"
I do value the stated missions of the FAA, FTC, CFSBP, FCC, OSHA, FDA, NHTSA, NOAA, Social Security board, Medicare board, the US Coast Guard, the US Army Corps of Engineers, IRS and more.
Many of those organizations have been abused and underfunded but were established for the protection of all Americans.
Left to private industry, we would have more dangerous products in the market, more workplace injuries, unsafe motor vehicles, unsafe transportation infrastructure, more tax evasion, etc.
For example, the aerospace and automotive industries manufacturers are not motivated to produce safe products in response to consumer demands. Most consumers are clueless about what makes aircraft or automobiles/trucks/buses safe.
For decades, the US automakers resisted the inclusion of seat belts, air bags, anti-lock brakes and other lifesaving features until they were forced to add those by the government.
Private industry continues to damage the Earth’s environment, climate, air and water. Individual taxpayers cannot fight those scourges except through government.
"Caring for everyone was never the goal of capitalism."
Exactly. Profits always come before people to capitalists. It's why I call it a mental illness. Capitalists can't see others as human beings--only as objects or tools to use to make profits from.
They are seriously sick people. And we're becoming sicker for allowing them to rule the world. Time for REVOLUTION!
I think many of us want to see everyone have food, a roof over their head, and healthcare, but there's a small sector who don't want this and who advance capitalism.
Of course, there are those who are propagandized to believe these things, but we need to convince them otherwise.
People have been trying for centuries to achieve this, and I think with the internet we're actually getting closer by exposing what is really going on, and not just believing the narrative.
Which is problematic for the elite class who profit from all this suffering. Like Obama's speech writer who regrets the optics of the genocide, but not the genocide itself. It's like we're supposed to be able to be fed a narrative instead of developing our moral compasses and critical thinking skills.
The real insanity is not that poverty exists it’s that we’ve built a moral culture which celebrates scarcity and punishes generosity. We treat stability, comfort, and accumulation as virtues, while empathy, care, and mutual lifting-up are treated like burdens.
Ending poverty isn’t a technical problem. It’s a moral failure, a global agreement to accept suffering as the price of keeping the elite comfortable. If we decided tomorrow that human dignity was non-negotiable, the money, the infrastructure, the capacity are all already in place. What’s missing is the willingness to see humanity not as expendable labor units, but as fellow beings worth saving
"Ending poverty isn’t a technical problem. It’s a moral failure, a global agreement to accept suffering as the price of keeping the elite comfortable. If we decided tomorrow that human dignity was non-negotiable, the money, the infrastructure, the capacity are all already in place. What’s missing is the willingness to see humanity not as expendable labor units, but as fellow beings worth saving".
Thank you Caitlin. Yes, Capitalism just keeps rolling on and Americans just keep voting for the same old corrupt Red and Blue that delivers it. The government must be changed so this corrupt Capitalist Empire can be consigned to the dumpster of history. But, Americans are not interested. Perhaps, as John Steinbeck said, "They consider themselves as temporarily embarrassed milionaires" and eligible for membership in the "Big Club" too.. any day now.
We have had these dark moments or ages in human history often followed by periods of enlightenment triggered by the likes of Lao Tzu, Buddah, Zoroaster, Jesus etc. Let's hope the tide will turn before we extinguish ourselves. BTW it will turn thanks to the likes of Caitlyn, Max Blumenthal, Aaron Mathew and countless other contemporary prophets.
If, as democracy prescribes, policy decisions such as subsidies, taxation and tax spending were really in the interest of the majority of ordinary people, there would be no poverty stricken, homeless, shelterless people, people on welfare, and sick people without adequate healthcare at the mercy of the state or charities. The only conclusion: we don't live in authentic democracies in the west, and don't even have the benefits, safeguards, and standard of living some autocracies provide.
The world's most powerful military force allied with Zionist economic power is the most evil force in the history of the world. It has kept the world subjugated to an unfair system for decades ensuring that only a tiny minority in each country reaps the benefits of its rapacity. It will meet its end in due time but threatens to take the whole world with it as it self destroys.
You are looking at the symptoms and not the problem. Most starvation and extreme hunger is caused by war. 99% of the wars in the world are fueled by the CIA. The CIA deliberately incites war or promotes war in any other country in the world to weaken these countries and strengthen Raytheon, Boeing, General Dynamic and other military suppliers. They may spare America's allies but not always. Read Douglas Valentine on this. The Five Eyes intelligence agencies, USA, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand are complicit in this although they, like some in the CIA may not realize the true scope of their actions.
