If a corporation commits a crime, who do you lock up?
http://www.projectcensored.org/top-stories/articles/13-corporate-personhood-challenged/
http://www.uuworld.org/2003/03/feature1a.html
http://www.jashford.com/Pages/worldcorps.html
Thursday, January 21, 2010
DRUG LAWS and ELECTIONS-How the right wing used drug laws to disenfranchise the left and take control of the country
Pot laws were originally put in place at a time when only black people smoked. The laws were basically a part of Jim Crow, a way to keep blacks in their place.
By the time of the Vietnam War, drugs were a part of the lifestyle of many of the left wing Vietnam protesters. The government couldn't make opposition to the war illegal, but by going after drug use it was able to shut up a lot of people, either by directly busting them, or scaring them into silence.
Later on, Ronald Reagan successfully used the theme of "just say no to drugs" to effectively deprive many, many people of their right to vote (by putting them in prison), and of course many, many others were scared into not participating in the political process, and of course almost all of these were Democrats and progressives.
It was a very skillful way to stage a coup d'etat, a right wing takeover of the country, and of course once they got into power, they passed more and more draconian measures, such as the California 3 strikes law.
Just think of the difference all these votes would have made in elections, both national and local. No Reagan, no Bush I, no Bush II, no Democratic party going so far over to the Right that they are basically the left wing of the Republican party.
To my mind, this was the modern day equivalent of Hitler's Big Lie, in which all evils were blamed on the jews.
America has more people per capita than any other Western industrialized nation, most of them for drug "offenses". Black people especially find themselves in prison in almost unbelievable numbers, 1 in 3 black men in their 20s, i believe is the figure.
My own opinion is that in most cases drug use is, at best, a waste of time. In no way do i want to see serious drugs too freely available. LEGALIZE and CONTROL. Control by treating drugs the same way we control the right to drive a motor vehicle, by having to study the effects, go to a training for hard drugs where one will have to listen to ex junkies tell their stories, but finally, if you want to do it, it's your right.
This will also serve to destroy the drug cartels, which were created by anti-drug laws, the same way the Mafia was created by prohibition, because production and distribution will be done by Pfizer and other "legitimate" companies, thus cutting off funding from the gangs.
Dr. Andrew Weil's first book, The Natural Mind, is the most sensible thing i've ever seen on the subject of drugs. Take the time to follow the link, maybe do a google search of your own.
http://www.psychedelic-library.org/weil1.htm
WHAT RIGHT DO THESE RIGHT WINGERS HAVE TO TELL PEOPLE HOW TO LIVE?
By the time of the Vietnam War, drugs were a part of the lifestyle of many of the left wing Vietnam protesters. The government couldn't make opposition to the war illegal, but by going after drug use it was able to shut up a lot of people, either by directly busting them, or scaring them into silence.
Later on, Ronald Reagan successfully used the theme of "just say no to drugs" to effectively deprive many, many people of their right to vote (by putting them in prison), and of course many, many others were scared into not participating in the political process, and of course almost all of these were Democrats and progressives.
It was a very skillful way to stage a coup d'etat, a right wing takeover of the country, and of course once they got into power, they passed more and more draconian measures, such as the California 3 strikes law.
Just think of the difference all these votes would have made in elections, both national and local. No Reagan, no Bush I, no Bush II, no Democratic party going so far over to the Right that they are basically the left wing of the Republican party.
To my mind, this was the modern day equivalent of Hitler's Big Lie, in which all evils were blamed on the jews.
America has more people per capita than any other Western industrialized nation, most of them for drug "offenses". Black people especially find themselves in prison in almost unbelievable numbers, 1 in 3 black men in their 20s, i believe is the figure.
My own opinion is that in most cases drug use is, at best, a waste of time. In no way do i want to see serious drugs too freely available. LEGALIZE and CONTROL. Control by treating drugs the same way we control the right to drive a motor vehicle, by having to study the effects, go to a training for hard drugs where one will have to listen to ex junkies tell their stories, but finally, if you want to do it, it's your right.
