A Date on the Beach

[H2O Man]

“I laid on a dune, I looked at the sky
When the children were babies and played on the beach
You came up behind me, I saw you go by
You were always so close and still within reach.”
Bob Dylan; Sara

I spent most of last weekend sitting on the beach at the least-used NY State Park, reading two books. I tend to prefer hanging out closer to home – we have a swimming pool, a nice pond, a creek with several water falls, and even “beach rights” at a local lake – but even on its most crowded summer weekend, this park provides a relaxing setting. It's a relatively short drive from NYC, and so the group of people there was more varied than one usually encounters in a small upstate setting. A rainbow of colors of skin; clothing indicating various religious traditions; and the sounds of different languages.

One events seemed to bring the crowd together as one, if only for about fifteen minutes. A large bald eagle floated in a circle above the lake, and then landed in a tree a short distance from the beach. Virtually all the children were thrilled by this sight. I walked along with a group of adults who were intent upon photographing the majestic bird. The majority of the group had never seen an eagle in a natural setting before. Although I had the privilege of seeing bald eagles frequently, the opportunity to watch one is always impressive.

My wife and I had gone out on a date at the beginning of the weekend – which translates to finding a new restaurant and an old bookstore. The first book I read was “The Secret Team,” by L.Fletcher Prouty. He also authored the book “JFK,” and is the real-life character that Donald Sutherland played in the movie “JFK.”

“The Secret Team” was first published in 1972. The introduction to the new edition documents the effort to keep copies of the book to be available to the public, including in universities that had purchased it in bulk, to be used in classes. I strongly recommend this book, which should be read along with “JFK.”

Together, these Prouty books describe the age-old concept of a “power elite.” In America today, this includes the “shadow government” that Senator Robert Byrd spoke of in his book “Losing America.” It was “officially” placed in power by VP Dick Cheney on September 11, 2001, according to Senator Byrd. It is a combination of select members of the executive branch of the federal government, and select members of the business community. Senator Byrd noted that it did not include any members of the other two branches, nor was Cheney's order ever rescinded.

Churchill referred to the power elite as the “High Cabal.” Its membership includes the obscenely wealthy families and individuals from around the globe that consider themselves to be “royalty.” While there is at times competition between members, they are loyal only to the elite. Hence, we saw George W. Bush kissing the Saudi “royals” faces and asses, while he refused to shake hands with most citizens unless he had a “sanitary wipe” to sterilize himself from America.

“The Secret Team” details the complex web of intelligence and military officers, who serve as the private police force for the power elite. These team members are good at what they do.

Prouty makes several references to the 1964 book, “Invisible Government,” by David Wise and Thomas Ross. When this book was being prepared for release, the director of the CIA pressured Random House to remove large sections of it. When they refused, he threatened to have the CIA purchase literally every copy. Random House informed him that this would result in yet another printing. Despite a CIA attempt to push poor book reviews, “Invisible Government” became a best seller.

I've made frequent reference, over the years, to David Wise's 1978 book, “The American Police State: The Government Against the People,” here on the Democratic Underground. In it, he documents a Nixon administration program, known as the Huston Plan, which would evolve into what we know today as the Patriot Act. It is a program that the “power elite” has provided to the “secret team” to use to deny the Constitutional Rights of American citizens when convenient or necessary.

There was no threat, for example, of our rights being denied while we were all on the beach at the upstate park, watching an eagle. But if that same group was gathered to organize an attempt to put a stop to the energy corporations' plan to hydro-frack the properties surrounding the park, it would be of concern to those invested in capitalizing on gas.

On page 85 of his book, “Crimes Against Nature: How George W. Bush and His Corporate Pals Are Plundering the Country and Hijacking Our Democracy,” author Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., documents how VP Dick Cheney's “former” employer Halliburton – “the leading practitioner of hydraulic fracturing” – had pressured the EPA to change a report that had previously concluded that this process posed an unacceptable health threat.

This is the same Dick Cheney who infamously claimed his office was neither part of the executive or legislative branches of the government. This wasn't simply the ramblings of an out-of-touch man, unfamiliar with the Constitution: it was a statement by a member of the power elite, informing any member of the legislative or judicial branch who might be tempted to uphold their Constitutional oath that he had no intention of answering to them.

