Our Republic is not democratic

What if your opinion mattered?
What if you had a choice in where your tax dollars went?
What if your representative was held accountable to you more than every 2 to 4 years?

Deep Thought

Democrats want to be your mommy. Republicans want to be your daddy.
-anon libertarian

Deep Thought

The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.
Mohandas Gandhi

The movement

My cynicism has made me accept the idea that most people in a movement are only fighting injustices that affect them. If it involves someone different, they're not interested or they don't want to put in the effort. Worse is when they agree with the injustice against someone different.
Some begrudgingly realize they have to address an injustice against someone different in order to properly fight their own cause.
We're tricked into thinking when a person joins a movement they have moved beyond trying to eradicate their own suffering, when most of the time it's really about aligning with like-minded individuals to eradicate one's own suffering. Or to identify with those who have been through suffering that one has overcome.
I'd use animal rights activists as an exception but I've heard some of the things said.
It's why I especially admire people who stand up for others that are nothing like themselves or their family.

Deep Horoscope

Poet Gerard Manley Hopkins coined the verb "to selve," which is what a person does in the process of creating his or her distinctive presence in the world. Writing this column is an ongoing opportunity for me to selve, for example, because each time I conjure up a new horoscope I exercise the idiosyncratic combination of skills, attitudes, training, and knowledge that is special to me. According to my reading of the omens, Gemini, you are in a phase when you have a sacred duty to selve with extra intensity and alacrity. In fact, I suggest you be ruthless in seeking out experiences that give you a chance to tap into, cultivate, and express your most unique qualities.

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SACRED ADVERTISEMENT
Neither God nor the gods are dead, but they seem to be disappearing because so few of us are capable of carrying on authentic relationships with them anymore. The materialist delusion rules: Millions believe that nothing's real unless it can be perceived by the senses. Churches and temples are full of ethical people, but many of them have no clue about how to know or feel or converse with the divine intelligences.

What can the deities do, having been banished from our conscious knowing? Jung said they have no recourse but to worm their way into our lives as sickness and pathology. Repressed, they come in the back door.

Which of your maladies or pains might be gods in disguise? How might you get them to take off their masks and begin knocking on the front door?

White people face racism

I think this is a lot more serious than people think.
It's not the first time I've heard it and it's not going to be the last.
I think it's the same scenario it's always been.
The economy gets bad for everyone and the people who are responsible bamboozle white people.
Whenever white people fall on hard times, they can't believe it's the corporations or capitalism screwing them over,
they have to believe that it's the 'other guy'
They really are lead to believe that 'racial equality is a zero sum game, in which gains for one group mean losses for the other.' Racism is a powerful tool when corporations are making record profits and making white people think that's ok.
The elites in this country know they'd be in trouble If more working class white people could properly connect the dots

Click title for story

Not playing the game

Realized that when I'm attracted to someone it just means that I'm open to it not that I want to pursue it
Actually, I have no real desire to find a mate.

I'm not opposed to it but I've never put any real effort into it.

As I remember, I've never actively pursued anyone.

I've had crushes but rarely ever wanted to make any more out of it.

It might be a sex drive thing. Though I know people I find sexually attractive and I've been struck stupid silent by some

I've blown off most people who have been interested in me.

Oh well, if it happens, it happens; but not with any help from me

Climate Change

There are people who say that climate change is a natural phenomenon, a cycle that happens with or without our help.

Some say there is nothing we can do to stop the climate change

So I'll take it to another level.

We can see how our energy sources are affecting us and our children now.

The changes we need to make to reduce emissions and finding better energy alternatives matter to improve our standard of living right now.

*post previously titled 'global warming'. keeping up

American Income

Click on link for census report on income in america

Pay attention to Table A-2.

Selected Measures of Household Income Dispersion: 1967 to 2009

Nature and Nurture in Human Behavior

Plenty of people have gotten in discussions about whether a particular behavior is influenced by genetics or the environment. Is homosexuality natural? Is violence learned.
I think it's all of the above. You have a genetic component that has to be activated(epigenetics). Then it has to be biologically supported by hormones or other chemicals. Then it has to be nurtured and supported by the environment.
If any of these links are missing, there is less of a chance for the behavior to manifest in a healthy way

Genetics/heredity is about capability, chance, potential, predisposition,
not predetermination, destiny, set in stone

Above all, we have a choice.

