Monday, December 15, 2008
Out with the old, in with the new...
I love the idea of this blog, really I do. Everyone is doing politics. I didn't even cover the election, because, well... why bother? It seems like everything is being done ad nauseum , sports, politics, news, etc, so it's time to refocus onto something specifically me. No one else can blog me, what I'm up to, etc. I've been talking about a gaming blog for some time now, and it's feeling like the right time since I've really gotten the ball rolling on this painting gig. I'll probably post a few pics on my current project, but I'm really looking to move this to a whole new space. I'm not digging what google is doing to it's everyday joe bloggers, so screw em, I'm out. More info to follow.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
What's up with me...
Well it's been a while since I've posted on here. There are lots of reasons, lots of moving and shaking on the major life changes level. So what's going on? Well, for one I'm making a huge career move, getting out of the business world and into the academic one. It's a change that's been in the back of my mind for some time, reignited by the current economic crisis and my overall dissatisfaction with my trade as a whole. Don't get me wrong, the money is decent, there are just other things out there that can make me a whole lot happier.
The other big change is the rebirth of my business. Well, it wasn't really born before, only on paper. But on eBay, I've been thriving with sales of my old collections and I'm looking to move into the pro-painted world, doing various one-offs and units to sell. I've talked about it before, I just lacked the motivation and focus to get it done. Inevitably, I'll be taking a hit changing careers, but with this supplementing my income, I think I'll be able to make ends meet. Or maybe I just miss feeling like a starving artist, who knows?
The other big change is the rebirth of my business. Well, it wasn't really born before, only on paper. But on eBay, I've been thriving with sales of my old collections and I'm looking to move into the pro-painted world, doing various one-offs and units to sell. I've talked about it before, I just lacked the motivation and focus to get it done. Inevitably, I'll be taking a hit changing careers, but with this supplementing my income, I think I'll be able to make ends meet. Or maybe I just miss feeling like a starving artist, who knows?
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Hopeful?
While this coming election isn't a foregone conclusion by any means, Obama's recent 9 to 11 point leads in recent polls may mean I at least invested wisely. No candidate has made me happy with the response to the recent meltdown on Wall St, but at least the one I've backed has viewed the recent bill as a stop gap or band aid rather than the solution. The fact is, business needs regulation, laissez faire economics do not work. Deregulated business in this age would inevitably end in wage slavery (even moreso) for the vast majority of Americans. What a lot of people seem to forget is at one point we once had completely unregulated business.
Back at the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, America had an abundance of poor and rich alike. There was no middle ground. You either owned vast amounts of wealth or worked for those who did. Worse yet, there was slavery and indentured servitude which was fully endorsed by the only people who could vote -- the wealthy planters and business owners. Girls were raised in corporate dormitories where they got up at 4 in the morning and worked until 7:30. Talking to fellow workers was punishable with fines. "Money" was in the form of credit that had to be spent at the company store. The workers paid for the thread and needles they used to produce items for their bosses. These were children. Adults didn't fare much better. They worked in factories or fields without any safety regulations and could be maimed for life. There were no benefits, no voice of the workers. Attempts to speak up were violently curtailed by the government, which was solely dominated by the rich. That was the face of laissez faire capitalism.
I have a lot of respect for the fringe candidates who speak candidly about what they believe in. The main issue that I have with people like Ron Paul and Bob Barr is they keep barking up the same economic tree. Deregulate and it will solve all of the country's woes. Not so. Neither is the opposite true. We can't have all of the power in the state's hands. We need balance and equality, not parity.
What I'm hoping is a clear vision of that middle ground that will benefit everyone. Liberty and equality. A little more minding our own business on one hand, and a little reaching out on the other. Maybe it sounds naive, maybe even a little cliche. Deep down, all that anyone wants to do is live and be free, though. Lets share the good stuff we all need (ie healthcare) and have a little heart when someone is in need.
So am I hopeful? Yes, albeit cautiously so. We've reached a critical point in our history, either way things are changing. We can look at things from a logical standpoint and find a peaceful and amicable resolution to our problems, or quite the opposite.
I'm hoping the former is true, I don't have nearly enough ammo or canned food stockpiled.
Back at the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, America had an abundance of poor and rich alike. There was no middle ground. You either owned vast amounts of wealth or worked for those who did. Worse yet, there was slavery and indentured servitude which was fully endorsed by the only people who could vote -- the wealthy planters and business owners. Girls were raised in corporate dormitories where they got up at 4 in the morning and worked until 7:30. Talking to fellow workers was punishable with fines. "Money" was in the form of credit that had to be spent at the company store. The workers paid for the thread and needles they used to produce items for their bosses. These were children. Adults didn't fare much better. They worked in factories or fields without any safety regulations and could be maimed for life. There were no benefits, no voice of the workers. Attempts to speak up were violently curtailed by the government, which was solely dominated by the rich. That was the face of laissez faire capitalism.
I have a lot of respect for the fringe candidates who speak candidly about what they believe in. The main issue that I have with people like Ron Paul and Bob Barr is they keep barking up the same economic tree. Deregulate and it will solve all of the country's woes. Not so. Neither is the opposite true. We can't have all of the power in the state's hands. We need balance and equality, not parity.
