Marianne, I like your idea that we need another Teddy Roosevelt to get us back to democracy and away from our oligarchy that's been certified by Citizens United! It seems to me we need to focus right now, all together, on figuring out the most important concern or factor that needs to be conveyed and resolved in order to truly start restoring our demcracy; then, let everything else fall into place. Otherwise, it seems, we all keep regurgitating what's wrong but solutions seem remote, even with short, middle, and long-term plans: meanwhile, time for life on Earth is running out--compounded by a reluctance of those with global power to truly address our climate emergency! (I've been pondering this for months: what's truly crucial to focus on in this moment of our global history to set things on a better path to thrivability.)
Thanks Marianne. I really enjoy those video chats where you get someone like this guy or a while back Nancy Maclean who really know how to analyse what is going on in society and get a good perspective. It is so easy to get swamped by all the disasters reported on by newspapers which are motivated by sensationalism. Of course we do live in an age of global emergencies but the best thing to do in an energency is fight the urge to panic and perspective is vital.
One thing I would say as a resident of the UK. You talk about there is more of a balance between government and the private sector in Europe and that may be the case on the continent but much less so in the UK which as you know has withdrawn from the EU. Since the economic crisis the government has brought about massive cuts in public services especially health and things like control of water supplies. I used to be a social worker but the kind of services I used to work in simply don't exist any more. As you know we in the UK tend to carry the USA's coat-tails and market rules OK just now.
All the more important to get as I said some perspective. Thanks once again.
What a great conversation! Thank you, Marianne and Donald Cohen. I’m looking forward to reading The Privatization of Everything for all the reasons discussed in your conversation, especially for the steps we need to take to turn our “Ship-of-State” (thanks, Joan Halgren for this term) AWAY from the Iceberg!
Mario, I don't have the emotional capacity to even "Read More," and I have deep respect for Greenwald. But I have been a pacifist all my life because I think warfare and violence are blatant signals of a maladaptive disease within us Homo Sapiens. Also, our DNA is still linked to the outmoded Neanderthals so an aspect of our human lives keeps us from being truly capable of loving and accepting of "the other". Epidemiologists say it my take more centuries for us to evolve into living peacefully, but I don't know if our planet can make it for too much longer. Plus, it's painful knowing that minds are being manipulated, and that there are such huge profits soaring from this latest war that could go on as long as the one we just left! And we couldn't pass legislation to support Build Back Better!
Finally, I was horrified today by watching a CNN video of a young Ukrainian solider who said working with drones is fun--comparing it to video games and how they (in real life) are using these devices to track and kill others: Sad and horrendous too. Thus, we need to upshift our minds in order for this planet and its life to thrive or it will be gone. I remain a bit optimistic but there's a lot that needs doing and nothing seems truly coordinated or coherent but talks of short, medium and long-term solutions. Lots of talk, with glimmers of hope, including baby-step advances that emerge from time to time, as mentioned during this podcast, like car safety, food labeling, etc.
To me our democracy officially ended in 2010 with the passage of "Citizens United" but not enough people got upset about it that I knew then and now! To me that's the battle ground to be focusing on in order to remove our present oligarchy from power and restore authentic democracy! Another idea: it seems we need a collective agreement on what topic or sitution we should all focus on together to start turning around our crippled Ship-of-State. My favorite is how to get money out of politics. But others may have an even brighter plan--we just truly need to get the State back to shore!
Mario, thanks for sharing this great, truthful coverage. I watched it and was very discouraging about the vote and background of those supporting it! Indeed, Greenwald is correct about the amazing lack of pushback from the public regarding the huge sum of money voted on for the war in Ukraine. Americans seem to be duped by all the news coverage and have greater empathy about this war since it isn't in the Middle East or Africa--so racially/culturally biased. We are supporting war profiteering! The opposition argument would be that we are indirectly saving democracy. I heard a young woman from Finland say she had reservations about their joining NATO because of the U.S. participating in countless wars, etc. She wasn't seeing much difference between us and Russia. So it goes...more people need to wake up to reality. Also, we've been supporting Ukraine from behind the scenes with military training for years! It may have prompted Putin's decisions. Peace!
Take a low tide walk alone along a deserted country beach. Look up occasionally and if you see Jonathan Livingston Seagull ask him how to transcend....................... (JLS = Holy Spirit/The Christ Mind in all of us).
