In case you haven't spent any time on my blog but just stopped by, you could've left before the videos above rotated. 4 topics are covered by those videos:
Ron Paul's debate highlights (couldn't help it) will give you a good idea of who he is and where he stands if you haven't seen him yet.
Videos on how money is created, specifically ours, since it's crucial we understand this topic so as to actually see what's happened, is happening, and is soon to come.
Some good ol' George Carlin (may he rest in peace) for those who realized his genius and those who've yet to discover it.
And last but not least, my true passion of drumming. Did you know Jerry Lewis played drums? I sure didn't.
Well have at it and don't be a stranger. Don't forget the poll to your right. Just curiosity on my part.
Cheers
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Who is Ron Paul?
Ron Paul is a slight, 76 yr old Congressman from Texes
He's been a Congressman for that district for 12 terms. Quite a while right? And in case you haven't noticed, he's running for President of the United States for a 3rd and final time.
Now, you might be thinking that 12 terms is long enough for anyone to be in Congress and isn't that part of our problem today? Career politicians over the last century have been steering our country in a direction that has put us on the edge of loosing it all together to some new world order. Now this guy wants to hold the highest office in the land?
Any right thinking person would naturally consider that question very carefully.
But a quick glance of his record and activity during his time in office makes Ron Paul stand out just a little bit and here's why.
Politicians, no matter how good their intentions are when elected into office, inevitably succumb to the power structure and elite and end up cow towing to the pressure of the game, if not towing the party line officially. Not all obviously, but the vast majority. Isn't that how we got in this mess to begin with?
Ron Paul has proven to be a bird of a different feather.
Since he's been in office...yes...all 12 terms...he's not once taken a penny from any lobbyist. Do you understand the significance of that fact? What that means is he's never been bought. They don't even stop by his office. He's got a sign on the front of his desk that reads:
"Don't steal, government hates the competition".
He sends a good portion of his congressional pay BACK to congress. In other words, in the 12 terms he's served, he has NOT become wealthier as a result of being in office. Just the opposite of your typical politician in Congress.
When you scour his voting record you'll find that the reason he can do this is because he's got a clear conscience. He's NEVER voted for an unbalanced budget, or to raise taxes. And all those raises congress votes in for itself? Nope, not one vote from Paul FOR any of them, and he hasn't accepted them. As you may be beginning to see, he's held a lonely position in Congress. Ron Paul has voted to uphold the Constitution with EVERY vote he's cast. Over a period of 12 terms, he's NEVER voted against that document. Not what you were expecting to read I'm sure.
What's more impressive about Ron Paul is that he's a baby doctor. He's delivered 4,000 babies and maintained his practice in the interval he spent out of congress. He's also now, and has been, a student of economics. Austrian economics specifically. Which is what prompted him to enter politics in the beginning. He saw a problem and stepped up to the plate to try and rectify it.
His knowledge and understanding of free market economics is legendary. He's shared that knowledge on the house floor throughout his 12 terms and continues to do so. Along with Ron Paul's expertise, however, has come numerous economic warnings and predictions about where we're headed as a country. He's spoken on it, written about it extensively and it is the foundation of his motivation to seek the presidency.
His foreign policy continues to be demonized by the media, and his own party, as an 'isolationist' one despite his many, many sound explanations for it, backed by mounds of evidence. Ron Paul is the elephant in the room to the Republican Party and the establishment. He's shaped the debate and the dialog for the 2012 elections and he started that by running in 2008. He's been campaigning ever since. The Republican Party has had no choice but to speak his language while trying it's hardest to keep him from the public through omission.
The party, the media and indeed the entire establishment has joined forces to prevent you, the voting American, from knowing too much about Congressman Paul, thus possibly exercising independent thought and coming to a conclusion other than that which benefits the status quo and the agenda they've worked the last century to achieve.
Ron Paul poses a serious, serious threat to the establishment. He has dedicated his life to protecting his country and at 76, has more than earned the right to retire, and enjoy the remainder of his years enjoying his extensive family.
But he's not.
