RSA - Ideas and Actions for a 21st Century Enlightenment Uh-oh, it's a marxist analysis. Hey, can Marx have things figured out correctly from time to time? Thanks to Austin K for passing this one on.

Big person? Small Shopping Cart? Both? (comments about capitalism)

in chronological order, newest to oldest:

Olympia Love for LP

Matt Batcheldor has an article in today's paper about Port officials desire to see renewed military shipments. Rhenda Strub and Steve Hall were also quoted in the article. I appreciated City Manager Hall's opinion that the real cost of the fall 2007 shipment went beyond financial, and includes damaged relationships, and all sorts of hurt feelings of people, on all sides of this issue.

http://olypmr.blogspot.com/2010/08/port-wants-military-shipments.html

Berd

I know I am not the only one who has noticed the peculiar orange hue of sunlight today. The sunlight makes me think of the situation in the Gulf of Mexico. I have heard that some of the fisherpersons contracted by BP to clean up the spill have suffered severe health consequences, including rectal bleeding.

I wonder how the water there in the gulf is. I wonder if the water has a millions of gallons of petroleum orange hue. I wonder. Here is a poem of reflection:

Orange Sunlight, an Ode to Dispersed Oil Tarballs, by Berd

Orange sunlight

tarball infected stratus

clouds in the sky

more corexit perhaps?

Recent discussion on OlyBlog got me to thinking about the problem of big business influence over politics and government. I have been to thinking about the lack of practical difference between Republicans and Democrats. For example, the failure of the Obama Administration to live up to the President's high-minded rhetoric, and promises (think about the promise to close the Guantanamo Bay torture center,) makes it possible to argue that the differences between the two parties are more often in the realm of rhetoric, rather than of material substance.

Freedom Socialist Party National Convention Flier

In America we don't have a political party that represents the interest of common people, nor the interests that all people have in common. What we have is a system that represents interests of the owning class. Both major parties, as well as some minor parties, represent the singular self-interest of some, at the expense of others. And it is important to remember that the wealth of some, including the wealth many of us in America enjoy, is dependent on the mistreatment of the planet, and of many people.

Maybe part of the answer toward successfully organizing against the unjust and destructive status quo is the development of new political parties—parties that go to the heart of the problems in order to radically challenge the unjust status quo. One example of a political party that is organizing to achieve a society that serves the common interests of life and of all people, and for liberation from the multitudinous oppressions of today's world, is the Freedom Socialist Party.

The FSP is holding its National Conference STARTING TOMORROW (FRIDAY JULY 9) AT THE EVERGREEN STATE COLLEGE. I encourage you to check in, you're sure to meet organizers whom are very brilliant and talented, as well as kind and courteous! Following is more information about the conference, from the FSP website and from a press release. And there is also more information on the FSP website: www.socialism.com. ~Berd

I went to Fertile Ground last night and ate pizza with the Cuba Caravanistas. The pizza was good, and so was the discussion. Brendan Funtek spoke about Cuba and his travel and other involvement with the caravan. Then Manolo de los Santos, who is the Pastors for Peace representative (he's from New York via the Dominican Republic), also spoke. Finally, Rick Fellows spoke. Rick has been running caravans since 1984 when he became involved in a dispute between Peabody Coal and members of indigenous tribes near the 4 corners area of the Southwest US. Peabody Coal runs one of the world's largest coal strip mines in the area, and since its beginning there has been constant opposition. All three were great speakers and served to illuminate upon the relationship between the US and Cuba, as well as the situation in Cuba, and the lives of the Cuban people. After the speeches we had a great question and answer discussion.

I wish the Caravanistas the best in their journey toward the Mexican border, and beyond toward their destinations in Cuba, as well as a safe return.

The following is a description some of what I know about Cuba, including some, though certainly not all, of what I have learned in the last three days. It is also in part a description of the border crossing from Vancouver B.C. into Washington State this past Sunday, including a photographic essay. - Berd

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Peace Arch Park Vancouver B.C. Canada—Blaine Washington United States

Please join us for a public disclosure of how the collapse of Communism in the East set the stage for a future financial scenario for capitalism in the West. You will learn how the current financial markets will be restructured, thus impacting your rights to international trade. DATE: Tuesday, March 9 TIME: 12 to 1 p.m. LOCATION: State Capitol Columbia Room (seminar entrance is at the corner of Sid Snyder Avenue and Cherry Lane) CONTACT: Liberty of Conscience Preservation Council @ 360.402.1154 You will discover how this fiscal chain of events will escalate to usher in the American Heritage Observance Act that will implicate every U.S. citizen, and consequentially, every citizen around the world. Yet, with such tumultuous forecasts looming, you will experience hope through these financial maelstroms in the follow up seminar Saturday, April 3 at 2 p.m. at the Olympia Timberland Library.

I recently submitted a letter to the editor of The Olympian, and it was published today. Here it is edited slightly for clarity, amended for accuracy, and with additional comment:

Washington needs a state income tax

For anyone who still has not seen Michael Moore's newest film, "Capitalism: A Love Story" - I recommend seeing it.

Here's an excerpt and video of an interview by Amy Goodman with Michael Moore:

"...capitalism and democracy are the opposite of each other. Capitalism is a system that guarantees that a few are going to do very well, and everybody else is going to serve the few. Democracy means everybody has a seat at the table. Everybody. And the wealth that is created is shared amongst everybody. That’s democracy. ..."
- Michael Moore

Michael Moore on Haiti, the Supreme Court Decision on Corporate Campaign Financing, and Why He Calls the Democrats “Disgusting”