Once you understand that we are ruled over by high-functioning (in the sense that they can fake empathy when called upon) sociopaths, everything they do makes sense.
In fact, sociopaths come to rule over any system, because sociopaths are precisely the people who will do whatever it takes to get power.
In my experience, a sociopath actually does care on some level about the more macabre outcomes of his/her actions but ultimately places personal gain higher than either. A psychopath is strictly dedicated in a hard-wired way to seek personal gain (no matter the format) without even considering the greater effect(s). All of which is to say you're right. For the rest of us, it really doesn't matter whether a person or system is sociopathic or psychopathic if we're talking about holistic/systemic outcomes. The spectrum in the former blurs into the reality of the latter.
A psychopath is untethered. He/she is their own reality...it may have started politically with "W" when he said (approximately) We don't react to History, We make it.
Good post. I was trying to make the point, as you did more convincingly, that whatever they are doesn't matter. They exist and we know that. The problem is how to keep them from getting power. Probably impossible since the entire system is run by sociopaths and psychopaths. I don't know what the answer is.
The entire system is run by them, therefore we have to take down the entire system. They've been working for half a century to build walls around their power so they can't be removed--but they are also so stupid, destructive and incompetent that we are headed for imminent collapse. When the system collapses, there will be enormous harm to the current generation of humans, but it WILL be the thing that breaks their hold on power, and allows alternatives to rise afterward--most likely millions of small, local alternatives, which each of us can help guide toward better outcomes. And we can start now, because when the crisis arrives and opens up possibilities for radical change, what happens "depends on the ideas that are lying around." So the time is now to be developing those ideas, refining them in discussion with others, and strewing them around...along with preparing yourself, your household and ideally a larger community to survive the collapse.
I doubt if small, independent communities of compassion could ever survive a good carpet-bombing ordered by scum like Trump and the psychopaths on the Pentagon. Just wait and see. History reveals this truth.
Exactly! The system is so unsustainably idiotic by every metric that it is destined to collapse under the weight of its own lunacy. Your advice is sound; like John Michael Greer says, "Collapse now and avoid the rush." The sooner people start preparing for the inevitable, the less the inevitable catches them unprepared.
It won't collapse. Not if the people in charge of the collapse are doing it to usher in a worse form of tyranny, and there are more than enough signs that this is what their objective is. Neo-feudalism and all its forms of horror and unrestrained cruelty. You'll see. Have no illusions and you'll be better off
A sociopath is someone who has been socialised into abusive behaviour, a psychopath is someone born without human empathy.
Strangely, psychopaths may actually be decent people, if raised in a society/family that educates them to mimic what they do not have naturally.
And a sociopath may be decent to those they include in the 'group' (or family, etc), while being abusive to those outside of such a consideration. The guards in the extermination camps may have been good parents and husbands/wives, fx.
I don't know. What I think I know is that there is never a shortage of guards for the gulag or a shortage of order followers for the most evil actions.
As Arendt said: "Evil is banal". Is there a shortage of guards for the US's current prison camps, with enforced labour (slavery)? Is there a shortage of ICE goons?
How do those people justify it?
Most don't see their actions as "evil". Especially when the state's propaganda is heavily laying on the justifications. "Keeping the streets safe", or "Removing the dangers from society".
We all to some extent have the element of 'Obeying a hierarchy' (Right wing consciousness), or 'Communitarianism' (Left wing consciousness), or self-interest (Liberalism), and few indeed have thought through all the moral issues to decide on concrete grounds they will live a life that will not abuse anyone.
From that perspective most people are potential sociopaths.
And needless to say perhaps, Western society (And not alone) is decidedly bent towards creating and rewarding sociopathic elements.
Freud was certainly an ego-driven coked-up savage beast to anyone who disagreed with him. And his nephew Bernays was quite possibly the worst human who ever lived.
Exactly. Although I would still argue that it doesn't make sense to a remotely empathic person thinking/feeling in empathic manners. Socio/psychopaths are hard wired (or short circuited in my EE terminology) to crave, seek and do what they can to manipulate situations to gain power and prestige. Not that our current totally inorganic finance-capitalist ecosystem doesn't 100% exactly encourage or prioritize any of it, but it's true. Who cares about a million dead children whether you're "left" or "right" when both of those, but mainly the former, have been so utterly distorted from their original spirit as to render them meaningless - like human life or the ecosystem, apparently.
Surely you meant the latter? Because I don't see any vestige of original spirit in the ''right'' except the mandate to steam roll over anyone or anything getting in the way of their profit margins.