He's seeking the biggest, arguably the most stressful job God ever created on this planet, so that we may stop the destructive momentum of this country and return it to it's free and prosperous greatness (notice the "we" there?). Something we only THINK we've seen in recent generation.
So if you, as many Americans have, decided you've had enough and you're not going to take it anymore, then I highly encourage you to take a good hard look at Congressman Paul and determine for yourself whether honesty, character and integrity really ARE things you're looking for in a candidate, or whether you're just paying it lip service. Because if THAT'S the case, then ANY of the others will do.
Ron Paul would only be your choice if you're willing to accept your freedom and put government back in it's cage.
That's it...nothing more.
He is the freedom and personal responsibility candidate and if that scares you, then the establishment is waiting with baited breath to maintain your seat at the table.
I say this because many of us SAY we want an honest politician, but we've become so unaccustomed to them that we don't believe they're out there anymore and when presented with one, we search for reasons NOT to support them. Unfortunately that speaks to our national character and that of ourselves individually as well. For most Americans, in order to honestly support a man like Ron Paul, they have to take a good hard look in the mirror.
To support a candidate without doing your due diligence is a waste of time and a vote. Don't waste either one, regardless of who you support. They're too precious.
It's obvious who I support. So to get info on any other candidate just turn on the main stream media and they'll drool all over 'em for ya. They all represent more of the same so have at it. But if you're willing to take responsibility for your life and you want it back, and you still believe the Constitution means something, then you'll have to learn about Dr. Paul on your own.
Happy soul searching
He's been a Congressman for that district for 12 terms. Quite a while right? And in case you haven't noticed, he's running for President of the United States for a 3rd and final time.
Now, you might be thinking that 12 terms is long enough for anyone to be in Congress and isn't that part of our problem today? Career politicians over the last century have been steering our country in a direction that has put us on the edge of loosing it all together to some new world order. Now this guy wants to hold the highest office in the land?
Any right thinking person would naturally consider that question very carefully.
But a quick glance of his record and activity during his time in office makes Ron Paul stand out just a little bit and here's why.
Politicians, no matter how good their intentions are when elected into office, inevitably succumb to the power structure and elite and end up cow towing to the pressure of the game, if not towing the party line officially. Not all obviously, but the vast majority. Isn't that how we got in this mess to begin with?
Ron Paul has proven to be a bird of a different feather.
Since he's been in office...yes...all 12 terms...he's not once taken a penny from any lobbyist. Do you understand the significance of that fact? What that means is he's never been bought. They don't even stop by his office. He's got a sign on the front of his desk that reads:
"Don't steal, government hates the competition".
He sends a good portion of his congressional pay BACK to congress. In other words, in the 12 terms he's served, he has NOT become wealthier as a result of being in office. Just the opposite of your typical politician in Congress.
When you scour his voting record you'll find that the reason he can do this is because he's got a clear conscience. He's NEVER voted for an unbalanced budget, or to raise taxes. And all those raises congress votes in for itself? Nope, not one vote from Paul FOR any of them, and he hasn't accepted them. As you may be beginning to see, he's held a lonely position in Congress. Ron Paul has voted to uphold the Constitution with EVERY vote he's cast. Over a period of 12 terms, he's NEVER voted against that document. Not what you were expecting to read I'm sure.
What's more impressive about Ron Paul is that he's a baby doctor. He's delivered 4,000 babies and maintained his practice in the interval he spent out of congress. He's also now, and has been, a student of economics. Austrian economics specifically. Which is what prompted him to enter politics in the beginning. He saw a problem and stepped up to the plate to try and rectify it.
His knowledge and understanding of free market economics is legendary. He's shared that knowledge on the house floor throughout his 12 terms and continues to do so. Along with Ron Paul's expertise, however, has come numerous economic warnings and predictions about where we're headed as a country. He's spoken on it, written about it extensively and it is the foundation of his motivation to seek the presidency.
His foreign policy continues to be demonized by the media, and his own party, as an 'isolationist' one despite his many, many sound explanations for it, backed by mounds of evidence. Ron Paul is the elephant in the room to the Republican Party and the establishment. He's shaped the debate and the dialog for the 2012 elections and he started that by running in 2008. He's been campaigning ever since. The Republican Party has had no choice but to speak his language while trying it's hardest to keep him from the public through omission.
