Envisioning Economic Collapse - Guns and Gold

America is at a precarious point in its history. That is not written to be inflammatory or as preface to some conspiratorial oratory. It is an opinion based on the diversity of media available to the average citizen and a cursory analysis of what would happen should the fabric (media, financial system) that binds modern day America tear.

Since the 2008 financial crisis the demand for gold, guns and silver has skyrocketed. Doomsday preppers as they are called are now mainstream. With a presidential candidate openly questioning whether he would accept the results of the election it would seem that a fundamental conceit of American democracy has been taken for granted.

So, its not too hard to see why one's mind may drift and envision what would be right of boom.

In the event of a nuclear attack by China, Russia or (heaven forbid) the EU on America the answer is short and simple. Nothing would be left to see. The East and West Coasts would be vaporized and flyover country would be haphazard and treacherous.

A more limited exchange or localized pandemic or supply chain disruption (oil maybe) would leave large swaths of the country physically unharmed but unable to operate business as usual. With that as a scenario lets take a look at:

Guns - There may be some benefit but more benefit will be had in large numbers and organization. Guns cannot be eaten. They are good somewhat for protection but against large crowds a handgun is unlikely to make much difference.

Gold and Silver - Silver is the original money and gold retains value but its marginal value is low when necessities are considered. That said, were the credit system to freeze up yet production capacity remain online gold and silver would be the place to be.

(Black) Power Man

The Marvel / Netflix television series Luke Cage is a really good superhero television show. With a nearly all black cast and crew (along with the main character) it is also history making. There have been other productions, most notably M.A.N.T.I.S but what sets Luke Cage apart is the emphasis on embracing the American culture that would produce such a hero.

From shootouts in the barbershop to wrongdoing at a community center Luke Cage does not take place in a remote "fortress of solitude" but in the 'hood. His adventures take him to prison, nightclubs and to church. The drama is infused with and comfortable with blackness. American blackness.

That his costume is essentially a bullet riddled hoodie sweatshirt serves as a constant reminder of the danger confronting black men in modern society. Though peaceful he finds himself shot at constantly by everybody. He has served prison time, has a police record and lives under an assumed name. he is an outcast, an outlaw. He has been without ever committing a crime, criminalized. This he shares with every black man in America.

So his power is to be bulletproof. Thick - skinned.And very strong.

On a more critical note however there are many problems with Power Man from a black nationalist point of view. His values are skewed. For example, despite his tremendous ...well power he has to be convinced to contribute something to the uplift of those around him. He has no innate need or desire to see those around him succeed. It is only when he can no longer run from his blackness that he accepts it. This all the while looking to it to provide for him (companionship, entertainment, brotherhood and employment).

Overall Luke Cage moves the needle forward.

         

I feared for my life / Black like me/ it can happen here

If cops are so full of fear why are they given guns and badges? Why is it blacks are routinely shot for minor crimes?

In fact,  in study after study we read of how blacks are punished far more severely than whites for the same activities. Even little black girls are viewed as threats and expelled for minor infractions. 

As America works it way through the slow motion train wreck of this managed depression these questions take on an immediacy that demands answers. 

It's no secret that as the economy continues to tank these attacks will grow worse and worse. It's disheartening because America is a great country but it's clear that its citizens (white & black) don't value the relative peace in which we live. 

Once that peace goes it will be very difficult to get back. 

It's unfortunate whites cannot magically become black to get a sense of the horror of the modern American black experience. Blacks suffer a psychological brutality that is omnipresent through media, schools , and the workplace. 

If anyone should fear for their lives it's black America. 

Cam Newton's Slippery Slope/ Has Cam Newton heard of Huey Newton?

Cam Newton is an awesome, talented, great quarterback.

When he began play in the professional game he was called out publicly by his employer to not be a tattoo having thug; as that was not the image the team wanted to project. That was a signal that he is a target off the field as well as on. Unfortunately for Cam, the people targeting him compete in a different arena and use weapons (like a pen & camera) his physical skills cannot nullify.

His being on stage with Young Jeezy seconds before shots rang out at a party is a big deal for a number of reasons:

1. It's contract time - Cam has slaved under a cruel rookie wage scale. Supposedly he is in line for a hefty new contract but:
2. The team manager went on record saying ,"No ticking time bombs"
3. Young Jeezy won't give him a dime if he's shot in a nightclub and neither will anyone else. 

