looking in 103124

 
The thing about being on the outside looking in, with no hope of influencing affairs, is that one has the freedom objectively question events.

One event worth noting is MAGA’s recent attempt to whitewash Trump’s Russian patron as a misunderstood mister nice guy.  Make no mistake Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin is an international criminal of the highest order.  His invasion of the Ukraine was a pure and simple attempt at an 18th/19th century colonial empire.  In the process he has committed multiple crimes against humanity, condoned rape, torture and mass murder.  He is following the Great powers’ grab of colonial empires that employed similar tactics.  Colonial empires came crashing down in the 20th century with post World War Two nationalist movements.  The United Nations even recognized the legitimacy of independence movements.  Putin has no legitimate claim to the Ukraine, which has historically resisted Russian domination.  Possibly on a secret sell out promise Putin invaded Ukraine expecting a quick annexation of the independent country, after all Russia is 28 times the size of the Ukraine.  Here is an overlooked twist to his illegal war, despite it size Russia with a reported over whelming military power the land grab is in a prolonged near stalemate.  Russia is forced to buy foreign weapons and hire foreign mercenary armies to continue the battle.  This has not deterred Putin’s plans, he continues to push Russian “settlers” into surrounding countries as a future “fifth column” for invasion.  He is also militarily buzzing around the former Russian territory of Alaska.  This may be a distraction or part of a plan to annex the state, he would probably demand reperations for all the gold and oil America has extracted form the state.  Depending who becomes the U.S. president, he might get it.  There could be a large domestic contract for flags with 49 stars.

America might keep its flag or maybe become a continuing Trump flag monopoly as several MAGA states flirt with succession.   Of more immediate concern is growing war in the Middle East, which includes a land grab with ethnic cleansing.  Understand first that this is not a religious war between Judaism and Islam.  It is purely a political war fought in a 21st century propaganda arena, and Israel  is winning by playing its historical “victim” card.  Trump as president empowered fellow criminal Benjamin Netanyahu to oppress Israel’s Palestinian minority as way to remain in power avoiding his corruption trial.  Netanyahu attempted to follow Trump’s lead in packing his courts with partisan ideologues but the Israeli people counter marched in mass.  Netanyahu was still oppressing Palestinian when elements of Hamas staged a supposed “surprise” raid into Israeli territory and seize hostages.  This allowed Netanyahu to claim self-defense when he launched surgical strikes with a meat ax into Gaza.  So far Israeli strikes have killed over 40 thousand men, women with over 14 thousand preteen children. Israel has extended it strikes into Lebanon, Iran and Syria with possible clandestine operations elsewhere.  Private citizen Trump has been in illegal negotiations with both Putin and Netanyahu with the message of, “do what you have to do,” implying that for their support he will support them when reelected.

Israel has played it anti-Semitic card repeatedly in America’s national election pinning the Biden administration to supporting Israel’s continued war crimes.  It is probable that Netanyahu does not want to recover any remaining hostages in order to prolong his political survival.  MAGA quickly rallied to the Israeli calls to punish anti-Semitism in “liberal” institutions.  The reality is that Palestinian Arabs have as many, if not more, Semitic roots than Israelis.  Both Judaism and Arabs venerate Abraham as the beginning of their lineage but not ever Jew can be considered Semitic.  (NOTE: While Turkey took its name from the people, Palestinians took their name from an ancient land (Greek for land of the Phoenicians).)  What Netanyahu’s war is doing is guaranteeing that the Mid-east conflict will go on for generations.  It is probable that every Palestinian has lost someone to Israeli strikes and surviving children will flock to militant recruitment in the future.

America faces the prospect of government by Trump for Trump, and despite MAGA’s expectations there will be no trickle down unless there are massive kickbacks to the TRUMP.  Trump inadvertently told one truth, election 24 will be the most corrupt national election, ever.  What he is not saying is most of the fraud is being perpetrated by MAGA loyalist.  In his last year in office Trump imbedded loyalist in key government position and corrupted the judiciary with judges appointed for political loyalty rather than constitutional jurisprudence skills.  It is interesting that Trump has spent the last four years building a MAGA private army of Trump Storm Troopers (TST) now unleaseshed on the election.  Across the country TST are burning ballots, seized control of polling places, threaten bodily harm to poll workers and voters.  In numerous instances local MAGA officials have released the names potential opposition voters and purged others after the polls have opened.  Win or lose expect TST to run amok for the shear joy of violent freedom. Is that a constitutional right?  Maybe, Trump has promised to do away with the American constitution and advocates violence against all opposition.  Another interesting point is that Trump has spent 12 years campaigning while Harris has only been running for three months and is now neck and neck with the Trump machine.

