Here's what happens when capitalism is deregulated

Enron

Remember the 2005 Documentary, Enron - The Smartest Guys in the Room?  [It's currently available on Amazon Prime, & probably elsewhere as well.]  Remember Ken Lay and Jeff Skilling?  Remember the criminal fraud?  Remember how many people lost their pensions?  Remember the concealment of Enron debt?  Remember the rolling blackouts in California due to the fraudulent manipulation of available energy by Enron "Traders", and the high price of electricity?  Remember how several Enron Executives each secured a Golden Parachute retirement just before the company bankruptcy?  It's all detailed in this riveting film.

Enron was founded in 1985 at the height of the Reagan-Thatcher Neoliberal DEREGULATION ERA.  The Execs in high positions soon developed totally bizarre financial derivatives/instruments/systems for Trading fossil energy.  Later, they appeared to be making massive profits for the company...because they were hiding massive debt.  The whole ponzi-like house-of-cards eventually collapsed.  The lives of hundreds of thousands of people (not only thousands of Enron employees, but employees in other companies, and consumers) were damaged significantly.

The 2007-09 Crash

Remember the 2015 film which dramatized the (commonly called) 2008 Crash, The Big Short with Christian Bale as Dr. Michael Burry?  Weird (and unregulated) private financial derivatives*** caused a financial meltdown felt around the world.  Real estate companies, banks, Wall Street Traders, bond rating agencies, and others all contributed to creating the fiasco.  The groundwork for it all developed during the Clinton Administration CORPORATE DEMOCRATS ERA and the Dubya Bush DEREGULATION ERA.  Millions of people were severely impacted.

***During the Bill Clinton Administration/Presidency, an attempt was made by Brooksley Born (Head of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission - CFTC - and an American Hero) to have such derivatives regulated by the CFTC.  Wall Street, Alan Greenspan, Larry Summers, and many other Clinton Admin officials fiercely and savagely opposed her efforts, and they won.  Too bad for Main Street, again.  Even today OTC financial derivatives are barely regulated, especially those used by securities & insurance firms.

Bottom Line

When combined with various public functions and facilities in a Mixed Economy, and when closely regulated, I believe Capitalism is a valuable economic system.  Unregulated, or even deregulated just a bit, Capitalism is a monumental disaster and an extreme danger to Main Street.  History supports such a contention.  Too bad for Main Street that the incoming Trump Crew is planning to push for unprecedented deregulation.  Too bad, indeed.

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Not only my opinion.  Take Care

The Myth of Capitalism vs. Socialism re Reality

The Myth

There's only one general type of Socialism, and it's all bad/destructive.  [Such is the view of the Political Far-Right around the world.]  There's only one general type of Capitalism, and it's all bad/destructive.  [That's the view of the Political Far-Left around the globe.]  Neither assertion is true.  In each case, there are at least two types:  dictatorial, and democratic.

The Reality

First, let's look briefly at the USA.  My beloved Land is usually thought to have a purely capitalist economic system.  That's certainly the view of most people on the political Right, and probably the view of most on the political Left as well.  The fact is: ours is a Mixed Economy.  While it's primarily capitalist, it has many aspects of democratic socialism.  Here are several of those aspects:  PUBLIC roads; PUBLIC schools; PUBLIC water systems; PUBLIC sewer systems; PUBLIC museums; PUBLIC parks; PUBLIC health clinics; PUBLIC Zoos; the Social Security Administration; prison industries; and the V.A. health care system.  There's more, but you probably get the idea by now.  Also consider the following.

When people refer to "capitalism in the USA", precisely which version of that economic system is being referenced?  Is it Crony Capitalism?  Neoliberal Capitalism?  Disaster Capitalism?  Casino Capitalism?  Monopolistic Capitalism?  Oligarchic Capitalism?  [They all exist here.]  It most certainly is NOT Adam Smith Capitalism.  That's found mostly only in the arena of Small Business enterprises.  Mega Biz people engage in the other forms.  I doubt most of them even have read The Wealth of Nations.

