THERE IS NO CONSTANT

 

THERE IS NO CONSTANT

Everything is driven by energy and momentum

 

Every once in a while I like to take you on a semi-academic-scientific journey to illustrate with yet another example how energy and momentum impact everything in and around us and why any of our efforts to bring a certain level of constancy in our lives are doomed to fail.  It is frustrating and the underlying cause for much of the friction that exists in the world we inhabit.  The bulk of the universe is made up of matter: atoms, particles and gasses.  Inanimate and lacking awareness.  Matter has no needs.  It simply is.  But, it doesn’t differentiate in how it too is affected by energy and momentum.  Energy constantly bundling and releasing.  There is a certain amount of predictability, but not in the intensity of a release.

Awareness sets us apart from atoms and particles.

Earth is a slightly different kettle of fish because something rather special took place as we inhabit the only planet in our galaxy that produced living cells that spawned a veritable cornucopia of life over a timespan of billions of years.  Living cells, from simple to complex, require nutrition, oxygen, water and sunlight to survive and thrive.  Certain favorable conditions have to be met to keep living cells alive.  All lifeforms are constantly confronted by a host of challenges, something inanimate matter doesn’t have to put up with.  A byproduct of the precarious existence of living cells is an instinctive awareness that is present in virtually all of them.

We’re part of a universe that is a restless entity.

All living cells are the product of energy, but energy is not a constant and because of momentum (the automatic byproduct of energy) it creates constantly changing circumstances, from extremely positive to extremely negative.  A simple example is nutrition.  We don’t always eat the same thing, at the same time and experience the same sensation.  Our craving for sustenance changes constantly depending on need and activity level.  As a direct result of the impact of energy and momentum all lifeforms lead a rather unstable and volatile existence and it produces behaviors to match.  Compounding the impact is the fact that all living cells have a limited lifespan, lack resilience and are susceptible to disease and decay.  The combination of needs and uncertainty is what creates a constant state of turbulence.  This is one of the reasons why extreme incidents of intense negative energy bundling and the subsequent release is nearly impossible to stop.  The needs can be so powerful that it overtakes common sense and reason.

All human behavior answers to the unpredictable patterns of energy and momentum and it explains why our attempts at control are an abysmal failure.  The volatility only increases because of our higher level of intelligence and a higher level of awareness.  It has created a dichotomy we constantly struggle with because when we’re in trouble satisfying and meeting our immediate needs, we consistently fall back on primordial and instinctive behaviors.

We’re not different. All lifeforms share the same building blocks.

All lifeforms on Earth display the same evolutionary characteristics and trademarks.  A superior intelligence doesn’t set us apart, nor does it grant exemptions.  It has only given us an edge over all other lifeforms and if you follow me on my blog or read my books, you will know that I don’t think that is necessarily a good thing.  The following two primordial instincts are dominant in all lifeforms; survival followed by procreation.  When energy needs are met the inevitable urge to procreate is present in all species and a lot of depends on what its immediate environment can support.  And look at our numbers!

A dominant species can exert a greater influence over all the other species it shares the same environment with while potentially competing for the same resources.

In our case it is not only us versus the natural world, but we’re also competing with other human tribes for a variety of reasons, but the underlying sentiment that drives it, is supremacy.  Northern Ireland’s Catholics versus Protestants.  Houthis versus Tutsis in Rwanda, Serbs and Croats in the Balkans.  History is filled with examples galore of uneasy coexistence and fragile relationships.  And let’s not leave out Canada and our ongoing brush with reconciling our fractious historic past with our indigenous people; French Canada versus English Canada, East versus West.  America’s North and South.  Blacks versus whites.

When trouble knocks on our doors (and it could start with something small and insignificant, and yet, it can be blown out of proportion in record time), because, when we’re in trouble or being challenged, our primordial and instinctive behaviors become dominant once more.  Because . . . everything and everyone . . .  all driven by energy (and energy needs) and propelled by momentum.  No biggie when the energy that bundles is positive and the release corresponds accordingly, but, when negative energy bundles in intensity there is no innocent, harmless dissipation.  The true impact of energy reveals itself when it hits extremes.  Take an honest look around you and then ask yourself if there is a rational explanation for what is happening in the world today.  We’re not governed by rules of reason and proper conduct that follow logical and predictable patterns.

Believe your own lies and nothing else matters.

