16 May 2013
Power Asses
I can't travel freely, I cannot live where I choose, I have to get a job where there are jobs and pay rent where there are jobs. I can't grow my own food because I don't own property. I don't "own" property because I don't have enough money and it takes quite a lot to own. If you do own property, regardless of how you came to own it, even if you were born into it, you can make money purely from that ownership. I will never have that much money because I'm not at the top of society. Rents and property 'values' increase but wages do not. And most Americans live within some form of serfdom.
Historically, there's almost always been a group of folks circulating within the same power pool. "Power" is power over other people. But how do these Power Asses keep their thrones?
1. Make people think they're just like you.
Because the "terms" have changed over time and "anyone" can be king. No longer are there serfs, required to work the lord's land, mines and roads in return for protection and the ability to grow food, there are free workers, able to move between jobs and climb metaphorical ladders!
There's a huge difference between modern workers and serfs. Having a job is no longer required - modern workers should be grateful to have jobs - thank you so much for giving me a job in your factory/business/house/restaurant/field! And no longer is there a "lord of the manor", there are several to choose from! And because those lords made decisions to cheat, swindle and steal from the public, there are now fewer jobs then there are people that 'need' them.
Workers do not have job choices, but they don't fully realize that. If they don't get a job, if they don't pay to rent property, they will be sent to jail (for 'tax evasion' at the very least) and have their natural rights taken from them, just for choosing to not be a part of the system. So, again, especially with the top-earner-induced recession (it wasn't the fault of the poor), the workers will be grateful to have whatever shit job is thrown at them.
The American Dream is still alive in the hearts of the masses and therefore people don't admit they've been swindled. Oh yes, The American Dream! People still believe that they no longer have to officially be "born" into a class to be in that class and that it's still technically possible to move between classes! In practice, however, class immobility is the norm, especially if you are born into a poor family.
And education, as a method to improve social status, is becoming more and more prohibitive. Costs of education are increasing drastically, in private and public institutions. Student loan debt, which has topped a trillion dollars and cannot be discharged in bankruptcy, has become a shiny new form of indentured servitude.
2. Make people too broke to care.
If wages are kept low, many people have to take extra jobs or work longer hours to keep up with increases in rent and goods. Productivity has been increasing steadily in recent decades which means that more money is being made with the same amount of labor and virtually lower wages. But if people are scared into believing that there will be fewer jobs if wages are increased by those who 'create' jobs, more and more workers will be forced to take on more jobs while more and more money goes to 'them'.
In addition, people are forced to incur debt for necessary things like medical bills. America is the only industrialized, wealthy country with no national health care. And over half of all bankruptcies in America are due to medial bills or illness. So, if you're poor, you can't afford health care and you're therefore more likely to have outrageous debt if something does go wrong. And that debt will be made more outrageous by the fact that insurance companies can negotiate for substantially lower costs on medical bills than an individual can. So you uninsured poor person are likely picking up whatever slack the insurance companies are negotiating - additionally, non-profit hospitals aren't in your area, sorry.
3. Distract people with shiny things.
Scandals! Sports! Reality TV! Encourage "voting" along lines of religion or social issues that have nothing to do with what politicians actually do once they're in power!
4. Make people scared for their lives.
Jail is little more than a holding tank for government threats. If not, why are there so many drug possessors and angry, disenfranchised young men in jail and very, very few bankers? Why else would America, with 5% of the worlds population, incarcerates 25% of the world's prisoners? Why else would squatters, who are otherwise homeless, be sent to jail?
As a very literal holding tank for angry young men, Gitmo holds prisoners that aren't charged or confessed to charges under torture. But these people cannot be released because of the security threat they pose, among other freedom-loving reasons. Anyone perceived as anti-American can be classified as a security threat.
When I was growing up, I naively believed that people were born with certain rights, inalienable rights even. These included the right to not be shot in the back by an unmanned aerial vehicle because the vehicle operator's government secretly determined that a person is a threat to them. But if enough people are killed, including American citizens who are expressly protected from such extrajudicial killings by one of the few explicit social agreements in American society, the population will be too scared to rebel.
And so the world turns around the Asses of Power.
27 March 2013
New Life, New Adventures, New York
I don't write enough on the inter-blogs. I see that it's almost been a year since I wrote my last post and, privacy be damned, the government information-collecting servers needs to know how I'm feeling about my life!! And under CISPA, the Office of the Second Children could see my data! MY data! How flattering is that?!
This article, posted today, Why I’m Attending the Dedication of the Bush Lie Bury, coincides with the recently-passed 10-year anniversary of the Iraq War.
Not only have we learned that Powell, Cheney and Bush all lied to us about WMDs and many in the country (maybe most) believed, through press briefs and official statements, that Saddam was directly linked to the 9/11 attacks, but we've recently be inundated with news of Nixon's "treason" with disruption of the Vietnam / Paris peace talks. History is repeating itself, it seems, but there is a lot the country seemed to have learned from the Vietnam War, especially when it comes to trusting the United States government.
When did the government earn the 'should never be questioned' status that it enjoyed in this War, especially in the beginning? Grag Mitchell, in So Wrong for So Long, which I'm currently ingesting, the author rehashes articles written for Editor & Publisher (a media trade publication) before and during the war that constantly question the media's role in promoting the government War Agenda without (substantial enough) question. He does allude to 9/11 being a huge factor in silencing dissenters, as many people were angry and wanted to lash out at someone. An interviewee on the movie Why We Fight, whose son was killed in the towers, is an amazing example of this reaction. He's also a major example of the WTF reaction to the later-emerging facts that do not link the terrorists with Iraq at all (they were mostly from Saudi Arabia?).
Ultimately, our media and government have failed us. The lies and ensuing manipulation to support those lies are abhorrent, at the very least. The 'embedded' journalist scam, the prevention by the military/government to publish images of the dead (let's not have another Vietnam, or anti-Vietnam on our hands!), the cowardice of journalists to stand up to bullshit press conferences and to jeopardize their careers...sick fucking shit. How many people died? How many people's lives were ruined? And, for what? Lining of pockets? A vendetta? Sick. Fucking. Shit.
These people are psychopaths and they have to be stopped (you read that correctly, CIA, I'm advocating for an overthrow of the government because it has become tyrannical - suck it).
On that note, moving from the DC Liar's Den to the LA Entertainer's Den to the NYC Rich Funding the Liar's Den (whatever...)... it's going to be a fun year.
Rise Up, Rebel, Revolt.
This article, posted today, Why I’m Attending the Dedication of the Bush Lie Bury, coincides with the recently-passed 10-year anniversary of the Iraq War.