The CIA like to create refugees. They like to have undocumented workers as an underclass in America that they can exploit.
We need to abolish the CIA to get a more peaceful world. Please ask your American readers to ask President Trump and Congress to abolish the CIA. Please ask your readers in other countries to have their leaders ask President Trump and Congress to abolish the CIA.
My Starter List: Gifts to give this Holiday
Local Food bank
Doctors without Borders
Hind Rajab Foundation
I added UNRWA to this list. Also sending money to people in Gaza who run a soup kitchen for orphans under unimaginable circumstances.
Eliminating Israel would help Gaza, immensely.
I have a short legal brief touching on that topic posted here. https://relativelyfreepress.blogspot.com/2023/12/palestine-two-state-solution-is-illegal.html (.) There's a very strong legal argument that Israeli government should be abolished and a plebiscite be held to determine the form of government for all of Palestine. All Arab (and other ethnic groups) including registered Palestinian refugees now camped in other countries would vote in such a plebiscite. It's not clear that Jews who migrated to Israel after 1948 would be so entitled, because their citizenship was arguably voided by Israel's government being created illegally; therefore all acts of that government including its grants of citizenship are void. I don't think any nation would take such a case to the International Court of Justice because I learned over my years as a lawyer that the courts simply will not grant Big Reforms. They will nibble at a problem but not solve it. That the opposition would be overwhelming because of Zionist power is foreseable.
The issue is not about legal arguments or laws (though they are necessary), the issue is with ENFORCEMENT of even the existing laws. The U.S. Empire (and Israel is a part of it) works on the basis of 'might is right' (and not 'rule of law' or 'international rules-based order' or whatever other bullshit euphemisms they propagandize the world with).
Without the significant weakening of the U.S. Empire, I'm not sure how adequate 'justice, peace, and freedom' for Palestine can be achieved. Hence I advocate for global unity AGAINST the U.S. Empire (though the reality of this is happening leaves me wanting).
I agree. Eliminating terrorism in every form would immensely help the world.
Good additions. Thanks. Do you have a link for the soup kitchen?
Please also keep in mind Gaza Soup Kitchen.
https://gazasoupkitchen.org
Thanks for providing this link for GSK, Mr. Walker
Thanks, Stephen. My list is growing.
Thank you, Stephen, is this soup kitchen in Gaza itself? Is it easy to get money to them, I don't have much but give what I can.
I’ve been following them via their email and website updates, and occasionally on fb, for almost two years. Amazing people. Legitimate grassroots charity. The director is based on the US and his family and their team members are all in Gaza. His brother, chef Mahmoud, was deliberately murdered by the Nazi army. His elderly mother still prepares food in one of their kitchens. They use donations to purchase food and other essential supplies on the commercial markets in Gaza. Even when there was zero aid being let in, the merchants still had some food items for sale, at 20 to 50 times the normal price, because Israeli companies were making a killing (pun intended) from the engineered scarcity and famine. Several options for donation method. Please read their many Gofundme updates from about January 2024.
Yes. She's an 80 year old Palestinian woman and activist, author who organizes from Canada. I'll ask her how to share. Stay tuned. Thanks, Vin.
Please do, I've been wanting to find that, or Sameer.
Me too.
My friend, above, is Nawal Halawa, author and activist. She runs arabculturalhouse.com. Disclosure: other than donating through them to the various projects they run in Gaza, I have zero involvement.
My friend, mentioned above, is Nawal Halawa, author and activist. She runs arabculturalhouse.com. Disclosure: other than donating through them to the various projects they run in Gaza, I have zero involvement. The site is mostly in Arabic (though she speaks English fluently).
Many thanks. Wish I could read Arabic.
Right with you there.
Then big business to pay their fair share of taxes, same as though they are like any working person, and without the four hour lunches on the company.
That's a great list Mr. Lopresti! Gifts to those groups will no doubt make an impact, props to you!
Great article. I really wish people discussed this more.
In his essay 'The World House', MLK Jr. cites the geologist Kirtley Mather . He wrote a book in the 1940s arguing that the world had the resources and means to feed the world. And that was over 80 years ago. Even with the massive population rise since then, we have the means to feed everyone.
