tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-203307449470951304.post6645315187140015813..comments2023-05-11T17:35:12.051+10:00Comments on cosmic rapture: arbeit macht freimasterymisteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15844831221838590812noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-203307449470951304.post-68241885683398733832014-04-23T09:44:52.781+10:002014-04-23T09:44:52.781+10:00Cheesemeister, yes I think the machine is expandin...Cheesemeister, yes I think the machine is expanding, and the number and type of cogs is increasing, in all countries, regions, industries. The contrast between the elites and the rest is growing sharper and sharper. The polarity is increasing exponentially. The system is inherently unstable and must ultimately collapse. Whether it takes 10 years or 20, it's underway IMO. It's still not too late to turn back and choose another path, in theory, but I don't think we've got it in us to change quickly enough to the extent required, though I'm open to being pleasantly surprised...<br />Thanks for your comments, Cheers. MM/CR/SRSmasterymisteryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15844831221838590812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-203307449470951304.post-21046196540872893512014-04-23T06:53:42.984+10:002014-04-23T06:53:42.984+10:00I have become what I had hoped never to be: a cog ...I have become what I had hoped never to be: a cog in the machine. It doesn't matter that I don't work in a factory. Workers in other industries (including health care, which is where I work) are treated the same way.<br />As always, I like the picture. I enjoy surrealism, and this one has it, in my opinion.Cheesemeisterhttp://undeadinthenetherworld.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-203307449470951304.post-30444992612166359462014-04-13T08:04:48.827+10:002014-04-13T08:04:48.827+10:00mgeorge, yes it really does seem as if we are beco...mgeorge, yes it really does seem as if we are becoming stupider and stupider by the day... <br /><br />Thanks for the links -- depressing reading indeed. <br /><br />This culture is disintegrating -- I just wish it would get a move on. Observing a slow motion cataclysm gets boring after a while. The ending is known, and it's not a happy ending. Cheers, MM/CR/SRSmasterymisteryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15844831221838590812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-203307449470951304.post-51058904271245691482014-04-12T16:41:32.951+10:002014-04-12T16:41:32.951+10:00In philosophy, I never got past the introduction o...In philosophy, I never got past the introduction of an introductory book. Much of it seems to be validations of the status quo - the witch doctor serving the thug chieftain in a more scholarly garb.<br /><br />While the elite obsess and scheme over their privileges, the faithful gleefully believe that their specific variant of magical thinking will exempt them from the coming travails - a triuphant "I told you so."<br /><br />The propaganda machine is hard at work. Today, I happened to see a music clip in which of romance is juxtaposed against battle. This is from a part of the world the pundits describe as "troubled." Here are some articles by modern prophets I happened to come across on the propaganda blitz. <br />http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article38083.htm<br />http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article38083.htm<br />http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article37895.htmmgeorgenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-203307449470951304.post-19869052216567108292014-04-09T22:04:00.882+10:002014-04-09T22:04:00.882+10:00mgeorge, Have you read Weber's "Protestan...mgeorge, Have you read Weber's "Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism"? Not only is effort always supposed to pay off, but the mere occurrence of payoff proves you are a good, upright, god-fearing person. And conversely, the absence of payoff means you're a bad, lazy, stupid, godless, POOR person. Wealth as evidence of worthiness,<br /><br />Sadly, no, nothing has changed. No actions. No plans. Just a "commitment to continue to focus" whatever that means. (Nothing.)<br /><br />As you say, it's all too hard. At least, that's the perception. And what a great excuse it is! <br /><br />We just can't admit to ourselves that we got it wrong for hundreds (maybe thousands?) of years.<br /><br />The big question is, have we actually made any progress at all?Have we at least come to understand we are not making progress?<br /><br />Based on what I have observed about the interaction between people and corporations -- especially but not exclusively the employee/employer interaction -- I doubt we will ever make any progress. People are just too willing if not eager to be told what to do, say, think and feel. <br /><br />Thanks for your comments: insightful and interesting as ever. Cheers, MM/CR/SRS masterymisteryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15844831221838590812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-203307449470951304.post-88447876651471209962014-04-09T21:04:35.964+10:002014-04-09T21:04:35.964+10:00Effort was always supposed to pay off. That is the...<br />Effort was always supposed to pay off. That is the basis of the dominant religion - capitalism including its variants for serfs. Not too long ago, a certain "superpower" appeared comical in keeping its collective head buried in "denialism." Now that the facts of climate change are clear, has anything changed significantly in any country - "democratic", "rational", "advanced" or whatever? Are there any concrete actions or immediate plans?<br /><br />The reality is just too bitter - that we must forsake centuries of "progress." Of course, this progress principally benefitted our overlords.mgeorgenoreply@blogger.com