V. Arnold
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I think it important to note; humans cannot (yet) destroy the earth; a rather hyperbolic term of imagined omnipotence. Alter certainly, but not destroy.
Having enjoyed a long life, largely in direct contact with the wild things: There’s a certain sentience which most miss: Gaia will abide; it is we who should worry.
Our Kamikaze attitude towards life and living will surely be the thing that done us in…
The only thing in doubt is whether or not we’ll (as a species) survive; we’ll see (well, maybe you’ll see [for me it’s doubtful]). 😉Starting in the late 80’s I started questioning the trends I saw in the housing market; by the mid to late 90’s, I was certain there was something intrinsically wrong with the real-estate market and the banking sector. Not being well versed in economics, I couldn’t make sense of what I felt were nonsensical trends in both real-estate and the markets. I kept looking for collapse, but it didn’t happen; and it went against what I deemed common sense.
I felt redeemed when 2008 crashed to the basement.
The U.S. is a wasteland of failed hubris and financial thuggery; and it was fueled by the common greed of fools who drank the koolaide…Time to tackle a topic that’s very hard to get right, and that will get me quite a few pairs of rolling eyes. I want to argue that societies need a social fabric, a social contract, and that without those they must and will fail, descend into chaos. Ilargi
That picture says it all, no?
Cheers and kudos for going after this truth.
The U.S. is a failed experiment from which no meaningful lessons will be/have been learned.
That it failed is not as important as the lessons not learned and thusly not applied; alas, it is now too late and the detritus following is toxic and deadly…Greece and the entire capitalist structure needs to collapse.
From the debris, a new system will emerge.
And hopefully Marx will be part of the solution…Smear? Indeed, with the consequent theater.
We’ve managed a Potemkin Village into a Potemkin economic world…
Poof…Re: The headline/readline; so what? Who, and that is the question, cares?
China can do whatever it likes; and the rest are left to react, however they will…@ Nicole Foss
Wow, that was a hell of a read. Nice work and thanks.
Very illustrative of the differences between Greece and Iceland; very significant differences.
It would seem that Russia and China would, if asked, come to Greece’s aide if they chose to escape the vile clutches of IMF, Troika, and NATO.
But then, fear is a powerful foil to stepping into the uncertain future…@ Ilargi
From what I’ve read, printing Drachmas can be easily done from off shore printers; not difficult.
It’s just a matter of doing. My school says; don’t tell me what can’t be done; look to what can be done; it’s just a matter of doing…
Robbing countries and individuals of sovereignty is just criminal, and should be fought to the death.
I find it hard to believe the Greeks will ultimately accept subservience to anything not Greece…What I utterly fail to understand is; for what reason, can Greece not do, what Iceland did?
From all I’ve read, Iceland is doing okay; and while painful, didn’t take very long to recover.
I would add that, sovereignty both individual and national, is under attack; which makes it doubly important to fight tooth and nail to maintain both at all costs.I’ve been doing some serious schooling lately, through a very excellent site, Unwelcomeguests. I highly recommend the wealth of information available there; Chomsky, Richard Wolf, and Howard Zinn, to name a few. A huge archive since 2000, over 1400 hours of interviews, lectures and history; And that doesn’t even address the important audio books free of charge. The curator of the sight is Robin Upton; a professor at Oregon State University.
https://www.unwelcomeguests.net/UNWELCOME_GUESTSA must access IMO…
CheersThe gods be good; what a bloody, confusing, complicated, rolling disaster; heading for a cliff with a quicksand pit at the bottom…
Time to weigh anchor and chart one’s own course. Never a follower be…@ jal
There have been solar showers for years; they entail a black plastic bag, hose w/shower head, and a loop to hang from a tree.@ Formerly T-Bear
Yep, agree completely. At my advanced age I’m gambling I’ll out live the catch up of the advancing great nothing (The Never Ending Story); but short of that; maybe a way to circumvent the inevitable will be found. I’m not a nihilist; small pockets will survive outside of the mainstream, IMO.
