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POLITICS AS USUAL

Guest articles all weekend.
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A few book mentions. I finished reading “Afghanistan” ( Afghanistan: A Military History from Alexander the Great to the War against the Taliban ) and it wasn’t a bad book at all. It was interesting and enjoyable. The only problem was, after 350 pages I didn’t really feel it told me much of anything. It covered ancient invasions as a group, then covered as main sections Alexander The Great, The Mongols, the Brits, Soviets and Americans. It was basically a lot of battle dates and generals names. Grand strategy rather than tactics. It didn’t cover how the mountain tribes lived at all. It was also a bit too Jingoistic covering our current occupation. Not a bad book to read, if you can get it cheap or free, but I would advise against paying full price or thinking of it as anything other than general background information ( it is likely I won’t even reread it or reference it ). Please feel free to recommend books to me. As I said, I never have enough Interweb time so I miss a lot. I didn’t know about last months book “The Unit” nor did I know about yesterdays recommendation “The Fall Of Eden” ( The Fall of Eden ). I’ve ordered that one and will let you know what I think soon. And I had no idea that “Dwelling Portably” ( Dwelling Portably 1980-89 ) had come out in book form. I loved the newsletter but never had the whole collection of issues. The three books out cover one decade per title and cost $8 each. I accidentally found out about them while looking to see the items on my Amazon commission orders list last month.

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Today’s “distract them with an introduction totally irreverent to the main article” topic is the evolutionary aspects of being a dumbass.( Dumbass: Outrageous Quotes From The World’s Most Powerful Moron ) It always bothered me that so many people are dumbasses. You can’t help but think that it is a blooming wonder the human race has survived as long as it has, people do such stupid ass crap. Then it hit me. Dumbassness is actually a survival trait. For long periods of time, stability is required and desired. In cataclysms and sudden upheavals most of the population is wiped out and those individuals with the next new desired trait which was once an aberration becomes the saving grace of the race. This would include those with enough intelligence and imagination/creativity that would experiment with new ideas. For instance, during stable weather, you don’t want some maverick tinkering with farming techniques ( The New Organic Grower: A Master’s Manual of Tools and Techniques for the Home and Market Gardener ). Whatever proved successful in the past was what you stayed with. You never had enough of a surplus that you wanted to experiment. But when that new ice age started you had no choice but to try new ideas since the crops were doomed anyway. So dumbasses were encouraged, because they kept things stable. They didn’t threaten the tribe by being curious or inquisitive. They used the small brain power they had to learn what needed to be done and that was all the thinking required. Of course, this leads those who are smart enough to gain power to look down on the legions of idiots surrounding them. But were they smart enough to realize that all those fools assured their own survival? Doubtful. I don’t want to get too carried away with my wonderful new theory and actually compare the 90% of the population who are Extreme Dumbasses to, say, worker drones in an insect colony ( INSECTS ). But there are similarities to be sure.

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I want you to stop wasting your time worrying about politics. I especially want you to stop thinking different political parties can make a difference. As I’ve said before, I am a die-hard anarchist. I think Libertarians ( What It Means to Be a Libertarian ) are confused about being a little bit pregnant ( you are either free or a slave, nothing in-between ). That said, realistically I understand that the 90% of the population that are dumbasses ( hey, look at that- it did tie in with the main article ) need government because they can’t look after themselves. Government on a tribal level makes sense. You need to plant a surplus to feed soldiers and weapons makers so that they protect you against attackers. Plus, come the time, you need them to attack a neighboring tribe to steal their food so you can survive the famine ( by the way, I don’t confuse the tribal and individual aspects of this. I might talk against people stealing my food, but I know it is hard-wired into them. It is a given. Hell, I might try to steal theirs if things get bad enough [ ten year winter from Yellowstone erupting ]. But condoning an action and realizing its inevitability are not contradictory ). In a herding society all herders are soldiers so there isn’t such a difference amongst leaders and the population. They are the exception. Now, once we get away from agricultural societies ( First Farmers: The Origins of Agricultural Societies ) and smaller political entities, things get complicated. A nation state is a bit different. Then you have wealth redistribution thrown in on top of protection. Yes, there is that to some degree in tribes but it is just one percent living in relative luxury. Actually, I should say in energy intensive societies there is a difference. A nation state is the result of a surplus. When you see a surplus that is enough to be noticeable to the serfs/peons/rabble, then you need to bribe them somewhat to pay them off and keep them quiet.

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Hence, energy surplus societies use politics to redistribute wealth ( Redistribute Values Not Wealth: For A More Rewarding Life”s Journey ) as a bribe for peace. It is okay for some to make millions as long as the average Joe gets tens of thousands. Which points out the dangers to the Powers That Be ( The Powers That Be ) in our current situation. Those not in power don’t realize the surplus is gone and so still expect their bribes. As the remaining/shrinking wealth flows into fewer hands, revolution becomes more possible. Do you remember the old saying, if politics changed anything it would be illegal? If either political party threatened to actually change anything, it too would be abolished. By voting, you don’t vote for a party but for the system as a whole. By not voting, you are withholding your consent to being screwed. You still get the high hard one shoved up your shorts, but at least you didn’t ask for it.

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The US, with its obscene wealth of natural resources has been one of the “most free” political systems in history. But really, it wasn’t necessary to exploit the population BECAUSE there was such a surplus. If this country had been barren, without vast forests, or oil deposits, or coal mines or fertile soil, the very same founding fathers would have been petty tyrants. We got lucky, we weren’t born noble and just. Today’s politics are wealth distribution ( and less and less of that all the time- we wouldn’t be squabbling over digital dollars if there was real riches available besides that pretend wealth ). Nothing less. The fewer want to share less with the many. So stop getting so worked up about pretend differences. Republicans ( Grand Old Party: A History of the Republicans ), democrats, tea baggers, socialists. All window dressing for the masses. Those controlling resources and their distribution also control the politics and won’t change a thing. The only change will be less and less for you and me. Which really isn’t change, as its been going on for some time. Worry about real issues, like your immediate survival in an Oil Down, Energy Down, Civilization Down, Empire Down era we have unfolding before us now.
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My e-mail is jimd303@netzero.com
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Anyone can submit a guest article. No minimum word length, no writing skill necessary ( just get the idea across ). You retain copyright ( this must be your original writing ) and I’ll just use the once. I’ve yet to turn down an article, just don’t use the N Bomb or libel another that can sue me. Send by e-mail. Payment will be your removal from my enemies list.
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