“A philosopher named Aristippus, who had quite willingly sucked up to Dionysus and won himself a spot at his court, saw Diogenes cooking lentils for a meal. "If you would only learn to compliment Dionysus, you wouldn't have to live on lentils."
Diogenes replied, "But if you would only learn to live on lentils, you wouldn't have to flatter Dionysus.”
Yeah, but Dionysus can seize or render useless the ground you need to grow them lentils, or burn your harvest. Simple tastes won't save you from the most rapacious leaders and their henchwolves.
And the quote's a reminder that we ain't seeing nothing new. We'd be a lot smarter not to imagine ourselves so modern.
I think myself that we have more machinery of government than is necessary, too many parasites living on the labor ot the industrious. Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have ... The course of history shows that as a government grows, liberty decreases. The two enemies of the people are criminals and government, so let us tie the second down with the chains of the constitution so the second will not become the legalized version of the
I don't know why, but I thought of this great (paraphrased) quote from H.L.Mencken: "Every election is a sort of advance auction of stolen goods". Imagine Atilla the Hun clean-shaven, dressed in a suit and tie, but with thousands of professors and journalists to tell us he wants what's best for us.
Your image of Attila the Hun as clean-shaven and dressed in a suit and tie reminded me of the quote by CS Lewis in his preface to the Screwtape Letters: “The greatest evil is not now done in those sordid "dens of crime" that Dickens loved to paint. It is not done even in concentration camps and labour camps. In those we see its final result. But it is conceived and ordered (moved, seconded, carried, and minuted) in clean, carpeted, warmed and well-lighted offices, by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voices.”
I will acknowledge that my familiarity with Nixon’s political career is limited. To my understanding some policies during his administration, may even have been beneficial for the people.
I am however noticing a weird trend among partisan commentators, to whitewash specific right wing politicians just because they said the right thing at some point, among them Nixon. Wasn’t Nixon responsible for the end of the Breton Woods agreement? Was that something trivial?
fwiw, i suspect the same was done to kennedy, so i don't think this is partisan.
i think there is a deep set of vested interests in the sort of "permanent state" aka "the blob" that has quite a lot of largely unaccountable power and can take down those who threaten it.
I say partisan, not so much to imply blind adherence to the party, but to emphasize one's position within the left/right political paradigm. If I'm wrong about my assessment of your position on the right, I stand corrected.
I absolutely agree about the existence of the deep state and its unaccountable role in shaping world politics. I object to the portrayal of Nixon, Eisenhower, Thatcher and others I have seen mentioned in a similar way on social media, as some kind of folk heroes standing against "the blob". On the rare occasion some of them eventually did, it was as they say too little, too late.
Not sure how you view Eisenhower as someone of the right. Ike pretty much defines the middle of the road. Wherever Ike stood on any matter, that is by definition the middle. Everyone else is either to the right or left of that point.
Moreover, there is no right in American politics. On a right/left continuum, right is defined as monarchical and authoritarian. Left (socialism) is collectivist. American political history has always been within a step or two of dead center, which is where it belongs in a republic. Socialism and monarchy have long since proven themselves to be silly to the point of contemptible. The trick is in keeping the public sector accountable to the private. It's a balancing act, and we are currently in need of a course correction away from the public sector. This isn't opinion. It's the equivalent of looking out the window to see if it's raining.
If there is no right in American politics, then conservative is not "right" and there is no "middle." The collectivism of the present-day "left" is nothing but the authoritarian demand that real communities dissolve themselves the better to be plundered.
Political "left" and "right" keep changing their definitions as the structural demographics of our society change. Perhaps we should just throw out the left/right/middle metaphor and develop new terminology to deal with our actual political dynamics.
The previous reference being applied was totalitarian state Left/anarchy Right, so it does fit that even the republicans are in the middle. Another view would be Collectivism Left/Individual (Rights) Right...
It's not that the definition of the right/left paradigm keep changing, but that there are multiple versions and no easy way to specify to which an author/commentor is referencing.
Actually, it is probably true that conservative is not "right". Today's conservatives really occupy the middle. The left is still an intolerant authoritarian band of thieves. Just like the classical definition of "liberal" really applies to today's commonly called conservatives.