Yet we're told to be happy that the current system has reduced poverty and hunger, as long as we accept an obscene poverty line of $3 a day. It's all so cruel, ridiculous, and backwards..
Yes great article for sure. You don't get to read (near literary) writing like this every day.
CJ>>"This happened because caring for everyone was never the goal of capitalism. The goal of capitalism is to extract labor from the working class and resources from the global south to sell goods and services at a rate that generates profit for the owners of the means of production. That’s it."
Actually Caitlin, there's more to Capitalism's goals than just the above. It's goals are to create ARTIFICIAL SCARCITY (to increase profits), to exploit anyone and everyone possible all over the globe (using imperialism, colonialism, different forms of slavery, etc.), to create and maintain a 'rigid hierarchy' of socio-economic classes - regardless of the costs to humanity or the planet.
We already have all the technology needed to solve the most important and pressing problems of humanity and the planet. We don't need AI for this, we don't need cryptocurriencies for this, and we definitely don't need Capitalism for this.
And in terms of AI technologies, there is an IMPORTANT distinction to be made between 'AI technologies as a technology/science' and 'AI technologies used in the system of capitalism' (which most people miss and get easily confused about). The SYSTEM is the problem. Any tool/technology used within this 'broken system' will make things worse (AI or not).
But as long as Capitalism is allowed to reign supreme, we won't be able to fix climate change, we won't be able to address the problem of rising inequalities globally, and we won't be able to solve problems like hunger, diseases, and miserable existences due to poverty, etc.
Well stated Chang!
saw this somewhere recently on Substack, unfortunately I didn’t get the OP’s name:
Most people aren’t “capitalists.”
They’re workers surviving under capitalism and defending the very system that exploits them.
That’s not entrepreneurship, that’s wage-slavery with Stockholm syndrome.
…..or achieve the goal of living in peace on our planet.
Ending poverty is profitable just not to billionaires because it demonopolizes access to basics necessities and rights.
Ending poverty eliminates some of the fear that gives power to the wealthy to control the masses.
But there's enough jobs for everyone if the goal was fulfillment of the needs and wants of people. Need not Greed! Enough food, housing, medical care, education . . . This is what humane socialism aims to do but is thwarted by capitalisms' henchmen with the armies and economic sanctions. For those of you who think that socialism is inherently bad, LOL you have bought the lie presented by the predator class to deceive you. Yes, profound errors have been made, but they are not inherent, as they are with the present order. Time to reinvent a socialist order the avoids the major errors and creates an abundant world for free and loving people.
You may have heard the old adage from wealthy bosses regarding employees: “Keep them hungry to motivate them to work harder and longer.”
That never applies to executives and especially not CEOs. Their hunger cam never be satisfied, and they need nowork at all — other than delegating.
Jon,
As much as your suggestions above are the most relevant and lasting conditions I have read so far in this narrative, there may be 2 issues that you raised as solutions which may need more scrutiny.
Jobs and greed are debatable as to the changes that could bring an end to the present stranglehold of empires. Otherwise, everything you suggested , most especially food and housing, should be part and parcel of the human condition.
John, I hope you didn't think I was PROMOTING greed, as it appears you may have! My intent was to say that the current system promotes greed, but that due to need, there are enough jobs for the foreseeable future. For instance, massive investment in labor intensive organic farming to produce high quality fresh food, replacing thousands of square miles of corn used for high fructose corn syrup as one simple example. Organically grown corn for human consumption is another matter! Nearly everyone can be trained to engage in agriculture productively.
Jon, no, I was not in any way objecting to your comments and ideas. I only mentioned “greed” because I think the concept is not used in ways that can promote N awareness of the human condition. It was critical in any way.
Ted Turner, the original founder of CNN, was once asked why he wanted to increase his wealth since he already had enough to satisfy anyone. His response was, as a child, he saw what the effects of extreme poverty could do and promised himself that he would never be in a situation that would bring hurt to his family. In short, for him, was it greed or fear of being poor that best described his need to make more money?
Greed for some may be Survival for others, but if survival is never an issue for anyone because of the care from humanity, then greed in getting excess wealth is indeed an issue, otherwise there may be a fine line that separates the two conditions.