This will also serve to destroy the drug cartels, which were created by anti-drug laws, the same way the Mafia was created by prohibition, because production and distribution will be done by Pfizer and other "legitimate" companies, thus cutting off funding from the gangs.
Dr. Andrew Weil's first book, The Natural Mind, is the most sensible thing i've ever seen on the subject of drugs. Take the time to follow the link, maybe do a google search of your own.
http://www.psychedelic-library.org/weil1.htm
WHAT RIGHT DO THESE RIGHT WINGERS HAVE TO TELL PEOPLE HOW TO LIVE?
Some transportation thoughts
The transportation toolkit
In the trades, one learns to use the right tool for the right job.Nobody who does any kind of work would have only one tool, especially if that one tool was a sledgehammer! Can you imagine trying to put a nail in the wall using a sledgehammer, or trying to put in a screw with a sledgehammer, yet that is what many Americans do with a "one size fits all" approach to transportation, in which all they own is an SUV, Van or truck, when most of their usuage could easily be done in a small car, or even a bicycle, and occasionally rent a larger vehicle for a camping trip or moving furniture. Since most of these large vehicles average 15mpg, and gas is getting expensive, many people will be using this approach.
Three Modes of Transportation, but only two places available
1) Fast- motor vehicles
2) Slow-Pedestrians
3) Medium-Bicycles, skateboards, segways, roller blades, etc.
These don't belong in traffic with cars; there are already far too many stories of bicyclists being hit. On the other hand, they don't belong on sidewalks. Many more people would ride a bicycle to work or for errrands, IF IT WAS SAFE. A painted white line on a street means nothing. But where would this extra lane come from. Would more trees and gardens get cut down and paved over? Many car drivers have a sense of entitlement and would vigorously resist giving up one car lane to be turned into an elevated bicycle lane, in the way sidewalks are elevated. However, rising gas prices are about to negate those objections and turn them into a demand for safe bicycle lanes.
In the trades, one learns to use the right tool for the right job.Nobody who does any kind of work would have only one tool, especially if that one tool was a sledgehammer! Can you imagine trying to put a nail in the wall using a sledgehammer, or trying to put in a screw with a sledgehammer, yet that is what many Americans do with a "one size fits all" approach to transportation, in which all they own is an SUV, Van or truck, when most of their usuage could easily be done in a small car, or even a bicycle, and occasionally rent a larger vehicle for a camping trip or moving furniture. Since most of these large vehicles average 15mpg, and gas is getting expensive, many people will be using this approach.
Three Modes of Transportation, but only two places available
1) Fast- motor vehicles
2) Slow-Pedestrians
3) Medium-Bicycles, skateboards, segways, roller blades, etc.
These don't belong in traffic with cars; there are already far too many stories of bicyclists being hit. On the other hand, they don't belong on sidewalks. Many more people would ride a bicycle to work or for errrands, IF IT WAS SAFE. A painted white line on a street means nothing. But where would this extra lane come from. Would more trees and gardens get cut down and paved over? Many car drivers have a sense of entitlement and would vigorously resist giving up one car lane to be turned into an elevated bicycle lane, in the way sidewalks are elevated. However, rising gas prices are about to negate those objections and turn them into a demand for safe bicycle lanes.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Poems
Satori in Oakland
Hey, Kerouac had to go to Paris
I get to do it right here in Oaktown
Land of the free, home of the brave
and hey, is this real satori, or
am i just bullshitting myself
maybe trying to bullshit you
pumping myself up with my own self importance
the way poets do
when they're wearing plaid sweatpants and a grey T shirt
and hey, does it matter about
my satori
when what matters is
your satori
___________________
What went wrong?
What went wrong?
