Thought I'd add my own perspectives that build from yesterday's post.
We would say bygone cultures that used to sacrifice people to ensure the sun rose the next day were foolishly wrong - and sadly dangerous. I would say any time we sacrifice each other to any deity we are mimicking this ancient civilization.
From my current course-book on religions: "...the adjective civil conveys something socially acceptable and well-mannered" and "...its opposite, uncivilized, is taken to stand for that which is crude, vulgar, unsanitary, or ignorant." I won't mention the irony of using 'civil war' as some type of logical description; nothing civil about it, and if we were honest, we'd call them 'un-civil wars'.
This 'civil' definition is handy to keep in mind when we compare our god, The Almighty Dollar, to the ancient Sun God. Which one is more real? Which one has seen the most sacrifices? Which one receives the most heartfelt prayers? Which is 'socially acceptable and well-mannered'?
Does any of this seem idiotic to you? (If you think it's me, quit reading. This blog isn't for you!)
What I didn't do yesterday was run some extensions on the monetary crisis we're in. And I want to apologize to Richard if I mangle 'economic system' with 'monetary system'. The two are different in nature, in that a true economic system is concerned with the production and flow of goods and services. A monetary system is intended to support an economic structure, but can morph into an overpowering, self-contained entity - pretending to be the 'economic system' but in truth devouring it.
The Ultimate Irony is when we fail to remember 'this monetary beast' (or god) is an abstract creation of human creation. Economic systems develop whenever humans begin exchanging and interacting to mutual benefit; regardless of how they choose to design this, it is as fundamental as an eco-system interacting for the animals and plants within it. It doesn't matter if we throw our gatherings and skills into one pot and share fairly, barter between ourselves, or design a symbol to facilitate economic trading - whether shells, coin, or paper.
Economic systems, then, are intended to be collectively beneficial from the contributions of the inhabitants participating and living in it. A monetary system is based on exchange-symbols to more easily exchange between individuals. While it is such, it can be a 'civil' - socially acceptable and well-mannered.
Through human depravity, including greed, power, envy and deceit, a 'civil' monetary system takes on a life of its own, becoming its own reason for existence and fueled by the ignorance of many. Those that truly recognize and flame this beast do it from greed and power; their own henchmen don't understand the true nature and believe their role is economically sound. Therein lies the error.
As much as the news is squabbling about bail-outs, bonuses, AIG, housing, and so forth, the deeper realization is "it doesn't matter". In the long run, the borrowed money will be put into circulation (that's their hope, generating new fodder to feed the predatory nature of this beast) whether it is through bonus-receiving folks or housing props. What isn't being discussed is the original state of these funds: "BORROWED." With interest. Not from or within our government, but through a banking industry separate from what is supposed to be a governing body engaged in moderating the social welfare, economic distribution, and well-being of its citizens; i.e., not sacrificing them to a monetary system of god-like proportions.
If a person borrows money, they have to pay it back. With interest. And in our current set-up (and set-up is an accurate description), this can range from 2% to over 30%, often under control of the Loaners. It doesn't matter what the person does with the money, he or she, said spouse, potentially their estate, owes it and the accrued interest. This is also true within our current paradigm of 'borrowing to get out of debt' - it doesn't matter where Obama or anyone else places this newly-created money, it is not enough to pay itself off with interest, ever. And we're all held liable for these debts.
As long as we collectively agree to continue accepting this monetary system and burdens, it flourishs and holds us in its grasp.
While it's in place, we are much like the Sun-sacrificers above. We will scrabble for our crumbs, sacrifice others, squabble over who gets the pieces, trample each other to snap up foreclosures if we are in a position to do so, hoard our gold (present company excluded - we're probably the ones being targeted by the "send your old gold now!" commercials), and engage in disagreeing over who to blame and how to feed the beast.
I ask, is this abstraction actually real? Ideal? Is it the best we can do as a collective humanity that considers itself 'civilized'? We are so immersed in these concepts, they govern our daily lives, yet is it not of human design and creation? Then cannot humans redesign and recreate it? If it's generating fear, greed, panic, desperation, sacrifice - then can it be 'healthy' for society?
