War is Peace, Austerity for the Serfs - Time for Revolution
Trump, the 26% President, signed another executive order for a “great rebuilding of the Armed Forces”. The order calls for Mad Dog Mattis, his war secretary, to review readiness relative to taking on ISIS and "near-peer competitors", and submit a plan within 60 days on how to improve overall readiness by FY 2019.
The "order" states that Trump will pursue “Peace Through Strength,” one of his campaign phrases and addresses some concerns of Pentagon leaders who have complained for years they need more money to keep up with 21st Century U.S. global imperialism (the New American Century), particularly since 2013 when the "sequestration" budget cuts went into effect.
"Trump’s proposals for the military during his presidential campaign were drawn heavily from the conservative Heritage Foundation, and could cost between $55 billion and $90 billion per year, according to outside experts. The plan included adding tens of thousands of soldiers until the service reaches 540,000, expanding the Navy’s fleet to have at least 350 ships, adding about 100 Air Force fighter or attack jets until the service reaches 1,200, and increasing the number of Marine Corps infantry battalions from 24 to 36, which would include thousands of Marines."
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2017/01/27/draft-execu...
We've got a president who wants to cut taxes for the rich and the corporations, effectively reducing tax revenue. We've got a president who wants to increase the military budget, excepting it from the sequestration measures (domestic programs will not be excepted). We've got a president who wants to start a trade war with China which could greatly increase inflation. We've got a national debt approaching $20 trillion and the higher the inflation rate, the more interest that comes off the top of the national budget, thus increasing the budget deficit. The twenty trillion national debt mark will be used as a scare tactic. We've got a republican controlled congress and senate chomping at the bit to privatize and deregulate, reduce the budget deficit and cut domestic social programs like Medicare and Social Security.
Later this year, Trump the 26 percent president, will submit his budget for 2018/2019 and there will be budget negotiations in Congress and Senate. This could be it folks. Not only will they attempt to increase the military/police state, they'll also try to dismantle the federal government domestic social program structure.
Obviously the Democratic party will present no effective defense against such an onslaught on the Serfs, so what's going to happen? Do enough people realize the significance of what's happening and what's going to happen? Are we just going to let it happen?
Over 15 years ago, 9/11 happened, the "New Pearl Harbor" the neocons/zionists wanted to enact their dream of "Rebuilding America's Defenses - Project for a New American Century". The plan was to modernize and increase the size of the U.S. military by increasing the military budget over a ten year period. The stated purpose was to rule the world. They did it, the budget was increased for a full ten years while numerous wars were waged. They're going to do it again, incredibly. What do you think the purpose is? Hint, it's not to take out their proxy ISIS army of 20-30,000 mercenaries.
No word yet on whether they're going to have another "New Pearl Harbor". Stay tuned.
This is a very dangerous period we've entered, it's like the next stage. We've entered "The Next Stage" (background music). Each stage keeps getting worse, more challenging for the Serfs, like a video game. We don't even know what level we're at, there could be more, this could be it. We've got to find a way to stop the game.
Comments
Maybe we should just start the revolution right here.
We could be like Independence hall where we just decide this is it, it's time for the revolution. Saddle up, let's do it.
Get a sign up sheet, SIGN UP FOR THE REVOLUTION TODAY!
I bet it would work.
your snark is almost unbearable, Al ...
here, for a change or to 'distract yourself from signing up revolution sheets', get down to the bottom ... of the prison cells.
Exclusive: Cameroonian prisoners smuggle out footage of horrific jail conditions
I just put it here, because I don't know where else to post something like that.
https://www.euronews.com/live
350 Ships
So the WaPo reports that, in order to fight ISIS, the T-man is going to be
350 ships for what? ISIS doesn't even own a rowboat. On the other hand, very good for people who build ships...
Isn't that something.
He's basically placing all his chips on defeating ISIS while wanting the largest military and nuclear arsenal every made. And it's almost as if he doesn't realize the U.S. created ISIS as an Al Qaeda successor to act as it's proxy army/foil in it's imperialist pursuits.
uh. I guess he doesn't know
We already have the largest, most well equipped military as well as the largest, most deadly nuclear arsenal in the solar system.
"I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones."
John Cage
Unfortunately...
That largest, most well-equipped military has been less than effective against Al Qaeda and ISIS. That largest, most deadly nuclear arsenal is essentially unusable; can you imagine the outcry if we dropped nukes on Iraq to target ISIS?
Wait Wait Wait
Let's not jump the gun here. In the solar system?
We don't know what those damn Reds are doing...
You know who I'm talking about...
Martians. Those damn Mars people.
Sir. I sit corrected!
"I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones."
John Cage
Not yet...