Adam Smith considered himself more of a philosopher than an economist.  Nevertheless, he's lauded as the Father of Economics.  He favored the establishment of SMALL, competitive businesses, not Mega, monopolistic Biz.  He never used the term "capitalism"; instead, he referred to "commercial society".  Most importantly, he believed that economics was only one aspect of the human condition, and not the be-all and end-all of Life.  The full title of his famous book is An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.  He was a Scotsman, and he changed the world.

Let's consider even more briefly the countries which adhere to democratic socialism, such as Norway***.  While they primarily may be socialistic in nature, from all I've read and heard about their economics, it seems to me they do embrace capitalism to a significant degree.  In other words, they each have a Mixed Economy.  I doubt many of their Powers-That-Be would deny it.

***Norway is the richest country in the world...not in aggregate financial wealth, but in the more accurate and comprehensive  measurement of per capita income.  It beats the USA in that regard.

Usually, in any "free world" country it's the Far Right and the Far Left folks who ignore the reality of their Mixed Economy.  They can't wrap their minds around such a concept maybe because it seems to contradict their ideology.  They are "True Believers", and nothing will do except pure capitalism or pure socialism.  Perhaps with age they'll realize that most things in Life are gray, not black or white.

😊😊😊😊😊

Not only my opinion.  Be Well

Here's precisely why & how the American Empire is ending, and Trump has a very minor role

 Jeffrey Sachs is a respected international economist, a notable Professor, and an experienced consultant to governments in the arena of international negotiations.  In this relatively short and recent interview, he gives a no-holds-barred view of why and how the unipolar world is changing to a multipolar one.  The days of the Government of the USA being the Big Kahuna are coming to an end.  In most respects, such is not a bad thing.  On the international stage, our Fed Gov't over decades has become arrogant and bullying, and that has been in play long before Trump.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swVjCFqL6-s

Trump became somewhat popular largely because of his TV Reality Show.  Here's the only thing you need to remember about that show:  it was scripted FICTION.  In the real world, DJT primarily was a failure in business.  If you don't believe it, look closely into his various businesses from the 1980's to the present.  You'll find numerous bankruptcies, the shafting of contractors, the shafting of employees, court cases against him, fines, etc.  He once claimed he got his start with "a small loan of a million dollars" from his father.  

David Cay Johnston, the investigative journalist and Pulitzer Prize winning author, has written a number of best-selling books about economics, Big Business, and Trump.  In one of the Trump books, he states that Fred Trump "loaned" Donald a total of sixty million dollars over the years.  So much for DJT's "small loan".

It wouldn't surprise me at all if, when Trump says he'll "make America great again", he  imagines a hundred-year (or maybe a thousand-year:) State-Corporate Complex with his descendants at the helm.  Based on his history of the last forty years, though, what's highly likely to occur is this:  he will self-destruct.  In the next two to four years, his management and policies will destroy the popularity he has now with the 28% (of all American adults) who elected him.  Example:  watch what happens when he implements his much-touted Tariff increases.  [See this 12-minute clip, previously posted on this blog:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvJ4XS9_h_0&list=WL&index=69 ]

BOTTOM LINE:  Trump will not be able to stop what Prof. Sachs says is coming to the world extremely soon.  DJT's so-called strongman image is a complete charade.  Most of his supporters soon will see he's nothing more than a serial liar who is somewhat clever.

Watch the Jeffrey Sachs interview (the first link in this essay).  It's quite an eye-opener.

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Not only my opinion.  Be Well

Why Big Biz Backs Trump, and why Sustainability is feared by them all

Robert Reich explains it in a clip under three minutes long---

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LEnI9THvLA

One might guess it's about tax cuts and tax avoidance.  Yes, but it's also about blocking the path to Sustainability.  Many years ago, the Titans of Mega Biz realized they had to start talking-the-talk in regard to renewable energy, but walking-the-walk largely could be avoided IF they spent big bucks on politicians friendly to the economic status quo.  A bit later, they recognized that Sustainability involved a lot more than just transitioning to renewables.  It also meant reducing our energy use, being accountable for pollution, treating workers and consumers fairly, eliminating corporate welfare, increasing the social safety net, and more.