I have realized that for many years ago when those rules have very negative views about humans cuz they consider love dogs and cats would be good ppl but discriminate blacks would be ok, to think they are the best genes in this earth must do sth Artificially rearrange the world. They do not know what is truly human nature comes by nature but if anyone happens not meet the standards or imagination, they would consider is bad so they would do things make it worse but not to try to figure out by asking themselves: Why? What happens to them? How to solve problems? How to get them less hurt and less angry and less violence? What can I do for that situation with their own-experience and knowledge as well? They do not know about themselves so they do not know what is called human nature so to try to positively solve all the world problems.
Our neofeudal Lords view us with some degree of disdain. Of this I feel fairly certain in my gut. Yet they know they must keep a certain mass of us clucking along to serve their bloody monstrosity of a cancer that they have the temerity to call a system.
“Well, that's pretty much what the schools are like, I think: they reward discipline and obedience, and they punish independence of mind. If you happen to be a little innovative, or maybe you forgot to come to school one day because you were reading a book or something, that's a tragedy, that's a crime―because you're not supposed to think, you're supposed to obey, and just proceed through the material in whatever way they require. And in fact, most of the people who make it through the education system and get into the elite universities are able to do it because they've been willing to obey a lot of stupid orders for years and years―that's the way I did it, for example. Like, you're told by some stupid teacher, "Do this," which you know makes no sense whatsoever, but you do it, and if you do it you get to the next rung, and then you obey the next order, and finally you work your way through and they give you your letters: an awful lot of education is like that, from the very beginning. Some people go along with it because they figure, "Okay, I'll do any stupid thing that asshole says because I want to get ahead"; others do it because they've just internalized the values―but after a while, those two things tend to get sort of blurred. But you do it, or else you're out: you ask too many questions and you're going to get in trouble. Now, there are also people who don't go along-and they're called "behavior problems," or "unmotivated," or things like that. Well, you don't want to be too glib about it―there are children with behavior problems but a lot of them are just independent-minded, or don't like to conform, or just want to go their own way. And they get into trouble right from the very beginning, and are typically weeded out. I mean, I've taught young kids too, and the fact is there are always some who just don't take your word for it. And the very unfortunate tendency is to try to beat them down, because they're a pain in the neck. But what they ought to be is encouraged. Yeah: why take my word for it? Who the heck am I? Figure it out for yourself. That's what real education would be about, in fact.”
Sounds like you'd be a good fit in government or Social Services! If not, responding to escalated Executive and Regulatory level written complaints. I did that for nearly a dozen years at Wells Fargo (before the Wachovia take-over) and most of those I worked under fit this profile of oppositional (to consumers), defiant and certainly disorderly which is why they had to hire anal-retentive go along to get alongs like me to research and respond to the Regulatory agency escalated and filed complaints.
Tio Mitchito
aka to the OCC: Mitch Ritter\Paradigm Sifters, Code Shifters, PsalmSong Chasers
Lay-Low Studios, Ore-Wa (Refuge of A-Tone-ment Seekers)
Thank you Anarchist Buddhist for reminding us of the wisdom of Noam Chomsky who for over 40 years kept us away from the "straight and narrow" to uncover the truth.
Bertolt Brecht the communist intellectual, writer of prose and poetry through his marvellous plays brought us not only the hubris and uncaring ethos of the ruling class but the compassion that 'common' people are capable of. And urges them to break the chains of conformity.
Brecht's " Buddha's Parable of the Burning House" is something close to my heart!
Sorry, semi retired already. If I had to choose I would rather be an office cleaner than an office worker. Tried both and was much happier at the former than the latter, in spite of the low pay.
Things are shitty because we are ruled by shitty people. We have all been taught in school, by movies, by stories, that having money and stuff is a sign of success. Things have been kept more or less OK as long as people could afford rent, food and healthcare along with a few treats. Now the rich and powerful have become so greedy that they just keep everything for themselves. They are destroying our world: they have created a climate crisis, they make wars and more wars because those wars make them money and more money. Money is their god. They seem unable to see that the climate crisis will kill them as will the nuclear wars they are promoting. We are ruled by shitty, insane people. We can only hope that there is still time for real revolutionary change to happen. We all need to see those greedy stupid people for what they are and stop thinking that we just need to work harder to be more "deserving". We sure do need to work harder. To get rid of those lunatics.
Yes I can never figure out how they assume the climate crisis doesn't apply to them. Even if there was one billionaire island guaranteed to be safe from it forever, where would be the pleasure in that, with nobody left to rule over? It's almost as if they're resigned to it because they can't stop it, so may as well just hasten it along..
How can it? Money can't buy clean air, water, liveable temperatures. And what would they do for enjoyment? No Caribbean left to holiday in, no films (everyone dead), nowhere safe to drive your fast car...
Sometimes I think they're that stupid they can't think beyond the next payout. Or election. They're doing it to their own children and grandchildren - I hope they never forgive them.
