Bob Avakian is really interesting to listen to! Often, very funny! I wonder if he is going to run for president. Now that would shake up the system...wouldn't it...if we all voted him as our next president?

I think "card check" would have led to the 99% dictating terms to the 1%. It passed the house and needed only one more vote in the senate to avoid the filibuster. We don't need a revolution we need to overload the congress with democrats with as few blue dogs as we can attain. It seems like a simpler solution than revolution.

Quote DAnneMarc: " Have you ever considered that it [religion] is a tool used by the poor as well in order to be happy about their lot in life. [

Are paranoid people, not really absolutely sure of their beliefs, really happy? Many believers have been initially introduced to religious beliefs by being forced to accept them. Often it was initially used to scare people into being good. Parents (already brainwashed by their parents) brainwash their children. And this vicious cycle perpetuates itself. Governments (who are controlled by the few wealthy and powerful people) find it is useful in keeping the masses dumb, unambitious, and ineffective in challenging their status...making the masses believe that they needn't go to any great lengths to fight for their slice of the pie here on Earth because they will get their just rewards in "Heaven". (The checks in the mail!)

Many believers had been, initially, forced into their religions by conquering religious countries. It is really amazing to me that people will knuckle under to a conquering country and adopt their belief system and then believe in that new system so whole-brainedly, even decades later when there was no longer any real threat to their lives, that they treat it as absolute truth. The conquest of the Aztecs by the Spanish in Mexico has led to a country that is predominantly Catholic. The "good" Christian Spanish butchered anyone who tried to revert back to their original superstitious beliefs. The Indians in the United States were beaten and/or butchered by "good" Christians who considered the Indians savages with ignorant superstitious beliefs. Father Junipero Serra considered the Indians in California to be children and frequently beat them (among other things, perhaps). "Serra's legacy included forced labor of converted Indians in order to support the missions, and creating an environment equivalent to a concentration camp."--wikipedia

So, how can anyone really be happy when they are all trying so hard to force their beliefs on everyone else in order to make their own lies feel more like truths? It didn't stop with the Spanish Inquisitions or conquests of Mexico and the US. Since people are trying so hard to believe in a lie they are always conflicted...always trying hard to ensnare others into their fantasy so that it helps to make their fantasies more real. The more the merrier, I guess.

When these superstitions start off, they become cults and sects then, with a greater following, they become religions...they become institutionalized...even to the point where countries will put "In God We Trust" on their currency....put "Under God" in their Pledge of Allegiance.

All of this predominant presence is a great proselytizing force to people, especially young people, to sucker them into making superstitious and nonsensical ideas prominent and predominant--deeply imbedding nonsense into their minds. Parents (who were previously brainwashed by their parents) start off brainwashing their children (usually there is always a strong paranoia-inducing element of "God sees everything that you are doing! So you'd better be good!"). The churches the children are made to go to preach the same (they always get a strong paranoia-inducing sermon from the preacher or priest or rabii), then the state sports it's religious mottos and symbols...all work to brainwash people to accept ridiculous nonsense as being truth. That leaves few people brave enough to challenge such nonsense. They mostly will all go along with the predominant paradigm...just what the foxes in the hen house want...unthinking, unchallenging, chickens who will be eaten all without so much as a squawk. Well, maybe one last death-rasp squawk! The foxes love dumb chickens...it makes it so much easier for them to get a meal. That kind of "happy"... I can do without!!! And then, are people really happy when they are starving or dying because the foxes have gamed the system? Even Emperor Constantine knew how to manipulate the people by using religion...so it is really nothing new.

I would guess that part of the reason why people accept the religions of their captors...like when the Aztecs were massacred and abused by the "good Christian" Spanish could be related to the Stockholm syndrome.

"Stockholm syndrome, or capture–bonding, is a psychological phenomenon in which hostages express empathy and sympathy and have positive feelings toward their captors, sometimes to the point of defending them. These feelings are generally considered irrational in light of the danger or risk endured by the victims, who essentially mistake a lack of abuse from their captors for an act of kindness."--Wikipedia

There are also various cults who all exhibit similar tactics in brainwashing their new cult members. And those cults start off by someone who takes issue with some doctrine of the major religions. They distance themselves from those religions telling everyone that their ideas are better than those other religions. Perhaps, if they convince enough people they start their own cults...their own followings...like Jim Jones...perhaps. ;-o

Many of the tactics continue even after a cult becomes a major religion. Some cult members eventually fall away from the cults and never really fully dispel all of the nonsense they were subjected to when part of the cult.

