The Future before it happens...

This blog will now take a dramatic turn in subject matter; a different direction as it were. It would be a colossal understatement to say that things in the world have been very interesting since 2008. The world's economic and political upheavals are unprecedented, at least in our day; and, the pace of those changes is accelerating, the ramifications are compounding, and history is literally being written .

I will delve into these economic and political events not as just another talking head, but in contrast to ancient writings that predicted this chaos. Yes, I am talking about writings preserved mostly in the Judeo-Christian tradition of the Holy Bible, as it is known to Christians; although I will be looking at other historical works as well.

With the advent of this medium, the Internet, there is a deluge of information available at our fingertips. If we pay close attention we can see, and we can know, what is in store for us in the future. No, I cannot divine the future for you, but it has been recorded for us and preserved, so that we may know when the time nears for the real end of earth's history.

Hang on, come back, and do lend me your suggestions.

e

The End?

I've been thinking about the end of the world for some time now. Yeah, so has everybody huh? Didn't you see 2012? And, it is after all 2012, the year of the fabled apocalypse according to everyone that has studied a Mayan calendar; or is it the Aztec calendar? Anyway, back to the point; I've been thinking about the end of the world for some time now and am growing increasingly worried. (Or is it optimistic? Ah, it's hard to say. No not really...but that's an entirely different post. We'll get there.)

So, I've been thinking, impending is this sense that something much deeper, more significant, and more, well, cataclysmic is on the brink that I've decided to - tum tum tum - blog about it. Seriously though, in a way I see 2008 a benchmark; a revelation of sorts. 2007 and 2008 flung open the shutters and doors on the truth, which everyone knew but had not necessarily any evidence, behind the fragility of the world's, as well as the United States' monetary systems and policies.

Now, the depth of that statement couldn't be overemphasized. I will embark on a study in the next few blogs of the current economic shape of the world compared to ancient writings concerning the history of this world...forward. See you next time!

Am I crazy, or is this outrageous? I'm having trouble digesting the way the media is portraying a couple of stories right now. First, there's Rick Perry and his flub at the presidential debate. Now, there's Herman Cain and his flabbergast concerning foreign policy. Are these important stories? I don't know contrast them with this:

Couple days ago, 60 Minutes comes out with a story called "Congress: Trading stock on inside information?" Now, OBVIOUSLY, one would say, this is ILLEGAL; INSIDER TRADING IS ILLEGAL. Every red-blooded American even a little versed in a few business laws knows that trading stock on inside information is illegal; one simply cannot profit from the market in this manner. Again this is cheating and its illegal.

Oh, except for Congress.

I DON'T GET IT AMERICA? WHAT DO WE CARE ABOUT? What's more important, the news about the Republican candidates forgetting a line, or the news that Congress is an unreservedly, unabashedly, corrupt entity. If I recall my history, the Roman Empire was not conquered as other empires had been. The Roman Empire crumbled and rotted from the inside out. Looks as if the American Empire is following in its footsteps.

Common Sense

I begin a reading of the Thomas Paine classic. It so scarce in this day. So disillusioned I am with the politics in this country. Interestingly enough there is a great podcast titled Common Sense. It would behoove you to check it out.

The Real Problem

So, Congress has agreed to raise the debt ceiling. Did any red-blooded American really doubt that they would? Really? I didn't. It's clear that Congress, as a whole, is virtually spineless. It has been clear for a very long time. So, although my aggravation for the current debacle knows no boundaries, I will blog about the real problem. Everything else is just the fallout.

The real problem is the United States' political system. The real problem is the political parties known as the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. This is the greatest threat facing the world's undisputed and premier superpower in our time and our children's time in the near future. If something isn't done to change America's political system, and I'm not talking about just a little tweak; I'm talking about fundamentally, radically, and completely eradicating the current system and starting with something else, I fear something far worse than 2008-Present is brewing. Literally...because of the current political system, our representatives, our president, the leadership of this country.

To start with, I would suggest things like: congressional term limits for both houses of Congress, making lobbying to Congress illegal in any and every form except a formal speech in the chambers during a session before all congresspeople, make campaign contributions illegal from every source except a red-blooded American with a social security number and that to a limit of $1,000, give absolutely anyone running for president a seat at the presidential debates regardless of party affiliation or coffer size, I could go on I guess, but you see where I'm going.

Even these suggestions aren't radically transforming the political system yet, but they may start to. The toxic dump that is Washington D.C. and the Republican and Democratic party are just that, toxic to the welfare of all Americans. Why we Americans keep voting them into positions of leadership when they clearly are not capable is mysterious, at best.

Defense

Of all the enemies to public liberty war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded because it compromises and develops the germ of every other. War is the parent of armies; from these proceed debts and taxes...known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the few...No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare. -James Madison, 1795

World military expenditure in 2010 is estimated to have reached $1.62 trillion in current dollars. (Global Issues, 2011)

The USA with its massive spending budget, is the principal determinant of the current world trend, and its military expenditure now accounts for just under half of the world total, at 43% of the world total. (Global Issues, 2011)

A Conflict Without End

The title you read is the title to an article, an editorial of The New York Times May 16. So disturbing is this piece that I quote the entire opening chapter for you.

"Osama bin Laden had been dead only a few days when House Republicans began their efforts to expand, rather than contract, the war on terror. Not content with the president's wide-ranging powers to pursue the archcriminals of Sept. 11, 2001, Republicans want to authorize the military to pursue virtually anyone suspected of terrorism, anywhere on earth, from now to the end of time." (The New York Times, 2011)

Far-fetched? Irrational? Impossible? I thought so. But, since 2001 actually, I've come to the consclusion that nothing is impossible for our all-knowing and all-powerful lawmakers. Is it me or is there just simply no oversight? Is it me or does it seem like, literally, they will just do whatever they want to do with absolutely no regard for you and me, the citizens that elect them and that they purport to "work for".

Granted I've done no research. I'm jumping the gun because I'm jaded, yes. I pulled up the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, however I cannot make heads or tails of it. What do I know? I'm not a politician; the thing is in their language, not in ours. I do know that there's a-whole-heckuva-lot-of money in that bill. Billions and billions of dollars; I did see those figures. And where there is a-whole-heckuva-lot-of money there's an enormous incentive to keep the status quo. T'ain't that raght? It's human nature people.

What we lost in 2001, and even before that, we will never get back. Benjamin Franklin said, "They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."

He also said, and I say to you, "There never was a good war or a bad peace."