What I'm hoping is a clear vision of that middle ground that will benefit everyone. Liberty and equality. A little more minding our own business on one hand, and a little reaching out on the other. Maybe it sounds naive, maybe even a little cliche. Deep down, all that anyone wants to do is live and be free, though. Lets share the good stuff we all need (ie healthcare) and have a little heart when someone is in need.
So am I hopeful? Yes, albeit cautiously so. We've reached a critical point in our history, either way things are changing. We can look at things from a logical standpoint and find a peaceful and amicable resolution to our problems, or quite the opposite.
I'm hoping the former is true, I don't have nearly enough ammo or canned food stockpiled.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
MYOB
I've long had a fondness for true science fiction. By that I mean scifi which contains the criteria of scientific believability and asking "what if?". I was fortunate enough to study under Bill Lutz, the doublespeak guru, who held firmly to that definition and exposed his students to a lot of good fiction that fostered critical thought. One of which was the novella 'And Then There Were None' by Eric Frank Russell. There's a fable behind the science, an important lesson that I think would go a long way in the world today. Give it a read.
LINK
LINK
My Views.
Politics is a game of calculated risk for all involved. When you vote for a candidate, you are assuming that they will act in your best interest. The interests of any population as vast as ours will vary greatly, not only by region, but from person to person. We have only the word of the candidate and in some cases their track record to go on, although that can be deceiving. The thing that continues to amaze me is how readily some people are to act against the self interest of themselves, their families, their class, or their country. We've entered an age where large groups readily buy into the doublespeak of their parties. Our politicians have learned to prey on our insecurities, taught us to praise those who limit our freedoms and welfare. This is the age of the new ignorant, and it stretches well beyond party lines.
As I have stated before, I am an anarchist at heart. I don't believe in an authority in my life greater than my own. I do not generally support the macho nationalistic ramblings of any party, for nationalism only serves to solidify the control needed over a population to completely and utterly crush them. I live in the continental United States. I am not, however, the rank and file. I believe in the common good of all mankind, that simply doing unto others as you would have done unto you makes for a much better society. Today, we attempt to force that principle on the population at large, at whole a body of second class citizens. The first class citizens are the corporations, themselves with their own separate legal system. Our own Ancien Régime, they hold almost complete sway over the fate of this land. They crushed the unions, they made a select few moderately happy yet utterly hungry, and every day they go out and win. Not for us, but for themselves.
Supporting them is a new dictionary of old terms, frightening words like Socialism and Marxism. I hear Socialism used quite a bit from the Right. "Obama is a socialist" and is therefore evil. Public schools are socialist institutions. Law enforcement is a socialist institution. Any public institution is socialist. Are they evil? You'll get no argument from me that vast reforms are in order to make many of these function properly. The plain fact of the matter is universal necessities like clean drinking water, education, firefighters, and even energy need to be socialized. We all work together, we make it happen. Today it's hit or miss. Some institutions are non profit, while some are purely for profit. Frankly I don't like a company profiting off of any illness I may encounter. So at least SOME Socialism is in order. It makes sense, it provides a level playing field, everyone needs it, let's do it.
Marxism is another scare word. There isn't a class struggle going on in America right now? When is the last time you opened a paper? Oil speculation is out of hand. The middle class is suffering while wealthy investors make money hand in fist over oil. Mortgage company CEOs made their fortunes on shady loans, then took off with their pockets stuffed with greenbacks when the bubble burst. They made their millions, and millions of Americans are now suffering for it. And yet, we have a candidate who believes the only way to fix this situation is total deregulation of these industries. How much longer will Americans be told to "eat cake" before they either starve or wake up?
So there's my problem with the Right. Fear. It's the reason they create these waves of Nationalism. They get unquestioning support. They program these poor saps to agree and tell anyone who doesn't to shut up. It worked well over the last eight years, wouldn't you say?
Now for the Left. What do you support, really? Who do you support, really? There's a certain amount of reform going on right now in the Democratic party that has them on firmer ground than in the past, yet they have a history of pandering to Lobbyist and Big Money just as much as the Right. I still find the whole operation to be just as hypocritical on many fronts. I want to help people too, but in my opinion, those who abuse the system at the bottom are just as guilty as those on top. I like Obama's ideas for using welfare solely as a stop gap method. It makes sense. I like supporting the civil rights and liberties of everyone, it makes sense and is necessary in many cases. I don't like the system of hiding public programs in larger packages and then surprising taxpayers with them later. It creates suspicion and resentment. What programs we do need, such as caring for the sick, elderly, those unable to care for themselves whether physically or mentally, do not need huge bureaucracies to operate. Keep it simple, transparent, and universally accessible. When it appears to the average taxpayer that only one theoretical group or another benefits from it, there are problems, big ones.
On the fringe, we have several groups with ideas of their own. Ron Paul wants to cut down on big government. I'm not sure how I feel about that, honestly. In some cases, I feel that it would benefit states to have more of an active role in government. Certainly the wealthier states would benefit. I question the viability of poorer states to do the same. Massachusetts has actively been working on universal health care. The people want it, they can afford it, so they're doing it. What of poorer states like Mississippi? Would there be any benefit? Maybe that would protect civil liberties to some extent. Find the place that suits you best and go there. But again, if you're poor and you don't agree with policies, are you not then forced to submit to popular tyranny?