The party, the media and indeed the entire establishment has joined forces to prevent you, the voting American, from knowing too much about Congressman Paul, thus possibly exercising independent thought and coming to a conclusion other than that which benefits the status quo and the agenda they've worked the last century to achieve.
Ron Paul poses a serious, serious threat to the establishment. He has dedicated his life to protecting his country and at 76, has more than earned the right to retire, and enjoy the remainder of his years enjoying his extensive family.
But he's not.
He's seeking the biggest, arguably the most stressful job God ever created on this planet, so that we may stop the destructive momentum of this country and return it to it's free and prosperous greatness (notice the "we" there?). Something we only THINK we've seen in recent generation.
So if you, as many Americans have, decided you've had enough and you're not going to take it anymore, then I highly encourage you to take a good hard look at Congressman Paul and determine for yourself whether honesty, character and integrity really ARE things you're looking for in a candidate, or whether you're just paying it lip service. Because if THAT'S the case, then ANY of the others will do.
Ron Paul would only be your choice if you're willing to accept your freedom and put government back in it's cage.
That's it...nothing more.
He is the freedom and personal responsibility candidate and if that scares you, then the establishment is waiting with baited breath to maintain your seat at the table.
I say this because many of us SAY we want an honest politician, but we've become so unaccustomed to them that we don't believe they're out there anymore and when presented with one, we search for reasons NOT to support them. Unfortunately that speaks to our national character and that of ourselves individually as well. For most Americans, in order to honestly support a man like Ron Paul, they have to take a good hard look in the mirror.
To support a candidate without doing your due diligence is a waste of time and a vote. Don't waste either one, regardless of who you support. They're too precious.
It's obvious who I support. So to get info on any other candidate just turn on the main stream media and they'll drool all over 'em for ya. They all represent more of the same so have at it. But if you're willing to take responsibility for your life and you want it back, and you still believe the Constitution means something, then you'll have to learn about Dr. Paul on your own.
Happy soul searching
Friday, January 27, 2012
Gotta Love It
The Tenth Amendment Center out of Rhode Island has wasted precious little time responding to the provisions in the new NDAA that Obama signed into law last month, that allow for arrest and indefinite detention of U.S. citizens by our U.S military.
This response is worded so that any state can adapt it by filling in the blank.
So spread this far and wide among your friends and co-workers, but don't be too surprised if you get some kind of irrelevant form letter back from your legislator.
Remember, only seven Senators voted against this...ONLY SEVEN! And the majority of the house voted for it also. So the best thing we can do is to find out if the people that represent us, in our respective districts, at the federal level voted for this thing. If they did, they need to be in the limelight in your district for having done so.
According to this article, my state of Washington is likely introducing it within the next week. Kind of surprising if you've lived here for any length of time. But I won't look a gift horse in the mouth.
Anyway, I thought this was a great development and I hope we manage to make the most of it for obvious reasons.
Cheers
This response is worded so that any state can adapt it by filling in the blank.
So spread this far and wide among your friends and co-workers, but don't be too surprised if you get some kind of irrelevant form letter back from your legislator.
Remember, only seven Senators voted against this...ONLY SEVEN! And the majority of the house voted for it also. So the best thing we can do is to find out if the people that represent us, in our respective districts, at the federal level voted for this thing. If they did, they need to be in the limelight in your district for having done so.
According to this article, my state of Washington is likely introducing it within the next week. Kind of surprising if you've lived here for any length of time. But I won't look a gift horse in the mouth.
Anyway, I thought this was a great development and I hope we manage to make the most of it for obvious reasons.
Cheers
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Republicrats or Demicans?
The left is often slammed by the right for being illogical and emotional. They say the left tugs on our heart strings to get us to go along "for the children" or "for the elderly" or the "working class" or the "racially underprivelaged". The right likes to point to multi-cultural policies and those of affirmative action and environmentalism, among many others, as the lefts way of integrating socialism at the expense of the American people through taxation.