All lifeforms, all living cells, experience highs and lows; and what makes all life hazardous is the simple fact that there is no constancy; no guarantee or predictability.  We are at the mercy of energy and momentum and energy rules.  The efforts of those in charge, elected or selected, regardless of political stripe or religion, is to seek out a constant; an equilibrium that is sustainable and which provides a modicum of stability.  Destabilization leads to chaos and anarchy.  The human tribes resemble the planets in our galaxy in behavior; none are the same, all are different in size and make-up and all behave differently due to the constant push and pull of others.  We too are constantly tearing at each other; maneuvering, testing, poking, agreeing and disagreeing.  Or busy killing each other!

Intelligence is a dubious asset.

You would think that a superior intelligence would turn us into better people.  It is something you would expect.  Pulling together should be a no-brainer, but the opposite is the reality.  Energy intake and requirements provide all the motivation nations and tribes need in their justification to reign supreme.  And the supreme dominators amongst us rule with an arrogance that in their eyes justifies the dominion over others.  Listen to the rhetoric that flows from the lips of Trump, Netanyahu and Putin.  Pay attention to their body language.  In their simplistic views might makes right.  We can and therefore we will.  The indifference shown towards the carnage they have inflicted, the hundreds of thousands of victims, mostly innocent civilians, men, women and children, all signs of how unglued we have become.  And when it comes down to the long-term consequences, the impact on the rest of the world and the future our children will inherit?  None of them care as they are intoxicated by their power and infamy.

The irony?

What they crave and what eventually will be their undoing is that the constancy they desire is actually undermined by their actions.  Pulling together and setting differences aside makes all the difference.  Strength lies in all parts working together.

An intelligence not tempered by wisdom is an intelligence not worth having.

The fact that a constancy simple doesn’t exist and never will doesn’t mean that we, as a species, should give up trying by modifying our behaviors along more acceptable and moderate lines.  Less negative energy and more positive energy.  Nuclear fusion is the holy grail of energy generation and efficiency, but harnessing that awesome power is still elusive.  What is lacking is a constant and reliable generating process and thus far it is a physics experiment that defies reliable controls.  If it reaches critical mass and it spins out of control, the subsequent blast will be enormous.  The one thing that eludes nuclear fusion and all lifeforms on Earth is constancy.  It is not a requirement for atoms and inanimate particles.  They simply are.  We, on the other hand, crave constancy, predictability, safety, security, protection and if at all possible, saved from disease and decay.

We’re purposely ignorant of the natural forces that control our destiny, because the truth hurts.

Within the vast universe that surrounds us we are a fragile element constantly impacted by energy and momentum.  Awareness fluked into being on our planet, the only one to produce living cells and life.  We’re a space oddity.  An exception.  Nothing in space is as affected in its existence like we are.  We’re the ones who got stuck with awareness, with intelligence, with bodies that are fragile and temporary.

Our existence has nothing to do with fairness and we if don’t improve matters, greed, ignorance and stupidity will continue to play out on a planet where humanity as a species is increasingly running out of time and options.  We can ill afford to waste what planet Earth provides.  The only sage advice I can give, and you may ponder this for a while, is the following: Be the answer.

 

Purchase my novel; Energy and Origin from KDP Amazon.ca 

It will open your mind and explain not only who we are, but where we are headed and why.

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A VIEW OF THE WORLD

 

A VIEW OF THE WORLD

Actually, it’s about how you view the world.

It is a typical human habit to want to attach labels.  On a container it signifies immediately what you’re purchasing.  On our busy roads we rely on traffic signs.  Signs and labels for just about anything.  Drugs, poisons, paints, all come with explanations and signage indicating how lethal some of these products are and where to go for help.  Even on the news—sorry, it’s no longer called the news, but the show—the hosts feel obliged to explain the weather and the need for cautions, in case of rain for instance, “Be sure to bring your umbrella and wellies.”  Labelling.  Cautions.  We’re constantly getting in each other’s face.  Even unasked for advice, (we can’t seem to help ourselves) no matter how well intended; it is so pervasive.  Movies come with ratings and unpleasant news events come with a warning.  “What you’re about to view may offend some viewers.”

Labelling people.

This article is about labelling people into categories.  We do it all the time.  Obesity ratings.  Fitness ratings.  Toddler, infant, child, teenager, adolescent, adult, senior.  Old, young, bald, ugly, beautiful, wrinkled.  For some reason color has been segregated and black is no longer phonetically correct with a lower case.  White, brown, red or olive are still lower case and for some strange reason Black Lives Matter must have been responsible for that slight linguistic change.  I would have been much happier with a heartfelt legal equality, not only in law but one that comes from the heart as well, rather than settling for a capital B.  Anyway, that is just a slight deviation from the crux of the matter at hand.  How do you view the world and what kind of label would you attach to yourself?  You see, at the end of this article you get to decide.

