Listening to the global economic news this morning and the mention of corporates and organizations that are pumping billions of dollars to ensure bills are passed in their favour, makes me smirk with contempt at the belief that the man on the street is priority number one.
Money is the bottom line...human life is the casualty of the powerful.

A term I have not heard in a long time and reminded of listening to the new trend that is hitting investors at present...."Tribal psychology"....sell my product and I will ensure to keep u in power.

Politics and economics goes hand in hand.

What puppets we are professing to be well informed and keeping up with what is best for "us".

RB.

As witnesses not of our intentions but of our conduct, we can be true or false, and the hypocrite's crime is that he bears false witness against himself. What makes it so plausible to assume that hypocrisy is the vice of vices is that integrity can indeed exist under the cover of all other vices except this one. Only crime and the criminal, it is true, confront us with the perplexity of radical evil; but only the hypocrite is really rotten to the core.
-Hannah Arendt

TO BE NOBLE OF CHARACTER

...how often does one share in the company of others that dare to profess true intent, honourable. Yet, behind them a string of actions that speak louder than words...the audacity to confidently speak of morals, beliefs and virtues...disapproving of anothers shortcomings...lecturing in principles and applications in life ....behind closed doors privy to those closest, a life...that belies their public display of integrity and respect of truth.
Is such a person aware of how rotten that core of deceit be, or are they so lost in their lies and misrepresentations that it doesn't matter for it has become their truth?

Does one care to indulge in the company of such a person, associate oneself with a personality that knows not important facets of any basis of relationships...one being...loyalty...?...knowing not the nobility of character to be courageously accepting of their own shortcomings...for...nobody was born perfect....maybe a concept hard to grasp...but those of character know that.

RB.

Quote from Daily Maverick:
"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases:
If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it."
Ronald Reagan



so u look my way and want my support
could it be only because u were caught
a change of tactic required
in the hope of not being fired.

an awakening has brought about a change
not only sanity but corruption to derange
it is time people are held accountable
to shoo them out of office acceptable.

how funny that even though we knew
to point out the corrupt was our due
yet somehow we turned a blind eye
to our monies in corrupt officials pockets fly.

what is it about the masses oppressed or not
the freedom to speech be forgot
easily swayed by media and who knows who
the reality of the rot exposed only by a few.

so stoned be those pioneers who say it as it is
in pure luxury the corrupt laugh with bliss
and thank their lucky stars for the dormant mass
for to call them stupid would be crass.

in our desire to believe in the goodness of the elected
in their failure to live up to the promised and expected
a dullness and misapprehension begins to settle
for it looks ahead, lies a real battle.
RB.

...equilibrium, suppression and big brother

In May 2019 Donald Trump calls China out, the ongoing trade war and Huawei gets banned.
On 31 December 2019, WHO was informed of cases of pneumonia of unknown cause in Wuhan City, China. A novel coronavirus was identified as the cause by Chinese authorities on 7 January 2020 and was temporarily named "2019-nCoV".



In April 2021 the Jo Biden administration announces a number of tax proposals to fund new government investments, estimated at about $ 3.5 trillion.
The leaking of the near 12million page "Pandora box" sensation.

the next crisis looming...?

Power of connection: why the Russia--Europe gas trade is strangely untouched by politics
Thane Gustafson argues that fuel pipelines foster stability. By Andrew Moravcsik.
Many people imagine that geopolitics drives the energy trade between Russia and Europe. As the story goes, each side seeks to exploit gas and oil to influence the other in the big game of power politics --- and Russia seems to have the upper hand. The European Union now imports nearly 40% of its natural gas from Russia. For decades, national-security specialists have recommended that Europeans reduce their dependence on these imports at any cost. Most recently, a fierce debate over Nord Stream 2 --- a second Russian pipeline across the Baltic Sea to Germany --- has led US congresspeople to threaten sanctions.



There is NOBODY that is safe from the puppeteers who are the masters annihilators of truth.

"...Written january 2017
Many a time a suppressed people are not aware of their suppression until someone new comes along and spills the apple cart.

But.

In a manner bombastic, unapologetic, hitting at the very core of everything that held true. Facts presented or facts put forward making one question the state of limbo that one had been living in, a state comfortable in its manner of non progression, a state where the majority had become sheep, accepting the say of those in power as amen, even if there was a niggling feeling, a feeling of discontent....everybody settling into, 'better the devil u know than the devil u don't know'.
So much being said for conspiracy theories, so much being said about a new world order, aligning oneself to big brother...fighting for a cause selfish and exclusive at the expense of global peace, at the expense of the man on the street, at the expense of anything that did not fit in with a plan bigger, than peace itself.
And when that person, bombastic, sure, purposeful, stands firm in their belief... a state of confusion settles, a state of fear because all of a sudden, everything that held true is being challenged .
That person is then branded a maverick, a crazy, a loony. The forces of those that feel called out and belittled rallying in their endevour to stop a progression of thought new, progression of success possible, a change of mindset.
To have the courage and find a new equilibrium, for at present there is no equilibrium in this life of ours, can be costly.
And why costly.
Because there will be a lot of scavenging and digging to get back at the truth of things. Exposing much and many for the deceit and lies that have been bestowed upon all. And in all of this scavenging and digging the sturdy, the believing, the progressive, the faithful, the loyal, will toil at the shit created over years and years...and maybe not in their lifetime....but, will hope to create a new road forward, for new generations, where all will be reminded how important an equilibrium for the survival of mankind is.