Those who first contemplated sun-sacrifice as potentially unnecessary were probably slaughtered as offensive to the gods. It was ingrained into their society that this was the only way to guarantee the sun's return, and they dare not risk "the sun not coming up." They were dependent on the sun, loathe to offend it, and the huge risk at sunset of perpetual night if they didn't... We'd toss a neighbor or two in, too?
We are living in the same fear. We think they were irrational. Ditto.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Of $erious Contemplation
For all folks think I'm a little nuts - yet I don't delve much into the worldly news, because I catch too much insanity spouted as logic and fact. The folks are usually sincere and serious, but they are what they've been taught. When folks learn from the same Book and fail to explore the origins of The Book, they will differ on points presented in it, but not on the Book itself.
Now - is that religion or economists?
I suggest the pattern of both is similar. There is a belief and minor factions that grow up in both, and fierce followers will defend The Book itself, even as they bicker between themselves as to the exact application of phrases. Ironically, in both religion and economics, the supporters fully believe they are the sophisticated, right-track thinkers, whether Bible-thumping or Economic Professor.
As devastating as it is to examine one's own religion and find gaps, as risky as it is to contemplate hell-fire if one dares questions, and as firmly one clings to this 'which has been taught life-long' - the folks that have been immersed in studying our economic structure are as enculturated with these beliefs as any devout religious student.
Both are firmly planted within the individual. Both take a huge amount of courage to face and possibly reconfigure one's beliefs if an error in Origin is discovered. Few have this courage, and the longer the study, it seems the harder to 'break tradition'. After all, one is surrounded by peers who validate the Beliefs, and one's very life is defined within these perimeters.
I would as soon argue a religious discrepancy with a priest as debate the premises upon which our economic system is built with an Economist. Both conversations will likely be unsuccessful, and serve only to horrify and panic the listener. In self-defense, they will shut out that which threatens these dearly-held beliefs, and I would be serving no useful purpose.
Yet on Economics, most of our teachings stem from one source, one text. Ironed in various ways, but the same 'Bible' - that originated in the last century. (Richard Kotlarz pointed this out to me; personally, I grew up questioning everything, so was a bit more skeptical than normal on all things.) Our schools, higher institutions, and learned professors teach economics along this same structure, pulling out supporting texts that are based on the same source. The Source itself is not questioned.
It is prevalent in our news today. Bail-outs, AIG, bonuses. The feeding frenzy, witch-hunting, sacrifices and bickering of religious history have a counterpart erupting in current, sophisticated times. Par for the course, the next level of subordinates are coming in for their pieces: i.e. the lawyers are gearing up. And the economists expound on their favorite passages, dissecting them to prove the validity of 'their point' against all others... from the same source. And the general public herds around their favorite leaders, absorbing the same beliefs and parroting the same script.
I have only one hope for Obama. I hope he fully understands the Original Error, and is playing the same game those of us have been known to do when we wake up to our own credit vultures. The personal struggle and defeat turns to cynicism, leading some to intentionally 'go for broke,' maximizing limits before folding their cards (literally, hm?). I sincerely hope Obama understands the Game and the Source. His huge bail-outs then would be an intentional max-out of credit before 'declaring bankruptcy against the Federal Reserve' and rewriting the very script by which our economic system operates.
I can only hope!
I received this comment recently: "N--- has made a comment on The System, defined by Marbles: What an amazing representation of how money works in America!!!"
The truth buried within this clip is that our 'national debt' is well over the $8 billion stated. It has expanded like a cancer out of control beyond one's ability to keep up with the growth. The original $8 billion was taken from statistics a few years old - only a few years old.
Now who's the psycho-babbler?
Now - is that religion or economists?
I suggest the pattern of both is similar. There is a belief and minor factions that grow up in both, and fierce followers will defend The Book itself, even as they bicker between themselves as to the exact application of phrases. Ironically, in both religion and economics, the supporters fully believe they are the sophisticated, right-track thinkers, whether Bible-thumping or Economic Professor.
As devastating as it is to examine one's own religion and find gaps, as risky as it is to contemplate hell-fire if one dares questions, and as firmly one clings to this 'which has been taught life-long' - the folks that have been immersed in studying our economic structure are as enculturated with these beliefs as any devout religious student.