Jobs are an entirely different matter. If anybody who loses a ‘job’ is threatened with homelessness or starvation, jobs should never be a criteria for well being. That is a while other area in which a healthy debate could and should ensue. Otherwise Jon, you pretty well covered the basics that are needed for peaceful coexistence between all.
Then we are aligned. I think the least violent method of getting there is bio-reginal secession, modeled somewhat on how the USSR imploded. But of course I am dismayed that those former USSR countries aligned themselves with NATO as a reaction!
That makes sense.
We could end poverty but we don't. We could end inequality but we don't. We could end injustice but we don't. We could end war but we don't. We could end genocide but we don't. We could end ecocide but we don't. The list is long, but we keep on going like there's no tomorrow! What we do seem determined to end is life as we know it on this planet!
Even if just one country, one small country, implemented even a facsimile of what Caitlin is suggesting, a semblance of compassionate democracy, it could cause the dam to burst and change the world. So who's stepping up? Come on!
Duh! Why do you think the U.S. declares war on ANY country that challenges or poses a threat to its system of Capitalism? While the U.S. is in charge, it will NOT ALLOW any socialist alternatives (eg. Cuba, Venezuela, even China) to challenge its hegemony.
Take a look at all the wars the U.S. has been involved in over the last 100+ years. Now, attempt to understand many of the 'real' reasons behind such wars.
Look no further than Libya under Gaddafi’s rule to see what the empire does to leaders that utilize natural resource wealth to implement successful social policies and infrastructure.
Who is “we”? Not I.
The “people in charge” are more interested in augmenting their personal wealth and power. The tolerant masses will allow them to do so until their patience runs out.
Read “The Lessons of History”.
https://www.scribd.com/document/820039979/The-Lessons-of-History-by-Will-and-Ariel-Durant
We need matriarchal system
I thought so too, until I became to know Hilary.
Don't forget Madeline Albright.
We need a system that doesn't reward sociopathy, dishonesty, cruelty and greed.
As Feral Finster always points out, power is to sociopaths what catnip is to cats.
Also remember Margaret Thatcher.
Kala Kalas/Van der Leon. Victoria Nuland............
Great point Jos. A system that doesn't exploit people or reward being harsh, greedy or amoral would be a strong foundation
Thanks, Aamir.
Unfortunately it requires the governed to actually hold the governing accountable, and I have little hope that will happen in the US. For starters, people would have to en masse stop voting for the duopoly which has continued to make the rich richer and the rest of us poorer.
Yes, power is an addictive drug and needs to be treated as the mental disorder that it is.
If capitalism is to be democratic limits to wealth need to be addressed to manage those with power addiction tendencies.
I don't think capitalism and democracy are compatible.
You are probably right, at least the current form of capitalism. For sure the unspoken cast system we have, as those that consider themselves upper class think that the rest of us shouldn’t even be allowed to vote.
Aye. I suspect many politicians secretly resent having to answer to constituents, and consider them inferior. It would explain why they don't really work for us other than doing the minimum to keep up appearances and prevent outright revolt.
https://substack.com/@futuredude/note/c-184024846
Your analogy is defective. Why: Cats can love catnip one moment but not for days after. And not all cats want anything to do with catnip. For sociopaths, Power is far light years more addictive.
As far as cats, not my experience. Besides, I'm sure you get the point of the expression.
yeah, but she was really a patriarch in women's clothing. It is the system of patriarchy that is the problem so it doesn't matter who is heading it up. Patriarchy hurts everyone. Men, boys, women, girls. Old, young, white, people of colour: everyone.
And matriarchy will magically fix everything? This seems a little to black and white to me.
Matriarchy MIGHT help if it is the right kind of matriarchy but really, I think we need to look to a person oriented system that does not favour any particular group of people
It probably would be different from a Patriarchy, but probably not be as Utopian as one would hope. It could be smothering in a "motherly" type of overly-protective way. But heck, I'd be willing to give it a try.
A long time ago, I read a book about different matriarchies that had existed in other countries (of course). I cannot remember the title or who wrote it. It did leave an impression with me though, that systems other than patriarchy had existed and could still exist. Patriarchy is pretty much just capitalism.
Man hating is just another flavor of the divide and conquer strategy
Opposing the patriarchy is not man hating. If anything, it is respectful toward men because the patriarchy is not good for men either. It is called the patriarchy because it is a system whereby men have power over everything, including women. Also including men of a "lower class"
My immediate thought, and you already wrote it.