And they are right on!
The right is slammed by the left for maintaining the 'good ol' boy' networks and using govt to support their filthy rich corporate buddies by stealing from the American people through taxation. They say the banks favor the corporate wealthy and use the govt to advance their agenda, like constant wars where the players back both sides and make money hand over fist while eliminating competition through regulation on the business front, so the wealth stays among the wealthy, the poverty stays among the poor, and the middle class, where the majority of Americas human capital is found, is sapped of it's sustenance.
And they are right on!
Bill Clinton's idol:
"The argument that the two parties should represent opposed ideals and policies, one, perhaps, of the Right and the other of the Left, is a foolish idea acceptable only to the doctrinaire and academic thinkers. Instead, the two parties should be almost identical, so that the American people can "throw the rascals out" at any election without leading to any profound or extreme shifts in policy."
- Carrol Quigley, Tragedy and Hope
The argument can be, and has been made, that the above has been firmly entrenched in our so-called two party system.
Is there any doubt?
The Democrats and Republicans have run our government for the entire last century. Does anyone out there fail to recognize that either party, at any time, could've put up such a fight and brought such a case to the American people as to galvanize the country toward shackling the government back down to the Constitution?
Unfortunately that's a resounding YES!
Evidenced by the ease with which our media shapes the national debate, and the schools shape the thought of our youth, we have handed our individuality over to the politicians, our government, and licensed professionals. And we did it a long time ago.
Have a legal question? Call a lawyer, don't dare read the law for yourself.
Have a medical question? Call a doctor, don't dare research it for yourself.
Want your kids to get an education? Send them to school, you're not smart enough to teach them anything.
Want to buy something? Buy it on credit. Saving keeps liquid out of circulation thereby hurting the economy.
Just ask your local economist or bank, who up until recently, was more than willing to lend you the money. Better yet, use the equity in your home because that's what the professionals and media are telling you to do.
Buy now, pay later. That's the American Dream!
And all the while, who's working behind the scenes to make all of this possible? Why, it's the Democrats and the Republican who else?
So how do we tackle this on such a massive scale so as to educate ourselves and begin making the right decisions in our lives that not only benefit us, but those around us?
In my opinion it's simple. We learn about two things, and use those things to measure everything against, as we make our decisions in this election year. Likely THE most important election year in our national history.
Those two things are the...wait...three things.
The Declaration of Independence
The Constitution for the United States of America (if you can find one)
And the Communist Manifesto
Those three documents will teach us all we need to know to make the right decisions. That is if we believe ourselves to be Americans first and foremost, thus believing in American sovereignty, vs globalism and global citizenship. And if we have the individual spines, like we used to be known for.
And if you believe in Communism that's ok too.
It's supposed to be a free country right? And you're supposed to be able to exercise your beliefs per the first amendment. But Communists beware, using the first to justify your speech could make you an American...the very antithesis of your belief.
The purpose of learning these should be obvious. And once you know what your beliefs are, then you stand up and defend them. And that defense should be with the proper vocabulary so as NOT to confuse either your intentions, or your message.
The Declaration and Constitution are instruments for Capitalism.
The Manifesto is the instrument for Communism.
Those are the bedrock economic systems for the two ideologies. To understand them is to understand the fight mankind has fought since the beginning of civilized society. To understand them is to understand the history of Americas fight and stance for freedom, and the place it came from.
A capitalist is for freedom and a communist is for serfdom (slavery)
Politicians can easily be identified by their positions and their records, as to their ideology, IF we know and understand these two systems. But THAT is up to each and every one of us. If we choose to keep our heads in the sand for fear of knowledge and responsibility, we will wake up, and indeed probably already have, in the country our founders warned us about.
Jimmy Buffett wrote a song called "We Are the People Our Parents Warned Us About". As in many respects, he hit it right on the nose.
