Open Thread - 02-10-23 - The Fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse
Authors note: The Fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse. What is that? Greed. [1]
One may wax philosophically about that which ails man, especially in this day and age of policrises. An argument can be made that our current dilemma is caused by a myriad of causes, such as dwindling resources, or overpopulation, or climate change, or war, or economic collapse, or global health. Any one of these can be considered existential. Here we are in the third decade of the new millennium, confronted with all of these crises at the same time. Is it by chance that this has happened or is there an underlying causal phenomenon at work? It is tempting to lay blame at the feet of overpopulation as the root of all our current emergencies. That may very well be true. This piece is not about the temporal aspects of the policrisis, but more about the philosophical tenets of the existential fork(s) in the road. In other words, that component of the human psyche that has brought us the point of no return.
In my simplistic and humble opinion it all boils down to one human trait: greed.
There is a common denominator throughout the WEF links included in this piece's second paragraph: wealth, and the power that wealth begets. It can be assumed by reading between the lines of what some may perceive as the altruistic concern of the richest and most powerful individuals on planet earth, or what some may perceive as a totalitarian plot to control all peoples of the world, if not all peoples of the world then at least all of the western world.
The very people that will benefit greatly by their concept of the Great Reset are those that have caused the economic crisis which is at the heart of the policrisis. They've had decades of running up huge deficits and irresponsible economic policies that they had to have known would eventually bring us to this precipice we now teeter upon. Meanwhile they have become wealthy beyond belief, befitting by those policies. They know that they may lose everything if the upcoming economic collapse isn't controlled in some fashion. Thus the Great Reset. They've had decades to plan it all out in an effort to amass the wealth of the world while the vast majority have nothing but scraps to subsist on while making themselves enormously wealthy beyond belief and everyone else enormously unhappy. I think of the Great Reset as a vehicle for the policrisis folk to start the scam all over again, only this time with total control by means of the CBDCs (Central Bank Digital Currencies). Those that have caused the destruction want to restart it all in their favor and at our expense. I guess they believe that because they have amassed so much wealth that that makes them god-like.
If CBDCs become a reality, and it appears inevitable that they will, then in my humble opinion it's game over for we serfs. They will start out innocuous enough but we all know what happens when you give humans an opportunity to let their greed flag fly. That, folks, doesn't bode well for our future.
What can be done about it? Do not comply. If there's anyway possible to avoid the system then do it. If enough people refuse to comply then the system may fail. We don't know yet what may happen if or when the CBDCs are implemented, there may be small ways to subvert it, if the opportunity arises then do it, we wont know until the time comes. Do not comply and maybe we can reset the WEF and their minions.
Can you hear me now?
Exposés abound from Twitter, Nord Stream, pandemic response, to ukraine money laundering. I have written my thoughts about this before. It remains to be seen if anything becomes of these exposés or if they are means of normalization where matters are brought out in the open and then become accepted because nothing was done about them. I hope I'm wrong but we shall see.
No Skynet for You
What a poopy head!!
"SpaceX Starlink has become the connectivity backbone of Ukraine all the way up to the front lines. This is the damned if you do part," he wrote.
"However, we are not allowing Starlink to be used for long-range drone strikes. This is the damned if you don't part."
Good for you Elon.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
1 - Greed. Am I going to flog that horse again? Yes, it is the root of our dysfunctional species, In my most humble opinion.
Comments
Good morning Free Rangers...
can I get a witness?
Greed and Arrogance
We don't have laws to protect us from greed and arrogance. The right regulations could do this but they have been stripped out of everything or are ignored.
Inflation is a big deal. For my family, our healthcare costs have gone up $500/month. Electricity went from $.11/kwh to $.18/kwh. Even though we have solar, with less sunshine and higher rates, we still had to pay about $500 last month. (It was down to $4 one sunny month last fall.) And at the grocery store, everything is up. At least we have eggs! But the feed is much more costly. Yikes!
This is the way it is for everybody. Fortunately for us, my husband recently got a part-time Home Depot job that he seems to be enjoying. I am sure there are many who do not have the income to match the inflation. Surely with so many folks being affected eventually something's got to give?
Marilyn
"Make dirt, not war." eyo
Testify Marilyn...
regulated capitalism worked quite well to create a booming middle class in the 50s and 60s. Removing the gold standard which allowed for infinite money printing and later monetary regulations have lead to it's destruction by the greed heads.
They'll use inflation to siphon off the wealth of the middle class and upper middle class until there is no more.
Signed: Peon the Serf
Add some other necessities of life
to the inflation list. Insurance of every type. All utilities, including water and sewer systems. Annual auto inspections. Fuel of all types, including propane and natural gas. Property taxes. School lunch. Air fare. Bus fare.