Not only have we learned that Powell, Cheney and Bush all lied to us about WMDs and many in the country (maybe most) believed, through press briefs and official statements, that Saddam was directly linked to the 9/11 attacks, but we've recently be inundated with news of Nixon's "treason" with disruption of the Vietnam / Paris peace talks. History is repeating itself, it seems, but there is a lot the country seemed to have learned from the Vietnam War, especially when it comes to trusting the United States government.
When did the government earn the 'should never be questioned' status that it enjoyed in this War, especially in the beginning? Grag Mitchell, in So Wrong for So Long, which I'm currently ingesting, the author rehashes articles written for Editor & Publisher (a media trade publication) before and during the war that constantly question the media's role in promoting the government War Agenda without (substantial enough) question. He does allude to 9/11 being a huge factor in silencing dissenters, as many people were angry and wanted to lash out at someone. An interviewee on the movie Why We Fight, whose son was killed in the towers, is an amazing example of this reaction. He's also a major example of the WTF reaction to the later-emerging facts that do not link the terrorists with Iraq at all (they were mostly from Saudi Arabia?).
Ultimately, our media and government have failed us. The lies and ensuing manipulation to support those lies are abhorrent, at the very least. The 'embedded' journalist scam, the prevention by the military/government to publish images of the dead (let's not have another Vietnam, or anti-Vietnam on our hands!), the cowardice of journalists to stand up to bullshit press conferences and to jeopardize their careers...sick fucking shit. How many people died? How many people's lives were ruined? And, for what? Lining of pockets? A vendetta? Sick. Fucking. Shit.
These people are psychopaths and they have to be stopped (you read that correctly, CIA, I'm advocating for an overthrow of the government because it has become tyrannical - suck it).
On that note, moving from the DC Liar's Den to the LA Entertainer's Den to the NYC Rich Funding the Liar's Den (whatever...)... it's going to be a fun year.
Rise Up, Rebel, Revolt.
31 July 2012
Day #38
I just had a weird the-future-is-now moment. While waiting for the internet to load, specifically my blog editor, just now, I was worried that the words in my head would be forgotten because dear GOD, how can one type or otherwise exhibit their thoughts without the INTERNET-WEBS,
So, I will use that as an excuse to pop the cork on another bottle of wine. Why not.
Day #38 in paradise.
We moved here 38 days ago. We found a pretty cool apartment, with nice neighbors and an avocado tree or two. Thinking is hard when the neighbors play loud music. All day.
Alrighty / therefore / so, here we go, this is my community service: I will translate law so that everyone can understand not only the letter of it, but the spirit as well.
Today's translation is inspired by the rapscalions next door:
...
B. It is determined that certain noise levels and vibration are detrimental ("Clubby siren and bass music sucks and, if too loud, also effects") to the public health ("the way people feel physically."), welfare ("You are violating their space by making loud noises in it and that is aggressive") and safety ("and how much of that wouldn't piss someone off.") and contrary to public interest, and therefore the board of supervisors of the county does ordain and declare that creating, maintaining, causing or allowing to be created, caused or maintained any noise or vibration in a manner ("So, be warned: if you make loud, stupid noise") prohibited by or not in conformity with the provisions of this chapter is a public nuisance("you are pissing a lot of people off") and shall be punishable as such ("and the state will make you pay money for being a dick."). (Ord. 11778 § 2 (Art. 2 § 201), 1978: Ord. 11773 § 2 (Art. 2 § 201), 1978.)
...
So, I will use that as an excuse to pop the cork on another bottle of wine. Why not.
Day #38 in paradise.
We moved here 38 days ago. We found a pretty cool apartment, with nice neighbors and an avocado tree or two. Thinking is hard when the neighbors play loud music. All day.
Alrighty / therefore / so, here we go, this is my community service: I will translate law so that everyone can understand not only the letter of it, but the spirit as well.
Today's translation is inspired by the rapscalions next door:
...
B. It is determined that certain noise levels and vibration are detrimental ("Clubby siren and bass music sucks and, if too loud, also effects") to the public health ("the way people feel physically."), welfare ("You are violating their space by making loud noises in it and that is aggressive") and safety ("and how much of that wouldn't piss someone off.") and contrary to public interest, and therefore the board of supervisors of the county does ordain and declare that creating, maintaining, causing or allowing to be created, caused or maintained any noise or vibration in a manner ("So, be warned: if you make loud, stupid noise") prohibited by or not in conformity with the provisions of this chapter is a public nuisance("you are pissing a lot of people off") and shall be punishable as such ("and the state will make you pay money for being a dick."). (Ord. 11778 § 2 (Art. 2 § 201), 1978: Ord. 11773 § 2 (Art. 2 § 201), 1978.)
...
20 July 2012
Political agreements
We aren’t being truthful with ourselves. We’re blaming our government for the problems we perceive in the world – the wars, the warming, the lack of resources, the tension and hate – like Frankenstein blaming his monster for the destruction he caused.
A government is an agreement. Idealistically, we are in an agreement with ‘officials’ or ‘politicians’ to run the show for us. Please, we say, make decisions in the best interests of mankind and of Americans. We will pay you to be experts – tax us, take our money and place it where it is needed most. Help make policies to keep us healthy and safe. And comfortable.
And we all know how that goes. Power corrupts and those put in charge don’t act in the best interests of mankind. Or so we think.
Actually, these politicians are doing exactly what we want them to do. As evidenced by our massive, massive consumption and greed, we are not willing to change our lifestyles and change what we need. We are not willing to live without electricity or easy food. We are not willing to give up extensive travel, air conditioning, cars, cheap products – this is our heritage, is it not? We are the Gods of the Earth and we cannot be contained! Our lust cannot be contained! We should not be contained as it is our right to travel freely, eat what we want and do what we please. Just make sure I am comfortable – anything less is uncivilized!
So, why should we expect our politicians to be our moral compasses? If we demand a lifestyle that, at the very least, requires so damn much of the Earth’s resources, why shouldn’t we go to war for that demand? Why shouldn’t we have 1000+ military bases all over the world to ensure our domination? Why shouldn’t we turn a blind eye to labour practices that ensure cheap consumer goods? Why should we wait until we can create safe, non-destructive energy to have luxury? Why should we wait to take our places as Earth-kings? Why shouldn’t we demand that all resources (shale oil, arctic oil, water) be made available to satiate our immediate lust, to the point of our own destruction?
We don’t really care about the future or other people or the fact that we’re all dying and taking the world with us. If we did care our actions would reflect it. If we estimate the reasonable, tangible consequences of our individual actions, multiply that by 7 billion and the resulting figure still kills the world - why do we act so? Because someone else in the schoolyard is doing it? Has a bigger toy? Makes us feel unimportant?