So as you're sorting out the issues this election year and trying to figure out who to vote for, Republicrat or Demican, remember:
"It's not who votes that counts, but who counts the votes" ~~~ Joseph Stalin
And:
If you're going to think, know what you're thinking about. This is too important NOT to. There are Capitalists and Communists in BOTH parties. We need to change the way we refer to these elected officials, from our city councils all the way up to that big red house...sorry...white house, and from the pundit to the radio host. We need to stop the political correctness and use this language every time we call in on a show, identify a candidate, interview a politician, report on them, etc. etc.
By referring to them by party, they shape the debate. By referring to them by beliefs, WE shape the debate. How long before we're educated enough to do that is all up to us. Lets hope it's sooner, rather than later.
And they are right on!
The right is slammed by the left for maintaining the 'good ol' boy' networks and using govt to support their filthy rich corporate buddies by stealing from the American people through taxation. They say the banks favor the corporate wealthy and use the govt to advance their agenda, like constant wars where the players back both sides and make money hand over fist while eliminating competition through regulation on the business front, so the wealth stays among the wealthy, the poverty stays among the poor, and the middle class, where the majority of Americas human capital is found, is sapped of it's sustenance.
And they are right on!
Bill Clinton's idol:
"The argument that the two parties should represent opposed ideals and policies, one, perhaps, of the Right and the other of the Left, is a foolish idea acceptable only to the doctrinaire and academic thinkers. Instead, the two parties should be almost identical, so that the American people can "throw the rascals out" at any election without leading to any profound or extreme shifts in policy."
- Carrol Quigley, Tragedy and Hope
The argument can be, and has been made, that the above has been firmly entrenched in our so-called two party system.
Is there any doubt?
The Democrats and Republicans have run our government for the entire last century. Does anyone out there fail to recognize that either party, at any time, could've put up such a fight and brought such a case to the American people as to galvanize the country toward shackling the government back down to the Constitution?
Unfortunately that's a resounding YES!
Evidenced by the ease with which our media shapes the national debate, and the schools shape the thought of our youth, we have handed our individuality over to the politicians, our government, and licensed professionals. And we did it a long time ago.
Have a legal question? Call a lawyer, don't dare read the law for yourself.
Have a medical question? Call a doctor, don't dare research it for yourself.
Want your kids to get an education? Send them to school, you're not smart enough to teach them anything.
Want to buy something? Buy it on credit. Saving keeps liquid out of circulation thereby hurting the economy.
Just ask your local economist or bank, who up until recently, was more than willing to lend you the money. Better yet, use the equity in your home because that's what the professionals and media are telling you to do.
Buy now, pay later. That's the American Dream!
And all the while, who's working behind the scenes to make all of this possible? Why, it's the Democrats and the Republican who else?
So how do we tackle this on such a massive scale so as to educate ourselves and begin making the right decisions in our lives that not only benefit us, but those around us?
In my opinion it's simple. We learn about two things, and use those things to measure everything against, as we make our decisions in this election year. Likely THE most important election year in our national history.
Those two things are the...wait...three things.
The Declaration of Independence
The Constitution for the United States of America (if you can find one)
And the Communist Manifesto
Those three documents will teach us all we need to know to make the right decisions. That is if we believe ourselves to be Americans first and foremost, thus believing in American sovereignty, vs globalism and global citizenship. And if we have the individual spines, like we used to be known for.
And if you believe in Communism that's ok too.
It's supposed to be a free country right? And you're supposed to be able to exercise your beliefs per the first amendment. But Communists beware, using the first to justify your speech could make you an American...the very antithesis of your belief.
The purpose of learning these should be obvious. And once you know what your beliefs are, then you stand up and defend them. And that defense should be with the proper vocabulary so as NOT to confuse either your intentions, or your message.
The Declaration and Constitution are instruments for Capitalism.
The Manifesto is the instrument for Communism.
Those are the bedrock economic systems for the two ideologies. To understand them is to understand the fight mankind has fought since the beginning of civilized society. To understand them is to understand the history of Americas fight and stance for freedom, and the place it came from.
A capitalist is for freedom and a communist is for serfdom (slavery)
Politicians can easily be identified by their positions and their records, as to their ideology, IF we know and understand these two systems. But THAT is up to each and every one of us. If we choose to keep our heads in the sand for fear of knowledge and responsibility, we will wake up, and indeed probably already have, in the country our founders warned us about.