Media Bias

Every media outlet is biased
If it's not directly from the producers, board members, or share holders, it's in catering to the target audience
Whether it's 20-40 year old liberals or 40-70 year old conservatives;
They're going to say what the viewers want to hear so they'll keep coming back for more. They don't even have to believe the things they are reporting

Second most important thing...

Everyone knows the most important thing in any relationship is communication
The next thing is timing
Some say that people have the ability to fall in love with anybody. This is doubtful but feasible if timing is taken into account
Both people have to be at the right place in their lives to properly receive the other
sometimes you meet someone who seems great. But the timing is off

Of course I don't include love in this equation because we're supposed to love everyone anyway, so it's kind of moot

Please Do Not Touch

If you've ever been to a museum, you'll remember seeing signs all over the place stating: 'Please Do Not Touch'
Artists give their work to museums for the public to enjoy. They created their art for others to admire it's beauty. The art was meant to spark a reaction. To show off talents. To stimulate erotic feelings.
Most people know that touching a painting will ruin it over time. You're not even allowed to take pictures at most museums because of the damage it causes.
Though some are so intricate and beautiful that we can't help it; but we know we're wrong.

Women's clothing has changed a lot over the decades. Women have more freedom to show their bodies. Some do it because they are proud of their physical accomplishments. The work they've put into their beauty. Some do it to express themselves artistically. Some do it to gain sexual attention. Plenty of reasons to show skin. Lots of it.

There's a phenomenon called Slutwalk that's making it's way across the western world.
Sparked by a Toronto police officer who stated:
“women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized”.

Why do we give inanimate objects more respect than we do human beings?
Should people have to attach "Do not touch" signs to their bodies?
Should people exhibit some common courtesy and know that you shouldn't touch a person unless invited?

If you touch the art, it's not the artist's fault for making something so beautiful. It's your disrespect.
If you touch a woman, it's not her fault. You're the asshole

Low Maintenance

All I need is good food,
Good music,
good company,
lots of laughs,
manual labor,
new places and ideas to explore,
the sea,
and cuddles

So is it because I'm this simple or because I'm afraid to ask for more?

What is a good relationship

A good relationship is one where intimacy develops slowly from a friendship to a commitment
You participate with a person who is capable of a fulfilling intimate relationship
They don't have deep emotional scars from their childhood or a previous relationship
They are capable of trusting and being trusted

A good relationship is one that is based on a commitment
You feel secure about the future of that relationship
There is no confusion or fear of abandonment
You do not have to cling to the person in your life for fear that they will want to pull away
You feel relaxed and are not anxious about losing the relationship

A good relationship is one where two people do not need each other
They are already individually strong
-the relationship enhances their lives
There is consistent sharing of pleasurable activities
You are not constantly disappointed or irritated by your partner's destructive habit
-alcoholism, affairs, drug abuse, or physical violence

A good relationship is a partnership that is based on friendship and respect
Your partner is your good friend, who encourages you to become your best
No one acts superior to the other
No one has to beg or plead
Parenting philosophies about discipline are collaborative and negotiated with the other
(no one feels inferior to the other)

A good relationship is one where there is a true intimacy of revealing and sharing yourself with your partner as they reveal and share themselves also
There is trust and concern about each other's welfare and happiness
You can openly talk about your needs
You are listened to

A good relationship is one where two individuals can resolve conflict in a peaceful and calm manner
Feelings can be openly expressed
Conflicts are resolved by coming to a compatible agreement
There is no right or wrong person if the agreed decision does not work out satisfactorily

A good relationship is one where both individuals see themselves as partners
There is good communication
There are feelings of closeness and joy
Both partners believe that they can gain far more by remembering to keep agreements
There is no need to dominate and compete with each other

A good relationship is one where two people maintain an enthusiasm about the other's hobbies, work, and friends
You can focus on your daily lives and the needs of your kids

A good relationship is one where each partner has a circle of friends and interests outside the relationship
You are not isolated

A good relationship is one where there is talk of a future together
You feel reassured by the relationship's steadfast constancy
You feel cherished and you feel contentment
You maintain your personal dignity

A good relationship is one where both parties balance each other in taking actions to make the relationship work
You are not a martyr

- still looking for source

Quiz

Red Flags

So there's shit people do that indicates trouble down the road.
Some times I look at these lists and think "is everyone I know fucked up?"

from heartless bitches

a sort of book of red flags

real red flags from Safeplace

Characteristics of Fascism

1. Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism. From the prominent displays of flags and bunting to the ubiquitous lapel pins, the fervor to show patriotic nationalism, both on the part of the regime itself and of citizens caught up in its frenzy, was always obvious. Catchy slogans, pride in the military, and demands for unity were common themes in expressing this nationalism. It was usually coupled with a suspicion of things foreign that often bordered on xenophobia.