Indeed, Dick Cheney proved to be immune to any potential control by either of those branches. Congress could have (and should have) impeached Cheney for “high crimes and misdemeanors.” Patrick Fitzgerald could have (and should have) prosecuted Cheney for masterminding the Plame scandal. But, even more so than the criminals on Wall Street, Dick Cheney belongs to a power elite that is unwilling to sacrifice one of their own to such an outdated concept as the law of the land.

This is why, in my opinion, so many members of the Democratic Left are expressing disgust with the federal government, and are repulsed by the business-as-usual politics – including the 2012 elections. It's not that some elected Democrats aren't fairly decent, or that most of them don't do a few good things. And yes, John McCain is far worse than Barack Obama. But the undeniable fact is that our federal government works for the power elite, first and foremost. All three branches serve that High Cabal.

The second book that I read was James Cone's “Martin & Malcolm & America: A Dream or a Nightmare.” In it, Professor Cone compares and contrasts these two leaders, and their struggle to make democracy a reality in this country. He notes that both men made contributions that not only benefited all Americans, making them leaders for everyone, not just black people. More, because of the power of their contributions to everyone, that they serve as models for us to study today, and that we should be making use of their tactics within our own communities.

Either one of the two could have used their position to become wealthy men living comfortable lives. To do so, of course, would have required that they identify with the power elite. Selling their souls would have served as an application to the club. But they didn't – both Martin and Malcolm identified with the poor and the oppressed. In the final years of his life, Senator Robert Kennedy – the son of a man who was frustrated in his attempt to join the exclusive club, despite his financial success – began to identify with the poor and oppressed in America. This was what transformed him from a harsh political operative, to a powerful advocate of true democracy. That the secret team was spying on each of the three, on behalf of the power elite, is well-documented.

True democracy has moved further away than it was in their day. But it might still be within reach, if enough of us continue the Good Fight.

Peace
H2O Man

[Octafish]

1. Keep up the Good Fight!

Thanks to you, a great many people have learned what the news media and academia have chosen to ignore. That knowledge is the keystone for Democracy.

PS: Prouty's "Secret Team: The CIA and Its Allies in Control of the United States and the World" is available online, courtesy of Ratical. As with all books, it's not perfect. As with all books, they are lighthouses in the vast sea of existence.

[H2O Man]

8. Thanks.

[ensho]

2. kick

nt

[canadianbeaver]

3. K&R.......nt

[mmonk]

4. It is imperative my friend.

I think Martin, Malcolm, and Robert came to the same conclusion that a nation is much stronger through true democracy. Position and power is more fleeting if everything around you is crumbling.

[immoderate]

5. Illuminating.

Stirred a couple of thoughts. I meet up with a free thought group. A couple of members are self described Libertarians, although it's tough for them to identify with any existing political party. Talk about misfits. They thought a skeptics group wouldn't question "supply side" bullshit. They think that life is a chapter from "Atlas Shrugged" and all problems stem from the fact that people don't act the way Ayn Rand scripts them.

One frequently reminds me that the US is not a democracy, but a constitutional republic. I say, "So who runs the country?" And then his head explodes. Talk about cognitive dissonance, John Galt is in charge, and everything sucks!

On Robert Kennedy: I'm from NY and I was in college when RFK was senator. I was very conservative coming out of high school. I cringe when I think of how much of my politics was motivated by esthetics. The Vietnam War added another dimension to my thinking. War drains a society. Always a bad idea. Libertarians got that right, but blew it on civil rights, (and the economy, and the environment.) I latched on to Gene McCarthy early, and I never trusted Bobby Kennedy, as he only turned against the war when he saw it translate to votes. Perhaps if he'd lived longer. :shrug:

I think George McGovern was the last people's candidate, and the best mind in politics in my experience.

Thanks again for "stirring the sediments." :)

--imm

[Me.]

6. As I Understand It...885.000 People

In the secret gov. now hold top security clearance and that they are now building 37 new edifices in DC alone to house the secret gov. In time it will become so top heavy it will implode. As for keeping secrets....

[alsame]

7. k&r

[lunatica]

9. Having a Shadow Government explains a lot

The evidence is in the results, just like finding a planet. You know it's there by its effect on surrounding space.