Both are firmly planted within the individual. Both take a huge amount of courage to face and possibly reconfigure one's beliefs if an error in Origin is discovered. Few have this courage, and the longer the study, it seems the harder to 'break tradition'. After all, one is surrounded by peers who validate the Beliefs, and one's very life is defined within these perimeters.
I would as soon argue a religious discrepancy with a priest as debate the premises upon which our economic system is built with an Economist. Both conversations will likely be unsuccessful, and serve only to horrify and panic the listener. In self-defense, they will shut out that which threatens these dearly-held beliefs, and I would be serving no useful purpose.
Yet on Economics, most of our teachings stem from one source, one text. Ironed in various ways, but the same 'Bible' - that originated in the last century. (Richard Kotlarz pointed this out to me; personally, I grew up questioning everything, so was a bit more skeptical than normal on all things.) Our schools, higher institutions, and learned professors teach economics along this same structure, pulling out supporting texts that are based on the same source. The Source itself is not questioned.
It is prevalent in our news today. Bail-outs, AIG, bonuses. The feeding frenzy, witch-hunting, sacrifices and bickering of religious history have a counterpart erupting in current, sophisticated times. Par for the course, the next level of subordinates are coming in for their pieces: i.e. the lawyers are gearing up. And the economists expound on their favorite passages, dissecting them to prove the validity of 'their point' against all others... from the same source. And the general public herds around their favorite leaders, absorbing the same beliefs and parroting the same script.
I have only one hope for Obama. I hope he fully understands the Original Error, and is playing the same game those of us have been known to do when we wake up to our own credit vultures. The personal struggle and defeat turns to cynicism, leading some to intentionally 'go for broke,' maximizing limits before folding their cards (literally, hm?). I sincerely hope Obama understands the Game and the Source. His huge bail-outs then would be an intentional max-out of credit before 'declaring bankruptcy against the Federal Reserve' and rewriting the very script by which our economic system operates.
I can only hope!
I received this comment recently: "N--- has made a comment on The System, defined by Marbles: What an amazing representation of how money works in America!!!"
The truth buried within this clip is that our 'national debt' is well over the $8 billion stated. It has expanded like a cancer out of control beyond one's ability to keep up with the growth. The original $8 billion was taken from statistics a few years old - only a few years old.
Now who's the psycho-babbler?
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Life in My World, or just shoot me...
First, I'd like to thank Jim for insights on Styrofoam. From personal experience, I still think it's more pleasant than old fiberglass insulation or sheet rock dust, though vacuuming it out of my hair does rank about 2 on a pleasure scale of 10 - it rates a 2, because if I'm actually de-foaming my hair, then there must be a temporary pause in the work... and it's not fiberglass.
Speaking of hair, I thought I'd knock the (ahem) few grays back a couple of years. Tried "Dark Mahogany Brown" - first time in my life my hair has had more of a red tinge than my mother's did, but... 'mahogany' on gray is more 'cherry wood red', if you get my drift. Which didn't blend well with the 'dark brown' brown of everything else on my head. Hair being hair, I don't get too excited, but I did have a meeting on Saturday and a survey case to catch. So... I mixed up half a batch of "Dark Brown" - worked pretty good, but there's still some two-tone going on.
I already know no one else really cares much. If anything, we're all just glad it isn't us if hair-stuff goes awry. But it adds to a crystal moment of insanity.
I was running a bit late getting out on errands after messing with some indoor/outdoor carpeting on the porch, and I wanted to run the survey case before joining the meeting. My tire looked low, so my first stop in town would be to check it. However, before I could leave, the cold temps and letting the car sit for several days meant I had to slap the battery charger on it - conveniently kept in the back seat. Luckily, the extension cord still worked, even though I'd caught it under the snow with the snow blower mid-week and had to untangle cord from machine. So the battery's charging while I'm running in and out getting organized.
Sera's stumbling around trying to get a grip on her day, I'm digging through stuff in the living room that still isn't reorganized after a new tube of superglue - the old one had dried up. Luckily, I found a new one, so I'm on my way to glue my front cap-tooth in place, tripping over dogs everywhere, when the cat starts upchucking on the couch. At which point, I yell for Sera to deal with the cat while I proceed to glue the post back in. I have a chopped-off sock on my elbow that took-too-much-abuse, my prescription reading glasses have the ear-piece glued with JB weld when they broke last fall when a piece of paneling knocked them off, and the dress slacks were too thin for the temps yet - long johns would be too bulky, but I'd found a pair of pantyhose -- except I hate nylon on my feet and they were tight, so I cut the toes out (nothing if not practical, that be me). With my hair in a few shades more than usual, but no grays.
