The Death Of Bin Laden: Some Justice, Pragmatism & Caution

Pragmatically speaking the Dalai Lama may be correct in his analysis that Bin Laden”s death was necessary to prevent him from being the catalyst and facilitator of further terrorist attacks.

I am willing to wager that the U.S. military personal directly responsible took no particular joy in their roles, but should rightfully be proud that their courage and actions served their families and countrymen and other citizens around the world well and with honor, eliminating a real threat to all of our safety. I don’t think any of us need to gloat about the outcome, though, nor do I think it is moral or responsible of media and political pundits, of all stripes, to feed off of this event.

It was probably inevitable that Bin Laden would be hunted down, but if it makes people sleep better at night, then they are very naive. There will always be evil in the world and as long as there is ignorance, fear manifest from evil will rule man’s actions. When we can all learn to respect our fellow man and woman and aspire to knowledge, evil will be suppressed.

Clueless Gang Banger Memorializes His Crime On His Chest

From the Criminal Minds & Clueless Losers File

Thank’s to his decision to have the murder he committed immortalized in a tattoo on his chest, and his big mouth gang banger Anhtony Garcia is going to find himself behind bars for a long time to come.

We need more of our criminals to be this stupid.

Roger Ebert On “The One-Percenters”

At the current stage of maturity of his career and life Roger Ebert has been generous in sharing his thoughts and values on any number of issues that impact his life besides motion pictures. In a piece in his blog in the Chicago Sun-Times, Ebert comments about

“The upper 1 percent of Americans are now taking in nearly a quarter of the nation’s income every year. In terms of wealth rather than income, the top 1 percent control 40 percent.

“Their lot in life has improved considerably. Twenty-five years ago, the corresponding figures were 12 percent and 33 percent.”

So I discover in a piece by Joseph E. Stiglitz in the new issue of Vanity Fair. These facts confirm my impression that greed is now seen as a virtue in America. I’m not surprised by the greed of the One-Percenters. I’m mystified by the lack of indignation from so many of the rest of us…

…One of the challenges facing the One-Percenters these days is finding ways to spend their money. Private residences grow as large as hotels, and are fitted out with the amenities of luxury resorts. Fleets of cars and private airplanes are at their owners’ disposal. At work, they sink absurd mountains of money into show-off corporate headquarters that have less to do with work than with a pissing contest among rival executives. Private toilets grow as large as small condos, outfitted with Italian marbles and rare antiques. This is all paid for by the shareholders. One area of equality between the One-Percenters and the rest of us is that we sit on toilets of about the same size. What’s different is the size of our throne rooms.

I find this extravagance unseemly in a democracy. Many of today’s One-Percenters feel no more constraint than Louis XIV. A culture of celebrity has grown up around these conspicuous consumers, celebrating their excesses. I believe rewards are appropriate for those who have been successful. I also believe a certain modesty and humility are virtuous. I find it unbecoming that those who fight most against social welfare are those most devoted to their own welfare.

In America there is an ingrained populist suspicion of fats cats and robber barons. This feeling rises up from time to time. Theodore Roosevelt, who was elected as a Trust Buster, would be appalled by the excesses of our current economy. Many of the rich have a conscience. Andrew Carnegie built libraries all over America. The Rockefeller and Ford Foundations do great good. Bill Gates lists his occupation as “philanthropist.”

Yet the most visible plutocrat in America is Donald Trump, a man who has made a fetish of his power. What kind of sick mind conceives of a television show built on suspense about which “contestant” he will “fire” next? What sort of masochism builds his viewership? Sadly, I suspect it is based on viewers who identify with Trump, and envy his power over his victims. Don’t viewers understand they are the ones being fired in today’s America?

What I can say to Roger is: you are describing the plutocrats’ master plan, starve our education system of tax revenue and leverage media to create a nation of gullible consumer drones who will produce a legacy of more treasure for the plutocrat coffers.

