___Hostile Takeover: The End of Democracy as We Know It___

So in case you are not "in the loop," my current, and next story (and the one after that, apparently), deal with corporations. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm not a fan of corporate culture. I don't fit in that environment, so I'm going through the idea of what's going on, and looking at it with my Sun Tzu perspective, but I think what's going on, and where things are headed are in a not so good development.

Most banks are owned by corporations, which means that corporations control the currency, the ability to buy land, the ability to create credit cards, the ability to do anything regarding money. The Feds create the money, but we generally outspend on a credit card. Oddly enough, people have forgotten about the ability to save money. Rather than paying interest on a loan for a car, you could save your payments up in an interest bearing account, and get the car, with money left over. Rather than fianancing that new HD-TV, you have the ability to afford it for the 37 dollars a month. Making interest as opposed to paying it can be explained. This rabid dog consumer culture needs to be put down, and luckily, our faceless corporations which hide behind boardrooms have a solution.

If Corporate America decided to declare war on us, we would lose. They have our money already, they already control our ports, our means of transportation, and our means of defending ourselves. There were a record number of foreclosures over the past few years, mostly due to an unimpressive economy and widespread unemployment, which is down, but still at 11%. 33 million out of work that are able to work, when the population is at around 300 million which includes retired and children. That's not a number that's good. But here's the thing. But back to the foreclosure thing. A foreclosure is something that happens when some one, for whatever reason, can't afford their loan. The property is then seized by the bank that issued or owns the loan. Now, the bank, headed by a corporation, now owns the land, and has made a profit on what was paid. Then there was the balloon payments. Generally speaking, a balloon payment is a consolidated interest payment, usually about 30,000 on a 100k mortgage. The idea is to refianance, so you have another mortgage. So, with the ammount of foreclosures, the merging of large corporations together, could in theory mean that they could seize control of the country. The land, the farms, the food, the streets, everything is for sale, and it's getting bought, and some how, I feel that it's the people getting sold out.

Corporations do not operate in a competitive way, they operate in a genocidal way. Look at what happens to small businesses, grocery stores, everything when a wal-mart moves into an area. Wal-Mart, a corporation that surpresses free speech and publicly announces when it isn't going to carry something of a controversial nature... Making unavailable materials that don't agree with their values is dangerous. Because technically, they have a right to sell whatever they want. The problem is that their tactics that try to put other businesses out of competition, means that they are tyranny.

Then you have to deal with "Soft Money" and all of these politicians being bought by the corporations. It's a problem. Like prohibition was beneficial for the mob, lack of diversity and competition is beneficial to the corporation. The racket is legal, because they are the ones who own the politicians. I don't know, this isn't going anywhere, and I feel like giving up again. It's alcohol for dinner.
paul.

___Bring It!____

Okay,
So I've been hearing endless stuff about Iran, The Ports, Hunting Accidents, and all sorts of shit regarding this Bush administration. I said he sucked when he first ran, he sucked, and then when he ran I reminded people he sucked, and he was re-elected, and surprise, he still sucks. He sucks more now than he did during his first term, because he's in evil 2nd term and he isn't getting a third one, the hood removed from the demon for we've accepted him as our leader.

He bribed everyone with a 300 dollar check, which still doesn't buy a new x-box 360, which is what I need for distraction, so whenever someone asks what freedom costs, you can respond honestly and say 300 dollars.

What does 300 dollars buy? Silence of our people as constitutional rights are taken away by the evils of the patriot act. Yeah, I knew what it was before Fahrenheit 9-11. I bitched about it and put a big sign up in my video store explaining I would have to surrender the information of what tapes your watching if asked to by a federal agent. Pretty risky move because we rented porn out, as well as extremely left wing docs and movies.

But in all actuality, Iran, the war on terror, the war in Iraq, NoKo, and Syria, Jordan and everywhere else, what we are doing is spreading our military thin so we can render them ineffective, and render ourselves defenseless. This way, we can get invaded, and kill off some of our population, which is causing a problem with unemployment and the economy. So the poor will die, and the rich will remain rich, and the middle class can pick up the bill. God bless us middle classers.