Jimmy Buffett wrote a song called "We Are the People Our Parents Warned Us About". As in many respects, he hit it right on the nose.
So as you're sorting out the issues this election year and trying to figure out who to vote for, Republicrat or Demican, remember:
"It's not who votes that counts, but who counts the votes" ~~~ Joseph Stalin
And:
"How fortunate for governments that the people they govern don't think." -- Adolph Hitler
If you're going to think, know what you're thinking about. This is too important NOT to. There are Capitalists and Communists in BOTH parties. We need to change the way we refer to these elected officials, from our city councils all the way up to that big red house...sorry...white house, and from the pundit to the radio host. We need to stop the political correctness and use this language every time we call in on a show, identify a candidate, interview a politician, report on them, etc. etc.
By referring to them by party, they shape the debate. By referring to them by beliefs, WE shape the debate. How long before we're educated enough to do that is all up to us. Lets hope it's sooner, rather than later.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Info Wars
The first thing we consider when assessing any situation, whether we know it or not, is our depth of knowledge right?
Wrong.
I think the first thing that's considered is what we've heard about something. That is, for most of us anyway.
Think about it.
When I would get curious about something, the first thing that popped into my head was what I had heard about it. Be it word of mouth, tv, radio, online, paper, mag, etc. etc. My typical sources for information.
Whether or not I actually knew something on the subject was rarely, if ever, considered. Because if I actually did know something, my opinion was based on that without giving it a second thought. But if I could recall hearing something about it usually I formed an opinion, also without giving it a second thought. And usually without much actual knowledge on the subject. But it didn't matter because I already had my opinion.
I, like most of us, tended to treat word of mouth and media as sufficient for gaining knowledge.
But what if the sources we've become accustomed to, turned out to not be very credible sources of information?
How would we know that?
What would have to happen for us to begin to second guess where we've put our faith for reliable 'intel'?
Would we rely on the same sources? In other words, would we try and look at what we're seeing or hearing from a different angle? And if we did, at what point do we actually consider the source, instead of the content?
I'll bet if you asked a million people who've changed their sources of information why, you would get a million different answers. So it must be a personal experience, no matter how small, that makes us first even question anything, right?
I mean, something has got to ring that little bell in our heads, or sound that alarm. And external things don't usually do that. We've normally got to feel something for that to happen.
So suppose we do feel something. Suppose we hear, read, see something that we just plain don't like. What is it that makes us say "Wait a minute. There's gotta be an explanation for this". Or "That's just flat out BS"? But instead of stopping there, we actually make some effort to get to the bottom of it, or to PROVE to whomever, maybe ourselves, that what we don't believe, is unbelievable. Or why what we DO believe, IS believable. What makes us do THAT?
What I'm suggesting is that maybe we need to be hit somehow. Maybe we need to feel challenged in some way. Made to feel inadequate or ignorant before we reach that point of actionable curiosity. Maybe we need to run into something that is so unbelievable to us that we just can't let it go. Or maybe we just need to win an argument or a debate...save face.
Whatever it is, for each of us, that makes us start to question, and stop accepting on faith, is something I think today, in this time in history, we need to find, individually AND collectively.
There's no question, unless one is really on another planet, that all is not right with the world. Many don't know what's wrong. They can't put their finger on it, but it's nagging at them and maybe a little fear of what they'll find is what keeps them from asking questions. Who knows but them?
But for those of us that want to understand what's happening, I mean really get down and dirty, we need to look at our sources of information don't we?
Obviously where we've been going hasn't done a very good job for us has it? We wouldn't feel so uneasy if it had, because we would feel informed and in tune and wouldn't be asking any questions would we?
So the best way to start is to challenge ourselves. Ask ourselves the tough questions about our own depth of knowledge on any given subject, starting with the ones we feel passionate about. We need to challenge ourselves as if someone else just did. Find that feeling and let it motivate us to the answers.
