pam on Nostr: Throughout history there were rise and fall of various civilizations - mesopotamia ...
Throughout history there were rise and fall of various civilizations - mesopotamia (modern day iraq - then babylon etc), ancient egypt, ancient greece, islamic golden age, roman empire, mongol empire, ottoman empire - followed by the british empire and the rise of western civilisation in recent times. Perhaps its a trend, perhaps its not
But perhaps it's because historically people allow a few men to dominate and exploit them.
With western civilisation, came colonisation and looting of assets that left many countries in destitute and independence for many was around 50s / 60s. In the 80s and 90s a diff form of debt trap induced by IMF through infrastructure loan, sustainable development program, millenial development program and the recent ESG caused 3rd world countries to plunge deeper into poverty.
But what’s often missed out of this, is that all these were the works of a few men behind the scene, the 'oligarchs'. In the 80s and 90s, you would have seen a lot of jobs being sent away and globalization was an effect of excessive capitalism - shareholders of companies wanted a fatter wallet at the expense of a lot of Americans losing their jobs.
The irony is - and i don't quite understand why - that those who paid the price of globalism in the US are supporting right wing policies that caused it and those who benefited from globalism (NY, CA) are supporting left wing policies. This is slightly diff in the UK, for example, during Thatcher’s time, those who suffered from globalization (Sunderland etc) are still pissed at capitalism and those who benefited (London etc) are indifferent.
In the US, the country is divided by one group screaming “we welcome everyone” and another group yelling “keep immigrants away”. The immigrants did not take away their jobs. 3rd world countries did not come stealing. The shareholder, the capitalist - the few men with fat wallets gave it away because it benefited them.
If you look at Jack’s company, I remember when they were sourcing for bitcoin related hardware vendors, they put in the effort to source locally within the US. I don’t know what challenges Jack would have faced in terms of rationalizing cost to the shareholders, but in principle, that’s how it should be. That’s how you build an ecosystem of local businesses. But how many do that ?
Yet it's so easy to distract people. Just drop in gender and race and everyone is triggered. And people forget to demand for market reform and social reform, as they are too busy getting pissed at each other.
If you go back in time during the Peloposonian war in 400BC, the fight between Athens and Sparta, marked the need for democratic reform, yet oligarchic control persists. It remains the same today, but oligarchs in the US have successfully removed themselves out of the ‘equation of visibility’. (You might like this book called 'Democracy in Europe, A history - by Luciano Canfora)
I had a conversation with you once on education system - the issues are often centered around debt forgiveness, race, AA - but neither side questions the rising cost or declining quality. The real issue is who benefits financially with education system? And who benefits with programming people to think a certain way? But people are too distracted with gender and race to see past it.
Yesterday I saw Elon’s tweet claiming the first slaves were the whites as the word is from Slav (6 AD). He is not wrong with where the word came from, but I am guessing the Arabs, - then persians (modern day iraq) who were among the first slaves some 3500 BC might be wondering if they are considered whites. But again, people are so overwhelmed by gender and race and slavery apologies and reparations and blacks and whites etc that they forget 2 things -
1. One, a few men who controlled the economy - who decided to drug the world with sugar - created the 19th century slave economy. (There's a really good book called 'Extraordinary Popular Delusions & the Madness of Crowds' by Charles McKay that you might like)
2. And secondly, from the Barbarian times, the world was divided by those who created laws, the kingpins, and all else were their slaves one way or another.
I believe if people push for market and social reform - and not get distracted by all these keyword triggers, then western civilisation will prevail. But until people stop getting distracted by gender and race issues, the few men in power will always be in control of everything.
In the 19th century, those who left for the US from Europe, wanted to break away from social, economic and caste dominance - to be able to achieve success - the American dream. These were whites who broke away from the whites who controlled the economy on a leash. During Beatnik era, the hippies, call them what you may, forced the upper class elites to let go of their control to expand middle class. (You might like this one too 'The Holy Barbarians by Lawrence Lipton).