As the 20th centuries last standing great power America led the world down the dark path of mass marketing.  There is little difference from selling soap to selling politicians.  If a product doesn’t sell, change the message.  It is cheaper to change the package than improve the product.  Anything can be sold if presented long enough and loud enough even the most odious of products.  Conditioned by years of entertaining but misleading advertising 21st century Americans’ fell easy prey to long and loud entertaining political disinformation, read that as out and out lies.  The surge in so called social media provides screaming voices to every propaganda agenda obliterating thought and truths.  Dr. Joseph Goebbels would have loved the new tools for mislead and conditioning a populace.

Trump has validated one American myth; anyone can become U.S. president, even a maniacal, criminal slipping into senility. A keystone to democracy, everyone deserves representation.

Outside 100524

It’s another American election cycle unlike any before or hopefully any in the future. This cycle is long on sound and fury, short on truths with abundant hatred seasoned by fear. That’s only the domestic dynamics. Technology has facilitated international dynamics reminiscent of the “Cold War” when America and Russia played checkers in small national elections. There was no chess like strategy; it was who grabbed off the most checkers. American elections are now the target with not only Russia playing but also China, Israel, Islamic states as well radical NGOs with their own agendas.

An early victim of sound and fury politics is the establishment of 80 as the age of political incompetence. Following that logic, if 80 is the limit for one elected office then why not also the limit all over 80 government officials? Why not also senators, representatives, judges even business leaders? Extending the argument, age limits also limit views of history and national identity.

The over 80s set was born at the end of the depression as the progeny of America’s greatest generation. Socialized by that generation, their cultural values may seem out of step in the 21st century. They saw their fathers march off to war, while the KKK still marched across our land. Lynching was common, as was minority discrimination, organized and disorganized crime. Local governments were often corrupt and the 3d degree ruled police departments. When fathers returned they instilled a love of freedom and reform in their children. As the kids matured they fought a number of wars, foreign and domestic, to defend freedom. They saw the battles for civil rights. As the only great power left standing they understood the economic and power benefits of being American as well as its obligations.  America held a moral high ground.

For a century American politics had been shared between conservatives and liberals principles under the titles of Republican (GOP) and Democratic parties. Cooperation between the parties was often reluctantly given but national governance did work for the next fifty years before government broke down in the face of self-interest over national interest. The 20th century was the American Century of great power. Scholars have postulated that great power last about 100 years before being supplanted by other rising powers. The 21st century “Me” culture may validate the great power hypothesis as America surrendered its moral high ground in the 2016-election cycle. So far the 2024 election cycle does not bode well for America’s survival as a power player.

Before political correctness an early typing exercise included the phrase, “Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.” The American two party system is broken, no longer do liberals and conservatives debate and compromise in the interest of the country. Party politics have been captured by “winner take all” extremism to the point that the conservatives (GOP) have lost their party to MAGA disinformation. Without a vision of a future MAGA is attempting to sell a mythical past of fear, discrimination and hatred as a desired policy. The old typing exercise must be rewritten as, “Now is the time for all responsible voters to save their country.”

Donald Trump is the biggest nut in the MAGA fruit cake but he has empowered and even more extreme “nuttier butter” of extremism that “the DON” is not smart enough to notice his ego being played by other interest. Every slice of the cake exposes extremism spinning off in every direction with the rule of law the first victim.  America does owe the Don for exposing just how corrupted our justice system has become.  He has built his empire on, “money talks,” with bribery, intimidation and legal obfuscatory delay.   He carried these tactics into the Whitehouse openly applying them in his two impeachments.

MAGA partygoers hear only the words of their self appointed ‘God’ generated by a vast propaganda machine of spin-doctors, mass marketers and fake pollsters.  The reality is not the braggart’s words but rather his open and proven tawdry record.  The Don is neither Republican, Christian, honorable or trustworthy.  If he accuses an opponent of nefarious deeds he is blowing smoke to cover his own crimes and he seizes all credit for others’ accomplishments.  If he can’t pass the buck, or grab the credit he orders his decibels to obstruct legislative solution.  His character is that of no ethics, integrity or loyalty which his many loyalist and lawyers have discovered to their sorrow.  He is a party of one and that one must profit.