Optimist, futurist, alarmist, pessimist, realist?

What kind of person are you?  How do you interpret your place in the universe?  Do you concern yourself with the present or the future?  Since my fingers are touching the keyboard and the subject matter is entirely mine, I get to decide a certain order and you will have to contend yourself with some of my personal biases slipping in.  Not to worry, even my objective mind suffers from bias and so does yours.  Bias is a subject for a much later date and it’s not a biggie.  Bias is a like a shadow comparable to the clothes worn by the emperor, yet semi-transparent and always close to the surface.  Not unlike the emperor, we see what we want to see!  We are products of the times we live in and how we experience the world is limited by personal knowledge and experience.  What you know and are exposed to go hand in hand.  Nobody is an expert on everything.  It also explains stupidity and stupid people. 

Are you a futurist?

Let’s start with the futurists.  I am an avid reader, but when it comes to science fiction and vampires, I kind of bypass that section in the library.  The world of the fantastic and totally imagined makes for light entertainment and amuses for a while, but it lacks substance.  For little me; fantasy in small doses please.  But the true futurist fanatics believe in all that anticipated technical wizardry.  The Jetsons coming alive.  We’re buzzing around in flying cars and live in floating worlds and robots deliver us meals that come in the form of a pill.  Yummy!  May the force be with you, Star Wars’ aficionados, and they’re convinced that one of these days we will be leaving boring planet Earth in search of exciting stellar systems filled with wondrous lifeforms and mindboggling technologies that will tickle our innovative imaginations.  The details are a bit fuzzy, but if you can envision it, it will happen.  Leave it to Musk and other space cadets to turn that dream into a reality.  For the futurists their motto is simple, “The future is ours and looking bright.  Warp speed 5, Mr. Zulu . . .  and beam me up, Scotty.”

An optimist?

A bit naïve they are, optimists, and what futurists share with optimists is hope, that silver lining kind of thing, sunny side up just like an egg.  Optimists are by and large nice people.  You can’t get mad at them.  There is an optimistic side to my realism because I refuse to go through life as a pessimist.  As a realist I am utterly convinced that my personal impact and opinion are by and large tolerated, but basically ignored.  When you’re not calling the shots, who listens?  Those calling the shots are however responsible for the tens of thousands of mostly innocent civilians who do get shot and killed each year.  The deciders is such a small category that it disqualifies most of us.  So, let’s skip the deciders.  (This is not an endorsement for home delivery services)

An alarmists?

I will skip this category as well.  They remind me too much of the fairytale of the boy crying wolf.  They tend to be miserable as well.  Perhaps the two go together, like peas in a pod.  Believe it or not, but you recognize alarmists from a distance, it is etched in their faces and reflected in their eyes.  A quick dash towards the next door behind which are encamped the pessimists.  (I can’t be seen to favor one home delivery service over another)

A pessimist?

Pessimists fall into the alarmist category, constantly worrying about everything and that includes worrying about the buffoon currently occupying the White House and the sinister little creep in the Kremlin.  We can only hope that a timely death will welcome all the little tyrants (and soon) who are currently hastening the demise of the planet and everything on it.  I’ve already let the cat out of the bag with the realist reference (my choice). 

I am a realist with a sense of humor.

A realist acknowledges that eventually we will be done in by greed, ignorance and stupidity.  There are so many of us that we can’t ignore the inevitable.  If there were very few of us I doubt I would be writing this down.  As a matter of fact I wouldn’t be writing at all, because I would be too busy loving and exploring the natural world, because I do love life and the fact that I am here and not on some godforsaken planet out in the galaxy boonies, surrounded by weird creatures speaking in guttural sounds I can’t understand.  For Pete’s sake, leave Star Wars out of my life.

Without going into greater detail I will ignore all those fantasies about effortlessly travelling through space, flying from one planetary wonder to the other and leave that part to the futurists and optimists.  If you’re really curious, I wrote a book called—They were like Angels—and it will provide you with much greater insight as to why zooming through space is not in the human cards.  It will cost you.  Currently it is only available through me and in paperback.  Twenty bucks and shipping costs and it can be yours.