One such person, and there are many, who was totally into Jesus, even as a young person, felt compelled to be evangelical and go around trying to convert others...he was very talented musically and even wrote many famous religious songs for children (that are played and sung even now--ironic!). He eventually used his brain and fell away from that trap...he became an atheist and now has an organization called Freedom From Religion Foundation aka FFRF. He, Dan Barker, along with his wife, Annie Lauri Gaylor, runs that organization and frequently fights and challenges the tyranny of religion...in an attempt to keep the state separate from religion. http://ffrf.org

Palindromedary ~ Bless your little "Teddy Bear." I hope his name isn't "TED". However, I disagree. My explanation is accurate not ridiculous. Remember, this whole off topic bit began with a good question by MMmmNACHOS as to why so many people in this country are locked in the pursuit of materialistic crap and money. Let me break down my answer in terms you will listen too. People's lives are too easy today. They aren't happy with themselves like they were in an Agricultural economy where everyone relied heavily on everyone else. Today they are inundated with the commercial media that tells them spending money is the path to happiness. This imparts a psychological condition of the mind that could be seen as a psychosis of sorts. How do you cure this condition.

Look at you and I. We have risen above this condition through discipline and hard work. We have achieved lofty goals in our life that we are proud of. Therefore we have a very pleasing view of our own "looking glass" Self--as Charles Cooley called it--that gives us self-respect, self-esteem, and self-realization.

This is the core of the problem as well as the key to the solution. There are many people in society like us. Thom is one. Thom probably doesn't think twice about how much money he is going to get when he writes a book. He thinks about his contribution to society. That is what drives him. That is what is supposed to drive him. That is what is supposed to drive everyone. Someone like that is the model of the "cure" that the masses need in order to overcome the money psychosis that grips the country.

You yourself once condemned Organized Religion because you said it is a tool used by the wealthy to control the poor. Have you ever considered that it is a tool used by the poor as well in order to be happy about their lot in life. My point is that happiness is vital. The simple fact of the matter is that not all men can be rich. What's wrong with trying to help those who can't be rich at least be happy.

I like you think there is a better way to do this than organized Religion. Organized Religion is like getting happy from a drug--it wears off and you have to keep going back for more. However, if you personalize religion on the psychological level and encourage people to develop their Ego and cultivate a pleasant "looking glass" Self then you accomplish the same goal of a Religion while empowering people and freeing them from the servitude of dependance on an Religious Institution. In the long run you also drastically improve society and remedy the major problems in it.

You can call this theory the "Teddy Bear" theory if you will. After all, "Teddy Bears" are tools to help children feel more secure about themselves; so, why not? Cooley's looking glass self is the term best used to explain the goal of my theory in a Sociological sense. If the term "Spirit" bothers you that much, how about we stick with Cooley's definition of basically the same thing.

(If you are not familiar with Cooley's theory I will paraphrase it for you: 'We are not who we think we are, nor are we who others think we are; but, rather, we are who we think others think we are.')

I'm sorry my use of religious terms blinded you to the gist of my analysis. I hope this attempt you find easier to digest.

DAnneMarc:

...you are more "Teddy Bear"-like than anyone I know including myself. "Teddy Bear" your little "brain"! (note: a heart ONLY pumps blood...it doesn't think or dream or reason and has nothing to do with emotions...love or hate..it is the brain that does all of that...so why are people so misusing that idea all the time?)

You are truly at peace with your "Teddy Bear"; regardless of whether or not you believe in it.

But, we all believe in our little "Teddy Bears" don't we?

For the record, "Teddy Bear" is our higher conscious. The Super Ego if you will. It is our unconscious mind that only works in our dreams and not at the conscious level. The "Teddy Bear" is our inner voice. The "Teddy Bear" is the root of our self-esteem, self-respect, and self-realization.

Sounds pretty ridiculous doesn't it?

Please understand that the source problem is that the capitalist/imperialist system has so socialized the productive forces that capitalism has become archaic and exceedingly harmful to all living things. The solution is a revolution to replace the dictatorship of the 1% over the 99% with a dictatorship of the 99% over the 1%. Thus exploitation of labor will be ended, and socialism effected. PLEASE visit REVCOM.US and BOBAVAKIAN.NET for a thorough discussion of revolution and its aims. The Constitution for the New Socialist Republic in North America very carefully lays out just what kind of society socialism can be, how it will be constructed and what its aims will be. Here is a short excerpt of Daunte Reed's re-write of the Preamble.