Donald Trump...is he going to be good for the world?
Vladimir Putin... is he going to be good for the world?

Politics.

Is politics ever fair.
Is politics ever cognisant of the man on the street.

Politics...some of it good for some and some of it bad for some....we are at the mercy of world leaders and there will always be those that will come second to others. and thus the question begs to be asked....is there such a thing as equilibrium.

And to end off on a lighter note...

A good watch
Movie Equilibrium (2002)
written and directed by Kurt Wimmer
starring Christian Bale.


RB.

Philosophy and philosophers


"For man, when perfected, is the best of animals, but, when separated from law and justice, he is the worst of all"
-- Aristotle

And that was sent to me with the following message:

"Came across this on Daily Maverick ... any use to you?"
Yes. Loving the philosophy of all things...have decided to quote the rest:
"...since armed injustice is the more dangerous, and he is equipped at birth with the arms of intelligence and with moral qualities which he may use for the worst ends.
Wherefore, if he have not virtue, he is the most unholy and the most savage of animals, and the most full of lust and gluttony. But justice is the bond of men in states, and
the administration of justice, which is the determination of what is just, is the principle of order in political society."

The ability and the need (?) to strive to be better...trying to reach a state perfect yet not possible.
Man can never reach that ultimate state of all things perfect, for if that were so, it would be like becoming the Divine, beyond reproach.
Society laying down boundaries, laws to be adhered to, giving definition to the existence of man. Really? Or is it the other way round...the fact that man has created those boundaries and laws thus giving definition to them.....adherence giving substance.
Is man nothing without them......purpose less, lost, chaotic....?
The freedom to choose, an innate ability to distinguish between good and bad.....the good always pulling harder than the bad.....or is that being too hopeful.
And yet.....A society lawless attacking the very fibre of harmonious existence....breaking down every possible avenue of connect between people from all walks of life.....does this uphold Aristotle's argument?
There is nothing simple about man and his existence.
Each decade, each century, revealing further complexities which seem to be leading to the eventual annihilation of mankind.

Are we that lustful and gluttonous to be the creators of our own demise.....for in modern society even global powers have very little respect for the administration of Worldly justice....in the seeking to conquer all through divide and rule....the segregation of all under a new world order policed dictatorial.....?

Or is that too cynical a conclusion and one should rather believe the good in all will prevail and give meaning to an existence eternal.

Philosophers.....philosophy...round and round we go.

...

RB.

what is it all about

"The perfect dictatorship would have the appearance of a democracy, but would basically be a prison without walls in which the prisoners would not even dream of escaping. It would essentially be a system of slavery where, through consumption and entertainment, the slaves would love their servitudes. "

quote attributed to Aldous HUXLEY (1894-1963)


How far we have progressed in everything robotic, everything systematic , technical, calculated and cold.

Applying ourselves consistently to create gadgets and the like, that make our lives faster, less intimate, a whirlwind of seeking affirmation and recognition from unknown faces, bots created to attend to the 'mundane', swing opinions and falsely represent popularity so to sway the mindless minions who crave fame of the most superficial sort....a level of shit that will lead to their downfall...most definitely.

The tragedy being, that, even those with their feet firmly planted on the ground, not easily swayed by the falseness of progression cannot help but get caught in societal demands .
Men and women sea sawing on the cusp of sanity...one day up and then the other down.

Families influenced by the fast paced ever changing, demands required to simply survive.

Parents no longer having the time to invest in nurturing and loving the naivety of their kids but, rather, forcing them to grow up fast, without much guidance, and start making a buck sooner rather than later...no matter how.

Children thinking they know it all. Basing their realities and truths on the very short lives they have had on mother earth. Demanding respect, feeling an entitlement to be taken seriously, disrespecting the path of growth through experience turning to social sites for answers and affirmation of their lost ways.

Where is that hug? Where is that hand solid and firm on the shoulder of a young man making his way into adulthood, accompanied by caring wise guiding words of an elder?...and, if such is available, the respect from the young man that, those wise words can safeguard against many an unnecessary wrong turning.
Where is that endearing peck from a mother, on the cheek of young lings...that little kiss that knows to make one giggle, feel the care and love...see the unconditional acceptance of the errs of a child in the eyes of a doting mother?

Today the world is so fucked up. Plastic represents everything...young and old...young thinks they are old and know it all...old unaccepting of the passing of time, botoxified and pulled into a silly surgical eternal grimace of a smile to be witnessed in their actions, playing on level ground with their young lings, in competition with them, giving them too much credit for knowledge not yet gained.