Was it a word, a look, a hurt feeling
a small wound that festered, growing
more toxic with the passage of the years
perhaps a succession of such small wounds
Was it a great gaping wound
some large injury
done to him at some time in his life, who knows when
a wound which no one knew about, and so
when the worst happened
everyone was shocked
was it what was done to him
the largeness or smallness of it, or
was it the bitterness with which
he regarded it, obsessed over it
almost cherished it with his thoughts and attention
turning it over and over in his mind
like some dark poisonous spider
could it have been prevented, stopped
ameliorated by some intervention, whose intervention?
Did he ask for help, cry for help, turn away help, say
no, nothing's wrong with me, I'm OK
leave me alone
Who knew, and who should have known
could have known
did know?
The end result, shock waves
rippling through
family, friends, acquaintances
even people to whom he was just an article in the paper
a story they heard
one more human tragedy
one more confirmation to them of what they already knew
or thought they knew
an excuse to vent fears, anger, frustration
because if it could happen to him
maybe it could happen to them
or someone close to them
so if they can make some sense of it
even to say "he deserved what he got"
maybe they can feel a tad bit safer
in a world where it seems like
anything can happen
at any time
So what went wrong?
How to make some sense of it?
I don't know
Hey, Kerouac had to go to Paris
I get to do it right here in Oaktown
Land of the free, home of the brave
and hey, is this real satori, or
am i just bullshitting myself
maybe trying to bullshit you
pumping myself up with my own self importance
the way poets do
when they're wearing plaid sweatpants and a grey T shirt
and hey, does it matter about
my satori
when what matters is
your satori
___________________
What went wrong?
What went wrong?
Was it a word, a look, a hurt feeling
a small wound that festered, growing
more toxic with the passage of the years
perhaps a succession of such small wounds
Was it a great gaping wound
some large injury
done to him at some time in his life, who knows when
a wound which no one knew about, and so
when the worst happened
everyone was shocked
was it what was done to him
the largeness or smallness of it, or
was it the bitterness with which
he regarded it, obsessed over it
almost cherished it with his thoughts and attention
turning it over and over in his mind
like some dark poisonous spider
could it have been prevented, stopped
ameliorated by some intervention, whose intervention?
Did he ask for help, cry for help, turn away help, say
no, nothing's wrong with me, I'm OK
leave me alone
Who knew, and who should have known
could have known
did know?
The end result, shock waves
rippling through
family, friends, acquaintances
even people to whom he was just an article in the paper
a story they heard
one more human tragedy
one more confirmation to them of what they already knew
or thought they knew
an excuse to vent fears, anger, frustration
because if it could happen to him
maybe it could happen to them
or someone close to them
so if they can make some sense of it
even to say "he deserved what he got"
maybe they can feel a tad bit safer
in a world where it seems like
anything can happen
at any time
So what went wrong?
How to make some sense of it?
I don't know
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Health care
Human beings are not machines. Emotions are the key to health.
Any health care system that relies on western allopathic medicine-brutal, expensive, ineffective-is doomed to failure.
The AMA drove "alternative" healing out because it was cheap, gentle and effective.
Any health care system that relies on western allopathic medicine-brutal, expensive, ineffective-is doomed to failure.
The AMA drove "alternative" healing out because it was cheap, gentle and effective.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Health Care Video
take the time to watch just the first five minutes of this video
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5528328984547372206
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5528328984547372206
Dear President Obama
Dear President Obama,
You have a responsibility to investigate the high crimes and misdemeanors committed by the Bush-Cheney administration.
Using terrorism as an excuse, they did their best to pervert America from a democracy to a dictatorship. Most Americans still do not know that, and therein lies the danger, because the next administration to try it might succeed, unless people realize the danger.
Now they attack Pelosi. It is as if a gang of murderers wanted to blame a witness, and all the wimpocrats do is issue feeble denials, rather than attack, attack, attack. If the situation were reversed, we all know how the Republicans would act.
--
be well,
jay
You have a responsibility to investigate the high crimes and misdemeanors committed by the Bush-Cheney administration.
