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Newest Blog Entries:
What Will It Take for Us to Recognize That the Way We Live Could Be Destroying Life as We Know It?
Do read that title again. Think on it. Notwithstanding where we are, what we are, and where we are headed, not a probable problem. It is a positive problem. Perhaps better said it is the major problem of humanity. Either we shape up and solve the problems caused by the way we live or we are going to be eliminated. Like so many species we have already destroyed we will destroy ourselves. It is an awesome challenge which has some very positive results. mbPosted by Michael Butler, Friday, May 17, 2013
You Are The Hope | Global Research
"You are the Hope", the title creates a very positive image. Would it be so. Yes, we are the hope. What are we doing when it is clear the America's democracy is being destroyed. One act after another brought about by Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld has damaged our Civil Rights. We elected a man who promised change. His agenda has to been to follow Bush and in many ways surpassed him in violation of our rights. We now have a government where all three branches the executive, legal and legislative are subservient to the interests of only 1% of Americans. Our government is bought and paid for by corporate interests. Yes, we are the hope but if we don't start acting for change we will lose the dream. "You have a Republic-if you can keep it!" m.b.Posted by Michael Butler, Saturday, May 11, 2013
Could Our Deepest Fears Hold the Key to Ending Violence?
My first thoughts with the title, was this not pretty esoteric? Reading impressed on what social animals we humans are. Networking, that major source of connection, is increasing in use and importance. What we are seeing is an increase of the battle between nationalism and tribalism. It is also important to note that world wide, particularly in developing countries, tribalism continues as a very powerful force. People want to have more direct control over their own affairs. They do not want to submit to the dictates of distant capitols. Growth can be dangerous, particularly when it reaches 'too big to fail'. Thus we see tribal, clan, family rights subjected to suppression by the efforts to keep the monsters alive. Blowback and the fall of empires. mbPosted by Michael Butler, Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Baghdad Burning
From Mha Atma Khalsa: "Riverbend was one of the most prolific and savvy Iraqi bloggers during the 2003 Iraq war. Riverbend was one of the most prolific and savvy Iraqi bloggers during the 2003 Iraq war." A calm dispassionate blog which portrays in quiet prose a truly horrific situation we American have perpetrated. mb dated 040913Posted by Michael Butler, Saturday, April 20, 2013
From Salem to Monty Python: Witch hunt in pop culture – Salon.com – slide show
Quite a History lessonPosted by Michael Butler, Thursday, April 18, 2013
I do not fear death – Salon.com – Roger Ebert
This is a magnificent piece of writing. Roger Ebert, who just passed away, was a warm, bright, simpatico human. His going is a loss to all of us. mbPosted by Michael Butler, Saturday, April 13, 2013
Sundown in America – NYTimes.com
This article is very tough medicine. Please read it. Realize that things might not turn out so bad. But, the weather conditions are predictably very negative. So do at least take an umbrella if you insist on going out. I am going to wear a raincoat. I am not going to stay in. mbPosted by Michael Butler, Sunday, March 31, 2013
Human Stupidity Is Destroying the World
Need one write more?Posted by Michael Butler, Sunday, March 24, 2013
Everything We Tell Ourselves About America and the World Is Wrong
Last year we posted this in CIVIC. I kept it on my desktop so as to not forget what it says. We have become so inflated with our own hype that we have lost touch with reality. That reality is there is much wrong with our vision of ourselves. This vision is hopelessly puffed by the political elites and their corporate master. Perish the thought that we are not the best in everything. To question that belief would jeopardize the system currently in place. mbPosted by Michael Butler, Tuesday, March 12, 2013
A Big New Power | NY Times by Linda Greenhouse
This is very, very important. Charles KaiserPosted by Michael Butler, Thursday, March 7, 2013
‘Building momentum for regime change’: Rumsfeld’s Secret Memos
