100. On the Nature of Propagation and Negation of Power:
An Argument might be advanced concerning a correlation between many social ills and the repressed killing instinct of the human animal. Most never even kill their own meat. Meat is primal. Meat is both sign and symbol of prosperity. The clever might exploit the readily available supply, thus bolstering claims of economic strength. The absence of meat might even cause the population to revolt. The Soviet Union may have expired by discontent over shortages. Meat would not prove least. On the other hand, an over-abundance may be regarded as a sign of decadence. Consumers do not generally appreciate the consequence, significance and natural beauty of the food chain. Reactionary vegetarian is an un-natural response to this anti-natural situation. Meat is not the problem, rather its easy availability to a sedentary populace. Vegan anti-meat propaganda is almost nihilistic. These people have turned their backs on nature. Few could support their diet without the benefits of industrial agriculture and transportation networks. The decision against eating meat is appropriate for dietary concerns, or among those who can kill. Our divorce from nature has left this society complacent. The machine provides -- halting it would mean the death of most. Re-adaption is simple, especially with well made survival equipment. Every person should experience the wilderness in all its glory. A few serious camping expeditions could offset a century of conditioning. The alternative might someday prove a self-imposed death sentence. One need not fall prey to circumstances. Simply do not accept the present as permanent. Most real advances occur for those not static. Stagnation is a chosen reality. Stopping short is a comfortable cheat -- security is fleeting. In theory, social mechanisms can force change, but fundamental notions are more resistant. Perception may be manipulated and modified by aforementioned propaganda techniques. The herd desires the familiar, while cosmetic change has been packaged beyond its reality. Real change could be downplayed using reverse mechanisms. In a society where image rules, the power belongs to those controlling perception. Equality and freedom are examples. Their antithesis is often used as a false comparison. Fear has been capitalized for purposes of division, and conquest. The herd mentality certainly facilitates the ease (note again the complete lack of ethics in a moral society). Lies are easily swallowed, but not the individual. Even as entertainment would have us believe the opposite, individual initiative beyond the economic is discouraged. The nation and herd must be sacrificed for self and species. The sustaining myths and lies, such as progress, exist only for those choosing to believe. None exist without reason. The social order supports these values, but may be negated at the source. The big lie is different than the sum of its parts. No real secrets have been divulged here. Imposed perception may evaporate like mist under a hot desert sun. Their exposure blunt or negates their effects. Those still clinging deserve their fate as mutton. A choice has been made to live within lies. Ethical constraints are moot: give them the fate over which they crave. Food is food. One must realize the danger and utility represented by those insistent on remaining fodder. These sort drag anything greater down. Their interests may be negated by a simple act of will. Identical conclusions are valid when no bound by fear. Respect will follow, making all battles less bloody. Violent struggle will never end in a species of carnivores, but can be minimized. The concept of nations is drenched in blood, and deserves toppling. Extinction is the only destination on that dead end road. Only a fool believes in divine inspiration. Drive must come from within. Rejecting state and leaving the herd offers life. One may walk through walls, even while appearing to respect those boundaries imposed by force. Tearing them down will only result in incarceration or execution. Rebellion needs a revaluation. Those days are over. Many obstacles cease their importance by refusing to acknowledge their existence. Power may be revoked more sublimely in the information age. Armed struggle is unnecessary and unneeded. Troops in the streets are bad for business. One must accept the passing of rebellion, or be stomped into dirt. Rebels are been broken and made tools, or left rotting. Futile gestures are no substitute for freedom. Existence is possible beyond fear. Many chains will simply disappear, leaving only skeletal remains. These may be toppled into a pile of bones. The real battles are now fought on the edge of perception for the mind. Vulnerability may exist under closer inspections. Altering mass perception could even bring around a mitigated collapse. The power elite does not even control its own machine or even the direction. Technique has superseded control. Many fabricated illusions would portray otherwise. Stop marching in line. The machine is unprepared to deal with the inherently inefficient. Let it finally know fear. A new machine might arise from the ashes of the old, but that will give some purpose for another fight. Authority warrants constant challenges, even after it breaks. The best approach is negation. Turn outward by turning inward.
101. On Cognition and Economics:
Cognition concerns the perception of the internal and external world. Accordingly, depression is regarded largely a matter of (falsely) negative perception. Hence, overcoming its effects are accomplished by replacing negative with positive perceptions and notions. Illogical inconsistencies wither in the light of reason. Obstacles are challenges, rather than overwhelming impossibilities. This view can be helpful. However, cognition has been exploited by others than clinical psychologists, namely propagandists and economists. By comparison, propaganda actions are almost esoteric compared with economic applications. The reality concerning money cannot be ignored. Worldwide class struggle has been over the base premise of haves v. have nots, where currency defines the situation. The United States, despite the racial masquerade, is no exception. Economics are always the heart of these conflicts. Cheap labor has always been desired by ruling capital. Albeit guided, the lower echelons fight over the pecking order for the scraps tossed from above. Once brute measures, including slavery and indentured servitude, were deemed socially unacceptable throughout the industrialized world, wages became the means for controlling labor. Early trade unions were formed to deal with capital on behalf of the workers, which essentially legitimized the wage system. In the United States, the struggle eased somewhat with the outbreak of World War II. Available jobs exceeded supply. Unions agreed to forego strikes. The result has been a steady decline in the power of unions after the war, and continues to the present. This could only be accomplished by high levels of economic prosperity. The price was debt. War can prove an economic bounty, but a cold war leaves a huge surplus in weapons. These products were built never to be used, and cannot be sold. Once their justification ceased, the weapons industry was forced to downsize. The effects are far reaching. The lower-paid service economy will not absorb the difference. Hence, more debt is required to maintain stability. Credit has become the rule, rather than the exception, which only prolongs the situation. Meanwhile, the wealthy continue to grow richer, while the rest stagnate. This short-sighted policy could eventually prove disastrous. Consumerist culture is regarded eternal, but the bill will someday come due. Considering interest, the final price will be high, and may collapse the status quo. An economic highwire act will be necessary to prolong timing, but eventually entropy will reign. Static solutions will ensure a slow downward spiral into the murk of defunct bastard-capitalism. Once the specter of nuclear war was most menacing. Now economic chaos and environmental degradation have taken its place. The quick death has been replaced by the slow. The solutions required must move beyond the cogitative.
World population levels are rising at an alarming rate which threatens ecologic devastation. Unfortunately, outdated religious moral decrees ensure the situation will not change except for developed countries[2] and China. The one child policy approach may prove a costly victory, like most attempts at artificially regulating human behavior. Due to a traditionally patriarchal culture, Chinese value male children over female, which are aborted and even killed in the present scheme. The proportions will have deep social implications in another generation. The resultant unrest generated will occur on a scale unseen. Ultra-rational solutions are not respected by nature, or often culture.
Consumptive patterns and expectations will require reductions throughout the economic social spectrums. More mouths will require less for everyone. Future generations are already beginning to feel the bite, and should not expect the same levels enjoyed by their elders. The only mitigation attempted has been through decadent entertainment, which produces nothing worthwhile, or half-assed environmental measures. Recycling only encourages the same consumptive patterns including those products which cannot be reused indefinitely. Hard choices are avoided wherever possible. Generally, the only benefit being people merely feel better about their own parasitic status. A slender leach is still a leach. Illusion has become life. Paper products deteriorate. Metal corrodes. Civilizations fall. Diversions will not change anything, only drag out the consequences. Perhaps, the wheels of progress need derailing...
Society requires massive restructuring, towards more communalism and less unity. The Israeli Kibbutz provides an excellent example for blunting population pressure by eliminating redundant production. Trade is even stimulated by each group producing different complimentary necessities, raw materials and other goods. Group efforts can do quite well economically, without every separate household employing the exact same means. Food waste may be reduced, and the remainder composted for the communal farm. Communication systems have made isolation more practicable. This trend needs to be overcome, lest we suffocate under our own wastes. The anti-natural will not be respected by nature.
Global transportation networks need better engineering to reduce energy dependance and pollution. Increased internal combustion engine efficiency is only a step. Driving can only be discouraged by practical alternatives. Passenger rail usage has almost disappeared in the western United States. The automobile culture has become a major social subgroup. Cars suck away all life. Alternative schemes require serious implementation, not just feel good measures. Cleaner energy sources can replace fossil fuels, but big money would probably see such plans scraped. However, the 1992 Energy Policy Act (EPACT) does provide a 1.5 cent per kilowatt-hour generated subsidy for wind generated utilities, making the latest technology cost competitive. This shows some progress, but requires expansion. The bottom line could no longer resist the pressure. Oil interests will prove far more difficult, but must be superseded. Electric cars need to be built with the same power output. Technological innovation will prove beneficial for someone. The myth of progress is not all bad. The time frame will determine success.
Essentially the changes required for future survival will need to occur with a speed and scope hitherto unseen. The resistance will be basic social inertia on the part of those losing most. Propagandists will attempt to further maintain the static-state demanded by the elite. Information campaigns fail due to misplaced faith regarding reason. Most pay more attention to glitter, than doom-sayers who piss and moan. Hence, a band-aide attempts to heal a gaping chest wound. The underdog is denigrated, therefore the same tools of propaganda must be utilized to ensure respect by creating the cognitive perception of equal strength. The establishment interests will be forced to tread lightly, lest they discredit their own methods. Figures may be manipulated to say anything. Truth means nothing in this arena. The rules have been established and may not be bucked by any opposition. Propaganda is too entrenched. Economics is too accepted. People will only listen to those things agreeable with prior conditioning. The information age is simply a flood of meaningless data, including so-called facts. Manipulate, exploit or die are the only alternatives. Ideals mean nothing, except death when applied. One must walk the path of the mainstream to destroy or divert its course. Cognition of one sort needs replacement with that of another, which affirms life. The realization is a matter of perception. The rational may always be struck down with the irrational. Negation may be negated with negation; nothing must be fought with nothing.
[2] Whose population levels generally increase due to high immigration levels from the developing world.
102. Concerning the religious right:
"One should not go to church who wants to breath pure air."
-Friedrich Nietzsche
The opposition periodically issues warnings concerning the perceived rise of religious right influence over society. Calls have been heard to combat the grass roots campaign aimed at dominating public policy, especially at the school board level. A nausea felt regarding outdated morality is understandable. However, conventional opposition usually draws more attention than could otherwise be managed by a coalition of church groups. In addition, the opposition also has an agenda of its own, often holding the same fascist tendencies in a different guise. Both camps are equally repulsive. In warfare, a battle may be analogous to chess, but this struggle against all forms of oppression will be fought in a less tangible manner. The information-based culture effectively excludes anything more radical than the democratic party (which should have died in 1968). These camps will be cast as participants and even defenders of the American value system (whatever that means). These sort gain much power from perceived support. Removing or dulling that perception can effectively negate much built upon fear, and distortions. Power and influence rely upon acceptance -- pro or con. Ignoring the agenda of the religious right may prove more suitable than supporting an opposite, possibly worse cause. Once robbed of rating potentials, the leaders will slither off to greener pastures worth ignoring. This discussion will present a strategy towards those ends, including a partial proof of its effectiveness. Minimal effort need be expended by an indirect approach. Both the religious right and opportunistic counter-movements may both be dealt the same. A wise utilization of available resources is preferable to mass squandering which only prove to strengthen their targets. The best opposition may be none at all.
The religious right is primarily concerned with promoting a relatively narrow Judeo-Christian morality. These people are simply responding to a decaying social structure by attempting its idealistic reversal. The leaders are conscious of their declining importance and esteem. Their followers' insipid faith has blinded their vision, allowing easy political exploitation. Their program seems aimed primarily towards suppression and repressing individual rights and liberties, acceptable according to the standards of their herd mentality. This reactionary backlash against decadence is understandable, but unwittingly creates more. Anything disliked by these sort is viewed favorably. Therefore, its appearance and strength is proportional to its actual undermining, and eventual demise. The strong and healthy would feel no need for such reactions. The religious right only invites ridicule directed towards its stance. Corrupt and perverse figureheads further hurt the movement by their inability to practice what they preach. Many possible sympathizers are simply turned off. Censorship brings the material to attention, thereby further weakening their position. Controversy sells. The religious right has embraced capitalism, and will not succeed by its mechanisms. Morality undermines itself. The opposition only makes the religious right stronger, unlike its own action, by providing an anti-node to rally against. Aggressive stances can always be manipulated and exploited for maximum advantage. Rather, simply ignore the hype and concentrate on the localized remainder. Power is perception. Controversy fuels, whereas its disappearance may provide partial negation. Corporate media must still make a profit, thus directing free publicity elsewhere. An ephemeral public attention span will sometimes work to advantage in this manner.
The power base claimed by the religious right is also largely a matter of media perception. Pro-religious right elected officials will only move when confident of public support i.e. the perceived proportion. The true power exists with monied interests (also maintained by perception). Hitler was backed by business interests. The religious right is just another decadent safety-valve. Multi-national power would not allow their free reign. It would be bad for business. The political spectacle does not effect many demands placed by efficiency. The exceptions prove the general. The religious right has been duped. Morality means nothing compared to profits. The religious right will fall like a house of cards at the hands of big business. Their tolerance is proportional to the movement's irrelevance. Once advertising dollars dry up for religious programming, the FCC will sell the airspace to the highest bidder. Meanwhile, change the dial. The remainder will be just another weak dissident faction. This strategy might prove worthwhile against others as well.
In conclusion, the religious right can be stopped. The marketplace requires the coin of controversy, and will look elsewhere for info-tainment. The real issue are worth concentrating effort towards, rather than those of ignorant rabble. Fanaticism is difficult to sustain. Its fate is extinction. Let them die quietly.
103. Could the human tendency toward war be attributable, not to our carnivorous nature, but rather the herbivorous? Popular sentiment might espouse the opposite, but such notions are often incorrect, incomplete or even delusional. Aggressive herd animals will hold optimal ground, whereas social carnivores will move with the game supply. Agriculture is the civilized cultivation of the herbivorous instinct; hence territory and the necessity of conflict over resources, like water and soil. The human animal may have removed itself dangerously from its roots as hunter-gatherers. Our cultural evolution has possibly halted our physical. Our future descendants may become degenerate from ignoring the natural. The human species is forgetting the skills for living. Outer space is a fantasy. Baring visitation of extraterrestrials -- a new face of the old savior lie -- faster-than-light travel is impossible and unknowable according to fundamental physical laws. One would need to travel backwards in time to satisfy causal relations. Slow speed space exploration and colonization is more realistic, but the time frame would be thousands of years for travel beyond the solar system. The earth would still be necessary for base support. That far future might never arrive in time -- another decadent risk. Fiction is not reality. The fault lies not in dreams or dreamers, but culturally pervasive notions which skew perspective. Widespread acceptance has been conditioned and cultivated for a reason. Entertainment has other purposes, besides docile preoccupation. Even the elite are not immune, simply better educated and informed. The cycle continues for the supposed good of the herd, but not even the herd benefits over the long term. Shortsightedness can be corrected. Morality is a prime example, being absolute behavior codification at the expense of everything else. Morality even undermines those drives seeking the betterment of self. Ethics are indeed a sad joke. The herd mentality smooths the mean, hence prevailing over starvation and disease. Technology is a development of human evolution. Its emphasis has become disproportionate, and hence anti-natural. Humanity needs to move beyond and over. The herd has now outlived its usefulness. The choice is its maintenance or stagnation and eventual death. Cultural inertia may only be overcome by hard work on real problems. Fiction represents a pleasant diversion, not life. The end reward may prove incalculable. A clear choice must be made to move beyond and over. The ashes and ruins of the old may still hold some promise, but the dead weight will be eliminated by its inability to cope. So be it. The remainder will reap the spoils. The machine is doomed. The individual must live to piss on the graves of the state and herd. One need do precisely nothing to see those ends. Ideologies will wither unto meaning nothing. Power will rest in the hands of those who have taken it for the self. Dominating others won't even be worth the trouble. Economics will be smashed to dust. Their symbolism will not stand against nature. Entropy is the only true savior. The lies of neither the government, nor the population will be believed. Their empty shells will collapse inward. Challenges will arise requiring other than simply reacting like a puppet with no strings. This decadent society deserves to die by the logic of its own devices. The time has come for something else. Tools exist for its direction or devastation. The irony is both amusing and sad. The human race deserves better.
104. On Slogan-Throwers and Light-Weight Intellectuals
The so-called underground offers little in the way of substantive change or ideas by continuing to parrot the platitudes of the 1960s and beliefs of the dead. All it amounts to is lamenting those things which never were nor will ever be. The constant blabber is nothing more than annoying whines from the spoiled children of the elite. It fools nobody, and results in closed minds toward even anything vaguely associated. The working class does not respect their chatter because nothing said warrants it. In this scene, where entire philosophies may be expressed exactly on a bumper sticker, the biggest mouths are given the most status. These types realize something is wrong, but have not the ability to fathom deeper. They attribute greed as a motivator for corporate behavior to a society which has passed well beyond such things. They read, but do not think. They believe fashion means something but can never articulate it. Except for stopping bullets, this kind is worthless. However, it does not mean certain ideas advocated, in spite of the messenger, are wrong. Rather their final solutions are useless and best ignored. Their own label, progressive, being based on a cultural myth, proves the point. The opposition can effect a fundamental transformation of society and culture, but not in the manner advocated by stupid slogan-throwers and idiot intellectuals. Their rationales mean nothing. Perhaps the best guide is the opposite of anything these parasites champion, especially peace...