His admitted heroes are mob bosses and dictators seeing himself on that level.   There is no pretense of becoming even a benevolent dictator it will be all for self, the ultimate ME cultural goal.  Government is for sale; he demanded a billion dollar “donation” from tech companies with a promise of favors in the future.  His made in USA spiel is lost in his money grab with out sourced Trump souvenirs.  His over stated fortune was gained by not paying his bills, taxes or through ten cent on the dollar bankruptcies leaving economic chaos in his wake.  When he “owns” the mint he will print a greater fortune for himself leaving the country bankrupt like some banana republics.

Stripping away the wordsmith’s cover the Don has openly admitted to getting away with numerous crimes.  By his own admission he is a draft dodging, rapist, tax cheat and traitor.  His longstanding links to The Russian mob have been documented and he may in fact be a Russian agent.  In secret meetings, with no American witnesses, did he sell secrets to the Russian dictator; did he also promise the Ukraine to Russia?

In his latest claim straight out of the NAZI play book he will require the military to swear a personal loyalty to him rather than the Constitution.  There are enough mid-level officers who’ll sell their souls to become generals.  It could happen.

Harris may not be the best choice to repair the damage MAGA has inflected upon the country but she won’t sell it out for personal profit. She will be faced with a daunting task of regaining the county’s moral leadership, repairing its fault lines, and ending patronage and partisanship.  The presidency is a position above party; the president governs for all people.

Utopian goals:
Amend Constitutional requiring elected officials be truthful to the electorate.  
End billion dollar election cycles to feed the hungry.
MAGA broke the country, GOP and Democrats will come together to rebuild.

As a well over 80 outsider, I’ve seen much and studied more so I can take whatever comfort there is in the knowledge that I won’t have to survive long in a MAGA Gulag.

Rules 040324

Politics
Create a crisis, promise a solution you don’t have and when caught, blame someone else.
Shout loudly to take credit for accomplishments of others.
Give the masses someone to hate, a good American tradition. Hate the Germans, Scots, Irish, Poles, Jews, Italians, Chinese, Japanese, and throw in the earlier Indian and Mexican settlers. Change the Constitution, deport them with their broods, and take the country back to the Buffalo.

Culture
Christians who eat apple pies and products containing apple cider vinegar are committing a mortal sin. It’s in the Bible; eating apples are the root of all the evil in the world.

Fundamentalists are pushing the Second Coming of Trump, as messiah. But messiah is the deliverers of Jews not white male Protestants.   In search of votes the “Don” is claiming Jesus like persecution.  Judging his behavior, he is more of an anti-Christ. Every Christian must have a Trump bible and pass them out among non-believing heathens, it’s a rule to make Trump more money, worked for Hitler.

Low finance
Just paid two and half dollars for a five cent donut with a nickel cup of coffee costing
eight bucks. Back in my day I could have gotten breakfast of a couple of day old donuts and a bottomless cup of coffee for a dime while being entertained by cafe comedy and dramas. My idea of high finance.

The point of finance is not about the amount of money but rather how low, financiers will sink.  Bernie Madoff ran a Ponzi racket that pocketed 65 billion dollars before being caught and sentenced to 105 year in the slammer. Bankmon-Fried was just sentenced to 25 years in a bit-coin scam that lost over eight billion.  Among his many scams and tax dodges Trump has set a new low.  He sold his near worthless media company to true believer, small investors for an estimated six billion dollars.  He is now suing stockholders because he is unable to loot the company for six months. There seems to be grounds for a SEC investigation.  This is the guy just found guilty of fraud in New York state and has a half billion-dollar fine pending.   Have no fear; he has already stated an intention of shutting down the IRS when elected president.  He will just add the SEC to his hate list of watchdog agencies.  This Mafia “Don” has a long history of fraud, bankruptcies and using shyster lawyers to defend his crimes.  He then fails to pay legal fees and throws the shysters under the bus of disbarment.  The “Don’s” greatest fraud is convincing poor folks to send in their nickels and dimes to bankroll his defense.

 Madoff may have made off with more money but the “Don” sinks lower.  The “Don” owns judges and makes up his own rules of connivance.  The only way to stop his crime wave is for a courageous justice system to stand up and sentence the “Don” to hard time busting big rocks into gravel.
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Sitcom  031224

The most watched sitcom in the world has been running for some time but the 2024 season will break all viewer records, except maybe in the United States. It’s really a poor show in part because it is too long and can’t decide if it’s a comedy, love story, drama, mystery or crime show. While there are a few stars, the cast is a shifting mish-mash of over 340 million. With eight billion worldwide viewers watching cameo appearances by their local big wigs.