I agree that perhaps we should just throw out the left/right/middle metaphor, but until something commonly accepted replaces it, we're stuck with what we have. What I object to is calling today's conservatives "right", and authoritarian collectivists "left." It implies a sort of moral equivalency. The moral equivalency of the left is also totalitarian, like a monarchy. That is why today's conservative movement is truly the middle. And Ike was the middle of the middle.
Nixon did oversee the default of the United States; that is, he told the French to pound sand -- can't have your gold back, he told them, and while I'm at it, I'm "closing the gold window."
Denying the French their gold was "technically" a default. "Closing the gold window" disconnected the actual money (gold) from its receipts (federal reserve paper, a.k.a. "dollars"). We've been on the road to Hell ever since.
I 'll nitpick and say we've been on the road to hell since Wilson's establishment of the 3rd central bank of the US but "closing the gold window" certainly expedited our descent.
No nitpicking there! You're absolutely correct. One of the most egregious "acts" ever enacted by that collection of creeps, halfwits, and criminals known as "Congress."
Money (gold) was hanging on by a thread by the time Nixon did what he did. Nixon just snipped that last thread, setting in motion the sh*t show we have today.
It would have happened eventually anyway. If the US was refusing to pay out gold when requested, Nixon ending whatever you might regard as a 'gold standard' was a formality, basically a de jure recognition of a de facto situation.
I agree, the ratification of The 16th Amendment was the beginning of the end.
Once the people owe BigFedGov money just for "General Stuff," then it's just magic Bank Money subject to the whims of whoever has to find a way to pay for their next dumb new law.
- The Economic Stabilization Act of 1970 was implemented. Or, if you lean Randian, The Equalization of Opportunity Bill. With some hyperbole, just a hop, skip, and a jump from Directive 10-289.
- Some stuff about 18 seconds of missing [strike]wiretap[/strike] conversation, poor hotel lighting maintenance, and a fib or two. Hydro... Fencing? Something wet sounding. "I shall resign the presidency effective at noon tomorrow."
The French are standing up for what they believe in and protesting despite tyrannical opposition. That's a good deal more than what some other countries are doing. Much good literature produced by the French, and don't forget their delicious cooking. The French conserve their environment, take care of their soil, their farms, and their beautiful cities.
Not a good idea to say nasty things about the French. Whatever your country is, few countries could compare more favorably than France.
It's not partisan. It's not Democrats vs Repulicans. They only do that for the entertainment value of it. The CNN Factor. They're just one group. The Uniparty.
---
*Happy Hour at some swanky DC Speak Easy*
[R-Uniparty] "Ellsworth? How's Mimsy? and the Little Ellsworths? Goodness, it's been ages since we sailed together!"
[D-Uniparty] "Preston! *slaps Ellsworth on back* Fine, fine. Things are delightful at Casa de Hyannis Port. And you? How's Chalene?"
[R] "Wonderful! Three grandkids now. Oh - Sorry about that 'Up yours, Yankee!' this morning."
[D] "Of course, of course. I'll get you back, you Country Bumpkin!" *lights cigar, guffaws in Uniparty*
if we were to know about all presidents, I wonder how many could stand the test of 'decent person'. With which I mean, just what we expect our neighbor to be. Honest, well behaving, not betraying their wife, not being bribed by anyone... is there one like that ?
Poor President Nixon, if only he had followed his own advice. Watergate is a joke compared to what Obama and his administration pulled and are continuing to pull on President Trump.
If he had listened to his advice and exposed the RNC’s attempt to gather political dirt on the DNC for what it was, he wouldn’t have had to resign. It’s politics. Those clowns broke into an office to gather information on the McGovern campaign. Why lie about that? It has never made any sense to me. Maybe Nixon got played.
Bad Cat, keep bringing us the history. Maybe one day the light bulb will turn on.
Isn't that Henry Kissinger standing there we Nixon in the picture? Nixon is the godfather of stole ya all. Club of Rome, mentored Santa Klaus Schwab, WEF, Harvard Professor, and most importantly at the time the minder for Nixon. (probably all a leisure service of the CIA). I wonder if history would have been different without Kissinger in the picture. Perhaps no opening up China, not taking us off the gold standard (I never though Nixon had the authority to take us off the gold standard), Secret plan to end the Vietnam war = peace with honor. Those all turned out well (sarc). Nixon was one of our most interesting characters as President. A complex and deeply flawed man. He was immensely popular by his election to his second term mainly by parents who did not want to see their sons sacrificed to a war most saw no reason for being involved in. We thought "we won't get tricked again". But, I guess we really never get tired of the trickery.