We don’t really care. If we did, we’d spend some time considering real change, beyond (or in spite of) politicians and policies. The world is dying and it’s our fault.
11 May 2012
Desk Jockey Shit Hole
So, here's my 300-word essay on the desk jockey shit hole.
What's less human than the hell of an air-conditioned, sanitized room where you're paid to sit still and move and talk and feel minimally while bright information is forced in your face in the most efficient (read: least fun) way possible? In fact, the more boring it seems, the better!
Not much is less human. Not much feels less human.
Why is it considered wrong to want to satisfy your body and mind in the course of daily living? Culture tells me that, unless I sit behind the same desk at the same fucking time every fucking day, doing something that bored the shit out of me while watching the sun course through the sky in a filter of UV-deflective glass, I will not be able to live a decent life. I will not be able to afford health insurance, dental work, decent food or a good place to live. Why not?
How would I like to live, then? At the rate I'm "figuring it out", I may never know know, but I do know that there are certain ways that I don't want to live. I don't want to sit on my ass all day - it doesn't feel good and it's so fucking boring. I mean, what's the point of it? You sit, you can't even think meaningful or interesting thoughts, you sit upright in the same place for 8 hours each day, move your fingertips and virtually move things around but what are you doing? You're literally a cog in a very unforgiving machine. Your body and your mind rot so that someone else can sit around and think? Is that true? Does it matter? Does it matter why you're rotting? - whether there's a cultural excuse for the loss of your freedom? What did you do? What did I do?
Don't be in a desk jockey shit hole. It will kill you while you breathe - and dying is no way to live.
What's less human than the hell of an air-conditioned, sanitized room where you're paid to sit still and move and talk and feel minimally while bright information is forced in your face in the most efficient (read: least fun) way possible? In fact, the more boring it seems, the better!
Not much is less human. Not much feels less human.
Why is it considered wrong to want to satisfy your body and mind in the course of daily living? Culture tells me that, unless I sit behind the same desk at the same fucking time every fucking day, doing something that bored the shit out of me while watching the sun course through the sky in a filter of UV-deflective glass, I will not be able to live a decent life. I will not be able to afford health insurance, dental work, decent food or a good place to live. Why not?
How would I like to live, then? At the rate I'm "figuring it out", I may never know know, but I do know that there are certain ways that I don't want to live. I don't want to sit on my ass all day - it doesn't feel good and it's so fucking boring. I mean, what's the point of it? You sit, you can't even think meaningful or interesting thoughts, you sit upright in the same place for 8 hours each day, move your fingertips and virtually move things around but what are you doing? You're literally a cog in a very unforgiving machine. Your body and your mind rot so that someone else can sit around and think? Is that true? Does it matter? Does it matter why you're rotting? - whether there's a cultural excuse for the loss of your freedom? What did you do? What did I do?
Don't be in a desk jockey shit hole. It will kill you while you breathe - and dying is no way to live.
26 April 2012
Narrative #34, This One's For You, Jess.
Feelings feelings, feelings.
What is life? Feeling the importance of every moment? Realizing the most fun thing you could possibly do and then do that a lot? Depriving yourself of the fun things? What is the meaning of it - is it fun to think about?
Why do I love doing this stuff so much? Love like I love music and all things that are awesome. I don't know that I want to entertain people, it's more like I want people to adore me. Damn, that felt good to get out there.
That's it. That's everything. I want everyone, everywhere to affirm my existence. That's depraved. It's like I'm everyone's bitch! How did that happen? How did this happen?
Well, what then is me to admire? What am I? And who? Am I the way I look? Am I what I say, and to whom? Maybe a set of lenses, or TVs, looking around? Some sort of robot, taking notes and keeping logs? Scary.
What about thinking, then? What the shit does that mean? How do you think? What is thinking - is it the voice-over narrative of everything? Is it more, that's unexplained in words? And when I'm sitting here, "thinking", I mostly feel insane because I can't concentrate on anything and then at some point I find that I'm thinking about sex and I feel a little guilty because I was trying to think of something serious.
The shower is a great place to think, by the way. And a great place to have sex. Which makes it an even better place to think. Win-fucking-win. Have sex in the shower, ladies and gentlemen - GOOD NIGHT!
Why do I love doing this stuff so much? Love like I love music and all things that are awesome. I don't know that I want to entertain people, it's more like I want people to adore me. Damn, that felt good to get out there.
That's it. That's everything. I want everyone, everywhere to affirm my existence. That's depraved. It's like I'm everyone's bitch! How did that happen? How did this happen?
Well, what then is me to admire? What am I? And who? Am I the way I look? Am I what I say, and to whom? Maybe a set of lenses, or TVs, looking around? Some sort of robot, taking notes and keeping logs? Scary.
What about thinking, then? What the shit does that mean? How do you think? What is thinking - is it the voice-over narrative of everything? Is it more, that's unexplained in words? And when I'm sitting here, "thinking", I mostly feel insane because I can't concentrate on anything and then at some point I find that I'm thinking about sex and I feel a little guilty because I was trying to think of something serious.
The shower is a great place to think, by the way. And a great place to have sex. Which makes it an even better place to think. Win-fucking-win. Have sex in the shower, ladies and gentlemen - GOOD NIGHT!
18 April 2012
Global Embracement, Age of Empires style
We know this is false, we've seen it before.
We're not in other countries to promote 'democracy' the ideal, we're there fighting to sustain 'democracy' the way of life for some.
And that means America is King. It's true, it's disgusting. Since WWII and the fear of another Depression, we've "embraced" a global economy.
Let's explain it in terms of a successful Age of Empires campaign. If you haven't played this game before, it's pretty much played like you'd think from the title. You build up an empire as a certain race of people and then either fight people to total annihilation or create treaties with them. One way to guarantee your future empire-awesomeness is to spread out on the limited map early. Get miners to mineral sites, loggers to forests and barracks anywhere you can. This way, you ensure that you have the most wealth and therefore strength, even when it means encroaching on some other race's natural resources. That is how you win quickly.
This is how America works. Want to interfere in Latin American markets without being afraid of native populations revolting against American corporations stealing their shit? NAFTA. Want to start a war over oil in a country struggling to combat its own internal conflicts? Weapons of mass destruction. Want to spruce up the ol' economy, line the pockets of your politicians and give jobs to your contractor friends? Reinvigorate the idea of American Supremacy and go fight in Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and Pakistan. Want to reneg on the American contract of life, liberty and property because it threatens your economic status? Domestic terrorism.
