Hate, hope, love and wisdom

Losers hate successful people, but don't realize hate doesn't bring success, it's the reason for you being a loser. Try hope, love and wisdom.

Elites need enemies to control the people

Said one smart American:
The English government presents, just now, a curious phenomenon. Seeing that the French and English nations are getting rid of the prejudices and false notions formerly entertained against each other, and which have cost them so much money, that government seems to be placarding its need of a foe; for unless it finds one somewhere, no pretext exists for the enormous revenue and taxation now deemed necessary.

Therefore, it seeks in Russia the enemy it has lost in France, and appears to say to the universe, or to say to itself. "If nobody will be so kind as to become my foe, I shall need no more fleets nor armies, and shall be forced to reduce my taxes. The American war enabled me to double the taxes; the Dutch business to add more; the Nootka humbug gave me a pretext for raising three millions sterling more; but unless I can make an enemy of Russia the harvest from wars will end. I was the first to incite Turk against Russian, and now I hope to reap a fresh crop of taxes."

If the miseries of war, and the flood of evils it spreads over a country, did not check all inclination to mirth, and turn laughter into grief, the frantic conduct of the government of England would only excite ridicule. But it is impossible to banish from one's mind the images of suffering which the contemplation of such vicious policy presents. To reason with governments, as they have existed for ages, is to argue with brutes. It is only from the nations themselves that reforms can be expected. There ought not now to exist any doubt that the peoples of France, England, and America, enlightened and enlightening each other, shall henceforth be able, not merely to give the world an example of good government, but by their united influence enforce its practice.

Thomas Paine

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/3742/3742-h/3742-h.htm

Democracy in crisis?

Capitalism seems to follow Marx's prediction and stumble from crisis to crisis almost automatically. On the other hand democracy seems to create a system that increases inequality.
Indeed, contemporary democracy is in a crisis and has shown its many deficiencies. Same as in the past - Socrates was democratically murdered, remember? And a communist country was the first to open space for humanity. Still democracy and free markets seem like the most capable systems to produce constantly improving quality of life and will continue to do so if "We the middle-class" keep those two systems in check.

Afghanistan - another Vietnam? How can we fix it?

In Afghanistan things seem to be worse than in Vietnam of the 60's. Unfortunately no Woodstock to follow. The problem is not that the US government is making errors - we all do. We are human - not divine. The problem is that after all this time, blood and money spent they haven't learnt anything. That's how it will look on the surface. Blame it on stupidity. That though will be naïve and irresponsible. The US government is not dumb - it is powerful. The only logical conclusion then will be is that is exactly what they want - an draining of US resources for the benefit of... I don't know who but tell me if you have any ideas?

Why is socialism so appealing?

Socialism is naturally appealing because it proclaims that society shall have as it's goal the prosperity of it's members. Socialism proclaims equality as it's goal. There is nothing wrong with that because that is the goal of every democratic country remember - We the people. The problem is that socialism. wants to do that by claiming the right to seize people's property in the interest of society that is it's inherent flaw. By jeopardising a central right of the individual you start feeling free to deprive people of other rights too and that leads to a dictatorship. Because there is no 'society' that is a fiction. In reality only individuals exist and their pursuit of happiness - which is based on the right to own part of that reality. Society only exists as a free association of the individuals to gain the cooperation of others to pursue their individual goals more effectively.

For more: https://factsandtheoriessite.wordpress.com/2017/10/30/this-world-is-about-me/

Globalism - good or bad?

Why are  most people apprehensive of globalism? Isn’t it better if the whole world is organized from one center with no wars, conflicts, borders and custom control? Probably it is due to the negative experience with the infectiveness and wastefulness of organizations like the UN and the EU and above all the lack of accountability that causes the wastefulness and probably the ineffectiveness too. It is much more easier to control your local council at a town hall meeting than a faceless global company that pays its taxes in some offshore entity. That and the inherent corruption and ineffectiveness of major international organizations like the UN and EU gives globalism a bad name. On the other hand, we all love the global internet and ultimately benefit from international agreements facilitating global travel, currency exchange and goods delivery. The simple answer is - globalism is good, but it is still to crude to be satisfactory. More accountability and transparency will deprive it from its tendency to slide towards corruption and waste covered by secrecy. If you think about it the mayor of New York and the general secretary of the UN located in the same city may seem equally distant to the locals there.