The Kuwait analogy could be enhanced. Ukraine was a neutral state from 1991 until 2014 when the US/NATO overthrew Ukraine’s OSCE-certified democratically elected government to turn the country into a military platform hostile to Russia directed from Washington and controlled by goon squads (the President of Ukraine is not empowered to do anything except what the goons allow). Over the last 8 years it became de-facto NATO, not yet formalized, and by definition and deed, a direct threat to Russia.
Whatever the strength of analogy between this and Iraq/Kuwait, Russia is not Iraq. But in the absolutely bizzarro world we now live in, exactly as you describe, reality does not matter. Most people are now unable to recognize even the most basic aspects of actual reality. And cannot take us anywhere worth going.
The most basic aspect of reality is LIMITS. Recognition of limits is the most basic aspect of being in reality. We’re not being in reality anymore. We’re living in a world we’re told has no limits. The power of our authorities has no limits.
More sensible people used to prevail. Dr. Strangelove the perfect cinematic examination of this.
But too bad, today he’s overrun and marginalized. In a complete inversion of Dr Strangelove, it’s now General Jack D. Ripper and the like who are in charge of everything.
Thanks man. And for your own persistent work in the trenches of all this. I'll give you a call in half an hour or so, it's been a while.
I agree that the reference to Iraq is a very inadequate comparison for all the reasons you cite.
"The most basic aspect of reality is LIMITS. Recognition of limits is the most basic aspect of being in reality. We’re not being in reality anymore. We’re living in a world we’re told has no limits. The power of our authorities has no limits."
Yeah. Absolutely. This is key to all of this I think. People don't even get that there are resource issues at the bottom of all this, because they believe we can just transition to renewables, so any sort of conflict over petroleum seems completely arbitrary to them.
I can't really engage in any of it anymore, it just zaps me of mental and emotional energy. People went insane, and I don't want to take part in whatever they're up to now - not even passively observing it! It's too much for me.
One way to understand it: We in the West are submerged in a sea of advertising (propaganda). To influence us advertising influences (manipulates) us emotionally. We are no longer reasonable, rational people. We want "it", and we want it "now". The West no longer believes in A Future. And the kids ? We pay lip service to their future...
"After the Future" by Franco 'Bifo' Beradi explores the idea of the end of The Future as a motivating ideological construct once integral to Western thinking ('Progress').
Great, thanks, will look up. I've been very interested in the role of "the future" in Western worldviews and eschatologies myself. Have only read a bit of Beradi's Heroes though.
The Kuwait analogy could be enhanced. Ukraine was a neutral state from 1991 until 2014 when the US/NATO overthrew Ukraine’s OSCE-certified democratically elected government to turn the country into a military platform hostile to Russia directed from Washington and controlled by goon squads (the President of Ukraine is not empowered to do anything except what the goons allow). Over the last 8 years it became de-facto NATO, not yet formalized, and by definition and deed, a direct threat to Russia.
Whatever the strength of analogy between this and Iraq/Kuwait, Russia is not Iraq. But in the absolutely bizzarro world we now live in, exactly as you describe, reality does not matter. Most people are now unable to recognize even the most basic aspects of actual reality. And cannot take us anywhere worth going.
The most basic aspect of reality is LIMITS. Recognition of limits is the most basic aspect of being in reality. We’re not being in reality anymore. We’re living in a world we’re told has no limits. The power of our authorities has no limits.
More sensible people used to prevail. Dr. Strangelove the perfect cinematic examination of this.
But too bad, today he’s overrun and marginalized. In a complete inversion of Dr Strangelove, it’s now General Jack D. Ripper and the like who are in charge of everything.
Stunning. The “bouquet of… Journalists”.
The Kuwait analogy could be enhanced. Ukraine was a neutral state from 1991 until 2014 when the US/NATO overthrew Ukraine’s OSCE-certified democratically elected government to turn the country into a military platform hostile to Russia directed from Washington and controlled by goon squads (the President of Ukraine is not empowered to do anything except what the goons allow). Over the last 8 years it became de-facto NATO, not yet formalized, and by definition and deed, a direct threat to Russia.
