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Promises, Promises, That's All They Ever Give Us
Why is it that whenever the G20, the G8, or the World Economic Forum gather, I get a sinking feeling that these "world leaders" will accomplish nothing, change nothing?
There are, according to Wikipedia, 203 sovereign states in the world. So who died and made the G 20 king? Why can they, along with the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and a host of multi-national corporations and banks, decide how the world will run or how it will fail?
These 20 countries represent 85% of the worlds output, but they clearly depend on the rest of the world to provide them with raw material inputs, human resources and a market for their output.
Let's remember that these "world leaders", whether on their own, or on the advice of the World Bank, IMF and all those multi-nationals, allowed the current economic crisis to happen. Their national economies lost, their citizens lost and the other 183 sovereign states lost as well.
Some corporations lost and that was a bitter pill to swallow indeed. While much of the wealth they lost was extracted from the economies of the worlds poorest countries, it was the corporations we were supposed to feel sorry for.
Certainly getting money to the poor, the most desperate victims of the economic crisis, is not the answer, the money should go to those who engineered the collapse in the first place, the international banking institutions. They are after all, the best and the brightest, the masterminds that lost all those pensions, 401K's and home mortgages. We gave them billions, but it wasn't enough.
The G20 summit in London declared three goals; reform and strengthen the global financial and economic system, stabilize financial markets and put the global economy on track for sustainable growth.
Strengthening the global economic system and stabilizing financial markets; how will the G20 accomplish that? Pumping more money into the banking system with no accountability? They are all about growth, now they call it /sustainable growth/ -- and that is a blatant lie.
Growth means more and we are a society that, according to economist John Ikerd, is accustomed to unending promises of "more" and "better". Ikerd tells us that sustainable development means "enduring progress, supportable advancement or livable evolution". The G20 needs to listen to the thousands of protesters in the streets of London, there is no such thing as sustainable growth.
Sustainable development can meet the needs of today while still allowing for the needs and opportunities of the future, but we can't have it all. We delude ourselves when we pretend we can have all we want today, and with continued economic growth or expansion, let the good times roll forever.
While advocates of capitalist theory, investment bankers and the architects of the economic crisis would like to believe there is no limit to economic expansion, the world does have a finite carrying capacity. As Ikerd reminds us, "we may have to settle for enough rather than more, because more may not be possible and less may be better".
The tens of thousands who protest in the streets of London ask for change. Will the G20 go on with business as usual? Will they continue to follow the lead of the US and Great Britain and pretend that a few band aids on the banking system, derivatives trading, price speculation on food, land and agricultural commodities is all we need to put the world economy back on track? Or is the day of "cowboy capitalism" over?
French President Nicolas Sarkozy threatened to walk out of the G20 summit if French demands for stricter financial regulation are rejected. German Chancellor Angela Merkel joined Sarkozy in calling for "capitalism with a conscience". While they may not ascribe to the theory that capitalism has become an extractive, exploitive and oppressive economic system, clearly, they see a pressing need for change.
Perhaps the real answers are out in the street, nationalize the banks, growth cannot continue forever, the rich are rich enough. The crisis will end when those who have too much, when those who control the wealth of the world realize less may be better.
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22 Comments so far
Show AllWell, Jim you have to understand, we live in a technocracy. Which I personally characterize as techno-supremacist views combined with the crafted illusion of democracy. This has been the case for a long time. Indeed, even the so-called alternative viewpoints that carry the most weight and therefore survive in any respectable numbers today, are the ones most adept at secretly serving this technocracy. Organizations like Organic Valley and MOSA, touted and heralded as 'revolutionary', and by this I mean gathered individuals who think themselves purveyors of 'change', actually effect very little change. They end up doing the same things, pushing technology and eradicating resistance to technocracy through 'economic processes' (heady G20 type stuff, ya know ;)). For decades, the most successful farmers, were and are the ones who could be most adept at cannibalizing and disregarding their neithbors, in service to technology/technocracy. I believe it was Wendell Berry, though probably others too, who called this activity economic Darwinism. Survival of the fittest, those most skilled at serving, and, most loyal to, technocracy.
I suggest you get over your whining and embrace the NEW WORLD ORDER.
However: If you still want to whine and to fight back a little bit, get a hold of a book called 'Technopoly' (same thing as technocracy) by Neil Postman. And then try to look after your neighbor, whoever they might be. Jesus would have liked that.
Have a nice day, Jimbo.
"you have to understand, we live in a technocracy. Which I personally characterize as techno-supremacist views combined with the crafted illusion of democracy."
I never looked at it that way before, but that is exactly what is happening with health care. Obama wants to spend $19B on healthcare IT, and people defer to the idea almost like it was a religion - as if it must be good because it's IT. Never mind that it won't do much if any thing to solve the problem and that it will actually outsource jobs. If it involves technology, it must be good.