The fucked up thing, is that he is making birth control and abortion more of a problem, so an unwanted child can be brought into this world of no fucking jobs and no fucking security, because that's against God's way, yet sending soldiers off to die, living people who are loved, and wanted, off to die, is God's Way because their sacrifice is what makes America great. Fuck that. Their UNNEEDED sacrifice is fucking pornography. Your oil shares are not worth a damn to me like my friends are. Fuck you for thinking they are.

So, when we're fucking invaded, and we can't defend ourselves, use your 300 dollars to buy yourself a gun and a couple of rounds and defend this shit yourself.

I've been saying this for a long time, those in my freshman comp class in HS probably remember the first time I opened my mouth about this. If you want to make something an issue, get rich white kids to do it. It happened with school violence. But when I was first starting highschool, it was "gang violence" then it became "School Violence." Even though the most famous, Columbine massacre was something of a gang taking out other students, it certainly wasn't reported that way. My point was proven again with Oklahoma City versus 9-11. Oklahoma City were lone nuts, not hardcore Christian Fundamentalists which they were, 9-11 were Islamic Fundamentalists, not lone nuts.

And Now we have a hardcore Christian Fundamentalist as president, who believes in that whole Revelations Book of Daniel apocalyptic ending, and has the power to make that come true, and we're being convinced that it's a good thing, when it certainly is not and goes against everything Christ taught, like forgiveness. For the record, I don't have a problem with Christianity, most Christians whom I have met are good, decent people. I have a problem with people perverting what was initially a really good idea into a really bad one. He's starting a new world war, a jihad, a crusade, and it's all going to end badly for the poor. Because his ass can afford to end the world because he thinks he's saved.

Fuck it, we're doomed and I'll drink to that.

___a sunset under an umbrella tree___

There is an odd thing going on in the world of Hip Hop, and in America, and I have a theory on the increase in urban virus affecting our consciousness and our perspective. Now, I know a lot of people, specifically white people that are going to take a sense of offense at what I'm about to write, please keep in mind, that I too am a white male, aka "The Man", and I hope that this doesn't offend, rather, I hope to express an opinion that is, controversial, yet provides for something to think about. Also, keep in mind, that I really hate racism and sexism of any kind.

I listen to some hip hop, and I enjoy a lot of it. I even like rap, gangsta rap. It's music that gets me amped and ready to face my day. When I'm shadow boxing, when I'm working out, it gets me going. But there are problems with a lot of things that are going on, and ideas in some of the songs that are troubling... Some examples...

"Fuck that nigga, fuck that bitch!"
-"Real Nigga Roll Call" by Lil Jon

"Cause when I grab my sawed off, Niggas get halled off"
-"Natural Born Killaz" by Dr Dre

"Now it's time for bed, Two more to the head, got the floor red, Yeah that nigga's dead"
-"Ruff Ryders Anthem by DMX

Now, I actually like these songs, but here's where the problem lies. Imagine, if you will, a white supremacist is singing these songs...

That's Some Fucked Up Shit, Holmes.

Now, let's, study some interesting correlations, shall we? Most of what we consider symbols of wealth and power, mostly comes from Africa, the poorest continent. Gold, Diamonds, Oil, and other natural resources. Now, take into consideration that the richest countries in the world, including the United States, financially back ruthless dictators, that are guilty of war crimes, including, but not limited to, Ethnic Cleansing. Now, would we support the military actions of a country that often, as a means of starving children, removes the breasts of women so they cannot breast feed their children. Of course we wouldn't...

I'm not entirely sure of whether or not I buy into a conspiracy theory that AIDS is a man-made virus, to be used as a weapon. The argument that it doesn't operate like any other virus on the planet, and it is a relatively new virus, which would have in theory appeared earlier in history than it did, is hard to debate, as is the original explanations from the Green Monkey would be considered hogwash because of it's place in history. The first cases in America showed up after a hepatitis test in the seventies that was supposedly for sexually active black and homosexual males, and that all of the people who had this test done ended up with the virus... However, something interesting, though... It is believed that at least 46% of Africa is afflicted with AIDS, and to combat it, the government is funding a project called A. B. C.