Um, hello? They may not have even a rowboat at the moment, but ISIS certainly has the funds and could buy a kayak off amazon.com tomorrow...then where would we be? Frickin' screwed, except thankfully we will now have 350 more ships to handle that scenario.
Phew! Thank .gov for its tremendous foresight in keeping us safe with our Global Force for Good!
We can only save ourselves
if we are willing to get out of the comfort zone of our lives; if we are willing to put ourselves out there; if we are willing to have the courage to participate.
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
participate in what, exactly?
Everything, irishking.
If there is a march, participate. If there is a boycott, participate. If there is a general strike, participate. When there is resistance, participate. Participate in the life of your country. Not participating has gotten us Herr Drumpf, IMHO. We must participate to be free.
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
What about a work stoppage and general strike?
I think we have to hit them in the pocketbook...you know where their heart is.
I'm retired so it is easy for me to say, but a general strike would send a message.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
A general strike has always struck me (!) as being too hard
to pull off now with the different type of workforce and lack of unionized jobs, etc. Just doesn't seem like we could get enough people to participate unless things became really bad. So many people are up against it, to take a chance at not working is real risky for them.
However, focused work stoppages could be something we could do along with other planned actions.
I agree, Lookout.
We need to go in the vein of Rosa Parks and sit at the front of the bus because that will incite the facists against us, even more, perhaps causing more people to participate in a general strike, in a work stoppage, in the marches, in the resistance. I hope I'm being clear because some don't understand what it means to participate as a citizen of our country.
Participating as a citizen doesn't mean shopping or sticking our noses in our devices. It means taking action. Without action, we may as well all just march into the Gulag.
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
Once upon a time . . .
unions had strike funds. These funds were used so that workers could continue to eat and make mortgage and rent payments while on strike. Unions were known to share these funds with one another. Today strikers will go broke before companies will cave in many circumstances.
I suggest tightly organized boycotts of the worst offender, much like the grape boycotts supporting farm workers. I know it's a struggle because there are so many companies with strong cases to be added to the list. But the more narrow, the more focused and the harder we hit. Most of the lists I find on the web are so broad they become diluted and it's hard to identify the impact. If we could really hit a half dozen of the worst offenders hard I think it would be noticed. Every time we get one to make a meaningful change we can add another.
Strike at the Heart of the Problem
If the real 99% actually want to take the system down there is one way to do it. Start a "Run on the Banks". This would be a modern version of an old grifter tactic.
To understand its significance you must understand that cash is "outside" the economic system. It cannot be properly factored into the accounting algorithms. It becomes (as it is removed from your accounts) part of the black (or grey) market. Most importantly, individual banks tie there other activities to the total of their deposits. If all (99%ers) checking and savings accounts suddenly went to zero the banking industry would suffer.
The down side would be that you would need to use cash to purchase postal money orders to pay your various bills each month. That inconvenience would stop most 99%ers in their collective tracks. An upside, it would be impossible for the treasury department to track consumer activity with enough detail to tax our various transactions.
We (here at caucus99percent) know this is just silly pie-in-the-sky nonsense, because realistically, this suggestion has no possibility of ever becoming a reality.
Yet, it's a great suggestion,
Pricerip. My daughter operates on a cash basis for all her transactions because when her money is gone, she stops spending. Not so when we have debit cards to whisk away any care about how much our purchases cost. I'm guilty of that, sometimes, myself.
We also need to be wary of a cashless society. Just sayin'
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
A cashless society is a controllable society.
I don't think the people here realize the import of your
statement. That may be the ONE method to finely subjugate the proles - in conjunction with electronic communication devices.
In a cashless society, one could be cut off from all sources of subsistence and movement with a simple keystroke from anywhere in the world. You could not get employment, food, lodging or travel from any public source. Having to rely solely on personal connections gets you only so far.
You could be correct . . .
I know how our economic system functions and I know how automated systems can be subverted. So the notion of a Cosmo (a character from the movie Sneakers) doing this is not much of a stretch for me. Or, maybe I am just a bit paranoid.
Word Usage
Debit cards can only spend up to the amount of cash in the bank account. It's credit cards that allow you to spend beyond your available cash.
Yes and no.
I think Raggedy Ann may be referring to a situation I find myself in sometimes: depleting my cash via debit card before addressing my monthly obligations. (I don't compartmentalize my spending, in other words, so -- while I may not be incurring debt -- I find myself short. If that makes sense).
And depending on the bank
My bank has no problem charging us $30 for the $4 overage on our debit card.
There is no such thing as TMI. It can always be held in reserve for extortion.
That's how they get you.
"The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now do you begin to understand me?" ~Orwell, "1984"
Exactly, Eagles92!
Thanks for clarifying that for me.
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
I tend to support this idea
But share your skepticism over whether or not enough people would agree to participate. It's a scary idea for some.