I hope the US breaks away once again, metaphorically, from these bondages of the invisible oligarchs, and realize that it's not race nor gender that stops them from achieving the American dream. I sincerely believe that people are inherently good and kind, and its very sad to see the bitterness among many.
This is just my thoughts and hopes.
But perhaps it's because historically people allow a few men to dominate and exploit them.
With western civilisation, came colonisation and looting of assets that left many countries in destitute and independence for many was around 50s / 60s. In the 80s and 90s a diff form of debt trap induced by IMF through infrastructure loan, sustainable development program, millenial development program and the recent ESG caused 3rd world countries to plunge deeper into poverty.
But what’s often missed out of this, is that all these were the works of a few men behind the scene, the 'oligarchs'. In the 80s and 90s, you would have seen a lot of jobs being sent away and globalization was an effect of excessive capitalism - shareholders of companies wanted a fatter wallet at the expense of a lot of Americans losing their jobs.
The irony is - and i don't quite understand why - that those who paid the price of globalism in the US are supporting right wing policies that caused it and those who benefited from globalism (NY, CA) are supporting left wing policies. This is slightly diff in the UK, for example, during Thatcher’s time, those who suffered from globalization (Sunderland etc) are still pissed at capitalism and those who benefited (London etc) are indifferent.
In the US, the country is divided by one group screaming “we welcome everyone” and another group yelling “keep immigrants away”. The immigrants did not take away their jobs. 3rd world countries did not come stealing. The shareholder, the capitalist - the few men with fat wallets gave it away because it benefited them.
If you look at Jack’s company, I remember when they were sourcing for bitcoin related hardware vendors, they put in the effort to source locally within the US. I don’t know what challenges Jack would have faced in terms of rationalizing cost to the shareholders, but in principle, that’s how it should be. That’s how you build an ecosystem of local businesses. But how many do that ?
Yet it's so easy to distract people. Just drop in gender and race and everyone is triggered. And people forget to demand for market reform and social reform, as they are too busy getting pissed at each other.
If you go back in time during the Peloposonian war in 400BC, the fight between Athens and Sparta, marked the need for democratic reform, yet oligarchic control persists. It remains the same today, but oligarchs in the US have successfully removed themselves out of the ‘equation of visibility’. (You might like this book called 'Democracy in Europe, A history - by Luciano Canfora)
I had a conversation with you once on education system - the issues are often centered around debt forgiveness, race, AA - but neither side questions the rising cost or declining quality. The real issue is who benefits financially with education system? And who benefits with programming people to think a certain way? But people are too distracted with gender and race to see past it.
Yesterday I saw Elon’s tweet claiming the first slaves were the whites as the word is from Slav (6 AD). He is not wrong with where the word came from, but I am guessing the Arabs, - then persians (modern day iraq) who were among the first slaves some 3500 BC might be wondering if they are considered whites. But again, people are so overwhelmed by gender and race and slavery apologies and reparations and blacks and whites etc that they forget 2 things -
1. One, a few men who controlled the economy - who decided to drug the world with sugar - created the 19th century slave economy. (There's a really good book called 'Extraordinary Popular Delusions & the Madness of Crowds' by Charles McKay that you might like)
2. And secondly, from the Barbarian times, the world was divided by those who created laws, the kingpins, and all else were their slaves one way or another.
I believe if people push for market and social reform - and not get distracted by all these keyword triggers, then western civilisation will prevail. But until people stop getting distracted by gender and race issues, the few men in power will always be in control of everything.
In the 19th century, those who left for the US from Europe, wanted to break away from social, economic and caste dominance - to be able to achieve success - the American dream. These were whites who broke away from the whites who controlled the economy on a leash. During Beatnik era, the hippies, call them what you may, forced the upper class elites to let go of their control to expand middle class. (You might like this one too 'The Holy Barbarians by Lawrence Lipton).
I hope the US breaks away once again, metaphorically, from these bondages of the invisible oligarchs, and realize that it's not race nor gender that stops them from achieving the American dream. I sincerely believe that people are inherently good and kind, and its very sad to see the bitterness among many.
This is just my thoughts and hopes.