Interesting Video

This is an interesting movie because it offers well documented evidence towards the conspiracies it's talking about. I think the real question it raises isn't so much whether these power hierarchies exist as much as do we want to know about them? Are our lives better served by learning about the systems of control we exist under or that direct our cultures?

I think there is an important element involving an intersection of the level of economic mobility, education opportunities, level of ignorance and prejudice, and the level of violence and fear in our culture which exist due to these systems of control. What is important to remember is that economic mobility only comes from knowledge and skills, learning and education are the only way to increase competitiveness in any job market, and the only way to streamline and increase capacity for individual consumer spending. It is thus ironic that it is also the way of further identifying and learning to respond/act against the interests of the power groups discussed in this video.

Since it is essentially a closed system, however, there is also a reverse power in that the consumers as a group have the power to identify, expose and act against the power groups such as the major financial institutions. We can boycott their activities and subsidiaries, we can protest and form picket lines outside their headquarters, we can march on Congress and now, especially, with the freedom of information and anonymity offered by the internet, we are able to bombard the public with information to educated them as to the illegality and criminality of these groups.

I think that these systems are most effective because the vast majority of the public are content and comfortable to live within the current structure, happy to let these power systems continue on as is, or too stupid to realize how much better their lives could be if they would get off the couch, leave the bar, or just stop eating fast food and wake up to the potential to live so much better. Some of us are intelligent enough to realize that better lives are out there or who don't fit into the structures imposed on us by major financial groups and corporations who make decisions about what products and trends get produced, how they're advertised and control the media which sets much of the discourse revolving around these ideas and products and informs us how to think.

There are ways of working within the current systems by taking advantage of and fighting for the rights that we are supposed to be allowed, and to fight against things that restrict our rights. We are also able, as I said, to exercise our free speech and as long as we do not allow them to hold any power over us by keeping secrets and withholding information, but instead responding with truths, there is no reason we can't offer some change or bring about some betterment of those around us.

I do think that there are positive elements to these systems, however, as some corporations are heavily involved in philanthropy and in alleviating the suffering of others. Some, however, through their lack of social consciousness/responsibility, embody the paralytic entity that this movie represents, such as Wal-mart and the Walton family.

By and large, however, unless one is willing to take some personal action to recognize and use this information to better their life or that of those around them, it is easier and more comfortable to let this movie pass as propaganda, which it is, and to believe that our government has our best interests at heart.

First 08 Blog

I'm exhausted from work, have had a little to drink at dinner, and am generally in a lower point in my life right now, so this won't be an entry about politics or current affairs.

Right now I'm coasting a little, I don't really have a job, just temping, and not doing anything that I'm at all interested in as a career path, and I'm doing it because I need money. However, I'm not poor and in a city I really want to live in, I'm living at home with my parents, something I'd really rather not be doing, and while I have enough space to myself, it's not 'my' space, and this isn't a city that I feel is 'my' city either.

I don't really know what to do to feel like I have more control over my personhood right now. I don't necessarily think it's because I'm letting other people define me, but maybe I'm letting them define my choices or options. Maybe I need to realize that I'm too crazy to really fit into anyone person's idea of what I should be to be successful. Is there a career field for someone with a wide field of experiences, a good writer and who has ideas? Is there an 'idea guy' job out there where all I have to do is read through materials or hear proposals and then just give feedback or come up with tactics or perspectives that others haven't said before?

If there is, someone email it to me.