An actual line out of Joe Biden's mouth from the SOTUA was: "I ran for president to fundamentally change things". I feel like Iike the speech writer(s) snuck that one in just to laugh at us. Given his campaign statement to donors that "nothing will fundamentally change."
Thanks, Paul, I was also struck by how little Biden had to say about "foreign policy," aka ratcheting up the US war moves against Russia and China, especially right on the heels of the "balloon" incident that the U.S. continues to milk for such virulent war propaganda. Then I recalled this poem by Bertoldt Brecht.
great words from BB. I was surprised....I listened to the SOTUA expecting a lot more saber rattling on Russia and China than Biden did and kinda wondered if it was something like that,
I do think nearly all (perhaps 100%) of this is theater. The fronts are those who occupy the WH, but the Office of the President - where the official power resides with its proclamations, executive orders and role as Commander-In-Chief are controlled not by "Biden" but by the ruling powers (behind the curtain). Biden merely speaks there theatrical words. Much of this is simple divide and rule and event driven distration. The media is controlled opposition which tells Americans (and those who'll listen) what to think.
This process began long ago. The Civil War consolidated state power, the murder of JFK brought the office under near total control of the elite powers (transnational corporations) and then the major events in this century (of course the many wars that continued to concentrate wealth and power).
We live under corporatism, a fascistic imperialism. The power struggle is going on in spots throughout the planet.
Operation COVID was not a health pandemic, but cover to put the global economy in an induced coma. Deaths occurred due to the policies, all of which were made legal over a stretch of many decades. The operation was and is being run by the military and orchestrated globally.
Biden is a pawn which can be eliminated at any time, as soon as his usefulness (or is it uselessness) is over. Easier to expend him than his predecessor, who is clear a thug.
There are no saviors in this system or in the world.
I did not listen to the State of the Union speech because they are usually filled with lies and promises that the president does not plan or is unable to implement, so I appreciated your excellent critique and it reinforced the correctness of my decision not to listen.
My sentiments exactly, Paul. It's why I've gotten involved with the Party for Socialism and Liberation this past year. Delighted to see you advancing your presence on social media. Best of luck!
Alec, I've been on social media since 2007, for both better and worse :) Substack calls itself not social media (like FB or Twitter or IG etc.) but rather a "new subscriber-based model for publishing." To me PSL has been a lot more bark than bite, pretty tepid. I was depressd to see pslers in Chicago refusing to say "without this basic right [abortion], women can't be free" and insisting instead on saying "people can't be free." My friends and comrades in Rise Up 4 Abortion Rights (RU4AR) totally support reproductive freedom for all including of course transgender folk but ...seriously? If lefties do not understand that the driving force behind the war on abortion is anti-female/anti-feminist patriarchy, it's hard to know what to say to them. We desperately need a revolution and here I recommend the revcoms' weely Revolution Nothng Less Show. Also, I'm on the editorial board of Refuse Fascism and would strongly recommend that you check out the weekly RF podcast with Sam Goldman. It is top drawer; really cool. I think they've done at least 140 or more (have to check) by now I've been on a few times. It's great and very underestimated.
I had been aware of you on social media earlier, but somehow lost track of you.
My experience with PSL has been different. Thanks for your recommendations. I'll definitely check them out. Are you aware of Clara Mattei's recent book, "The Capital Order: How Economists Invented Austerity and Paved the Way to Fascism"? It came out last November. I found it quite impressive. She has a short YouTube clip where she summarizes it: https://youtu.be/ofFR1mD2UOM
She's Italian, from Turin, and her great-uncle, a chemistry professor, Gianfranco Mattei, was part of the underground resistance to Mussolini. He eventually got caught, but rather than betray his friends he hung himself with his belt. He managed to smuggle out his last words to his parents: "Be strong, knowing that I was also."
On my reading list. Different chapters may be better. PSL seems to really have its poster printing machinery running these days; sorry but I think it's a big nothing, not revolutionary.
We're just going to have to agree to disagree about PSL. Socialist Reconstruction is super impressive. People like Jodi Dean, likewise impress me a lot. It was through her that I got inspired to get involved with PSL. I have nothing but good things to report. I'm impressed with their websites and social media presence. For the first time in ages I feel like I'm building something.
An actual line out of Joe Biden's mouth from the SOTUA was: "I ran for president to fundamentally change things". I feel like Iike the speech writer(s) snuck that one in just to laugh at us. Given his campaign statement to donors that "nothing will fundamentally change."
The contempt for the populace is almost beyond belief.