Cam is as free to go wherever and associate with whomever as anyone else. Based on his publicly observable choices though he doesn't understand how quickly things can go south.

Certainly the white people paying him will want to know if he thinks hanging out in a public forum with a public personality who encourages prostitution, drug use and other forms of criminality is a good idea. They may or may not ask him but they will wonder , particularly after having bit a 13.1 million dollar bullet on another player who liked to party.

So Cam has a lot to lose, and like a lot of blacks who miraculously escape the curse of poverty in America, you wonder if he even knows? 

Chomsky/Ferguson DOJ report

Noam Chomsky is a thought provoking public intellectual whose writings I have read since my college days. While I don't always agree with him, two points he repeatedly makes are relevant to the Department of Justice report on Ferguson, Missouri.

1. "The security of the population was no more a high priority for ...administration planners than for their predecessors."
2. "Governments should not have this capacity. But governments will use whatever technology is available to them to combat their primary enemy – which is their own population," he told the Guardian.

Reading of the deliberate economic hardship imposed upon the residents of Ferguson through fines and violence I cannot help but agree with Chomsky's statements. The local agencies clearly were not interested in providing for the security of the residents and in fact treated them as enemies. The use of military technology  to suppress them and extract money is more akin to lawlessness than the rule of law.

Obama , Riots & Ebola

After speaking out quickly & loudly concerning Henry Louis Gates, Trayvon Martin & Donald Sterling so far the president has been quiet on the situation in St. Louis. A Google search returns no hits with "Obama Michael Brown." The silence is deafening and might indicate there are details yet to emerge (written Monday August 11th).

The photo above on the other hand speaks loud & clear. The guy in the middle doesn't look very isolated to me.

The Obama administration goes beyond failure into the territory of impediment. What use is a black president if racism & discrimination go up? What use is a black president if his race cannot prevent India & China from the embrace of our competitors?

The change Obama promised America has not come to fruition. He cannot govern, he cannot advocate. He is a impotent lame duck US president with no credibility. Congress refuses to work with him or his attorney general (by their own admission). US police forces across the country are in open revolt against him. If you are black in America things are likely worse than when he came to office.

Barack Obama had a golden opportunity to change race relations in this country for the better. It is my opinion that instead of saying, "...the police acted stupidly" in regards to Henry Louis Gates, if he had said, "...as president I support the police officer" we would not have the situation we do today.

The mind boggles at the harm his contentious & provocative statements ,"..if I had a son..", have done to race relations and policing. One wonders if he is under the influence of some drug.

Suggesting a conversation on race be had over drinks indicates a lack of awareness regarding how serious a topic it is.

Its quite possible Michael Brown paid with his life for white frustration with president Hussein Obama.

With 1.73% of the country's wealth but 13% of the population black America cannot produce a man with enough resources to withstand criticism and act if necessary. We are seeing that play out with the Obama administration. All of his cards are held by the white men who own the major corporations, the wealth & key positions in this society.

I pray that I am wrong but based on how little relative affluence & influence blacks have how could Obama be anything in but in the pocket of  someone else.

Raw Deal

For many people, and particularly in communities of color, the basic bargain of America -- that if you work hard and play by the rules, you can share in the nation's prosperity -- has become a raw deal. 

US Secretary of Labor R. Perez writing on the 50th anniversary of the civil rights act.

That's a pretty grim assessment of the current and future state of the job market.

Stress Test

The New York Times credits the following to Tim Geithner, "The rescue itself, at its core, is a fundamentally unfair thing, except relative to the alternative of letting the system burn down..."

I can not call that a telling statement since it seems to obfuscate more than it reveals. I can say in response that his estimation of relative values reveals a quantifiable flaw.

For the vast majority of Americans the system has already burned down. Whether it's public education, health care, back logged litigation, public safety or inflation it is the vast majority of Americans whom are under stress.

The former secretary and those like him are propagating the myth that the now famous 1% and their business interests are needed. That if those interests are not allowed to function America comes to a standstill.

It would not. The sun would still rise and new entities would arise to replace the old.