But, essentially, I think you are correct……[..] “when I ask him directly what he thinks of the deal, he seems more discouraged than angry. “I don’t know, it’s always the same story. Every nation has lost its sovereignty.”
And every human as well. Those who suck the tit of debt are doomed. The attack on us is relentless; listen to Nicole’s pod-cast a few posts back and find out how to save yourself.
Finding a cheap country to live in wouldn’t hurt either.
I learned some damn hard lessons a decade and a half ago; they still burn bright as I type; no credit cards, no debt, cash only, and break the consumer tango.
What’s happening to Greece, Portugal, Argentina, and Italy is also directed straight at you and me, the individual. It’s designed/intended to grind you down to wage slavery; neo-serfdom; it’s here now and in your face.
Sorry, rant over; I just get so pissed I lose it…@ Nicole Foss
Clear, concise, and simply said.
Thanks.
Would be really nice to have you do regular pod-casts here.I do have one question: Banks are a problem (I use a credit union), so, what to do with cash? Sound like a time to embrace a good mattress…
To be fair; it’s subtle. Kunstler’s last book (look it up) had a gay character and the gay community was very unhappy with his depiction; after hearing some of the dialogue so was I (I’ve always had gay friends).
Kunstler’s assumptions of a black generated violence, post collapse, are just ludicrous; I’ve lived in black communities, albeit many years ago, I call bullshit on that as well.
I have no doubt Jim is a nice guy (I’ve corresponded with him) ; but so far from a reality he just can’t see.
So, he cancels himself from relevance through his unforgivable naivete given his subject…
Thus I refer to him as a flim flam man…@ Diablo
What’s going on out there that we’re NOT seeing?
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The gods be good; wrong question.
Re; Kunstler, previous post; google it; I’m not much into teaching anymore.
I spend much effort at finding the facts, unlike most hive dwellers, of which I’m not.
Do the work and you’ll be rewarded in kind; guaranteed, if in fact, you do the work…
I would add; Ilargi does the work and is very informative, but cannot always supply a conclusion; much of the present is a “work” in progress, whose conclusion is much like Schrödinger’s cat…I must say; the Greek conundrum has been a humbling experience for me; I have finally realized I have no idea what I’m talking about, concerning Greece, its leaders, and its entanglements with the EU.
So, henceforth I shall shut up.@ prickly thistle
This is where I think it’s important to listen, listen, to the words spoken. One listening from the very beginning sees the pattern, the cadence, the words carefully chosen. And then, the action that follows. Do the actions follow the words?
IMO, Tsipras and Varoukakis are men of integrity and action; extremely rare in todays world; especially the action bits.
With a learned eye towards a critical view of the game played, one soon learns the bankrupt from the not bankrupt. The line is thin at best, but with practice and intelligence the line can be discerned.
It’s enough to know most players are bankrupt; knowing this helps to see other…@ Kunstler
The Greeks insist on living the 20th century deluxe industrial age lifestyle, complete with 24/7 electricity, cheap groceries, cushy office jobs, early retirement, and plenty of walking-around money. They’ll be lucky if they land back in the 1800s, comfort-wise. The Greeks may not recognize this, but they are in the vanguard of a movement that is wrenching the techno-industrial nations back to much older, more local, and simpler living arrangements.
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Just what planet does Jim live on? And, for what reason does Kunstler hold some messianic following of sycophants who evidence no ability at critical thinking?
His picture of Greek society, which he propounds to know, is not the one I see; or know through my parents, who lived in Greece for many, many years.
Ilargi, why the hell do you value this man’s homophobic/racist views? Because he actually gets a point or two correct?
Hell, even a broken clock is correct twice a day, no?
Kunstler gives homophobes and blatant racists fee reign, with almost no moderation; bans no one IME.
Kunstler makes a living predicting a future that is “always a day away” (Annie); he a flim flam man, pure and simple…@ VisionHawk
Men of integrity are standing…..shall we all get to our feet?Already have, yes.
thanksHot Damn!!!