Maybe those that we see as "in power" are simply the useful idiots of those that control them? And the real controllers are planning to leave the planet (and the vast bulk of humanity, useful idiots included) to its demise by escaping to the type of space station world seen in the film 'Elysium', or even to Mars...? Crazy, I know...
There is no climate crisis. The idea is pushed by those at the top so people will accept (or even demand) the transfer of more of their money to big companies (via tax-funded subsidies for otherwise unviable "green" projects) in order to "save the planet".
They want us to be isolated, thinking we're the only one who thinks and feels this way, we need to find a community of like-minded people. Sure everyone agrees!
Yes Caitlin. And where did these 'Rulers' come from? In the U.S. we brag about what a great capitalist democracy this is, so, if we accept that, we must confess that we put these capitalists in power over us. At least half of the U.S. population is brainwashed to believe they must vote for either a Red or Blue hyena and casting a vote for anything else (even if it is allowed on the ballot) is a wasted effort and profound failure. The system is sold as a Red vs. Blue struggle of good over evil and if we just elect the right Red or Blue hyena there will be "change from within". This manufactured delusion keeps the system alive and these hyenas in power. As long as Americans keep giving their vote to them there can be no real and lasting change and we will just continue to oscillatate between bad and worse...Red and Blue.
Yes I agree that at the moment the masses are so dumbed-down they can't see what's in front of their faces. I hope this will slowly begin to change, but decades of mental suppression and manipulation have taken away most people's reasoning powers.
Trump announcing just yesterday, "No Inflation" and "Grocery Prices are Down" - as he fights tooth and nail to halt needed food for 42 million Americans (40% children) on Food Stamps - while at the same time having a Great Gatsby party of half naked 20 year old women swimming around in large cocktail props at Mar-a-Lago ..
Israelis in uproar not because their Israeli prison concentration camps rape and torture prisoners - but because the news was leaked out to the rest of the world that they are doing just that, and it's bad PR.
European leaders promising to keep fighting Russia in Ukraine (after an estimated 1,000,000 casualties so far) - while Trump orders new nuclear testing, and puts a buy order for a million more drones to be built for the US department of War.
This is what our Rulers are doing today. And it appears they're going to keep doing it. Human life has become cheap and futile for millions.
Excellent jamenta! You have put into words exactly what I was struggling to frame. The depraved stupid ruling class doesn't seem to realise that the Great Gatsby was a cautionary tale.
Marie Antoinette's "Let them eat cake" fades away in comparison to Trumpian conspicuous consumption while 42 million people are struggling to eat.
'...futile for millions...' - sure, it may seem that way, but if you believe life has a purpose, and is a trial, it begins to make sense. Hang in there, don't give in and become like the 'Traitors' who have sold their souls.
It sort of does boil down to that Paul Barbara - quite a bit for me these days. What is the point? Is there a point?
I know some will say, why the fuck should I even ask? How dare one ask when it's clearly an arbitrary question, and a waste of time (to ask). Why live your life thinking about life like a Jean Paul Sartre, or a Socrates, or a Thomas Aquinas? All that thinking, just a waste of time! Why think at all!!!??
Maybe they're right. Maybe even asking is a waste of time.
So true, Caitlin. No one voted for things to be shitty in the USA or in the rest of the western world. It's profitable for the ruling class, and that's why things are so shitty.
Now that Mandami has been elected as Mayor of NYC, watch for the Zionist controlled Government puppets to start the attacks in earnest. The Zionist Jewish agenda of demonizing Muslim and Arabs is going into overdrive on the web. The propaganda being spewed by these genocidal hate mongers is being displayed on the stage they've been setting for 80 years - "Muslims are evil". The paid puppets are grabbing every opportunity to regurgitate the Zionist agenda, with the addition of "Red Terror" to their immoral message. It's laughable, but unfortunately the Americans have been brainwashed to eat it up. "A Commie Muslim? How much worse can it get". He will be attacked on every level by these vile Zionists and unfortunately he'll have no control over the onslaught of subversion and dirty tactics that are coming his way. The Zionists will do everything to crucify him. Watch for it, and let this be known. The American public is too stupid to know they're being played. History tells us so.
My prediction is that Mossad, the CIA, the FBI, and associated other psychopathic national security-surveillance state entities are working on the "hit" on him before inauguration day at the behest of the Republican and Democratic National Committees and the Knesset.
They may not want to make a martyr that fast. Political discreditation, sabotage, and ultimately neutralization of any pro-active policies are another way it could happen. If historical precedent is any indicator he's in a rough time and I hope he has contingency plans for even worst-case scenarios. (And I don't even live in NYC anymore)
You could be right, but then again, the bastards could be letting Israel set the tone for this, and a Mamdani win is just unacceptable - as is the existence of Palestine - so take 'im out.
they'll probably try to make it look that he failed on his own or was corrupted, though. "see, socialism or other alternatives to the duopoly don't work."