At the same time, a $10,000 IRA will accrue less than $4.00 in annual interest.
Thanks to Trump, and not changed by Biden, many of us experienced rising into a higher tax bracket.
While I hoped to retire within a couple of years, I realize the plan I made decades ago does not square with current inflation. I see no benefit in shutting down the office only to be forced to be a greeter at Walmart in order to eat three squares daily.
To all you greed driven monsters (or is mobsters?), I promise you, I refuse to go along with your plan. I will fight you fuckers to my last breath.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
The numbers of types of insurance have multiplied
recently. Now there are TWO types of auto insurance, liability and auto repair. There are TWO types of health insurance: human and pet insurance. There is traditional home insurance as well as the newer home appliance insurance as well as home water and sewer repair insurance. And death benefit insurance is now being pushed hard to seniors and near seniors. At the same time seniors are being encouraged to sell their life insurance policies in ads that sound like J.G. Wentworth get-your-money-from-your-structured-settlement ads. And of course Traditional Medicare with reasonable profits margins is being aced out by rapacious “Medicare Advantage” which is gaming the system and filling their coffers with ill-gotten gains. Although Democrats accuse the GOP of trying to kill Medicare as well a Social Security, behind the scenes the aim is to completely turn the entire Medicare system over to private insurance companies by 2030. Greed sure gets its money’s worth in the insurance game!
"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"
@Lily O Lady I hadn't realized the
I hadn't realized the auto insurance scam was happening. In Texas, all autos must be insured for liability damages done to others. Additionally, you can choose to get coverage for repairs and theft. It has always been two-tiered.
I believe Medicare will be fully privatized within a couple of years. It will take longer to privatize Social Security, but tptb are gonna get that trust fund.
When I travel, I watch a bit of tv, commercials for Medicare Advantage, auto insurance, and miracle medicines. I miss clothing and dish washing detergent commercials. Lol!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
What the current gods lack
is guilt. Neither in the sense of a bad conscience, nor court process.
They were born without it.
If there were ever a need for a guilt pill, it is right now.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
And rub...
their sociopathic noses in it, like the dogs they are.
LOL!
The “guilt pill” is one drug the pharmaceutical industry has no interest in. And I would be willing to pay a pretty penny if it would end all our other greed-driven ills.
"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"
I bet if the "guilt pill"
comes on the market, it will only be distributed to the poors, making them guilty for wanting to eat, sleep in housing, that sort of thing.
It would never work for our benefit.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Too true.
"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"
The envoious state of consumers has been commercially driven
by the competitive nature of advertising. I remember some cigarette commercial
trying to out-do their competition by making a fag a millimeter longer.
[video:https://youtu.be/3QJnGUglTRw]
the idea that one proves their 'betterness' by having the bigger, shinier, better
advertised widget seems to be a national philosophy. And the fist fights for
beanie babies at Walmart are also indicative. "Limited supply" or "only while
supplies last" will drive shoppers into a frenzy.
[video:https://youtu.be/UEUHV20kH9g]
Greed or self esteem? That people define their stature in society by the things
they buy indicates a very hollow existence.
thanks for posting!
You just gotta know...
that this is coming, without the aliens, maybe.
How do you know it isn’t already here?
Do you have a pair of the special sunglasses? ; )
"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"
Yes and no...
I have a special pair of glasses that I got back in the 60s from a comic book. They're not sunglasses but they work none the less.
I wish I could live long enough
to see how all those superior people act when they have nobody inferior to lord over. Will they go after each other?
After all, equality is not their strong point.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
When greed has no bounds...
the greedy are boundless.
Yes. Once we are gone, they’ll start in on each other.
"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"
Imagine their god-like
shock realizing they are gonna die of starvation.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Good morning Johnny. I should note that I thought that
pocky lips was a condition brought on by addiction to Japanese confections. That said, greed has a handmaiden named jealousy. Even if one's greed is momentarily sated or otherwise quiescent, the possession by most of one's peers of something desirable which one lacks will trigger a psychological need to possess said thing and hence the wherewithal to get it. And, of course, said thing is desirable because it is and has been well and often promoted by the parasites who make a living by promoting things.
I liked the clip with the sunglasses revealing the subliminal orders/instructions, something of a reverse fnord apparatus and situation.
be well and have a good one, and a happy weekend as well
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 --
What we need, sir...
is a lobotomy operation for the greed section of the brain, the amygdala, the lizard brain.
have to be very, very careful with the lizard brain,
it's also what tells you to get your head down and beat when you see the fuzz coming.
be well and have a good one
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 --
As the old
Native American koan goes:
Twice bitten, permanently shy.
tres true, which brings us back to cowrie, eat then spend.
be well and have a good one
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 --
Much as the...