All so we can feel better about the size of our dicks.
We're not in other countries to promote 'democracy' the ideal, we're there fighting to sustain 'democracy' the way of life for some.
And that means America is King. It's true, it's disgusting. Since WWII and the fear of another Depression, we've "embraced" a global economy.
Let's explain it in terms of a successful Age of Empires campaign. If you haven't played this game before, it's pretty much played like you'd think from the title. You build up an empire as a certain race of people and then either fight people to total annihilation or create treaties with them. One way to guarantee your future empire-awesomeness is to spread out on the limited map early. Get miners to mineral sites, loggers to forests and barracks anywhere you can. This way, you ensure that you have the most wealth and therefore strength, even when it means encroaching on some other race's natural resources. That is how you win quickly.
This is how America works. Want to interfere in Latin American markets without being afraid of native populations revolting against American corporations stealing their shit? NAFTA. Want to start a war over oil in a country struggling to combat its own internal conflicts? Weapons of mass destruction. Want to spruce up the ol' economy, line the pockets of your politicians and give jobs to your contractor friends? Reinvigorate the idea of American Supremacy and go fight in Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and Pakistan. Want to reneg on the American contract of life, liberty and property because it threatens your economic status? Domestic terrorism.
All so we can feel better about the size of our dicks.
02 April 2012
Living with dignity
Often the argument for medical euthanasia is to let the dying die with dignity. Well, why the hell don't we demand to live with dignity?
We are living under a government that is nothing more than a few rich, mostly white men who use the influence of their global corporations to write laws to benefit them and not us.
What is freedom if not the right to choose how to live, without affecting the freedom of others?
What are these laws that humiliate us? Who voted for them? We have people in government declaring themselves important and capable that are no more than criminals who lie, steal and further corrupt.
And what do we do when the money we pay goes to corrupt institutions?
Essentially, we have no choice. We pay money for war and internal corruption and greater police presence and NOT for education and NOT for helping the poor and NOT for helping the sick because it is a crime not to. We are arrested, beaten and oppressed for gathering in protest. We are now legally strip searched for any reason. We are tracked on our phones without warrant or reason.
So, we live day-to-day, trying to carve out a 'respectable' existence for ourselves and our families, with no time to care about the community, to help one another, to resist our oppressors. We're locked into student loan debt (which is the only way most of us can get educations), mortgage debt (much of it illegal, most of it unfair), paying taxes we disagree with, paying bailouts that do nothing but continue to bolster fraudulent activities and pay bonuses to those responsible for our loss of our houses.
Where is dignity? What is dignity? How can we live with dignity?
Insurgo, insurgi, insurrectum.
We are living under a government that is nothing more than a few rich, mostly white men who use the influence of their global corporations to write laws to benefit them and not us.
What is freedom if not the right to choose how to live, without affecting the freedom of others?
What are these laws that humiliate us? Who voted for them? We have people in government declaring themselves important and capable that are no more than criminals who lie, steal and further corrupt.
And what do we do when the money we pay goes to corrupt institutions?
Essentially, we have no choice. We pay money for war and internal corruption and greater police presence and NOT for education and NOT for helping the poor and NOT for helping the sick because it is a crime not to. We are arrested, beaten and oppressed for gathering in protest. We are now legally strip searched for any reason. We are tracked on our phones without warrant or reason.
So, we live day-to-day, trying to carve out a 'respectable' existence for ourselves and our families, with no time to care about the community, to help one another, to resist our oppressors. We're locked into student loan debt (which is the only way most of us can get educations), mortgage debt (much of it illegal, most of it unfair), paying taxes we disagree with, paying bailouts that do nothing but continue to bolster fraudulent activities and pay bonuses to those responsible for our loss of our houses.
Where is dignity? What is dignity? How can we live with dignity?
Insurgo, insurgi, insurrectum.
01 April 2012
Humor is truth, truth is humor
I don't know what thoughts I'd have to share with the world right now - I feel paralyzed, just paralyzed. What can I do? I feel small and weak. I feel like I'm fighting a tide, inside and out. Sometimes I wonder if the situation will improve much - either from without or within. I desperately hope so, but I don't know how to be a catalyst and I don't have the faintest idea why not.
The government is a plague of petty men, who upon declaring themselves 'important', set to control more and more. They cannot be separate from the laws if they benefit from those laws. And if they are not separate from those laws, they should not be trusted to make them. But what's the solution? Stupid little ruler wannabes. You think if you abstract the issue enough, the people will not realize that the burden is still on their shoulders?
We are not helpless.
The government is a plague of petty men, who upon declaring themselves 'important', set to control more and more. They cannot be separate from the laws if they benefit from those laws. And if they are not separate from those laws, they should not be trusted to make them. But what's the solution? Stupid little ruler wannabes. You think if you abstract the issue enough, the people will not realize that the burden is still on their shoulders?
We are not helpless.
29 March 2012
Other people's shit.
It's not a matter of not growing up.
It's not a matter of not being responsible.
It's a matter of waking up one morning and realizing that you've got to deal with other people's shit, as well as your own that's the problem. Because other people are assholes, you have to spend your life fighting and stressing.
It's not a matter of not being responsible.
It's a matter of waking up one morning and realizing that you've got to deal with other people's shit, as well as your own that's the problem. Because other people are assholes, you have to spend your life fighting and stressing.
05 March 2012
Insurgo.
Insurgo, insurgi, insurrectum.
You did everything right. You worked hard, abstained from most "bad" things, paid your taxes, got a degree - maybe even 2 or 3! - and yet it feels like you're being punished.
Those who taught us are afraid to admit that they don't know either; it would make their lives worthless if the people who told you to live this way were not lying to themselves.
This life is already meaningless enough. Why else do we have to constantly train ourselves with media and movies and ads so that we understand the importance of correct behavior - like being in the right social circle, agreeing with the crowd (and sticking up for your bros (!), not necessarily your values. BROS!!!), deference to wastes of human tradition (because God totally wants us to live like spoiled little shits) and the longing (L-O-N-G-I-N-G) to be a princess and finally realize how special and undervalued you really are!
Insurgo, insurgi, insurrectum.
But you're doing everything right. You exercise, you date, you buy things to support the economy, you eat organic food, you vote. The goodness of mankind will ensure that the most likable, best candidate for the job will win and make the rules for 4 years! He'll (or she! Of course someday it'll happen! Mankind is essentially good and fair, right?!!) make sure to defend the average person's interests and, if we don't like what he or the other elected officials are doing, we can completely change it, uniting as people and picking an even better guy (or gal!)!
