General First As Tragedy, Then As Farce - An Animated Critique Of Liberalism

[HD]

What do you think? Bang on the money if you ask me. I've often thought liberalism to be the life jacket of a broken system, keeping capitalism just above water.

 

[HD]

Ish ish a good video, yesh?

 

[HD]

Here's another video from David Harvey



I'm familiar with both these guys, Harvey more so, but I'm really impressed with the animation presentation. For me it seems to make the videos a lot more digestible and attention-holding.

And it's not a communist organisation or anything, those two videos are just to my taste and views. You can find neat little lectures on many subjects. There's a great one somewhere in here on education: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL39BF9545D740ECFF

 

[Spence]

I'm not sure where I stand on liberalism, haven't thought/read into it too deeply. However, in my mind the main flaw in our society, and what will ultimately lead to the downfall of it, is the monetary system.

 

[Spence]

Not really related, quite the opposite, but this is another interesting interview accompanied by sweet animations.

 

[HD]

I'm not sure where I stand on liberalism, haven't thought/read into it too deeply. However, in my mind the main flaw in our society, and what will ultimately lead to the downfall of it, is the monetary system.

I'm with you on that. It still seems to be considered a radical idea, though. I don't think there will be a downfall though, but rather a gradual progression to a society without it, or with significantly less of it. The real buffer right now is limited science and bad culture. But obviously everything has its limits, no matter how much evolution there is, there would still be some form of bartering you would imagine.

 

[HD]

Maybe we could make this a bit of a share for cool videos like the ones posted if people carry on responding and discussing?

I absolutely loved this video, my favourite watch of 2012. He's an atheist, but he's not a lunatic and it's not all about religion bashing by any means.



For the busy people, here's a shortened version of a segment of the speech.

 

[Spence]

I'm with you on that. It still seems to be considered a radical idea, though. I don't think there will be a downfall though, but rather a gradual progression to a society without it, or with significantly less of it. The real buffer right now is limited science and bad culture. But obviously everything has its limits, no matter how much evolution there is, there would still be some form of bartering you would imagine.

I agree it's probably more likely, and would obviously be preferrable, to have a gradual transition into a different system. But the conspiracist in me doubts that the powers to be would not give up their accumulated wealth without a fight, and there isn't anyone on the planet able to match their power. In that scenario all we can really do is wait for the collapse to happen and ensure "they" don't trick their way back into power.

 

[Spence]

https://www.philosophersbeard.org/2012/04/what-to-do-about-rich.html

 

[HD]

I agree it's probably more likely, and would obviously be preferrable, to have a gradual transition into a different system. But the conspiracist in me doubts that the powers to be would not give up their accumulated wealth without a fight, and there isn't anyone on the planet able to match their power. In that scenario all we can really do is wait for the collapse to happen and ensure "they" don't trick their way back into power.

Heh. There are quite a few conspiracies out there about the elite of the world keeping new technologies, free energies, kept secret. Ties into your suspicions.

I think there will be a gradual, agonisingly slow change for the better, though. Even though I posted a video which criticises liberalism, are the social policies that liberalism represents not a step forward? I don't think "they" envisioned or embraced such things as universal healthcare or free education for all, but over generations and centuries they've gradually come to become standard of society.

I think we could see the same gradual progression, away from the monetary system that's in place now. Sometimes I think we give these bastards too much credit. Their cunning and evil is no match for the human thirst for happiness. Certainly not in our lifetime though!

 

[HD]

Bloody hell that's long, I'll give it a read later on this evening or tomorrow!

 

[Sebastian]

I tease my father, as he is a positive thinker, that the corruption is steadfast. That nothing can set back what's already ingrained to such a degree. Except literally a revolution when things reach the bottom barrel. In which welfare is so underestimated, and which is why i think the republicans in the states or any other past right wing movements are are so crazy to mess with. Welfare literally keeps the elite safe at night. Nothing else would starve off the poor and hungry, right? So why in all their corrupt elegant islands would they try and destroy one of the barriers that keeps them safe? Crazy!

When the cycle of the past worldly empires crashed due to human devilish qualities. Such as Rome due to greed. Greed which i believe is also ingrained to a degree as part of the human condition. To add the mass under education and lack of equality. And not to mention the absolutely insane population growth. Has become part of the next cycle waiting to eventually crash. Hopefully natural evolution will eventually influence society. I believe the human nature is one of greed, selfish to the core, naturally. Almost that the kind, giving, people are suckers in a sense. Not because i wouldn't love to befriend them, but because i think if your not selfish to a certain degree, why not just give away all your non essential items?