As a realist I love to shrug my shoulders when it comes to doom and gloom and all things hoped and wished for.  We are what we are and there is very little anyone can do to change anything.  I’ve never trusted politicians who claim they can change things for the better, nor will I blindly follow those who promise everlasting life if things don’t turn out on Earth.  Life is a journey and I revel in the experience.  Enjoying the ride if you will.  And of course it comes with aches and pains, with grief and disappointments, trials and tribulations and I do realize that for many of us the ride is pure hell and torture.  Be happy if you were born on the right side of the tracks and above all, be happy with who and what you are.

Ordinary and boring, don’ knock it!

Some people can be so unrealistic, constantly looking for things that are out of reach; success, the perfect mate and relationships, instant gratification, a career you absolutely love, money in the bank, debt free and you die at age one hundred without ever seeing a doctor and you were bright as a whip right up to final breath of air.  Just ordinary and mundane can be so gratifying.  Boring is okay.  Not getting bombed out of your home or moving from one refugee camp to the other, kept alive by aid agencies suspected of harboring terrorists while handing out food.  Apparently those two things go hand in glove if some of our less illustrious leaders are to be believed.  It also allows them to save some money by cutting off funding.  Killing two birds with one stone; hey, Bill, you’re full of phrases today.

Temper your expectations and appreciate the cards you’ve been dealt in life (I can’t stop or help myself once I’m on roll, with the phrases that is).  Appreciate what you have been given.  My nose is slightly crooked.  I’ve always had bags under my eyes.  My liver spots masquerade as a tan.  I’m slightly balding and I’ve got so many spare parts inside of me that I can be classified as a medical miracle and an impressive pile of scrap metal will be left behind upon the cremation of my dead body.  I am still very much alive, the dead reference was just that, a reference.  On occasion I have looked upon beautiful human specimens with envy, especially if they’re blessed with an impressive amount of luxurious hair, but it is usually followed by a disparaging thought to make me feel better: probably a salesperson or a politician, or in a worst case scenario, a lawyer.

I do feel bad for the billions of people who got stuck in a shithole from the day they were born.  Dumb luck.  Bad luck.  No intent involved and stuck with a shitty hands of cards.  Imagine being born black (Black with a capital B for those who insist on the ‘new’ literary awakening.  If there is such a thing as woke, this would be it for me) in the Sudan, stuck in a refugee camp and faced with daily deprivations and violence.  Life can really suck if you’re born in the wrong place, at the wrong time.

Thank goodness that we can turn things off. 

Luckily for us all species are blessed with a shut-off mechanism that prevents us from cracking up when bad things come barreling down like an avalanche.  When we feel the worst while experiencing the worst.  If we didn’t have this we’d go out of our minds.  Not that we’re shutting out unpleasantness or disaster, but without that mental defense mechanism we wouldn’t survive.  In case of a major catastrophe the first order of business is cope and regroup.  It is a basic survival thing.

But what about wars and disasters that don’t take place in our own backyard.  Well, the coping in that case is a bit more altruistic, as in being pleased that it is them and not us.  A sort of remote empathy that doesn’t go very deep.  It is still part of that mental defense mechanism, but also plays into the basic survival strategy that we’re not obliged to feel pain that is not ours.

In my hometown there are currently about seventy people classified as homeless.  I could sell all my assets and hand over the money to these hapless souls and within one or two months of whooping it up, we’d all be broke again and stuck in the same rut.  I don’t have any answers and neither do you.  This is a quote from Lyndon B. Johnson—he wasn’t handsome either and apparently cussed like a sailor before they started to tape everything that came out of a president’s mouth—Life isn’t fair, it never was and never will be.

All we can really do is cope to our best abilities and go with the flow.  When something fun and exciting happens, enjoy!  If nothing out of the ordinary happens and everything is steady as she goes, count your blessings.  Even boring can be appreciated when everything else around you is going to hell in a handbasket.  If I’ve overdone the phrases, no apologies from the author.  I enjoy writing my articles.

So, when it comes to your view of the world, is there a label that fits you or a favorite inclination?  We just survived nearly five months of nasty winter weather.  I mean, this is Canada and even for us, it was bad!  I wonder if this kind of philosophical bender was a direct result of the winter blahs.  Cabin fever.  I even changed the lyrics of our national anthem.  Oh, Canada, land of snow and ice, freezing your ass off is never nice.

I purposely limited the views of the world to a few that are incredibly general and left out all the predictable subjects, topics, inclinations and phobia that lead to endless and annoying discussions and interpretations.  Keep it simple.  I also don’t want you to scratch your head incessantly, induce a headache or steer you towards intense soul searching.

I am a realist with a devious humorous streak.  What are you?