I saw Glenn Greenwald early today on C-span being interviewed. Glenn to his credit didn't mince words. He hit the nail right on the head when he said that both parties that rule the USA are owned by the same group of people. He stated that these bought and paid for so called Reps. of the people are nothing more then shills for their masters on Wall st. He also said he has little faith in the proposed fixes the Obama Admin. is suggesting.
So, Glenn said it, but did he name "The Elite Groups and Secret Societies" that control "World Policy"?
Here are a few: Bilderberg Club, Council on Foreign Relations, Skull and Bones, Heritage Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Hoover Institute, Brookings Institute, American Enterprise Institute, and a few more..........Yes, Ben Bernanke, Henry Paulson, Timothy Geithner, Lawrence Summers were attendees at some of the Bilderberg Club Meetings and they will protect their brothers in Wall Street not the American People............
Nobody talks about Nationalizing "The Federal Reserve", not even Krugman or Stiglitz!.....I am sure any country receiving IMF or World Bank funds will have to allow U.S. or NATO bases.
It is not enough to nationalize retail and residential mortgage banking. We must call for the abolition of the foundations altogether. When the wealthy cannot hold on to their wealth beyond their lifetimes and the assets are taxed, putting them back into broader economic circulation, the promises can begin to be fulfilled.
"The crisis will end when those who have too much, when those who control the wealth of the world realize less may be better."
No, I think they've decided to bet the farm, so to speak. If you could milk your cows until they dropped so you could have a fabulous week, would you do it? Of course not. It would be unsustainable. But that is exactly what the blood-suckers in Washington have done to us. So long as it has become fashionable to speak of sustainability, it is time to put the health and sustainability of our nation - the citizens, not the corporations - on the banquet table in Washington.
Dither dather, dither dather, electoral politics don't mean a damn if we just vote for the bugger, then sit back at our keyboards and rant how they didn't keep their promises (which like Slick Willy, they keep all the promises they intend to keep). Don't misunderstand, we do have places to rant now and 10-15 years ago no way. BUT. First you elect them, then you beat the soles of their feet until they give you what you want. That means you take it into your heads that you are going to shut the bugger down if they fail you - and they have failed you and will continue to fail you until they screw you to death - that's what Master wants them to do to you. Hell, the buggers pull the video network on the streets of the London G20 so the trained killers with badges and guns can do anything to anyone they want - and it's a crime if the victim films the event. Guess where we are boys and girls.
So call a Gnr'l Stryke - right from here. Nobody goes to work on Wednesday the X Day - we call in sick "Sorry boss, puking and vomiting and diarrhea all night long. Not in today." Call and leave the message at 5am (can't argue with a message) - SICK OUT. And maybe somebody decides to sit down that day with 100000 of their close friends in the middle of Main Street - every Main Street - in waves.
1. Card Check NOW
2. Single Payer NOW
3. Out of Iraq/Afghanistan NOW.
If we hit those points, it will start an avalanche. Card Check - as originally written - changes the balance of power in the workplace - you know, like in Memphis - I AM A MAN! (or WOMAN, or LGBT - it was '68 after all); Conyers Medicare for all DESTROYS the Corporate lock on Health Care and frees massive sums not spent on corporate richfilth animals. Out of Iraq puts our Thumb in the eye of the MIC and frees BILLIONS AND BILLIONS of our $$$ to work here at home. Those three will shatter the dam.
Do you want to live like frightened animals terrified of Master and his Overseers and his uniformed goons and secret police, for the rest of your lives? That is exactly the degradation and debasement that Master (through his Overseer BHO) has in store for you.
You know that in your guts. They intend for you and your children and your grandchildren to live in squalor as permanent debt-slaves to the George Bushes of this world. And won't he thank you for your perfect abasement.
So whaddya think? You can die on your knees or you can finally, for the rest of your living, stand up and be a Citizen. One thing I can tell you and I think Mr. Goodman, and Ms. Amy Goodman might agree: They are terrified of us.
Ohhh, no, we couldn't dooo thaaaat. That wouldn't be nice. No it wouldn't. But it would put the Fear of Jahweh into their gutless little hearts and after we've done it for the 3rd time - shut this nation down - we might start to get some of the programs and relief that the current Overseer promised. 3 Days that could change history. Interested?
So, what is step #1? Setting a date, listing the points, and a two paragraph agenda? Give us clue. We can just make this up as we go along but experience is best.
I'm tired of talking folks. It is past time we reminded these animals of what real Americans are about when they get fed up with richfilth bullies who think they own our world. THEY DON'T, we've just let them use it a lot longer than we should have. WE HAVE CHANGED OUR MIND.
Our parents and grandparents did not fight Adolf Hitler so that we could lay down for the grandchildren of the double Traitor Prescott Bush, and his current Overseer. No more Richfilth Traitors making our country a land of torturers, usurers, and degraded despots.