0 for 2 - none of those people give a shit what any average person anywhere thinks. They understand that a few very rich individuals control most of the choices This Great Nation makes, including wars, the education system, the organic food lie, the growing income gap...and the only reason that he or she even got to be a candidate is because they've made some very steep promises - not to you or I - but to these very wealthy people. It's like a horribly disgusting scene from a movie where the good-looking protagonist is forced to do the evil bidding of some overweight, ugly, pimply, fat slob who only wants to be more powerful. A la Baron Harkonnen (A.K.A. the floating fat man).
Insurgo, insurgi, insurrectum.
You'll continue to do everything right, because you don't know what else to do.
Insurgo, insurgi, insurrectum.
You'll work for a good company, you'll have children, you'll visit the commercial theme parks for fun, you'll temper your drinking, you'll set a good example, you'll blame something else when more of the ground water becomes contaminated, you'll throw dinner parties and cook something fancy, you'll blame the OTHER guy for sending us to war again, you'll pay back your student loans, you'll blame the populace for being too lazy, you'll watch "your" shows - even if you don't like them - so you can gchat your office pals about it and have a good laugh, you'll complain all the way to the grave because of how bad things are - how bad people are letting things get, not like when you were young and everything was great because people cared, like you.
INSURGO - INSURGI - INSURRECTUM.
RISE UP - REBEL - REVOLT.
You did everything right. You worked hard, abstained from most "bad" things, paid your taxes, got a degree - maybe even 2 or 3! - and yet it feels like you're being punished.
Those who taught us are afraid to admit that they don't know either; it would make their lives worthless if the people who told you to live this way were not lying to themselves.
This life is already meaningless enough. Why else do we have to constantly train ourselves with media and movies and ads so that we understand the importance of correct behavior - like being in the right social circle, agreeing with the crowd (and sticking up for your bros (!), not necessarily your values. BROS!!!), deference to wastes of human tradition (because God totally wants us to live like spoiled little shits) and the longing (L-O-N-G-I-N-G) to be a princess and finally realize how special and undervalued you really are!
Insurgo, insurgi, insurrectum.
But you're doing everything right. You exercise, you date, you buy things to support the economy, you eat organic food, you vote. The goodness of mankind will ensure that the most likable, best candidate for the job will win and make the rules for 4 years! He'll (or she! Of course someday it'll happen! Mankind is essentially good and fair, right?!!) make sure to defend the average person's interests and, if we don't like what he or the other elected officials are doing, we can completely change it, uniting as people and picking an even better guy (or gal!)!
0 for 2 - none of those people give a shit what any average person anywhere thinks. They understand that a few very rich individuals control most of the choices This Great Nation makes, including wars, the education system, the organic food lie, the growing income gap...and the only reason that he or she even got to be a candidate is because they've made some very steep promises - not to you or I - but to these very wealthy people. It's like a horribly disgusting scene from a movie where the good-looking protagonist is forced to do the evil bidding of some overweight, ugly, pimply, fat slob who only wants to be more powerful. A la Baron Harkonnen (A.K.A. the floating fat man).
Insurgo, insurgi, insurrectum.
You'll continue to do everything right, because you don't know what else to do.
Insurgo, insurgi, insurrectum.
You'll work for a good company, you'll have children, you'll visit the commercial theme parks for fun, you'll temper your drinking, you'll set a good example, you'll blame something else when more of the ground water becomes contaminated, you'll throw dinner parties and cook something fancy, you'll blame the OTHER guy for sending us to war again, you'll pay back your student loans, you'll blame the populace for being too lazy, you'll watch "your" shows - even if you don't like them - so you can gchat your office pals about it and have a good laugh, you'll complain all the way to the grave because of how bad things are - how bad people are letting things get, not like when you were young and everything was great because people cared, like you.
INSURGO - INSURGI - INSURRECTUM.
RISE UP - REBEL - REVOLT.
16 January 2012
i never signed a social contract
Are we saying that things need to change before we decide to join your society?
Where's the incentive for staying within a group of people who we consider assholes?
Where's the incentive for staying within a group of people who we consider assholes?
09 January 2012
Changing to do, ramblingly
I don't know what to do. I've...never really had this problem in this way before.
Things that I thought I wanted no longer seem as important. I feel like I'm in kind of a free fall where time has stopped but I have not. I feel like I am watching everything around me happening in slow motion. I feel a strange sense of detachment, but not *quite* apathy.
What is this mood? What is this lack of zeal to DO?
I'm not worried about failing; I'm not worried about putting effort forward with no result.
I'm worried that I don't know where to put my efforts, I guess. But I don't want to sit on my brains and indecisions, either.
Maybe I haven't come to terms with myself. Like...I thought I knew what I wanted and what was best/logical/desirable/natural, but it doesn't seem so best/logical/desirable/natural now.
You know the drill: Get a good education, get a job you can have fun doing, find a mate, mate it up, make some family members, think about stuff, be a good person in your community, chillax and enjoy the beauty of life.
But. BUT. But. There are many problems with this.
First, I've always felt skeptical of this formula for basic reasons, even before this recent mental weirdness - there's an inherent lack of community (family units do not count as community), it's kind of boring-sounding and there's not a lot of room in this societal structure to do something else and seem 'successful.'
Maybe more importantly to this recent mental weirdness, however, are the large facts that I've recently (allowed myself to) become aware of. Our way of life is selfish to other humans, to other life and to the earth itself. This pattern of existence is too complacent and allows for mad amounts of corruption by those who are even MORE bored by it. It's not satisfying or progressive to a lot of people. We treat ourselves and everything around us like ignorant shit. Truth.
I feel like I've been looking for a long time for a mentor, or a leader, or someone who could help me in this journey. Someone with all of the answers. I've looked to parents, teachers, peers, mates, friends, religions, institutions, educations, philosophies, whatever.
And maybe this approach was fundamentally flawed, although I'd like to say that I've been learning the whole time. I guess I'm starting to wake up a little more and realize my own mind. Or understanding that the answers that I look for lie more in my own experiences than in others'.
And what of these experiences? How does a person know which experiences to seek? Which opportunities to embrace and which to reject?
What to do?? What not to do???
Things that I thought I wanted no longer seem as important. I feel like I'm in kind of a free fall where time has stopped but I have not. I feel like I am watching everything around me happening in slow motion. I feel a strange sense of detachment, but not *quite* apathy.
What is this mood? What is this lack of zeal to DO?
I'm not worried about failing; I'm not worried about putting effort forward with no result.
I'm worried that I don't know where to put my efforts, I guess. But I don't want to sit on my brains and indecisions, either.