I have to amend a couple issues: 1. Typo: Kissinger standing there with Nixon 2. I meant to say: Kissinger is the god father of stole ya all. I was originally thinking of taking this in a different direction. But I see the role of Kissinger as the same as having George Bush as VP for Reagan = minders for the real powers behind the thrones.
“A philosopher named Aristippus, who had quite willingly sucked up to Dionysus and won himself a spot at his court, saw Diogenes cooking lentils for a meal. "If you would only learn to compliment Dionysus, you wouldn't have to live on lentils."
Diogenes replied, "But if you would only learn to live on lentils, you wouldn't have to flatter Dionysus.”
― Diogenes of Sinope
Yeah, but Dionysus can seize or render useless the ground you need to grow them lentils, or burn your harvest. Simple tastes won't save you from the most rapacious leaders and their henchwolves.
And the quote's a reminder that we ain't seeing nothing new. We'd be a lot smarter not to imagine ourselves so modern.
“Any excuse will serve a tyrant”
― Aesop
And there's never any shortage o' them.
Tyrants? ... Or excuses?
Both, of course...
Modernity and technology are no match for irrepressible human nature, especially our innate predilection to fuck things up.
I say that all the time. We invented civilization in the effort to self-tame and it's an imperfect remedy.
"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is a government big enough to take away everything that you have."
- Not TJ, but kinda sounds like something he'd've said
I think myself that we have more machinery of government than is necessary, too many parasites living on the labor ot the industrious. Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have ... The course of history shows that as a government grows, liberty decreases. The two enemies of the people are criminals and government, so let us tie the second down with the chains of the constitution so the second will not become the legalized version of the
first.
Thomas Jefferson
( you were correct w/ T.J.)
I love that, absolutely love it and will share.
I don't know why, but I thought of this great (paraphrased) quote from H.L.Mencken: "Every election is a sort of advance auction of stolen goods". Imagine Atilla the Hun clean-shaven, dressed in a suit and tie, but with thousands of professors and journalists to tell us he wants what's best for us.
Your image of Attila the Hun as clean-shaven and dressed in a suit and tie reminded me of the quote by CS Lewis in his preface to the Screwtape Letters: “The greatest evil is not now done in those sordid "dens of crime" that Dickens loved to paint. It is not done even in concentration camps and labour camps. In those we see its final result. But it is conceived and ordered (moved, seconded, carried, and minuted) in clean, carpeted, warmed and well-lighted offices, by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voices.”
“They say you can vote your way into Communism, but you have to shoot your way out.”
Like a Sicilian mob.
👍🏻
He left out Kissinger.
If you look at the picture under the words, that is Kissinger standing there on the right with I believe Nixon's successor Ford
I will acknowledge that my familiarity with Nixon’s political career is limited. To my understanding some policies during his administration, may even have been beneficial for the people.
I am however noticing a weird trend among partisan commentators, to whitewash specific right wing politicians just because they said the right thing at some point, among them Nixon. Wasn’t Nixon responsible for the end of the Breton Woods agreement? Was that something trivial?
fwiw, i suspect the same was done to kennedy, so i don't think this is partisan.
i think there is a deep set of vested interests in the sort of "permanent state" aka "the blob" that has quite a lot of largely unaccountable power and can take down those who threaten it.
The Administrative State, egm ,and they're interwoven with all Govt and corpora- government systems.
I say partisan, not so much to imply blind adherence to the party, but to emphasize one's position within the left/right political paradigm. If I'm wrong about my assessment of your position on the right, I stand corrected.
I absolutely agree about the existence of the deep state and its unaccountable role in shaping world politics. I object to the portrayal of Nixon, Eisenhower, Thatcher and others I have seen mentioned in a similar way on social media, as some kind of folk heroes standing against "the blob". On the rare occasion some of them eventually did, it was as they say too little, too late.
Not sure how you view Eisenhower as someone of the right. Ike pretty much defines the middle of the road. Wherever Ike stood on any matter, that is by definition the middle. Everyone else is either to the right or left of that point.