Using terrorism as an excuse, they did their best to pervert America from a democracy to a dictatorship. Most Americans still do not know that, and therein lies the danger, because the next administration to try it might succeed, unless people realize the danger.
Now they attack Pelosi. It is as if a gang of murderers wanted to blame a witness, and all the wimpocrats do is issue feeble denials, rather than attack, attack, attack. If the situation were reversed, we all know how the Republicans would act.
--
be well,
jay
Two halves=one whole
The left does a very accurate job of describing how the political and economic structures of this country and many others are set up to make the rich richer and the poor poorer, how people are victims of oppression. It ignores personal responsibility. Many people are just as much victims of themselves, of their own arrogance and ignorance, and too often make the worst of a bad situation.
The Right, on the other hand, totally preaches personal responsibility, yet seems totally oblivious to the fact that if employers are paying low and landlords are charging high, people are screwed, and that this is no accident, instead it is the deliberate result of what amounts to a conspiracy.
The left says we all need to take care of each other, but ignores that we need to do a good job of taking care of ourselves. The Right says people deserve what they get, and every man is responsible for himself.
Personal responsibility-social responsibility. Two halves=one whole.
The Right, on the other hand, totally preaches personal responsibility, yet seems totally oblivious to the fact that if employers are paying low and landlords are charging high, people are screwed, and that this is no accident, instead it is the deliberate result of what amounts to a conspiracy.
The left says we all need to take care of each other, but ignores that we need to do a good job of taking care of ourselves. The Right says people deserve what they get, and every man is responsible for himself.
Personal responsibility-social responsibility. Two halves=one whole.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Open Letter
This is meant to be a chain letter. If you find the ideas in it worth sharing please forward it.
--------
Dear Members of Meetup and other groups working to make the world a better place,
If environmental pollution causes us to get cancer, or if global warming destroys food crops, all our massage, NVC, yoga, meditation, vegetarianism, dancing, and everything else will not save us. The figure commonly used is that 1 in 3 Americans gets cancer in their lifetime. Can anyone doubt that a large portion of the cause is environmental pollution.
What can we do?
i offer below some small actions. Will these small actions save the planet? Hell no!, but,
when our friends see us doing them, perhaps they will do them too, and when enough people get the message that environmental pollution and destruction poses a clear and present danger, a greater threat to our health and safety than Al Quaeda, Iran, North Korea, and the economic meltdown, all combined, then some big changes will happen.
It constantly shocks me how seemingly nice, intelligent, well intentioned people just don't seem to grasp the connection between the coffee cup they threw away, and global warming,don't seem to grasp the enormity and the urgency of what's going on, and live their lives in a way inconsistent with the values they espouse with their words. Enough talking the talk. It's time to walk the walk.
OK, 3 very small ideas, the big idea being, to start adopting into your every day life positive actions.
1) You know that you are going to shop. Just keep some cloth shopping bags with you at all times, probably in your car.
2) You know that you are going to eat and drink. Just bring a lunch kit: coffee cup, plate, utensils, cloth napkin, especially to Meetup and other events
3) Form carpool groups for all events.
That's it. Of course there are a host of other actions that could be taken, but let's make a start, a start to remembering that every action has consequences. Do i expect people to be perfect? Hell no. Am i perfect? Probably not in this lifetime, and, don't use that an excuse for lack of diligence.
I hear a lot of people talking the eco talk. Let's at least take the baby steps towards walking the walk, and remember:
In metaphysical terms, the smallest actions are important, symbolic actions are important. With every action you do, every word you speak, every thought you think, you are making a statement to the universe about what kind of world you want to live in.
here's a link to a funny little video, The Story of Stuff http://www.storyofstuff.com/
--
be well,
jay
--------
Dear Members of Meetup and other groups working to make the world a better place,
If environmental pollution causes us to get cancer, or if global warming destroys food crops, all our massage, NVC, yoga, meditation, vegetarianism, dancing, and everything else will not save us. The figure commonly used is that 1 in 3 Americans gets cancer in their lifetime. Can anyone doubt that a large portion of the cause is environmental pollution.