Marianne, I like your idea that we need another Teddy Roosevelt to get us back to democracy and away from our oligarchy that's been certified by Citizens United! It seems to me we need to focus right now, all together, on figuring out the most important concern or factor that needs to be conveyed and resolved in order to truly start restoring our demcracy; then, let everything else fall into place. Otherwise, it seems, we all keep regurgitating what's wrong but solutions seem remote, even with short, middle, and long-term plans: meanwhile, time for life on Earth is running out--compounded by a reluctance of those with global power to truly address our climate emergency! (I've been pondering this for months: what's truly crucial to focus on in this moment of our global history to set things on a better path to thrivability.)
Thanks Marianne. I really enjoy those video chats where you get someone like this guy or a while back Nancy Maclean who really know how to analyse what is going on in society and get a good perspective. It is so easy to get swamped by all the disasters reported on by newspapers which are motivated by sensationalism. Of course we do live in an age of global emergencies but the best thing to do in an energency is fight the urge to panic and perspective is vital.
One thing I would say as a resident of the UK. You talk about there is more of a balance between government and the private sector in Europe and that may be the case on the continent but much less so in the UK which as you know has withdrawn from the EU. Since the economic crisis the government has brought about massive cuts in public services especially health and things like control of water supplies. I used to be a social worker but the kind of services I used to work in simply don't exist any more. As you know we in the UK tend to carry the USA's coat-tails and market rules OK just now.
All the more important to get as I said some perspective. Thanks once again.
What a great conversation! Thank you, Marianne and Donald Cohen. I’m looking forward to reading The Privatization of Everything for all the reasons discussed in your conversation, especially for the steps we need to take to turn our “Ship-of-State” (thanks, Joan Halgren for this term) AWAY from the Iceberg!
Exactly! 100%
Mario, I don't have the emotional capacity to even "Read More," and I have deep respect for Greenwald. But I have been a pacifist all my life because I think warfare and violence are blatant signals of a maladaptive disease within us Homo Sapiens. Also, our DNA is still linked to the outmoded Neanderthals so an aspect of our human lives keeps us from being truly capable of loving and accepting of "the other". Epidemiologists say it my take more centuries for us to evolve into living peacefully, but I don't know if our planet can make it for too much longer. Plus, it's painful knowing that minds are being manipulated, and that there are such huge profits soaring from this latest war that could go on as long as the one we just left! And we couldn't pass legislation to support Build Back Better!
Finally, I was horrified today by watching a CNN video of a young Ukrainian solider who said working with drones is fun--comparing it to video games and how they (in real life) are using these devices to track and kill others: Sad and horrendous too. Thus, we need to upshift our minds in order for this planet and its life to thrive or it will be gone. I remain a bit optimistic but there's a lot that needs doing and nothing seems truly coordinated or coherent but talks of short, medium and long-term solutions. Lots of talk, with glimmers of hope, including baby-step advances that emerge from time to time, as mentioned during this podcast, like car safety, food labeling, etc.
To me our democracy officially ended in 2010 with the passage of "Citizens United" but not enough people got upset about it that I knew then and now! To me that's the battle ground to be focusing on in order to remove our present oligarchy from power and restore authentic democracy! Another idea: it seems we need a collective agreement on what topic or sitution we should all focus on together to start turning around our crippled Ship-of-State. My favorite is how to get money out of politics. But others may have an even brighter plan--we just truly need to get the State back to shore!
For real; Its sinking fast!
Mario, thanks for sharing this great, truthful coverage. I watched it and was very discouraging about the vote and background of those supporting it! Indeed, Greenwald is correct about the amazing lack of pushback from the public regarding the huge sum of money voted on for the war in Ukraine. Americans seem to be duped by all the news coverage and have greater empathy about this war since it isn't in the Middle East or Africa--so racially/culturally biased. We are supporting war profiteering! The opposition argument would be that we are indirectly saving democracy. I heard a young woman from Finland say she had reservations about their joining NATO because of the U.S. participating in countless wars, etc. She wasn't seeing much difference between us and Russia. So it goes...more people need to wake up to reality. Also, we've been supporting Ukraine from behind the scenes with military training for years! It may have prompted Putin's decisions. Peace!
Satan/devil is simply the ego!!! Do you read A Course in Miracles? "The only devil is the one running around in the hearts of mankind" - Gandhi
The occult is another illusion of the ego!!!
Take a low tide walk alone along a deserted country beach. Look up occasionally and if you see Jonathan Livingston Seagull ask him how to transcend....................... (JLS = Holy Spirit/The Christ Mind in all of us).