"...The Zionists will do everything to crucify him. Watch for it, and let this be known. The American public is too stupid to know they're being played. History tells us so."
Not to worry about such conspiratorial plans. I received a memo that it won't be necessary.
CJ>>"Our rulers want us to be stupid, misinformed, distracted, sick, struggling and suffering, because if we all had enough time, information and mental acuity to form an understanding what’s going on in our world, things would get mighty guillotiney real quick. They have a vested existential interest in keeping us all in a mental fog of propaganda, diversion, ignorance, illiteracy, and psychological dysfunction."
🎯💯
To add to this, our rulers want/need a high enough level of UNemployment so that we (the people) lose bargaining/negotiating power on wages, working conditions, etc. There are many economic systems that support FULL EMPLOYMENT, but this would not benefit our rulers, hence we have systems that artificially 'manage' the level of unemployment in the system so as to maintain the status quo without causing revolts.
Also, our rulers love to USURP our human rights and then package them as privileges that need to be payed for (in one way or another). Our rulers love to STEAL public resources (and access to public resources) and privatize it (and be the gatekeepers) and sell it BACK TO US to make more profits (rentier capitalism).
It’s no longer possible for a family to live on a one person salary, have heath insurance and stay out of debt. 60% live from paycheck- to - paycheck, pay 29% interest on credit card balances and pray the car runs and no one gets sick. And this is of zero concern to our elected representatives who know this is reality for the people they expect to fund the wars, fight in the wars (join the Navy and see Venezuela) and not question why we’re even in wars.
And for many Americans (and Canadians), one job is not enough to survive (especially if you have a family). Many work multiple jobs to make ends meet, and some of those jobs have irregular scheduling that makes life even harder for families with kids.
Of course this is why workers' union had to be got rid of, how dare workers believe they have rights. For a long time unions worked with the people on hours worked, fair pay received, breaks, paid holidays, healthcare, social security, sickness benefits - I'm talking UK before the bosses brought in rogues who took instead of giving-that did not happen by accident - then governments just HAD to step in and and do a hatchet job on unions, and look where that got you? Don't start on me about how bad they were because you fell for the propaganda. How many hours are people working now, especially after hours for most jobs and tell themselves,
'That's why we get paid the bucks.' Yeah, at the expense of no social life and exhaustion - oh, and gifting extremely long lunches for the bosses?
Then came pollution so the corrupt were called in to stand for top jobs and politics, wherever they could do the most damage on stopping us from saving our planet because, well... the richest need more money than any other rich bastards - Husk being obvious, why does he need, or deserve a $trillion for spending most of 2024 and 2025 interfering in elections he could not run for? Is he going to increase tge size his current compound (harem), the one he keeps his children and their mothers in? Does he need it bigger because he wants to father more like himself- God forbid!
And Drumpf, the biggest baby ever to sit in a President's seat, who is currently running the WhiteHouse because he likes chaos and gold paint. Looking to start wars with anyone so he can make his mark. They should all, at exactly the same time, take him up on his wish, see how he enjoys them apples. The US is declining, fast. With all the incompetents around him it should speed up, so maybe someone suggested he makes it go out with a bang.
And 40 billion dollars to Argentina with no strings, no conditions. While a fabricated government 'shutdown' denies SNAP benefits to working class Americans who are at wits end. Obscene and grotesque.
Really well said as always, Ms. Johnstone. The powers that be want us to be unhappy, uneducated and ignorant, to distract us from the ways they continue to profit off the exploitative system. We need to do the opposite of what they want us to do, as you say. We need to educate ourselves, get to know and learn from our fellow people, spend more time in nature and preserve the world we have, before the oligarchs, in their greed, wipe out all the green spaces for their mansions or properties.
Once you understand that we are ruled over by high-functioning (in the sense that they can fake empathy when called upon) sociopaths, everything they do makes sense.
In fact, sociopaths come to rule over any system, because sociopaths are precisely the people who will do whatever it takes to get power.
according to what I've read there is no real difference between a sociopath and a psychopath.
In my experience, a sociopath actually does care on some level about the more macabre outcomes of his/her actions but ultimately places personal gain higher than either. A psychopath is strictly dedicated in a hard-wired way to seek personal gain (no matter the format) without even considering the greater effect(s). All of which is to say you're right. For the rest of us, it really doesn't matter whether a person or system is sociopathic or psychopathic if we're talking about holistic/systemic outcomes. The spectrum in the former blurs into the reality of the latter.
A psychopath is untethered. He/she is their own reality...it may have started politically with "W" when he said (approximately) We don't react to History, We make it.
Good post. I was trying to make the point, as you did more convincingly, that whatever they are doesn't matter. They exist and we know that. The problem is how to keep them from getting power. Probably impossible since the entire system is run by sociopaths and psychopaths. I don't know what the answer is.