Moreover, there is no right in American politics. On a right/left continuum, right is defined as monarchical and authoritarian. Left (socialism) is collectivist. American political history has always been within a step or two of dead center, which is where it belongs in a republic. Socialism and monarchy have long since proven themselves to be silly to the point of contemptible. The trick is in keeping the public sector accountable to the private. It's a balancing act, and we are currently in need of a course correction away from the public sector. This isn't opinion. It's the equivalent of looking out the window to see if it's raining.
"Right" is monarchical and authoritarian *it its original European context*.
The American political spectrum is skew to the European spectrum: they are neither parallel nor do they intersect.
If there is no right in American politics, then conservative is not "right" and there is no "middle." The collectivism of the present-day "left" is nothing but the authoritarian demand that real communities dissolve themselves the better to be plundered.
Political "left" and "right" keep changing their definitions as the structural demographics of our society change. Perhaps we should just throw out the left/right/middle metaphor and develop new terminology to deal with our actual political dynamics.
The previous reference being applied was totalitarian state Left/anarchy Right, so it does fit that even the republicans are in the middle. Another view would be Collectivism Left/Individual (Rights) Right...
It's not that the definition of the right/left paradigm keep changing, but that there are multiple versions and no easy way to specify to which an author/commentor is referencing.
Actually, it is probably true that conservative is not "right". Today's conservatives really occupy the middle. The left is still an intolerant authoritarian band of thieves. Just like the classical definition of "liberal" really applies to today's commonly called conservatives.
I agree that perhaps we should just throw out the left/right/middle metaphor, but until something commonly accepted replaces it, we're stuck with what we have. What I object to is calling today's conservatives "right", and authoritarian collectivists "left." It implies a sort of moral equivalency. The moral equivalency of the left is also totalitarian, like a monarchy. That is why today's conservative movement is truly the middle. And Ike was the middle of the middle.
Max Weber's theory of the iron law (or iron cage) of oligarchy is proven true every day.
Nixon did oversee the default of the United States; that is, he told the French to pound sand -- can't have your gold back, he told them, and while I'm at it, I'm "closing the gold window."
Denying the French their gold was "technically" a default. "Closing the gold window" disconnected the actual money (gold) from its receipts (federal reserve paper, a.k.a. "dollars"). We've been on the road to Hell ever since.
I 'll nitpick and say we've been on the road to hell since Wilson's establishment of the 3rd central bank of the US but "closing the gold window" certainly expedited our descent.
Thank you!
No nitpicking there! You're absolutely correct. One of the most egregious "acts" ever enacted by that collection of creeps, halfwits, and criminals known as "Congress."
Money (gold) was hanging on by a thread by the time Nixon did what he did. Nixon just snipped that last thread, setting in motion the sh*t show we have today.
It would have happened eventually anyway. If the US was refusing to pay out gold when requested, Nixon ending whatever you might regard as a 'gold standard' was a formality, basically a de jure recognition of a de facto situation.
I agree, the ratification of The 16th Amendment was the beginning of the end.
Once the people owe BigFedGov money just for "General Stuff," then it's just magic Bank Money subject to the whims of whoever has to find a way to pay for their next dumb new law.
Glenn Beck would agree.
Under Nixon:
- The US went off of the Gold Standard. TL;DR - Money Printer go Brrrrrr.
- The EPA was created. When it's Windmills vs Bald Eagles, we all lose. https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/energy-co-fined-8m-after-150-eagles-killed-by-wind-turbines-in-calif-7-states/2914303/)
- The Economic Stabilization Act of 1970 was implemented. Or, if you lean Randian, The Equalization of Opportunity Bill. With some hyperbole, just a hop, skip, and a jump from Directive 10-289.
- Some stuff about 18 seconds of missing [strike]wiretap[/strike] conversation, poor hotel lighting maintenance, and a fib or two. Hydro... Fencing? Something wet sounding. "I shall resign the presidency effective at noon tomorrow."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=na67qos-_h0
The French are standing up for what they believe in and protesting despite tyrannical opposition. That's a good deal more than what some other countries are doing. Much good literature produced by the French, and don't forget their delicious cooking. The French conserve their environment, take care of their soil, their farms, and their beautiful cities.
Not a good idea to say nasty things about the French. Whatever your country is, few countries could compare more favorably than France.