Preamble
The New Socialist Republic in North America has been established! This is an earth-shaking accomplishment, and an inspiration to the people of the world, brought to life by the momentous revolutionary struggle of millions upon millions of people from all quarters, led by their vanguard, the Revolutionary Communist Party.
The science of communism, and the further development of this science through the new synthesis brought forward by Bob Avakian, has defined the character of this vanguard party throughout the whole process of this revolutionary struggle. And it will continue to do so, unleashing and arming the overwhelming majority of people in this Republic to make our greatest possible contributions, in thought and deed, in heart and soul, to the success of this revolution, to the emancipation of all of humanity and to the care of our home, planet Earth.
The New Socialist Republic in North America stands as an undeniable testament that the most powerful oppressor, exploiter, life-destroyer, and planet despoiler on Earth has been defeated!
Through twists and turns, advances and setbacks, victories and defeats, unparalleled heroism, determination and sacrifice, the masses of people have overthrown capitalism and imperialism here. We can now say, with all conviction and certainty:
THAT the stranglehold on society by an obscenely wealthy class of soulless parasites who have appropriated (as their own private property) all the vast and powerful means to life—modern day slave masters exploiting modern day slaves (wage slavery), and oppressing and hindering the vast majority of people—has been broken! The basis has been established to advance in the second great wave of proletarian revolution to uproot all the class structures that have so far been ingrained and characteristic of human society for thousands of years...

Back to reality! Back to the topic! ALEC must go. We should consider a adding a provision to our future Campaign Finance Reform bill, or the Move to Amend bill that would ban any Private Political Action Committee from existing and using private funds and Lobbyist to write public policy. I have long believed that Lobbyist should be outlawed as well.

What ALEC is doing is simply legalized bribery. Bribery has to be illegal. This is ridiculous that We the People are putting up with the bribing of our Political Representatives and having public policy sold to the highest bidder. We the People need to be the sole factors in the influence of Political Policy. Our Representatives need to be freed from the need to raise campaign funds and be threatened with the death penalty if they ever get caught accepting any money or gift from any one or any group while in office that doesn't come from their pay check from We the People.

To me, the very idea that we allow this to go on in our country shows that we are a nation run by criminals, of the criminals, and for the criminals. We will never get our country back until we exorcise these Demons from our Government.

Just say NO, to ALEC!!

Palindromedary ~ Wow! You spent so much time analysing the phrases and words I used that you never got around to answering the question I asked. Do you think we should relieve the criminal one percenters of their money for their own good?

I can only assume that you disagree. If so, then you are more Christ-like than anyone I know including myself. Bless your little heart! My hat is off to you. Thank you for being such an example to the rest of us on how to forgive and turn the other cheek.

In all, your response has proven everything that I said about you. You are truly at peace with your Spirit; regardless of whether or not you believe in it. Please don't think I want you to change a thing. You are perfect just the way you are.

Thanks again for the response!

Cheers!

DAnneMarc:
Actually, for every time you used the word "God" it would have made just about as much sense to use the word "Zeus" or "Thor" or even "Teddy Bear". The word "God" is just an idea invented for the purpose of conjuring up images of some imaginary power constantly keeping tabs on the believer. It fosters paranoia. It is about as useful as threatening some little kids that they had better be good or Santa won't bring them any toys. Most of us grow out of the Santa Claus fiction. Many adults, however, don't always do so with the fiction that is called "God". I just cannot interpret any conversation that even uses the nonsensical religious words as being comprehensible. The words "God" and "spirituality" are nonsense. There are no "spirits" and there is no "God" no matter how you want to squeeze them in....they just don't fit into my reality. Religious people, and yes I consider anyone who even uses such terms... as being religious (superstitious), are always trying to squeeze (proselytize) their superstitious beliefs into our thinking, perhaps, that it will elicit a change of belief. It won't because we just won't be fooled like that.

The Arabic language is full of Arabic phrases including proselytizing phrases..like "Inshallah" (be it the will of Allah). The Christians also have forced a lot of religious phrases on us as well...like "God Bless You" or even just "Bless You" or "In God We Trust" on our money...etc.

Some people try to isolate themselves from organized religions thinking, perhaps, that they are not like the hypocrites that have a very bad record in history. That seems to be the natural progression of superstitious ideas down through history...and the reason why there have been so many cults and sects...which become, perhaps, with enough followers, organized religions. Many people have tried, and some succeeded once they managed to convince and sway others of their differences with the church, to create their own religions.

The definitions of spirituality vary a lot but seem to all have been initially derived from religious terminology... "spirits"... "ghosts"...("sacred": Connected with God -or the gods- or dedicated to a religious purpose and so deserving veneration: "sacred rites". Religious rather than secular.)
Synonyms
holy - saintly - sacrosanct - saint - sanctified..