Instead of using today’s technology to facilitate connecting everything and everyone to benefit knowledge transfer and new knowledge acquisition, many consuming Americans fall prey to enticements of dubious value from the likes of Trump, Murdoch, et al, and every marketer of anything or every publicist of entertainment/sports/celebrity enterprises. Many Americans seem to be programmed to aspire to a life filled with stuff or notoriety as symbols of status and success, but with little appreciation for the intrinsic value of anything, whether an object, or a bit of knowledge.

The plutocrats have created a nation of ignorant, consuming drones, many of which are aliens to critical thinking, happy to be entertained rather than be burdened by working to acquire knowledge or personal growth.

Responsible Speech

In follow-up to my previous post:

Here in the United States many people don’t seem to understand that the right of free speech comes with responsibilities.  Your words have consequences, just as your actions have consequences. The Loughner character who apparently fired the shots in Tuscon this past Saturday is a lunatic, and that is why he did what he did.  But it does not take an advanced degree in psychology or sociology to understand that if a lunatic is exposed to an abundance of violent or extremist rhetoric, especially as so well distributed and pervasive as that delivered by the American media (news and entertainment) establishment, that “protected” speech will quite likely be one of the triggers that sets off the lunatic.

Political figures with media exposure, whether elected to office, or pundits taking pot shots on the sidelines, no matter their party affiliation, need to be circumspect and carefully chose their words before opening their mouths or setting pen to paper.

Reckless words stimulate reckless minds.

Gabrielle Giffords’ Blood Is On “Former-Governor’s” Hands

This is the act of a despicable, racist coward, the kind that is ignorant enough to swallow the horse shit that comes out of Sara Palin’s mouth.  As reported in the New York Times:

Representative Gabrielle Giffords, an Arizona Democrat, and 17 others were shot here on Saturday morning when a gunman opened fire outside a supermarket where Ms. Giffords was meeting with constituents for a “Congress on Your Corner” event…

During the fall campaign, Sarah Palin, the former Republican vice-presidential candidate, posted a controversial map on her Facebook page depicting spots where Democrats were running for re-election; those Democrats were noted by crosshairs symbols like those seen through the scope of a gun. Ms. Giffords was among those on Ms. Palin’s map.

This is what happens when politicians are permitted to exploit the media with their extreme, antagonistic ideology.

Governance By A Single Political Party: The Demorepublicrats

It is the only rational conclusion a thinking person can attain.  The United States is not governed by operatives of either one or the other of two major political parties.  There is only one major political party that is always at the helm of our system of government, and below all the decks, pulling the levers that keep the ship of state afloat and on any course.

On the political spectrum, the Demorepublicrat party represents people with political beliefs that begin in the “center” and which then veer right, over the abyss. Demorepublicrats have never discovered that there is meaningful life on solid ground to the left and are afraid to explore any territory that might cause them to ever question, let alone lose faith in God, television and the dollar.

The definition of bipartisanship, and its corollary, compromise, for a Demorepublicrat is “I’ll do what I want and screw you”.

The motto of the Demorepublicrat: “In business we trust”.

The ten core values of the Demorepublicrat party:

1. The only thing that is good for the country is what is good for big business.
2. I will fight to protect my right to profit.
3. There are only winners and losers in life, we are the winners.
4. If it is good for me, it is not hypocrisy.
5. I will not hesitate to kill to maintain my status.
6. All men are equal, if they hold the price of admission.
7. A deal is a deal, if I say it is.
8. A deals is not a deal, if I say it isn’t.
9. Critical thinking is for losers.
10. Losers should die.

Demorepublicrat politicians only listen to Demorepublicrat Plutocrats.

The goal of a Demorepublicrat Plutocrat: “All of you will be my serfs”.

The way of life in a nation that is controlled by Demorepublicrats is termed Demorepublicratism.

The antidote to Demorepublicratism: Education and truth.