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A DISTURBING UPTICK IN TRIBALISM

 A DISTURBING UPTICK IN TRIBALISM

 

Sometimes I like to use a dictionary’s definition of a word to jumpstart an article and this one hails from the Webster’s Dictionary in regards to tribalism: tribal consciousness and loyalty, exaltation of the tribe above other groups, strong ‘in-group’ loyalty.  A bit vague because a lot of it depends on the size of the tribe and how most of the members identify.  The interpretation does hint at exclusivity, which basically means that certain people are either excluded or discriminated against.  And that is where an increase in tribalism can turn ugly and even deadly in a hurry.  We’re all familiar with phrases such as: letting the cat out of the bag.  Letting the genie out of the bottle.  We all know that the result is a permanent kind of thing.  The same sentiment applies to tribalism once it takes front and center.  All of a sudden it becomes a phenomenon that takes on a life of its own.  The notion that all their problems will be over if only all the members of the tribe stick together and act as one.  Sensing a golden opportunity, they are always led and misled by political hopefuls who pursue a course of exclusive tribal action in the mistaken belief that they can succeed where others have failed.

What triggers tribalism?

Amongst the members of the tribe there is a growing sense of unease:  a steady decline in income, job losses, an influx of immigrants and refugees, inflation, price increases, a lack of housing affordability and a steady erosion of savings or not being able to keep up with the bills.  Irate tribal members don’t need a single specific reason, like the threat of war or an invasion, to invoke an increased sense of nationalism, protectionism or isolationism.  It can be a case of all of the above.  One thing all of us avoid around the globe is the disturbing fact that we persist with an image of false growth, all of it subsidized by a growing mountain of public debt.  This is a public sector phenomenon as out of control spending is solely aimed at placating the masses and to keep government programs and subsidies in place.

An increase in tribalism is not the answer, because it creates the exact opposite as it promotes all the ugliness that segregates nations and its people in the first place in a time of crisis; race, religion, ethnicity, language and culture.  When we need to pull together, we actually start pulling apart.  Size does matter when it comes down to tribal identity and how one identifies.  The smaller the group the easier it is to connect.  In large and more complex societies you will see clusters emerge and it can be based on race, culture, religion, language or a shared environment: a city, a suburb, a region or province.  Tribalism is by and large grounded in a conscious and subconscious erosion of confidence and trust.  Unscrupulous leaders prey on these base emotions of insecurity and start providing an outlet: others are to blame.  We’re under attack.  Our way of life is threatened.  Scum is crossing our borders, drug dealers and rapist embedded amongst the thousands of refugees and illegals.  We have been taken advantage of.  Hit back or perish.  All they need to do is pour on the gasoline to keep the fires of discontent burning and with careful tweaking the tribe starts to react as one.  A new truth.  What used to be minor irritants turn into major causes, and spats turn into ugly conflicts and even war.

It’s that letting the cat out of the bag!

Tribalism grows out of desperation when none of the traditional fixes seem to work.  What most fail to acknowledge is the simple fact that the issues all of us face around the globe are universal in nature and they affect everybody.  To name a few of the current culprits: climate change, global warming, resource depletion, disparity in income and wealth division, deficits and debts, overpopulation, uncontrolled migration and refugees, shortage of affordable housing, inflation, safety and security, air, ground and water pollution.  A toxic and volatile mix.  An increase in tribalism is motivated by attempts to isolate the tribe from all of the above.  One way to achieve this is by blaming anything and everyone not connected to them.  A bizarre form of protectionism that resembles a turtle withdrawing within its shell to discourage an attack.  But even the turtle knows; you can’t hide forever.

How bad can it get?

A prime historical example in our recent past is that of Nazi Germany where an ethnic white majority tried to banish all unwanted elements from their society; Jews, communists, the feeble minded, handicapped, homosexuals and anybody suspected of harboring any kind of immoral deviancy.  Increasingly creating an atmosphere of narrowmindedness that excluded anyone not adhering to Nazi party standards and rules.  Total obedience.  A delusional belief that their Aryan ancestry entitled them to behave like they did.

Every superpower has created these kind of ideological justifications and it is playing out around the world once more.  Over the top, pretentious posturing, threats and bullying turning into official political policies and protectionist measures.  Tariffs, threats, sanctions, military strikes, whatever draws attention.  Whatever they feel might work!  And therein lies the greatest threat in the increase in dubious tribalism; that there is some kind of moral justification behind all their actions and activities.  The USA versus all nations that may or may not have impacted on their peace and prosperity, defending themselves against all threats real or imagined.  Israel versus all entities that impact on the survival of their nation, (despite legitimate objections by Palestinians under constant attack), and those suspected of harboring enemy forces and undermining their legitimacy of statehood.  A Russian state guided by a psychopath who envisions a resurrection of the glorious era of Tsarist power, influence and wealth.  A global economy under siege by an America attempting to stave off a financial collapse brought on by excessive borrowing and debt accumulation and faced with an implosion of their imperial dreams of remaining the biggest superpower in the world.