WE ARE NOT ENTERTAINED!!
So I repeat, what's first?
you! One thing you fail to mention is........many people are dependent on the gov't for their sustinence. Section 8 housing, food stamps, welfare, farming subsidies, Fed gov't workers/unions, Social Security, SSI, Medicade, Medicare, Disability, US Military and business that support the US Military, Cities that rely on the Military Base, State Gov't workers and their unions, State Police, FBI, CIA, NSA, MoveOn, NAACP, UAW, Teamsters, and the list goes on and on. To many people are suckling on the pig. They will never come out to the street unless you take it away from them and WHO is gonna do that? Obama? The DNC? The GOP? Rush?
"The crisis will end when those who have too much, when those who control the wealth of the world realize less may be better."
Or when We the People control the wealth of the world direct democratically without bribed and threatened representatives.
medical marajuana will save the planet.
So Angela Merkel calls for "capitalism with a conscience." That sounds a bit like "communism with a human face" - and we saw what happened to Dubcek! I don't think capitalism can have a conscience. At best, all we can do is tie it down and make it less destructive.
Take all THEIR s**t, strip them naked and leave 'em on the street. Uh, thats at least a good starting point! :)
OK... maybe you're not there yet on that option, in that case, just don't buy anything and choke the life out of them that way. (its probably less messy, too!)
So the G20 have confirmed the growth mantra and global intentions:
http://theformofmoney.blogharbor.com/blog
But what is it that drives growth to extremes? It's the elephant in the room that nobody wants to acknowledge -- interest on money, the miracle of compounding growth.
Money and Man by Elgrin Glenclose, 1961
Our perfectly enormous debt structure was never intended to be paid off. It is liquidated only by means of fresh debt. If in prosperous times people began paying off their debts - which never happens, of course - the results upon the money and economic system would be just as disastrous as they are today. Once we have allowed the pillars of debt to rest upon our shoulders we are in the position of Atlas - let us budge an inch and the skies tremble.
A system of deposit money supported by debt and its handmaiden, interest, necessarily feeds upon itself, and must forever be increasing. Let it cease to grow, and it must collapse.
Personally, I was, like, totally surprised - I so thought that this time, the g20 would for sure solve all the world's problems. Hell, they went at it for, like, what - a solid 40 working hours, give or take?
Maybe next year...
herbert r chesonsky:
If you want the Mother-Of-Them-All check out the Mont Pelerin Society -- creation of Hayek, godfather to Friedman.
N.M.
As is usual in the past few decades, the French and Germans have a clearer, more balanced view than do we. They've learned a lot of lessons the hard way, but we're not about to learn from others' experience, or even our own. The American people have sat back and allowed highly educated but unwise, sophisticated but avaricious, smooth but conscienceless executives buy off Congress and presidents to everyone's detriment but their own. Now people are finally understanding how badly they've been screwed, so the Wall Street sharpies and their political courtesans are pitching the massive bailout to indemnify them against the consequences of their greed and arrogance as a bid to save the economy and create jobs. They'll cook up some cosmetic legislation and continue with business as usual. Only a massive display of public outrage, coupled with a midterm ejection of Wall Street's congressional lackeys, will result in the sort of meaningful changes Sarkozy and Merkel rightly advocate.
DrBrian "Only a massive display of public outrage" - Would that be like a Nationwide 1Day Gnr'l Strike-Sick Out for: Card Check; Single Payer; and Out of Iraq/Afghanistan? Could that be the kind of public outrage you had in mind - maybe 3 such days in 60? That means we don't go to work or buy anything, K-12 & College Students do the same. I don't care who the politicians in office are - you beat them, and beat them, and beat them until they give you what you want. Is that what you want? The flip side is they beat us, and beat us, and beat us until THEY get what they want - and you know what that is - Everything, Forever, for Themselves - its the only thing richfilth animals have ever wanted.
Promises isn't all you're going to get from Obama and the G20. If you bend over they'll give you a zucchini too.
They always give "atole con el dedo".
The only solution is to throw whitey out, everywhere on the planet.
"These 20 countries represent 85% of the worlds output"
No, rather they CLAIM 85% of world output. Much of world output that they cannot claim goes unreported. Were this included, the G20 could probably claim only 50%. And of that, probably half is stolen from the people by G20 elites who set policies without the people's consent. Given a just distribution, the elites behind the G20 probably produce only 25% of world output, not 85%. And that's the bottom 25% of frivolous (luxury/convenience oriented) or disastrous (military/nuke/fossil) production. Furthermore, it's supply-driven, not demand-driven, so who needs elites, really?
More likely, they consume 85% of the output.
Most developed nations have been "de-industrialized" meaning that corporations have laid off the home workers and outsourced labor to cheaper nations abroad. Of course, all of these goods are made for consumption at home.