This season is all about two old men slugging it out for free rent in a house on a very small hill.  The main characters are and incompetent “scream and shout, run about” (S&S) criminal and a relatively quite, competent workman. The main supporting characters have learned to entertain in Scream and Shout’s agitprop university. The Workman’s team is handicapped by ethics and questionable utopian visions but are reluctantly learning the new media rules for market share.

Rule one: loud is in, logic and reason are out. Hatred and violence are in while books, education and reason are out. The past is in, the future is out and science is evil. Lots screaming and shouting about how great the 1920 and 30s were in the hands of the likes of Al Capone, Mussolini and Hitler. Wealth ruled and striking labor was gunned down while political mobs roamed the streets, cops and judges were for sale to money or power. Even the divisive slogans of that period are being recycled and parroted as new thinking.

It is possible that education and books are a bad thing, they lead to independent thinking and questions. Having read a book or two questions must be asked to complete the sitcom’s 2024 scrip. At least as far back as the Russian revolution in the early 1920s, Russian intelligence services used honey traps to recruit compliant agents in the west. Both men and women visitors, especially students and the potentially influential, were caught on film in questionable situations for possible future blackmail. Is it possible that frequent visitor S&S with an admitted proclivity for young women, has star billing in Russian honey productions? Is it possible that S&S known blundering greed led to laundering Russian Mob money for a loan to save his failing real estate empire? Will the mob post the bond covering his nearly half billion dollar fines? This leads to the ultimate question, is it possible that in an acknowledged secret meeting with the Russian leader, without any American witness, that S&S agreed to degrade NATO and surrender Ukraine for the Russian dictator in return for his silence? This could explain the dictator’s surprise at Ukraine resistance and expansion of NATO.

Another foreign policy blunder must be questioned, did S&S’s green light of Netanyahu building Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory push Hamas to strike back with the only tools they knew. Which is being used by Netanyahu to justify ethnic cleansing and full occupation of Gaza and the West Bank. The Gaza war quickly became a propaganda conflict with Israel winning, ignoring the fact that thousands of real people are suffering and dying. The question is did S&S take an option on Gaza beachfront property?

Years ago there was a book written, “The rich get richer, the poor get jail,” S&S has validated that hypothesis while also demonstrating the corruption of the American legal profession.  S&S claimed a net worth of 30 billion  (independently assessed around three billion) in a self indictment he now claims he can’t afford to pay all the court order fines and legal fees and is soliciting donations from adoring fans.  The question is since these donations are to pay personal obligations of an individual, shouldn’t they considered individual income on which income tax is due?  Did he declare this income on his last three years’ tax returns?  Is this one of the reasons that Red Hat legislators are attempting to dismantle the IRS? After all the IRS did take down his hero Al Capone.

It is relative easy to incite a mob, but extremely difficult to control that mob once on the march.  This leads to another question. Did S&S’s created caravan of 400 immigrants, used to justify his border non-wall policy, gather steam along the line of march leading to the present turmoil at the border? It seems like a good political idea at the time?

History will remember S&S’s tactics that changed world politics forever: lie, deny, delay, blame, attack louder and louder until it drowns out reality.  A modernization of Herr Doctor Goebbels principles of the 1930s, he would have loved today’s communication tools.  If caught, intimidate witnesses; bribe juries and shop for pet judges.  It worked in two impeachments and is being mirrored by tin pot dictators around the world.  The Red Hats joined the ranks of Black and Brown Shirts strong-arm political bullies to over throw of legitimate governments on six January.  The Black and Brown shirts were successful but the Red Hats failed.  The question is will the Red Hats try again and have they learned to win?  The cost to America is the loss of the moral high ground and its “soft power” to influence world events.  Technological diffusion has enabled even the most extreme minor power to compete with powerful armies.  Foreign polices that flip-flop like a dying fish insure that the world can no longer trust U.S. words.  As a private citizen S&S is making commitments to foreign dictators, ordering Red Hat legislators to stonewall bills and ordering his judges to ignore the constitution and the rule of law.  Isn’t this another coup attempt, even treason?

The sitcom has become reality TV: Will the Red Hats conquer the world, Will blood run in the streets, Will the Christians throw scientist to the lions?  Stay tuned for the next episode of Scream and Shout.  That’s entertainment, but the world is real, very small and soft power may never comeback.

While cliffhangers are entertaining, this one is not about ratings but rather national survival. Pay attention, question political assertions, turn down the volume so you can look past the sitcom’s flag waving visuals to see the future national risk.

