Monday, July 01, 2013

"Liberal" means "Free"

by Len Hart, the Existentialist Cowboy

I grew up among people obsessed with “demons”; the scariest “demon” of all was the “Red Menace”. We were kept in a state of fear –fear of commies (found under beds or outhouses apparently), fear of “labor” (strikers were called unpatriotic) and the most lethal smear of all: LIBERAL.

I looked it up. “Liberal” means “free”. I dared to asked teachers: “What's wrong with being free?” I never got an intelligent or satisfying response, at least one that could be heard among the gasps. If I ever got a direct response, I was told that a nation's government should not be involved in the "re-distribution of wealth". The "re-distribution of wealth", I was told, was "communism" and Karl Marx its biggest and scariest advocate.

If Karl Marx had been a communist, so what? So-called "capitalists" are experts at "wealth distribution". They have succeeded in looting the nation for the benefit of just one percent of the total population. What is that if not a re-distribution of wealth, the charge most often used by "conservatives" to tar "liberals"?

At the same time productivity declined precipitously under GOP regimes. As a result, the US is on bottom with the world's largest negative Current Account Balance. The Current Account Balance was previously referred to as the balance of trade deficit, a term apparently abandoned amid hopes that the "deficit" might be corrected. To my knowledge, it never was. I suppose “Current Account Balance” just looks better. “Deficit” was made a “bad” word by "conservatives" who had hoped to "position" the left, to label them and hence prevent a productive debate or --better for the conservatives --end all debate whatsoever before it could begin.

America's “financial relationship” with respect to the rest of the world must be taken into account if U.S. imperialism is to be explained. There is evidence to support the thesis that Rome's long-lived experiment with conquest and imperialism was due to its economics. The most obvious clue is the literal auction of the empire by the Praetorian Guard to one Didius Julianus, a nobleman. Julianus would not live long enough to regret his purchase. He was murdered by the Guard and the empire re-seized! Today, that is called "armed robbery".

In our time "capitalism" has often been rammed down our throats. That is especially true in the U.S. Little better, it is sold to us by capitalist blowhards with slogans, claptrap, lies and propaganda. They have done so with “moneys” that might otherwise have “trickled down”. But for GOP tax cuts it did not! Wink and nod! Even worse, we –the people –have financed our own indoctrination.


12 comments:

mijj said...

How many are fooled by the wealth “trickle down” imagery?

People who dirty their hands and put their shoulder to the wheel are the ones who create wealth. So how is it that wealth "trickles down"? .. it can only trickle down if it was stolen from the people who created it in the first place.

Unknown said...

We are in complete agreement on that, Miji. 'Trickle Down theory' or, as "they" called it "Supply Side Economics" was a hoax at best. Arthur Laffer is said to have drawn the 'curve' on a Napkin at a Pizza joint near K-Street. It could very well be true. Thanks for commenting.

damien said...

Hi Len. Long time no see mate. Happy 4th July!

I know we both discussed Susan Lindauer back in 2006 and I'm not sure if you have seen any of her later videos but she has a series recently (8 videos) that is just terrific. They cover the facts that the US leadership knew full well all about the impending 9/11 attacks (she goes into detail). She also has a terrific coverage of the Lockerbie bombing (CIA sponsored exercise).

The first video is here and the rest can easily be found on you tube.

Have a good holiday, Len. Regards.

Unknown said...

Damien,

GREAT to see you again...(well, your post if not you in the flesh : ) Thanks for the link. Will definitely check it out. It's late here and I am off to 'cush' (as they say in England) But will follow up.

Would love to stay in touch. I can understand why you may be hesitant to post your email address publicly here. So --if you have an FB account, we could figure out a way to say in touch. If you do have FB, you can find and message me. I am also on google plus and Linkedin.

Stay in touch, mon ami

Vera sends her regards.

--Len

Unknown said...

Well, my code breaking efforts have apparently failed. It's there another alternative?

Unknown said...

Thanks, Damien... trying again.

Anonymous said...

Some (Obamanable Bush)HOG$ are More EQUAL Than others! - Masters of Receipt
Hoover (vacumen)

LanceThruster said...

How can you frighten a man whose hunger is not only in his own cramped stomach but in the wretched bellies of his children? You can’t scare him – he has known a fear beyond every other. – John Steinbeck

Unknown said...

Lamce. is this from 'Grapes of Wrath'?

LanceThruster said...

Len - Not sure as it wasn't sourced where I found it. That would be my guess though.

LanceThruster said...

Len - You are correct. Someone responded to my posting of it here (very eloquent)

http://mondoweiss.net/2013/08/olive-tree-resistance-qusra-farmers-replant-crops-after-settler-arsons.html/comment-page-1#comment-588105

Unknown said...

Thanks, Lance.