Things are going to get worse before they get better.

[Taverner]

That's not what I want, and that's probably not what you want.

But it's not negotiable.

The two major parties, the media, and pretty much all communication has long since been bought and paid for.

This has been the case since the 90s.

Add to this that there is no conspiracy - this is capitalism in action.

There is no boardroom of evil men, there is no cabal of dictators, there is simply the dollar, and those who would do anything for it.

Which makes things worse than if there were a conspiracy.

At least, if there was a conspiracy, we'd know who to go after. Who to arrest. Who to replace with the will of the people.

But there isn't.

And as a result, things are going to take some time to fix.

When too much power slides to the anarchy of capitalism, anarchy will be the result.

Europe is heading South. We will double dip soon after that. China will ride this out, and come up on top.

That much I know.

Everything else is anybody's guess.

Take care of your loved ones and friends.

And let them take care of you.

[Rabblevox]

1. k&r. Not just a good post, but almost poetry. /nt

[Taverner]

2. Thanks. I've never had my posts called that before.

Glad you liked it

:)

[villager]

3. Good post, though I think China's coming environmental reckoning may make any economic

"win" on their part somewhat -- or very -- transient....

[Taverner]

4. Yes, you might be right

It may be "game over" for the 7 Billion of us all before they can take power

[jwirr]

5. Thank you. Now if I can just get my children to see this but they

think I am just an old 70 year old lady. But they do know what I am saying so maybe being warned is half the victory.

[saras]

6. Things are going to get worse regardless of whether they ever get better or not.

Suppose we magically fixed everything socially, and everyone suddenly got along.

We're still at the edge of running out of a bunch of resources, and all the polluting we've done since 1960 or so has yet to register in global warming.

I disagree about *no conspiracy* as I read your fairly accurate description of the relevant conspiracy. Every boardroom in which the board members choose the dollar over sensible behavior IS a boardroom of evil men.. There's no EXTRA level of evil you have to reach for before deserving that label - all you have to do is systematically commit your energies to harming others.

I guess I hold with the Nuremberg Convention - being ordered isn't an excuse. Following rules isn't an excuse. Keeping your job isn't an excuse.

[Mnemosyne]

7. Excellent OP, Taverner. Sadly so very true. K&R n/t

[bvar22]

8. There is "hope".

Look to our neighbors in South America for the Blue Print for "change".
They have accomplished nothing short of near Bloodless Revolutions,
but you won't hear about it in the US media,
and the Status Quo politicians of BOTH parties are doing their best to demonize these emerging democracies.

"The worst enemy of humanity is U.S. capitalism. That is what provokes uprisings like our own, a rebellion against a system, against a neoliberal model, which is the representation of a savage capitalism. If the entire world doesn't acknowledge this reality, that nation states are not providing even minimally for health, education and nourishment, then each day the most fundamental human rights are being violated."
----Bolivian Reform President Evo Morales

FDR said much the same thing in 1944 with his Economic Bill of Rights,
but FDR and THAT "Democratic Party" are long dead.

From all appearances, our Political Leaders are simply grabbing all they can carry for themselves
and their Top 1% Patrons before everything falls apart.

Do what you can to protect yourselves.
We are living in interesting times.

[NNN0LHI]

9. I don't think a lot of people understand that things have been a lot worse than this before

I have a good memory. I can remember being one of the long term unemployed. When the unemployment rate was 10.8%. And all the UIC benefits someone could collect was 39 weeks. I was laid off once just a couple of weeks short of two fucking years straight then! Laid off a total of nearly 6 years during one decade.

Jesus, I just don't know?

Don