Theocratic Motivations in Democracy

A driver for change (and control) is Religion and to varying lesser degrees, Quasi-religious thought.(Communism Fascism Capitalism etc.,)

At best they call to the better aspects of our humanity, at worst they are a vehicle for thought control.

We can see in our current milieu various groups motivated to extremes by their belief systems.

An interesting case is the transition of the militarist republic in Rome to the Roman Catholic Church. Rome was stretched militarily and financially and this pesky bunch of trouble makers (Christians) were gaining popularity. Despite persecution, they refused to go away. In fact it only seemed to encourage them.
Somewhere in the workings of the Imperium, someone made an interesting observation. These Christians were highly motivated and followed their leaders willingly. A much easier and cost effective way of controlling the population than military force.
So the Imperium converted to Christianity and the Roman Catholic Church was formed. It effectively contracted out military and judicial control to the Feudal Lords, but demanded allegiance and tribute, and largely kept control of the flow of information and storage through the monasteries.
The reality of the working out of all this of course was a little messy at times, but the pattern held relatively unchanged up until the enlightenment, and is still a powerful force in the world.

Imagine the power when the vast majority of the population BELIEVE that you hold the keys to Heaven and Hell. See the Papal Seal. The Beehive looming over the Crossed Keys.

I suggest that one, if one can,go have a look at the Vatican. Check out St Peters and the Vatican Museum. The walls are covered in the glory of the Popes. Scenes of Kings Merchants and Peasants bowing to the Clergy. Vary few religious scenes. Interesting. And every old Roman building insight has the Papal Seal on it.

Of course there are many good and sincere believers in these religious organisations, but the propensity of the participants to willingly hand over their power and belief to what are always hierarchies led by one who claims God's (generic) Ear. (Insert deity or Ideology of your choice) has set you free, now here is what He/it tells me you must do. A bit scary!!

When one sees the rise of Fundamentalism in religion and /or Quasi religious thought (Ideologies). Hold your nose. There's a stink coming. And reason has left the building with the air freshener.

There's a little flaw in many of the discussions going on around wikileaks and the erodeing of our democracies.
I agree that opening up the information flows out of governance is a good thing and would improve the situation somewhat.
The flaw is ; None of these "secrets" are actually secrets. One person can have a secret, two people have a conspiracy. All these "secrets" are known by numerous people. Wasn't there something like 2 or 3 million people that had access to some of the leaks? The point is, that it is the nature of the people in the positions of influence that is the core problem. Change the rules? Who cares? We have enough rules if followed to maintain a fairly equitable and free society. It's what's in the hearts of men that determines their behaviour.
At the moment it apears that we are heartsick!! The leaders that abuse their position are supported by a vast network of complicet people. One may not see the whole story but one can smell a bad fish in a large room. And in many ways even those that see and disagree are still somewhat complicet in that we still interact with aspects that we know are tainted.

The bit that really astounds me about the current grab back of power/wealth is its absolute stupidity. It pisses of the proles, their spending power is reduced, the value of fixed assest declines. The pool that they scim is diminished. What? Isn't that counter productive?
Bloody oath!!
If the population is looked after properly they are willing participants in society, they are healthier and more productive, the cost of suppression is released into the pool which is larger anyway, and the scim off would be so much greater at lesser percentages. And everyone feels good. (mostly)

What, are they buiding spaceships or something? Ha Ha?

Choose

Above the Fray

To rise above the Fray

Accept

and Let Go




Choose Happiness

The Revolution Dilemma

The big dilemma in political/social activism is; How does one bring about change without coercion? Coercion, by it's nature, steals the individuals freedom. If we seek through activism to improve the lot of our fellows, coercive force is anathema.

To apply compulsion to the population (whether it be economic or military/policing) can be effective. We see all around us the results of this way of managing the population. If done with a light hand, the population will largely be compliant, and their lot will seem preferable to the disruption involved in making changes. Even if those changes are to be to their benefit.

If applied with a heavier hand, there will be growing discontent, especially in the undereducated, as the elite and middle classes see it as their "duty" to coerce them into greater servitude through reductions in economic opportunity, and increasingly restrictive regulation. The better educated, generally the middle management of the system, are generally compliant for they are beneficiaries of the system. There will be, of course, a section of the educated that will use their knowledge and insight to attempt to address some of the failings that they see in the system. This may have some effect.

If applied with a very heavy hand, the undereducated will be ripe for revolution, for they will be to the point where death will seem like a release from the suffering inflicted on them by the elite. Much of the educated will also be ripe for action as they too will be getting shut out of the goodies, as the elite ramp up the accumulation of wealth and power.