 

Alan Moore, MiracleMan & Racism

Alan Moore, author of such highly regarded comics as Watchmen, V for Vendetta & Swamp Thing, has been accused of racism for including a Golliwogg derivative in the later volumes of his League of Extraordinary Gentlemen comic books.

In this interview with Pádraig Ó Méalóid  he attempts to explain the inclusion of this Sambo like figure in the continuing tales of the popular comics. His explanation bleeds with the condescending contemptuousness of the question anyone familiar with his public persona would expect.  

He doesn't mention that since the characters are all in public domain he profits from the work of a woman , whose intentions while noble, resulted in a gross stereotypical caricature. He does hint of a desire to offer depth to a character where there was none before. Yet , much like the characters creator, his efforts serve to reinforce the very image he claims to reject (see photo attachment).

At this point, it's worth noting that comics are supposed to be fun & interesting. The fact that there is even (e)ink being expended on this subject shows what a master of the art form Alan Moore (and the artists, letterers & editors) are.

I am of the opinion the character in the League series is a caricature to the author. Nothing more, nothing less. The look of the character serves to stimulate interest in what would otherwise be a bit role. Moore admits as much himself, noting that the characters backstory is hidden in the novella like chapters that serve as epilogue to each individual issue of the comics.

Unasked, unmentioned, & totally ignored in the interview is MiracleMan. This may be by conspiracy or ignorance but it is notable that a conversation with Alan Moore concerning racism somehow excluded MiracleMan.

What is MiracleMan? Along with the Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller, MiracleMan introduced an existential edge to comic books. Watchmen is also known for doing this but MiracleMan did it better.

What if the ... super man existed? Not in the realm of fantasy where no one dies and the hero always saves the day but in a deconstructed, post-modern world? Alan Moore's MiracleMan attempts to answer that question. The answer is not pretty thing.

"Behold ...I teach you the Superman: He is this Lightening...He is this Madness!"

Moore leads off with a quote from Nietzsche's, "Thus Spake Zarathustra."

The rest of his run on the comic does not hold back. He ponders aloud , mostly through the character of Cream, the reaction of the world to the white superman come to life. That it is Cream , a character of African origin, whom fears him the least & is therefore capable of killing him is of interest. Unsaid, but there between the lines, is the idea that Cream finds comfort not only in MiracleMans' perfection but it validates that he is capable of, "being practically white." That he is able to function as effectively in modern society as anyone, regardless of his background.

Most of the white people in the comic react to MiracleMans' existence with a mixture of awe & fear. It is not that he is a physical threat, though that is a worry, but that he supersedes them. Here Moore plays to feelings of insecurity and the inevitable obsolescence that is the dark side of "progress." "Do you know what we must look like to him" the character of Sir Dennis Archer asks? He knows with MiracleMan on the scene his vision of the world & it's hierarchy must change.

Lately, with the success of the super hero films there have been questions raised concerning the diversity of comic book heroes.

No Affirmative Action for billionaires

Random thoughts on the Donald Sterling saga.

The NBA players & their union would be wise to think long & hard about the above quote.

Millions of African-American men endure far more for much, much less. I doubt public opinion will stay on their side as that reality bubbles to the surface.

Doc Rivers saying that he wishes his team did not have to react is a cop out. Millions of African-American men have to react (or not as the case may be) to racism everyday. It's surprising he doesn't realize this. If he is to continue taking Clippers paychecks he might need to shut up - his indignation sounds hollow.

I doubt Mark Cuban walks down many dark streets late at night. Better he give a true to life example of prejudice than make one up.

Obama calls kettle black

President Obama recently commented about the Washington Redskins name. The president basically said the name is offensive and should be changed. Meanwhile, another offensive word, used far more frequently (and even marketed to youth) by his friends in the music industry, goes unmentioned.

This is yet another example of the so-called first black president squandering the historical legacy & moral imperative of African-Americans.

Perhaps it's because the owner of the Skins is an easy target whereas the music industry is not?

Maybe he should talk it over with jigga?

the roots of discrimination are economic

“The struggle began with the problem of buses and lunch counters and theaters — in a word, with the problem of dignity,” Bayard Rustin, who organized the effort that brought 250,000 people to the Mall, wrote in the march’s aftermath. “But since the roots of discrimination are economic, and since, in the long run, the Negro, like everyone else, cannot achieve even dignity without a job — economic issues were bound to emerge, with far-reaching implications.”