The magic of closeness, the magic of touch surpassed by virtual reality , deceit and lies in the deformation of the natural order of life.

Political correctness an excuse to condone every wrong every lost way...a state of confused rubbish. Why bother about morals and old ways and scruples and claim to be progressive and cultured when political correctness is the answer to all fuck ups...making it right.

What is it all about?

RB.


"There will be, in the next generation or so, a pharmacological method of making people love their servitude, and producing dictatorship without tears, so to speak, producing a kind of painless concentration camp for entire societies, so that people will in fact have their liberties taken away from them, but will rather enjoy it, because they will be distracted from any desire to rebel by propaganda or brainwashing, or brainwashing enhanced by pharmacological methods. And this seems to be the final revolution"

Aldous Huxley

sensuality-salacious?...why?

Why would one consider seductive erotic sensuality as salacious? For if that were the case, then, alarm bells should ring and questions should be asked.

If sensuality should make one feel uncomfortable, making one question ones morality then the need be for re-examination of ones personal understanding of what sensuality is.

Does sensuality not know to bring people closer, make one feel special...wanted, desired in a way that confirms the intellectual understanding and wisdom of what makes one feel truly wanted and needed?

For, sensuality is a sincere form of expressing ones desire of another . Even before physical contact may take place , a telling smile shared, a gentle look in the eye, a feathery touch...a whisper endearing, knows to make the heart flutter, the senses tingle and the desire to give of self and share with the other. All of these are sensual acts, caring to stir the embers of passion

So, before one goes down the road of sexuality, there be a need to understand and accept that, sensuality is a state of self, a state of being.

It is not crass nor salacious but, rather, a compliment shared with another.

An expression complete, an expression inviting.

it knows to open doors rewarding. It knows to lead to a conscious state of being where emotion is raw and real and telling.

It is the ultimate reveal of self.

RB.

THE THING ABOUT EMPATHY..


"Be careful, lest in casting out your demon you exorcise the best thing in you."

Friedrich Nietzsche


Some time back, i had this wonderful conversation, that may have bored most to tears. But, then again, for those who like to be introspective and learning of self, may have enjoyed to pipe in and give their view.

My companion voiced, that he did not think of himself, as a caring person for, he had no desire nor time to dwell on the sufferings of others, that his heart did not pain hearing of a loss or tragedy...there was very little that would move him ...and he found that he felt 'conditioned' to feel sadness rather than be empathetic and understanding of what another may be going through.
It made me think of myself, for he was of the opinion i was a better person than he, as i displayed those characteristics he thought he lacked.
How wrong he was.
Being the analytical person i am, i can sincerely say, it was a long time since i had shared in the company of another person who was more real, more honest, more sharing and giving than he.
For me, it boils down to being frugal about ones emotions, the honesty of the share, understanding the need and what one can do to help and be of help in whatever fashion possible.

The world has been made small by the Internet and various other sources of information share, bombarding us on a daily basis with atrocities and tragedies happening throughout the world, that an overload of information happens and thus a natural shut down of some sort... the mind and body protecting itself against this constant daily attack.
All of a sudden, the empathy that one may have felt for a vaster group of people,has been narrowed down to those closest and dearest, for, one cannot believe or see or trust that ones help or feelings shared, anywhere else, will be noted or appreciated or used in the correct way.
The reasoning being to be as honest and effective in ones share of emotion and help, feeling less effective on a broader platform?

The world of people seems to be at sorts with each other...over everything...political correctness confusing natural boundaries and the rule of nature. No matter what one may say or do...there is no satisfaction or understanding or reasoning to it....some idiot will find wrong in it...and thus...the frugality of ones emotion and help?
...to be a Mother Theresa takes a very special person, born every few hundred years,...that desire to give of self to such an extent that the self only finds satisfaction in total surrender to the people of this world.

In the smaller instance... it is all about the sincerity of the share for me and not the desire of the giver to be acknowledged and praised for what they have done...they care not for the accolade, they care that the receiver is in a better place...they care not to ask in return.

As to the rest of the world and its many philanthropists...not all of us were born to be part of that circle of people...but, charity does begin at home and does know to spill over into the vastness and rest of world...and possibly, that is how one can be part of that philanthropic group.

And thus, i can understand why he thinks he is emotionless and robotic....i know at times i too feel that way...and wonder what is wrong with me. And then i remember the many times, this companion of mine, who thinks he is 'feelingless', has comforted me in my hardships...reminding me, that i too may have had a positive effect on another in my small share.

To know to share without analysing it too much but, allowing the sincerity of that share to speak volumes...the receiver will recognise it for what it is...a gift from the bottom of your 'self'.


RB.

RB, you have a rare talent. Huxley and Orwell would be well pleased with your insight and exposes.

Huxley and Orwell
"Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information. Huxley feared those who would give us so much that we would be reduced to passivity and egoism. Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. ... Huxley feared we would become a trivial culture."....quoted.

Dear JE

I am still in and out of those two...lots to delve in and consider.

Thank u kindly for your huge compliment