The entire system is run by them, therefore we have to take down the entire system. They've been working for half a century to build walls around their power so they can't be removed--but they are also so stupid, destructive and incompetent that we are headed for imminent collapse. When the system collapses, there will be enormous harm to the current generation of humans, but it WILL be the thing that breaks their hold on power, and allows alternatives to rise afterward--most likely millions of small, local alternatives, which each of us can help guide toward better outcomes. And we can start now, because when the crisis arrives and opens up possibilities for radical change, what happens "depends on the ideas that are lying around." So the time is now to be developing those ideas, refining them in discussion with others, and strewing them around...along with preparing yourself, your household and ideally a larger community to survive the collapse.
I doubt if small, independent communities of compassion could ever survive a good carpet-bombing ordered by scum like Trump and the psychopaths on the Pentagon. Just wait and see. History reveals this truth.
Exactly! The system is so unsustainably idiotic by every metric that it is destined to collapse under the weight of its own lunacy. Your advice is sound; like John Michael Greer says, "Collapse now and avoid the rush." The sooner people start preparing for the inevitable, the less the inevitable catches them unprepared.
It won't collapse. Not if the people in charge of the collapse are doing it to usher in a worse form of tyranny, and there are more than enough signs that this is what their objective is. Neo-feudalism and all its forms of horror and unrestrained cruelty. You'll see. Have no illusions and you'll be better off
A sociopath is someone who has been socialised into abusive behaviour, a psychopath is someone born without human empathy.
Strangely, psychopaths may actually be decent people, if raised in a society/family that educates them to mimic what they do not have naturally.
And a sociopath may be decent to those they include in the 'group' (or family, etc), while being abusive to those outside of such a consideration. The guards in the extermination camps may have been good parents and husbands/wives, fx.
I don't know. What I think I know is that there is never a shortage of guards for the gulag or a shortage of order followers for the most evil actions.
Agreed. Plenty of recruits who, by payment of food and water and a roof for their families, will kill any man, woman, or child they're told to kill.
As Arendt said: "Evil is banal". Is there a shortage of guards for the US's current prison camps, with enforced labour (slavery)? Is there a shortage of ICE goons?
How do those people justify it?
Most don't see their actions as "evil". Especially when the state's propaganda is heavily laying on the justifications. "Keeping the streets safe", or "Removing the dangers from society".
We all to some extent have the element of 'Obeying a hierarchy' (Right wing consciousness), or 'Communitarianism' (Left wing consciousness), or self-interest (Liberalism), and few indeed have thought through all the moral issues to decide on concrete grounds they will live a life that will not abuse anyone.
From that perspective most people are potential sociopaths.
And needless to say perhaps, Western society (And not alone) is decidedly bent towards creating and rewarding sociopathic elements.
Like Freud said, the human animal is a savage beast. Too real for most people, especially religious drones, to face with an upright spine.
Freud was certainly an ego-driven coked-up savage beast to anyone who disagreed with him. And his nephew Bernays was quite possibly the worst human who ever lived.
So that family would know.
They say that sociopaths are born (abusive parenting, yes that happens in rich families, too) and psychopaths are born that way.
Exactly. Although I would still argue that it doesn't make sense to a remotely empathic person thinking/feeling in empathic manners. Socio/psychopaths are hard wired (or short circuited in my EE terminology) to crave, seek and do what they can to manipulate situations to gain power and prestige. Not that our current totally inorganic finance-capitalist ecosystem doesn't 100% exactly encourage or prioritize any of it, but it's true. Who cares about a million dead children whether you're "left" or "right" when both of those, but mainly the former, have been so utterly distorted from their original spirit as to render them meaningless - like human life or the ecosystem, apparently.
Surely you meant the latter? Because I don't see any vestige of original spirit in the ''right'' except the mandate to steam roll over anyone or anything getting in the way of their profit margins.
I have realized that for many years ago when those rules have very negative views about humans cuz they consider love dogs and cats would be good ppl but discriminate blacks would be ok, to think they are the best genes in this earth must do sth Artificially rearrange the world. They do not know what is truly human nature comes by nature but if anyone happens not meet the standards or imagination, they would consider is bad so they would do things make it worse but not to try to figure out by asking themselves: Why? What happens to them? How to solve problems? How to get them less hurt and less angry and less violence? What can I do for that situation with their own-experience and knowledge as well? They do not know about themselves so they do not know what is called human nature so to try to positively solve all the world problems.
Our neofeudal Lords view us with some degree of disdain. Of this I feel fairly certain in my gut. Yet they know they must keep a certain mass of us clucking along to serve their bloody monstrosity of a cancer that they have the temerity to call a system.
