Dr.Who
Well-Known Member
I have been a follower of politics for a number of years now. In fact since I began on this board many of you have seen my development. In the beginning I was sure that politics itself was the problem; if politicians could just get past the inherent problems of the system then daily problems could get solved. But it soon became clear that one party was far superior to the other party in terms of policies that were good for the whole country instead of just good for a few constituents.
Over the years, I have noticed, that my pastor for example, is as far as I can tell, apolitical. He focuses on the greater truths of God and lets politics fall where it may. Commendable, but great pastors in the past were not apolitical - they engaged the populace to make an impact for the better. Jesus was not apolitical. Maybe a problem we have in politics as that too many pastors and people of faith are apolitical. In general too many people are apathetic.
I don't have high hopes for the people losing their apathy. I doubt the much maligned (and why?) Tea Party can get past its seemingly odd mixture of simultaneous energy and withdrawal. I doubt the majority of good people can stop focusing on their own families. I doubt the ignorant masses can become educated. I doubt these people can ever overcome the persistent control of what is on their minds by those in power.
How can the Average Joe ever be a force for good if the very arguments we debate are all determined by those who do not want us to be looking at what is really going on. The latest scandal is nothing compared to our problems. The government shutdown is not the big picture. We are the audience and the magician so cleverly misdirects our attention.
Recently I have been looking at aspects of our economy that I have not looked at in this way before. I see how powerful players manipulate the markets - but not just the markets - they manipulate the data we all use to think about the markets. But not just that, they control the very system that makes everything work. And these people are not just Democrats or Republicans (that is a meaningless distinction), they are not just rich and poor (though they tend to be rich), They are not just politicians or business as these two forces both cooperate and compete with each other in this game they use to own their slice of the world.
They are not a grand conspiracy either. What they are in a nutshell is people who want power. And power being the ability to make change this is neither good nor bad in itself. I want power to feed my family and that is good. I have no doubt that some of these people want power for noble intentions. But a great many of the powerful want power just to be powerful (a truism of sorts).
They are all too successful. They do indeed have so much power. I am less than a cog in a gear that runs the system they use to gain power. I contribute in a small way to their power just by being. And if I drop out who do I hurt most but me? If I fight back I become a small two bit player vying for the same power they already have. I would be no different. All that is left to me is to pray and love my Lord. Who knows, is that really what I should have been doing all along. In the world but not of the world?
What will become of this world? I imagine what will come based on my incomplete understanding which I am thinking is far greater than that of a random man on the street: the powerful get more power and they control an ever widening circle of influence over my (and your) life. They become the paternalist who both takes charge and takes care of us for our own good (but mostly for theirs). They know that for as powerful as they are they too individually do not have that much power. They can't step out of the game and yet they must see the train wreck coming. There is a good chance the economy will crash on a major scale. Many of the powerful will lose their fortunes as will just about every middle class person in the set of nations most effected. The poor will have entitlements and the middle class will be poor sharing in those entitlements alike. Do we need Obamacare? The nannies have taken over the household and when it is on fire all the children must run to them or perish. As long as they are intent on being the nanny; the pater; the wet nurse; the governess, then they must also take care of us or watch us all die. Most are not so cruel so they are quite willing to take on more power and take on the role of feeding and clothing and providing healthcare for all the sucklings. With whatever morality they have they have no choice but to offer medicaid, medicare, obamacare, and a thousand others ending in care.
This is an end result of the evil that infects the world. Pour too much salt in the dough and the yeast may yet die off but that will be one horrible tasting flat loaf of bread and the mob will not stand a day without their brioche let alone a lowly donut. A revolution might reverse course for a bit but the wheels will keep turning much the same but with new bosses. It could even turn out worse for a time. A monetary collapse which I think is the less likely of the problems we face could cause the world to turn toward socialism rather than against. The masses will clamor for help and the powerful will be all to willing to give it on their terms.
This ambassador is disillusioned and is tempted to bury my silver in the ground where it will not grow but at least will not be lost.
Over the years, I have noticed, that my pastor for example, is as far as I can tell, apolitical. He focuses on the greater truths of God and lets politics fall where it may. Commendable, but great pastors in the past were not apolitical - they engaged the populace to make an impact for the better. Jesus was not apolitical. Maybe a problem we have in politics as that too many pastors and people of faith are apolitical. In general too many people are apathetic.
I don't have high hopes for the people losing their apathy. I doubt the much maligned (and why?) Tea Party can get past its seemingly odd mixture of simultaneous energy and withdrawal. I doubt the majority of good people can stop focusing on their own families. I doubt the ignorant masses can become educated. I doubt these people can ever overcome the persistent control of what is on their minds by those in power.
How can the Average Joe ever be a force for good if the very arguments we debate are all determined by those who do not want us to be looking at what is really going on. The latest scandal is nothing compared to our problems. The government shutdown is not the big picture. We are the audience and the magician so cleverly misdirects our attention.
Recently I have been looking at aspects of our economy that I have not looked at in this way before. I see how powerful players manipulate the markets - but not just the markets - they manipulate the data we all use to think about the markets. But not just that, they control the very system that makes everything work. And these people are not just Democrats or Republicans (that is a meaningless distinction), they are not just rich and poor (though they tend to be rich), They are not just politicians or business as these two forces both cooperate and compete with each other in this game they use to own their slice of the world.
They are not a grand conspiracy either. What they are in a nutshell is people who want power. And power being the ability to make change this is neither good nor bad in itself. I want power to feed my family and that is good. I have no doubt that some of these people want power for noble intentions. But a great many of the powerful want power just to be powerful (a truism of sorts).
They are all too successful. They do indeed have so much power. I am less than a cog in a gear that runs the system they use to gain power. I contribute in a small way to their power just by being. And if I drop out who do I hurt most but me? If I fight back I become a small two bit player vying for the same power they already have. I would be no different. All that is left to me is to pray and love my Lord. Who knows, is that really what I should have been doing all along. In the world but not of the world?
What will become of this world? I imagine what will come based on my incomplete understanding which I am thinking is far greater than that of a random man on the street: the powerful get more power and they control an ever widening circle of influence over my (and your) life. They become the paternalist who both takes charge and takes care of us for our own good (but mostly for theirs). They know that for as powerful as they are they too individually do not have that much power. They can't step out of the game and yet they must see the train wreck coming. There is a good chance the economy will crash on a major scale. Many of the powerful will lose their fortunes as will just about every middle class person in the set of nations most effected. The poor will have entitlements and the middle class will be poor sharing in those entitlements alike. Do we need Obamacare? The nannies have taken over the household and when it is on fire all the children must run to them or perish. As long as they are intent on being the nanny; the pater; the wet nurse; the governess, then they must also take care of us or watch us all die. Most are not so cruel so they are quite willing to take on more power and take on the role of feeding and clothing and providing healthcare for all the sucklings. With whatever morality they have they have no choice but to offer medicaid, medicare, obamacare, and a thousand others ending in care.
This is an end result of the evil that infects the world. Pour too much salt in the dough and the yeast may yet die off but that will be one horrible tasting flat loaf of bread and the mob will not stand a day without their brioche let alone a lowly donut. A revolution might reverse course for a bit but the wheels will keep turning much the same but with new bosses. It could even turn out worse for a time. A monetary collapse which I think is the less likely of the problems we face could cause the world to turn toward socialism rather than against. The masses will clamor for help and the powerful will be all to willing to give it on their terms.
This ambassador is disillusioned and is tempted to bury my silver in the ground where it will not grow but at least will not be lost.