Whatever the strength of analogy between this and Iraq/Kuwait, Russia is not Iraq. But in the absolutely bizzarro world we now live in, exactly as you describe, reality does not matter. Most people are now unable to recognize even the most basic aspects of actual reality. And cannot take us anywhere worth going.
The most basic aspect of reality is LIMITS. Recognition of limits is the most basic aspect of being in reality. We’re not being in reality anymore. We’re living in a world we’re told has no limits. The power of our authorities has no limits.
More sensible people used to prevail. Dr. Strangelove the perfect cinematic examination of this.
Today we have this https://youtu.be/NFngc_8RiVc
But too bad, today he’s overrun and marginalized. In a complete inversion of Dr Strangelove, it’s now General Jack D. Ripper and the like who are in charge of everything.
How long can that last?
Not long
https://youtu.be/8Ps2lTqaVNw
Thanks man. And for your own persistent work in the trenches of all this. I'll give you a call in half an hour or so, it's been a while.
I agree that the reference to Iraq is a very inadequate comparison for all the reasons you cite.
"The most basic aspect of reality is LIMITS. Recognition of limits is the most basic aspect of being in reality. We’re not being in reality anymore. We’re living in a world we’re told has no limits. The power of our authorities has no limits."
Yeah. Absolutely. This is key to all of this I think. People don't even get that there are resource issues at the bottom of all this, because they believe we can just transition to renewables, so any sort of conflict over petroleum seems completely arbitrary to them.
I can't really engage in any of it anymore, it just zaps me of mental and emotional energy. People went insane, and I don't want to take part in whatever they're up to now - not even passively observing it! It's too much for me.
War is the fight over who's gonna be The Boss...
War is the fight over who's gonna be Your Boss...
One way to understand it: We in the West are submerged in a sea of advertising (propaganda). To influence us advertising influences (manipulates) us emotionally. We are no longer reasonable, rational people. We want "it", and we want it "now". The West no longer believes in A Future. And the kids ? We pay lip service to their future...
"After the Future" by Franco 'Bifo' Beradi explores the idea of the end of The Future as a motivating ideological construct once integral to Western thinking ('Progress').
Great, thanks, will look up. I've been very interested in the role of "the future" in Western worldviews and eschatologies myself. Have only read a bit of Beradi's Heroes though.
Nice post and especially happy to see Kevin Gozstola featured as a favorite of mine since the arrest and trial of Pvt Manning.
Had never heard of him until now, unfortunately. Will look into him, thanks!
https://youtu.be/WwjyGo5d6d0 Dada says….
Nice. Never heard of them until now.
Stunning. The “bouquet of… Journalists”.
The Kuwait analogy could be enhanced. Ukraine was a neutral state from 1991 until 2014 when the US/NATO overthrew Ukraine’s OSCE-certified democratically elected government to turn the country into a military platform hostile to Russia directed from Washington and controlled by goon squads (the President of Ukraine is not empowered to do anything except what the goons allow). Over the last 8 years it became de-facto NATO, not yet formalized, and by definition and deed, a direct threat to Russia.
Whatever the strength of analogy between this and Iraq/Kuwait, Russia is not Iraq. But in the absolutely bizzarro world we now live in, exactly as you describe, reality does not matter. Most people are now unable to recognize even the most basic aspects of actual reality. And cannot take us anywhere worth going.
The most basic aspect of reality is LIMITS. Recognition of limits is the most basic aspect of being in reality. We’re not being in reality anymore. We’re living in a world we’re told has no limits. The power of our authorities has no limits.
More sensible people used to prevail. Dr. Strangelove the perfect cinematic examination of this.
Today we have this https://youtu.be/NFngc_8RiVc
But too bad, today he’s overrun and marginalized. In a complete inversion of Dr Strangelove, it’s now General Jack D. Ripper and the like who are in charge of everything.
How long can that last?
Not long
https://youtu.be/8Ps2lTqaVNw