I suggest starting with something contriversial, like political correctness, and working your way backward. Think of as many examples of political correctness you can, and try and find a sane, rational explanation of the opposing position.
You'll be surprised where that can lead and what you can gain from it.
You may find yourself with entirely new sources of information that you didn't even know existed, but that you find yourself trusting implicitly. After you've come to a near complete understanding (in your head) of even just one topic that's bothered you in the past, you'll likely find that whatever your position is, be it the same or changed, that it's a solid one. One built less on passion and more on logic. You will likely have discovered a truth previously unknown to you. And the funny thing about truth is that it really grabs ya and doesn't seem to let go no matter how hard ya fight it.
The important thing I want to drive home here is that with this magnificent invention called the internet, the answers to virtually anything we want to know are at our fingertips. We no longer have to feel ignorant or uneducated about anything. But with such available knowledge comes the challenge to use it.
The traditional mediums of information are still here and fighting tooth and nail not to lose relevance in today's cyber world. They are more than happy to give you as much knowledge on the topics they see fit to cover. They have all the answers for you and won't bother you with anything they don't feel is relevant to your life. That's much simpler than the internet isn't it? It's all right there and you don't have to think.
Waking up is not, by any means, an easy task. It can be painful and costly, but there's a kind of peace in knowledge that you won't find anywhere else. And I don't necessarily mean just academic.
No one knows it all, but I believe today we owe it to ourselves and our kids to know as much as we can. Not just from experience, but from exploration also. We need to take full advantage of the war between the internet and the media, and use it to answer the questions we're asking deep, deep down in places we don't want to go.
We need to understand what's happening in our world today, and with as much intellectual honesty and integrity as possible if we want to accurately assess our situation. This can only come from actual, truthful knowledge, no matter how it's acquired.
Wrong.
I think the first thing that's considered is what we've heard about something. That is, for most of us anyway.
Think about it.
When I would get curious about something, the first thing that popped into my head was what I had heard about it. Be it word of mouth, tv, radio, online, paper, mag, etc. etc. My typical sources for information.
Whether or not I actually knew something on the subject was rarely, if ever, considered. Because if I actually did know something, my opinion was based on that without giving it a second thought. But if I could recall hearing something about it usually I formed an opinion, also without giving it a second thought. And usually without much actual knowledge on the subject. But it didn't matter because I already had my opinion.
I, like most of us, tended to treat word of mouth and media as sufficient for gaining knowledge.
But what if the sources we've become accustomed to, turned out to not be very credible sources of information?
How would we know that?
What would have to happen for us to begin to second guess where we've put our faith for reliable 'intel'?
Would we rely on the same sources? In other words, would we try and look at what we're seeing or hearing from a different angle? And if we did, at what point do we actually consider the source, instead of the content?
I'll bet if you asked a million people who've changed their sources of information why, you would get a million different answers. So it must be a personal experience, no matter how small, that makes us first even question anything, right?
I mean, something has got to ring that little bell in our heads, or sound that alarm. And external things don't usually do that. We've normally got to feel something for that to happen.
So suppose we do feel something. Suppose we hear, read, see something that we just plain don't like. What is it that makes us say "Wait a minute. There's gotta be an explanation for this". Or "That's just flat out BS"? But instead of stopping there, we actually make some effort to get to the bottom of it, or to PROVE to whomever, maybe ourselves, that what we don't believe, is unbelievable. Or why what we DO believe, IS believable. What makes us do THAT?
What I'm suggesting is that maybe we need to be hit somehow. Maybe we need to feel challenged in some way. Made to feel inadequate or ignorant before we reach that point of actionable curiosity. Maybe we need to run into something that is so unbelievable to us that we just can't let it go. Or maybe we just need to win an argument or a debate...save face.
Whatever it is, for each of us, that makes us start to question, and stop accepting on faith, is something I think today, in this time in history, we need to find, individually AND collectively.
There's no question, unless one is really on another planet, that all is not right with the world. Many don't know what's wrong. They can't put their finger on it, but it's nagging at them and maybe a little fear of what they'll find is what keeps them from asking questions. Who knows but them?