You mean like Margaret Thatcher or Irma Grese?
Won't really fix the things that really need fixing (like our system of capitalism - unless you are suggesting that a matrirchal system will overthrow capitalism). I suggest studying some anthropology to understand why.
If we do the dividing, they'll do the conquering.
If more people could better explain the horrible economic damage that military spending does, we would have overcome all the warmongering long ago. Please consider reading "Trump Keeps Delighting Osama Bin Laden: The Economics of Military Spending"
https://www.unz.com/article/trump-keeps-delighting-osama-bin-laden-the-economics-of-military-spending/
Good article — too complex for the illiterate and feeble-minded to comprehend.
One of my longtime arguments is that all employees who produce military hardware/weapons, including all employees in the related supply chains, could be paid to stay home and do nothing, thereby eliminating the related environmental damage and wars, for the same price that taxpayers are already paying.
If those employees did something useful with paid their time off, society would benefit at no extra cost.
This is not a utopian argument. It’s just a mathematical argument.
>>"Good article..."
Did you actually read it?
This was a moronic, neoliberal capitalist article that gets so many things wrong (including basic economics), that it would take an article multiple times the size of the original to explain to readers the 'neoliberal narratives' used to gaslight people.
For instance, take this paragraph -> "Action must be coordinated in a manner that leads to profitability, in other words, more production (sales revenue or paycheck) than consumption (costs),..."
This statement is so flawed (on many levels - including the stress on profititability, production, and consumption instead of stressing LESS production, LESS consumption, and resource-based utilization).
This article is a complete HACK and attack on everything that is 'against neoliberal capitalism' (like Keynesian economics with its focus on job growth and full-employment, etc.).
CK, are you a neoliberal capitalist? Because THAT is what this article espouses.
That was very interesting. Will President Trump's government layoffs give a boost to the economy the way the GI's leaving the military and returning to work did after WWII? Obviously comparatively smaller.
The short answer is “no”. Literally hundreds of thousands of jobs for civilian production and services were available for the returning GIs. Today, most of such jobs have been eliminated by automation or sent offshore.
Many employers continue to seek ways to eliminate the jobs that remain. The government layoffs eliminated many important service jobs that are not appreciated by people who are ill-informed.
Wrong... Again, same economic fallacies... If the government cuts "service jobs that are not appreciated" (by your views).... Taxpayers now have additional money to spend elsewhere which will create jobs that taxpayers actually value... again... all you see is a transfer of where the spending occurs.. it either occurs in bullshit taxpayers were coerced into payng and they dont want.. or it occurs for things taxpayers actually value.. Again.. this is just basic economcs.. but then again.. millions fooled themselves into communism. Try this next:
"How Economic Competition, Rational Economic Calculation, and Civilization Emerge from Private Property"
https://mises.org/power-market/how-economic-competition-rational-economic-calculation-and-civilization-emerge-private-property
Ah, that's the problem - you're an adherent of Ludwig Von Misses, Hayek, Milton Friedman, etc. - basically neoliberal capitalism.
That explains your 'lack of understanding' (and economic indoctrination) in your comments. Got it.
I do value the stated missions of the FAA, FTC, CFSBP, FCC, OSHA, FDA, NHTSA, NOAA, Social Security board, Medicare board, the US Coast Guard, the US Army Corps of Engineers, IRS and more.
Many of those organizations have been abused and underfunded but were established for the protection of all Americans.
Left to private industry, we would have more dangerous products in the market, more workplace injuries, unsafe motor vehicles, unsafe transportation infrastructure, more tax evasion, etc.
For example, the aerospace and automotive industries manufacturers are not motivated to produce safe products in response to consumer demands. Most consumers are clueless about what makes aircraft or automobiles/trucks/buses safe.
For decades, the US automakers resisted the inclusion of seat belts, air bags, anti-lock brakes and other lifesaving features until they were forced to add those by the government.
Private industry continues to damage the Earth’s environment, climate, air and water. Individual taxpayers cannot fight those scourges except through government.
Read my response here -> https://www.caitlinjohnst.one/p/the-craziest-thing-in-the-world-is/comment/183131333
"Caring for everyone was never the goal of capitalism."
Exactly. Profits always come before people to capitalists. It's why I call it a mental illness. Capitalists can't see others as human beings--only as objects or tools to use to make profits from.