“Well, that's pretty much what the schools are like, I think: they reward discipline and obedience, and they punish independence of mind. If you happen to be a little innovative, or maybe you forgot to come to school one day because you were reading a book or something, that's a tragedy, that's a crime―because you're not supposed to think, you're supposed to obey, and just proceed through the material in whatever way they require. And in fact, most of the people who make it through the education system and get into the elite universities are able to do it because they've been willing to obey a lot of stupid orders for years and years―that's the way I did it, for example. Like, you're told by some stupid teacher, "Do this," which you know makes no sense whatsoever, but you do it, and if you do it you get to the next rung, and then you obey the next order, and finally you work your way through and they give you your letters: an awful lot of education is like that, from the very beginning. Some people go along with it because they figure, "Okay, I'll do any stupid thing that asshole says because I want to get ahead"; others do it because they've just internalized the values―but after a while, those two things tend to get sort of blurred. But you do it, or else you're out: you ask too many questions and you're going to get in trouble. Now, there are also people who don't go along-and they're called "behavior problems," or "unmotivated," or things like that. Well, you don't want to be too glib about it―there are children with behavior problems but a lot of them are just independent-minded, or don't like to conform, or just want to go their own way. And they get into trouble right from the very beginning, and are typically weeded out. I mean, I've taught young kids too, and the fact is there are always some who just don't take your word for it. And the very unfortunate tendency is to try to beat them down, because they're a pain in the neck. But what they ought to be is encouraged. Yeah: why take my word for it? Who the heck am I? Figure it out for yourself. That's what real education would be about, in fact.”
― Noam Chomsky
I have lived and hopefully will die, oppositional, defiant and disorderly.
"I aim to misbehave" the character Malcom Reynolds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VR3Av9qfZc&list=RD1VR3Av9qfZc&start_radio=1
Sounds like you'd be a good fit in government or Social Services! If not, responding to escalated Executive and Regulatory level written complaints. I did that for nearly a dozen years at Wells Fargo (before the Wachovia take-over) and most of those I worked under fit this profile of oppositional (to consumers), defiant and certainly disorderly which is why they had to hire anal-retentive go along to get alongs like me to research and respond to the Regulatory agency escalated and filed complaints.
Tio Mitchito
aka to the OCC: Mitch Ritter\Paradigm Sifters, Code Shifters, PsalmSong Chasers
Lay-Low Studios, Ore-Wa (Refuge of A-Tone-ment Seekers)
Media Discussion List\Looksee
Thank you Anarchist Buddhist for reminding us of the wisdom of Noam Chomsky who for over 40 years kept us away from the "straight and narrow" to uncover the truth.
Bertolt Brecht the communist intellectual, writer of prose and poetry through his marvellous plays brought us not only the hubris and uncaring ethos of the ruling class but the compassion that 'common' people are capable of. And urges them to break the chains of conformity.
Brecht's " Buddha's Parable of the Burning House" is something close to my heart!
Sorry, semi retired already. If I had to choose I would rather be an office cleaner than an office worker. Tried both and was much happier at the former than the latter, in spite of the low pay.
Things are shitty because we are ruled by shitty people. We have all been taught in school, by movies, by stories, that having money and stuff is a sign of success. Things have been kept more or less OK as long as people could afford rent, food and healthcare along with a few treats. Now the rich and powerful have become so greedy that they just keep everything for themselves. They are destroying our world: they have created a climate crisis, they make wars and more wars because those wars make them money and more money. Money is their god. They seem unable to see that the climate crisis will kill them as will the nuclear wars they are promoting. We are ruled by shitty, insane people. We can only hope that there is still time for real revolutionary change to happen. We all need to see those greedy stupid people for what they are and stop thinking that we just need to work harder to be more "deserving". We sure do need to work harder. To get rid of those lunatics.
Yes I can never figure out how they assume the climate crisis doesn't apply to them. Even if there was one billionaire island guaranteed to be safe from it forever, where would be the pleasure in that, with nobody left to rule over? It's almost as if they're resigned to it because they can't stop it, so may as well just hasten it along..
They think their money will make them safe. It won't.
How can it? Money can't buy clean air, water, liveable temperatures. And what would they do for enjoyment? No Caribbean left to holiday in, no films (everyone dead), nowhere safe to drive your fast car...
Sometimes I think they're that stupid they can't think beyond the next payout. Or election. They're doing it to their own children and grandchildren - I hope they never forgive them.
You and I understand that, but they are not well, not right in the head..... Greed and lust for power are a disease.
Yes, a brain-eating disease I think.
Maybe those that we see as "in power" are simply the useful idiots of those that control them? And the real controllers are planning to leave the planet (and the vast bulk of humanity, useful idiots included) to its demise by escaping to the type of space station world seen in the film 'Elysium', or even to Mars...? Crazy, I know...