It really stems from the imposition of religious beliefs, through the common use of religious terms into secular language, so that the religious people are trying to sneak all that religious garbage into our mental processes. Very sneaky!

DHB -- full thrust powell doctrine. The media is telling the middle class what to think. The media owned by the 1% (AKA 0.01%).

Think about this the next time you are driving your late model vehicle down the street:

This is a very good story posted yesterday, 8/9/13, called:

On the Strange Death of Michael Hastings: Was the Reporter Car-Hacked or Bombed?

Excerpts:

In its coverage of Hastings' death, the Canada Free Press noted:

"It appears that Mr. Hastings made multiple contacts with sources directly associated with the illegal NSA domestic spying program, and either recently acquired materials and/or information about the extent of, the targets of, and the recipients of the information of domestic spying program.

"It is speculated that the latter information was of particular concern to as yet unidentified individuals holding positions of authority within the US Department of Defense and their subcontractors, as well as certain parties within the Executive branch of the United States government.

"Investigation and research suggests that Mr. Hastings might have obtained, or arranged to obtain, information pertaining to the role of a particular high-ranking officer within the US military overseeing the domestic aspects of the NSA project."
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"A Scholarly Demonstration of the Car-hacking Scenario

"A sophisticated "car-hacking" plot is one of the odder theories gaining traction in Internet chat rooms. The theory posits that Hastings' Mercedes may have been "hacked" -- its braking, acceleration and steering taken over by "outside forces" -- and driven to destruction.

"Car-hacking" is not science fiction: it is established fact. Electronic controls have been infiltrating modern automobiles since the 1970s. Today, a luxury automobile may have 100 MB of binary code onboard, feeding anywhere from 50-70 Electronic Control Units (ECUs).

"In addition to internal ECUs that monitor engine and driving performance, there now are ECUs that communicate with the world beyond the dashboard. These wi-fi enabled "telemetric" systems not only broadcast information to outside receivers, they also respond to instructions beamed in from neighborhood and satellite communication systems. Think OnStar; think Bluetooth.

"In 2010, researchers at the University of Washington and the University of California at San Diego published a shocking piece of research describing how they had managed to override the safety features on two off-the-lot 2009 automobiles. The report, "Experimental Security Analysis of a Modern Automobile," documented an astonishing outcome:

"We have demonstrated the ability to systematically control a wide array of components including engine, brakes, heating and cooling, lights, instrument panel, radio, locks, and so on. Combining these, we have been able to mount attacks that represent potentially significant threats to personal safety.

"For example, we are able to forcibly and completely disengage the brakes while driving, making it difficult for the driver to stop. Conversely, we are able to forcibly activate the brakes, lurching the driver forward and causing the car to stop suddenly."
--
".. some cars have five or more digital radio interfaces that accept outside commands, "some over only a short range and others over an indefinite distance."
--
"The potential for deadly interventions is profound. The researchers reported: "We were able to release the brakes and actually prevent our driver from braking: no amount of pressure on the brake pedal was able to activate the brakes. . . . . With another [computer control] packet, we were able to instantaneously lock the brakes unevenly."
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my comment:
>>So what would happen if the speed was controlled to go very fast and then another signal made the brakes lock up unevenly? Swerve and crash into trees?<<
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"There were just too many troubling inconsistencies. There were no skid marks. Local residents reported hearing one or more loud explosions.

"The vehicle was engulfed in an extremely fierce torch-like inferno that some critics claimed was unlike a gasoline-fed fire -- and more like the kind of blaze associated with burning thermite or plastic explosives.

"The bomb scenario would certainly explain how the car's engine came to be blasted out of the vehicle and wound up down the road, 100 feet from the flaming wreckage.

"Furthermore, the damage to the car was inconsistent with a simple crash. There was a debris field that covered a good part of the block. Instead of splaying out around the palm tree, metal and plastic parts from the Mercedes were scattered down the roadway -- a great distance past the point where the auto struck the tree.

"The car's front left wheel somehow wound up nearly 100 feet away from the wrecked car -- on a sidewalk on the other side of the street. The car's engine and transmission had been hurled into the sky and wound up 200 feet down the roadway.

"And, inexplicably, the vehicle's hood (which should have born the brunt of the head-on impact) could be seen resting near the far side of the palm, intact and uncrumpled. It appeared as though the hood had separated from the Mercedes before the impact and landed, relatively unscathed, alongside the tree.
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