They are seriously sick people. And we're becoming sicker for allowing them to rule the world. Time for REVOLUTION!
https://www.scribd.com/document/820039979/The-Lessons-of-History-by-Will-and-Ariel-Durant
I think many of us want to see everyone have food, a roof over their head, and healthcare, but there's a small sector who don't want this and who advance capitalism.
Of course, there are those who are propagandized to believe these things, but we need to convince them otherwise.
People have been trying for centuries to achieve this, and I think with the internet we're actually getting closer by exposing what is really going on, and not just believing the narrative.
Which is problematic for the elite class who profit from all this suffering. Like Obama's speech writer who regrets the optics of the genocide, but not the genocide itself. It's like we're supposed to be able to be fed a narrative instead of developing our moral compasses and critical thinking skills.
Our owners decide how to manage their herds.
It's not really for us in the herd to decide, is it?
Are you talking about changing the system or something?
Get back in line...
;-(
Please Sir, can I have some more??
YOU WANT MORE!!!?
"Oliver Twist" ;-)
Charles Dickens!! A Tale of Two Cities!! As well!
Twas Oliver wut spoke it .;-)
The real insanity is not that poverty exists it’s that we’ve built a moral culture which celebrates scarcity and punishes generosity. We treat stability, comfort, and accumulation as virtues, while empathy, care, and mutual lifting-up are treated like burdens.
Ending poverty isn’t a technical problem. It’s a moral failure, a global agreement to accept suffering as the price of keeping the elite comfortable. If we decided tomorrow that human dignity was non-negotiable, the money, the infrastructure, the capacity are all already in place. What’s missing is the willingness to see humanity not as expendable labor units, but as fellow beings worth saving
Fantastic reply 'Feels Like Truth'! ❤️🙏
To repeat what you say ->
"Ending poverty isn’t a technical problem. It’s a moral failure, a global agreement to accept suffering as the price of keeping the elite comfortable. If we decided tomorrow that human dignity was non-negotiable, the money, the infrastructure, the capacity are all already in place. What’s missing is the willingness to see humanity not as expendable labor units, but as fellow beings worth saving".
Thank you Caitlin. Yes, Capitalism just keeps rolling on and Americans just keep voting for the same old corrupt Red and Blue that delivers it. The government must be changed so this corrupt Capitalist Empire can be consigned to the dumpster of history. But, Americans are not interested. Perhaps, as John Steinbeck said, "They consider themselves as temporarily embarrassed milionaires" and eligible for membership in the "Big Club" too.. any day now.
We have had these dark moments or ages in human history often followed by periods of enlightenment triggered by the likes of Lao Tzu, Buddah, Zoroaster, Jesus etc. Let's hope the tide will turn before we extinguish ourselves. BTW it will turn thanks to the likes of Caitlyn, Max Blumenthal, Aaron Mathew and countless other contemporary prophets.
If, as democracy prescribes, policy decisions such as subsidies, taxation and tax spending were really in the interest of the majority of ordinary people, there would be no poverty stricken, homeless, shelterless people, people on welfare, and sick people without adequate healthcare at the mercy of the state or charities. The only conclusion: we don't live in authentic democracies in the west, and don't even have the benefits, safeguards, and standard of living some autocracies provide.
The world's most powerful military force allied with Zionist economic power is the most evil force in the history of the world. It has kept the world subjugated to an unfair system for decades ensuring that only a tiny minority in each country reaps the benefits of its rapacity. It will meet its end in due time but threatens to take the whole world with it as it self destroys.
You are looking at the symptoms and not the problem. Most starvation and extreme hunger is caused by war. 99% of the wars in the world are fueled by the CIA. The CIA deliberately incites war or promotes war in any other country in the world to weaken these countries and strengthen Raytheon, Boeing, General Dynamic and other military suppliers. They may spare America's allies but not always. Read Douglas Valentine on this. The Five Eyes intelligence agencies, USA, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand are complicit in this although they, like some in the CIA may not realize the true scope of their actions.
The CIA like to create refugees. They like to have undocumented workers as an underclass in America that they can exploit.
We need to abolish the CIA to get a more peaceful world. Please ask your American readers to ask President Trump and Congress to abolish the CIA. Please ask your readers in other countries to have their leaders ask President Trump and Congress to abolish the CIA.