2. Disdain for the importance of human rights. The regimes themselves viewed human rights as of little value and a hindrance to realizing the objectives of the ruling elite. Through clever use of propaganda, the population was brought to accept these human rights abuses by marginalizing, even demonizing, those being targeted. When abuse was egregious, the tactic was to use secrecy, denial, and disinformation.

3. Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause. The most significant common thread among these regimes was the use of scapegoating as a means to divert the people’s attention from other problems, to shift blame for failures, and to channel frustration in controlled directions. The methods of choice—relentless propaganda and disinformation—were usually effective. Often the regimes would incite “spontaneous” acts against the target scapegoats, usually communists, socialists, liberals, Jews, ethnic and racial minorities, traditional national enemies, members of other religions, secularists, homosexuals, and “terrorists.” Active opponents of these regimes were inevitably labeled as terrorists and dealt with accordingly.

4. The supremacy of the military/avid militarism. Ruling elites always identified closely with the military and the industrial infrastructure that supported it. A disproportionate share of national resources was allocated to the military, even when domestic needs were acute. The military was seen as an expression of nationalism, and was used whenever possible to assert national goals, intimidate other nations, and increase the power and prestige of the ruling elite.

5. Rampant sexism. Beyond the simple fact that the political elite and the national culture were male-dominated, these regimes inevitably viewed women as second-class citizens. They were adamantly anti-abortion and also homophobic. These attitudes were usually codified in Draconian laws that enjoyed strong support by the orthodox religion of the country, thus lending the regime cover for its abuses.

6. A controlled mass media. Under some of the regimes, the mass media were under strict direct control and could be relied upon never to stray from the party line. Other regimes exercised more subtle power to ensure media orthodoxy. Methods included the control of licensing and access to resources, economic pressure, appeals to patriotism, and implied threats. The leaders of the mass media were often politically compatible with the power elite. The result was usually success in keeping the general public unaware of the regimes’ excesses.

7. Obsession with national security. Inevitably, a national security apparatus was under direct control of the ruling elite. It was usually an instrument of oppression, operating in secret and beyond any constraints. Its actions were justified under the rubric of protecting “national security,” and questioning its activities was portrayed as unpatriotic or even treasonous.

8. Religion and ruling elite tied together. Unlike communist regimes, the fascist and protofascist regimes were never proclaimed as godless by their opponents. In fact, most of the regimes attached themselves to the predominant religion of the country and chose to portray themselves as militant defenders of that religion. The fact that the ruling elite’s behavior was incompatible with the precepts of the religion was generally swept under the rug. Propaganda kept up the illusion that the ruling elites were defenders of the faith and opponents of the “godless.” A perception was manufactured that opposing the power elite was tantamount to an attack on religion.

9. Power of corporations protected. Although the personal life of ordinary citizens was under strict control, the ability of large corporations to operate in relative freedom was not compromised. The ruling elite saw the corporate structure as a way to not only ensure military production (in developed states), but also as an additional means of social control. Members of the economic elite were often pampered by the political elite to ensure a continued mutuality of interests, especially in the repression of “have-not” citizens.

10. Power of labor suppressed or eliminated. Since organized labor was seen as the one power center that could challenge the political hegemony of the ruling elite and its corporate allies, it was inevitably crushed or made powerless. The poor formed an underclass, viewed with suspicion or outright contempt. Under some regimes, being poor was considered akin to a vice.

11. Disdain and suppression of intellectuals and the arts. Intellectuals and the inherent freedom of ideas and expression associated with them were anathema to these regimes. Intellectual and academic freedom were considered subversive to national security and the patriotic ideal. Universities were tightly controlled; politically unreliable faculty harassed or eliminated. Unorthodox ideas or expressions of dissent were strongly attacked, silenced, or crushed. To these regimes, art and literature should serve the national interest or they had no right to exist.

