Sunday, August 30, 2009
Real Government
The assumptions Sara Robinson makes about the status quo of wealth distribution as a "working system" that was "moving forward" belies her point of view that the Obama regime is our best chance at "real government". Rather, it is the democratization of capital that undergirds democracy, and that requires the redistribution of wealth from private equity to the public sector, not the other way around. Obama's commitment to the Reagan model of privatizing public wealth has already betrayed progressivism as she defines it. Hope has been vanished in large part by the Democratic Party she so strongly supports.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Unfounded Faith
The assumption that the evolution of consciousness is linear ignores the dimensional aspects of learning. Recognizing patterns of evolution through the process of scientific observation — as practiced by our autochthonous ancestors — revealed a universal order of natural laws symbolized by the spiral and concentric circles. While recurring cycles of human conduct (and misconduct) undermine wishful thinking, the lethal concept of progress — based on the unfounded faith in the advancement of knowledge — perpetuates the destructive arrogance of mastering destiny, manifest and otherwise.
As a disease of the human psyche, progress — like apocalypticism — is only contained by a restoration of awe at the mysteries of the universe and the limitations of humankind. Treating this disease as a public health problem recognizes no bad ideas ever go away; they just go dormant, only to reappear in more virulent forms.
The arrogance of progressivism is, unfortunately, founded on ignorance of the above.
As a disease of the human psyche, progress — like apocalypticism — is only contained by a restoration of awe at the mysteries of the universe and the limitations of humankind. Treating this disease as a public health problem recognizes no bad ideas ever go away; they just go dormant, only to reappear in more virulent forms.
The arrogance of progressivism is, unfortunately, founded on ignorance of the above.
Into the Future
In The Global Illicit Economy, Nils Gilman discusses free trade’s role in the disaggregation of sovereignty powers of the state.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Fed Up
The Cree attack on the UK government and British oil corporations follows on the heels of natural gas pipeline explosions in the aboriginal territory of northern British Columbia. While aboriginals are more accustomed to engaging in netwar than civil war north of the Mexican border, the First Nations of Canada are getting fed up with the escalating assault on their lives and way of life by energy and mining interests. If South American indigenous peoples' resistance in the Andes and Amazon is a hint of things to come in North America, then the fossil fuel way of life may come to a close sooner than we think.
Inka Road
Remnants of an indigenous empire.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Impediment of Conformity
As Dan Junas once said, "It's always worse than you think, and you never know until you look." But first you have to be able to imagine the world might not be what it seems. Given the preconditioning of public perceptions, imagination itself is largely impeded.
I'm referring to the impediment in otherwise conscientious people whose eyes are first opened by perspectives they haven't previously encountered. As an illustration, this memoir I published online managed to persuade a chance reader to reorient herself toward more effective political engagement. Others once did the same for me.
Our colleague Alan Smithee recently posted the White Rose story about perverted personal ambition and political conformity in Nazi Germany. Perverted personal ambition and political conformity is something members of the Democratic Party are soon going to face as the Obama cult falls apart. Perhaps it will be a teachable moment.
I'm referring to the impediment in otherwise conscientious people whose eyes are first opened by perspectives they haven't previously encountered. As an illustration, this memoir I published online managed to persuade a chance reader to reorient herself toward more effective political engagement. Others once did the same for me.
Our colleague Alan Smithee recently posted the White Rose story about perverted personal ambition and political conformity in Nazi Germany. Perverted personal ambition and political conformity is something members of the Democratic Party are soon going to face as the Obama cult falls apart. Perhaps it will be a teachable moment.