A is Be Abstinate,
If you can't be Abstinate, B is Be Monogamous,
and if you can't be Monogamous, C is Wear A Condom.

Though, I won't argue that the above is bad advice (for AN INDUSTRIALIZED NATION), I will say that it's not effective enough. It completely leaves out, Get Tested OFTEN. Which is the most crucial part of controlling an epidemic. I would also say that the availability of condoms, yet alone money to buy them, is extremely limited. You also have to take into consideration that approximately, 5 out of 8 women in Africa are raped, usually by soldiers in countries, including the soldiers of the dictators we financially back in order to get our natural resources.

Now imagine this, for a minute, what would happen if these poor people realized that they control the wealth of the world. Imagine if they stuck together. Imagine, if they had quality education, better health care, and a stable government, they could control the wealth of the world. It would be total chaos. Imagine the Rappers who support the idea of Bling-Bling, with their gold, their diamonds, and their big, inefficient cars realized that is what is killing their people, their history, their culture.

The development of Africa, is something that hasn't happened, and I believe there is a reason for it. It would be total chaos.

Now, granted, I believe that the United States will eventually crumble, and even if I don't agree with a lot of our policies, I believe it would be a problem that would be too devastating for the world. After all, look at what happened after the fall of Rome, Europe was almost entirely one country, and look at North America, a continent of Three Countries. (I consider Central America to be part of South America, since the Governments there seem to operate like South American Countries, as does the Caribbean).

So, back to the basics, why is so much violence between Blacks encouraged by white companies? Why is Africa dying for apparently no reason, other than ignorance, greed, and apathy?

...Because Racism is still present in our society.

Though some people would argue, that we've come a long way, and why it's not a BIG deal anymore, and that racism is something uniformly applied to rednecks, take a few examples in recent history and try to argue with this.

September 11, 2001, there is a terrorist attack on the United States, led by Osama Bin Ladin. The media stressed that he is an Islamic Fundamentalist, and what happens is widespread attacks and suspicion of Arab-Americans. Pat Robertson on CNN says that Islam is a "Terrorist Religion, and a Religion of Hate." Jerry Falwell claims that God has lifted his protection from us because of homosexuals and feminists and abortion.

April 19, 1995, Oklahoma City Federal Building bombed, led by Terry Nichols and Timothy McVeigh, the news makes no mention that they are white, Fundamentalist Christians. Pat Robertson doesn't go onto CNN and claim that Christianity is a "Terrorist Religion, a religion of Hate." Jerry Falwell doesn't say that this attack is because of feminists and homosexuals and abortion. Apparently, God had nothing to do with this, being that Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols were lone nuts. Of course they were.

Watch your local news and see how the difference in Black Crime is reported and White Crime. Listen for the key words in the description of the criminal. Why isn't there more popular music, translating to music that is played on the radio ad nauseum, which encourages White on White violence? And don't give me that there is no violence in white people...

When I was in Film School, we watched a movie called "Triumph of the Will." For those unaware of the movie, it is a documentary about Hitler Youth. If you've seen it, you can see how the Nazi party was sold to the German People. The reason I bring this up, is that the population is sold art, (which implies created by artists), and it's easier to force an agenda into our collective thoughts. So what is the young black youth being sold? Songs about killing other young black youth. So that our white children can live in a "Nigga Free Zone."

(My work often has a political confrontational aspect to it, however, generally speaking, I feel that I will be a huge failure in this country. The ideas are too radical and too against the grain to really allow myself to be viewed under any positive light. Afterall, you don't make a statement like the concept of justice is how the most evil acts are accomplished, and expect that to go over well, at all.)