What can we do?
i offer below some small actions. Will these small actions save the planet? Hell no!, but,
when our friends see us doing them, perhaps they will do them too, and when enough people get the message that environmental pollution and destruction poses a clear and present danger, a greater threat to our health and safety than Al Quaeda, Iran, North Korea, and the economic meltdown, all combined, then some big changes will happen.
It constantly shocks me how seemingly nice, intelligent, well intentioned people just don't seem to grasp the connection between the coffee cup they threw away, and global warming,don't seem to grasp the enormity and the urgency of what's going on, and live their lives in a way inconsistent with the values they espouse with their words. Enough talking the talk. It's time to walk the walk.
OK, 3 very small ideas, the big idea being, to start adopting into your every day life positive actions.
1) You know that you are going to shop. Just keep some cloth shopping bags with you at all times, probably in your car.
2) You know that you are going to eat and drink. Just bring a lunch kit: coffee cup, plate, utensils, cloth napkin, especially to Meetup and other events
3) Form carpool groups for all events.
That's it. Of course there are a host of other actions that could be taken, but let's make a start, a start to remembering that every action has consequences. Do i expect people to be perfect? Hell no. Am i perfect? Probably not in this lifetime, and, don't use that an excuse for lack of diligence.
I hear a lot of people talking the eco talk. Let's at least take the baby steps towards walking the walk, and remember:
In metaphysical terms, the smallest actions are important, symbolic actions are important. With every action you do, every word you speak, every thought you think, you are making a statement to the universe about what kind of world you want to live in.
here's a link to a funny little video, The Story of Stuff http://www.storyofstuff.com/
--
be well,
jay
We Can Do Better!
WATCH THIS VIDEO http://storyofstuff.com/downloads.html
---------------------------------------------
All problems in human society come from very simple causes
1) COMPASSION, OR THE LACK OF IT
Everybody cares, but how far do the boundaries of compassion extend? Do we just care about ourselves and our families and friends. Do we care what happens to somebody else, especially if we will never meet or even see that someone else. Our city, our class, our race, animals; trees.
2) FEAR, usually fear that there is not enough for everybody, meaning that we can't afford to help others, because then we won't have enough for ourselves.
3) WISDOM, VISION, CLARITY, SEEING DEEPLY
different words for the same thing.
When you turn on a light, do you see the power plant upstream, the garbage dump the whole light fixture will inevitably end up in.
Every action has consequences and implications, direct and indirect. Do you understand how the simplest actions of your life, such as buying a pizza, are not simple, in fact are the result of a very complicated manufacturing and supply chain? Seeing that is wisdom, taking things for granted is foolish.
If you really thought through, as best as you could, all the consequences and implications of how you are living, you would live very differently, and, my belief, be happier and healthier.
It's all really very simple:
selfishness, fear, and shortsightedness, or compassion, courage, and wisdom.
------------------------
WHAT WENT WRONG WITH THE ECONOMY?
In the simplest of terms, the people who kept it going, the poor and middle class people who created the demand for goods and services, don't have enough money to spend to keep the whole house of cards going,
BECAUSE
the rich got so greedy, downsized so many people, didn't pay enough people good wages , moved factories offshore, and raised executive salaries through the roof while doing it.
Everything else is a detail.
Productivity went way up, profits went way up, and the owners and executives kept it all for themselves. Occasionally tossing the workers a few crumbs, usually firing them and making one person do the work that used to be done by two people.
Food chains are built on the little critters at the bottom of the food chain. When they aren't doing well, the whole food chain collapses. Henry Ford understood that it benefited him to pay his workers enough to buy his cars.
AND MAYBE THERE'S A BRIGHT SIDE
My personal belief is that environmental pollution is responsible for a lot of cancer, heart disease, asthma, and everything else.
The more we consume=the more poisons we create.