105. Beyond Maximum Advantage:
Maximum Advantage may be superceded. Cultural advancement need not halt at such baseness. A higher branch may be found, which stresses those things which really matter, namely the survival of the human species. Anyone believing humans will kill the Earth before its natural defenses kill us is a fool. If one actually believes in fighting the current system before it dooms us all, it will become necessary to fight fire with fire. Passive Civil Disobedience is not respected in a moral scheme which only respects direct results. The mediocrity which pervades this entire society will not devise any creative and radical solutions to the problems facing the world in the 21st Century. It will die before it adapts. A time is coming where violent action will be necessary to halt the downward spiral into extinction. Mitigation may avert civil war. The response must utilize the tools and tactics afforded by exploitation for Maximum Advantage in all things. Nothing else will suffice. So be it. The opportunist and opponent had best take heed and understand their doom is the same.
1995 - January 1, 2001
Wednesday, November 24, 2004
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Maximum Advantage: Inevitable Deductions 97-99
97. More On The Herd:
The herd mentality manifests itself on many levels and extremes. Mass consciousness is a natural consequence of human social organization which provides the glue for social cohesion. A certain sentimentality is sometimes expressed regarding the removal of the human animal from nature. Narcissists are always sentimental. Certain types find it difficult to fathom the instinct for civilization and the resultant detachment from the natural. No good rationale exists for it. Perhaps one should realize life is not always sensible. Instinctual behavior and social mutations need not be rational. Human drives certainly increase population levels. A tropical animal capable of quickly adapting to live and flourish in all climatic zones certainly has numerous survival traits. Survival of the fittest does apply to groups at the expense of parts. How often in nature does the individual matter? The immediate group takes precedence over more abstract identifications. Nation trumps class. Controlling interests do not benefit by class solidarity. Systemic interests will be promoted above that of the international working classes, whom are isolated from each other by geography and language. The proletariat is generally not well traveled, therefore more susceptible to divisive nationalistic propaganda. How many U.S. factory workers ever even saw a real live Russian during the Cold War? Their only imagery came from de-humanizing propaganda which portrayed the enemy as something alien. It is only natural for fear and hatred to develop when facing the unknown. Perhaps a little of the anti-natural is not a bad thing. Rising above allows us to see above obvious differences exploited for maximum advantage, and at least, allows us to conceive of things like freewill. Rarefied air causes brain damage. Tolerance to certain poisons may be developed over time and even prove beneficial, whereas in continual high dosages it destroys. True wisdom is knowing when to voluntarily step away from the brink. A certain fraction may alter course through example by stopping and proclaiming "enough." Some will continue regardless, necessitating that these types be dealt with in an appropriate (if not necessarily pretty) manner. Solutions are not always aesthetic. Branding an entire group for persecution, when many of its constituents might actually prove solid supporters, is the result of anti-natural stupidity, like alcohol poisoning. Final solutions are for failures and those doomed for it. The time has come to abandon the relics of past ages and understand that classical concepts such as the proletariat and the bourgeoisie do not apply to the United States. Only three classes exist: those who work, the poverty class (which cannot work), and the executive class (which does not work). Only one is the real enemy. Mobility between the other two is all too common for these groups to be at odds with one another. Whether originating with capitalists or Marxists, divide and conquer should be resisted. Opportunists and opponents should never forget it.
98. Thought is not necessarily thinking.
99. On Rigidity
Absolute consistency is stagnant and anti-natural. The world is not constant. Nothing is permanent. Reality depends upon position and time. Youth is not age. Experience is not enthusiasm. Some possibilities are excluded while others are ruled out. Very little reduces to unity. Some compromises are necessary whereas others are only illusory or the result of error. An ideal is regarded but a principle might be best held firm. An incorrect conclusion or action does not imply a correct alternative. Workability and goals sometimes conflict and require modification. Simplistic considerations are narrowly confined by exclusion. A million possible paths will not fit on a single course. Only tools try. Success does not respect idiotic attempts to alter the world, rather riding and guiding events. It cannot be any other way and only the delusional believe differently. One must constantly examine and possibly re-evaluate all values, yet still hold uncompromising to certain beliefs over other alternatives when questions concerning correctness do not apply. Unlike the straight jackets called ideals, ideas often work that way. One must know when and where to bend. The 21st Century will prove this assertion...
The herd mentality manifests itself on many levels and extremes. Mass consciousness is a natural consequence of human social organization which provides the glue for social cohesion. A certain sentimentality is sometimes expressed regarding the removal of the human animal from nature. Narcissists are always sentimental. Certain types find it difficult to fathom the instinct for civilization and the resultant detachment from the natural. No good rationale exists for it. Perhaps one should realize life is not always sensible. Instinctual behavior and social mutations need not be rational. Human drives certainly increase population levels. A tropical animal capable of quickly adapting to live and flourish in all climatic zones certainly has numerous survival traits. Survival of the fittest does apply to groups at the expense of parts. How often in nature does the individual matter? The immediate group takes precedence over more abstract identifications. Nation trumps class. Controlling interests do not benefit by class solidarity. Systemic interests will be promoted above that of the international working classes, whom are isolated from each other by geography and language. The proletariat is generally not well traveled, therefore more susceptible to divisive nationalistic propaganda. How many U.S. factory workers ever even saw a real live Russian during the Cold War? Their only imagery came from de-humanizing propaganda which portrayed the enemy as something alien. It is only natural for fear and hatred to develop when facing the unknown. Perhaps a little of the anti-natural is not a bad thing. Rising above allows us to see above obvious differences exploited for maximum advantage, and at least, allows us to conceive of things like freewill. Rarefied air causes brain damage. Tolerance to certain poisons may be developed over time and even prove beneficial, whereas in continual high dosages it destroys. True wisdom is knowing when to voluntarily step away from the brink. A certain fraction may alter course through example by stopping and proclaiming "enough." Some will continue regardless, necessitating that these types be dealt with in an appropriate (if not necessarily pretty) manner. Solutions are not always aesthetic. Branding an entire group for persecution, when many of its constituents might actually prove solid supporters, is the result of anti-natural stupidity, like alcohol poisoning. Final solutions are for failures and those doomed for it. The time has come to abandon the relics of past ages and understand that classical concepts such as the proletariat and the bourgeoisie do not apply to the United States. Only three classes exist: those who work, the poverty class (which cannot work), and the executive class (which does not work). Only one is the real enemy. Mobility between the other two is all too common for these groups to be at odds with one another. Whether originating with capitalists or Marxists, divide and conquer should be resisted. Opportunists and opponents should never forget it.
98. Thought is not necessarily thinking.
99. On Rigidity
Absolute consistency is stagnant and anti-natural. The world is not constant. Nothing is permanent. Reality depends upon position and time. Youth is not age. Experience is not enthusiasm. Some possibilities are excluded while others are ruled out. Very little reduces to unity. Some compromises are necessary whereas others are only illusory or the result of error. An ideal is regarded but a principle might be best held firm. An incorrect conclusion or action does not imply a correct alternative. Workability and goals sometimes conflict and require modification. Simplistic considerations are narrowly confined by exclusion. A million possible paths will not fit on a single course. Only tools try. Success does not respect idiotic attempts to alter the world, rather riding and guiding events. It cannot be any other way and only the delusional believe differently. One must constantly examine and possibly re-evaluate all values, yet still hold uncompromising to certain beliefs over other alternatives when questions concerning correctness do not apply. Unlike the straight jackets called ideals, ideas often work that way. One must know when and where to bend. The 21st Century will prove this assertion...
Monday, November 22, 2004
Maximum Advantage: Inevitable Deductions 86-96
86. On Popular Culture
Popular culture must be influenced if not outright controlled for maximum advantage. Rogue icons have a disproportionate influence which may legitimize appositional philosophies and lifestyles. The mass media creates and breaks stars. Art, like any other commodity, is co-opted and the artist soon follows one way or another. Money corrupts everything. Anti-establishment sentiments may be espoused but not meant. Example is everything. Only foolish kids believe the words which adulthood will show to be a sham and a scam, therefore leading to the disillusionment of the fold. What other options are there? Negation is really quite simple, and it doesn't involve empty slogans...
87. On Intellectual Decline
i. Truly free thinkers have always proven a thorn in the side of power structures. No opportunist likes to be questioned. New ideas are dangerous by their potential to disrupt, rather than modify, the established order. Radical change is inherently inefficient. Re-direction and diversion are necessary to keep strong profound impulses diluted and weak. True discovery must be minimized while appearing to be constant in the form of technological development. Social stagnation is masked by technical progress. The intelligencia must be managed and focused on the continual drive for efficiency, called progress. All roots still lie in the long dead 1800s. Reality has changed whereas the ideas have stayed static. The opposition has neutralized itself. Efficiency demands specialization and compartmentalization. The intelligencia is weakened by isolation from all but direct peers. The exchange of ideas is inhibited. In addition, efficiency hampers analysis and investigation via time and financial constraints. Grant money must show relatively quick results or funding is risked. Hence, only a general personality mold or archetype is suited and suitable for modern academic life. Those believing in action will simply find themselves unable to tolerate the situation and will find other occupations. Therefore, no appositional philosophies have been developed because the "doers" have been eliminated from intellectual circles. Conversely, the "doers" lack foundation and will accomplish less than they might otherwise. The threat has been negated.
ii. The post-modern "intellectual" community would protest the above analysis, which essentially verifies the assertion concerning their impotence. Of course, their dissent is not really worth hearing or even seriously regarded except for its stunting present and future development. Their babble precludes any serious social advancement and hence promotes the static quo. Their impact means nothing because they say nothing. These idiots are so clueless, they may be easily fooled by simply sounding educated. Physicist Alan Sokal's practical joke on the editors of a "respected" sociological journal would have been impossible otherwise. Their condemnation for his actions further justify that little prank. Granted, the scientific community also suffers from the problems resultant from specialization, but at least the foundation is sound. The babble of worthless post-modern "intellectuals" will not even warrant an historical footnote. They have accomplished nothing and will be forgotten for it. Post-modern "intellectuals" are the most useless parasites ever to infect culture and deserve a place against a wall for all the wrong reasons...
88. In the information age, facts provide ample opportunities for emotional manipulation. The technological society favors those utilizing such tactics and strategies, therefore all others find it necessary to follow suite down the path of least resistance. Sympathy is easy to evoke from those lacking empathy...
89. The only rights espoused by the verbal worlds associated with consumerism are economic, like the freedom to exploit...
90. As maintained by Ellul, politics is mainly an illusion. Although a politician could go against the grain, the result will generally amount to little. "Do-nothings" are seldom re-elected. Bringing home the bacon requires cooperating with the system. Granted, some political types, notably war heroes, enjoy more latitude, but will only rail against corruption rather than against the system for which they fought. Sensitive to anger, the war hero-politician is perhaps more capable of sensing the bubbling discontent and seething resentment. Unfortunately, he mistakes it as directed against the decline rather than the fall, and therefore advocates systemic remedies rather than any fundamental change. It is only a matter of time before this situation explodes...
91. Self-awareness may be the most sublime pathos.
92. A Dialog:
"Do you have any moral sentiments?"
"No."
"But you condemn the holocaust [pick which one]."
"I see nothing advantageous in that kind of thing." Glares at newscaster. "Kind of like inbreeding."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing."
"What do you mean nothing?"
"I'll never tell..."
"That's not very cooperative."
"Fine. Isn't morality frequently used as justification for genocide? Morality is a disease."
"Not inherently. Moral instincts may be warped from their intent by the unscrupulous."
"I only care about atrocities..."
93. An Example of Maximum Advantage:
Recently [pre-911], under the Freedom of Information act, the CIA was forced to disclose its annual budget. Who cares? The real question is how much the NSA spends...
94. Maximum Advantage dilutes strong sentiments...
95. If alienation is a normal response to civilization and society, is it still alienation?
96. Sometimes entire generations of knowledge may require discarding to arrive at fresh truths. How many?
Popular culture must be influenced if not outright controlled for maximum advantage. Rogue icons have a disproportionate influence which may legitimize appositional philosophies and lifestyles. The mass media creates and breaks stars. Art, like any other commodity, is co-opted and the artist soon follows one way or another. Money corrupts everything. Anti-establishment sentiments may be espoused but not meant. Example is everything. Only foolish kids believe the words which adulthood will show to be a sham and a scam, therefore leading to the disillusionment of the fold. What other options are there? Negation is really quite simple, and it doesn't involve empty slogans...
87. On Intellectual Decline
i. Truly free thinkers have always proven a thorn in the side of power structures. No opportunist likes to be questioned. New ideas are dangerous by their potential to disrupt, rather than modify, the established order. Radical change is inherently inefficient. Re-direction and diversion are necessary to keep strong profound impulses diluted and weak. True discovery must be minimized while appearing to be constant in the form of technological development. Social stagnation is masked by technical progress. The intelligencia must be managed and focused on the continual drive for efficiency, called progress. All roots still lie in the long dead 1800s. Reality has changed whereas the ideas have stayed static. The opposition has neutralized itself. Efficiency demands specialization and compartmentalization. The intelligencia is weakened by isolation from all but direct peers. The exchange of ideas is inhibited. In addition, efficiency hampers analysis and investigation via time and financial constraints. Grant money must show relatively quick results or funding is risked. Hence, only a general personality mold or archetype is suited and suitable for modern academic life. Those believing in action will simply find themselves unable to tolerate the situation and will find other occupations. Therefore, no appositional philosophies have been developed because the "doers" have been eliminated from intellectual circles. Conversely, the "doers" lack foundation and will accomplish less than they might otherwise. The threat has been negated.
ii. The post-modern "intellectual" community would protest the above analysis, which essentially verifies the assertion concerning their impotence. Of course, their dissent is not really worth hearing or even seriously regarded except for its stunting present and future development. Their babble precludes any serious social advancement and hence promotes the static quo. Their impact means nothing because they say nothing. These idiots are so clueless, they may be easily fooled by simply sounding educated. Physicist Alan Sokal's practical joke on the editors of a "respected" sociological journal would have been impossible otherwise. Their condemnation for his actions further justify that little prank. Granted, the scientific community also suffers from the problems resultant from specialization, but at least the foundation is sound. The babble of worthless post-modern "intellectuals" will not even warrant an historical footnote. They have accomplished nothing and will be forgotten for it. Post-modern "intellectuals" are the most useless parasites ever to infect culture and deserve a place against a wall for all the wrong reasons...
88. In the information age, facts provide ample opportunities for emotional manipulation. The technological society favors those utilizing such tactics and strategies, therefore all others find it necessary to follow suite down the path of least resistance. Sympathy is easy to evoke from those lacking empathy...
89. The only rights espoused by the verbal worlds associated with consumerism are economic, like the freedom to exploit...
90. As maintained by Ellul, politics is mainly an illusion. Although a politician could go against the grain, the result will generally amount to little. "Do-nothings" are seldom re-elected. Bringing home the bacon requires cooperating with the system. Granted, some political types, notably war heroes, enjoy more latitude, but will only rail against corruption rather than against the system for which they fought. Sensitive to anger, the war hero-politician is perhaps more capable of sensing the bubbling discontent and seething resentment. Unfortunately, he mistakes it as directed against the decline rather than the fall, and therefore advocates systemic remedies rather than any fundamental change. It is only a matter of time before this situation explodes...
91. Self-awareness may be the most sublime pathos.
92. A Dialog:
"Do you have any moral sentiments?"
"No."
"But you condemn the holocaust [pick which one]."
"I see nothing advantageous in that kind of thing." Glares at newscaster. "Kind of like inbreeding."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing."
"What do you mean nothing?"
"I'll never tell..."
"That's not very cooperative."
"Fine. Isn't morality frequently used as justification for genocide? Morality is a disease."
"Not inherently. Moral instincts may be warped from their intent by the unscrupulous."
"I only care about atrocities..."
93. An Example of Maximum Advantage:
Recently [pre-911], under the Freedom of Information act, the CIA was forced to disclose its annual budget. Who cares? The real question is how much the NSA spends...
94. Maximum Advantage dilutes strong sentiments...
95. If alienation is a normal response to civilization and society, is it still alienation?
96. Sometimes entire generations of knowledge may require discarding to arrive at fresh truths. How many?
Sunday, November 21, 2004
Maximum Advantage: Inevitable Deductions 51-85
51. Maximum Advantage is managed repression over suppression...
52. Maximum Advantage is slow decay...
53. Maximum Advantage normalizes...
54. Maximum Advantage is selective socialism for the elites only...
55. Maximum Advantage is the eternal present...
56. Maximum Advantage is principles over the actual...
57. Maximum Advantage is variety over choice...
58. Maximum Advantage is the creation of antipodes...
59. Maximum Advantage is the mean over the median over the mode, and a crappy public education system which ensures few understand what these terms signify...
60. Maximum Advantage is bureaucracy and plutocracy...
61. Maximum Advantage is motion without mobility...
62. Maximum Advantage is the status quo...
63. Maximum Advantage is mechanism...
64. Maximum Advantage is ultra-pragmatic...
65. Maximum Advantage is specification and specialization over generalization...
66. Maximum Advantage is risk assessment and acceptable risk...
67. Maximum Advantage is slogans over substance...
68. Maximum Advantage is crushing defeat through incremental means...
69. Maximum Advantage is colorful blandness...
70. Maximum Advantage is race over class in all things...
71. Maximum Advantage is legitimacy and smooth power transitions...
72. Maximum Advantage is perfection in imperfection...
73. Maximum Advantage is arrogance in action with a humble face...
74. Maximum Advantage is a trigger...
75. Maximum Advantage discredits dissent through imagery over issues...
76. Maximum Advantage allows everything provided it is nothing...
77. Maximum Advantage is justification through cultivated myths like progress...
78. Maximum Advantage is the path of least resistance contrary to appearances...
79. Maximum Advantage extends but never really grows...
80. Maximum Advantage covers or shields all bases if unequally...
81. Maximum Advantage exploits the herd mentality while never acknowledging it...
82. Maximum Advantage loves gullibility...
83. Maximum Advantage is a psychology...
84. Maximum Advantage recognizes ignorance and ignore have the same root words...
85. Maximum Advantage is vicarious victimization...
52. Maximum Advantage is slow decay...
53. Maximum Advantage normalizes...
54. Maximum Advantage is selective socialism for the elites only...
55. Maximum Advantage is the eternal present...
56. Maximum Advantage is principles over the actual...
57. Maximum Advantage is variety over choice...
58. Maximum Advantage is the creation of antipodes...
59. Maximum Advantage is the mean over the median over the mode, and a crappy public education system which ensures few understand what these terms signify...
