Good stuff and I have no quibble with anything you have stated.

I believe the Universe evolved to Consciousness and man is part of that Consciousness and that ego is that which separates or breaks down our connection with the spiritual.

Many of not most of us have experienced that connection. We are just unable to recognize it as that ego gets in the way.

Western Science accelerates this trend. Learning the "secrets of the Universe" so as to build an atomic bomb and drop it on other Conscious beings can in no way be called enlightenment.

Kitaj, while I find your cosmic speculation interesting, I don't see the relevance to political and economic issues. To often the consciousness crowd uses it's "liberating" theories as a kind of cudgel. I would say that your all caps section fits that category.

In my personal life, I have found some utility in esoteric spirituality, but I do not see it as forming the basis of a People's revolution. First, just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so is esoteric "truth." The subjective and unprovable are not an adequate base for a mass political movement. Also, when the 60's left movement began seeing the new age, and not class politics, as the main concern, the political movement faltered and disintegrated.

There is no question that a more unifying consciousness is a requirement of that which is yet to come; however, just as I point out to those that would make Israel the central pillar of U.S. foreign AND domestic policy, a variety of factors coalesce to make policy (and events) happen... the same holds true in this instance.------------------------------------------

There are those who see the be-all, end-all of existence in economic terms. Others see things in political terms. Still others, through other viable frames; and no stance is more right than another. It's best to see all of these as layers of the same onion (or Lotus).-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Some of us work to enhance the collective spiritual understanding, and others work to see more just economic systems. Still others argue for true democracy, while others mend the sick, etc. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

We have been taught that psychology emanates from ONE set of basic metrics; whereas the premise of a Divine Twelve colors our existences with the input of a greater number of inviolate archetypes (along with the behaviors each is given to). The interactions on the part of the facets grows or evolves the whole, as all segments are ideally meant to work together to create new amalgams and expand upon yesterday's limited possibilities. --------------------------------------------------------------------

So I agree with you about the necessary increment to collective consciouness, while at the same time acknowledging--and applauding--equally sincere efforts made in other viable sectors of this thing called Life that we all partake of, each of us operating as a strand in the great web.

A quick word of praise, Kitaj, for venturing into this topic of spiritual evolution courageously, AND sticking with it down the thread. Yes, it takes a bit of courage, especially around here on CD, to point out that there is a more fundamental "problem" and I suspect that is what you refer to by "Emotional Plague". Anyway, what name it is called doesn't matter. And yet, words do matter, because they are ALL we've got to communicate here, and it's so easy to get lost and entangled in words, especially when coming from a particular ideological background. It is somewhat risky to get into this topic, again, especially here on CD, as it's easy to get labeled as elitist, aloof, arrogant, New-Agey, self-centered, and what not, but you have plunged in and did an eloquent defense of something that shouldn't need to be defended in the first place. Kudos, once again!

I like where you are coming from. Please email mchohan@bgsu.edu

I have much to discuss about Light.

Wow! PDJ... I detect a major growth increment on your part! Another right-on post. Gracias!

Good documentary. I recently showed it to my classes, as I have for some years. It charts the progress PR has made into the hearts and minds of our people, and hopefully makes a lasting impression.

Thanks for your kindness, Siouxrose. Lots of bullshit flying in the comments, with many practicing the same mistake Paul just made by trying to be a mind reader when it's very easy to find out what OWS and RP are about--Stereotyping on both sides. And then there's plain myth put forth as truth that I won't waste my time with.

A week ago or so, I described RP as an enigma, a seeming master at Doublethink. One cannot base domestic and foreign policy on the Golden Rule concept and simultaneously hold the sort of policy positions RP does. And for my money, that's where his "political lie" resides. I also have other issues with RP related to his political philosophy, particularly some of his interpretations of the 1787 constitution that are egregiously, glaringly wrong. Furthermore, it's entirely possible to be a pro-people Libertarian, contrary to what most every commentator here will belch. However, I still want RP to gain the GOP presidential nomination because head-to-head, Obama is right of RP, and that opens space for the left. Fundamentally, as I've written several times, the 2012 election is about priorities: Is stopping the killing and Imperial Expansion more important, or is something else. One has put forth the environment is more important, but how that will improve under an Obama whose already proved himself anti-environment wasn't explained by the commentator.

What will I do? In November, I will vote for the candidate closet to my values, who probably won't be RP. But in the Primary, I will change my affiliation in order to vote for RP in the Republican Primary for the reasons noted above. Ultimately, Obama like Bush deserves prison instead of a second term--I can't think of a better example of our political system's dysfunction than that: I think Egypt provides a good example of how entrenched the debauchery is and an idea of the level of effort needed to overcome the status quo.

It would be exciting if an Obama/RP election could be thrown into the House as the Establishment is trying real hard to exclude RP. But we have a whole year to go and surprises are sure to occur. Certainly the economy isn't going to improve for the 99% and war with the Pakistani government is a very real possibility, while Kyoto will expire with nothing to replace it thanks to Obama/Clinton.

So, did RP's recent provocative statement change my appraisal and potential actions? No, but I do think I have a better insight into his character as noted above. Where do I think energy should be applied? It should go to the OWS movement and the political party it will eventually generate. That party's goal ought to be to attack congresscritters and state politicos at all levels for election in 2012 and 2014 in anticipation of gaining ballot access for 2016. However, a number of factors could force myself and many others to abandon efforts at political change within the current system and accept Revolutionary change as the only way to solve the multiple crises we face. Remember, I view both our culture and society as grossly dysfunctional, in need of total replacement, much as Lenin viewed Tsarist Russia, although my preferred solution differs from his.

The planet today has a few pockets of civility, but Barbarism and its Barbarity rules almost everywhere, driven/promoted by the US Empire and its surrogates. Most every futurist I know says for humanity to survive Civilization must overcome the current Barbarism, and time is getting short for it to triumph. It's my view that supporting RP's attempt to gain the GOP nomination is a move against Barbarism.