A Few More Populist Jabs At The Ruling Elite
"This is the most orderly crash I've ever seen" -- Maria Bartiromo, CNBC today
I think I got that right as I wasn't paying close attention. But, when I hear something incredibly ridiculous, my ears usually perk up. Is this what it comes down to? This is what twenty four hour news has been debased to? I learned long ago that he who speaks last loses. That's the second cousin in the "power of silence's" main message of he who speaks first loses. In other words, silence can be a strategy when used effectively. Obviously, this is not a strategy often used in the media. And definitely not on CNBC. How do you fill the air with incessant babble when everything is going badly? That's my only comment about the markets or the economy today. Now onto the post.
Before I get back to posts more in line with the theme of this blog, I'm going to pander to the populist movement a little bit more. Mostly because I'm part of that movement. And, because like any good capitalist in today's world, I know how to pile it on when I have the advantage. The system taught me well.
While I have no public opinion of Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin, it's very interesting to watch the media and political elite attempt to tear her down. There is surely reason and right for the media to question her abilities as I do. But, what we see goes well beyond that. Politicians are elitists at heart and they despise populists. And, the media is their favorite tool of public opinion manipulation. Infrequently, we find leadership that is populist in nature. Today, we have two populists running for President in McCain and Obama. They may have differing views but make no mistake, both are feared by the existing apparatus. But, the elite is still trying to play their hand in this campaign. They are attempting to convince you of the lesser of two evils - for them. Someone they think they might have more control over. Or someone who will inflict the least amount of damage to them.
Regardless of how it is portrayed, a fair amount the elitist disdain for Palin is that she isn't one of them. (Off topic, but many of the attacks not based on substance are a major mistake in human psychology and clearly show the elite and their handlers don't understand the depth of this populist movement.) That is why Obama, while a populist, is still palatable to the elite. At least he's Harvard educated. Obviously some people believe a person of certain etiquette, class, education or social standing should rule. Historically, that has also included blood line. They effectively believe in a class-based society and therefore, by conclusion, a ruling class. This is nothing new. In fact, this perspective is as old as humankind. Quite frankly, the rejection of Europe's elitist culture was a foundation for America's creation. And, mind you, two hundred years later, Europe's underlying caste culture remains very similar to that which fueled the creation of the United States. We would never see a Barack Obama or Sarah Palin as candidates in any country of Europe. Never. Europe's general socialism is deeply steeped in a belief system that I know what is best for you. And, don't confuse Obama's populist message of affordable health care with socialism. If you do, you don't really understand socialism and you are simply regurgitating elitist media manipulation. Anyhooo, our society has generally bought this elitist mentality for some time. It has contributed substantially to an environment of corruption and self-serving greed in our democracy.
A significant argument I hear often is that Palin's lack of experience would severely impact the United States in discussions with the likes of Russia's Putin. Or, that she could not be trusted with access to nuclear weapons. Again, without any presumption of her capabilities, I can surely find more than a handful of us common folk that might be able to hold their own against Putin or, for that matter, Bush. In fact, it often seems more than obvious that this is not a difficult task. And, might I add, the Bush family, whether you are a supporter or not, has become a major benefactor of the ruling-class mindset that has become pervasive. There are three hundred million Americans and the only ones qualified to be governor or President have the last name of Bush? Mind you, so too is executive pay a benefactor. Over the last thirty years, CEO pay has gone from twenty five times the average salary to five hundred and twenty five times. Literally. How did that happen? It's simple. Someone convinced you that CEO's deserved it. Who did that? Was that the local farmer? Your mom? Your neighbor? Or the ruling elite?
I guess it comes down to a single question for me. Do you want government to represent the interests of society? And, who determines what values are most attributable to great leadership? Maybe someone who values education, diversity of opinion, diversity of people, trust, honesty, compassion. That's a good start. Maybe for government it should include the will of the people, ideals following our Constitution, a desire not to impose one's personal will into politics and a few more. Don't most people you know share these values? At least as often as politicians? I'm just rambling so this surely isn't all inclusive. But, do you really believe in democracy? Or just democracy for those who deserve it? And deserves it according to whom? Because I'm not sure what we have seen for at least a generation is working for you. Maybe I should ask. How's that working for you at this moment?
Could life really be worse if we elected the local farmer or businessperson or mom or people with absolutely no experience in politics? Isn't that really the basis for much of the political attacks we see? Would our economy implode? Our society soon follow? To the contrary, we might actually have policies that work for most people and would, more than likely, not have the environment we have today. How many of your friends or family would have sold you down the river as today's politicians have? Interesting how much of this article, written over two years ago, is so relevant to today's world.
I actually like(d) John McCain as much as I could like any politician until the spinmeisters convinced him he needed to become Gollum to get elected. So, this video is not an indictment of John McCain. It's meant to make you laugh and think about a very serious topic by employing witty sarcasm and humor. To think about those in Washington who seemingly care little of your plight but, of more, being re-elected. Jon Stewart's team is brilliant. They use humor and sardonic entertainment to engage a younger generation in typically dry but very serious issues of the day including politics. This video is of the pathetic efforts by Congress in the bailout plan and the slimy mess they globbed onto it to gain passage.
Stewart is surely a populist. And, so am I. Quite frankly, the United States is very different than most any other nation. For, our country was actually built on a populist message. And, within lies its unsurpassed greatness. At this point, we have two options - embrace the mob or embrace the status quo. I, for one, embrace the mob. And, regardless of who wins this Presidential election, the generational elitist view of America is over. That's a good thing for everyone. Even the elitists.