But you'd never know it if you met me on the street! Obviously, because I had a few dudes 'jawing up with me' in the stores. (If they only knew!)
The day was a set-up. I got to the first station for air, which is a rip-off in that the machine is now 75 cents instead of a quarter. I didn't want to take time to see if other air compressors were working in town (freezing weather wreaks havoc on these) so I went in for quarters. After giving me my change, the clerk told me their compressor wasn't working - duh. So I went across the street and got air for free. I made some quick stops and beat it for the survey case; their driveway is under water and the gent said he was just leaving but I could call. So I beat it back into town.
The Meeting. It was an Eckankar group up from the cities, interesting bunch of friendly people. They use 'Hu' as the sound of God, which is okay with me. Except I was thinking of this on my way back from the survey case, and the radio kicked on "Who are you?" by the Guess Who. (Or "Hu are you?") That song always stymies me anyway - I realized some time ago I don't know who I am. I find it baffling anyone ever feels comfortable being their name - to me, it's like a superficial play, and for some reason, I have a sense that our truer names are both ancient and possibly sacred, as if we all have a bit of temporary amnesia going on while we're acting on this stage.
Anyway... I was delving into all these mental exercises while the Who sung on, and the very next song? "You're a dreamer..." Universal Gotcha. Got to the meeting where Sera was going to meet me, but she was leaving with Valleri and tossed off a quick, "By the way, the dryer's broke" as she left. We talked about dreams and experiences and lessons in life, though I didn't share the totally deep experience of everything being an illusion, including me and the drug I had used on occasion (never mind that).
What I do know is - my illusion could use an upgrade, and it's okay if I don't really know who I am. I figured that out awhile ago too - just knowing "I am" is enough, even if it, too, is an illusion. :)
So today I go to figure out the dryer, where Sera has the switch pulled off and nothing's happening. I go to get my pliers (and why isn't it 'plier' if you only have one?) and realize my hammer's missing, too. I zone in on the most likely suspect, call Sera and Valleri who are now at the laundromat, and am informed the Child was whacking things in the yard earlier. So... I go out looking for my tools, stop to stack the Styrofoam pieces and slightly tidy the yard, pop in my odd work shop... Which is leaking from the snow, since I didn't have time to properly seal it last year; the snow was coming down when I put that roof on. So I stopped to shovel off the small roof and chunk off the ice. It was thoroughly soaked inside, so I started drying it up - really good thing the extension cord still works!
Between times, I'd worked on a late assignment until 2 a.m., so I wasn't up to speed today. Made several calls to the survey client who is conveniently not answering and pottered about with less enthusiasm than usual. For some reason, the bottom glass is knocked out of the storm door; the house is ripped worse than usual; the porch isn't finished; my room isn't finished; the shed is soaked; my "How to Fix Damn Near Anything" book is out while I brushed up on dryer switches...
But I found my pliers. Twisted the knobby-thing. Nothing. Jiggled the plug. Twisted the knobby-thing. It worked. Crammed the little metal piece back into the knob, stuck the knob back on the machine, and finished drying the load that was started yesterday.
Val's home this week.
Yee-ha! And to think some people get bored!
Speaking of hair, I thought I'd knock the (ahem) few grays back a couple of years. Tried "Dark Mahogany Brown" - first time in my life my hair has had more of a red tinge than my mother's did, but... 'mahogany' on gray is more 'cherry wood red', if you get my drift. Which didn't blend well with the 'dark brown' brown of everything else on my head. Hair being hair, I don't get too excited, but I did have a meeting on Saturday and a survey case to catch. So... I mixed up half a batch of "Dark Brown" - worked pretty good, but there's still some two-tone going on.
I already know no one else really cares much. If anything, we're all just glad it isn't us if hair-stuff goes awry. But it adds to a crystal moment of insanity.