We’re not learning.

And then there are all the other hotspots around the globe filled with religious and regional conflicts; fights about who owns what, what they feel they are entitled to and who get access to wealth and resources . . .  and who gets nothing.  What we fail to acknowledge is that the world has reached a saturation point in the human population numbers it can realistically sustain; when it comes to providing for all.  And when it comes to a shortfall it is affecting not millions, but billions.  The negatives are starting to pile up by the baker’s dozen.

Tribalism is a simplistic attempt to plug holes in a sieve.  It doesn’t make sense.  Once more the impact of energy and momentum is the driving force behind all of this.  This is our boat.  We’re all in it together.  I am one of you.  Withdrawing in the wilderness and living a life of subsistence and isolation is not the answer.  When you turn your back on life, the world behind you goes on as usual, whether you like it or not.  I don’t have any real answers other than following my own mantra: Be the answer.  We either learn to pull together or we keep pulling apart.

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THE PROVOCATIVE NATURE OF CONFLICT

 

THE PROVOCATIVE NATURE OF CONFLICT

“History shows that a single person can change the course of history, for better or worse.”

I am going to start this article with several premises, three to be exact, and hopefully clarify the heading by the time I finish writing.  No, not to worry, it will be article length like all the others on my blog.

War is a net-negative undertaking.  The proof is in the historical pudding as it never changes anything and the only thing war leaves behind is a negative residue that consists of resentment and distrust, laying the foundation for future conflicts.

There is no such thing as a benevolent autocratic leadership because none will tolerate any kind of opposition. 

Only delusional, psychotic leaders believe that they can win a war where all others have failed.

Hate is the fodder that narrow minded people feast upon.

Leading the pack of grabbing international headlines is an America led by a president who is well on his way to go down in history as the worst of the worst.  America’s solo war efforts combine threats, coercion and unilateral actions that include indiscriminate bombing and killing.  Nonetheless it comes with a level of political impotency that puts all that military, superior weaponry to shame.  They are blundering all across the globe.  From trade to tariffs, sanctions and military strikes, all followed up by waffling, retractions and indecision.  Compare the movements to that of a weathervane and it explains US politics.  They have focused on targets that are small and lack the means to effectively fight back: shooting fish in a barrel.  Iran is a much bigger target and although militarily inferior and lacking real defensive and offensive capabilities, its size and numbers pose a serious threat because when it comes to boots on the ground America’s track record is abysmal.  Vietnam, Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq; trillions spent and nothing gained.  Trying to zap civilian morale by bombing the crap out of cities and infrastructures doesn’t win over hearts.  Even the protest marches across the globe, pro and con, have come to a grinding halt.  There is an astounding disbelief across the divide.  Incredulity.  How can anyone support what is going on?  Where is the justification?

A staggering loss of life and horrendous, needless destruction.  There is no rhyme or reason.  Irresponsible, political stupidity has reached stupendous new heights.  And wagging the threat of that nuclear finger!  Around the world degrading nuclear stockpiles and bombs are deteriorating in bunkers and silos.  A nuclear nightmare waiting in the wings and we’re still arguing as to who is allowed to pursue nuclear capability and who is not.  That bird left the cage a long time ago.  Let’s take a look at all the nations that have nuclear weapons and then you decide who is in his right mind and who is not.

Enough nuclear bombs to blow the planet to smithereens many times over.

The USA and Russia have the most nuclear missiles and warheads between the two nations; 5459 and 5277 respectively.  Bear in mind that since the first nuclear bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki the lethality of these weapons has only increased.  China has 600, France 290, the UK 225, India 180, Pakistan 170, Israel 90 and North Korea 50.  Another six nations are host to nuclear missiles.  Italy 35, Turkey 20, Belgium 15, Germany 15, the Netherlands 15 and an unknown quantity in Belarus.  Ukraine used to have nuclear weapons on its soil but gave them up in exchange for independence from Russia.  Hmm . . . that is not working out too well is it?

Who can we trust?