Rapa Nui found out on Easter Island.
The new DNC
Do Not Comply (got a nice ring to it), and as Julian Assange put it "fight back".
I don't even know if it's greed anymore. There are so many that have such wealth that if they lost half of it it wouldn't impact their lives at all. There is a whole industry set up to do nothing but put the fortunes of the wealthy to work. As long as the cash flow increases they don't care. We see little of how these people live life, but in that little we see people who have been completely un-tethered from the real world and humanity, where everything revolves around them. Where they are surrounded by those who are paid to agree with them. If they didn't have so much power I would pity them because it really sounds like a mental illness.
I like to call it...
the He who Dies With The Most Toys Wins syndrome.
Too much money must do something to the brain. I wouldn't know.
What exactly do we mean by greed?
Wiki gives its usual vague gloss on a very contentious idea. the key definitional term is "uncontrolled longing." This implies that a controlled longing for food, money, land or possessions would not be greedy or "undesirable."
My take on the word, greed --the tendency to reject the concept of "enough" when it comes to things one wants. In order for civilization to avoid the harms caused by greed, we need universal consensus about the idea of what constitutes enough. One billion dollars is more than enough money for anyone; 100 million dollars is more than enough; ten million is more than enough, too. Instead of looking at how much money should be taken away from the greed heads to make them mere millionaires, we should look at how satisfactory a 9 million dollar bank balance is for anyone. Plenty enough.
I agree with the premise that the lust for too much rather than enough is the Meta Problem.
Enough is enough should be the main thrust of the movement for human survival.
I cried when I wrote this song. Sue me if I play too long.
Greed...
must have provided some evolutionary function since it resides in the amygdala.
Maybe the most greedy became leaders, just like today. Although if I was an early hominid I think the greedy one would be shown the edge of a cliff.
It just occurred to me that civilization
began with the food surplus that agriculture made possible. Although I firmly believe that you have to be careful with Darwin and the theory of evolution because it is so easy to fall into circular reasoning, it seems plausible to me that an innate desire to maximize the food supply could be a positive genetic inheritance. We could be pissing into the hurricane of Natural Selection with any effort to curtail greed.
Just kidding.
I cried when I wrote this song. Sue me if I play too long.
Then there is the tax scam…
or should I say tax slavery scam? And the parasites have rigged that against us too.
The Federal Reserve Cartel – Eight Families own the USA #BIS, IMF, World Bank
We haven’t been able to stop any of their plans to make our lives worse and I doubt we’re going to stop this either. Clinton signed trade agreements that gutted the working class and then he gutted the social programs that desperate people needed. They closed the world because they wanted to ruin small businesses and put people into even more desperate straits. The UK plans for people to only have 10,000-20,000 pounds of digital money, but step out of line and you will have nothing. You won’t be happy about it either. Just look at what Canada did to the truckers overnight.
Gas cars are going the way of the dodo in a few years so you will have to buy an electric car, but of course they won’t let the power grid be able to charge all of them, but don’t you worry about that either cuz you’ll live in 15 minute cities whether you want to do that or not.
I’ve heard that if just 10% of us everywhere got into the streets and out of our workplace we might be able to stop this. But who takes the cut on money unless people join together and funds those brave souls? Again I thought I’d be dead before shit hit the fan, but alas.
There were problems with running a campaign of Joy while committing a genocide? Who could have guessed?
Harris is unburdened of speaking going forward.
Here's the pitch...
it's a swing and "CRACK!!", it's a home run!
He was building on the gutting that his predecessors began, and continues today.
I still hold out hope that things can be turned around.
Thanks snoops, thanks Sam.
I hope you are right
Skip down to the part about the cbdc where he thinks that they will fail.
Social Credit Brazilian Style: All UBI Recipients Must Be Vaxxed
How this works is over my head, but there’s a reason why they want a jab in every arm and look at how quickly vax passports took off and how many people just accepted the fact that you are a 2nd class citizen if you weren’t jabbed. Or how many people just complied with them so that their lives weren’t interrupted or inconvenienced.
On UBIs though every test done on giving people who were poor without strings attached let them become more successful and how most people didn’t waste it on things to play with.
So yeah there still might be some hope that none of their plans come to be….some.
There were problems with running a campaign of Joy while committing a genocide? Who could have guessed?
Harris is unburdened of speaking going forward.
"Shine On You Crazy Diamond" was written
for Syd Barrett, one of the founders of Pink Floyd. Barrett literally and medically fried his brain on all sorts of chemical cocktails, not just LSCrazy (LSD). It got so bad Roger Waters and the other band members had to kick him out. He left them no other choice.
Rec'd!!
Good, thought-provoking diary and comment thread!
Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.