In the view of Mega Biz, the economic status quo was being threatened as never before.  So, both individually and collectively, the Titans decided to essentially buy more and more political influence.  They selected, groomed, and financed the majority of national political candidates.  Their degree of success in getting candidates friendly to their view varied, but almost always was at least somewhat on the mark...even with Democrats.

So, what was (and still is for the most part) the "economic status quo" back then?  Here it is in a nutshell:

1)  neoliberal capitalism (which is NOT Adam Smith capitalism); 

2)  deregulation, corporate globalization, & corporate welfare;

3)  bailouts for mega biz;

4)  banks too big to fail, or jail;

5)  reduced benefits for employees;

6)  reduced services to customers;

7)  job insecurity;

8)  treating pollutants as "externalities" (and not the responsibility of Big Biz);

9)  austerity for Main Street; and

10)  anything else which benefits Mega Biz at the expense of Main Street.

The status quo is pretty much the exact opposite of a sustainable economy and lifestyle.

The influence of the Titans has been massive, and has reached all the way to the Supreme Court of the USA.  The majority on that Court now are anti-healthcare, anti-EHS (environmental, health, & safety), anti-democracy, and anti-sustainability.  Whether that majority knows it or not, they are supporting Fascism - the marriage of the power of the State to the power of Mega Biz.

All the above is precisely why Big Biz backs the candidate who is the biggest embarrassment and danger in the history of the USA.

.................

Not only my opinion.  Be Well

KUDOS to Joe Biden, and What's Next

A Few Quick Notes

I had the feeling he badly wanted "The Last Hurrah"; however, he made the decision to do what's best for the country instead.  Sincere congrats to you, Mr. President.

I have not been in favor of Biden in any elected position for years, and certainly not Trump either.  The reasons Trump is a no-go should be obvious to anyone.  Even though apparently they're not obvious to some people, they will not be repeated at this time.  For about eight years, I've gone over them in detail on this blog.

The reasoning regarding Biden is partly due to the following:

    a)  his Gaza policy is unforgivable;

    b)  his foreign policy in general seems to be based on the concept of the "American Empire", the USA policing the world;

    c)  his economic policy (like that of just about every other politician in DC) is an ecological disaster; and,

    d)  his health seems to not be up to the demands of the Presidency.

The main reason, though, I'm not for Biden is this:  he (like most other national politicians) apparently still believes infinite economic growth will have no serious consequences on a finite planet.  Plus, it looks as though he (and many others) fails to recognize that Going Green while continuing to pursue infinite, exponential Growth is an oxymoron.  He's in a big club regarding those items.

Nevertheless, I salute President Biden for gracefully bowing out of the 2024 election.  It's best for him, his Party, and the country.

Bottom Line

Ecological Overshoot is the primary cause of our ongoing Meta-Crisis, and such overshoot is enabled by our current, neoliberal, mainstream economic system.  Unfortunately, perhaps 90-99% of our national politicians support such a system.  It's like a secular religion to them, and they refuse to consider other options.  They appear to be ecologically illiterate, energy blind, and minerals blind as well.  This means whoever replaces Biden as the Democratic Party candidate most likely will not challenge the current economic system, will not see the significance of Ecological Overshoot, and will be blind to the energy and minerals problems we'll be facing probably within ten years or so.

If we are to survive and thrive as a species not just which energy we use for fuel must change, but everything must change--- our economics, our lifestyles, our relation to Nature, our ethics, our relation to other people, and our worldview in general.

........................

Not only my opinion.  Be Well

"Rattling The Establishment's Cage: ..."

 For those who may not like (for whatever reason) shopping on Amazon, my latest book is also now available in eBook format here---

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rattling-the-establishments-cage-scott-c-haley/1145990820;jsessionid=1A939C1289BDBED3AEC564DE17317C1F.prodny_store01-atgap03?ean=2940179599685

and here---

https://books.apple.com/us/book/rattling-the-establishment-s-cage-short-essays-notes/id6535647494

It's also on other venues, such as Everand, Kobo, Tolino, Smashwords, and about six others as well.  On Amazon and Barnes & Noble, you're able to read sample pages.  I haven't had time to check on the other sites, so can't say if they have samples or not.