60. Maximum Advantage is bureaucracy and plutocracy...
61. Maximum Advantage is motion without mobility...
62. Maximum Advantage is the status quo...
63. Maximum Advantage is mechanism...
64. Maximum Advantage is ultra-pragmatic...
65. Maximum Advantage is specification and specialization over generalization...
66. Maximum Advantage is risk assessment and acceptable risk...
67. Maximum Advantage is slogans over substance...
68. Maximum Advantage is crushing defeat through incremental means...
69. Maximum Advantage is colorful blandness...
70. Maximum Advantage is race over class in all things...
71. Maximum Advantage is legitimacy and smooth power transitions...
72. Maximum Advantage is perfection in imperfection...
73. Maximum Advantage is arrogance in action with a humble face...
74. Maximum Advantage is a trigger...
75. Maximum Advantage discredits dissent through imagery over issues...
76. Maximum Advantage allows everything provided it is nothing...
77. Maximum Advantage is justification through cultivated myths like progress...
78. Maximum Advantage is the path of least resistance contrary to appearances...
79. Maximum Advantage extends but never really grows...
80. Maximum Advantage covers or shields all bases if unequally...
81. Maximum Advantage exploits the herd mentality while never acknowledging it...
82. Maximum Advantage loves gullibility...
83. Maximum Advantage is a psychology...
84. Maximum Advantage recognizes ignorance and ignore have the same root words...
85. Maximum Advantage is vicarious victimization...
Saturday, November 20, 2004
Maximum Advantage: Inevitable Deductions 34-50
34. On Lemmings:
The Lemmings' march to the sea is a gross avoidance mechanism for dealing with the problems presented by over-population. Humans have larger brains and complicated social interactions which preclude any such simple solutions. Hence, we fight wars and victimize each other in countless ways. Suicide is another example. In the grand scheme, means amount to the same thing. The fatalistic may always be exploited to the maximum advantage of the opportunist.
35. On the World of the Dead:
The world of the dead is a component of human psychology. The dead, embodying anti-life and stagnation, are by definition unadaptable to change. Their world has ceased to exist, but many of the living refuse to admit it. Hence, disastrous traditions are promoted and allowed to flourish. The Catholic church's senile opposition to birth control is a prime example of a remnant philosophy which now causes more harm than good. Over-consumption and waste is another example of a left-over from the time of frontiers. It makes absolutely no sense, but the mindset continues to thrive in the form of consumerism. Immortality exists only in monument and memory. Those living in the world of the dead should return to reality...
36. Maximum Advantage is equality without freedom...
37. Maximum Advantage is law over justice...
38. Maximum Advantage is efficiency even in defeat...
39. Maximum Advantage is propaganda over physical coercion...
40. Maximum Advantage is the revision of perception...
41. Maximum Advantage is stagnation with motion...
42. Maximum Advantage is de-constructing opponents through negation...
43. Maximum Advantage is formula over formalism; the scientific method over science...
44. Maximum Advantage is the velvet fist and padded boot...
45. Maximum Advantage is distorted opposites and false extremes...
46. Maximum Advantage is preparation for eventualities rather than conspiracies. Seize the moment.
47. Maximum Advantage is false causality...
48. Maximum Advantage is unity over community...
49. Maximum Advantage is imposed limits...
50. Maximum Advantage is fear as a commodity...
The Lemmings' march to the sea is a gross avoidance mechanism for dealing with the problems presented by over-population. Humans have larger brains and complicated social interactions which preclude any such simple solutions. Hence, we fight wars and victimize each other in countless ways. Suicide is another example. In the grand scheme, means amount to the same thing. The fatalistic may always be exploited to the maximum advantage of the opportunist.
35. On the World of the Dead:
The world of the dead is a component of human psychology. The dead, embodying anti-life and stagnation, are by definition unadaptable to change. Their world has ceased to exist, but many of the living refuse to admit it. Hence, disastrous traditions are promoted and allowed to flourish. The Catholic church's senile opposition to birth control is a prime example of a remnant philosophy which now causes more harm than good. Over-consumption and waste is another example of a left-over from the time of frontiers. It makes absolutely no sense, but the mindset continues to thrive in the form of consumerism. Immortality exists only in monument and memory. Those living in the world of the dead should return to reality...
36. Maximum Advantage is equality without freedom...
37. Maximum Advantage is law over justice...
38. Maximum Advantage is efficiency even in defeat...
39. Maximum Advantage is propaganda over physical coercion...
40. Maximum Advantage is the revision of perception...
41. Maximum Advantage is stagnation with motion...
42. Maximum Advantage is de-constructing opponents through negation...
43. Maximum Advantage is formula over formalism; the scientific method over science...
44. Maximum Advantage is the velvet fist and padded boot...
45. Maximum Advantage is distorted opposites and false extremes...
46. Maximum Advantage is preparation for eventualities rather than conspiracies. Seize the moment.
47. Maximum Advantage is false causality...
48. Maximum Advantage is unity over community...
49. Maximum Advantage is imposed limits...
50. Maximum Advantage is fear as a commodity...
Friday, November 19, 2004
Maximum Advantage: Inevitable Deductions 30-33
30. On the Integral
Integrity is best self-compromised. Internal corruption is more readily embraced. Herd opinions are simply a matter of coincidence. One would believe a certain way without any external influence. Nobody is a product of their environment. Poverty is deserved. All men are created equal. Progress is everything. As always: “Death to the stupid!”
31. The non-conformist represents an excellent target to be exploited for maximum advantage. Duration is not a constant. Some marks are ephemeral. Others may be ages old. Confusing extremes is counter-productive. Yesterday's draft dodger is tomorrow's president. Nazis will never be popular except as boogie-men hiding under every rock. The world moves onward, but never at different rates. Progress would have us believe otherwise. The opportunist must pick targets and labels carefully to avoid a backlash reaction. One must be with the times. Certain tides may not be resisted. Human aggression needs an outlet. Internalization leads to depressive effects. Enemies may be actual or shaped to fit the bill. Perceived wrongs are an excellent means. Even the decadent possesses the instinct for revenge. Survival instincts may become so warped as to be almost unrecognizable and degenerate. The opportunist must identify the appropriate button and exploit it to maximum advantage. Fear is so easy to manipulate. However, the irrational is unpredictable. In the event of a backlash, one must roll with the punches for maximum advantage. Failure does not exist, rather degrees of success. One must never take the opposition personally, lest they gain power by it. Besides, the opposition is necessary, else where could conflict be manufactured? Hence, the curved spectra...
32. On Conditioning
Values and biases may be conditioned over time. The opportunist must be patient. Unless some crisis occurs, most propaganda campaigns, which seek to condition, must be conducted slowly, lest a backlash occur. Cultural inertia ensures greater resistance to faster change. Hence, the entire notion of time must be conditioned for acceptance of ever faster rates. A second is still a second. Hyper-stimulation causes time to move slowly. Next year is forever. The target population is conditioned away from older, less efficient habits. The replacement is an instilled unease with standing still. The target individual is like a mink in a cage, running nowhere and anywhere as long as it is not motionless. Dropping from exhaustion, it never occurs that life could be any other way. Yet minks are not men, so the treadmill must appear as a choice. Willing tools are best. Resentment is minimized. Of course, restlessness is another matter, and should be considered a by-product. Those foolish enough to ignore its existence deserve the consequences. The opposition may always exploit and channel discontent for maximum advantage. The illusion of stability must be maintained in all instances. The population must be kept passive but never inactive. In addition, those responsible for maintaining order must be conditioned to believe their function essential and necessary. The police must present a front capable of absorbing any discontent. Else backlash will be directed toward underlying causes. Non-issues are efficient means...
33. On Academics and Intellectuals
On the surface, academicians and intellectuals represent a wild card. Less stable regimes always suppress or repress the thinking classes. More secure states employ less intrusive methods to negate their potential power. Grant money is the primary tool. Competition for funds will necessarily create rivalries based on minutia. The intelligencia effectively divides and conquers itself as a result. In addition, grant money narrows fields of study by promoting specialization. The specialist lacks skill and experience in dealing with the broad issues impacting culture and society. Rather, focus is directed toward irrelevancies at best. The intelligencia is impotent and best ignored by both opportunists and serious opponents to the present social order.
Integrity is best self-compromised. Internal corruption is more readily embraced. Herd opinions are simply a matter of coincidence. One would believe a certain way without any external influence. Nobody is a product of their environment. Poverty is deserved. All men are created equal. Progress is everything. As always: “Death to the stupid!”
31. The non-conformist represents an excellent target to be exploited for maximum advantage. Duration is not a constant. Some marks are ephemeral. Others may be ages old. Confusing extremes is counter-productive. Yesterday's draft dodger is tomorrow's president. Nazis will never be popular except as boogie-men hiding under every rock. The world moves onward, but never at different rates. Progress would have us believe otherwise. The opportunist must pick targets and labels carefully to avoid a backlash reaction. One must be with the times. Certain tides may not be resisted. Human aggression needs an outlet. Internalization leads to depressive effects. Enemies may be actual or shaped to fit the bill. Perceived wrongs are an excellent means. Even the decadent possesses the instinct for revenge. Survival instincts may become so warped as to be almost unrecognizable and degenerate. The opportunist must identify the appropriate button and exploit it to maximum advantage. Fear is so easy to manipulate. However, the irrational is unpredictable. In the event of a backlash, one must roll with the punches for maximum advantage. Failure does not exist, rather degrees of success. One must never take the opposition personally, lest they gain power by it. Besides, the opposition is necessary, else where could conflict be manufactured? Hence, the curved spectra...
32. On Conditioning
Values and biases may be conditioned over time. The opportunist must be patient. Unless some crisis occurs, most propaganda campaigns, which seek to condition, must be conducted slowly, lest a backlash occur. Cultural inertia ensures greater resistance to faster change. Hence, the entire notion of time must be conditioned for acceptance of ever faster rates. A second is still a second. Hyper-stimulation causes time to move slowly. Next year is forever. The target population is conditioned away from older, less efficient habits. The replacement is an instilled unease with standing still. The target individual is like a mink in a cage, running nowhere and anywhere as long as it is not motionless. Dropping from exhaustion, it never occurs that life could be any other way. Yet minks are not men, so the treadmill must appear as a choice. Willing tools are best. Resentment is minimized. Of course, restlessness is another matter, and should be considered a by-product. Those foolish enough to ignore its existence deserve the consequences. The opposition may always exploit and channel discontent for maximum advantage. The illusion of stability must be maintained in all instances. The population must be kept passive but never inactive. In addition, those responsible for maintaining order must be conditioned to believe their function essential and necessary. The police must present a front capable of absorbing any discontent. Else backlash will be directed toward underlying causes. Non-issues are efficient means...
33. On Academics and Intellectuals
On the surface, academicians and intellectuals represent a wild card. Less stable regimes always suppress or repress the thinking classes. More secure states employ less intrusive methods to negate their potential power. Grant money is the primary tool. Competition for funds will necessarily create rivalries based on minutia. The intelligencia effectively divides and conquers itself as a result. In addition, grant money narrows fields of study by promoting specialization. The specialist lacks skill and experience in dealing with the broad issues impacting culture and society. Rather, focus is directed toward irrelevancies at best. The intelligencia is impotent and best ignored by both opportunists and serious opponents to the present social order.
Thursday, November 18, 2004
Maximum Advantage: Inevitable Deductions 21-29
21. On Good and Evil and Bad
Nietzsche identified two broad categories of morality: master and slave. The latter became ascendent over the former by the triumph of the herd. Master morality justifies power coupled with some obligation toward those lower in social status. Slave morality debases the higher instincts by creating a virtue out of subservience. Maximum advantage has superceded both, therefore allowing the strongest to rise, whatever and whomever that may be. Efficiency is strength. Good and evil and bad are now defined exclusively in those terms. Hence, the power elite sits upon a shaky precipice and becomes susceptible to backlash. For damage control, propaganda is utilized for maximum advantage to convince the populace of their smooth running of affairs. One method is to convince the population that two sides of the same coin are indeed different. "Liberal and conservative" or "Democrat and Republican" are common examples. The illusion of choice is a prime tool for pacification. Although good and evil are anachronistic concepts, duality appears to represent the path of least resistance. The mythical legacy of the older moralities linger even while superceded by concepts such as progress and regression. The world has moved beyond. However, few will publicly admit their actions are motivated by anything other than self-interest exploited for maximum advantage in all things. The opportunist may portray such dualism as actual but must never believe it for a second. One should not forget one's allies in holding it all together. Inefficiency is never good. Remember evil is not necessarily bad, it's just evil...
22. Stable equilibrium only exists at the bottom of a trough.
23. Moral decay also experiences decline...
24. Never underestimate the complete lack of ethics possible in a moral society.
25. Consciousness does not inherently have a conscience...
26. The moral high ground allows one to look down on the suffering of others.
27. A implies b, and ~b implies ~a may be logical equivalents, but are still not the same thing.
28. On Enemies
Some enemies are real whereas others are merely apparent. Many would be surprised to see two supposed bitter political rivals on friendly personal terms. Their mutually antagonistic rhetoric is simply not taken personally. Their animosity is simply a difference of opinion exploited to maximum advantage for the benefit of their supporters. Little need actually be accomplished as long as the illusion of convictions and principles is maintained. "At least s/he tried..." sighs the faithful while tromping off to perform their civic duty on election day. Although possibly entertaining, nothing changes by such posturing. Many actually seem surprised. The concept of false-enmity appears to be beyond most citizens. The opportunist would be completely stupid no to exploit this deficiency for maximum advantage in all things. Indeed, the entire federal system and most states operate on such a basis. As long as "everyone" is getting rich, who cares about the issues? Mutually beneficial antagonism certainly puts a new spin on the biblical admonishment to love thy enemy. Of course true enemies should be crushed without mercy and exploited for maximum advantage. The Roman once honored those defeated in battle. The modern scheme allows them to remain in place and power. Hence, their existence may be propagandized for years. Enemies are too hard to find to give-up lightly. However, one must often make do with the false kind. Therefore, it is not surprising to hear the odd opportunist attempt to revive the cold war. The U.S. Military-Industrial Complex needed the red army. The Cold War was not fought for a reason. An all-out hot war was just mutually assured destruction. Nobody benefits. Polar opposites are easily accepted.
29. On Language and Determinations
Despite opportunistic claims to the contrary, prediction is educated guesswork at best and very narrowly limited. Statistics are limited by assumption. Determinism is an historical artifact that appears to have survived despite being proven an incorrect natural philosophy by modern physics. The civilized human animal craves assurances. However hazy, the future must appear to possess some continuity for the struggle to seem worthwhile. The past will never return.
Nietzsche identified two broad categories of morality: master and slave. The latter became ascendent over the former by the triumph of the herd. Master morality justifies power coupled with some obligation toward those lower in social status. Slave morality debases the higher instincts by creating a virtue out of subservience. Maximum advantage has superceded both, therefore allowing the strongest to rise, whatever and whomever that may be. Efficiency is strength. Good and evil and bad are now defined exclusively in those terms. Hence, the power elite sits upon a shaky precipice and becomes susceptible to backlash. For damage control, propaganda is utilized for maximum advantage to convince the populace of their smooth running of affairs. One method is to convince the population that two sides of the same coin are indeed different. "Liberal and conservative" or "Democrat and Republican" are common examples. The illusion of choice is a prime tool for pacification. Although good and evil are anachronistic concepts, duality appears to represent the path of least resistance. The mythical legacy of the older moralities linger even while superceded by concepts such as progress and regression. The world has moved beyond. However, few will publicly admit their actions are motivated by anything other than self-interest exploited for maximum advantage in all things. The opportunist may portray such dualism as actual but must never believe it for a second. One should not forget one's allies in holding it all together. Inefficiency is never good. Remember evil is not necessarily bad, it's just evil...
22. Stable equilibrium only exists at the bottom of a trough.
23. Moral decay also experiences decline...
24. Never underestimate the complete lack of ethics possible in a moral society.
25. Consciousness does not inherently have a conscience...
26. The moral high ground allows one to look down on the suffering of others.
27. A implies b, and ~b implies ~a may be logical equivalents, but are still not the same thing.
28. On Enemies
Some enemies are real whereas others are merely apparent. Many would be surprised to see two supposed bitter political rivals on friendly personal terms. Their mutually antagonistic rhetoric is simply not taken personally. Their animosity is simply a difference of opinion exploited to maximum advantage for the benefit of their supporters. Little need actually be accomplished as long as the illusion of convictions and principles is maintained. "At least s/he tried..." sighs the faithful while tromping off to perform their civic duty on election day. Although possibly entertaining, nothing changes by such posturing. Many actually seem surprised. The concept of false-enmity appears to be beyond most citizens. The opportunist would be completely stupid no to exploit this deficiency for maximum advantage in all things. Indeed, the entire federal system and most states operate on such a basis. As long as "everyone" is getting rich, who cares about the issues? Mutually beneficial antagonism certainly puts a new spin on the biblical admonishment to love thy enemy. Of course true enemies should be crushed without mercy and exploited for maximum advantage. The Roman once honored those defeated in battle. The modern scheme allows them to remain in place and power. Hence, their existence may be propagandized for years. Enemies are too hard to find to give-up lightly. However, one must often make do with the false kind. Therefore, it is not surprising to hear the odd opportunist attempt to revive the cold war. The U.S. Military-Industrial Complex needed the red army. The Cold War was not fought for a reason. An all-out hot war was just mutually assured destruction. Nobody benefits. Polar opposites are easily accepted.