Viva France!
It's not partisan. It's not Democrats vs Repulicans. They only do that for the entertainment value of it. The CNN Factor. They're just one group. The Uniparty.
---
*Happy Hour at some swanky DC Speak Easy*
[R-Uniparty] "Ellsworth? How's Mimsy? and the Little Ellsworths? Goodness, it's been ages since we sailed together!"
[D-Uniparty] "Preston! *slaps Ellsworth on back* Fine, fine. Things are delightful at Casa de Hyannis Port. And you? How's Chalene?"
[R] "Wonderful! Three grandkids now. Oh - Sorry about that 'Up yours, Yankee!' this morning."
[D] "Of course, of course. I'll get you back, you Country Bumpkin!" *lights cigar, guffaws in Uniparty*
---
*shrug* Politics is just Entertainment. https://imgflip.com/i/7hdl13
#UnipartyDelendaEst
Politics is the entertainment division of the military-industrial complex. ~Frank Zappa paraphrased (but close to a quote)
if we were to know about all presidents, I wonder how many could stand the test of 'decent person'. With which I mean, just what we expect our neighbor to be. Honest, well behaving, not betraying their wife, not being bribed by anyone... is there one like that ?
What's the old saying, never argue with a man who buys ink by the barrel?
Poor President Nixon, if only he had followed his own advice. Watergate is a joke compared to what Obama and his administration pulled and are continuing to pull on President Trump.
If he had listened to his advice and exposed the RNC’s attempt to gather political dirt on the DNC for what it was, he wouldn’t have had to resign. It’s politics. Those clowns broke into an office to gather information on the McGovern campaign. Why lie about that? It has never made any sense to me. Maybe Nixon got played.
Bad Cat, keep bringing us the history. Maybe one day the light bulb will turn on.
It was a CIA op. Most of those guys are still around, doing the same sort of thing.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-redacted-truth-about-the-cias-redacted-role-in-watergate
How many people would counter by saying "Yeah, but Nixon. 'nuf said."? You won't get through to those people.
Isn't that Henry Kissinger standing there we Nixon in the picture? Nixon is the godfather of stole ya all. Club of Rome, mentored Santa Klaus Schwab, WEF, Harvard Professor, and most importantly at the time the minder for Nixon. (probably all a leisure service of the CIA). I wonder if history would have been different without Kissinger in the picture. Perhaps no opening up China, not taking us off the gold standard (I never though Nixon had the authority to take us off the gold standard), Secret plan to end the Vietnam war = peace with honor. Those all turned out well (sarc). Nixon was one of our most interesting characters as President. A complex and deeply flawed man. He was immensely popular by his election to his second term mainly by parents who did not want to see their sons sacrificed to a war most saw no reason for being involved in. We thought "we won't get tricked again". But, I guess we really never get tired of the trickery.
I have to amend a couple issues: 1. Typo: Kissinger standing there with Nixon 2. I meant to say: Kissinger is the god father of stole ya all. I was originally thinking of taking this in a different direction. But I see the role of Kissinger as the same as having George Bush as VP for Reagan = minders for the real powers behind the thrones.
The winners get to write the history.
The establishment couldn’t stand Nixon either, and therefore had to eliminate him.
The book Nixonland paints a very different picture of Tricky Dick than I had previously taught.
To quote Kissinger, it's a shame they couldn't both lose.
I remember in college hearing from my professors what a demon Reagan was .....
Good article from Revolver News. https://compactmag.com/article/how-the-deep-state-took-down-nixon
I love Compact Mag. I bought a subscription. This caught my eye. I havent read yet, but it’s on my list.
From Over Here, sounds a tad intellectual for Nixon...
Why?
?
The KM is the real enemy... IYKYK 👃😉
can't decipher what KM stands for, is it something E. Michael Jones talks about?
Khazarian Mafia
Clif High?
https://www.veteranstoday.com/2022/03/10/the-hidden-history-of-the-incredibly-evil-khazarian-mafia/
Chilling, and thorough. I'm not an historian so I cannot say that this is all true, but it sure does explain a lot.
Wow! What a coincidence! By the way, since kittens don't wear 'em, can I borrow your shoe? I wanna bang it on my desk and then throw it at you. OK?
That's very... Nikita of you.
Nakitty!