The 911 plan Cheney, Rumsfeld and the continuity of government. This is an astonishing article about programs which few of us ever heard about, even indirectly. It starts out with some background of Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld. This information is very helpful. It gives us information about both of these men. There was nothing extraordinaire about either of them. We all probably know somebody who would fit into the same background. What is astonishing about these programs is that they worked and to a great extent have influenced the actions of our government before and after the 9/11. This plan and its documentation was done in great secrecy and when it was brought out was done in a fashion not to create great interest. It is a classic example of elitists form of government. This is not the first example of secret planning involving our country in war. Let us take some examples; Vietnam was sold to America based on avoiding the advanced of communism. Many of its actions and its continuation were done in secrecy or with outright lies. However even prior to that our involvement in the far east was promoted on that basis. It was astonishing that at the end of his time in office Pres. Eisenhower made a speech warning us of the rise of the military industrial complex. Both Johnson and Nixon were guilty of not telling us the truth and in some cases, that of Nixon, of actual treason. Reagan was guilty of promoting the Cold War situation, of the Iran Contra violation of our position, the various military actions taken in central America. Bush 1 continued several activities which were highly questionable besides the invasion of Panama. Bush 2 used the 911 attacks to activate the program's outlined in this article. There is no question that the program proposed by the neocon 's supporting Rumsfeld and Cheney was an attempt to establish a way of controlling the government of the United States. They were supported by Bush who was not intelligent enough to comprehend the long term devastation which would be caused by this plan. For the last four decades there has been a consistent program to turn this country into the business of war. This is been done to promote the profits of the military industrial complex. This is also had a direct purpose of increasing a nondemocratic, one might even say, a fascist form of government for America. The Rumsfeld Cheney program outlined is the latest evidence of this long term plan. We must be on our guard to do what we can to nullify the effects of this program. If it is not too late!Posted by Michael Butler, Sunday, March 3, 2013
How Our Machine-Based Way of Life is Not Only Destroying Nature, It Is Also Destroying Us
Yes, this article is pretty extreme. However it gives strong food for thought. Our life of constant pressure is brought about mostly due an economic system which ignores many human elements. We need more time for reflection and study of ourselves being reflective of what is most important-happiness. mbPosted by Michael Butler, Sunday, February 24, 2013
How Congress Could Fix Its Budget Woes, Permanently | Global Research
A good plan. She does a very good job of explaining monetary structures and strategies used. mbPosted by Michael Butler, Sunday, February 17, 2013
Henry Giroux: The Necessity of Critical Pedagogy in Dark Times
First lesson in the rule book for Fascism 101 is to keep them dumb. Entertain them with nonsense. Bread and circuses, celebrities are a time honored rule when in troubled times. Heaven forbid that we teach civics, social sciences. Have scapegoats if there are not some handy terrorists around. Classic example was the rise of the Nazi's out of the trauma of the Weimer Republic. According to this program the worst form of pedagogy is to teach the young how to think.Posted by Michael Butler, Sunday, February 10, 2013
Has America Become an Authoritarian State?
This article is one of the most interesting I have read. We posted it on Civic but I felt it deserves to be read again. I strongly suggest you read it. You will find some disturbing points as to the direction America is being driven. Don't disregard it's possibilities. It is happening as we read. mbPosted by Michael Butler, Sunday, February 3, 2013
How Our Growth-Hungry Economy Has Devastated the Planet — And How We Can Change Course
This review capsulizes the over all 'body of the iceberg'. Gives a clarion cry and some pointers as what needs to be done. There is no question that these problems are staggering. Let us hope they are not overwhelming. The real problem is the lack of leadership in recognizing their existence and in doing something about them. Most of the elite realize they will probably not be around when the shit hits the fan. So let us party on! But think of the kids. Help!Posted by Michael Butler, Saturday, January 26, 2013
Truthdig – Richard Nixon at 100: The Man Who Matters
Richard Nixon sure is 'the man who matters'. We, our children, their children and beyond will pay a serious price for his actions. For a fascinating look at him, who 'Fractured America', do get the book, "Nixonland" by Rick Perlstein. One of the best political books I have ever read. mb Amazon has paperback or KindlePosted by Michael Butler, Sunday, January 13, 2013