Ilargi, this is one of your absofuckinglutely best ever threads. Hammer to nail; or splitting maul to firewood may be closer!
I’d like to think of this as a beginning, which I think it is.
The sheer integrity of Tsipras and Varoufakis is just stunning; long time since the world has been witness to brilliance in governance…Obama is an asshole; pure and simple; worst president since….Bush? Wow, worse than Bush? Yes, most assuredly. And that is an accomplishment…
Tsipras has been portrayed as all over the map; that’s hugely f##ked up reporting by the MSM.
To those paying attention, Tsipras has been very consistent; to a fault.
IMO, Tsipras will win this fight against the EUpire of evil; that which follows, will be the house of cards, that is the EUpire of hubris and cruelty, collapsing to dust. Western civilization is about to evolve; hopefully not violently, but that remains the only question, IMO.To Greenpa; why is never a good question; endless possibilities never resolving anything. Who, what, when, and where; that may or may not get results, but are worthy questions of serious inquiry.
So, we’re at the mercy of a world run by greedy morons (actually, they’re really smart morons). That’s not a question and not an oxymoron.
Except, if we can use our intelligence (given it hasn’t been educated out of you), we can prepare by having no debt, saving every month/week/day, not in banks; quietly…
And have community; community will save you. The Greeks understand this because it’s still part of their culture; America; not so much.
Community is what’s saving Greek’s now and in the near future…
They are a lesson in survival; pay attention…Mother of the gods; there is so much conjecture and outright bullshit flying around the electrosphere; it’s like a universe lensing due to vast distances from the point of reference.
Thanks Ilargi…The pets of robots; what a fitting end for our foolishness and hubris.
They (the robots) may treat us better than our present keepers.@ Formerly T-Bear
Yes; it’s very interesting how the views, with no experience or juxtaposition of geography, are so freely flowing forth, from the provincialism of the North American proletariate.
I often witness the same, when expositions regarding Asia, are spouted in sycophantic unison from westerners, not familiar with said geography or cultures.
There is no cure for it, I think…
Cheers@ T-Bear
Spot on post.
For those interested in history;
https://www.jekyllislandhistory.com/federalreserve.shtmlAn interesting/informative read…
• Hiring Black Officers Is Difficult: ‘So Many Have Spent Time In Jail’ (Guardian)
Oh gee, maybe they are exactly the people you should hire; and while you’re at it; quite targeting them (black people) for stop and frisk.
Fucking race wars in America are creating the very thing they claim to want to stop/eliminate.
When, oh, when, will those in power realize they are the creators of the problems they claim to want to eliminate?
Never is the real answer…
And the beat goes on…@ T-Bear
Will someone ‘splain to Ed: birds; bees; poker
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Not me man; Ed has evidenced no understanding of what’s going on in Ukraine…Your evaluation of Kunstler pretty much resonates with me. I see no correlation between TAE and CFN. There are openly racist/misogynist posters at CFN who are rarely challenged and almost never by Kunstler himself. Which is why I quit posting there.
We’re (U.S.) going down; but not in anyway I’ve seen accurately portrayed. Ilargi’s daily tracking along with sources and links shows it going to be a long (in human terms) and painful process…
But then Kunstler’s shtick is his living…
It seems there are many who figured out how to make a living off of a sinking ship/country…@ Ilargi
How can you tell? All comment sections at ZH are full of it.
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LOL. Indeed they are…@ Raleigh
Bees are not the only pollinators; hyperbole seems to be the order of the day, regardless the subject.
Humans are necessarily the center of the known universe; Gaia would not agree. I love bees, but we’re bound to kill them off and we’ll follow soon enough…Isn’t the real point; humans are impacting the planet in negative ways and need to change their behavior.
Historically humans have always impacted the planet; in the 21st century it’s serious and global, not just local. This is already having an effect on our health.
We’re on a finite planet acting as though we have infinite resources; grow up (aimed at no one in particular)…