29. On Language and Determinations
Despite opportunistic claims to the contrary, prediction is educated guesswork at best and very narrowly limited. Statistics are limited by assumption. Determinism is an historical artifact that appears to have survived despite being proven an incorrect natural philosophy by modern physics. The civilized human animal craves assurances. However hazy, the future must appear to possess some continuity for the struggle to seem worthwhile. The past will never return.
Wednesday, November 17, 2004
Maximum Advantage: Inevitable Deductions 17-20
17. On Unity and Class
Unity is essential, but only by degree. The opportunist must never allow too much, lest the working population learns its own true strength. Hence, unity is established along lines less threatening to the power structure. Unity is a language with different dialects. Unity is the law, but never lawlessness. Unity is entertainment. Unity is mediocre education. Unity is being part of a minority which is part of a nation. Unity is patriotism and nationalism. Unity is common standards. Unity is dissent, but not revolution. Unity is capitalism (whatever that means). Unity is science. Unity is society. Unity is culture. Unity is uniformity. Unity is common symbolism, like the eagle and flag. Unity is consumerism through the magic of the marketplace. Unity is the choice to buy over-priced shit. Unity is strength, and freedom is slavery. Unity is fascism.
18. On Uniformity
Uniformity is the end-result of the quest for maximum efficiency. Most other concerns are subordinate. It simplicity is its strength.
19. On Cold War Babies
Several generations grew up under the shadow of the bomb. The elder actually fought in the occasional flare-up, whereas the younger were simply menaced by the specter of nuclear war. The stress experienced by Vietnam Veterans is well documented and reasonably understood, but not so for the younger generations who were relegated to the status of passive observer. The topic appears to be largely ignored. The power structure would prefer to keep it that way, lest blame for social disintegration be directed toward the Military-Industrial Complex. Too much money is generated by preparing for war. Rather, much talk is bantered about concerning a lack of morals and the breakdown of society, but never why these values seem pointless to those who have long stopped believing in the future. Nuclear destruction is not a future that encourages much investment. All boys know their lives might be cut short by conventional war, but one need not even be anywhere near a battlefield in the case of nuclear war. Even women are affected by such anxieties, therefore ceasing to be a restraining influence on male nihilism and even adding to it. If tomorrow may never come, it ceases to be relevant. The present is the only surety. Self-destructive and decadent behavior reaches ever-new heights by allowing an outlet from anxiety. Old age becomes an impossibility and ceases to be respected. After all, the older generation is who created this mess, so why not take out a little aggression on the old? Hence, generations become vast divides, and difficult hurdles to overcome. The population is left snarling at each other and has no time to actually pinpoint the cause. Who cares? Why not spend all one's money on diversions and consumerist crap? Savings cease to matter. In would appear constant agitation by cold war propaganda, both for and against the arms race, has taken its toll. However, very few will admit they were affected by something which never actually occurred, at least not yet... Those weapons have not gone away and have even proliferated. As long as a financial profit may be made there will be no discussion concerning any but the most obvious effects, which further serve to agitate...
20. On Dissociation
Emotional dissociation is an escape mechanism. Dissociation is not generally beneficial. Important issues are avoided by mentally substituting the natural for the anti-natural. Over time, the effects magnify. Frustration may reach a point where it explodes. Dissociation can also occur for the masses. The wealthy classes are more removed. Believing their own bullshit, they will be totally unprepared for any severe economic depression. If peaceful populist measures are unsuccessful, their carcasses will choke the gutters. Violent measures will become the only recourse in taking the United States from greedy swine and their minions. Broken glass and dead bodies are difficult to ignore, and unlike the 1960s the military will be largely with the people. Even propaganda has its limits, and the opportunist had better take note. Few join the military to wage war on the population of the United States. At present, on many military bases, off-duty military personnel may be seen handing out leaflets lampooning the civilian government. Such actions, even though allowed by law, would not have occurred, much less been tolerated, ten years previously. In the past, insurrections were put down relatively quickly, but the populace was not so well armed. Despite the cries of idiotic weepy white liberals, all segments of the population, not just stereotypical rednecks, will fervently resist disarmament. Only the dissociated trusts the government and police, and economic realities awake more to the ranks of the angry and discontented every day. The 1999 World Trade Organization meeting in Seattle is a recent case in point. Insulated from reality, the local monied elites could not even fathom nor prepare for the minor level of protest which occurred. The moronic reaction of the police made the event by pulling in many who did not even care about the issues. They were simply outraged by their municipal tax dollars being spent on a police riot. Rather than an aberration caused by malcontents as portrayed in the mainstream press, such things are only a mere shadow of things to come. Only an idiot completely dissociated from reality would believe otherwise. Of course, the rich are mostly the product of inbreeding, therefore it is really no surprise they are so stupid. Their deaths will be entertaining and totally deserved. Perhaps the idle rich and their lackeys will finally be useful for something--as fertilizer...
Unity is essential, but only by degree. The opportunist must never allow too much, lest the working population learns its own true strength. Hence, unity is established along lines less threatening to the power structure. Unity is a language with different dialects. Unity is the law, but never lawlessness. Unity is entertainment. Unity is mediocre education. Unity is being part of a minority which is part of a nation. Unity is patriotism and nationalism. Unity is common standards. Unity is dissent, but not revolution. Unity is capitalism (whatever that means). Unity is science. Unity is society. Unity is culture. Unity is uniformity. Unity is common symbolism, like the eagle and flag. Unity is consumerism through the magic of the marketplace. Unity is the choice to buy over-priced shit. Unity is strength, and freedom is slavery. Unity is fascism.
18. On Uniformity
Uniformity is the end-result of the quest for maximum efficiency. Most other concerns are subordinate. It simplicity is its strength.
19. On Cold War Babies
Several generations grew up under the shadow of the bomb. The elder actually fought in the occasional flare-up, whereas the younger were simply menaced by the specter of nuclear war. The stress experienced by Vietnam Veterans is well documented and reasonably understood, but not so for the younger generations who were relegated to the status of passive observer. The topic appears to be largely ignored. The power structure would prefer to keep it that way, lest blame for social disintegration be directed toward the Military-Industrial Complex. Too much money is generated by preparing for war. Rather, much talk is bantered about concerning a lack of morals and the breakdown of society, but never why these values seem pointless to those who have long stopped believing in the future. Nuclear destruction is not a future that encourages much investment. All boys know their lives might be cut short by conventional war, but one need not even be anywhere near a battlefield in the case of nuclear war. Even women are affected by such anxieties, therefore ceasing to be a restraining influence on male nihilism and even adding to it. If tomorrow may never come, it ceases to be relevant. The present is the only surety. Self-destructive and decadent behavior reaches ever-new heights by allowing an outlet from anxiety. Old age becomes an impossibility and ceases to be respected. After all, the older generation is who created this mess, so why not take out a little aggression on the old? Hence, generations become vast divides, and difficult hurdles to overcome. The population is left snarling at each other and has no time to actually pinpoint the cause. Who cares? Why not spend all one's money on diversions and consumerist crap? Savings cease to matter. In would appear constant agitation by cold war propaganda, both for and against the arms race, has taken its toll. However, very few will admit they were affected by something which never actually occurred, at least not yet... Those weapons have not gone away and have even proliferated. As long as a financial profit may be made there will be no discussion concerning any but the most obvious effects, which further serve to agitate...
20. On Dissociation
Emotional dissociation is an escape mechanism. Dissociation is not generally beneficial. Important issues are avoided by mentally substituting the natural for the anti-natural. Over time, the effects magnify. Frustration may reach a point where it explodes. Dissociation can also occur for the masses. The wealthy classes are more removed. Believing their own bullshit, they will be totally unprepared for any severe economic depression. If peaceful populist measures are unsuccessful, their carcasses will choke the gutters. Violent measures will become the only recourse in taking the United States from greedy swine and their minions. Broken glass and dead bodies are difficult to ignore, and unlike the 1960s the military will be largely with the people. Even propaganda has its limits, and the opportunist had better take note. Few join the military to wage war on the population of the United States. At present, on many military bases, off-duty military personnel may be seen handing out leaflets lampooning the civilian government. Such actions, even though allowed by law, would not have occurred, much less been tolerated, ten years previously. In the past, insurrections were put down relatively quickly, but the populace was not so well armed. Despite the cries of idiotic weepy white liberals, all segments of the population, not just stereotypical rednecks, will fervently resist disarmament. Only the dissociated trusts the government and police, and economic realities awake more to the ranks of the angry and discontented every day. The 1999 World Trade Organization meeting in Seattle is a recent case in point. Insulated from reality, the local monied elites could not even fathom nor prepare for the minor level of protest which occurred. The moronic reaction of the police made the event by pulling in many who did not even care about the issues. They were simply outraged by their municipal tax dollars being spent on a police riot. Rather than an aberration caused by malcontents as portrayed in the mainstream press, such things are only a mere shadow of things to come. Only an idiot completely dissociated from reality would believe otherwise. Of course, the rich are mostly the product of inbreeding, therefore it is really no surprise they are so stupid. Their deaths will be entertaining and totally deserved. Perhaps the idle rich and their lackeys will finally be useful for something--as fertilizer...
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
Maximum Advantage: Inevitable Deductions 13-16
13. On Monetary Systems
Money represents economic unity by acting as the glue which binds market capitalist society. Advertising is a useful means of convincing the populace that money is prime and all other concerns are secondary. One cannot own what one cannot afford. In the early 21st Century money is a gauge of relative worth, but not necessarily wealth. A millionaire on paper simply owns a valuable piece of paper. Very little wealth is liquid. Hence, even the middle class has a vested interest in maintaining the status quo, lest their assets decrease in value. All de-stabilizing elements will be met with resistance. Propaganda is utilized to dispel any notions that this situation results in stagnation. Just look at the latest new car models. The entire notion of future change is best avoided to prevent widespread questioning of future impacts. Even though many see only grey, the eternal present is given a shiny sparkle. Anyone who fails to see the splendor must be a malcontent or even insane. Hence, the population becomes more heavily medicated through alcohol, illegal and prescription drugs in order to better function as a cog in the great economic machine. Alienation is rampant among those feeling a greater sense of isolation, resulting in escapist, decadent pursuits and even outright destructive behavior. The employer, being among the most immediate sources of frustration through the drudgery of work, becomes the only enemy. The petty tyrant supervisor would be ill advised not to tread lightly lest he or she find themselves within the sights of a disgruntled employee who decides to make someone, anyone pay for a life of frustration. A certain momentary satisfaction may be gained by splattering some stupid fucker's brains against the wall, but it will not change a thing other than being imprisoned or shot down by the police. Besides, another asshole will just take the place of the old. The entire system is rotten, but the herd has a financial interest in being convinced otherwise. Of course, eventually all systems end. The appropriate time will come for revenge when no external authority may retaliate. This hope represents a possibility for true escape beyond a snarling frustrated gesture. Although difficult for the hyper-stimulated, one must have patience. Hatred is best nurtured. The day will come when money means nothing and all pigs may liquidated...
14. On Culture and Commodification
Culture manifests and imprints itself across all segments of society. The past contains many shared perceptions which may be built upon for maximum advantage. Most commonly, the legacy of World War II is still used to justify foreign intervention, even when few parallels exist, to successfully quiet opposition. Intellectual and material achievements are often unearthed from a nostalgic past to rationalize reactionary policies and movements. Things were so much better, even though those living at the time felt the same about an earlier age. The single largest mistake was probably leaving the trees, but only a few bring sentiment so far by espousing all civilization a lie. The herd needs a reason to believe getting up for work is worth it. Hopes should not be too specific. Sacrifice must seem worthwhile. War dead is probably one of the most powerful tools to this end. That horror has to mean something... Values need to be defined and require common acceptance else the system will grind to a halt as the herd mindlessly mills about. Nothing must appear to be something. Propaganda has its limits. The irrational is difficult to harness. Backlash sentiments are easy to invoke among opponents. Consumerism becomes a faith. Material objects bring fulfillment. The glittering new malaise is preferable to the old malaise. The opportunist should never underestimate public stupidity. Conformity becomes rebellion. Official positions are shown in the best light. Major media outlets know who butters their bread. Well paid journalists are players in the economic order. Anyone heavily invested will necessarily support the entire economic order. Their money is their only freedom (whatever that means). Economic clout represents the path of least resistance. Money does not mean everything. "Maximum" may always be redefined....
15. For Consideration
Reflective contemplation has become an anachronism. How many true advances in human thought have been lost beneath the mountains of data? True comprehension is not measured in gigabytes. The ability to recognize tangents has been skewed by specialization. Irrelevant distractions cover any mental landscape, leaving little seemingly untouched. Few fathom beneath the surface. Instead, we have progress. Efficiency and monetary profit are the only consideration. Simmering agitation consumes. Passivity diminishes. A computer on every classroom desk will not teach anyone to think. Eventually, a point may be reached where radically new ideas will be fatally necessary and prove beyond all sight. Homogeneity is a disease. Inbreeding is the only sin...
16. Drama eclipses more readily than the moon.
Money represents economic unity by acting as the glue which binds market capitalist society. Advertising is a useful means of convincing the populace that money is prime and all other concerns are secondary. One cannot own what one cannot afford. In the early 21st Century money is a gauge of relative worth, but not necessarily wealth. A millionaire on paper simply owns a valuable piece of paper. Very little wealth is liquid. Hence, even the middle class has a vested interest in maintaining the status quo, lest their assets decrease in value. All de-stabilizing elements will be met with resistance. Propaganda is utilized to dispel any notions that this situation results in stagnation. Just look at the latest new car models. The entire notion of future change is best avoided to prevent widespread questioning of future impacts. Even though many see only grey, the eternal present is given a shiny sparkle. Anyone who fails to see the splendor must be a malcontent or even insane. Hence, the population becomes more heavily medicated through alcohol, illegal and prescription drugs in order to better function as a cog in the great economic machine. Alienation is rampant among those feeling a greater sense of isolation, resulting in escapist, decadent pursuits and even outright destructive behavior. The employer, being among the most immediate sources of frustration through the drudgery of work, becomes the only enemy. The petty tyrant supervisor would be ill advised not to tread lightly lest he or she find themselves within the sights of a disgruntled employee who decides to make someone, anyone pay for a life of frustration. A certain momentary satisfaction may be gained by splattering some stupid fucker's brains against the wall, but it will not change a thing other than being imprisoned or shot down by the police. Besides, another asshole will just take the place of the old. The entire system is rotten, but the herd has a financial interest in being convinced otherwise. Of course, eventually all systems end. The appropriate time will come for revenge when no external authority may retaliate. This hope represents a possibility for true escape beyond a snarling frustrated gesture. Although difficult for the hyper-stimulated, one must have patience. Hatred is best nurtured. The day will come when money means nothing and all pigs may liquidated...
14. On Culture and Commodification
Culture manifests and imprints itself across all segments of society. The past contains many shared perceptions which may be built upon for maximum advantage. Most commonly, the legacy of World War II is still used to justify foreign intervention, even when few parallels exist, to successfully quiet opposition. Intellectual and material achievements are often unearthed from a nostalgic past to rationalize reactionary policies and movements. Things were so much better, even though those living at the time felt the same about an earlier age. The single largest mistake was probably leaving the trees, but only a few bring sentiment so far by espousing all civilization a lie. The herd needs a reason to believe getting up for work is worth it. Hopes should not be too specific. Sacrifice must seem worthwhile. War dead is probably one of the most powerful tools to this end. That horror has to mean something... Values need to be defined and require common acceptance else the system will grind to a halt as the herd mindlessly mills about. Nothing must appear to be something. Propaganda has its limits. The irrational is difficult to harness. Backlash sentiments are easy to invoke among opponents. Consumerism becomes a faith. Material objects bring fulfillment. The glittering new malaise is preferable to the old malaise. The opportunist should never underestimate public stupidity. Conformity becomes rebellion. Official positions are shown in the best light. Major media outlets know who butters their bread. Well paid journalists are players in the economic order. Anyone heavily invested will necessarily support the entire economic order. Their money is their only freedom (whatever that means). Economic clout represents the path of least resistance. Money does not mean everything. "Maximum" may always be redefined....
15. For Consideration
Reflective contemplation has become an anachronism. How many true advances in human thought have been lost beneath the mountains of data? True comprehension is not measured in gigabytes. The ability to recognize tangents has been skewed by specialization. Irrelevant distractions cover any mental landscape, leaving little seemingly untouched. Few fathom beneath the surface. Instead, we have progress. Efficiency and monetary profit are the only consideration. Simmering agitation consumes. Passivity diminishes. A computer on every classroom desk will not teach anyone to think. Eventually, a point may be reached where radically new ideas will be fatally necessary and prove beyond all sight. Homogeneity is a disease. Inbreeding is the only sin...
