Privacy redux

While we've been distracted by all the Trumpiness going on, the surveillance state has figured out how to get around all those annoying little laws about privacy rights. This article describes how it is being done:

http://original.antiwar.com/jwhitehead/2017/06/26/age-no-privacy-surveillance-state-shifts-high-gear/

Depraved-Heart Murder

This interesting concept is endorsed proudly by many of our politicians and governments.  This article explains it in the context of the current health care fight in the USA, but it is applicable to many of the actions our governments undertake in the name of austerity, fighting terror, creating jobs, etc.

https://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/6/24/1674954/-Well-Senator-Hatch-If-Not-Murder-Then-What-Would-You-Call-It?detail=emaildkre

How the right insinuates its policies into liberal/left leaning political parties.

This is very instructive and explains a lot about recent activities by Canada's 'Liberal' government as well as the US Democratic party's behaviour.

http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/39986-third-way-democrats-are-trying-to-push-the-party-rightward

Bye-bye privacy

It's official, you now have no expectation of privacy in the US:


http://original.antiwar.com/andrew-p-napolitano/2017/01/18/a-parting-shot-at-personal-freedom/


Can Canada be far behind?

Obama's failings ..

... are outlined in stark detail in this article.

http://original.antiwar.com/lucy/2017/01/13/the-foolish-optimism-of-hoping-for-chelsea-mannings-freedom/



His reputation is only good in comparison to the republican horrors that bracketed his term of office.  

A great source of new ideas ...

... to think about:

https://www.opendemocracy.net/uk/oliver-sylvester-bradley/disrupting-capitalist-democracy

A very new idea is that democracy has become 'corporatized' - ie it is being reshaped to serve only corporate goals, and 'we, the people' are now just in the way but necessary to fund the  activities that governments now undertake for the corporations.  A worthwhile read.

Secret Law explained.

This article show how secret interpretations of laws allow gov'ts to justify torturing prisoners, spying on all citizens, and starting wars without legislative approval.  It's the modern modus operandi, and avoids all that pesky public discussion that so often hinders dictators.

https://www.brennancenter.org/publication/new-era-secret-law

Posting New Secret Trade Docs, Wikileaks Further Exposes Corporate Plot

The ongoing effort to turn our democracy over to the control of corporations is clearly explained in this article:

Posting New Secret Trade Docs, Wikileaks Further Exposes Corporate Plot


Unfortunately, we place to much trust in the glib pretty faces of our politicians to be able to do much about it.  Our elections are never about the important ideas, they are always about trivial crap and red herrings placed into the corporate-controlled media to to make sure our attention never focuses on, indeed, never even notices, the behind the scenes deals that are in all these so-called trade deals.

Here are the values you espouse when you "support the troops"

A thoughtful dissertation on the implications of our worship of the military

http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/37975-the-bullying-of-us-militarism-pervades-the-entire-society

The ubiquitous presence of the military does not speak well for our values.  It just indicates that we are violent bullies at heart.

Taylor Caldwell was right ...

in her novel "Captains and the Kings".  This article describes our plight quite well:

http://original.antiwar.com/William_Astore/2016/10/10/greed-war-power-danger-military-industrial-complex/

The Deep State explained

Here is a good explanation of the real governing force in our so-called democracy.

http://www.unz.com/article/deep-state-america-2/

If your vote is important, why don't we ever get to vote on the important stuff? 

The Whistleblower's Ethic

Here is a good discussion of  secrecy, information leaks, government suppression and persecution, rule by the elite few, and the duty of citizens to their democracy.



http://original.antiwar.com/Nozomi_Hayase/2016/09/20/assange-manning-snowden-standing-conscience-truthtellers/

This really captures what life has become in our North America since 9/11

Truly worth a read:

http://reverbpress.com/features/morning-thoughts-countrys-wounds/

The definition of self-serving hypocrisy

The one thing that the US really fears is LAWFARE.  The double standard at work again.



http://news.antiwar.com/2016/09/12/white-house-to-veto-911-lawsuit-bill/



Would that the congress had the balls to override a presidential veto.  The world just might improve.

A fascinating list to consider

A great compendium of the US's efforts to install the 'right' government in various countries can be found here:
https://williamblum.org/essays/read/overthrowing-other-peoples-governments-the-master-list

I didn't realize that there were so many governments that needed to be replaced.

Yet another 9/11 inspired summary of our descent into tryanny

http://original.antiwar.com/justin/2016/09/11/911-treason-empire/

Some 9/11 consequences that are worth considering

This article reminds us how far from freedom our society has been taken by the savages conducting the war on terror.  



http://original.antiwar.com/jwhitehead/2016/09/11/the-tyranny-of-911/

Here is one way people can regain control over their country's money

This could be the start of a great trend for the world's people (not corporations)

http://www.wakingtimes.com/2015/12/30/switzerland-follows-iceland-in-declaring-war-against-banksters/

Canada could also do the same, particularly if the lawsuit described in my posting  of Apr 9, 2015 is successful.  Check this out:

http://www.collective-evolution.com/2015/02/05/canadians-sued-the-bank-of-canada-won-mainstream-media-government-blacks-out-story/

The 'Free Trade' deals actually will not grow the economy ...

.... but they will benefit corporations rather than people.  Read this little exposé of crony capitalism:

http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/36958-is-the-trans-pacific-partnership-president-obama-s-vietnam

What has become of our values and the rule of law?

This article discusses how our governments are regularly engaging in murder, with predictable and horrible consequences domestically:



http://original.antiwar.com/engelhardt/2016/07/17/extrajudicial-executions-became-war-policy-washington/