Maybe I haven't come to terms with myself. Like...I thought I knew what I wanted and what was best/logical/desirable/natural, but it doesn't seem so best/logical/desirable/natural now.
You know the drill: Get a good education, get a job you can have fun doing, find a mate, mate it up, make some family members, think about stuff, be a good person in your community, chillax and enjoy the beauty of life.
But. BUT. But. There are many problems with this.
First, I've always felt skeptical of this formula for basic reasons, even before this recent mental weirdness - there's an inherent lack of community (family units do not count as community), it's kind of boring-sounding and there's not a lot of room in this societal structure to do something else and seem 'successful.'
Maybe more importantly to this recent mental weirdness, however, are the large facts that I've recently (allowed myself to) become aware of. Our way of life is selfish to other humans, to other life and to the earth itself. This pattern of existence is too complacent and allows for mad amounts of corruption by those who are even MORE bored by it. It's not satisfying or progressive to a lot of people. We treat ourselves and everything around us like ignorant shit. Truth.
I feel like I've been looking for a long time for a mentor, or a leader, or someone who could help me in this journey. Someone with all of the answers. I've looked to parents, teachers, peers, mates, friends, religions, institutions, educations, philosophies, whatever.
And maybe this approach was fundamentally flawed, although I'd like to say that I've been learning the whole time. I guess I'm starting to wake up a little more and realize my own mind. Or understanding that the answers that I look for lie more in my own experiences than in others'.
And what of these experiences? How does a person know which experiences to seek? Which opportunities to embrace and which to reject?
What to do?? What not to do???
03 January 2012
Missing the point
I think I am sometimes. I wonder..
Time passes and I'm not sure I'm getting it. I'm not sure where to look. It's both incredibly inspiring and incredibly depressing to think of how much no one really knows about what's happening. I guess it makes sense - if we had a significant amount of mentorship in these times, we wouldn't be in these times.
Like a lot of people I encounter, it's difficult and frustrating to know exactly what to do, day-to-day. To be blunt, if one wants to have no further impact on the world, one needs only to end their life. And that's not an option for (I hope) most of us!
So, how do we strike this balance?
On one side: we need to aggressively change our individual and collective actions to save the world and to preserve human rights. We are running out of resources, we are massively polluting the world, we are increasing global temperatures with disastrous impacts, we're killing people in the Middle East for oil, we're letting people die in Africa for lack of oil and we're trying our damnedest to hide in a world of make-believe while all this happens.
On the other side: we need to remember what it means to be human. We need to make sure we're having fun (or what's the point?), we need to remember that we're all capable of poor judgement and we need to forgive each other and ourselves for the irresponsible things we've done. Compassion and understanding are not best when rushed.
How do we balance these things? How do we love and yet condemn? How do we make changes that will require sacrifices from all of us? How do we consider these human transgressions daily without hate, malice or depression?
What can we do? What more can I do than protest and tell everyone I know to be more aware? Am I lazy? Do I remain unsure and convince myself that I cannot do more because of fear?
Possibly..
Time passes and I'm not sure I'm getting it. I'm not sure where to look. It's both incredibly inspiring and incredibly depressing to think of how much no one really knows about what's happening. I guess it makes sense - if we had a significant amount of mentorship in these times, we wouldn't be in these times.
Like a lot of people I encounter, it's difficult and frustrating to know exactly what to do, day-to-day. To be blunt, if one wants to have no further impact on the world, one needs only to end their life. And that's not an option for (I hope) most of us!
So, how do we strike this balance?
On one side: we need to aggressively change our individual and collective actions to save the world and to preserve human rights. We are running out of resources, we are massively polluting the world, we are increasing global temperatures with disastrous impacts, we're killing people in the Middle East for oil, we're letting people die in Africa for lack of oil and we're trying our damnedest to hide in a world of make-believe while all this happens.
On the other side: we need to remember what it means to be human. We need to make sure we're having fun (or what's the point?), we need to remember that we're all capable of poor judgement and we need to forgive each other and ourselves for the irresponsible things we've done. Compassion and understanding are not best when rushed.
How do we balance these things? How do we love and yet condemn? How do we make changes that will require sacrifices from all of us? How do we consider these human transgressions daily without hate, malice or depression?
What can we do? What more can I do than protest and tell everyone I know to be more aware? Am I lazy? Do I remain unsure and convince myself that I cannot do more because of fear?
Possibly..
28 December 2011
I've missed the stars
The stars out here are amazing. They're so bright - you get lost, it's amazing.
It's just so refreshing to realize that we're not lonely - that there's so much, and we can see it. I want to move to Colorado and dream in the woods. Damn you, amazing stars, amazing ideas of ageless, fearful beauty. Such depth, it's a constant freefall.
Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming...beautiful skies, I want to watch you watch me.
It's just so refreshing to realize that we're not lonely - that there's so much, and we can see it. I want to move to Colorado and dream in the woods. Damn you, amazing stars, amazing ideas of ageless, fearful beauty. Such depth, it's a constant freefall.
Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming...beautiful skies, I want to watch you watch me.
22 December 2011
Self Organization
Self-organization...self-organized...self-organizing.
Why do we self-organize? I understand...I think. We need to organize as humans so that we may become more powerful and capable then any of us are as individuals.
It's a real lesson to be among the Occupy democracy, in terms of self-organization.
If set in a completely random group of people, it's never clear who will dominate that group's conversation. The person who is loudest? The person who is biggest? The person who most accurately reflects the opinions of the majority of the group's members?
Someone from #occupyDC tweeted today about how tiring revolution is. Fighting the complacent and powerful system, no matter where it is or what it indoctrinates, is so hard. Fighting the fighters of the system is even harder.
How do we self-organize?
As Occupy, we come together agreeing on certain democracy-promoting rules/guidelines, reminiscent of grade school: Wait Your Turn, We Should Do Our Best To Make Sure Everyone Is Happy With All Decisions, and Have Respect For The People That You May Try To Bum A Cig Off Of In 10 Minutes. Basic, basic rules.
And how are we self-organizing from these rules of no organization? Well, first, there are committees. In theory, people can get more involved with particular aspects of the movement that they care about, in a smaller democratic mini-system. No one gets paid, so passion is strongly encouraged.
There aren't super-strong leaders in the camp, so far. There are people that are more action-oriented and their Occupy is a philosophical one, some people are looking to meet like-minded people and enjoy that company, some people are there to be intense in an acceptable setting - Because there are no strong 'goals' for the moment, no one can prove themselves better at this movement than anyone else - hence, no super-strong leaders. Maybe there haven't been personalities big enough to co-opt the movement into a singularity, a school of fish.