Honoring Milk
Stuart Milk talks about his uncle Harvey. If you haven't seen the movie, it's time you did.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Avoiding Overkill
When you exclude the rabid right LaRouchians and religious right Palinites, what’s left is mobilized resentment. And there’s plenty reason to be resentful of both major political parties, even though the GOP clearly has the edge in recruiting fanatics. But long before hypermedia started promoting political hysteria, there were social entrepreneurs like Merchant of Fear Alan Gottlieb, who got his start in direct-mail fear-mongering as a member of Young Americans for Freedom forty years ago. Now days, hyperbole is the name of the game, and although there are some dangerous actors who need reining in by police, the vast majority of delinquent behavior can and should be constrained by community action. When that action is based on research and education, rather than on inflated government, media, or party propaganda, community safeguards can be maintained without resorting to overkill.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Russia Inc
In Russia Inc, John Robb discusses the violence of capitalism under the Russian model, and raises the increasing likelihood of cyberwar and industrial sabotage as reprisal for corporate state terrorism.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Ethics of Eviction
Ethnic cleansing of indigenous peoples takes several forms throughout the world. Many removals of these inherent tenants are conducted under the cover of law, through leases and sales that ignore or misrepresent aboriginal title in favor of state dominion; most use police powers of the state to accomplish the evictions, although military violence and outsourced vigilantism is often used as well.
The recent removal of Maasai by Tanzanian forces, to create a game-hunting reserve for the royal families of the United Arab Emirates, appears to fit somewhere in the middle of ethnic cleansing violence, with Bosnia on the high end and British Columbia on the low end of the spectrum.
As atrocities mount in the coming decades in pursuit of pleasure and privilege for the developed world, and we rightly concern ourselves with both the process and violence of removal, we might also concern ourselves with presenting the patterns of legal instruments used to justify ethnic cleansing as a legacy of colonialism. In that way, the ethics of eviction are less apt to be obscured by state propaganda.
The recent removal of Maasai by Tanzanian forces, to create a game-hunting reserve for the royal families of the United Arab Emirates, appears to fit somewhere in the middle of ethnic cleansing violence, with Bosnia on the high end and British Columbia on the low end of the spectrum.
As atrocities mount in the coming decades in pursuit of pleasure and privilege for the developed world, and we rightly concern ourselves with both the process and violence of removal, we might also concern ourselves with presenting the patterns of legal instruments used to justify ethnic cleansing as a legacy of colonialism. In that way, the ethics of eviction are less apt to be obscured by state propaganda.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Education in America
The American Council on Education reports that only 0.7 percent of American Indians attained a bachelor’s degree in 2005, compared to 6.4 percent of Asian Americans, 6.6 percent of Hispanics, 8.7 percent of African Americans and 68.8 percent of whites.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Omni Extares
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Vanishing Hope
As all hope for change under Obama vanishes, this Vanity Fair interview with Nader's running mate Matt Gonzalez is worth rereading.
Searching the Fog
One of my favorite lines in the movie Master and Commander was when the British naval captain played by Russell Crowe was searching the fog with his spyglass after nearly being sunk by a French warship. Commander Aubrey remarked, “It’s like trying to find an honest man in Parliament.”
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Plan Colombia
I've posted so many times on Plan Colombia (the imperial model Obama supports in Colombia and plans to implement in Afghanistan as well), that saying anything more is probably redundant. Except for the fact that it is neoliberalism on steroids, meaning that indigenous peoples everywhere should be on guard against pro-corporate death squads armed by the US.
Rock Paper Scissors
GOP-sponsored vigilantism has happened before. It is an integral part of domestic terrorism aimed at ethnic minorities and other sub-populations targeted by White Nationalism and Christian Fundamentalism. Catholics, Jews, Blacks, and Native Americans have all been targets of vigilante violence. So have immigrants, feminists, and environmentalists.
Inciting mob behavior to threaten its political opponents has repeatedly been used by the GOP to prevent discussion on issues of social importance. War, abortion, guns, Gay rights, elections, even health care are topics for which vigilantes can be recruited.
Vigilantism, however, is not synonymous with protest, demonstration, or dissent. It is not a legitimate expression of grievances; rather it is an expression of hostility toward the perceived loss of power or privileges. The threshold level is to intimidate opponents through implied threats, followed by vigilante violence, succeeded by paramilitary operations.
On occasion, right-wing terrorism in the US has resorted to using weapons of mass destruction. Their networks and movements have even been profiled.