This then leads to revolt.
The leaders of the revolution will most probably be from the educated, or even the elite if some of them see a chance to leapfrog the hierarchy to seize power.

Violent revolution is a poor option. Even though the names and faces change, the quality of those new names and faces are generally no better, and sometimes worse, than those they replace. The belief that the population is there to follow the lead of the elite remains. However noble the initial thrust of change is, the method eventually leads to corruption and oppression of varying degrees. And in the process, people die and suffer greatly.

A great hope in the world is that a number of recent revolutions have been non violent(effectively, though there may have been a little).

As we seem to have entered the second stage now in most of the " developed world" (inc China and India) and at stage three in most of the rest, we need to work to not only open up governments and business to scrutiny, we also need to educate and empower those that at present have no strategy to bring about change.

This is where Wikileaks and Julian Assange have entered. They are to be applauded for the quality of insight and the courage that has led them to initiate this strategy for change.

It is imperative that we diffuse the march to violence.

To die for an ideal may be a worthy sacrifice, but to kill for an ideal is lunacy!!!




Choose to be Happy

environmentalism

I'm stunned to find in all the tooing and froing of environmental debate, that the core of the problem keeps being overlooked.
Everyone bangs on about CO2 emissions and global warming, peak oil, the degradation of the worlds arable land, species extinction, overfishing of the seas etc., and come up with numerous strategies for addressing them.But they don't, or rarely and never pushed in mainstream media, mention the simple fact that there are too many people using/wanting to use the planets resources.
Yes we can improve the way we do things so that per capita the impact is lessened, a activity I wholeheartedly support, but when we take both population increase and the aspirations of those that don't have the "western lifestyle"into account, it is exceedingly obvious that we are pissing into the wind.

Many of the practises that have bought our species to this position have to be modified. Most of our "civilized" behaviour is sublimated primate troupe dynamics, complicated by our more complex brains. We need to modify more. With populations of this density, the constant adversarial nature of politics and economics needs to be reduced. Competition is effective for rapid evolution, but within more stable and complex systems, cooperation is of greater value.
As a species, our ability to cooperate has been one of our greatest evolutionary advantages. Yet here we are with the world going bananas with "competition" The creed of the Capitalist (including Central planned capitalism) has need of modification.
Well we all know THAT story. Sickening wealth and sickening poverty. The rich feasting on the blood of the masses, and all that.
We HAVE TO start to take more control of our lives and apply some reason to it's living. We can not leave things to someone else anymore. Sure there are some amongst us who are more capable in their various areas, but we all have a life and it is OUR life that we have RESPONSIBILITY for. Wake up and be responsible!!

Courage

The last post leads to this one.

Julian Assange is clearly a man of considerable Courage. He has knowingly put himself forward as the lightning rod. Yes, he gets the fame ( and the girls!!?? ) something that many people desire, though not him by the sound of it, but he also gets the flack. This has become considerable.

For his audacity in publishing a window of truth through the Wikileaks vehicle, he has, by various governments,businesses and judiciaries, had his funds frozen, websites hacked and disabled, been slandered, threatened with assasination and imprisoned without charge.

From his statements, it is apparent that these things were somewhat expected. No surprise there of course, but it takes a great deal of courage to walk the path of truth in the face of such powerful opposition.

It would appear that he has contemplated the path of Sacrifice.

We all would do well to emulate Julian Assange. Work selflessly with courage to improve the world. Seek within ourselves the resources that would enable this.

Choose Happiness

Julian Assange and Wikileaks

Julian Assange, draped in Wikileaks, strides onto the world stage like a demigod.

Around him the corrupt and fearful scurry like cockroaches bathed in the light of truth and justice.
The population divides.
Those that seek the truth, that value life for the sake of life, that put aside fear for they know that fear leads to death,see the light and are called to it.
Those that are in the thrall of fear, that see death all around, that fear change, that would hold life static, that would advantage themselves over others because they fear poverty and powerlessness, see the light and want to extinguish it.

He is a man who loves his work and uses his considerable talents for the benefit of all. He encourages freedom because he has, for himself, discovered it. He seeks to protect us with the truth from those who would oppress us. He is disinterested in riches for their own sake. He lives a life of overcoming fear.

Let us all emulate Julian Assange.

Let us gather our courage around us and face the fears that eat away at our humanity and cause us to turn our eyes from injustice. Let us stand up and face the forces that would deprive us of our freedom.