Less consumption=less cancer (and maybe you're the person who won't get it)
I think the whole idea of an economy based on production of material goods is dead, and we are seeing that in our health. This planet can only handle a certain level of toxins, whereas current economic models say that growth is good. That's wrong. Of course everyone needs to have their needs met in a comfortable way, food, shelter, etc.. but the way we're doing it very often results in watching your loved ones suffer as a result of toxins produced by the same system that employs you.
WE CAN DO BETTER!
---------------------------------------------
All problems in human society come from very simple causes
1) COMPASSION, OR THE LACK OF IT
Everybody cares, but how far do the boundaries of compassion extend? Do we just care about ourselves and our families and friends. Do we care what happens to somebody else, especially if we will never meet or even see that someone else. Our city, our class, our race, animals; trees.
2) FEAR, usually fear that there is not enough for everybody, meaning that we can't afford to help others, because then we won't have enough for ourselves.
3) WISDOM, VISION, CLARITY, SEEING DEEPLY
different words for the same thing.
When you turn on a light, do you see the power plant upstream, the garbage dump the whole light fixture will inevitably end up in.
Every action has consequences and implications, direct and indirect. Do you understand how the simplest actions of your life, such as buying a pizza, are not simple, in fact are the result of a very complicated manufacturing and supply chain? Seeing that is wisdom, taking things for granted is foolish.
If you really thought through, as best as you could, all the consequences and implications of how you are living, you would live very differently, and, my belief, be happier and healthier.
It's all really very simple:
selfishness, fear, and shortsightedness, or compassion, courage, and wisdom.
------------------------
WHAT WENT WRONG WITH THE ECONOMY?
In the simplest of terms, the people who kept it going, the poor and middle class people who created the demand for goods and services, don't have enough money to spend to keep the whole house of cards going,
BECAUSE
the rich got so greedy, downsized so many people, didn't pay enough people good wages , moved factories offshore, and raised executive salaries through the roof while doing it.
Everything else is a detail.
Productivity went way up, profits went way up, and the owners and executives kept it all for themselves. Occasionally tossing the workers a few crumbs, usually firing them and making one person do the work that used to be done by two people.
Food chains are built on the little critters at the bottom of the food chain. When they aren't doing well, the whole food chain collapses. Henry Ford understood that it benefited him to pay his workers enough to buy his cars.
AND MAYBE THERE'S A BRIGHT SIDE
My personal belief is that environmental pollution is responsible for a lot of cancer, heart disease, asthma, and everything else.
The more we consume=the more poisons we create.
Less consumption=less cancer (and maybe you're the person who won't get it)
I think the whole idea of an economy based on production of material goods is dead, and we are seeing that in our health. This planet can only handle a certain level of toxins, whereas current economic models say that growth is good. That's wrong. Of course everyone needs to have their needs met in a comfortable way, food, shelter, etc.. but the way we're doing it very often results in watching your loved ones suffer as a result of toxins produced by the same system that employs you.
WE CAN DO BETTER!
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The idea of keeping a cloth bag in the car and a cup handy are good ones. I see more people using cloth bags at the grocery stores, but not so much yet the cup.
I partially disagree with the comment that well intentioned and smart people do not see how the little things contribute to the larger whole. Personally, I am not 100% sold that global warming is a fact or that we have caused it. It is also the thinking that there are larger causes that we do not have control over. I think we do have a responsibility to decrease our foot print, but there is still a ways to go in changing our thinking before behaviors follow suit. It's happening though.
Another thought: what about water usage? Why have we not created home and portal distillation systems to stop the over use of water? It seems to me that this is a larger contributor of health and environmental issues.
To the third point about car pools, I do not think most Americans see this as practical. I also think that too many people see it as an impingement of their individualism. It is something we should make a little better effort of though.
Thanks again for the insights :)
-Digger
GNP=Gross National Pollution, or Gross National Poisoning
and of course it is international
the small things i mentioned are just tokens, just a way for people to do some small action. Perhaps asking for this is a mistake on my part, because people who do these things may believe it is enough.