We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Thursday, February 4, 2016

There Is No Freedom Without Truth — Paul Craig Roberts

Click here to access article by Paul Craig Roberts from his blog. 

This traditional conservative, former member of the Reagan administration, and critic of the current neoliberal capitalist ruling class that now controls our country and much of the world, makes a passionate plea for Americans to wake-up and search for the truth. 

I totally agree with his plea. You see, one value stuck with me from my religious training: "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (2 John 1:4-6, King James version of the bible). While I no longer believe that the truth will precisely make you free--it often sickens you--it does enable you to live an authentic existence which in itself is liberating. 

Unfortunately Roberts has not succeeded in knowing all or most of the truth, but I heartily support his endeavor. He is definitely a decent and healthy human being. But most others of his class are not. At this point in his journey to know the truth, he is targeting only the "military-industrial complex". He does not see the system that enables this section or class in society to function the way they do. He does not see that the system has created a tiny class of people who are engaging in monstrous crimes against other classes and against working people most everywhere in the world.  The people in this class, with the exception of few people like Roberts, are often sociopaths and addicts--hopelessly addicted to the drugs of power and wealth that is delivered by their system of capitalism. Their addictions cause them to engage in all kinds of criminal behavior, and often on a massive scale. In this article Roberts provides many of the details of their compulsive lying and deceptions while committing these crimes, and their smearing of dissenters.