Possible 🤔
There is no climate crisis. The idea is pushed by those at the top so people will accept (or even demand) the transfer of more of their money to big companies (via tax-funded subsidies for otherwise unviable "green" projects) in order to "save the planet".
who's pushing the idea that there is no climate crisis and why?
Anyone who travels can clearly see with their own eyes that vast swathes of the world are becoming uninhabitable.
They want us to be isolated, thinking we're the only one who thinks and feels this way, we need to find a community of like-minded people. Sure everyone agrees!
Exactly.
Yes Caitlin. And where did these 'Rulers' come from? In the U.S. we brag about what a great capitalist democracy this is, so, if we accept that, we must confess that we put these capitalists in power over us. At least half of the U.S. population is brainwashed to believe they must vote for either a Red or Blue hyena and casting a vote for anything else (even if it is allowed on the ballot) is a wasted effort and profound failure. The system is sold as a Red vs. Blue struggle of good over evil and if we just elect the right Red or Blue hyena there will be "change from within". This manufactured delusion keeps the system alive and these hyenas in power. As long as Americans keep giving their vote to them there can be no real and lasting change and we will just continue to oscillatate between bad and worse...Red and Blue.
Well said, William. You should remember this poem whenever you vote in the US: "Red or Blue--neither one gives a shit about you!"
Does Hamas have tunnels under the Aipac D and R USA Capital? Can I say that?Vote often for One State Palestine.
Yes I agree that at the moment the masses are so dumbed-down they can't see what's in front of their faces. I hope this will slowly begin to change, but decades of mental suppression and manipulation have taken away most people's reasoning powers.
Dystopic.
Trump announcing just yesterday, "No Inflation" and "Grocery Prices are Down" - as he fights tooth and nail to halt needed food for 42 million Americans (40% children) on Food Stamps - while at the same time having a Great Gatsby party of half naked 20 year old women swimming around in large cocktail props at Mar-a-Lago ..
Israelis in uproar not because their Israeli prison concentration camps rape and torture prisoners - but because the news was leaked out to the rest of the world that they are doing just that, and it's bad PR.
European leaders promising to keep fighting Russia in Ukraine (after an estimated 1,000,000 casualties so far) - while Trump orders new nuclear testing, and puts a buy order for a million more drones to be built for the US department of War.
This is what our Rulers are doing today. And it appears they're going to keep doing it. Human life has become cheap and futile for millions.
Excellent jamenta! You have put into words exactly what I was struggling to frame. The depraved stupid ruling class doesn't seem to realise that the Great Gatsby was a cautionary tale.
Marie Antoinette's "Let them eat cake" fades away in comparison to Trumpian conspicuous consumption while 42 million people are struggling to eat.
'...futile for millions...' - sure, it may seem that way, but if you believe life has a purpose, and is a trial, it begins to make sense. Hang in there, don't give in and become like the 'Traitors' who have sold their souls.
It sort of does boil down to that Paul Barbara - quite a bit for me these days. What is the point? Is there a point?
I know some will say, why the fuck should I even ask? How dare one ask when it's clearly an arbitrary question, and a waste of time (to ask). Why live your life thinking about life like a Jean Paul Sartre, or a Socrates, or a Thomas Aquinas? All that thinking, just a waste of time! Why think at all!!!??
Maybe they're right. Maybe even asking is a waste of time.
So true, Caitlin. No one voted for things to be shitty in the USA or in the rest of the western world. It's profitable for the ruling class, and that's why things are so shitty.
These Satanic Psychopaths want to re-make this planet, and everything on it, 'in their image'.
They want to turn GOD'S (The Creator) Green Earth, in to THE BOWELS OF HELL.
And I mean this, literally!
The Satanic Death Cult (aka demons)!
Now that Mandami has been elected as Mayor of NYC, watch for the Zionist controlled Government puppets to start the attacks in earnest. The Zionist Jewish agenda of demonizing Muslim and Arabs is going into overdrive on the web. The propaganda being spewed by these genocidal hate mongers is being displayed on the stage they've been setting for 80 years - "Muslims are evil". The paid puppets are grabbing every opportunity to regurgitate the Zionist agenda, with the addition of "Red Terror" to their immoral message. It's laughable, but unfortunately the Americans have been brainwashed to eat it up. "A Commie Muslim? How much worse can it get". He will be attacked on every level by these vile Zionists and unfortunately he'll have no control over the onslaught of subversion and dirty tactics that are coming his way. The Zionists will do everything to crucify him. Watch for it, and let this be known. The American public is too stupid to know they're being played. History tells us so.
This breaks my heart and enrages me.
My prediction is that Mossad, the CIA, the FBI, and associated other psychopathic national security-surveillance state entities are working on the "hit" on him before inauguration day at the behest of the Republican and Democratic National Committees and the Knesset.
Why? He's their Puppet.