100%
Enjoy was the right word. Hilariously macabre! Another masterpiece to be cited and quoted from rooftops all across America!
Thanks.
Thanks, Paul, I was also struck by how little Biden had to say about "foreign policy," aka ratcheting up the US war moves against Russia and China, especially right on the heels of the "balloon" incident that the U.S. continues to milk for such virulent war propaganda. Then I recalled this poem by Bertoldt Brecht.
WHEN THE LEADERS SPEAK OF PEACE
The common folk know
That war is coming.
When the leaders curse war
The mobilization order is already written out.
great words from BB. I was surprised....I listened to the SOTUA expecting a lot more saber rattling on Russia and China than Biden did and kinda wondered if it was something like that,
Yep.
Paul Street, I agree with your last paragraph.
I do think nearly all (perhaps 100%) of this is theater. The fronts are those who occupy the WH, but the Office of the President - where the official power resides with its proclamations, executive orders and role as Commander-In-Chief are controlled not by "Biden" but by the ruling powers (behind the curtain). Biden merely speaks there theatrical words. Much of this is simple divide and rule and event driven distration. The media is controlled opposition which tells Americans (and those who'll listen) what to think.
This process began long ago. The Civil War consolidated state power, the murder of JFK brought the office under near total control of the elite powers (transnational corporations) and then the major events in this century (of course the many wars that continued to concentrate wealth and power).
We live under corporatism, a fascistic imperialism. The power struggle is going on in spots throughout the planet.
Operation COVID was not a health pandemic, but cover to put the global economy in an induced coma. Deaths occurred due to the policies, all of which were made legal over a stretch of many decades. The operation was and is being run by the military and orchestrated globally.
Biden is a pawn which can be eliminated at any time, as soon as his usefulness (or is it uselessness) is over. Easier to expend him than his predecessor, who is clear a thug.
There are no saviors in this system or in the world.
I did not listen to the State of the Union speech because they are usually filled with lies and promises that the president does not plan or is unable to implement, so I appreciated your excellent critique and it reinforced the correctness of my decision not to listen.
My sentiments exactly, Paul. It's why I've gotten involved with the Party for Socialism and Liberation this past year. Delighted to see you advancing your presence on social media. Best of luck!
Alec, I've been on social media since 2007, for both better and worse :) Substack calls itself not social media (like FB or Twitter or IG etc.) but rather a "new subscriber-based model for publishing." To me PSL has been a lot more bark than bite, pretty tepid. I was depressd to see pslers in Chicago refusing to say "without this basic right [abortion], women can't be free" and insisting instead on saying "people can't be free." My friends and comrades in Rise Up 4 Abortion Rights (RU4AR) totally support reproductive freedom for all including of course transgender folk but ...seriously? If lefties do not understand that the driving force behind the war on abortion is anti-female/anti-feminist patriarchy, it's hard to know what to say to them. We desperately need a revolution and here I recommend the revcoms' weely Revolution Nothng Less Show. Also, I'm on the editorial board of Refuse Fascism and would strongly recommend that you check out the weekly RF podcast with Sam Goldman. It is top drawer; really cool. I think they've done at least 140 or more (have to check) by now I've been on a few times. It's great and very underestimated.
I had been aware of you on social media earlier, but somehow lost track of you.
My experience with PSL has been different. Thanks for your recommendations. I'll definitely check them out. Are you aware of Clara Mattei's recent book, "The Capital Order: How Economists Invented Austerity and Paved the Way to Fascism"? It came out last November. I found it quite impressive. She has a short YouTube clip where she summarizes it: https://youtu.be/ofFR1mD2UOM
She's Italian, from Turin, and her great-uncle, a chemistry professor, Gianfranco Mattei, was part of the underground resistance to Mussolini. He eventually got caught, but rather than betray his friends he hung himself with his belt. He managed to smuggle out his last words to his parents: "Be strong, knowing that I was also."
On my reading list. Different chapters may be better. PSL seems to really have its poster printing machinery running these days; sorry but I think it's a big nothing, not revolutionary.
We're just going to have to agree to disagree about PSL. Socialist Reconstruction is super impressive. People like Jodi Dean, likewise impress me a lot. It was through her that I got inspired to get involved with PSL. I have nothing but good things to report. I'm impressed with their websites and social media presence. For the first time in ages I feel like I'm building something.
Since we were last in touch, I did this: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/keystone-xl-blockade_b_6134732
Glad that Capital Order is on your reading list. I reckon you'll be impressed with it. Best of luck!
"imperialist" Russian(sic) ... how so?