                                                                    ###

 Endit 122523

 This has been my non-year, no writing no pictures, very depressing; it has also been a non-year for government, nothing happened.  At least nothing positive although it did validate my political philosophy: “Don’t trust the Democrats, fear the Republicans.”   The left attempts to side step into socialism, while the right jumped right over ultra conservative into pure fascism.  To paraphrase an old car ad “Today’s parties are not your grandfathers parties.” U.S. politics today are best noted for “scream and shout while running about.”  Loud is in; people, country, truth, and governance are out.  It’s all about marketing “Entertainment” to prevent us Rubes from paying attention to the goings on in the three ring clown tent on the Potomac.
 
There is general consensus among scholars analyzing Great Powers’ political life.  Great Power states live only about a century,  their demise is not necessarily from a military defeat but rather a failure to adapt to changing world dynamics and loss of the political will to risk adapting.  In short Great Powers’ commit suicide; often even failing to notice their decline until it is irreversible.   Not fully understanding it at the time I was in 1950s England as it fell from its Great Power status.  A bankrupt England was still riding the euphoric wave of WWII victory as its Empire disappeared beneath post war calls for freedom.  Young peoples’ conversation in coffee shops ranged from elites’ plans for lucrative colonial careers, condemnation of all things American, to trying to understand why the country wasn’t profiting from victory.  England struggled under new colonial wars, calling on the new Great Power, United States to preserve its Empire.

In the 19th century, even before the United States had fully conquered its internal empire Manifest Destiny was reaching out for an external empire, America wanted to play with the big boys.  At the Versailles Peace Conference (1920s) the United States officially emerged as a world power divvying up the globe along with the decaying Great Powers.  Peace was elusive and it took another war for the United States to emerge as the only remaining Great Power.  In 1945 America was the most respected country the world had ever known.  Great masses flocked in to be part of an American dream.  Americans continued to see themselves as the “Greatest Generation” of the 1940s ignoring that the technology of their victory had diffused, developed  and matured to the point where even the smallest state can now be a world power.  Greatness is no longer dependent on large armies or strong economies.  Greatness does require smart people with a comprehensive vision of an interdependent, very small, one-world future.  America does not have a monopoly on very smart people but its political vision is a return to the 19th century of book burnings, waste, patronage and exploitation.

Rome attempted to distract its citizens from its decline and fall with spectacular games. American politicians rely on that opiate of the masses, television and social media to distract the populace while staging gladiatorial games in the halls of Congress.  America’s century began in 1945,  so the end is near.  If that is not sufficient for a large “HUMBUG”, prospects of 2024 election is on the horizon.

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Justice  042723

In the United States Justice is a concept of contradictions.  It depends on perspective, even before the U.S. was a nation Justice was an iffy proposition.  Law in the colonies was primarily based on English Common Law of precedence, or what has gone before.  An unjust ruling compounded repeatedly eventually served as the law of the land.  Land itself generated much of early American law, Indians had it and settlers wanted  it, during the revolution with precedent established English loyalist’s properties were legally expropriated.  With a vast body of precedence as law Spanish/Mexican lands in the southwest was legally seized, own the courts own the land.  A guiding carpetbagger principle in the post civil war era.  The remaining Indians discover that despite Constitutional binding Treaties, they didn’t own the courts and lost not only their lands but also its mineral wealth. For over 200 years courts have applied precedent against those without political influence.

Slavery itself was justified by precedence, which despite post civil war reforms continued to serve to suppress labor movements.  Industrialist and mine owners through money, power and corruption owned the courts and strong-arm labor-busting cops.   If judicial independence was established by the Constitution, how can the courts be bought?  It’s a political process where money talks. The radicalized two party system has become the Achilles heel of democracy and judicial independence through process of appointing judges  held hostage by partisan politics.  Ideally judges should be the country’s best legal minds who will establish legal precedence by just, non-partisan decisions.   There have been some judges demonstrating the Wisdom of Solomon but many bring to the bench enough baggage to break a caravan of camels’ backs.  

Judges are increasingly appointed, not for their ethical ability to render, scholarly just decisions, but rather on making ideologically supportive decisions.  The judicial trends are attempts to stampede the country back into the 19th century dark ages of head busting, corruption and robber barons.   Increasingly the 20th century law reforms on voting, equal rights for minorities, press freedoms and protections under the law are being reversed.  These reversals are not based on judicial points of law, justice, integrity or equity, serving only the interest of the moneyed, political powerful.  If the majority can even get their day in court wealth’s lawyers manipulate the process until the case is moot or plaintiffs bankrupt.  Judge shopping is the new norm with repeated questionable appeals searching for a favorable ruling.

