Serenity In The Face Of Death

It seems everywhere I turn, I'm surrounded by death.

Natural disasters, accidents, behavioral violence (murder, terrorism, etc.), structural violence (death from poverty, etc.)...

Today's bombing of Boston is just another reminder of the sick web of violence spread all over the world. Violence that can occur at any moment.

Thus reminding us just how fragile life is...

For anyone in distress, I have provided you with what I believe to be very soothing music.

It is the soundtrack of John Coffey's death in the film The Green Mile.

While that particular scene, and the overall story itself, is heart-breaking, I find the music that plays during it to be assuaging.

The music, combined with the comforting handshake that Paul Edgecomb (Tom Hanks) gives John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan), sings of connection and the reality that human beings and all other living things are connected. Whatever happens, we will never truly leave each other, and there's a solid chance something good is waiting for us on the other side.

Deconstruction Of The Market And Government

I have learned something very important, and I am obliged to spread the message:

You know how people often argue "big" government vs. "small" government? Well, there are numerous problems with that frame of debate, but the most devastating one is that the entire thing is a screaming example of a false duality.

Defenders of the "ideal free market" argue government interference is bad. Opponents argue that government intervention is not only good but also necessary.

Both sides are completely missing the big picture.

All post-hunter-gather, scarcity-oriented societies revolve around their respective economic system. Just as the feudalist societies revolved around land and the relationships and ownerships associated with it, so do today's societies (with the arguable exception of the few remaining hunter-gather societies) revolve around businesses and industries. The government, therefore, is an extension of the market. To argue, as the aforementioned false duality does, that the government and market are somehow completely separate entities is not only ridiculous, but also dangerously obfuscating.

Advocates of the state fail to recognize that the state both intervenes regularly and inevitably exists to serve the dominant players and monopolies of the market, as well as defend the capitalist social order and all its values. Meanwhile, the "free market" advocates fail to recognize that the state is a natural extension of the market and that, by the rules and standards of the competition, businesses would be insane NOT to use the state for their own benefit.

Furthermore, with this information in mind, I will refute a commonfallacy that is sadly all too pervasive today: the "free market" is not "free" in the sense that most people think it is. To say the market is "free" really means that the dominant players in it are "free" to suppress competition, grab whatever resources they can find (up to and including the entire earth and human beings), exploit whatever they can for their own benefit, and basically do whatever they want and get away with it.

Many argue that the cartels and monopolies like those we see today have gone too far, and that they are some kind of "distortion" of the free market.

I'm sorry, but that argument is complete bullshit. Competition for any and every advantage one can get (up to and including one's own survival) inherently leads to a minority dominating the majority.

For the icing on the cake, I leave those still in disagreement with a question:

Where do you think the game MONOPOLY came from?

I rest my case.

For The Record (Episode 2)

This post is in response to general attitudes that are really pissing me off:

First, the system didn't "provide" me with jack shit! Technology, scientific progress, and human awakening created the high standards by which we live. The market rides on the backs of these achievements, eventually ensnaring them, as in its views they are only commodities. Thus, only those who are wealthy enough get access to best of these things.
The main reason I have as much as I do in the way of healthcare, education, and other benefits is overwhelming the fact that I was born into a pretty privileged family. Did I work hard in school, my jobs, and in general? Yes, I sure as hell did. But if I was poor (especially if I also happened to not have white skin), you can bet your ass I would have a much more difficult life, and would have little to none of these things that many out there, particularly the well-to-do, constantly take for granted and snidely claim that either they "earned" or the system is so great it "gave" them what they have.

Second, I love how everyone who tries to bring about change (which is the natural state of the universe by the way) to a static, sick social order that inherently leads to corruption, poor public health, inequality, and countless other social ills are labeled as "egotistical" and are generally implied to be lazy, stupid, or otherwise horrible people. Meanwhile, the people doing the aforementioned name-calling also say and do, among other things, the following:
- "Nothing's wrong with slavery."
- "Women belong in the kitchen."
- "America can do no wrong, and it's the greatest country in the world."
- "We fight for freedom and democracy."
- "It's every man for himself."
- "Everyone always gets what they deserve."
- "The poor are lazy and stupid, and deserve their fate."
- "Competition is good for people."
- "War is natural for humans, and has always been there."
- "Homosexuality is not natural."
- "Anyone can get to the top if they work hard enough."
- "[Insert any kind of collective action, public service, or general social welfare] is a leftist/socialist/Marxist/communist conspiracy!"
- Promote "survival of the fittest!" (bonus: they still claim that it was Darwin's idea!)

I could go on and on. Notice anything about all these things? Like, maybe the fact that they have all been PROVEN WRONG (by either history, research, or both)?!!

So I ask you this: who's got the real ego issues?

Beyond Orwell

If the polls are accurate and truly representative of people, it appears that more than three quarters of the American population approve of state-sponsored mass murder of anyone, domestic or foreign, the government (and by extension, the corporatocracy) doesn't like.

I could go on and on about the implications, the consequences, etc. But I'm not going to. First, because it should be more than evident to anyone with both a brain and a soul. If a person lacks either or both, they're not even deserving of thoughts about them. Second, because there is nothing I can say that countless amazing souls working for a better world haven't already said.

Nobody seems to notice, nobody seems to care. As much as I despise this stuff and it is always haunting me, I'm ready to accept whatever happens. It's the only thing I really can do now.

I gave up on Americans long ago. Perhaps others may still disagree, but I really do believe it's up to the rest of the world to take the lead. If they can, a lot of good can come about. If they fail... humanity's had a good run.

For The Record (Episode 1)

"Corporatism is not capitalism."
- Various libertarians/free-market worshippers

I have heard this statement far too many times for my own sanity; it's really taking a toll...

Corporatism is the final stage of the natural progression of capitalism. Capitalism is, by definition, people competing with each other for any and every advantage they can get,  profit, resources, and power. In short, it is entirely based on taking advantage of everything, including other human beings.

The last thing a capitalist wants is more competition. Furthermore, the only way to effectively eliminate that competition is to dominate the market, via buying up other competitors, assets, and resources. This system inherently leads to corporations, cartels, and monopolies.

To those still in doubt, I ask you this:

Where do you think the game MONOPOLY came from?
What do you think it is based on?

I rest my case.