Great piece. I guess a rising tide lifts all boats. Of course the only way for blacks to reach economic parity with whites is to actually earn more than whites.

Obama, Syria and MLK

Occasionally, reported events take on a surreal quality. Witness yesterdays juxtaposition of president Obama delivering a speech to commemorate the "March on Washington" while simultaneously warning of imminent military action against Syria.

The Obama as embodiment of , "The Dream" narrative is a deeply disturbing and disappointing meme on a number of levels. It's reminiscent of the irony in Bill Clinton speaking about the violence at Columbine while simultaneously ordering airstrikes in Iraq.

MLK is one the most recognized advocates of nonviolent change in the world. His pacifism, moral clarity and adherence to other Christian Principles such forgiveness and mercy provide stark contrast to military action. His opposition to the Vietnam war lead to a decrease in influence and allegations of communism. In short, MLK would not support drones and cruise missiles.

The president attending the ceremony was and is a tacit acknowledgment of the influence of MLK on the direction of America. The president though, should have chosen not to address the crowd if the very next story was to be his support for actions antithetical to the individual (and movement) being honored.


   

  

Envisioning Economic Collapse - Oil Crisis

After going through an oil crisis (Katrina) it seems that while the focus is on rising oil prices a more pertinent concern for the average American consumer would be availability. 

With consumer grade gas the issue wasn't the price spike so much as finding a gas station that had it.

Gas was not available at any price.

They Treat Us So Well!

@KingJames, Lebron James recently instagrammed his police escort to a Jay-Z concert.

"They treat us so well! Needed it because traffic was nuts!!" he tweeted.

It would seem he made the right decision in going to south beach.

The incident is notable because I have rarely seen positive, not to mention accommodating, stories of black men and police.

Obama & Trayvon Martin

Obama's statement, "If I had a son he would look like Trayvon", undoubtedly did more to torpedo the case than any mismanagement in the state of Florida. He was wrong to interject himself into the debate. Once he did it became less about Trayvon and more of a referendum on him and his administration. Furthermore, in this context but perhaps applicable also to Edward Snowden, upon conviction a defendant could reasonably claim to have not gotten a fair trial because the president or some high ranking official implicitly or explicitly confirmed guilt.

One wonders if that was Obama's intent all along.

This is not the first time Obama has bungled events with strong racial currents. I still wince when I think of the "beer summit", wherein what the president called a, "teachable moment" about race involved alcohol. The acquittal of George Zimmerman is just another example of the high cost of Obama to black America.

Not to say that presidents Bush or Clinton were great unifiers of Americans but they did not engender racial animosity in the most powerful groups. No question politicians are powerful in office but to a large extent they fall under the sway of leaders of industry and old, inherited money. The Obama presidency gives the impression that blacks have acquired influence. The reality is that black people, African - Americans, control very little in terms of the means of production. Whether this is by design or a failure to organize for mutual benefit I cannot say.

What I can say is that the unilateral ceding and closing of the conversation on race to president Obama and his singular accomplishment is a historical tragedy. This article in the New York times main thesis of a decline (more of a dissipation really) in black political strength due to democrats being branded the, "black party" is cogent and particularly relevant.

Kobe Bryant, Donavan McNabb, Drake, Morgan Freeman, Gabrielle Union, President Obama, Jay - Z are all wealthy and famous. Rick Ross raps of statues being built in his honor and black males with pants hanging down and gold chains are marketed constantly. These entertainers, politicians and athletes give the impression of black strength where there is none.

Outcomes like the Zimmerman trial are teachable moments reminding us that perception and reality can be two different things. Perhaps if Zimmerman had shot some famous black there might have been a different outcome (but I doubt it). As it is the lessons from this case run much deeper.

I've read that the greatest resource is people. I believe it. African- American human resources have been pretty much left to languish since slavery. There is no active effort by so called educated blacks to pool resources, purchase companies and develop technology. It's just a dwindling amount of Kanye West's "new slaves".