I also ponder this, when I was a high schooler, Clinton was our president and we heard on popular radio bands like Public Enemy, Rage Against the Machine, and other politically charged songs. I watched shows like "The X-Files" which were in theory saying bad things about the Government. Under Clinton, the country had more peace, prosperity, and the lowest crime on record, then any other president in the history of the United States. Now, we're under the spell of George Jr., and we have hardly any anti-government entertainment, or watchdogs of any kind. Have the artists of the world sold out? Given Up? Or is it because we're not being marketed these things under our current leadership. Afterall, the people that put this stuff out when Clinton was in charge, most were Conservatives with lots, and lots of money.

So, what is my suggestion for all of this? Stay informed, as always. Start being involved in your own and in other communities, with groups that promote tolerance. It's only through apathy and doing nothing that things remain fucked.

Stay Open Minded, and don't tolerate Racism from any loved one.
-Paul

___red faction___

"What I said was 'God exists, and he's American'. If that statement starts to chill you after a few moments' of consideration, then don't be alarmed. A feeling of intense and crushing religious terror at the concept indicates only that you are still sane."
-Alan Moore's Watchmen (written in 1986)

"They say I can sell anything; I'd like to try to sell something to you"? It is the international system of currency which determines the vitality of life on this planet. THAT is the natural order of things today. THAT is the atomic and subatomic and galactic structure of things today. And YOU have meddled with the primal forces of nature. And YOU WILL ATONE. Am I getting through to you, Mr. Beale? You get up on your little 21-inch screen and howl about America, and democracy. There is no America; there is no democracy. There is only IBM, and ITT, and AT&T, and DuPont, Dow, Union Carbide, and Exxon. Those are the nations of the world today... You have meddled with the primal forces of nature, Mr. Beale, and I won't have it. Is that clear? You think you've merely stopped a business deal? That is not the case. The Arabs have taken billions of dollars out of this country, and now they must put it back. It is ebb and flow, tidal gravity. It is ecological balance. You are an old man who thinks in terms of nations and peoples. There are no nations; there are no peoples. There are no Russians. There are no Arabs. There are no third worlds. There is no West. There is only one holistic system of systems; one vast, interwoven, interacting, multi-varied, multinational dominion of dollars"? The world is a business, Mr. Beale; it has been since man crawled out of the slime. Our children will live, Mr. Beale, to see that perfect world in which there's no war or famine, oppression or brutality - one vast and ecumenical holding company, for whom all men will work to serve a common profit, in which all men will hold a share of stock - all necessities provided, all anxieties tranquilized, all boredom amused. "
-Arthur Jensen in Network (made in 1976)

1. Mathematics is the language of nature. 2. Everything around us can be represented and understood through numbers. 3. If you graph these numbers, patterns emerge. Therefore: There are patterns everywhere in nature."?
-Maximillian Cohen in Pi

I was watching Moneyline with Lou Dobbs last night, and I saw some particularly troubling headlines. Now, I am sure I'm going to get the "Paul, what the hell are you watching Moneyline for?" Well, young children, a secret of the world is that economics in which the language of politics are spoken." And Politics said last night... (Sorry about all the indentation).

1. General Motors announces that they are laying off at least 160,000 employees from American Assembly Plants, to relocate their plants to other countries where labor is cheaper.

2. Google is taking heat for working with Communist China in suppressing Free Speech. (in a headline that was worthy of the Daily Show, "Dot Commies")

3. Hamas wins landslide elections in Palestine.

I"??ve said before, and I will say again, that we are being conditioned for revolution in this country. Perhaps some would think that would be a good idea, after all corporations are getting out of hand. A parent company that I worked for, CitiGroup, boasted as to having over 1 trillion dollars in assets. One trillion dollars and our country is about 300 million or so people. Figure out the math in that one (hint, 1 billion dollars is .1> of their assets). And never forget, that"??s one corporation. However, it"??s for that entire reason that I oppose the idea of revolution. The country has become too big to revolt, for one, that the entire world would have to suffer an enormous amount of bloodshed that wouldn"??t stop for centuries. (Look what happened after the fall of Rome.) With enough bloodshed and that our government currently has the largest depot of nuclear arms, with enough power to blow up the world several times over"? I apologize if I am scaring you. The other problem is that in times of revolution, the current system inverts, where as the political triangle is generally pointed towards an apex like ^ with moderates in the middle and on top, in times of revolution it looks similar to a V with the extremists on top. Sure America sucks with George Jr. as president, but imagine if Pat Buchanan was. It wouldn"??t be something as cute as shitty; it would be terrifying for anyone that opposed him, and his extremist conservative outlooks. Where does this fit into the grand scheme of the above stories.