If we look at political stability and trustworthiness alone, who of those nine nations would fit the bill?  The USA used to brag that only they could be trusted because they were the most politically responsible and stable nation.  A democracy, honest, trustworthy and reliable.   But, if the political scene changes dramatically as it has in the USA, what can we do about it?  And if we look at the behavior of the USA and Israel in regards to Iran, can anyone blame Iran for not pursuing nuclear capability?

The USA is blaming NATO for not stepping up to the plate after their unilateral decision to declare war on Iran has turned into a political and financial disaster.  NATO members are sitting on the fence because none of their members are itching to unleash World War III.  This is not a sign of weakness but of a deeper understanding of the ramifications of following a narcissistic psychopath who has been blundering his way across the globe since taking office.  And in his wake he is followed by Putin and Netanyahu. 

Am I hopeful?  No.  Historically appeasement is the process of delaying the inevitable.  The top three troublemakers are under the illusion of having the upper hand and are busy stirring the opportunity pot in the mistaken belief that they are a powerhouse and that they can win these localized wars.  What they’re hoping to gain is something that has me stumped and I am not alone in this.

The consequences these psychopaths would face if they were to stop their aggression.

None of them would be allowed to remain in office because the public backlash would be enormous, especially when they can no longer hide their incompetence and have to account for their actions.  The true nature of the conflicts they have unleashed would ride to the fore and it is not the loss of face that would concern them the most.  All of them would face impeachment, jail sentences or even death.

All of them are guilty of infecting the psychic of their nations with fear, anxiety, paranoia and needless fear mongering and repression.  Through their propaganda they have made the masses complicit and compliant in following their disastrous agenda and ludicrous scheming.  When a nation regains its moral compass, something that is absent in these characters, it will involve decades of addressing the wrongs once the true extent of what has been set in motion has gone through a process of national healing: To regain confidence and their standing in the international community, to accept past misdeeds and to move on without guilt, remorse and anxiety.

Mass psychosis and anxiety.

Friedrich Nietzsche referred to this as: Madness in the individual is rare, but quite common in the masses.

It is accomplished through propaganda, tribal indoctrination and manipulation.  Mass psychosis is the product of deliberately massaging the minds of a nation by a dubious leadership that preys on our weaknesses, pride and prejudices.  They know that we’re fractious and ornery by nature and that we’re easily taking in by their lies, distortions and distractions.  Bad leaders know that it is easy to set the masses ablaze and all of them are gambling on the notion that they can win where others in the past have not.  We’re talking massive egos.  Delusional, narcissistic and lacking any kind of moral compass.  It comes shining through in everything they do and brag about and their character traits are easy to identify once they’re out in the open and in power.  It is also a tad late by then.  Putin has his billion dollar hideaway and loves strutting through the doors of the Kremlin while crowds stand in attention on the side.  Netanyahu is caught up in a drama with little or no way out as he will face corruption charges if voted out of office.  And Donald.  Plans for a victory arch that will be bigger and grander than the one in Paris.  His billion dollar ballroom will be more impressive and gilded than the one in Versailles.  The wannabe emperor in the making.  Parades, pomp and pageantry and a few more golden statues, plastering his name on Federal buildings and institutions and of course, his images draped across the facades of government buildings.  His insecurity comes shining through in this outrageous display of his persona; a Fuhrer-like culture.  Always front and center, no matter how ludicrous the occasion.  Put a microphone in front of his face and one nonsensical phrase after the other spews forth from his lips.

None of these characters care about the damage they inflict or the casualties that are piling up.  Psychopaths have no soul.  They are incapable of feeling guilt or remorse.  Basically they are insane and they surround themselves with a dubious caliber of people who have been groomed and manipulated to follow suit.  A lot of them won’t sleep well at night if the nightmare starts to unravel.  Life is about choices, good ones and bad ones.  When you choose bad, you’re either all in, or all out.  We continue to seesaw between war and peace.  Anybody can start a war and history shows that none have ever produced a positive and lasting result.  Violence simply takes a break, waiting for our true nature to be provoked once more.

We’re always taking sides and therein lies the rub!

We’re easily provoked to enter into conflicts.  Good leaders bring out the best in us, bad ones bring out the worst.  Unfortunately the bad ones get the most attention.

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IGNITE AND DIVIDE

 

IGNITE AND DIVIDE

Sing along with me, “Alberta bound . . . Alberta bound.”