16. Drama eclipses more readily than the moon.
Monday, November 15, 2004
Maximum Advantage: Inevitable Deductions 9-12
9. On Inertia
Inertia is the natural resistance to change. In this thread, the concept will be applied to cultural phenomenon. Any force for change must overcome inertia for any hope of success. Appeals to the intellect are among the most worthless. Social theories mean nothing. None have been proven valid by history and experience. A new approach is required. The left has been rendered impotent. Being the first to suffer, the stupid fear the rational, and react accordingly. Only an idealist is surprised. The path of least resistance allows inertia its due, or rather the appearance. Of course, the world does change. One fine day usually rolls along when the reactionary is brought to terms with reality. For example, with the end of the Cold War, the extreme right had outlived its usefulness and found itself purged. Few Care. The silence is deafening. They deserve it. The price for any serious dissent beyond words is great. However, nothing is eternal. Preferring to bide their time, most serious opponents have fallen silent. Useless idealists, incapable of any real pragmatism, influence no one but each other. Inertia is not overcome by words...
10. On Circular Arguments
Circular arguments are analogous to mathematical proof by example. A counter-example will disprove such claims, but how rarely the human condition appears to follow the dictates of logic. People want to believe that which makes them comfortable with their place in the world. Very few intentionally agitate themselves by de-constructing society by mentally pulling it apart. Machinery cannot be ignored. All machines begin on paper. One must know the correct questions. Unfortunately, very few seem to possess the skills and abilities necessary. Paradoxically, intelligence has very little to do with deciding the challenge. Specialization, although easier, stunts necessary broad development even when the capability exists. How many actually have time to think above the racket, let alone concentrate? Over-stimulation blunts focus. Only an exhausted hollow mental shell remains, waiting to be filled by the opportunist using propaganda exploited to maximum advantage in all things.
11. On Sanity
Sanity is defined according to herd norms which necessarily vary according to the age, culture and society. Indeed many modern human would likely be judged insane by pre-industrial standards due to our obsession regarding time. Yet by present precepts, those older notions might appear counter to apparent survival instincts. A driver in heavy, fast traffic cannot always wait to act. Horses will refuse drunken commands, but an automobile has no more intelligence than a rock. Constant attention is required. The maladaptive appears to be relative. Even extremes may vary. Yesterday's mystic or bezerker is today's lunatic. Balance depends upon circumstances. The civilizing process stunts certain traits while promoting others. However, paradoxically, certain atavistic characteristics are occasionally called upon for survival or even the supposed benefit of society. A certain level of agitation is necessary to ensure these traits are not submerged too deeply. Unfortunately, the conflicting stimuli may drive some over the edge, resulting in simmering resentment and pointless violence. For those who feel the urge to snap, a certain hope may sustain them through the dark night. In its present form, our civilization is doomed. The time for revenge must wait. The official power structure must do everything in its power to convince us otherwise...
12. On Bifurcation
Opposition may always be blunted or even negated by division. Factional rifts are easily widened by exploiting petty rivalries. The lowest stakes are surprisingly effective in provoking conflict. Academia is a primary example. Ego should never be discounted. In many cases, the opportunist need only exploit the opposition's own actions for maximum advantage. Just give them enough rope to hang themselves by their contradictions. Meanwhile, a supposed desire to find common ground may be advocated to drive a wedge between moderate and extreme appositional elements. The divide and conquer approach destroys solidarity by weakening and even dissolving common bonds. Of course, such techniques may succeed beyond even the wishes of the opportunists by creating a climate of mistrust which will never allow unity even among allies. Another strategy is to seize upon the completely unrealistic dogma of the opposition in the supposed spirit of compromise. It may then be allowed to fail on its own accord, thereby diminishing the credibility of the opposition, and necessitating the opportunist to assume the reigns of control in mitigating the consequences. "We tried it your way, and you've failed, so now it's my turn..." Defeat always diminishes prestige and saps energy. This approach works especially well with idealists who have a greater tendency to become disillusioned by failure. By refusing to bend, these types are easily broken by reality. In fact, the opportunist may generally associate idealism with sheer stupidity, because the end result is the same. Idealists will nullify themselves by allowing them to pursue idiotic courses of action. Why oppose that which is doomed? Besides, the results are amusing. Idealistic appeals to myths like innate goodness and altruism will always fail. Only a tool believes in higher motivations. Any opposition will certainly split between idealists and more realistic elements once the failure of naive policy becomes glaringly evident. The realistic desire to at least salvage something. The opportunist may then throw out a few crumbs and imply that the opposition is lucky to receive even that much consideration. Although weakened, the only remaining danger will be from those unwilling to compromise in the slightest degree. These types may be vilified, thus driving the herd closer. Splits are so easy to engineer by less than ruthless means...
Inertia is the natural resistance to change. In this thread, the concept will be applied to cultural phenomenon. Any force for change must overcome inertia for any hope of success. Appeals to the intellect are among the most worthless. Social theories mean nothing. None have been proven valid by history and experience. A new approach is required. The left has been rendered impotent. Being the first to suffer, the stupid fear the rational, and react accordingly. Only an idealist is surprised. The path of least resistance allows inertia its due, or rather the appearance. Of course, the world does change. One fine day usually rolls along when the reactionary is brought to terms with reality. For example, with the end of the Cold War, the extreme right had outlived its usefulness and found itself purged. Few Care. The silence is deafening. They deserve it. The price for any serious dissent beyond words is great. However, nothing is eternal. Preferring to bide their time, most serious opponents have fallen silent. Useless idealists, incapable of any real pragmatism, influence no one but each other. Inertia is not overcome by words...
10. On Circular Arguments
Circular arguments are analogous to mathematical proof by example. A counter-example will disprove such claims, but how rarely the human condition appears to follow the dictates of logic. People want to believe that which makes them comfortable with their place in the world. Very few intentionally agitate themselves by de-constructing society by mentally pulling it apart. Machinery cannot be ignored. All machines begin on paper. One must know the correct questions. Unfortunately, very few seem to possess the skills and abilities necessary. Paradoxically, intelligence has very little to do with deciding the challenge. Specialization, although easier, stunts necessary broad development even when the capability exists. How many actually have time to think above the racket, let alone concentrate? Over-stimulation blunts focus. Only an exhausted hollow mental shell remains, waiting to be filled by the opportunist using propaganda exploited to maximum advantage in all things.
11. On Sanity
Sanity is defined according to herd norms which necessarily vary according to the age, culture and society. Indeed many modern human would likely be judged insane by pre-industrial standards due to our obsession regarding time. Yet by present precepts, those older notions might appear counter to apparent survival instincts. A driver in heavy, fast traffic cannot always wait to act. Horses will refuse drunken commands, but an automobile has no more intelligence than a rock. Constant attention is required. The maladaptive appears to be relative. Even extremes may vary. Yesterday's mystic or bezerker is today's lunatic. Balance depends upon circumstances. The civilizing process stunts certain traits while promoting others. However, paradoxically, certain atavistic characteristics are occasionally called upon for survival or even the supposed benefit of society. A certain level of agitation is necessary to ensure these traits are not submerged too deeply. Unfortunately, the conflicting stimuli may drive some over the edge, resulting in simmering resentment and pointless violence. For those who feel the urge to snap, a certain hope may sustain them through the dark night. In its present form, our civilization is doomed. The time for revenge must wait. The official power structure must do everything in its power to convince us otherwise...
12. On Bifurcation
Opposition may always be blunted or even negated by division. Factional rifts are easily widened by exploiting petty rivalries. The lowest stakes are surprisingly effective in provoking conflict. Academia is a primary example. Ego should never be discounted. In many cases, the opportunist need only exploit the opposition's own actions for maximum advantage. Just give them enough rope to hang themselves by their contradictions. Meanwhile, a supposed desire to find common ground may be advocated to drive a wedge between moderate and extreme appositional elements. The divide and conquer approach destroys solidarity by weakening and even dissolving common bonds. Of course, such techniques may succeed beyond even the wishes of the opportunists by creating a climate of mistrust which will never allow unity even among allies. Another strategy is to seize upon the completely unrealistic dogma of the opposition in the supposed spirit of compromise. It may then be allowed to fail on its own accord, thereby diminishing the credibility of the opposition, and necessitating the opportunist to assume the reigns of control in mitigating the consequences. "We tried it your way, and you've failed, so now it's my turn..." Defeat always diminishes prestige and saps energy. This approach works especially well with idealists who have a greater tendency to become disillusioned by failure. By refusing to bend, these types are easily broken by reality. In fact, the opportunist may generally associate idealism with sheer stupidity, because the end result is the same. Idealists will nullify themselves by allowing them to pursue idiotic courses of action. Why oppose that which is doomed? Besides, the results are amusing. Idealistic appeals to myths like innate goodness and altruism will always fail. Only a tool believes in higher motivations. Any opposition will certainly split between idealists and more realistic elements once the failure of naive policy becomes glaringly evident. The realistic desire to at least salvage something. The opportunist may then throw out a few crumbs and imply that the opposition is lucky to receive even that much consideration. Although weakened, the only remaining danger will be from those unwilling to compromise in the slightest degree. These types may be vilified, thus driving the herd closer. Splits are so easy to engineer by less than ruthless means...
Sunday, November 14, 2004
Maximum Advantage: Inevitable Deductions 5-8
5. On Services
Very rarely directly proportional to actual worth or cost, the economic exchange of consumer goods is a complicated matter. Services are even more difficult to quantify and establish value. Factors include matters concerning willingness to pay, perceived difficulty, exploitation, etc. While the skilled trades have some idea concerning their economic worth, the service economy is another matter. Organized labor does not play as large a role. The United Parcel strike was a major inconvenience, but packages were still delivered by competitors. On the other hand, at Boeing, a machinist strike will shut down production and cost millions in the resulting total work stoppage. The power structure prefers docility. The service economy empowers few. Service wages are low, yet jobs are plentiful enough that the labor force will move on rather than fight it out. Why bother? Of course, a pervasive discontent with living standards may be engendered, but will not be played out in the sphere of traditional labor relations. The standards are set by the employer with little employee input. Most service workers are not attached or emotionally invested. By reducing the power and potential of organized labor, a semblance of a passive public is created. One might maintain the bill for services rendered has not come due...
6. On Intellectual Product
As is the case with art and music, an intellectual product or endeavor enters the market sector through commodification. Once sold, the product or message is owned. However, current fashion is soon replaced and memory fades. Except for the rare instances where the intellectual product becomes a component of culture, a turnover is necessary to support the publishing industry. The end result is a succession of dull mindless crap with an occasional rare gem. One might be tempted to questions whether the predominance of lowest-common denominator material is harmful by lowering the bar compared to prior ages. Widespread dissemination necessitates a lower level of sophistication. The simplistic is understandable by the greatest number. Reflective contemplation is not necessary to get the point. Fashionable appeal is not meaning nor significance. The product is simply re-hashed for simple minds. Some feed upon commodity. These vicarious sorts desire the mental stimulation but lack ability. The public education system is little more than daycare. Those skills are reserved for the elite. A stupid population is easiest to pacify, if not control, through diversion. Questions mean nothing unless and until the appropriate question is asked. A critical, analytical eye sees much where others see little. No status quo could exist if the masses developed sight. Projected shadows would cease to appear so menacing. An opportunist depends upon blindness. General knowledge and the ability to apply it are not valued. Important bridges remain unappreciated. True intellectuals have started revolutions and felt their own strength. What passes for such these days are mindless parrots and more easily ignored. Occasionally, one will hear these idiots cry forth in despair that nobody is really listening or understands. Reason is unfathomable. Perhaps the fault lies with the communicator...
7. On Patterns
Mathematical proofs are either true or false. The determination involves accuracy, consistency, logic and adherence to a particular system. Scientific proofs are somewhat different. A scientific theory must be verified by experimentation and insured against biases. Often mathematics provides a blueprint or, at least, a pointer toward further scientific development. Simplistic or special cases are utilized to describe more complicated (and common) phenomenon. Often scale dictates the laws and methods called upon for descriptive purposes. Patterns exist to be noticed and reduced. The scientific mindset applies learned techniques for the investigation of the natural world which must evolve over time to keep up with developments. Unfortunately, the scientific method becomes misapplied by assuming the irrational is inherently rational. In providing a fertile and rational field for further propaganda, the opportunist deliberately promotes and exploits mysticism toward science. Spoken in the same tongue, pseudo-scientific rationale becomes another moral authority for the masses. Those resistant are ignorant. All revolutions seem to amount to little. Destiny sees nothing. The crystal ball of Marxism has been shattered and the faith of many who question capitalism with it. The Liberal Democratic Market Capitalist system was superior. It reacts. Beyond rhetoric, the future is not a real consideration. The left has been left demoralized and without direction. Their prestige was tied with the fate of repressive totalitarian systems. Market capitalism and democratic corruption is acceptable by comparison. Nobody stands in line for two hours for cheap toilet paper. Nor has anyone to worry about having the door kicked in for an off-hand political comment. In the United States blatant repression is unnecessary. The population is easily distracted by the glitter of the spectacle and unlikely to cause any real problems. Attention spans have been conditioned. The left has failed to correctly analyze social and cultural patterns and paid the price. Certain basic principles have been falsely negated by association. The world has moved onward to the realms of globalism. Concerned only with the bottom line, the "new world order" is not really political in the sense of right and left. Perhaps the apolitical is a preferable alternative. The opportunist must espouse collapse. The post-left (and right) must challenge the entire rationale behind higher authority. The opportunist must ensure that never happens...
8. On Introversion
How many children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder are really just withdrawn introverts? The opportunist will always find those lacking insight and depth far more moldable. Drugged stupid, the intellect has little hope of flowering. Some will strike back. Most will never realize it can all be done without pulling a trigger. The vast majority display less maladaptive behavior in the conformity of the herd. Many necessary qualities for true advancement will be nullified. Progress is a masquerade. Depth must be avoided whenever possible. It will not take.
Very rarely directly proportional to actual worth or cost, the economic exchange of consumer goods is a complicated matter. Services are even more difficult to quantify and establish value. Factors include matters concerning willingness to pay, perceived difficulty, exploitation, etc. While the skilled trades have some idea concerning their economic worth, the service economy is another matter. Organized labor does not play as large a role. The United Parcel strike was a major inconvenience, but packages were still delivered by competitors. On the other hand, at Boeing, a machinist strike will shut down production and cost millions in the resulting total work stoppage. The power structure prefers docility. The service economy empowers few. Service wages are low, yet jobs are plentiful enough that the labor force will move on rather than fight it out. Why bother? Of course, a pervasive discontent with living standards may be engendered, but will not be played out in the sphere of traditional labor relations. The standards are set by the employer with little employee input. Most service workers are not attached or emotionally invested. By reducing the power and potential of organized labor, a semblance of a passive public is created. One might maintain the bill for services rendered has not come due...
6. On Intellectual Product
As is the case with art and music, an intellectual product or endeavor enters the market sector through commodification. Once sold, the product or message is owned. However, current fashion is soon replaced and memory fades. Except for the rare instances where the intellectual product becomes a component of culture, a turnover is necessary to support the publishing industry. The end result is a succession of dull mindless crap with an occasional rare gem. One might be tempted to questions whether the predominance of lowest-common denominator material is harmful by lowering the bar compared to prior ages. Widespread dissemination necessitates a lower level of sophistication. The simplistic is understandable by the greatest number. Reflective contemplation is not necessary to get the point. Fashionable appeal is not meaning nor significance. The product is simply re-hashed for simple minds. Some feed upon commodity. These vicarious sorts desire the mental stimulation but lack ability. The public education system is little more than daycare. Those skills are reserved for the elite. A stupid population is easiest to pacify, if not control, through diversion. Questions mean nothing unless and until the appropriate question is asked. A critical, analytical eye sees much where others see little. No status quo could exist if the masses developed sight. Projected shadows would cease to appear so menacing. An opportunist depends upon blindness. General knowledge and the ability to apply it are not valued. Important bridges remain unappreciated. True intellectuals have started revolutions and felt their own strength. What passes for such these days are mindless parrots and more easily ignored. Occasionally, one will hear these idiots cry forth in despair that nobody is really listening or understands. Reason is unfathomable. Perhaps the fault lies with the communicator...
7. On Patterns
Mathematical proofs are either true or false. The determination involves accuracy, consistency, logic and adherence to a particular system. Scientific proofs are somewhat different. A scientific theory must be verified by experimentation and insured against biases. Often mathematics provides a blueprint or, at least, a pointer toward further scientific development. Simplistic or special cases are utilized to describe more complicated (and common) phenomenon. Often scale dictates the laws and methods called upon for descriptive purposes. Patterns exist to be noticed and reduced. The scientific mindset applies learned techniques for the investigation of the natural world which must evolve over time to keep up with developments. Unfortunately, the scientific method becomes misapplied by assuming the irrational is inherently rational. In providing a fertile and rational field for further propaganda, the opportunist deliberately promotes and exploits mysticism toward science. Spoken in the same tongue, pseudo-scientific rationale becomes another moral authority for the masses. Those resistant are ignorant. All revolutions seem to amount to little. Destiny sees nothing. The crystal ball of Marxism has been shattered and the faith of many who question capitalism with it. The Liberal Democratic Market Capitalist system was superior. It reacts. Beyond rhetoric, the future is not a real consideration. The left has been left demoralized and without direction. Their prestige was tied with the fate of repressive totalitarian systems. Market capitalism and democratic corruption is acceptable by comparison. Nobody stands in line for two hours for cheap toilet paper. Nor has anyone to worry about having the door kicked in for an off-hand political comment. In the United States blatant repression is unnecessary. The population is easily distracted by the glitter of the spectacle and unlikely to cause any real problems. Attention spans have been conditioned. The left has failed to correctly analyze social and cultural patterns and paid the price. Certain basic principles have been falsely negated by association. The world has moved onward to the realms of globalism. Concerned only with the bottom line, the "new world order" is not really political in the sense of right and left. Perhaps the apolitical is a preferable alternative. The opportunist must espouse collapse. The post-left (and right) must challenge the entire rationale behind higher authority. The opportunist must ensure that never happens...