"The Establishment" is probably a permanent fixture in most societies around the world, and has done some good things.  Too often, though, it misleads or outright lies to us regarding significant issues.  These are things of which we need to be aware if we are to have sustainable and meaningful lives.

......................

Not only my opinion.  Be Informed, & Happy Trails

p.s.  The cover image below is one of my Abstract Expressionist paintings.

Memo to both Main St. & Land Use Planners: this positive, global change is highly likely to occur within 10 years

 Background Info (detailed in several places elsewhere on this blog)

1.  Factory farming of crops and livestock is damaging soil, depleting water supplies, using too much energy, damaging our climate, eliminating small family farms, reducing necessary biodiversity, and polluting the ecosphere (which includes us).

2.  Big Agriculture's Globalization of food production and distribution sounds good, and once in a blue moon even looks good; however, overall it's faltering and turning into a disaster.

3.  Climate change, multiple-continent supply chains, geopolitical rivalries, war, energy shortages, financial sanctions, and the like are all making global production and distribution of food problematic.

4.  One-third of the world's food already is grown on farms less than five acres each.  Source:  https://ourworldindata.org/smallholder-food-production

The Coming Positive Global Change

1.  Whether we plan for it or not, various factors will drive humans to transition from Globalization to Localization (and Regionalization).  All goods, including food, will be involved.  A few places in the world already have made a start.

2.  As much as possible:  food will be grown locally and/or regionally; synthetic, petrochemical herbicides & insecticides will not be used; and big machinery will not be necessary.  Here's how it's done:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cc3-3s115mM&list=WL&index=68    If a guy in a wheelchair and his team can do it, anyone can.  Don't miss this short clip.  It's most inspirational, and extremely informative.

3.  If you don't believe this can be done in towns and cities, do a YouTube Search for "urban community gardens", or "urban farming", and you'll be amazed.  In any case, it can be done just outside the city limits (if not smack-dab downtown).

4.  Because of greatly shortened supply chains, much less need for petrochemicals, much less need for fuel-guzzling big machinery, and much less need for packaging & processing, this type of organic farming will GREATLY reduce global energy use.  That's important because within about ten years, we'll be forced to cut way back on energy use.  [See the Nate Hagens interviews on YouTube which deal with Energy Blindness, as well as those on Minerals Blindness.  Simon Michaux and Tom Murphy also are good sources.]

5.  Because it uses drip-irrigation in areas where such is required, it also will significantly reduce freshwater depletion.  Currently, world agriculture uses 70% of all water fit for human consumption.  The lion's share of that is gobbled up by Big Ag (Factory Farming), and for the most part, drip-irrigation is not used.

You may be thinking, hey, I'm not a farmer.  Why should I care about any of this?  I would answer, do you like to eat?  😊  If your community or county or State does not start planning for the coming changes in food availability and fresh water availability, then you will be a farmer...a subsistence farmer.

We all need to convince our local authorities  to at least look into these matters.  The probability is extremely high that relatively soon we'll be forced to become a low-energy-use society all around the globe.  The metrics for such a scenario are all there.  Localization will be a massive help, but to avoid chaos, planning for it must start ASAP.

..........................

Not only my opinion.  Be Well

Here's one reason Trump plainly is ignorant of crucial matters, and why HISTORY is important

NOTE:  I'm not in favor of Biden for President, either.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvJ4XS9_h_0&list=WL&index=69

Showing his lack of wisdom and ignorance of economic history, Trump has floated a Trial Balloon proposal regarding the economy.  To be fair, I suspect not many people on Main Street are aware of this particular bit of history; but someone running for President should be aware of it.

A number of people have referred to DJT's proposal as:

the "worst economic proposal in U.S. history".

The clip is only twelve minutes in length, and I think quite interesting.  Everyone should try to catch it, and especially those who (for some baffling reason) continue to believe the almost constant stream of Trump's blatant lies.

.....................