It's a difficult fine line. Must we identify? And, at what point in the process of something like this do we identify?
There's a critter in the ceiling. Eep, I said it - I admitted to it so now I can't pretend that it doesn't exist. *Sigh* It does.
ANYway, I think it's just a squirrel. They're bigger than rats and muuuuch bigger than mice, but I've never seen their poop and they don't seem as menacing, for some reason.
BUT.
I just imagined this squirrel as being my Upstairs Conservative Representative Neighbor. And I just got a weird image of his balding head on top of a large spider-body. Just peering down through my air vent in the dining room. Just lookin' at me. With a fierce, creepy grin.
Why do we self-organize? I understand...I think. We need to organize as humans so that we may become more powerful and capable then any of us are as individuals.
It's a real lesson to be among the Occupy democracy, in terms of self-organization.
If set in a completely random group of people, it's never clear who will dominate that group's conversation. The person who is loudest? The person who is biggest? The person who most accurately reflects the opinions of the majority of the group's members?
Someone from #occupyDC tweeted today about how tiring revolution is. Fighting the complacent and powerful system, no matter where it is or what it indoctrinates, is so hard. Fighting the fighters of the system is even harder.
How do we self-organize?
As Occupy, we come together agreeing on certain democracy-promoting rules/guidelines, reminiscent of grade school: Wait Your Turn, We Should Do Our Best To Make Sure Everyone Is Happy With All Decisions, and Have Respect For The People That You May Try To Bum A Cig Off Of In 10 Minutes. Basic, basic rules.
And how are we self-organizing from these rules of no organization? Well, first, there are committees. In theory, people can get more involved with particular aspects of the movement that they care about, in a smaller democratic mini-system. No one gets paid, so passion is strongly encouraged.
There aren't super-strong leaders in the camp, so far. There are people that are more action-oriented and their Occupy is a philosophical one, some people are looking to meet like-minded people and enjoy that company, some people are there to be intense in an acceptable setting - Because there are no strong 'goals' for the moment, no one can prove themselves better at this movement than anyone else - hence, no super-strong leaders. Maybe there haven't been personalities big enough to co-opt the movement into a singularity, a school of fish.
It's a difficult fine line. Must we identify? And, at what point in the process of something like this do we identify?
There's a critter in the ceiling. Eep, I said it - I admitted to it so now I can't pretend that it doesn't exist. *Sigh* It does.
ANYway, I think it's just a squirrel. They're bigger than rats and muuuuch bigger than mice, but I've never seen their poop and they don't seem as menacing, for some reason.
BUT.
I just imagined this squirrel as being my Upstairs Conservative Representative Neighbor. And I just got a weird image of his balding head on top of a large spider-body. Just peering down through my air vent in the dining room. Just lookin' at me. With a fierce, creepy grin.
18 December 2011
What is choice?
It is complicated.
It is very, very complicated to me.
It may be a type of freedom. It may be that, if one has complete choice, one has complete freedom. So then, it might be that, if one has no choice, one has no freedom. And there must be gradiations.
What types of choices are there? There is a choice in the body, a choice in physical controls - where you are, what you are doing, what you are seeing, etc. And there is a mental choice - what you consider, what you think about, etc.
Then things get complicated. When you consider that the body may be nothing more than chemical reactions and Pavlovian reactions to regurgitated stimuli, then mental choices become less simple. Mis-information, forced lack of information, social pressure (real or perceived), the constant hounding of ads and the like may cause mis- or ill-formed thoughts, which may lead to inappropriate or misguided actions. People feel no need to rush into the streets to protest the deaths that the US facilitates in Egypt, even thought their money is paying for those deaths. People don't know, or are misled into thinking that other scenarios are possible, that we are the good guys, that we are not "them", that we are distanced from "them", etc. Misinformed mental choices lead to misinformed physical choices.
However, the human body is also comfort-crazy. The body is reluctant to change its patterns and give up an easy lifestyle. So, again, in my life I see people (that I love deeply) exchange an easy and complacent life for a dwindling of freedoms and a lack of real information or choice of information. We choose to be mentally ignorant lest we upset our physical stability.
Damn, this shit is as complex as there are people. Where do we go from here?
We already know the answers, we know what we have to do. It will cost physical complacency and comfort, but we cannot live with this shame any longer. It's the shame of all of us now, we cannot say 'we didn't know'. We can no longer say 'we were hoodwinked' (whatever that means). We can no longer plead ignorance, victimization or weakness.
We know, we choose and we are strong. Insurgo, insurgi, insurrectum.
It is very, very complicated to me.
It may be a type of freedom. It may be that, if one has complete choice, one has complete freedom. So then, it might be that, if one has no choice, one has no freedom. And there must be gradiations.
What types of choices are there? There is a choice in the body, a choice in physical controls - where you are, what you are doing, what you are seeing, etc. And there is a mental choice - what you consider, what you think about, etc.
Then things get complicated. When you consider that the body may be nothing more than chemical reactions and Pavlovian reactions to regurgitated stimuli, then mental choices become less simple. Mis-information, forced lack of information, social pressure (real or perceived), the constant hounding of ads and the like may cause mis- or ill-formed thoughts, which may lead to inappropriate or misguided actions. People feel no need to rush into the streets to protest the deaths that the US facilitates in Egypt, even thought their money is paying for those deaths. People don't know, or are misled into thinking that other scenarios are possible, that we are the good guys, that we are not "them", that we are distanced from "them", etc. Misinformed mental choices lead to misinformed physical choices.
However, the human body is also comfort-crazy. The body is reluctant to change its patterns and give up an easy lifestyle. So, again, in my life I see people (that I love deeply) exchange an easy and complacent life for a dwindling of freedoms and a lack of real information or choice of information. We choose to be mentally ignorant lest we upset our physical stability.
Damn, this shit is as complex as there are people. Where do we go from here?
We already know the answers, we know what we have to do. It will cost physical complacency and comfort, but we cannot live with this shame any longer. It's the shame of all of us now, we cannot say 'we didn't know'. We can no longer say 'we were hoodwinked' (whatever that means). We can no longer plead ignorance, victimization or weakness.
We know, we choose and we are strong. Insurgo, insurgi, insurrectum.
16 December 2011
Serfdom (not surfdom - not at all)
The people that run this world don't care how you or I live, they just care that we help make them richer.
I remember, in high school, learning about impoverished people in England and on mainland Europe who were called 'serfs'. They worked for a very selfish few - the king, his family, his lackies, his governments, and the local governments - without hope of cessation or a better future. And I also remember feeling superior to these serfs, thinking "Oh hell no, this would never happen today! We have rights and freedom and we're not stupid enough to let a few people have control of the rest of us!"