None of this is new.
Inciting mob behavior to threaten its political opponents has repeatedly been used by the GOP to prevent discussion on issues of social importance. War, abortion, guns, Gay rights, elections, even health care are topics for which vigilantes can be recruited.
Vigilantism, however, is not synonymous with protest, demonstration, or dissent. It is not a legitimate expression of grievances; rather it is an expression of hostility toward the perceived loss of power or privileges. The threshold level is to intimidate opponents through implied threats, followed by vigilante violence, succeeded by paramilitary operations.
On occasion, right-wing terrorism in the US has resorted to using weapons of mass destruction. Their networks and movements have even been profiled.
None of this is new.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Mission Accomplished
Three summers ago, when Obama and Murtha were busy selling out the anti-war movement, we had a discussion on Liberalism with some friends. Now, as the progressive sideshow winds down on the domestic front, the Obama regime can concentrate on revitalizing American empire. Recovering lost imperial glory — tarnished by the crudeness of the Cheney/Bush years — won’t be easy, but with “Netroots Nation” behind them, Barack and Hillary should be able to at least rebrand the US image in the minds of politically illiterate Americans. And while that may not seem like much, it’s probably enough to kill off any talk of reducing the behemoth Department of Defense budget in order to cover our rapidly dwindling health and education infrastructure.
As W once said, “Mission Accomplished”.
As W once said, “Mission Accomplished”.
Netroots Duplicity
Freelance journalist Charlie Davis examines the shallowness of "Netroots Nation" values, and what their duplicity holds in store.
Monday, August 17, 2009
The Family Agenda
In Christ Uber Alles, Guernica magazine interviews Jeff Sharlet about the Family, the secretive Washington powerbroker that combines authoritarian mysticism and free market fundamentalism. Celebrating seventy years of subverting democracy around the world, the Family's articles of faith include "breaking the spine of organized labor". As a proxy for American power, the Family agenda of Biblical capitalism has attracted cooperation from many US Presidents, Senators and cabinet members like Hillary Clinton; respect for their ideology keeps America's war machine moving.
Murder in Chile
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Nader Nails Obama
The main man speaks about corporate corruption and the lives they take.
Engineering a Narco State
John Robb writes about the consequences of forcing the Mexican narco model on the Taliban.
Deeds of Dominion
Ever wondered where all the capital looted from the world (and US) economy by hedge funds and private equities went? For those curious about the latest deeds of dominion, Spiegel Online examines the business of hunger and the final frontier in Central Africa. A frontier guaranteed to provide jobs for warlords, as the millions of small farmers are run off the land.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Yuppie Democrats
Sara Robinson, like other yuppie Democrats who gain a platform by wrapping themselves in human rights garb, is a menace, not because she is credible, but because with a national media megaphone she perpetuates misperceptions and contributes to the noise, when what is needed is thoughtful, honest discussion.
There aren't many places where that takes place, but slowly, partly due to stalwart blogs like this one, new recruits and old hands have a venue for education, mentoring, and offering a considered perspective to alternative media.
If the human rights industry in the US wants to maintain any credibility, they are soon going to have to confront the reality of the Obama betrayal. Pro-democracy, by definition, is anti-fraud; covering for the colossal frauds of Obama and the Democratic Party, by ommitting the subject from discussion on their websites or by censoring comments critical of Obama, won't get them off the hook. Obama's health care, warfare, and bank bailouts are crimes against humanity; pretending otherwise is unconscionable.
There aren't many places where that takes place, but slowly, partly due to stalwart blogs like this one, new recruits and old hands have a venue for education, mentoring, and offering a considered perspective to alternative media.
If the human rights industry in the US wants to maintain any credibility, they are soon going to have to confront the reality of the Obama betrayal. Pro-democracy, by definition, is anti-fraud; covering for the colossal frauds of Obama and the Democratic Party, by ommitting the subject from discussion on their websites or by censoring comments critical of Obama, won't get them off the hook. Obama's health care, warfare, and bank bailouts are crimes against humanity; pretending otherwise is unconscionable.