Then there's the issue of credit unions. I do all of my banking with credit unions and don't necessarily want to punish them. Perhaps this starts with a targeted "divestment" strategy on an individual level? Pick a Wall St. bank each quarter and see how many people can be convinced to move their money?
Just spitballing here.
Kearney Federal Credit Union
I came to Kearney in 1979. The first few people I met on campus were board members and I created an account within days. Credit Unions are not Banks, they just look and appear to act like banks particularly now that they accept members from the general population usually restricted by county lines.
I am still a resident of Central Nebraska, yet I have been a member in good standing for four years of Rogue Federal Credit Union of Ashland, Oregon. I would only consider removing my support from my credit union if it began to act like a bank rather than a credit union. Besides, I think I would like to be a board member, I would like to be involved with their very good community programs.
Trump is lining up against China?
South China Sea is the flashpoint. Trump administration has stated that the security agreements with Japan cover the SCS and China will be denied there. The Global Times (ie Chinese govt) says that if the US wants to enforce such a diktat they better be prepared to bring it. Hence the 4th fleet reactivation by Obama and naval ramp up. And the TPP.
But then Trump killed the TPP which was a key part of the encirclement of China. Of course, actions not being coherent, rational or synergistic is probably to be expected from Trumpland.
I still think Putin would love to entice Trump into a landwar with Iran. It's just too perfect for him and his (alleged) goal of resurrecting the USSR empire. China and the US seems too dangerous, too much risk of nukes.
Hey, interesting times are fun, aren't they gang? So many fun ways things can go sideways!
[Edited to fix TPP acronyms]
I'm not sure that Putin is crazy enugh to wish to resurrect the
USSR empire. Today it would be much more of a burden than a benefit
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Not sure craziness is the relevant measure.
I would point to Georgia, Chechnya. Maybe not the entire former USSR but a USSR empire nonetheless. The desire to dominate and expand is apparent from Putin's words and actions.
Nonsense
A history primer for you. Georgians don't call their country 'Georgia'. They call it Sakartvelo. There is a long and complicated relationship between Georgia and South Ossetia that is much too involved to be discussed here. Are you in favor of people having a direct say in the future of their own country?
If you are unsure of what it would mean for South Ossetia to be part of the Russian Federation look here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republics_of_Russia#Constitutional_status
They get to keep their own language, religion, schools and media all supported with Federal funding. Make sure you read that link!
US bobble-headed corrupt puppet Yeltsin started the Chechen wars. Putin ended the Second Chechen War.
Just who is the Islamic International Brigade (IIB)
Consider how the US would have responded in such a situation. If you are unsure think about Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and Tamerlan Tsarnaev in Boston.
Been to Chechnya lately?
Care to supply some proof of that statement?
Maybe you were thinking about America?
You did not tell me anything I did not already know.
So shove your fucking snark up your fucking hole. OK?
Good we are done here.
no, not ok. Just saying. /nt
https://www.euronews.com/live
Putin has no intention of resurrecting the USSR
There are very strong ties between Russia, Iran and China.
The TPP was no match for China's One Belt One Road Initiative which is now well underway and will cover a geographic realm that covers 70% of the world’s population, 75% of energy resources, and 70% of GDP. And this does not even cover the TPP countries. (Of course, they could join in the future when China brings a high speed rail line to North America in a decade or two.)
https://www.merics.org/en/merics-analysis/infographicchina-mapping/china...
TPP = Encirclement of China? Link Please... /nt
“Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.” ~ Sun Tzu
google
Yeah, especially if you've got Rick Dimwit Perry as your Energy
Secretary in charge of the nukes. Rec'd!!
Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.
How can you possibly think of revolution when the Russians
are coming? We must put away our petty problems and stand united behind our government in these dangerous times when the very future of America is threatened.
Without a waving flag : How Sacrilegious !!
Fuck Yeah!
@PriceRip
And, of course, having that flowing flag firmly pinned to your lapel, so you can fly! Fly and be free! So the
PTBeverybody but TPTB can Roosh-in and hate you for your Freedom Flys! (Neatly blaming the Russians and stereotypical Chinese tell-tale pronunciation of 'hacker code traces', not sure how to get the Iranians in there, though I'm sure that the PTB's lackeys can manage that part of this melange of nonsense, as they did in the first place... probably without even getting dizzy in the spin.)Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.
A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.
pie in the sky?
Really?
Many of us right here on c99p are already living exactly like this -- by the banks' choice.
All it would take is a wee bit of expansion of the concept to some of our more prosperous brethren.
Your suggestion has more validity than you give it credit (union) for!
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
It Was a Serious Question Asking for Info From Your Perspective
I'm sure that there's a ton of links to sort through.
I wasn't challenging your assertion, I was asking for some recommended support of the idea.
Have a nice day.
“Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.” ~ Sun Tzu