I also remember learning about Russia and the USSR. I always had the thought that those people just quit trying - maybe based on the stories of high alcoholism, or the pictures of very sad people. Or maybe those feelings were based on the Home Team propaganda of my teachers, parents and media. "Hey, look at them! They're weak and can't even buy blue jeans! If they cared, why would they just let things like this happen?"
And now, where are Americans? We are slowly losing our rights. We are losing our houses. We are losing our money. We are losing our self-respect. We are becoming serfs. We are becoming the masses that toil against their will under a select few. It's shameful.
Nothing short of a revolution will change anything. But as we become a more censored, more surveilled people, we're too afraid to lose the little that we have in order to fight. At this time, we have no one to blame but ourselves. 'They' are corrupt and should never have been tolerated or put in charge - we acquiesced to their corruption by ignoring it and following their political theater with rapt attention, as if it were real.
It's up to us, now. Wake up...please.
I remember, in high school, learning about impoverished people in England and on mainland Europe who were called 'serfs'. They worked for a very selfish few - the king, his family, his lackies, his governments, and the local governments - without hope of cessation or a better future. And I also remember feeling superior to these serfs, thinking "Oh hell no, this would never happen today! We have rights and freedom and we're not stupid enough to let a few people have control of the rest of us!"
I also remember learning about Russia and the USSR. I always had the thought that those people just quit trying - maybe based on the stories of high alcoholism, or the pictures of very sad people. Or maybe those feelings were based on the Home Team propaganda of my teachers, parents and media. "Hey, look at them! They're weak and can't even buy blue jeans! If they cared, why would they just let things like this happen?"
And now, where are Americans? We are slowly losing our rights. We are losing our houses. We are losing our money. We are losing our self-respect. We are becoming serfs. We are becoming the masses that toil against their will under a select few. It's shameful.
Nothing short of a revolution will change anything. But as we become a more censored, more surveilled people, we're too afraid to lose the little that we have in order to fight. At this time, we have no one to blame but ourselves. 'They' are corrupt and should never have been tolerated or put in charge - we acquiesced to their corruption by ignoring it and following their political theater with rapt attention, as if it were real.
It's up to us, now. Wake up...please.
12 December 2011
Occupy the Oakland
I think the dude that's livestreaming the video for Occupy Oakland's Port Shutdown is just trying to pick up chicks. I mean, he's still capturing the action so it's cool, but it's just a little bizarre. And kind of makes it look more like Occupy is the way that kids these days are meeting each other (seriously, some of these folks can't answer the question: "So, why did you come out to Occupy today?" If you can't tell someone why you are where you are, you're either part of some great SciFi mystery, you have amnesia, or you're an airhead.), which is cool, but not really...well, yeah, whatever. If you're there with the same zeal as someone else, fighting for the same cause, but you mostly just want to get laid...I love you, you're awesome. You're making the system work FOR you and I respect and admire that. It kinda turns me on...a little. Forget that bullshit I was spewing earlier, you win, man. I should try to be more like you.
Also, Mr. Stampypants upstairs, will you PLEASE take off your BOOTS MADE OF ANVILS?!
Also, Mr. Stampypants upstairs, will you PLEASE take off your BOOTS MADE OF ANVILS?!
10 December 2011
Know your rights, so you can easily identify the moment they've been abolished.
The news is never good these days. More liberties being violated. Less respect for The People.
Internet freedom is on the table (thanks, Obama) for restriction. (http://www.salon.com/2011/12/09/hillary_clinton_and_internet_freedom/singleton/) As a publicly-educated citizen of this country, I interpret the 4th amendment to include internet communications. It's doesn't say "a person's papers must be in that persons house" which, in modern terms, can be read as "the person's emails must be on a person's server, hosted by that person, in that person's house". 4th Amendment is below, enjoy.
Citizen's rights to liberty are on the table (thanks Senate! Thanks Obama!) for restriction. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/29/senate-votes-to-let-military-detain-americans-indefinitely_n_1119473.html It's a really good read - I'm less and less shocked at the fact that I agree with Ron and Rand more and more. I've included a copy of the 5th amendment below, just in case you're not familiar with it.
Finally, a story on Russia today - a peaceful protest with between 25,000 and 100,000 people (BBC estimates at 50,000) is matched with 50,000 cops, to "protect the peace". Of course, they'll be ignored because Government Knows Propaganda Best. Eerily, this is #Occupy. It's clear that our government is no better than Russia's, and Russia's government is fucking frightening.
I wasn't really familiar with ANY of these Amendments before this year, aside from "Yeah, I have the right to yell FUCK YOU ALL in public" cuz of free speech or something. Like most Americans, I've been complacent in my ignorance, assuming that "these unalienable rights" were sacred forever and were to be taken for granted, so that I could just live my life and enjoy it.
#ows #occupyBoston #occupyLA #occupyDC #occupyWallStreet #occupyEverwhere
4th Amendment
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
5th Amendment
"No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation."
Internet freedom is on the table (thanks, Obama) for restriction. (http://www.salon.com/2011/12/09/hillary_clinton_and_internet_freedom/singleton/) As a publicly-educated citizen of this country, I interpret the 4th amendment to include internet communications. It's doesn't say "a person's papers must be in that persons house" which, in modern terms, can be read as "the person's emails must be on a person's server, hosted by that person, in that person's house". 4th Amendment is below, enjoy.
Citizen's rights to liberty are on the table (thanks Senate! Thanks Obama!) for restriction. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/29/senate-votes-to-let-military-detain-americans-indefinitely_n_1119473.html It's a really good read - I'm less and less shocked at the fact that I agree with Ron and Rand more and more. I've included a copy of the 5th amendment below, just in case you're not familiar with it.
Finally, a story on Russia today - a peaceful protest with between 25,000 and 100,000 people (BBC estimates at 50,000) is matched with 50,000 cops, to "protect the peace". Of course, they'll be ignored because Government Knows Propaganda Best. Eerily, this is #Occupy. It's clear that our government is no better than Russia's, and Russia's government is fucking frightening.
I wasn't really familiar with ANY of these Amendments before this year, aside from "Yeah, I have the right to yell FUCK YOU ALL in public" cuz of free speech or something. Like most Americans, I've been complacent in my ignorance, assuming that "these unalienable rights" were sacred forever and were to be taken for granted, so that I could just live my life and enjoy it.
#ows #occupyBoston #occupyLA #occupyDC #occupyWallStreet #occupyEverwhere
4th Amendment
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
5th Amendment
"No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation."
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