Broken Promises
Prerna Lal writes about the string of broken promises to immigrant workers from Bill Clinton to Barack Obama.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Free Trade or Free People
People and Power reports on the conflict between Peruvian President Garcia and the indigenous people of the Amazon. Succumbing to pressure from the US Congress, Garcia has launched attacks against indigenous peoples on behalf of foreign oil and gas companies. As made clear in the newscast, the question for Peru (and the world) is whether to have free trade or free people.
Banning Berber
IPS News observes the cultural decline of indigenous Berbers in Morocco due to fundamentalist Islamic TV.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Town Hall Sham
Black Agenda Report currently has a number of articles about the Town Hall Sham and other aspects of betrayal on health care by Obama, Congress, and the Democratic Party.
All Lies All the Time
President Obama sends Hillary to beat the drum of war in Somalia. Reminiscent of the Bush fiasco there, it looks like all lies all the time is still the State Department's motto.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Globetrotting Grifters
As an example of applied research in action, we showcase Bruce Wilson's piece on Congressional Christian junkets.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Indispensable Enemies
The one book to read on the American political system.
--Sanders Research Associates
Saturday, August 08, 2009
Town Hall Uproar
With all the hyperbole in play, it was nice Al Schumann injected some sense into the differing realities at work in the town hall uproar.
Friday, August 07, 2009
Accountability
You can help restore the rule of law. Join Oliver Stone and Rosie Perez in reminding Eric Holder what that means.
Angels from Montgomery
Israeli commandoes raiding homes of West Bank leaders of non-violent resistance to Apartheid.
Thursday, August 06, 2009
Adalah
Adalah Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel has published a new interactive map and database on the history of the state of Israel's expropriation of land from the Palestinian people.
Benefit for Ethnic Cleansing
Should supporting crimes against humanity be a legitimate purpose of tax-exempt US charities?
Gush Shalom doesn’t think so.
Gush Shalom doesn’t think so.
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Colin of Guernica
In Powell v Picasso, Mark Lattimer discusses the art of war and the war of art. At an installation in London, Colin Powell emerges from the rubble he helped create. As an object of art, he now becomes Colin of Guernica.
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Edge of the Wedge
President Obama’s decision to move US troops into Colombia, while distasteful to Latin America’s new democracies, is perhaps the edge of the wedge to be used in forcefully dividing neoliberal states from their indigenous nations. Leaders like Chile's President Bachelet may have stood behind Bolivian President Morales when it came to US-sponsored assassination attempts, but they are not likely to oppose North American corporations assisting them in plundering tribal peoples. As Obama himself has demonstrated, to be pro-corporate is, by definition, to be anti-indigenous.
Monday, August 03, 2009
Time to Settle
There are many ways President Obama can express token appreciation of Native Americans, and indeed he has availed himself of some of these. But if Obama wants to do something substantive as an act of genuine reconciliation, then there are but a handful of things he must do. One of those is settling Cobell. No one is asking for the long list of embezzlers (that rotated from the energy industry over a century and a half through the Department of Interior mineral management service) to be indicted for fraud, but the stolen funds must be restored. And the first step for Obama is to stop fighting Cobell; the government is guilty, it's been proven guilty, everyone acknowledges that.
Sunday, August 02, 2009
Desperate Damage Control
As Mondoweiss reports, the US Zionist lobby may be headquartered in DC, but its reach extends nationwide. In this article about the Corrie story, the parents of Rachel discovered that the National Association of Attorneys General -- in collusion with the Israeli Consul General -- orchestrated a fifty-state campaign to recruit state attorneys general to pressure US Secretary of State Clinton to support Israeli attacks on Gaza. Part of that campaign included mobilizing Jewish Federation members to phone in to talk shows wherever participating state AGs might appear.
Saturday, August 01, 2009
Mapuche v Chile
Mapuche conflict with government of Chile escalates. Aboriginal territorial violations continue under neoliberal administration. Right-wing paramilitaries organizing racist response.
