Bitcoin explained

Here's the article:

https://www.howtogeek.com/141374/htg-explains-what-is-bitcoin-and-how-does-it-work/

A discussion of the CIA's role in our chaotic, dangerous world

This is truly depressing:

http://original.antiwar.com/Nicolas_Davies/2017/10/31/america-spreads-global-chaos/

Osama bin Laden succeeded beyond his wildest hopes!

Here's the details of his massive victory, which is still being played out by our ridiculous leaders:

http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/176345/tomgram%3A_engelhardt%2C_doing_bin_laden%27s_bidding/

Jimmy Carter's reasons for dropping his religion

An important example of a human using his mind to think:

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/10/20/1708600/-Jimmy-Carter-pens-op-ed-about-women-sure-to-stun-most-male-religious-leaders-around-the-world?salzillo=?detail=emaildkre

Propaganda used against you by your government

A great explanation of the way the Iraq War was foisted upon us:

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2015/05/22/1386781/-George-W-Bush-Did-Something-Much-Worse-Than-Lie-Us-Into-War?detail=emailclassic

Too true, and too likely to happen again.

BitCoin's unique usefullness

There is a lot to ponder in this essay:

http://original.antiwar.com/Nozomi_Hayase/2017/10/25/wikileaks-bitcoin-revolutionary-movement-peacemakers/

Money and the military

Here is a great breakdown of the waste inherent in military spending.  Imagine what other useful projects could have been completed with this money.

http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/176336/tomgram%3A_william_hartung%2C_how_the_military-industrial_complex_preys_on_the_troops/

An exposé of some myths about socialism, science and climate change

This is worth a read.

http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/42062-climate-change-brings-socialism-and-science-together

How dictators stay in power

This detailed article explains who gets US foreign aid.  Apparently dictatorships are well supported:

http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/42020-us-provides-military-assistance-to-73-percent-of-world-s-dictatorships

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?