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I feel people who consider themselves to be "intellectuals" or more generally people who "see" the present world situation more clearly (whether it be the geopo

by ivan_ah 13y ago

I feel people who consider themselves to be "intellectuals" or more generally people who "see" the present world situation more clearly (whether it be the geopolitical, societal, or technological aspects of it) have the duty to write about it and inform others. Perhaps this is what we have come to. Because of corporate chain-of-command issues (think Bloomberg in China) professional journalists can't speak the truth anymore, so we need citizens to do the job. As the article points out, the main thing that is missing is not the information/revelations but the synthesis of this information. What is the System? How does it work? How are they fucking us? Who is pulling the strings? What is the good fight?

Theodores 13y ago
From the follow up movie to Wall Street, Money Never Sleeps: Gordon Gekko: "I've been considered a pretty smart guy and maybe I was in prison too long. But sometimes it's the only place to stay sane and look out through those bars and say, 'Is everybody out there nuts?!" This is where we are with today's situation, only true outsiders can escape the lies and moral values of our times. I don't think that 'intellectuals' help, they are on the same kool aid. Even Nelson Mandela thought that going to war in Afghanistan was the right thing to do.
- ivan_ah 13y ago
  > I don't think that 'intellectuals' help... A lot of criticism of the financial sector is dismissed with arguments like "it's more complicated than that" and "you don't understand." So I guess by "intellectual," I meant someone who can see through the layers of complexity and find the weak spot. I think this might require more of an insider position rather than outsider.
antocv 13y ago
If you want my piece on this, Each state is defined by its monopoly on violence, that is the military power it has over that area, the police/internal violence units are for keeping the internal structure of the house intact - the class system, for the rich to keep their fortunes and define policy. Thats the setup, but the real power centre and brain of the society is the intelligence agencies, which can direct and influence the policy makers on all from military matters to internal violence. The intelligence agencies are above the law in any society. For them the law is a piece of paper to be used any way they wish. What is most important is "teh security of the state" which means the small network of people who get the reports on all others and each other - like a mafia family keeping each other stable and in place but still moving in the same direction - more power and safety for themselves. This spying on masses is done to seek out good recruites, and has always been done without internet. The prime directive of any intelligence agency is to control the public life, wheverever it is, online or public squares. The lure to work for these agencies is the secrecy, standing above law, being more important than others in society, and power. Meh, doesnt really make sense, but Im gonna iterate more on these ideas.

by ivan_ah 13y ago

Theodores 13y ago

From the follow up movie to Wall Street, Money Never Sleeps: Gordon Gekko: "I've been considered a pretty smart guy and maybe I was in prison too long. But sometimes it's the only place to stay sane and look out through those bars and say, 'Is everybody out there nuts?!" This is where we are with today's situation, only true outsiders can escape the lies and moral values of our times. I don't think that 'intellectuals' help, they are on the same kool aid. Even Nelson Mandela thought that going to war in Afghanistan was the right thing to do.

ivan_ah 13y ago
> I don't think that 'intellectuals' help... A lot of criticism of the financial sector is dismissed with arguments like "it's more complicated than that" and "you don't understand." So I guess by "intellectual," I meant someone who can see through the layers of complexity and find the weak spot. I think this might require more of an insider position rather than outsider.

antocv 13y ago

If you want my piece on this, Each state is defined by its monopoly on violence, that is the military power it has over that area, the police/internal violence units are for keeping the internal structure of the house intact - the class system, for the rich to keep their fortunes and define policy. Thats the setup, but the real power centre and brain of the society is the intelligence agencies, which can direct and influence the policy makers on all from military matters to internal violence. The intelligence agencies are above the law in any society. For them the law is a piece of paper to be used any way they wish. What is most important is "teh security of the state" which means the small network of people who get the reports on all others and each other - like a mafia family keeping each other stable and in place but still moving in the same direction - more power and safety for themselves. This spying on masses is done to seek out good recruites, and has always been done without internet. The prime directive of any intelligence agency is to control the public life, wheverever it is, online or public squares. The lure to work for these agencies is the secrecy, standing above law, being more important than others in society, and power. Meh, doesnt really make sense, but Im gonna iterate more on these ideas.