But for those of us that want to understand what's happening, I mean really get down and dirty, we need to look at our sources of information don't we?
Obviously where we've been going hasn't done a very good job for us has it? We wouldn't feel so uneasy if it had, because we would feel informed and in tune and wouldn't be asking any questions would we?
So the best way to start is to challenge ourselves. Ask ourselves the tough questions about our own depth of knowledge on any given subject, starting with the ones we feel passionate about. We need to challenge ourselves as if someone else just did. Find that feeling and let it motivate us to the answers.
I suggest starting with something contriversial, like political correctness, and working your way backward. Think of as many examples of political correctness you can, and try and find a sane, rational explanation of the opposing position.
You'll be surprised where that can lead and what you can gain from it.
You may find yourself with entirely new sources of information that you didn't even know existed, but that you find yourself trusting implicitly. After you've come to a near complete understanding (in your head) of even just one topic that's bothered you in the past, you'll likely find that whatever your position is, be it the same or changed, that it's a solid one. One built less on passion and more on logic. You will likely have discovered a truth previously unknown to you. And the funny thing about truth is that it really grabs ya and doesn't seem to let go no matter how hard ya fight it.
The important thing I want to drive home here is that with this magnificent invention called the internet, the answers to virtually anything we want to know are at our fingertips. We no longer have to feel ignorant or uneducated about anything. But with such available knowledge comes the challenge to use it.
The traditional mediums of information are still here and fighting tooth and nail not to lose relevance in today's cyber world. They are more than happy to give you as much knowledge on the topics they see fit to cover. They have all the answers for you and won't bother you with anything they don't feel is relevant to your life. That's much simpler than the internet isn't it? It's all right there and you don't have to think.
Waking up is not, by any means, an easy task. It can be painful and costly, but there's a kind of peace in knowledge that you won't find anywhere else. And I don't necessarily mean just academic.
No one knows it all, but I believe today we owe it to ourselves and our kids to know as much as we can. Not just from experience, but from exploration also. We need to take full advantage of the war between the internet and the media, and use it to answer the questions we're asking deep, deep down in places we don't want to go.
We need to understand what's happening in our world today, and with as much intellectual honesty and integrity as possible if we want to accurately assess our situation. This can only come from actual, truthful knowledge, no matter how it's acquired.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Now? Or No?
"A lot is going on these days".
Is that not the understatement of the century?
It doesn't matter what topic you choose, other than death & taxes, EVERYthing is changing.
So what do we focus on? With all the keeping up we're having to do just to stay afloat today, where do we funnel our energy most directly? I hope to get people thinking about this if they aren't already.
I see a lot of seemingly blissful ignorance going around, and I wonder if these people really have no clue, or they're just doing a really good job of masking their concern. Could be either one. So I do a lot of testing with suggestions and I see a lot of eye glazing.
This is such an important time in history that we need to be thinking about things we previously never did. Like just how clueless are we? Does the man in the mirror understand the significance of today? Maybe he needs to understand the significance of yesterday first.
Does he do it now? Or kick the can down the road?
Maybe I can help, and in doing so, clarify some things for myself.
I'm looking forward to seeing where this leads and just how much fun it is. I'm also hoping to get some engagement, even if it's animated!
Is that not the understatement of the century?
It doesn't matter what topic you choose, other than death & taxes, EVERYthing is changing.
So what do we focus on? With all the keeping up we're having to do just to stay afloat today, where do we funnel our energy most directly? I hope to get people thinking about this if they aren't already.
I see a lot of seemingly blissful ignorance going around, and I wonder if these people really have no clue, or they're just doing a really good job of masking their concern. Could be either one. So I do a lot of testing with suggestions and I see a lot of eye glazing.
This is such an important time in history that we need to be thinking about things we previously never did. Like just how clueless are we? Does the man in the mirror understand the significance of today? Maybe he needs to understand the significance of yesterday first.
Does he do it now? Or kick the can down the road?
Maybe I can help, and in doing so, clarify some things for myself.
I'm looking forward to seeing where this leads and just how much fun it is. I'm also hoping to get some engagement, even if it's animated!
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