 

Separatism, or the threat to separate, is not a unique phenomenon and it is a tool often used by fractious politicians to draw attention to themselves and their personal pet peeves and causes.  Alberta’s separatist movement was not a self-awakening lightbulb moment grown out of frustration and feeling abandoned or neglected by the federal government.  Smith simply planted the initial seed and watched it germinate, injecting the odd bit of fertilizer when needed and stepped back, probably with a big smile on her face.  Within no-time-flat a separatist movement sprouted and bloomed into being as if it were something they themselves invented.  Shrewd politicians know: plant the seed and play on the fractious nature of people, inclined to complain rather than examining whether there is a real foundation for all that griping and whining.  We’re a funny breed.  Once we commit ourselves to a potentially negative course of action we turn into hapless home wreckers who haven’t got a clue as to how to build and construct something that is built properly.  Separatism is a typical one-way street proposition, motivated by separation only and not the consequences.  It is inspired by the current international political thinking of the likes of Trump and Putin and other autocratic leaders.  Simplistic and effective.  Scream, shout, threaten and bully and watch the scenario unfold.  To the naturally dissatisfied and the unwashed this is like manna from heaven.  Don’t think.  Join the fray and wave your placards and flags.  If you’re really lucky the signs will be supplied and you don’t have to do a thing.  Just show up!

Hate once ignited is a nasty virus.

Around the world Smith is joined by other tribes, past and present, inspired by leaders that wave the fractious knife of separatism, of going it alone, with accusations of neglect, of being taken advantage of, of being robbed of their rights, of being treated unfairly.  None go out of their way to examine if there is a justified foundation for all those grievances.  All of them count on our fractious nature to ride to the fore and crowd momentum takes over.

Give them a cause and they will run amok.

Albertans are made to believe that somehow they have been shortchanged within the federal framework of Canada and they’re not lacking for examples of other provincial separation threats used to extract concessions and favorable treatment from the federal government.  It is so easy to ignite and divide and ignore the consequences.  If it all falls apart you can always blame the masses; for bowing out, getting cold feet, caving in to pressure.  Before Alberta’s oil bonanza the federal equalization payments and federal infrastructure projects were eagerly received.  Canada strong has been the result of a federal investment structure and provinces working together to build a nation that is the envy of the world in many ways.  A huge and wealthy nation.  One of the largest countries in the world and connected by impressive highways, railroads, bridges and ports of entry that have transformed this nation into a democratically run and impressively stable country.  An economic powerhouse with all the parts working together!

Counting on our fears and anxieties.

We’re living in challenging times and around the world manufacturing has come under fire because of the fractious, ignorant behavior of some of the current leaders.  Energy is a bright light—currently—because of conflicts and wars and with energy in short supply or at least threatened, it has become a hot commodity that is giving Smith and her cohorts and excellent window of opportunity to leverage that power.  Their vision is all about the now, not about the past and not about the future with dwindling oil sources as we’re talking about a non-renewable resource that we are extracting at neck-braking speeds.  When the oil runs out Albertans can go back to wheat and cattle, keeping their fingers crossed, hoping that Canada as a federation made up of provinces will be understanding and magnanimous.  All parties once more remembering that we’re stronger pulling together.

People living in glass houses.

Separatists are a funny lot.  One foot in and one foot out.  The foot in wants all the perks that come from what a federal government has to offer and the foot out doesn’t want to share in any federal obligations or programs.  Kind of like rowing a boat with one oar paddling in one direction and the other in the opposite.  That boat isn’t going anywhere.  Smith’s duplicity comes shining through in all the glad-handing and smiles when new pipelines and energy projects are announced with Ottawa greasing the wheels, followed up by more snide remarks of federal interference in provincial matters.  The fact that she is able to do this without any legal repercussions or penalties is a glowing indication that democracy in Canada is alive and well.  It is also a sign that the federal government respects the independence of provinces in provincial matters and that she is not being called to Ottawa for a well-deserved spanking.

Beware what you wish for.

If Smith and Alberta decided to go it alone it would have to negotiate all kinds of treaties and agreements, from funding formulas (including repayments), to border regulations and cross-border trade, defense and mutual cooperation in international affairs.  If it wants to join the United States it would have to put up with a president like Trump and if Smith loathes her subservience to Ottawa, just wait my dear girl until you feel the hammer of the US federal government and how powerless you will be made to feel if you have to submit to Washington.  Smith and a bevy of other likeminded politicians have embraced Trump-style politics: ignite and divide, blame others for mistakes and never, never apologize for anything.

I can’t think of a better example about pelting rocks at your own window than Smith fueling the separation fire, even when advocating with a sanctimonious smile on her face that she is not.  Anyone can start a fire.  Hard to put out when it turns into a blaze.

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