8. On Introversion
How many children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder are really just withdrawn introverts? The opportunist will always find those lacking insight and depth far more moldable. Drugged stupid, the intellect has little hope of flowering. Some will strike back. Most will never realize it can all be done without pulling a trigger. The vast majority display less maladaptive behavior in the conformity of the herd. Many necessary qualities for true advancement will be nullified. Progress is a masquerade. Depth must be avoided whenever possible. It will not take.
Saturday, November 13, 2004
Maximum Advantage: Inevitable Deductions 1-4
1. On Law
Law exists for protection, restraint and settling disputes. Its implementation is dependant upon a system composed of many separate institutions and individuals all collaborating with the common purpose of maintaining its unquestionable legitimacy. Justice is besides the point. No other possible alternative is even conceivable. Morality and ethics alone are incapable of restraining a mass society. Consumerism does not promote loyalty. All individuals are isolated from society to varying degrees, yet always tuned in to something, and influenceable due to their lack of appropriate references. Sometimes surreal, the endless media barrage penetrates even the thickest skulls. Rather than assaulted, the will is worn down. Radicalism is damped in favor of safer approaches. Violence becomes merely destructive with no appreciation of its cleansing potential. Life is too secure and comfortable. Real revolutionary tendencies will not emerge. Empty rhetoric is all that remains. Fat and stupid, the Western intelligencia blabbers on about nothing. Meanwhile, lacking direction, the lower social stratas will simply eat themselves rather than actually pose a direct threat to the power structure. The growing prison population is evidence of this assertion. Note those conspicuously absent from its ranks... This indicates where the true threat lies. Only an idiot would assert otherwise. The anti-establishment intellectual community invested too much prestige in authoritarian Marxist doctrine. The resultant void has yet to be filled. Lacking direction, revolution and upheaval have proven to be atavistic, at best, or extremely reactionary, at worst, taking such forms as religious fundamentalism. Only clueless idealists currently look forward. Based on a reality which doesn't exist, their useless babble is discredited even before it leaves their pens and mouths. Completely harmless, one could expect no less of idiot-intellectuals. The only real danger is believing their bullshit. Witness the complete lack of empathy or focus toward the working proletariat by the environmental movement. Labor is the backbone of industry and society. Nobody respects spoiled whiny children incapable of connecting with the vast international working classes and lumpen-proletariat. In a true revolution, these sort would prove easy targets and be the first against the wall. Their ideals and ideas mean nothing in a world beyond such things. Only the coldly pragmatic, exploited for maximum advantage, means anything. Laws were made to be ignored, not petitioned against through their own avenues of propagation by professionals who are part of the loyal opposition. Until realizing otherwise, no true anti-capitalist ideology will ever emerge to direct and provide a moral authority, leaving only reactionary violence (in the broadest sense) as an alternative. Pacifism is dead, but the alternative need not be mindless. There are two 'asses' in assassination. Unfortunately, the intelligencia provides no alternative. Even while espousing otherwise for maximum advantage, the opportunist would be ill-advised not to take its obsolescence seriously. The threat has neutralized itself. Hence, the opponent should not even bother. Their war will not be fought on this front.
2. On Science
Science has many definitions and meanings. It creates pure power. Given the will, technological superiority wins wars and establishes empires. Interpreting the meanings and ramifications of scientific advancement is another kind of power. Modern physics has shattered the myth of the neutral observer. Scientific debate occurs upon both the intellectual and emotional planes. Human interests and concerns will necessarily intrude upon any discussion regarding scientific achievement. Even a flawed theory will find adherents based on convictions and perhaps even the pride of its founders. Even discarded theories may be revived in an attempt to salvage one or its more components for non-scientific reasons. In fact, the adherent might be at least partially correct, but their motivations are hardly scientific. Drive is never dispassionate or unclouded by human emotion. Of course, the general lay public need not be aware of the details in its assigned role as passive observers. Many defense contractors have made billions of dollars by playing upon scientific ignorance and the fear engendered by all means necessary. Deliberate stereotypes, like mad-Arabs with nukes, are exploited for maximum advantage to justify the developments of defense systems which are technically unfeasible, like the Strategic Defense Initiative.[1] They have seen it on the movie screen... Hence, the populace and ignorant elected officials bleat their acceptance and acquiesce to wasted resources. The herd will believe anything spoken in the scientific or technical tongue. Misconceptions and ignorance may always be manipulated by pseudo-science. Interestingly, this authority appears to extend toward other concerns, some not even remotely scientific. Experts may always be trotted out. A string of initials after a name has some sort of mystical weight among the populace. Capable of being bought, the scientist makes an excellent mouthpiece for spewing garbage. The tobacco industry proves this assertion.
[1]Many Articles have been written in Scientific American supporting the view that SDI is unfeasible and easily circumvented. Our stupid political leaders would rather believe their propaganda concerning American technical invincibility. Money breeds ignorance.
3. On Leaders and Followers
Despite our social nature, a tendency exists for the individual to desire his or her own way, even at the detriment of others. The fittest must survive. The entire civilizing process suppresses this inclination. Differences between individuals eventually leads to societal divisions. In turn, those on the higher tiers encourage still more segmentation. The strong enjoyed advantages over the weak but still needed them for mutual survival, or so it appeared (which amounts to the same thing). Eventually, the reality of a pecking order became dogma. The only remaining disputes concern the arrangement. The entire system is taken as a given. The existence of leaders and followers is questioned by so few, that the remainder is an irrelevant curiosity exploitable to maximum advantage as a threat to order. The present age is culminating in an end with increasing categorization and ever narrowing specialization. The hangman's noose tightens. Definitions are beyond any order of rank. However, the propagandist must portray otherwise. Even in the face of increasing cynicism, enough believe in the necessity of leaders and even systems. Social conditioning is strong. In addition, a desire for possessions has been instilled thus requiring longer working hours to pay the bills and debts incurred. The populace is too busy to question. Behind superficial reform, idle musings are all that remains. Depending on prestige, various roles are more esteemed. Hence, we have presidents who won't take a crap without consulting an opinion poll. The legislative branch is as hogs at the trough. Hands tied by law, only the judiciary remains. The old virtues are extinguished. The hollow appears solid. Very few would (or could) admit their entire lives a lie. Reinforced by society, the top classes believe the loudest mouths. In capitalist countries, money is the only power. Inflation is a disease. The rich do not often fight their own wars. The workers of the world will never unite. Herd instincts are forceful. The will to follow is greater than the will to power. Propaganda reinforces this relationship. The reality is challengeable but indisputable. The idea never seems to fade away. Economics is the base myth of our society. Following is the reality of our civilization. One might be tempted to ponder where the line ends...
4. On Money and Economics
Money has always represented the exchange of wealth and a symbol of power. A worthless wealthy inbred is held in higher esteem over a strong, intelligent but poor man. The standards have changed. Once money was a more concrete concept. A coin was worth its value as a metal. Later, script represented reserves of precious metals. However, the impulse to print excess paper money eventually made it necessary for a divorce from reality. The gold standard was dropped. Based on a mix of production and perception, money represented national clout. At least in theory, this allows economic stability to be better maintained and controlled. Unfortunately, this situation means none comprehend the actual state of the economy. Its mechanism are too complex. As a physicist, I have always found it amusing when economists claim their mumbo-jumbo a science. It reminds me of alchemy. Saying a material body may move faster than the speed of light does not make it so, but the equivalent seems to be possible in economics. It would be amusing if it did not impact the world in such an invasive manner. Economists have promoted a con job. Different forms of economic schema under broad classifications are made equivalent. The resulting perception is an unbroken progression rather than a series of highs and lows, necessitating alterations which somehow are accepted as natural. Today's capitalism has very little in common with the same moniker fifty years ago. Market Capitalism represents the greatest achievement and triumph of modern propaganda, and never would have been possible were it not developed in response to competing systems. In a sense, state capitalism, based on Marxist-Leninist philosophy, created the present situation by its inability to compete. Some economic systems are more anti-natural than others. Future generations will marvel and shudder at our memory, but understand it could have been worse. At present, the opportunist would be ill advised to swim against such an over-powering current, but this will change. Damage control and mitigation need only fail once... In this environment, an economic downfall might prove a disaster. Currently, the perceived value of many products is completely disproportionate to actual worth, resulting in a very real skewing in the world economy. The sneaker industry proves this point. The waste is not sustainable. Only an idiot believes otherwise. Absolutely none comprehend the extent. Interpretations skew perception. Propaganda utilizes the most favorable point-of-view and interpretations of data to promote stability in these economic systems. However, the good times are not going to continue indefinitely. Economic faith is not religious faith despite the similarities. The bill will come due. Eventually, a systemic correction must occur. The rug may be pulled out too quickly. If another Great Depression were to occur, the populace would be unlikely to pull together as was done prior to World War II. If systemic failure occurs (and no one knows if it will or when), both opponent and opportunist must seize the moment to maximum advantage. The technical morality will still be respected. Clout must be seized. Unity is power. The propagandist must be flexible, and never become emotionally invested in any system, lest a bad horse be backed for sentimental reasons. Of course, most will make this mistake...
Law exists for protection, restraint and settling disputes. Its implementation is dependant upon a system composed of many separate institutions and individuals all collaborating with the common purpose of maintaining its unquestionable legitimacy. Justice is besides the point. No other possible alternative is even conceivable. Morality and ethics alone are incapable of restraining a mass society. Consumerism does not promote loyalty. All individuals are isolated from society to varying degrees, yet always tuned in to something, and influenceable due to their lack of appropriate references. Sometimes surreal, the endless media barrage penetrates even the thickest skulls. Rather than assaulted, the will is worn down. Radicalism is damped in favor of safer approaches. Violence becomes merely destructive with no appreciation of its cleansing potential. Life is too secure and comfortable. Real revolutionary tendencies will not emerge. Empty rhetoric is all that remains. Fat and stupid, the Western intelligencia blabbers on about nothing. Meanwhile, lacking direction, the lower social stratas will simply eat themselves rather than actually pose a direct threat to the power structure. The growing prison population is evidence of this assertion. Note those conspicuously absent from its ranks... This indicates where the true threat lies. Only an idiot would assert otherwise. The anti-establishment intellectual community invested too much prestige in authoritarian Marxist doctrine. The resultant void has yet to be filled. Lacking direction, revolution and upheaval have proven to be atavistic, at best, or extremely reactionary, at worst, taking such forms as religious fundamentalism. Only clueless idealists currently look forward. Based on a reality which doesn't exist, their useless babble is discredited even before it leaves their pens and mouths. Completely harmless, one could expect no less of idiot-intellectuals. The only real danger is believing their bullshit. Witness the complete lack of empathy or focus toward the working proletariat by the environmental movement. Labor is the backbone of industry and society. Nobody respects spoiled whiny children incapable of connecting with the vast international working classes and lumpen-proletariat. In a true revolution, these sort would prove easy targets and be the first against the wall. Their ideals and ideas mean nothing in a world beyond such things. Only the coldly pragmatic, exploited for maximum advantage, means anything. Laws were made to be ignored, not petitioned against through their own avenues of propagation by professionals who are part of the loyal opposition. Until realizing otherwise, no true anti-capitalist ideology will ever emerge to direct and provide a moral authority, leaving only reactionary violence (in the broadest sense) as an alternative. Pacifism is dead, but the alternative need not be mindless. There are two 'asses' in assassination. Unfortunately, the intelligencia provides no alternative. Even while espousing otherwise for maximum advantage, the opportunist would be ill-advised not to take its obsolescence seriously. The threat has neutralized itself. Hence, the opponent should not even bother. Their war will not be fought on this front.
2. On Science
Science has many definitions and meanings. It creates pure power. Given the will, technological superiority wins wars and establishes empires. Interpreting the meanings and ramifications of scientific advancement is another kind of power. Modern physics has shattered the myth of the neutral observer. Scientific debate occurs upon both the intellectual and emotional planes. Human interests and concerns will necessarily intrude upon any discussion regarding scientific achievement. Even a flawed theory will find adherents based on convictions and perhaps even the pride of its founders. Even discarded theories may be revived in an attempt to salvage one or its more components for non-scientific reasons. In fact, the adherent might be at least partially correct, but their motivations are hardly scientific. Drive is never dispassionate or unclouded by human emotion. Of course, the general lay public need not be aware of the details in its assigned role as passive observers. Many defense contractors have made billions of dollars by playing upon scientific ignorance and the fear engendered by all means necessary. Deliberate stereotypes, like mad-Arabs with nukes, are exploited for maximum advantage to justify the developments of defense systems which are technically unfeasible, like the Strategic Defense Initiative.[1] They have seen it on the movie screen... Hence, the populace and ignorant elected officials bleat their acceptance and acquiesce to wasted resources. The herd will believe anything spoken in the scientific or technical tongue. Misconceptions and ignorance may always be manipulated by pseudo-science. Interestingly, this authority appears to extend toward other concerns, some not even remotely scientific. Experts may always be trotted out. A string of initials after a name has some sort of mystical weight among the populace. Capable of being bought, the scientist makes an excellent mouthpiece for spewing garbage. The tobacco industry proves this assertion.
[1]Many Articles have been written in Scientific American supporting the view that SDI is unfeasible and easily circumvented. Our stupid political leaders would rather believe their propaganda concerning American technical invincibility. Money breeds ignorance.
3. On Leaders and Followers
Despite our social nature, a tendency exists for the individual to desire his or her own way, even at the detriment of others. The fittest must survive. The entire civilizing process suppresses this inclination. Differences between individuals eventually leads to societal divisions. In turn, those on the higher tiers encourage still more segmentation. The strong enjoyed advantages over the weak but still needed them for mutual survival, or so it appeared (which amounts to the same thing). Eventually, the reality of a pecking order became dogma. The only remaining disputes concern the arrangement. The entire system is taken as a given. The existence of leaders and followers is questioned by so few, that the remainder is an irrelevant curiosity exploitable to maximum advantage as a threat to order. The present age is culminating in an end with increasing categorization and ever narrowing specialization. The hangman's noose tightens. Definitions are beyond any order of rank. However, the propagandist must portray otherwise. Even in the face of increasing cynicism, enough believe in the necessity of leaders and even systems. Social conditioning is strong. In addition, a desire for possessions has been instilled thus requiring longer working hours to pay the bills and debts incurred. The populace is too busy to question. Behind superficial reform, idle musings are all that remains. Depending on prestige, various roles are more esteemed. Hence, we have presidents who won't take a crap without consulting an opinion poll. The legislative branch is as hogs at the trough. Hands tied by law, only the judiciary remains. The old virtues are extinguished. The hollow appears solid. Very few would (or could) admit their entire lives a lie. Reinforced by society, the top classes believe the loudest mouths. In capitalist countries, money is the only power. Inflation is a disease. The rich do not often fight their own wars. The workers of the world will never unite. Herd instincts are forceful. The will to follow is greater than the will to power. Propaganda reinforces this relationship. The reality is challengeable but indisputable. The idea never seems to fade away. Economics is the base myth of our society. Following is the reality of our civilization. One might be tempted to ponder where the line ends...
4. On Money and Economics
Money has always represented the exchange of wealth and a symbol of power. A worthless wealthy inbred is held in higher esteem over a strong, intelligent but poor man. The standards have changed. Once money was a more concrete concept. A coin was worth its value as a metal. Later, script represented reserves of precious metals. However, the impulse to print excess paper money eventually made it necessary for a divorce from reality. The gold standard was dropped. Based on a mix of production and perception, money represented national clout. At least in theory, this allows economic stability to be better maintained and controlled. Unfortunately, this situation means none comprehend the actual state of the economy. Its mechanism are too complex. As a physicist, I have always found it amusing when economists claim their mumbo-jumbo a science. It reminds me of alchemy. Saying a material body may move faster than the speed of light does not make it so, but the equivalent seems to be possible in economics. It would be amusing if it did not impact the world in such an invasive manner. Economists have promoted a con job. Different forms of economic schema under broad classifications are made equivalent. The resulting perception is an unbroken progression rather than a series of highs and lows, necessitating alterations which somehow are accepted as natural. Today's capitalism has very little in common with the same moniker fifty years ago. Market Capitalism represents the greatest achievement and triumph of modern propaganda, and never would have been possible were it not developed in response to competing systems. In a sense, state capitalism, based on Marxist-Leninist philosophy, created the present situation by its inability to compete. Some economic systems are more anti-natural than others. Future generations will marvel and shudder at our memory, but understand it could have been worse. At present, the opportunist would be ill advised to swim against such an over-powering current, but this will change. Damage control and mitigation need only fail once... In this environment, an economic downfall might prove a disaster. Currently, the perceived value of many products is completely disproportionate to actual worth, resulting in a very real skewing in the world economy. The sneaker industry proves this point. The waste is not sustainable. Only an idiot believes otherwise. Absolutely none comprehend the extent. Interpretations skew perception. Propaganda utilizes the most favorable point-of-view and interpretations of data to promote stability in these economic systems. However, the good times are not going to continue indefinitely. Economic faith is not religious faith despite the similarities. The bill will come due. Eventually, a systemic correction must occur. The rug may be pulled out too quickly. If another Great Depression were to occur, the populace would be unlikely to pull together as was done prior to World War II. If systemic failure occurs (and no one knows if it will or when), both opponent and opportunist must seize the moment to maximum advantage. The technical morality will still be respected. Clout must be seized. Unity is power. The propagandist must be flexible, and never become emotionally invested in any system, lest a bad horse be backed for sentimental reasons. Of course, most will make this mistake...
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
The Unibomber Manifesto 1-32
This feature will periodically post a portion of all 230 Paragraphs and footnotes.