160,000 people out of work from one company will have nothing but an even more dreadful impact on the economy. 160,000 people with no jobs to replace them in their trades. Now, I grew up in Erie, which is a city of about 120,000 people. Now, imagine an entire CITY out of work, to understand the greatness of what"??s going on. Crime is going to go through the roof, as is the economic system that we live in will take a huge punch as people will not be able to afford houses, their existing mortgages, and everything else that we rely on, will mean more companies will lay off, which means more unemployment, which means more crime, which means more instability. Sounds like a perfect time for something else to go on"? War: The great population reducer.

2 and 3 are related in a way that most people don"??t realize. Let"??s look at the relationships in question, shall we? Google is an American company, and America is a supporter of Israel. Now let"??s connect a few other dots, shall we? Hamas wins a historic landslide victory in Palestinian senate elections. Hamas is one of the largest terrorist organizations in the world, that"??s committed to the destruction of Israel. Back when I was in grade school, like 4th or 5th grade, I remember reading about them in my dad"??s newspaper. Asking what h-mas was because it used to be spelled Hmaas. He told me about terrorism growing in the world, but not to worry, and then he showed me Die Hard, telling me that the good guys always win. But back to Hamas, Hamas is supported by Iran, which is an Iraqi ally, in the wake of understanding their mutual hatred of the United States, given that we provided arms for both of them in the 1980"??s to kill each other off with. Now here"??s another thing about Iran, Iran"??s biggest ally is China, who"??s other ally"??s include North Korea, and please don"??t tell me that we"??ve forgotten about their growing nuclear arsenal. Then, on top of that, there"??s Russia, or what used to be of it, and they are training their troops together, which could be signs of another ally in that favor. So the stage is going to be set for another World War. We have economic crisis, unemployment means a lot of people who will do anything to get by.

If we go to war with China, we will lose. The country outnumbers us over three fold, plus has economic backing from American Companies. Looking back to our history, the Union beat the Confederates by a simple thing. The Draft. Ulysses S. Grant beat the confederate army, which was out skilled by us, and won almost every battle, until Grant got the draft and could just beat the south by outnumbering them, even though the casualties were ridiculous on both sides, which earned him the nickname of "Grant The Butcher."? Now, what I"??m about to tell you is going to sound racist, or what have you, but I assure you that I"??m not and I don"??t agree with the mentality behind it, I just know it"??s there. The war was never about Slavery. It was about economics. The problem was that Slavery became inefficient. Think about it this way, you"??re in the South, you have a staff that you have to feed, clothe, and shelter with your money. You manage to get the government together to allow you to make these (majority) uneducated trained to do one job, to work for next to nothing, and you no longer have to provide for them, thus making it the former slave"??s obligation to provide for himself and his family. Now, the north began taxing the south for agriculture, which provided more money for the companies up north, and that is what caused the succession of the southern states. The war served to deal with the growing immigration and poverty problems that basically killed off it"??s populous. The Civil war was about money and overpopulation. War has always been about money. And we are about to have a lot of poverty in this country.

So, what do we do? We take comfort in the fact that our culture has survived these things, and civilization hasn"??t collapsed after every tragedy and horrible thing that happens. We take comfort that we are not the ones making the decisions to cause all of the death, we never had a chance, and we"??ve never had a voice. Perhaps one day, we will, but not for a long time, and until that time, keep informed and active, keep sponsoring charity, keep our heads up, and live as a moral person in a godless world, and take comfort in that we did our best to preserve the decency of the American people, and the human race. And finally, take comfort in something the great bard said, and has provided me comfort for many a sleepless nights, "All the world is a stage and we merely players."

Goodnight,

Paul.

___