I've written hundreds of times now that for black people to have more than a nostalgic effect on public policy we have to actively participate in the economy. To do that we have to value our own lives. I doubt we will hear too many songs by people of other races encouraging them to shoot one another, disrespect women, and get a street education.

You could argue as Manly Hall does that races are known by their great men but it's not unreasonable to expect the African - American to adapt (as some admittedly do) industriousness.

So yes, I am saying that if Trayvon (the majority of black men actually) was raised in a home with both parents who focused on his education the outcome would have been different. That's the real tragedy.

American Fascism and Obama

I was excited and happy as anyone else with the idea of a black president of the United States.There was no need to convince me that a woman or black man could fulfill the obligations of the role.

I was and remained concerned about backlash. I have to listen to a lot of Obama jokes and hear a lot of hate thrown that mans way. No one blamed me when the president was white.

I expected a hardline on certain issues and a willingness to use the bully pulpit to sway issues on the side of truth, righteousness and shared ideals. Naïve? Perhaps but what's the use of a black president then? Why do I have to hear racist jokes and deal with white guys resentful of his success?

So that he can betray or at least not present the legitimate historical aspirations of hundreds of millions of Americans?

DNA swabs from arrest only.
Data mining of phone records (including real time location tracking).
Data mining of technology companies.
2008 bailouts.
IRS targeting of Tea Party.
Telling the Boston police they acted stupidly and then suggesting the nation have a conversation about race over drinks (sometimes truth really is stranger than fiction).
Extension of FBI directors tenure (yes he is retiring. I think in light of the history behind the law and recent revelations of domestic surveillance the exception should not have been sought)

COINTELPRO clearly means nothing to the man with a bust of MLK in his office. That's how he was able to lobby for an extension for the FBI director. That's how a massive domestics surveillance program can take place on his watch (see the recent revelations concerning PRISM and the NSA retrieval of phone data). Most worrisome by not allowing failed businesses to fail and subjecting them to onerous regulation (state control) along with a dash of socialism he has essentially created a fascist state in America. Some selected quotes below

"A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism.

Fascist ideology consistently invoked the primacy of the state.

Fascism supports a state-controlled economy that accepts a mix of private and public ownership over the means of production. Economic planning is applied to both the public and private sector in a fascist economy, the prosperity of private enterprise depended on its acceptance of synchronizing itself with the fascist state's economic goals. It supports the profit motive. However it emphasizes that industries must uphold the national interest as superior to private profit.^"

Yes, the Congress and judicial branch certainly helped. It's taken ,and this is a SWAG, millions of Americans working day and night to build the infrastructure, pass the laws and operate the machinery of the state. Expecting Obama to single handily resist this juggernaut is unrealistic.

Yet the president not only has the bully pulpit but can speak truth to power. More citizens donated to his campaign than ever before. His public support was remarkable. Yet his only major domestic policy achievement is exactly what would have happened had Hilary Clinton won the presidency, a healthcare bill.

The distinction between candidate Obama and president Obama is sharp.

In summation my expectation was of an activist president who consistently went in the direction of and made the choices MLK would have made or Gandhi or Frederick Douglass or any other champion of liberty.

Moral Hazard

The ghosts of the 2008 economic collapse are still with us. The bailouts signaled that the rich will not be allowed to fail and the poor will not be allowed to succeed. 

Today's politics reflect this. The large domestic spying operation that has once again come to light will doubtless be used to continue to suppress political dissent.

The poverty trap / understanding wealth

Economist Joseph Stiglitz paints a dismal view of the idea of American meritocracy. As does this article discussing the impact of prison and poverty. It is true that communities can be trapped in cycles of economic devastation but it is equally true that through organization and sacrifice (read= saving & investing) that those cycles can be broken.

Djorner Unchained

Random Thoughts on the unpleasantness in LA

• One of the most interesting observations the serial killer ex cop makes in his manifesto is that officers who have not been polygraphed should not be trusted.
• He apparently never considered civil disobedience as a valid alternative to continue the discussion. He could have started a blog, wrote pamphlets & given interviews to advance his cause. Much of the information contained in his writings is not available to the ordinary citizen, someone would have found it news worthy.
• I have seen no reporting mentioning his assertion that he does not believe in God.
• Not much of a conspiracy theory to think they have no intention of taking him alive.