For the record, I do not endorse his methods. His attempt at propaganda by the deed was bizarre. However, attributable to the publication of his work, he is a second tier Master of Propaganda. Others have followed his lead. Unlike a religious fanatic, he has made people think. Although relatively extreme, his cause is sympathetic. Only a CHUMP wants to destroy the environment.
-SRL
INTRODUCTION
1. The Industrial Revolution and its consequences have been a disaster for the human race. They have greatly increased the life-expectancy of those of us who live in "advanced" countries, but they have destabilized society, have made life unfulfilling, have subjected human beings to indignities, have led to widespread psychological suffering (in the Third World to physical suffering as well) and have inflicted severe damage on the natural world. The continued development of technology will worsen the situation. It will certainly subject human beings to greater indignities and inflict greater damage on the natural world, it will probably lead to greater social disruption and psychological suffering, and it may lead to increased physical suffering even in "advanced" countries.
2. The industrial-technological system may survive or it may break down. If it survives, it MAY eventually achieve a low level of physical and psychological suffering, but only after passing through a long and very painful period of adjustment and only at the cost of permanently reducing human beings and many other living organisms to engineered products and mere cogs in the social machine. Furthermore, if the system survives, the consequences will be inevitable: There is no way of reforming or modifying the system so as to prevent it from depriving people of dignity and autonomy.
3. If the system breaks down the consequences will still be very painful. But the bigger the system grows the more disastrous the results of its breakdown will be, so if it is to break down it had best break down sooner rather than later.
4. We therefore advocate a revolution against the industrial system. This revolution may or may not make use of violence: it may be sudden or it may be a relatively gradual process spanning a few decades. We can't predict any of that. But we do outline in a very general way the measures that those who hate the industrial system should take in order to prepare the way for a revolution against that form of society. This is not to be a POLITICAL revolution. Its object will be to overthrow not governments but the economic and technological basis of the present society.
5. In this article we give attention to only some of the negative developments that have grown out of the industrial-technological system. Other such developments we mention only briefly or ignore altogether. This does not mean that we regard these other developments as unimportant. For practical reasons we have to confine our discussion to areas that have received insufficient public attention or in which we have something new to say. For example, since there are well-developed environmental and wilderness movements, we have written very little about environmental degradation or the destruction of wild nature, even though we consider these to be highly important.
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF MODERN LEFTISM
6. Almost everyone will agree that we live in a deeply troubled society. One of the most widespread manifestations of the craziness of our world is leftism, so a discussion of the psychology of leftism can serve as an introduction to the discussion of the problems of modern society in general.
7. But what is leftism? During the first half of the 20th century leftism could have been practically identified with socialism. Today the movement is fragmented and it is not clear who can properly be called a leftist. When we speak of leftists in this article we have in mind mainly socialists, collectivists, "politically correct" types, feminists, gay and disability activists, animal rights activists and the like. But not everyone who is associated with one of these movements is a leftist. What we are trying to get at in discussing leftism is not so much a movement or an ideology as a psychological type, or rather a collection of related types. Thus, what we mean by "leftism" will emerge more clearly in the course of our discussion of leftist psychology (Also, see paragraphs 227-230.)
8. Even so, our conception of leftism will remain a good deal less clear than we would wish, but there doesn't seem to be any remedy for this. All we are trying to do is indicate in a rough and approximate way the two psychological tendencies that we believe are the main driving force of modern leftism. We by no means claim to be telling the WHOLE truth about leftist psychology. Also, our discussion is meant to apply to modern leftism only. We leave open the question of the extent to which our discussion could be applied to the leftists of the 19th and early 20th century.
9. The two psychological tendencies that underlie modern leftism we call "feelings of inferiority" and "oversocialization." Feelings of inferiority are characteristic of modern leftism as a whole, while oversocialization is characteristic only of a certain segment of modern leftism; but this segment is highly influential.
FEELINGS OF INFERIORITY
10. By "feelings of inferiority" we mean not only inferiority feelings in the strictest sense but a whole spectrum of related traits: low self-esteem, feelings of powerlessness, depressive tendencies, defeatism, guilt, self-hatred, etc. We argue that modern leftists tend to have such feelings (possibly more or less repressed) and that these feelings are decisive in determining the direction of modern leftism.
11. When someone interprets as derogatory almost anything that is said about him (or about groups with whom he identifies) we conclude that he has inferiority feelings or low self-esteem. This tendency is pronounced among minority rights advocates, whether or not they belong to the minority groups whose rights they defend. They are hypersensitive about the words used to designate minorities. The terms "negro," "oriental," "handicapped" or "chick" for an African, an Asian, a disabled person or a woman originally had no derogatory connotation. "Broad" and "chick" were merely the feminine equivalents of "guy," "dude" or "fellow." The negative connotations have been attached to these terms by the activists themselves. Some animal rights advocates have gone so far as to reject the word "pet" and insist on its replacement by "animal companion." Leftist anthropologists go to great lengths to avoid saying anything about primitive peoples that could conceivably be interpreted as negative. They want to replace the word "primitive" by "nonliterate." They seem almost paranoid about anything that might suggest that any primitive culture is inferior to our own. (We do not mean to imply that primitive cultures ARE inferior to ours. We merely point out the hypersensitivity of leftish anthropologists.)
12. Those who are most sensitive about "politically incorrect" terminology are not the average black ghetto-dweller, Asian immigrant, abused woman or disabled person, but a minority of activists, many of whom do not even belong to any "oppressed" group but come from privileged strata of society. Political correctness has its stronghold among university professors, who have secure employment with comfortable salaries, and the majority of whom are heterosexual, white males from middle-class families.
13. Many leftists have an intense identification with the problems of groups that have an image of being weak (women), defeated (American Indians), repellent (homosexuals), or otherwise inferior. The leftists themselves feel that these groups are inferior. They would never admit it to themselves that they have such feelings, but it is precisely because they do see these groups as inferior that they identify with their problems. (We do not suggest that women, Indians, etc., ARE inferior; we are only making a point about leftist psychology).
14. Feminists are desperately anxious to prove that women are as strong as capable as men. Clearly they are nagged by a fear that women may NOT be as strong and as capable as men.
15. Leftists tend to hate anything that has an image of being strong, good and successful. They hate America, they hate Western civilization, they hate white males, they hate rationality. The reasons that leftists give for hating the West, etc. clearly do not correspond with their real motives. They SAY they hate the West because it is warlike, imperialistic, sexist, ethnocentric and so forth, but where these same faults appear in socialist countries or in primitive cultures, the leftist finds excuses for them, or at best he GRUDGINGLY admits that they exist; whereas he ENTHUSIASTICALLY points out (and often greatly exaggerates) these faults where they appear in Western civilization. Thus it is clear that these faults are not the leftist's real motive for hating America and the West. He hates America and the West because they are strong and successful.
16. Words like "self-confidence," "self-reliance," "initiative", "enterprise," "optimism," etc. play little role in the liberal and leftist vocabulary. The leftist is anti-individualistic, pro-collectivist. He wants society to solve everyone's needs for them, take care of them. He is not the sort of person who has an inner sense of confidence in his own ability to solve his own problems and satisfy his own needs. The leftist is antagonistic to the concept of competition because, deep inside, he feels like a loser.
17. Art forms that appeal to modern leftist intellectuals tend to focus on sordidness, defeat and despair, or else they take an orgiastic tone, throwing off rational control as if there were no hope of accomplishing anything through rational calculation and all that was left was to immerse oneself in the sensations of the moment.
18. Modern leftist philosophers tend to dismiss reason, science, objective reality and to insist that everything is culturally relative. It is true that one can ask serious questions about the foundations of scientific knowledge and about how, if at all, the concept of objective reality can be defined. But it is obvious that modern leftist philosophers are not simply cool-headed logicians systematically analyzing the foundations of knowledge. They are deeply involved emotionally in their attack on truth and reality. They attack these concepts because of their own psychological needs. For one thing, their attack is an outlet for hostility, and, to the extent that it is successful, it satisfies the drive for power. More importantly, the leftist hates science and rationality because they classify certain beliefs as true (i.e., successful, superior) and other beliefs as false (i.e. failed, inferior). The leftist's feelings of inferiority run so deep that he cannot tolerate any classification of some things as successful or superior and other things as failed or inferior. This also underlies the rejection by many leftists of the concept of mental illness and of the utility of IQ tests. Leftists are antagonistic to genetic explanations of human abilities or behavior because such explanations tend to make some persons appear superior or inferior to others. Leftists prefer to give society the credit or blame for an individual's ability or lack of it. Thus if a person is "inferior" it is not his fault, but society's, because he has not been brought up properly.
19. The leftist is not typically the kind of person whose feelings of inferiority make him a braggart, an egotist, a bully, a self-promoter, a ruthless competitor. This kind of person has not wholly lost faith in himself. He has a deficit in his sense of power and self-worth, but he can still conceive of himself as having the capacity to be strong, and his efforts to make himself strong produce his unpleasant behavior. [1] But the leftist is too far gone for that. His feelings of inferiority are so ingrained that he cannot conceive of himself as individually strong and valuable. Hence the collectivism of the leftist. He can feel strong only as a member of a large organization or a mass movement with which he identifies himself.
20. Notice the masochistic tendency of leftist tactics. Leftists protest by lying down in front of vehicles, they intentionally provoke police or racists to abuse them, etc. These tactics may often be effective, but many leftists use them not as a means to an end but because they PREFER masochistic tactics. Self-hatred is a leftist trait.
21. Leftists may claim that their activism is motivated by compassion or by moral principle, and moral principle does play a role for the leftist of the oversocialized type. But compassion and moral principle cannot be the main motives for leftist activism. Hostility is too prominent a component of leftist behavior; so is the drive for power. Moreover, much leftist behavior is not rationally calculated to be of benefit to the people whom the leftists claim to be trying to help. For example, if one believes that affirmative action is good for black people, does it make sense to demand affirmative action in hostile or dogmatic terms? Obviously it would be more productive to take a diplomatic and conciliatory approach that would make at least verbal and symbolic concessions to white people who think that affirmative action discriminates against them. But leftist activists do not take such an approach because it would not satisfy their emotional needs. Helping black people is not their real goal. Instead, race problems serve as an excuse for them to express their own hostility and frustrated need for power. In doing so they actually harm black people, because the activists' hostile attitude toward the white majority tends to intensify race hatred.
22. If our society had no social problems at all, the leftists would have to INVENT problems in order to provide themselves with an excuse for making a fuss.
23. We emphasize that the foregoing does not pretend to be an accurate description of everyone who might be considered a leftist. It is only a rough indication of a general tendency of leftism.
OVERSOCIALIZATION
24. Psychologists use the term "socialization" to designate the process by which children are trained to think and act as society demands. A person is said to be well socialized if he believes in and obeys the moral code of his society and fits in well as a functioning part of that society. It may seem senseless to say that many leftists are over-socialized, since the leftist is perceived as a rebel. Nevertheless, the position can be defended. Many leftists are not such rebels as they seem.
25. The moral code of our society is so demanding that no one can think, feel and act in a completely moral way. For example, we are not supposed to hate anyone, yet almost everyone hates somebody at some time or other, whether he admits it to himself or not. Some people are so highly socialized that the attempt to think, feel and act morally imposes a severe burden on them. In order to avoid feelings of guilt, they continually have to deceive themselves about their own motives and find moral explanations for feelings and actions that in reality have a non-moral origin. We use the term "oversocialized" to describe such people. [2]
26. Oversocialization can lead to low self-esteem, a sense of powerlessness, defeatism, guilt, etc. One of the most important means by which our society socializes children is by making them feel ashamed of behavior or speech that is contrary to society's expectations. If this is overdone, or if a particular child is especially susceptible to such feelings, he ends by feeling ashamed of HIMSELF. Moreover the thought and the behavior of the oversocialized person are more restricted by society's expectations than are those of the lightly socialized person. The majority of people engage in a significant amount of naughty behavior. They lie, they commit petty thefts, they break traffic laws, they goof off at work, they hate someone, they say spiteful things or they use some underhanded trick to get ahead of the other guy. The oversocialized person cannot do these things, or if he does do them he generates in himself a sense of shame and self-hatred. The oversocialized person cannot even experience, without guilt, thoughts or feelings that are contrary to the accepted morality; he cannot think "unclean" thoughts. And socialization is not just a matter of morality; we are socialized to confirm to many norms of behavior that do not fall under the heading of morality. Thus the oversocialized person is kept on a psychological leash and spends his life running on rails that society has laid down for him. In many oversocialized people this results in a sense of constraint and powerlessness that can be a severe hardship. We suggest that oversocialization is among the more serious cruelties that human beings inflict on one another.
27. We argue that a very important and influential segment of the modern left is oversocialized and that their oversocialization is of great importance in determining the direction of modern leftism. Leftists of the oversocialized type tend to be intellectuals or members of the upper-middle class. Notice that university intellectuals (3) constitute the most highly socialized segment of our society and also the most left-wing segment.
28. The leftist of the oversocialized type tries to get off his psychological leash and assert his autonomy by rebelling. But usually he is not strong enough to rebel against the most basic values of society. Generally speaking, the goals of today's leftists are NOT in conflict with the accepted morality. On the contrary, the left takes an accepted moral principle, adopts it as its own, and then accuses mainstream society of violating that principle. Examples: racial equality, equality of the sexes, helping poor people, peace as opposed to war, nonviolence generally, freedom of expression, kindness to animals. More fundamentally, the duty of the individual to serve society and the duty of society to take care of the individual. All these have been deeply rooted values of our society (or at least of its middle and upper classes (4) for a long time. These values are explicitly or implicitly expressed or presupposed in most of the material presented to us by the mainstream communications media and the educational system. Leftists, especially those of the oversocialized type, usually do not rebel against these principles but justify their hostility to society by claiming (with some degree of truth) that society is not living up to these principles.
29. Here is an illustration of the way in which the oversocialized leftist shows his real attachment to the conventional attitudes of our society while pretending to be in rebellion against it. Many leftists push for affirmative action, for moving black people into high-prestige jobs, for improved education in black schools and more money for such schools; the way of life of the black "underclass" they regard as a social disgrace. They want to integrate the black man into the system, make him a business executive, a lawyer, a scientist just like upper-middle-class white people. The leftists will reply that the last thing they want is to make the black man into a copy of the white man; instead, they want to preserve African American culture. But in what does this preservation of African American culture consist? It can hardly consist in anything more than eating black-style food, listening to black-style music, wearing black-style clothing and going to a black-style church or mosque. In other words, it can express itself only in superficial matters. In all ESSENTIAL respects more leftists of the oversocialized type want to make the black man conform to white, middle-class ideals. They want to make him study technical subjects, become an executive or a scientist, spend his life climbing the status ladder to prove that black people are as good as white. They want to make black fathers "responsible." they want black gangs to become nonviolent, etc. But these are exactly the values of the industrial-technological system. The system couldn't care less what kind of music a man listens to, what kind of clothes he wears or what religion he believes in as long as he studies in school, holds a respectable job, climbs the status ladder, is a "responsible" parent, is nonviolent and so forth. In effect, however much he may deny it, the oversocialized leftist wants to integrate the black man into the system and make him adopt its values.
30. We certainly do not claim that leftists, even of the oversocialized type, NEVER rebel against the fundamental values of our society. Clearly they sometimes do. Some oversocialized leftists have gone so far as to rebel against one of modern society's most important principles by engaging in physical violence. By their own account, violence is for them a form of "liberation." In other words, by committing violence they break through the psychological restraints that have been trained into them. Because they are oversocialized these restraints have been more confining for them than for others; hence their need to break free of them. But they usually justify their rebellion in terms of mainstream values. If they engage in violence they claim to be fighting against racism or the like.
31. We realize that many objections could be raised to the foregoing thumb-nail sketch of leftist psychology. The real situation is complex, and anything like a complete description of it would take several volumes even if the necessary data were available. We claim only to have indicated very roughly the two most important tendencies in the psychology of modern leftism.
32. The problems of the leftist are indicative of the problems of our society as a whole. Low self-esteem, depressive tendencies and defeatism are not restricted to the left. Though they are especially noticeable in the left, they are widespread in our society. And today's society tries to socialize us to a greater extent than any previous society. We are even told by experts how to eat, how to exercise, how to make love, how to raise our kids and so forth.
1. (Paragraph 19) We are asserting that ALL, or even most, bullies and ruthless competitors suffer from feelings of inferiority.
2. (Paragraph 25) During the Victorian period many oversocialized people suffered from serious psychological problems as a result of repressing or trying to repress their sexual feelings. Freud apparently based his theories on people of this type. Today the focus of socialization has shifted from sex to aggression.
3. (Paragraph 27) Not necessarily including specialists in engineering "hard" sciences.
4. (Paragraph 28) There are many individuals of the middle and upper classes who resist some of these values, but usually their resistance is more or less covert. Such resistance appears in the mass media only to a very limited extent. The main thrust of propaganda in our society is in favor of the stated values.
The main reasons why these values have become, so to speak, the official values of our society is that they are useful to the industrial system. Violence is discouraged because it disrupts the functioning of the system. Racism is discouraged because ethnic conflicts also disrupt the system, and discrimination wastes the talent of minority-group members who could be useful to the system. Poverty must be "cured" because the underclass causes problems for the system and contact with the underclass lowers the moral of the other classes. Women are encouraged to have careers because their talents are useful to the system and, more importantly because by having regular jobs women become better integrated into the system and tied directly to it rather than to their families. This helps to weaken family solidarity. (The leaders of the system say they want to strengthen the family, but they really mean is that they want the family to serve as an effective tool for socializing children in accord with the needs of the system. We argue in paragraphs 51,52 that the system cannot afford to let the family or other small-scale social groups be strong or autonomous.)
