Author: LC

I think I know exactly what they don’t want us to see. What is so mysterious that we all wonder what ties could there possibly be to Russia? What abomination could have corrupted our national purity? Could it be that we just do not get it yet, that the machine that drives corruption there is the same machine as here, the same as in Africa and the Middle East, in Latin America and Asia and Europe, the same that invested in Nazi Germany’s war, modern decades of empire building and violent regime change, the same that foments chaos everywhere to justify going in to squelch it, and then contracts out the appearance of fixing the destruction it caused?  When will we recognize this insidious heist pulled over and over again, that hides behind business as usual, with government complicity?

Under our noses, as citizens dutifully question collusion of top government officials, corporate giants Bayer and Monsanto, Dow and DuPont, plan mergers to totally take over our food supply, we’re talking globally. Note the alarm sounding one of many predicted side effects; with these mergers we will see the certain demise of the already depleted worldwide populations of bees plus attendant devastations of our whole ecology as we know it, global ecology.

Eisenhower saw the machine, Bernie Sanders sees it, Oliver Stone wrote a twelve-part series on it. Certainly Noam Chomsky and Rachel Carson, Chris Hedges and Cornel West and countless others have tried to educate us. US corporations invested in Germany in WWII: Ford, General Motors, DuPont, IBM, Pfizer, Standard Oil, Wall Street. While we are worrying about Trump’s hotels, luncheons, and personal dossiers, do we notice which multinational corporate deals are currently on the table?

We shouldn’t need to be reminded that pipeline, fracking, mining, chemical, pharma, insurance, prison, and weapons industries don’t thrive only within the purview of one political party; clearly their agendas cross the isle as often as possible. The parties are in collusion to the extent that money can be made, favors granted and objectives obscured.  Candidates on both sides are funded by the same corporations that drive the destruction we protest.

The machine rides roughshod over all concerns about civil justice and sustainability. It cares nothing about us, our wetlands, forest or coral reef habitats, disabilities or gender crises, culture or arts, health or seniors or kids, wolf pups, monarchs or bees. It uses religion and race, division and chaos, consumerism, poverty and fear to distract us while it takes what it wants, erases opposition, writes its next war narrative, contracts the weapons and taxes the poor to pay for it.

Beware that the politics tend to obscure the deals going down.

On the birthday of Charles Darwin, and immediately following the confirmation of Betsy DeVos to the US Department of Education, who got a failing grade in her Senate hearings on every subject besides money accumulation, I offer just a word regarding the intended (if you read her history) ‘Christianization’ of schools. I leave the question of her quest for privatization of schools for later.

I believe firmly in the separation of church and state, and that if we insist on teaching ‘religion’ in public schools, we ought to require that we teach, or make available and support, inquiries into all religions.

I have never felt any contradiction between evolution and any of the main religious versions of creation.  If one believes in God (or Spirit, or the Great Spirit, or by another name), one understands that God dwells intrinsically and perpetually deep within the infinitesimal layers of everything.   Whether or not we feel, know, or discover this pulse or consciously ascribe it to the indwelling of God, is a personal choice, a family and cultural matter, not to be questioned, ever, by the state.

Of course, this is also applicable to the “Muslim Ban”, the irrational, reckless attempt by the 45th President to exclude “all Muslims” from entering the US.  Leaving it there for now.

 

“It’s all bleak.  I don’t think we can hope until we grow up.”  Chris Hedges

Want a list of Bernie-recommended candidates?  So, in my state, I have to admit, not all berniecrats listed will get my vote, but most will.  And some are in districts other than mine.  But, hey, if you love Bernie’s message and policies, this is where you can find like-minded candidates.

The Berniecrat Directory

Long article, have not read all, looks good.

The low ratings of candidates WE KEEP ELECTING

What is your truth?  What do you base it on?  Everyone has a right to feel and think their truth.  To what extent does it apply to others? Do you have a right to impose it on others? Don’t we need to impose some structure on society?  Some ‘government intervention’?  Make some rules? What about our ‘civil liberties’?

There is room here for your opinion, but please keep it civil and limit profanity.  If it gets stupid we will bump it.  Let’s have better vocab than Trump.

Thanks, Harry, excellent articles.  But I would not say “Dear” when addressing Hillary.  Sorry, jaded.

Local voting takes place in several states this week. Tomorrow, Tuesday Aug. 7 Kansas, Washington, Michigan, Ohio, Missouri.  On the 4th, Tennessee, on the 6th, Virgin Islands…..

Primary elections calendar.

Are you researching your candidates?  We tend to go along and do what we always do.  Is that what we want to do?  Do we really want to change things?  I will be pouring over my voter pamphlet tonight.

Pepper