12. Obsession with crime and punishment. Most of these regimes maintained Draconian systems of criminal justice with huge prison populations. The police were often glorified and had almost unchecked power, leading to rampant abuse. “Normal” and political crime were often merged into trumped-up criminal charges and sometimes used against political opponents of the regime. Fear, and hatred, of criminals or “traitors” was often promoted among the population as an excuse for more police power.

13. Rampant cronyism and corruption. Those in business circles and close to the power elite often used their position to enrich themselves. This corruption worked both ways; the power elite would receive financial gifts and property from the economic elite, who in turn would gain the benefit of government favoritism. Members of the power elite were in a position to obtain vast wealth from other sources as well: for example, by stealing national resources. With the national security apparatus under control and the media muzzled, this corruption was largely unconstrained and not well understood by the general population.

14. Fraudulent elections. Elections in the form of plebiscites or public opinion polls were usually bogus. When actual elections with candidates were held, they would usually be perverted by the power elite to get the desired result. Common methods included maintaining control of the election machinery, intimidating and disenfranchising opposition voters, destroying or disallowing legal votes, and, as a last resort, turning to a judiciary beholden to the power elite.

The Affirmations of Humanism: A Statement of Principles

• We are committed to the application of reason and science to the understanding of the universe and to the solving of human problems.
• We deplore efforts to denigrate human intelligence, to seek to explain the world in supernatural terms, and to look outside nature for salvation.
• We believe that scientific discovery and technology can contribute to the betterment of human life.
• We believe in an open and pluralistic society and that democracy is the best guarantee of protecting human rights from authoritarian elites and repressive majorities.
• We are committed to the principle of the separation of church and state.
• We cultivate the arts of negotiation and compromise as a means of resolving differences and achieving mutual understanding.
• We are concerned with securing justice and fairness in society and with eliminating discrimination and intolerance.
• We believe in supporting the disadvantaged and the handicapped so that they will be able to help themselves.
• We attempt to transcend divisive parochial loyalties based on race, religion, gender, nationality, creed, class, sexual orientation, or ethnicity, and strive to work together for the common good of humanity.
• We want to protect and enhance the earth, to preserve it for future generations, and to avoid inflicting needless suffering on other species.
• We believe in enjoying life here and now and in developing our creative talents to their fullest.
• We believe in the cultivation of moral excellence.
• We respect the right to privacy. Mature adults should be allowed to fulfill their aspirations, to express their sexual preferences, to exercise reproductive freedom, to have access to comprehensive and informed health-care, and to die with dignity.
• We believe in the common moral decencies: altruism, integrity, honesty, truthfulness, responsibility. Humanist ethics is amenable to critical, rational guidance. There are normative standards that we discover together. Moral principles are tested by their consequences.
• We are deeply concerned with the moral education of our children. We want to nourish reason and compassion.
• We are engaged by the arts no less than by the sciences.
• We are citizens of the universe and are excited by discoveries still to be made in the cosmos.
• We are skeptical of untested claims to knowledge, and we are open to novel ideas and seek new departures in our thinking.
• We affirm humanism as a realistic alternative to theologies of despair and ideologies of violence and as a source of rich personal significance and genuine satisfaction in the service to others.
• We believe in optimism rather than pessimism, hope rather than despair, learning in the place of dogma, truth instead of ignorance, joy rather than guilt or sin, tolerance in the place of fear, love instead of hatred, compassion over selfishness, beauty instead of ugliness, and reason rather than blind faith or irrationality.
• We believe in the fullest realization of the best and noblest that we are capable of as human beings.

Deep Thought

whoever controls the past controls the future
it is imperative that all voices are heard. No one is silenced.

see the truth and unite

white people will become a part of the solution when they realize that they are being used.
It's one thing to know you're being oppressed and know who your oppressor is. it's another to not even know you're being oppressed or by whom; and then defend your oppressor because they're so good at manipulating you.
Especially when you're privilege is slowly dwindling and your oppressor (the one who is taking what they gave you in order to gain more power) is pointing at the minorities in the country, claiming that everything you hold dear is being taken by people who don't deserve it, didn't contribute to it, and don't need it (this is true of the oppressor).
The oppressor is rationing out overpriced (and rising) resources that they've convinced us we can't live without. They create this myth of scarcity and take advantage of our baser human instincts.
When we all realize that divide and conquer is one of the greatest tools of the oppressor, then we can unite and do what needs to be done.