The rule of law is broken, from bias courts to corrupt law enforcement (LEA).   Not every cop on the beat steals apples or is to free with a nightstick, but enough are out there.  Still LEAs may be the most corrupt organizations in the country because honest cops know who are the problematic are but hide the corruption behind a “Blue Wall.”  There is a movement to “defund the police” not sure what that means, it is a buzzword divorced from reality.  The nation needs honest, accountable policing because there are lots of really bad people out there.  Policing is a reflection of society facing two models, beat heads or join the party, both bad choices.  If  by chance cops end up before the bar, they get a walk or slap on the wrist and celebrate in the corner bar.  The problems with the legal system are obvious to the public but oblivious to those within the justice system.

The justice system has failed to police itself and partisan legislatures add fuel to the fire by failing their duties to the people while fanning the flames incinerating the country.  There is little expectation that legislators will act in an ethical manner so voters must choose new representatives who will act in the interest of the country, not radical ideologies.  Democracy unfortunately is not a self-correcting system; it requires attention, participation and adjustments.  The founding fathers never envisioned professional politicians pandering to extremism which approaches fascism.  There is little justice in our justice system and night riders are riding. The people must not believe politicians’ self interest propaganda but judge their actions, they only change their message not their beliefs.

Local disjointed public demonstrations are a sign of systemic distrust.  It awaits only a  coordinated failure to trigger a national REVOLUTION. Despite the probable worst efforts of strong-arm mob-busting policing it’s a no win situation ending with probable removal of “U” from U.S.

                        ###


Question:
If an appointed judge is found to have committed perjury or accepted “favors” from elites will all of that judge’s rullings be reversed or at least reviewed?  If there is no oversight, no court ethical standards and the court cites the Constitution as its justification to be above the law, what prevents the court from becoming the national dictator? Time for a rewrite?

Humbug 122022

We’ve almost made it through another year but it is still a question if we will survive election 22 with its count and recount Christmas message of “I WUZ ROBBED.”

This is the season of “Peace on earth and good will toward all ‘persons’” HUMBUG. The real season message is, “hate, deception, profit, corruption, power and war.”  Might doesn’t make right, but it does spin its positive message.  Rational maximization, “What’s good for me is good for the company/government/country/world/the people.”  A good many years ago I told a freshman class that my generation had made a mess of the world but they had an opportunity to learn form our mistakes to make a better world.  Time has passed and those fresh-persons are now running the world.  They did learn, not to solve problems but how to profit from them.  

Back in my day I did a bit of traveling, discovering that despite nationally, race or gender we are a common people.  Some are smart others not so smart, some are good and others are really, really bad.  Ignoring the cultural artificially induced prejudicial perceptions, the good/bad, smart/not so are fairly equally distributed around the globe.  Orientals are noted for taking a long view of world dynamics but the long view is there for all to see.  Look at the 2020s from the perspective of 1820s and 1920s dynamics.

The 1820s were the era of slavery and colonial expansion by countries seeking greatness.   By the 1920s the resulting great powers barely survived an imperial killing war that saw the United States take a seat at the great power table divvying up the spoils.  The problem was that the war had shattered the world order and victory euphoria obscured a coherent vision of a future.  Governments were falling, inflation was rampant and nationalism gave rise to opportunist dictatorships. In 1820 the world was very large and nations had room to blunder but by 1920 the world had become much smaller and interdependent.   The smallest misstep sooner or later reverberated around the world.  Although xenophobic loud mouth politicians deny it, the 2020 world is so small and interdependent that it should be viewed as one world of one people.

The 2020 dynamics are straight out of the past: nationalist hatred, growing inflation, neo-colonialist wars of conquest, governments’ instability and political corruption.  Political self-interest is the greatest Humbug of all, threatening to drag our one people of the one world into global disorder and melt down.  The dynamics of the past are the same, the players have shuffled, rules have changed and the diffusion of technological capabilities may also dry up our blue marble.

There is little time to prevent the decline and fall of earth to the status of another celestial cinder.  It has taken centuries to reach our tripping point and it will take centuries to repair the damage.  If Earth is to survive all human resources must focus on slowing the downward spiral while searching for solutions.   The one people must ban together, pay attention, resist loud rational maximizers and seek real solutions.

We will go along following the loudest false prophets to our doom, now this is our real Bah Humbug.