For the record, I do not endorse his methods. His attempt at propaganda by the deed was bizarre. However, attributable to the publication of his work, he is a second tier Master of Propaganda. Others have followed his lead. Unlike a religious fanatic, he has made people think. Although relatively extreme, his cause is sympathetic. Only a CHUMP wants to destroy the environment.
-SRL
INTRODUCTION
1. The Industrial Revolution and its consequences have been a disaster for the human race. They have greatly increased the life-expectancy of those of us who live in "advanced" countries, but they have destabilized society, have made life unfulfilling, have subjected human beings to indignities, have led to widespread psychological suffering (in the Third World to physical suffering as well) and have inflicted severe damage on the natural world. The continued development of technology will worsen the situation. It will certainly subject human beings to greater indignities and inflict greater damage on the natural world, it will probably lead to greater social disruption and psychological suffering, and it may lead to increased physical suffering even in "advanced" countries.
2. The industrial-technological system may survive or it may break down. If it survives, it MAY eventually achieve a low level of physical and psychological suffering, but only after passing through a long and very painful period of adjustment and only at the cost of permanently reducing human beings and many other living organisms to engineered products and mere cogs in the social machine. Furthermore, if the system survives, the consequences will be inevitable: There is no way of reforming or modifying the system so as to prevent it from depriving people of dignity and autonomy.
3. If the system breaks down the consequences will still be very painful. But the bigger the system grows the more disastrous the results of its breakdown will be, so if it is to break down it had best break down sooner rather than later.
4. We therefore advocate a revolution against the industrial system. This revolution may or may not make use of violence: it may be sudden or it may be a relatively gradual process spanning a few decades. We can't predict any of that. But we do outline in a very general way the measures that those who hate the industrial system should take in order to prepare the way for a revolution against that form of society. This is not to be a POLITICAL revolution. Its object will be to overthrow not governments but the economic and technological basis of the present society.
5. In this article we give attention to only some of the negative developments that have grown out of the industrial-technological system. Other such developments we mention only briefly or ignore altogether. This does not mean that we regard these other developments as unimportant. For practical reasons we have to confine our discussion to areas that have received insufficient public attention or in which we have something new to say. For example, since there are well-developed environmental and wilderness movements, we have written very little about environmental degradation or the destruction of wild nature, even though we consider these to be highly important.
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF MODERN LEFTISM
6. Almost everyone will agree that we live in a deeply troubled society. One of the most widespread manifestations of the craziness of our world is leftism, so a discussion of the psychology of leftism can serve as an introduction to the discussion of the problems of modern society in general.
7. But what is leftism? During the first half of the 20th century leftism could have been practically identified with socialism. Today the movement is fragmented and it is not clear who can properly be called a leftist. When we speak of leftists in this article we have in mind mainly socialists, collectivists, "politically correct" types, feminists, gay and disability activists, animal rights activists and the like. But not everyone who is associated with one of these movements is a leftist. What we are trying to get at in discussing leftism is not so much a movement or an ideology as a psychological type, or rather a collection of related types. Thus, what we mean by "leftism" will emerge more clearly in the course of our discussion of leftist psychology (Also, see paragraphs 227-230.)
8. Even so, our conception of leftism will remain a good deal less clear than we would wish, but there doesn't seem to be any remedy for this. All we are trying to do is indicate in a rough and approximate way the two psychological tendencies that we believe are the main driving force of modern leftism. We by no means claim to be telling the WHOLE truth about leftist psychology. Also, our discussion is meant to apply to modern leftism only. We leave open the question of the extent to which our discussion could be applied to the leftists of the 19th and early 20th century.
9. The two psychological tendencies that underlie modern leftism we call "feelings of inferiority" and "oversocialization." Feelings of inferiority are characteristic of modern leftism as a whole, while oversocialization is characteristic only of a certain segment of modern leftism; but this segment is highly influential.
FEELINGS OF INFERIORITY
10. By "feelings of inferiority" we mean not only inferiority feelings in the strictest sense but a whole spectrum of related traits: low self-esteem, feelings of powerlessness, depressive tendencies, defeatism, guilt, self-hatred, etc. We argue that modern leftists tend to have such feelings (possibly more or less repressed) and that these feelings are decisive in determining the direction of modern leftism.
11. When someone interprets as derogatory almost anything that is said about him (or about groups with whom he identifies) we conclude that he has inferiority feelings or low self-esteem. This tendency is pronounced among minority rights advocates, whether or not they belong to the minority groups whose rights they defend. They are hypersensitive about the words used to designate minorities. The terms "negro," "oriental," "handicapped" or "chick" for an African, an Asian, a disabled person or a woman originally had no derogatory connotation. "Broad" and "chick" were merely the feminine equivalents of "guy," "dude" or "fellow." The negative connotations have been attached to these terms by the activists themselves. Some animal rights advocates have gone so far as to reject the word "pet" and insist on its replacement by "animal companion." Leftist anthropologists go to great lengths to avoid saying anything about primitive peoples that could conceivably be interpreted as negative. They want to replace the word "primitive" by "nonliterate." They seem almost paranoid about anything that might suggest that any primitive culture is inferior to our own. (We do not mean to imply that primitive cultures ARE inferior to ours. We merely point out the hypersensitivity of leftish anthropologists.)
12. Those who are most sensitive about "politically incorrect" terminology are not the average black ghetto-dweller, Asian immigrant, abused woman or disabled person, but a minority of activists, many of whom do not even belong to any "oppressed" group but come from privileged strata of society. Political correctness has its stronghold among university professors, who have secure employment with comfortable salaries, and the majority of whom are heterosexual, white males from middle-class families.
13. Many leftists have an intense identification with the problems of groups that have an image of being weak (women), defeated (American Indians), repellent (homosexuals), or otherwise inferior. The leftists themselves feel that these groups are inferior. They would never admit it to themselves that they have such feelings, but it is precisely because they do see these groups as inferior that they identify with their problems. (We do not suggest that women, Indians, etc., ARE inferior; we are only making a point about leftist psychology).
14. Feminists are desperately anxious to prove that women are as strong as capable as men. Clearly they are nagged by a fear that women may NOT be as strong and as capable as men.
15. Leftists tend to hate anything that has an image of being strong, good and successful. They hate America, they hate Western civilization, they hate white males, they hate rationality. The reasons that leftists give for hating the West, etc. clearly do not correspond with their real motives. They SAY they hate the West because it is warlike, imperialistic, sexist, ethnocentric and so forth, but where these same faults appear in socialist countries or in primitive cultures, the leftist finds excuses for them, or at best he GRUDGINGLY admits that they exist; whereas he ENTHUSIASTICALLY points out (and often greatly exaggerates) these faults where they appear in Western civilization. Thus it is clear that these faults are not the leftist's real motive for hating America and the West. He hates America and the West because they are strong and successful.
16. Words like "self-confidence," "self-reliance," "initiative", "enterprise," "optimism," etc. play little role in the liberal and leftist vocabulary. The leftist is anti-individualistic, pro-collectivist. He wants society to solve everyone's needs for them, take care of them. He is not the sort of person who has an inner sense of confidence in his own ability to solve his own problems and satisfy his own needs. The leftist is antagonistic to the concept of competition because, deep inside, he feels like a loser.
17. Art forms that appeal to modern leftist intellectuals tend to focus on sordidness, defeat and despair, or else they take an orgiastic tone, throwing off rational control as if there were no hope of accomplishing anything through rational calculation and all that was left was to immerse oneself in the sensations of the moment.
18. Modern leftist philosophers tend to dismiss reason, science, objective reality and to insist that everything is culturally relative. It is true that one can ask serious questions about the foundations of scientific knowledge and about how, if at all, the concept of objective reality can be defined. But it is obvious that modern leftist philosophers are not simply cool-headed logicians systematically analyzing the foundations of knowledge. They are deeply involved emotionally in their attack on truth and reality. They attack these concepts because of their own psychological needs. For one thing, their attack is an outlet for hostility, and, to the extent that it is successful, it satisfies the drive for power. More importantly, the leftist hates science and rationality because they classify certain beliefs as true (i.e., successful, superior) and other beliefs as false (i.e. failed, inferior). The leftist's feelings of inferiority run so deep that he cannot tolerate any classification of some things as successful or superior and other things as failed or inferior. This also underlies the rejection by many leftists of the concept of mental illness and of the utility of IQ tests. Leftists are antagonistic to genetic explanations of human abilities or behavior because such explanations tend to make some persons appear superior or inferior to others. Leftists prefer to give society the credit or blame for an individual's ability or lack of it. Thus if a person is "inferior" it is not his fault, but society's, because he has not been brought up properly.
19. The leftist is not typically the kind of person whose feelings of inferiority make him a braggart, an egotist, a bully, a self-promoter, a ruthless competitor. This kind of person has not wholly lost faith in himself. He has a deficit in his sense of power and self-worth, but he can still conceive of himself as having the capacity to be strong, and his efforts to make himself strong produce his unpleasant behavior. [1] But the leftist is too far gone for that. His feelings of inferiority are so ingrained that he cannot conceive of himself as individually strong and valuable. Hence the collectivism of the leftist. He can feel strong only as a member of a large organization or a mass movement with which he identifies himself.
20. Notice the masochistic tendency of leftist tactics. Leftists protest by lying down in front of vehicles, they intentionally provoke police or racists to abuse them, etc. These tactics may often be effective, but many leftists use them not as a means to an end but because they PREFER masochistic tactics. Self-hatred is a leftist trait.
21. Leftists may claim that their activism is motivated by compassion or by moral principle, and moral principle does play a role for the leftist of the oversocialized type. But compassion and moral principle cannot be the main motives for leftist activism. Hostility is too prominent a component of leftist behavior; so is the drive for power. Moreover, much leftist behavior is not rationally calculated to be of benefit to the people whom the leftists claim to be trying to help. For example, if one believes that affirmative action is good for black people, does it make sense to demand affirmative action in hostile or dogmatic terms? Obviously it would be more productive to take a diplomatic and conciliatory approach that would make at least verbal and symbolic concessions to white people who think that affirmative action discriminates against them. But leftist activists do not take such an approach because it would not satisfy their emotional needs. Helping black people is not their real goal. Instead, race problems serve as an excuse for them to express their own hostility and frustrated need for power. In doing so they actually harm black people, because the activists' hostile attitude toward the white majority tends to intensify race hatred.
22. If our society had no social problems at all, the leftists would have to INVENT problems in order to provide themselves with an excuse for making a fuss.
23. We emphasize that the foregoing does not pretend to be an accurate description of everyone who might be considered a leftist. It is only a rough indication of a general tendency of leftism.
OVERSOCIALIZATION
24. Psychologists use the term "socialization" to designate the process by which children are trained to think and act as society demands. A person is said to be well socialized if he believes in and obeys the moral code of his society and fits in well as a functioning part of that society. It may seem senseless to say that many leftists are over-socialized, since the leftist is perceived as a rebel. Nevertheless, the position can be defended. Many leftists are not such rebels as they seem.
25. The moral code of our society is so demanding that no one can think, feel and act in a completely moral way. For example, we are not supposed to hate anyone, yet almost everyone hates somebody at some time or other, whether he admits it to himself or not. Some people are so highly socialized that the attempt to think, feel and act morally imposes a severe burden on them. In order to avoid feelings of guilt, they continually have to deceive themselves about their own motives and find moral explanations for feelings and actions that in reality have a non-moral origin. We use the term "oversocialized" to describe such people. [2]
26. Oversocialization can lead to low self-esteem, a sense of powerlessness, defeatism, guilt, etc. One of the most important means by which our society socializes children is by making them feel ashamed of behavior or speech that is contrary to society's expectations. If this is overdone, or if a particular child is especially susceptible to such feelings, he ends by feeling ashamed of HIMSELF. Moreover the thought and the behavior of the oversocialized person are more restricted by society's expectations than are those of the lightly socialized person. The majority of people engage in a significant amount of naughty behavior. They lie, they commit petty thefts, they break traffic laws, they goof off at work, they hate someone, they say spiteful things or they use some underhanded trick to get ahead of the other guy. The oversocialized person cannot do these things, or if he does do them he generates in himself a sense of shame and self-hatred. The oversocialized person cannot even experience, without guilt, thoughts or feelings that are contrary to the accepted morality; he cannot think "unclean" thoughts. And socialization is not just a matter of morality; we are socialized to confirm to many norms of behavior that do not fall under the heading of morality. Thus the oversocialized person is kept on a psychological leash and spends his life running on rails that society has laid down for him. In many oversocialized people this results in a sense of constraint and powerlessness that can be a severe hardship. We suggest that oversocialization is among the more serious cruelties that human beings inflict on one another.
27. We argue that a very important and influential segment of the modern left is oversocialized and that their oversocialization is of great importance in determining the direction of modern leftism. Leftists of the oversocialized type tend to be intellectuals or members of the upper-middle class. Notice that university intellectuals (3) constitute the most highly socialized segment of our society and also the most left-wing segment.
28. The leftist of the oversocialized type tries to get off his psychological leash and assert his autonomy by rebelling. But usually he is not strong enough to rebel against the most basic values of society. Generally speaking, the goals of today's leftists are NOT in conflict with the accepted morality. On the contrary, the left takes an accepted moral principle, adopts it as its own, and then accuses mainstream society of violating that principle. Examples: racial equality, equality of the sexes, helping poor people, peace as opposed to war, nonviolence generally, freedom of expression, kindness to animals. More fundamentally, the duty of the individual to serve society and the duty of society to take care of the individual. All these have been deeply rooted values of our society (or at least of its middle and upper classes (4) for a long time. These values are explicitly or implicitly expressed or presupposed in most of the material presented to us by the mainstream communications media and the educational system. Leftists, especially those of the oversocialized type, usually do not rebel against these principles but justify their hostility to society by claiming (with some degree of truth) that society is not living up to these principles.
29. Here is an illustration of the way in which the oversocialized leftist shows his real attachment to the conventional attitudes of our society while pretending to be in rebellion against it. Many leftists push for affirmative action, for moving black people into high-prestige jobs, for improved education in black schools and more money for such schools; the way of life of the black "underclass" they regard as a social disgrace. They want to integrate the black man into the system, make him a business executive, a lawyer, a scientist just like upper-middle-class white people. The leftists will reply that the last thing they want is to make the black man into a copy of the white man; instead, they want to preserve African American culture. But in what does this preservation of African American culture consist? It can hardly consist in anything more than eating black-style food, listening to black-style music, wearing black-style clothing and going to a black-style church or mosque. In other words, it can express itself only in superficial matters. In all ESSENTIAL respects more leftists of the oversocialized type want to make the black man conform to white, middle-class ideals. They want to make him study technical subjects, become an executive or a scientist, spend his life climbing the status ladder to prove that black people are as good as white. They want to make black fathers "responsible." they want black gangs to become nonviolent, etc. But these are exactly the values of the industrial-technological system. The system couldn't care less what kind of music a man listens to, what kind of clothes he wears or what religion he believes in as long as he studies in school, holds a respectable job, climbs the status ladder, is a "responsible" parent, is nonviolent and so forth. In effect, however much he may deny it, the oversocialized leftist wants to integrate the black man into the system and make him adopt its values.
30. We certainly do not claim that leftists, even of the oversocialized type, NEVER rebel against the fundamental values of our society. Clearly they sometimes do. Some oversocialized leftists have gone so far as to rebel against one of modern society's most important principles by engaging in physical violence. By their own account, violence is for them a form of "liberation." In other words, by committing violence they break through the psychological restraints that have been trained into them. Because they are oversocialized these restraints have been more confining for them than for others; hence their need to break free of them. But they usually justify their rebellion in terms of mainstream values. If they engage in violence they claim to be fighting against racism or the like.
31. We realize that many objections could be raised to the foregoing thumb-nail sketch of leftist psychology. The real situation is complex, and anything like a complete description of it would take several volumes even if the necessary data were available. We claim only to have indicated very roughly the two most important tendencies in the psychology of modern leftism.
32. The problems of the leftist are indicative of the problems of our society as a whole. Low self-esteem, depressive tendencies and defeatism are not restricted to the left. Though they are especially noticeable in the left, they are widespread in our society. And today's society tries to socialize us to a greater extent than any previous society. We are even told by experts how to eat, how to exercise, how to make love, how to raise our kids and so forth.
1. (Paragraph 19) We are asserting that ALL, or even most, bullies and ruthless competitors suffer from feelings of inferiority.
2. (Paragraph 25) During the Victorian period many oversocialized people suffered from serious psychological problems as a result of repressing or trying to repress their sexual feelings. Freud apparently based his theories on people of this type. Today the focus of socialization has shifted from sex to aggression.
3. (Paragraph 27) Not necessarily including specialists in engineering "hard" sciences.
4. (Paragraph 28) There are many individuals of the middle and upper classes who resist some of these values, but usually their resistance is more or less covert. Such resistance appears in the mass media only to a very limited extent. The main thrust of propaganda in our society is in favor of the stated values.
The main reasons why these values have become, so to speak, the official values of our society is that they are useful to the industrial system. Violence is discouraged because it disrupts the functioning of the system. Racism is discouraged because ethnic conflicts also disrupt the system, and discrimination wastes the talent of minority-group members who could be useful to the system. Poverty must be "cured" because the underclass causes problems for the system and contact with the underclass lowers the moral of the other classes. Women are encouraged to have careers because their talents are useful to the system and, more importantly because by having regular jobs women become better integrated into the system and tied directly to it rather than to their families. This helps to weaken family solidarity. (The leaders of the system say they want to strengthen the family, but they really mean is that they want the family to serve as an effective tool for socializing children in accord with the needs of the system. We argue in paragraphs 51,52 that the system cannot afford to let the family or other small-scale social groups be strong or autonomous.)
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