He hangs with Obama and AOC. He’s a tool for political theatre.
They may not want to make a martyr that fast. Political discreditation, sabotage, and ultimately neutralization of any pro-active policies are another way it could happen. If historical precedent is any indicator he's in a rough time and I hope he has contingency plans for even worst-case scenarios. (And I don't even live in NYC anymore)
You could be right, but then again, the bastards could be letting Israel set the tone for this, and a Mamdani win is just unacceptable - as is the existence of Palestine - so take 'im out.
they'll probably try to make it look that he failed on his own or was corrupted, though. "see, socialism or other alternatives to the duopoly don't work."
"...The Zionists will do everything to crucify him. Watch for it, and let this be known. The American public is too stupid to know they're being played. History tells us so."
Not to worry about such conspiratorial plans. I received a memo that it won't be necessary.
Tio Mitchito
Loved the article, Caitlin ❤️🙏
CJ>>"Our rulers want us to be stupid, misinformed, distracted, sick, struggling and suffering, because if we all had enough time, information and mental acuity to form an understanding what’s going on in our world, things would get mighty guillotiney real quick. They have a vested existential interest in keeping us all in a mental fog of propaganda, diversion, ignorance, illiteracy, and psychological dysfunction."
🎯💯
To add to this, our rulers want/need a high enough level of UNemployment so that we (the people) lose bargaining/negotiating power on wages, working conditions, etc. There are many economic systems that support FULL EMPLOYMENT, but this would not benefit our rulers, hence we have systems that artificially 'manage' the level of unemployment in the system so as to maintain the status quo without causing revolts.
Also, our rulers love to USURP our human rights and then package them as privileges that need to be payed for (in one way or another). Our rulers love to STEAL public resources (and access to public resources) and privatize it (and be the gatekeepers) and sell it BACK TO US to make more profits (rentier capitalism).
It’s no longer possible for a family to live on a one person salary, have heath insurance and stay out of debt. 60% live from paycheck- to - paycheck, pay 29% interest on credit card balances and pray the car runs and no one gets sick. And this is of zero concern to our elected representatives who know this is reality for the people they expect to fund the wars, fight in the wars (join the Navy and see Venezuela) and not question why we’re even in wars.
And for many Americans (and Canadians), one job is not enough to survive (especially if you have a family). Many work multiple jobs to make ends meet, and some of those jobs have irregular scheduling that makes life even harder for families with kids.
Of course this is why workers' union had to be got rid of, how dare workers believe they have rights. For a long time unions worked with the people on hours worked, fair pay received, breaks, paid holidays, healthcare, social security, sickness benefits - I'm talking UK before the bosses brought in rogues who took instead of giving-that did not happen by accident - then governments just HAD to step in and and do a hatchet job on unions, and look where that got you? Don't start on me about how bad they were because you fell for the propaganda. How many hours are people working now, especially after hours for most jobs and tell themselves,
'That's why we get paid the bucks.' Yeah, at the expense of no social life and exhaustion - oh, and gifting extremely long lunches for the bosses?
Then came pollution so the corrupt were called in to stand for top jobs and politics, wherever they could do the most damage on stopping us from saving our planet because, well... the richest need more money than any other rich bastards - Husk being obvious, why does he need, or deserve a $trillion for spending most of 2024 and 2025 interfering in elections he could not run for? Is he going to increase tge size his current compound (harem), the one he keeps his children and their mothers in? Does he need it bigger because he wants to father more like himself- God forbid!
And Drumpf, the biggest baby ever to sit in a President's seat, who is currently running the WhiteHouse because he likes chaos and gold paint. Looking to start wars with anyone so he can make his mark. They should all, at exactly the same time, take him up on his wish, see how he enjoys them apples. The US is declining, fast. With all the incompetents around him it should speed up, so maybe someone suggested he makes it go out with a bang.
And 40 billion dollars to Argentina with no strings, no conditions. While a fabricated government 'shutdown' denies SNAP benefits to working class Americans who are at wits end. Obscene and grotesque.
Where did all the money go after Musk's boys got into every government office and cut off everyone's money except Drumpfs?
Into Musk's pockets, of course.
You've been paying for healthcare for Israelis for years - even as Americans have to buy insurance.
Shitty cause, shitty effect ... it's law
People? That’s awfully generous.
Really well said as always, Ms. Johnstone. The powers that be want us to be unhappy, uneducated and ignorant, to distract us from the ways they continue to profit off the exploitative system. We need to do the opposite of what they want us to do, as you say. We need to educate ourselves, get to know and learn from our fellow people, spend more time in nature and preserve the world we have, before the oligarchs, in their greed, wipe out all the green spaces for their mansions or properties.
The thing is Caitlin, it doesn’t even matter if they want it or not. It is the inevitable result of unchecked capitalism. It can work no other way.