The fact is, there are no easy answers. Name calling serves only to make matters worse. You call me a socialist and marginalize my opinion. I call you a fascist and marginalize yours. Someone else calls someone unpatriotic and the cycle continues. I'm happy to see some candidates taking the high road this time around. We need less cynicism if we're going to get anything done here, that's the bottom line. We need to educate ourselves and when someone is lying (not pointing any fingers here) call them out on it. We need a return to common sense approaches and realize that we all share this land and this planet. Only then can people start standing on their own two feet, acting independent, and truly governing themselves. We don't need flags, we don't need anthems, we need dialogue.
As I have stated before, I am an anarchist at heart. I don't believe in an authority in my life greater than my own. I do not generally support the macho nationalistic ramblings of any party, for nationalism only serves to solidify the control needed over a population to completely and utterly crush them. I live in the continental United States. I am not, however, the rank and file. I believe in the common good of all mankind, that simply doing unto others as you would have done unto you makes for a much better society. Today, we attempt to force that principle on the population at large, at whole a body of second class citizens. The first class citizens are the corporations, themselves with their own separate legal system. Our own Ancien Régime, they hold almost complete sway over the fate of this land. They crushed the unions, they made a select few moderately happy yet utterly hungry, and every day they go out and win. Not for us, but for themselves.
Supporting them is a new dictionary of old terms, frightening words like Socialism and Marxism. I hear Socialism used quite a bit from the Right. "Obama is a socialist" and is therefore evil. Public schools are socialist institutions. Law enforcement is a socialist institution. Any public institution is socialist. Are they evil? You'll get no argument from me that vast reforms are in order to make many of these function properly. The plain fact of the matter is universal necessities like clean drinking water, education, firefighters, and even energy need to be socialized. We all work together, we make it happen. Today it's hit or miss. Some institutions are non profit, while some are purely for profit. Frankly I don't like a company profiting off of any illness I may encounter. So at least SOME Socialism is in order. It makes sense, it provides a level playing field, everyone needs it, let's do it.
Marxism is another scare word. There isn't a class struggle going on in America right now? When is the last time you opened a paper? Oil speculation is out of hand. The middle class is suffering while wealthy investors make money hand in fist over oil. Mortgage company CEOs made their fortunes on shady loans, then took off with their pockets stuffed with greenbacks when the bubble burst. They made their millions, and millions of Americans are now suffering for it. And yet, we have a candidate who believes the only way to fix this situation is total deregulation of these industries. How much longer will Americans be told to "eat cake" before they either starve or wake up?
So there's my problem with the Right. Fear. It's the reason they create these waves of Nationalism. They get unquestioning support. They program these poor saps to agree and tell anyone who doesn't to shut up. It worked well over the last eight years, wouldn't you say?
Now for the Left. What do you support, really? Who do you support, really? There's a certain amount of reform going on right now in the Democratic party that has them on firmer ground than in the past, yet they have a history of pandering to Lobbyist and Big Money just as much as the Right. I still find the whole operation to be just as hypocritical on many fronts. I want to help people too, but in my opinion, those who abuse the system at the bottom are just as guilty as those on top. I like Obama's ideas for using welfare solely as a stop gap method. It makes sense. I like supporting the civil rights and liberties of everyone, it makes sense and is necessary in many cases. I don't like the system of hiding public programs in larger packages and then surprising taxpayers with them later. It creates suspicion and resentment. What programs we do need, such as caring for the sick, elderly, those unable to care for themselves whether physically or mentally, do not need huge bureaucracies to operate. Keep it simple, transparent, and universally accessible. When it appears to the average taxpayer that only one theoretical group or another benefits from it, there are problems, big ones.
On the fringe, we have several groups with ideas of their own. Ron Paul wants to cut down on big government. I'm not sure how I feel about that, honestly. In some cases, I feel that it would benefit states to have more of an active role in government. Certainly the wealthier states would benefit. I question the viability of poorer states to do the same. Massachusetts has actively been working on universal health care. The people want it, they can afford it, so they're doing it. What of poorer states like Mississippi? Would there be any benefit? Maybe that would protect civil liberties to some extent. Find the place that suits you best and go there. But again, if you're poor and you don't agree with policies, are you not then forced to submit to popular tyranny?
The fact is, there are no easy answers. Name calling serves only to make matters worse. You call me a socialist and marginalize my opinion. I call you a fascist and marginalize yours. Someone else calls someone unpatriotic and the cycle continues. I'm happy to see some candidates taking the high road this time around. We need less cynicism if we're going to get anything done here, that's the bottom line. We need to educate ourselves and when someone is lying (not pointing any fingers here) call them out on it. We need a return to common sense approaches and realize that we all share this land and this planet. Only then can people start standing on their own two feet, acting independent, and truly governing themselves. We don't need flags, we don't need anthems, we need dialogue.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Community Organizers Fire Back.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)