In All Fairness

A reader contacted me concerning the high number of executive orders that President did sign. The list is disturbing in terms of how much control the government could possibly exert. As far an the order making people work on certain projects might make Work Fair more productive for recipients of Public Assistance. However I stand corrected on the issue of President Obama's number of executive orders. In conclusion I feel that are many things that could be accomplished for "the common good." Politically there is no way I could vote Republican but am grateful for corrections... Please read this and make your own determination. http://www.westernjournalism.com/a-comprehensive-list-of-obamas-worst-executive-orders/ You will have to copy and paste.

So Much To Choke On...

The last week has been wrought with unbelievable events. Sandusky's interview in which he practically admits being drawn to sexual encounters with young boys will probably be introduced in court. I honestly cannot see how he could ever be acquitted. I wonder though when will this can of snakes be opened so the head people at Penn State that seemed to have dragged their feet on investigating allegation can be pinched to the point of public squirming. Let us hope justice prevails. I have to admit though if were selected for that jury I would already have made up my mind and also wonder how many jurors are of the same mindset. Of course it would not be justice according to some but it would deliver just deserts. So is this case a matter of justice or just deserts for someone the whole country hates? Then there's THAT REPORTER that disrespected President Obama during his press conference. There's a lot of that going around too. Disrespect for the President and his attorney general, Mr. Holder. Supposed hearings are blatant attempts to promote the right wing agenda. It might be because there is the feeling within the right general wing contingent that a majority of people are on their side. These are the people that comprised "The silent Majority" many years back and now they have become vocal. I am reduced to yelling at Seamus's Abuser every time I see a clip of him talking to people. You see he spouts platitudes but never a real plan and the people cheer him on choosing to be ignorant- choosing to not see that he WILL NOT REPRESENT THEIR INTERESTS!!!! Yet people will go to listen to him deliver speeches that in my college public speaking classes would have yielded an "F" so I wonder what is wrong with people that cannot see he will never be their savior? The answer may be simply that these people have thrown away their possible intelligence in favor of giving in to their darker, baser emotions-racism. Few were the commentators that took Bush's policies by the horns and told it like it. But try this on for size: Bush (The Shrub as I have always called him) holds the record for middle of the night executive orders and although the right would eat President alive I believe this is the tool he needs to use to push through those issues that have been stalled in Congress. Do President Obama. PLEASE DO IT! Lt the right choke on Executive Orders? ...And please...because I am tired of screaming at the TV...can someone just SHUT ROMNEY UP!

The Finer Point On Odd Bills

Okay. Here's where a lot of people seem to be at: "What? Money to create jobs? What? Mandates to HAVE to have to have health insurance? We can't afford that!" Really? but we can afford for the richest to continue to get tax cuts? We can afford for millions of dollars in fossil fuel subsidized from OUR taxes to be gift wrapped for oil companies? Let's see...take way millions per day in subsidies...cut out tax loops...outlaw Citizen's United (to shut up big money)...hmmmm... but, we can't have this! Nor can we have the government stimulate the economy for the purposes of infrastructure repairs and other projects people are skilled, able and willing to do because you see then there would money for people to SPEND and TAXES TO COLLECT (on all but the rich, of course!) Mandate for health services? Why? So that with a wider pool insurance companies (yes, those awful people with the black hats) could actually cover more people as well as preexisting conditions. I know, I know helping that section of the health industry that condemns so many and arbitrarily find ways to, well, hurt people and not help them? Be we must also be pragmatists and economic is economics. So for the many who think all this stuff is "socialization" guess what? If it's PAID FOR, IT IS NOT! How about THEM apples? Now we only to decide what tree these apples fall from...the good tree or the bad one...

Walker Cakewalks

Despite the amazing on the ground mobilization of labor supporters, Walker won in Wisconsin! Although I will add my voice to the many who say 'money talks" for what greater example can there be, the sad truth is ignorance speaks louder than knowledge. If we view Wisconsin as a microcosm, I have to admit I am extremely fearful of the Presidential election where monied hands will grease the palms of the GOP machine in order to get a "Yes Man" in the oval office. What is most frightening is that all of this is a matter of public record and yet there are so many that simply do not choose, yes CHOOSE, to simply see. Whereas I know some truths are exceedingly different to accept to the point of denial I truly (and perhaps deluded) myself into having faith in the street smarts of the American people. What became clear is that the brass tacks of common sense may not exist anymore. Street smarts is street sense AKA common sense which I fear is rampantly lacking. That Walker might as well be Seamus's abuser is apparent. What is also apparent is that hungry horses will come to the trough to eat and drink. What was offered was the cake of politics iced with money hoping the votes would keep Walker at the top of the game. What can be expected now is a state by state voting scam into which money will flow from who knows who and who knows where and a very high percentage of voters willing to be misled. Wisconsin may very well be the model for what is to come: misinformation fed by money resulting in cake that the ignorant will feast on ... at least until their favorite benefits are lost. Back in the day they guillotined Marie Antoinette for saying the poor should eat cake. This GOP is, in essence, offering up the same thing but this time the American people will be guillotined and perhaps it will be just deserts.

Who Let Romney Out?

