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Life in the Empire

A thread dedicated towards possible solutions rather than the rather pessimistic fare we engage in with much of our other communication.

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Doughnut Economics reminds me of what Waldo was writing about a few years ago. But then, Waldo always seems a bit ahead of the curve.

Being 10 minutes ahead of your time is a talent.  Any longer is a curse.  The great Jacque Fresco was at least 100 years ahead... and he lived exactly so long.  

People's Party.  I like it.  But I am a grumpy old man who has gotten in more trouble for being right... than being wrongOccupational hazard.  Greens finally made it to the ballot.  Took 30 years.  Got 2% or whatever.  At least that's something. Better than nothing.  Right.  Because...  

Everybody's doin the Cornholio Rag.  JoeShit (the Rag Man) does the Toad in the Hole.   Swing states.  Like Toadly's nodes.   Nobody wants to hear about the fucking Bonus Army.  Nobody cares.  There is only one party.  911 was an inside job.  Romp stomp jump- the Michigan.  
Live as though you’re dying. The day draws near.  It’s a crucial step in freeing yourself from illusion.  

The US is a nuthouse and I have no horse in the race. Likely Covid will do me in eventially. Hope it's quick. Til then, I don't speak much about our impending extinction, because fun guy. Hoping y'all are finding enjoyment where you can while it's still possible.

https://youtu.be/xojSWHrar9A

I must admit Florida is even more scary then usual, but at least we don't have the "brown shirts" to deal with. I knew it was all going to shit but fuck Waldo did you have to be SO right?

Racism.  Sexism.  Yes- it exists. For real.  Welcome to the civil rights movement 60 years late.   As a sop.  As pandering.  "They" don't give a shit about any of that.  It's like abortion.  It's a sop.  So nobody will bring up corruption.  Or war.  Or "wealth inequality" aka. LOOTING.  Everybody sees it.  It's the elephant in the room. Like climate.  Most people have bosses like Trump.  Profit maximization will do that.  Elephant.   

Financial "capitalism" is the official State Religion.  Popey McClown.  Like the Church in the Middle Ages.  Neo-feudalism is exactly what They have in mind.  But They're doing it the same way... 1000 years late.  The incredible dark comedy.  What else is a meta for.  We have no pants.  Apparatchiks have taken over like ants. Evergreen is only another ant hill.  Where we rip off our skivvies and dance.   

     

Black Mountain College was a brilliant experiment in higher education started in 1933 that tore down the status distinctions between students and faculty and rank where all members of the college community participated in its operation, including farm work, construction projects, and kitchen duty. The pay was crap and it was oftentimes deferred but this was an educational community where all shared and the silos between disciplines were completely annihilated. This was a true liberal arts curriculum that focused upon exercising critical thinking skills and consensus decision making on everything.

As it wasn't the norm, didn't support Capitalism by cranking out interchangeable employees for the production line, challenged sexism, homophobia, xenophobia and racism, and most of all focused more upon its stated mission and goals rather than furthering the economic health of the institution, it only lasted 24 years - with the last years limping along through the year with a tiny cohort to make it through to the summer when the campus swelled for the Arts programs.

Evergreen lasted as long as it did as an 'alternative' state college because it never fully committed to its stated mission and goals so that the funding would keep coming in.  Seems that it will survive....in name.

I believe that is (still) the answer, P.  I remember when you sought "higher education" in the belief that it "made you a better person."  Then professional propagandists ( like me ) were hired to sell (more) credit hours so students could "learn a living."  Then schools made the formal Faustian bargain with business:  teach what we want... and we will only hire your graduates.  And it worked.  For about 40 years.  Until the final stages of profit maximization.  They wanted their share.  And that was all of it. Many of us spotted an alternative long ago.   

It has developed into a society that gives everything it has without expecting credit.  

Critical thinking is a thing of the past. Just look around. Between the dumbing down in schools, teaching to a set curriculum to pass a test. Churches have even gotten into the act, they tell people how to think, how to vote I'm not the smartest on here by any stretch but even I see the difference..

Anybody with any sense can.  Elephant in the room.  Don't have to be a "genius."  Just gotta be honest.  Even blind people know there's an elephant in the room. 

 

No Blueprint for Utopia   

"Who knew that “Liberals” could be so rabid?  Isn’t such zealotry supposed to be the exclusive, gun-guarded paranoid domain of the self-righteous Right?"   

Nope.  I thought lefty-liberals sorta bought into all that social justice shit.  Whoops.  Not the Biden-boosters.  Turns out... the sportsball fans are trying to pass themselves off as the (giggle) pragmatic adults in the room.  Again.  

"If you ask, “What’s your philosophy?” — my answer is: “It takes all sorts.”"   

Absurdism during a repeat of the Weimare Republic is my world view. Too early to predict who will prevail, but my least favorite team are the neo-bolsheviks. Not fond of Trump's christo-fascists or the dems' corporate totalitarians either. but that's the same ole song from me. Absurdism will ensure that absolutely none of those concerns are going to matter at all in the very near future. Hard to understand why people are still pretending they do. Even the faithful have to recognize reality at some point.

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