I was running a bit late getting out on errands after messing with some indoor/outdoor carpeting on the porch, and I wanted to run the survey case before joining the meeting. My tire looked low, so my first stop in town would be to check it. However, before I could leave, the cold temps and letting the car sit for several days meant I had to slap the battery charger on it - conveniently kept in the back seat. Luckily, the extension cord still worked, even though I'd caught it under the snow with the snow blower mid-week and had to untangle cord from machine. So the battery's charging while I'm running in and out getting organized.
Sera's stumbling around trying to get a grip on her day, I'm digging through stuff in the living room that still isn't reorganized after a new tube of superglue - the old one had dried up. Luckily, I found a new one, so I'm on my way to glue my front cap-tooth in place, tripping over dogs everywhere, when the cat starts upchucking on the couch. At which point, I yell for Sera to deal with the cat while I proceed to glue the post back in. I have a chopped-off sock on my elbow that took-too-much-abuse, my prescription reading glasses have the ear-piece glued with JB weld when they broke last fall when a piece of paneling knocked them off, and the dress slacks were too thin for the temps yet - long johns would be too bulky, but I'd found a pair of pantyhose -- except I hate nylon on my feet and they were tight, so I cut the toes out (nothing if not practical, that be me). With my hair in a few shades more than usual, but no grays.
But you'd never know it if you met me on the street! Obviously, because I had a few dudes 'jawing up with me' in the stores. (If they only knew!)
The day was a set-up. I got to the first station for air, which is a rip-off in that the machine is now 75 cents instead of a quarter. I didn't want to take time to see if other air compressors were working in town (freezing weather wreaks havoc on these) so I went in for quarters. After giving me my change, the clerk told me their compressor wasn't working - duh. So I went across the street and got air for free. I made some quick stops and beat it for the survey case; their driveway is under water and the gent said he was just leaving but I could call. So I beat it back into town.
The Meeting. It was an Eckankar group up from the cities, interesting bunch of friendly people. They use 'Hu' as the sound of God, which is okay with me. Except I was thinking of this on my way back from the survey case, and the radio kicked on "Who are you?" by the Guess Who. (Or "Hu are you?") That song always stymies me anyway - I realized some time ago I don't know who I am. I find it baffling anyone ever feels comfortable being their name - to me, it's like a superficial play, and for some reason, I have a sense that our truer names are both ancient and possibly sacred, as if we all have a bit of temporary amnesia going on while we're acting on this stage.
Anyway... I was delving into all these mental exercises while the Who sung on, and the very next song? "You're a dreamer..." Universal Gotcha. Got to the meeting where Sera was going to meet me, but she was leaving with Valleri and tossed off a quick, "By the way, the dryer's broke" as she left. We talked about dreams and experiences and lessons in life, though I didn't share the totally deep experience of everything being an illusion, including me and the drug I had used on occasion (never mind that).
What I do know is - my illusion could use an upgrade, and it's okay if I don't really know who I am. I figured that out awhile ago too - just knowing "I am" is enough, even if it, too, is an illusion. :)
So today I go to figure out the dryer, where Sera has the switch pulled off and nothing's happening. I go to get my pliers (and why isn't it 'plier' if you only have one?) and realize my hammer's missing, too. I zone in on the most likely suspect, call Sera and Valleri who are now at the laundromat, and am informed the Child was whacking things in the yard earlier. So... I go out looking for my tools, stop to stack the Styrofoam pieces and slightly tidy the yard, pop in my odd work shop... Which is leaking from the snow, since I didn't have time to properly seal it last year; the snow was coming down when I put that roof on. So I stopped to shovel off the small roof and chunk off the ice. It was thoroughly soaked inside, so I started drying it up - really good thing the extension cord still works!
Between times, I'd worked on a late assignment until 2 a.m., so I wasn't up to speed today. Made several calls to the survey client who is conveniently not answering and pottered about with less enthusiasm than usual. For some reason, the bottom glass is knocked out of the storm door; the house is ripped worse than usual; the porch isn't finished; my room isn't finished; the shed is soaked; my "How to Fix Damn Near Anything" book is out while I brushed up on dryer switches...
But I found my pliers. Twisted the knobby-thing. Nothing. Jiggled the plug. Twisted the knobby-thing. It worked. Crammed the little metal piece back into the knob, stuck the knob back on the machine, and finished drying the load that was started yesterday.
Val's home this week.
Yee-ha! And to think some people get bored!
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