My mother recently made a point that capitalism in its healthy strong state was a fair, if what some what harsh system. But fair, notherless. But ladies and gentleman don't be fooled by what current system you live in today's times. We're living in a plutonomy. Where the wealth just gets circulated in a narrow orbit. We live in a world where people are getting rich just because they can, instead of the tasks that they should be commended for. Such as benefiting, supplying or solving. Anyway, i just think as bleak as it sounds that the world is currently set in such a way, that until the masses can't feed themselves, or think its worth their while. Just sit back, try and be a good person and watch the show unfold.

 

[Spence]

Heh. There are quite a few conspiracies out there about the elite of the world keeping new technologies, free energies, kept secret. Ties into your suspicions.

The only conspiracy I genuinely believe (well believe that it's feasible) is that oil (or whatever) companies suppressing alternative energy technologies; to what extent, I'm not sure.

 

[Spence]

That nothing can set back what's already ingrained to such a degree. Except literally a revolution when things reach the bottom barrel.

That's a much better way of phrasing what I was trying to say before - I certainly there is a gradual change into a better system, but it's so ingrained that I feel that the most plausible way change will happen is when it is forced upon us.

Greed which i believe is also ingrained to a degree as part of the human condition

Which is my main gripe with our current democratic system. Regardless of what one says to get elected, human greed is indeed a natural part of our psyche, and when push comes to shove one will generally do what is best for them personally - not the people they're serving.

 

[HD]

Sebastien, I love your point about welfare as it's something I've said myself many a time. A great past time of mine is mocking the capitalist opposition to welfare, for the reason you mention: it's the only thing that's keeping them safe. Liberalism, or welfare more specifically, is the life support machine of capitalism.

If you take away "free" education, healthcare, welfare, etc, you're left with a population that has nothing to lose and will literally take to the streets. The social safety net that liberal capitalism provides is the only reason capitalism is relevant.

I would perhaps differ with you(or your mum) on the fairness of capitalism in its pure form. Personally, I see unregulated capitalism as the most unfair kind. But it really depends how you're judging fairness.

Great post.

 

[HD]

The only conspiracy I genuinely believe (well believe that it's feasible) is that oil (or whatever) companies suppressing alternative energy technologies; to what extent, I'm not sure.

It's perfectly feasible. Look at how diamond companies sit on huge reserves of diamonds. It stands to reason that for all involved, the oil industry and the general elite of the world, alternative energy that would benefit and alleviate the common man from struggle, of course it would be suppressed.

But maybe there isn't anything out there which is better. I'm conspiracy-minded in the same vein as yourself and while I've looked at this idea in depth, I've not found anything that I would consider hard evidence of technological-supression.

There's no doubt they would keep a lid on it if something was learned, but I haven't seen anything which convinces me that they've done so alreadyt

 

[Spence]

It's perfectly feasible. Look at how diamond companies sit on huge reserves of diamonds. It stands to reason that for all involved, the oil industry and the general elite of the world, alternative energy that would benefit and alleviate the common man from struggle, of course it would be suppressed.

But maybe there isn't anything out there which is better. I'm conspiracy-minded in the same vein as yourself and while I've looked at this idea in depth, I've not found anything that I would consider hard evidence of technological-supression.

There's no doubt they would keep a lid on it if something was learned, but I haven't seen anything which convinces me that they've done so alreadyt

I guess the main argument against it is the shear number of scientists working on such projects, anything one person can develop (and have subsequently brought off them by an oil company) would eventually be discovered by someone else, and so on, until it finally gets into the public. That argument assumes an infinite time period though and I guess for revolutionary breakthroughs it might well take a generation or two for the same technologies to be developed independently.

 

[mt.wellington]

Regardless of what one says to get elected, human greed is indeed a natural part of our psyche, and when push comes to shove one will generally do what is best for them personally - not the people they're serving.

Democracy was the right of the people to choose their own tyrant - James Madison

 

[mt.wellington]

It's perfectly feasible. Look at how diamond companies sit on huge reserves of diamonds. It stands to reason that for all involved, the oil industry and the general elite of the world, alternative energy that would benefit and alleviate the common man from struggle, of course it would be suppressed.

But maybe there isn't anything out there which is better. I'm conspiracy-minded in the same vein as yourself and while I've looked at this idea in depth, I've not found anything that I would consider hard evidence of technological-supression.

There's no doubt they would keep a lid on it if something was learned, but I haven't seen anything which convinces me that they've done so alreadyt

I dont think an alternative source of energy has been found that is cheaper then oil. Greed alone would ensure it surfaced. If it had then the company that decovered it would be richer then every member in OPEC put together. They must be getting close though???

 

[Spence]

I dont think an alternative source of energy has been found that is cheaper then oil. Greed alone would ensure it surfaced. If it had then the company that decovered it would be richer then every member in OPEC put together. They must be getting close though???

Only if there was a way to control it and make money off it.