Really? The main thing Romney had to say in a Black community was :WHO LET THE DOGS OUT?" as a bridge point? Really? He calling them dogs or what? He is clueless about anything but his own 1% ilk of a nation that stands behind him. Making it clear he would, on the first day in office be the puppet for the extremely wealthy he also made it clear that puppets are mindless,ignorance and uncomfortable outside of their mansion zones! Of course the more he talks that happier I get as his true concepts come to the foreground more and more and come election time, especially with voter suppression running amok "left" and "right" (that's right even Republicans are being told they are not citizens in Florida now!) the GOP powers that be need to figure WHY letting him run wildly on the lawns of the public. I am surprised no one put a lease on him yet...better yet...why no one strapped him to the roof a car where he could "bark" sound "bites" (sorry, can't help but be "punny"") through a megaphone...

A Mind Shift

Even a snark such as myself reaches a point where a change of pace is needed. Herein lies a mind shift for today: a book review! This is a review of a translation of a response written by little know German Philosopher and fist lieutenant of the Bavarian Illuminati organization, Adolph von Knigge. As a person who is bilingual I cannot help but be amazed at the task writer and translator Jeva Singh-Amand undertook in his translation of PHILO'S REPLY QUESTIONS CONCERNING HIS ASSOCIATION WITH THE ILLUMINATI. The Illuminati has been presumed to exist for a very long time and has been subjected to mystery by many and presumed occult in nature as well. Mr. Singh-Anand brings to light the history of the Illuminati and the lesser baron that would become it's architect, and an even lesser known philosopher and administrator of what was a fledgling attempt to organize enlightenment and bring it to Germanic states. "Philo" was a secret name. It was customary for all those affiliated with the Bavarian Illuminati to take on pseudonyms to work unhindered. Philo was really Baron Adolph von Knigge, raised in a family that nurtured curiosity in all things, including the occult. His father, interested in alchemy was never able to covert anything into gold but that did not dissuade the young baron from pursing his own interest in things mysterious. A little known fact is that Baron von Knegge became most prominent in the area of etiquette upon which he wrote extensively. Yet his own curious and determined nature sought something that could encapsulate the best of mankind for the betterment of mankind. As a result he became introduced to and worked with founder Adam Weishaupt. As he discussed his objective of finding a way to promote enlightenment Weishaupt informed him that such an organization already existed. He was quickly asked to perform the gargantuan task of fostering the development of the Illuminati in five areas. Beginning second in command to none von Knigge took on this responsibility willingly and enthusiastically. What becomes clear in this wonderful translation that read as if written in English is von Knigge's labors, efforts and ultimate disagreement with Weishaupt which led to his leaving the movement. but what truly shines through is the brilliance of the mind that was von Krigge. What is truly applicable to today's times is the wisdom he exhibited in the face of criticism and misrepresentation of the Bavarian Illuminati. Reading this learned philosopher's point of view which reflects the optimism that truth and it's light will always show itself regardless of slander and ignorance lends a truly new awareness to the childhood adages such as "sticks and stones" and "water off a duck's back". Von Knigge was a man who knew when silence was the strongest tool and only provided this treatise when his anonymity was revealed by another within the Illuminati. Mr. Singh-Anand's translation brings forward a little known philosopher's wisdom in a manner that is both engaging while still capturing the history of this organization. As a result he accomplishes removing the veil of mystique surrounding the Illuminati, revealing what it truly was which was an organization that originally was similar to the philosophy of what we Americans call Libertarianism although one can also see how its tenets were threatening and in its time seemed to promote anarchy. Established for the betterment of mankind and for it's membership, Weishaupt promised "Heaven on earth" for the brotherhood but it was really von Knigge that laid down the foundation and degrees of what would constitute Freemasonry. In comprehending the principles of this organization one can easily see how "brotherhoods" of the wealthiest in modern times are also targets of curiosity, criticism and mystery. The most interesting facet of von Knigge's personality, to me, lies in his recounting Westhaupt admission early on in von Knigge's administration and development of the "order" in which he admitted that the Illuminati as von Knegge described it did not exist as was expressed. All it has been was a young, was a loosely connected movement of scattered intelligentsia not yet organized to have any impact on the promises of Westhaupt at least not until von Knigge entered the picture. Already having established in his own mind what an ideal society could be like and the worthiness of working toward that goal von Knigge chose to continue working diligently to create what he believed in which was a living, breathing viable network of capable people who were willing to be entrusted with the common good of mankind and of course, as security, themselves. I wish to thank Mr. Singh-Anand for this work and his labors in bringing to the foreground this little known philosopher who, in his own way, offers much in the way of basic standards for conducting oneself under pressure by refusing to accept the pressure and by truly reaching that point in which explanations are owed to no one but the self. I highly recommend this book for its merit, it's offering of little known history and its clarification of what to many is a mystery. Mr. Singh-Anand has dutifully presented von Knigee as a philosopher for not just his time but ours as well in a translation that flows in English allowing one to simply forget it was originally written in German. I look forward to more of Mr. Singh-Anand's scholarly translations of other authors known perhaps only to German academia. This book is available through lulu.com and amazon.com

My deepest apologies to my colleague, Barbara Cavallo! I erroneously made a mistake on my reference to her wonderful blog. Her blog can be found here: thevoiceofthecrone.blogspot.com