Evolution of Consciousness

To pull out of this nosedive that Casino Capitalism has wrought upon the world, many of us need to have some understanding of the basic economic principles at play here. Leaving the fox to guard the henhouse remains a fool’s game — that strategy always leads to the same outcome — so it’s time for the rest of us to sit up and notice what is going on in the world of economic decision making.

Paul Krugman observes a resurgence of the destructive game of “starve the beast” in “Redo that Voodoo.”

Paul Craig Roberts clearly explains market fundamentals in “Economics in Freefall.”

Matt Taibbi has some fun with Sarah Palin.

David Swanson gets all crazy on foreign policy.

And Joe Bageant hits it out of the park with “Lost on the Fearless Plain.”

Author/journalist Chris Hedges has written a good book called Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle (July 2009). The work is divided into five sections, each one examining illusions in different fields: literacy, love, wisdom, happiness, and America.

My reading experience was rather peculiar, in that the interest level ramped up rather slowly. It started out wobbly, picked up steam as it went, and really soared at the end.

In the crisply written closing chapter, “The Illusion of America,” Hedges delivers an excellent overview and critique of the current State of the Nation. If you find yourself bogging down in the earlier sections, skip ahead — but do not miss the final chapter.

Sobering, because it sees without illusion, this sort of clarity of vision represents the best antidote to what ails us. Without a clear understanding of our situation, we can’t fix it. Books like this are, therefore, very important. Read it, and pass the word.

This latest cutback in education is a travesty. An already starved system, crucial to our future, is being forced to cut even closer to the bone. This is a tragic result of the steady attack our public sector has been under the past thirty years. Here’s the basic question: should the super wealthy pay less tax? or should we educate our children?

You’ve got to hand it to the moneyed class. They got organized, bought the airwaves, and became quite successful at hypnotizing a majority of voters in this country for an extended period of time, to the point where they had that majority voting against their own better interests. That is some impressive manipulation and propagandizing!

Fortunately, it appears the populace is beginning to awaken to the plunder. 

The key thing we have to do is separate money from politics. To that end, I have a few suggestions. Politicians should not be allowed to accept campaign contributions, period. While we’re at it, we should also outlaw campaign commercials (which require lots of money and end up clogging the atmosphere with counterproductive nonsense). Instead, television stations should be required to provide a certain amount of airtime for political debate, giving candidates ample time to address the issues. If any lobby or special interest want to promote their own point of view, they are welcome to do so, but they have to do it themselves, and leave the politicians completely out of the equation. Hustling for dollars should not be part of public service.

Once elected, I’d also like to suggest that lawmakers be required to eat the same hot lunch our kids get served each day at school. “Yes, Representative Boehner, today’s entree is beanie-weinie and that ketchup packet is your vegetable. And, no, Senator Kennedy, you may not set your apple juice aside for a couple days to see if it will ferment.”

My daughter attends Anderson Valley Elementary. Even though this school (like every other public school in this country) is scandalously underfunded, the staff there still manage to do the impossible, day after day, providing a quality education for hundreds of children. I don’t know how they do it, other than through sheer will and dedication, but I am grateful that there are people who continue to answer this noble calling, in spite of the conditions. 

The way the teaching profession is undervalued in this country is a sin, and we will continue paying the steep price of that neglect until we come to our collective senses.

Healthcare activists flexed a little muscle last week, and witnessed some progress. 

When single-payer advocates realized they were not being represented at the White House “Health Summit,” they protested in strong enough numbers to gain a couple last-minute invitations for Representative John Conyers (lead sponsor of HR 676) and Dr. Oliver Fein (president of Physicians for a National Health Program). Thus, after being told by the powers that be in Washington that single-payer was completely “off the table,” activists ignored that ridiculous edict and managed to get a couple feet in the door. By insisting on it. In large numbers.

Recent breakthroughs also occurred last week on the justice front. After repeatedly ignoring congressional subpoenas over the past few years, ex-Bushists Karl Rove and Harriet Miers finally agreed to testify before the House Judiciary Committee. This investigation will focus on the politically-motivated firings of U.S. attorneys and prosecution of Alabama Governor Don Siegelman. Additionally, the Obama Administration released some of the secret Justice Department memos that provided spurious legal cover for the Bush Administration to disregard Constitutional and international law. This was followed by a spirited debate in the Senate on a proposed Bush Truth Commission (over 40,000 signatures were quickly gathered online, demonstrating strong public support for such an investigation — a week later that number has grown to 75,000).

And so it begins. The great uprising of the people in this country. Frederick Douglass once observed, “Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.” This, of course, is still true today; therefore, I encourage everyone to become involved in your government. Don’t let them trash this planet in your name. This is a time of great opportunity, but we must step into it together. Humans need to evolve quickly, else we shall all perish. Notice how quickly the outmoded ideas are falling away. It is time to awaken to our higher destiny.

If you have access to the Internet, it is easy to become involved. There are many websites to help keep you informed and that make it easy to communicate your thoughts and wishes to Congress and the White House. If you have a phone, use it. Call or write often. Get into the habit of doing it whenever the impulse strikes. If you can get to the library, there are good books on whatever subjects interest you. The important thing is to become involved. Educate yourself, then make yourself heard. Speak up. Let them know you’re watching!

Healthcare Watch: HR 676 (single-payer for all Americans) now has 64 cosponsors. Mike Thompson (CA First District) is still missing from that list.