Update: Youtube pulled my video so here's the original from the Jon Stewart Daily Show web site. It's longer and funnier than the Youtube clip.
I think I got that right as I wasn't paying close attention. But, when I hear something incredibly ridiculous, my ears usually perk up. Is this what it comes down to? This is what twenty four hour news has been debased to? I learned long ago that he who speaks last loses. That's the second cousin in the "power of silence's" main message of he who speaks first loses. In other words, silence can be a strategy when used effectively. Obviously, this is not a strategy often used in the media. And definitely not on CNBC. How do you fill the air with incessant babble when everything is going badly? That's my only comment about the markets or the economy today. Now onto the post.
Before I get back to posts more in line with the theme of this blog, I'm going to pander to the populist movement a little bit more. Mostly because I'm part of that movement. And, because like any good capitalist in today's world, I know how to pile it on when I have the advantage. The system taught me well.
While I have no public opinion of Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin, it's very interesting to watch the media and political elite attempt to tear her down. There is surely reason and right for the media to question her abilities as I do. But, what we see goes well beyond that. Politicians are elitists at heart and they despise populists. And, the media is their favorite tool of public opinion manipulation. Infrequently, we find leadership that is populist in nature. Today, we have two populists running for President in McCain and Obama. They may have differing views but make no mistake, both are feared by the existing apparatus. But, the elite is still trying to play their hand in this campaign. They are attempting to convince you of the lesser of two evils - for them. Someone they think they might have more control over. Or someone who will inflict the least amount of damage to them.
Regardless of how it is portrayed, a fair amount the elitist disdain for Palin is that she isn't one of them. (Off topic, but many of the attacks not based on substance are a major mistake in human psychology and clearly show the elite and their handlers don't understand the depth of this populist movement.) That is why Obama, while a populist, is still palatable to the elite. At least he's Harvard educated. Obviously some people believe a person of certain etiquette, class, education or social standing should rule. Historically, that has also included blood line. They effectively believe in a class-based society and therefore, by conclusion, a ruling class. This is nothing new. In fact, this perspective is as old as humankind. Quite frankly, the rejection of Europe's elitist culture was a foundation for America's creation. And, mind you, two hundred years later, Europe's underlying caste culture remains very similar to that which fueled the creation of the United States. We would never see a Barack Obama or Sarah Palin as candidates in any country of Europe. Never. Europe's general socialism is deeply steeped in a belief system that I know what is best for you. And, don't confuse Obama's populist message of affordable health care with socialism. If you do, you don't really understand socialism and you are simply regurgitating elitist media manipulation. Anyhooo, our society has generally bought this elitist mentality for some time. It has contributed substantially to an environment of corruption and self-serving greed in our democracy.
A significant argument I hear often is that Palin's lack of experience would severely impact the United States in discussions with the likes of Russia's Putin. Or, that she could not be trusted with access to nuclear weapons. Again, without any presumption of her capabilities, I can surely find more than a handful of us common folk that might be able to hold their own against Putin or, for that matter, Bush. In fact, it often seems more than obvious that this is not a difficult task. And, might I add, the Bush family, whether you are a supporter or not, has become a major benefactor of the ruling-class mindset that has become pervasive. There are three hundred million Americans and the only ones qualified to be governor or President have the last name of Bush? Mind you, so too is executive pay a benefactor. Over the last thirty years, CEO pay has gone from twenty five times the average salary to five hundred and twenty five times. Literally. How did that happen? It's simple. Someone convinced you that CEO's deserved it. Who did that? Was that the local farmer? Your mom? Your neighbor? Or the ruling elite?
I guess it comes down to a single question for me. Do you want government to represent the interests of society? And, who determines what values are most attributable to great leadership? Maybe someone who values education, diversity of opinion, diversity of people, trust, honesty, compassion. That's a good start. Maybe for government it should include the will of the people, ideals following our Constitution, a desire not to impose one's personal will into politics and a few more. Don't most people you know share these values? At least as often as politicians? I'm just rambling so this surely isn't all inclusive. But, do you really believe in democracy? Or just democracy for those who deserve it? And deserves it according to whom? Because I'm not sure what we have seen for at least a generation is working for you. Maybe I should ask. How's that working for you at this moment?
Could life really be worse if we elected the local farmer or businessperson or mom or people with absolutely no experience in politics? Isn't that really the basis for much of the political attacks we see? Would our economy implode? Our society soon follow? To the contrary, we might actually have policies that work for most people and would, more than likely, not have the environment we have today. How many of your friends or family would have sold you down the river as today's politicians have? Interesting how much of this article, written over two years ago, is so relevant to today's world.
I actually like(d) John McCain as much as I could like any politician until the spinmeisters convinced him he needed to become Gollum to get elected. So, this video is not an indictment of John McCain. It's meant to make you laugh and think about a very serious topic by employing witty sarcasm and humor. To think about those in Washington who seemingly care little of your plight but, of more, being re-elected. Jon Stewart's team is brilliant. They use humor and sardonic entertainment to engage a younger generation in typically dry but very serious issues of the day including politics. This video is of the pathetic efforts by Congress in the bailout plan and the slimy mess they globbed onto it to gain passage.
Stewart is surely a populist. And, so am I. Quite frankly, the United States is very different than most any other nation. For, our country was actually built on a populist message. And, within lies its unsurpassed greatness. At this point, we have two options - embrace the mob or embrace the status quo. I, for one, embrace the mob. And, regardless of who wins this Presidential election, the generational elitist view of America is over. That's a good thing for everyone. Even the elitists.
Update: Youtube pulled my video so here's the original from the Jon Stewart Daily Show web site. It's longer and funnier than the Youtube clip.
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