Not only my opinion.  Be Well

The really bad news and the really good news regarding the Green Transition

 The following is based on the extensive work of the PhD Mining Engineer, Dr. Simon Michaux, who currently works for the Geological Survey of Finland.  I've posted a few other pieces about his work on this blog.  Look for his name in the Index to the right of this essay.

In addition to engineering, Michaux has an academic background in applied physics and applied geology.  He has collated a significant amount of existing global data on minerals, mining, energy use, and renewables.  The data then was analyzed and synthesized into a Report which easily could be called The Minerals and Materials Blindness on the Path to Sustainability.  The Report came out in 2021, and the title is:  Assessment of the Extra Capacity Required of Alternative Energy Electrical Power Systems to Completely Replace Fossil Fuels - and here's a link to it - https://tupa.gtk.fi/raportti/arkisto/42_2021.pdf

Warning:  the Report is 1,000 pages long.  😊

Finland commissioned the Study, and is paying attention to it.  What I can gather from watching multiple interviews of Michaux (videos on YouTube), most other Powers-That-Be in the public sector are ignoring it.  Even if it's factual, most people don't want to hear anything "negative".

I've not yet had the time the read the entire Report, but I've skimmed the whole thing.  Here's a tiny bit of the really bad news.

Because wind and solar power currently make up only about NINE PERCENT of primary energy usage, recycling of needed minerals will not suffice for the first generation of a massive increase in renewable energy gizmos.  Mining will have to expand greatly.  The problem is:  according to Michaux's analysis, here's what that means relative to key minerals and rare earth elements (in renewables) fully replacing fossil fuels---

1)  it will take about 195 years of mining of copper;

2)  about 400 years of mining of nickel;

3)  about 1,780 years of mining of cobalt;

4)  about 60 years of mining of Terbium;

5) about 7,100 years of mining of Vanadium;

6) about 40 years of mining of Neodymium; and

7)  there are more, but you get the idea.

All the above (plus many more) are required for a complete Green transition.  There are approximately 1.4 billion vehicles in the world today.  To supply them with electricity, massive amounts of mining will have to take place over decades and decades.  Never mind necessary electricity for residences, manufacturing, recreation, etc.

If the Powers-That-Be relied upon Science instead of their political and economic Ideology (the "Market" will provide whatever is needed), they'd see that the current approach to Going Green is fatally flawed.  It must be significantly modified.  Our society must reduce economic throughput and transition to low energy use.  The energy binge we've been on for 150 years is not normal, and it's just about over.  Either we'll plan for such, or it will be forced upon us by Nature's Laws.

The really good news is that Dr. Michaux has compiled the beginning of a plan for a sustainable Earth on which all life survives and thrives.  The title is Restructuring the Circular Economy into the Resource Balanced Economy, and here's the link:

https://tupa.gtk.fi/raportti/arkisto/3_2021.pdf  

This one is 126 pages...

Some of the Highlights---

• The "Circular Economy" (CE) - about which everyone is raving - does not fully account for the energy requirements of industrial society.
• The CE does not take into account materials which cannot be recycled or are lost to the environment (e.g., the soles of your shoes are worn off in microscopic bits over time, and cannot possibly be 100% recycled; another example - clay is used to make bricks, but bricks cannot be recycled to obtain clay).
• The CE does not account for the requirements and role of the mining of needed resources.  [The mining and smelting or refining of metals requires A LOT of energy and water.] 
• The CE primarily is based upon the recycling of materials.
• The "Resource Balanced Economy" (RBE) sprang from a much modified version of the old Resource Based Economy (of J. Fresco, and later, Peter Joseph).
• The RBE is a Steady State Economy which recognizes the folly of pursuing infinite ( & exponential) economic growth on a finite planet.
• Using Science rather than Ideology, the RBE Plan proposes a new system of resource accounting and allocation (which includes the health of ecosystems).
• The RBE Plan proposes a paradigm shift and systems approach in the management of raw materials and physical goods.
• The RBE Plan outlines the beginning of innovation and societal change which will lead to a sustainable and equitable existence.
• The RBE Plan correlates and interconnects the concepts of small-is-beautiful - economics as if people mattered (E.F. Schumacher), planetary boundaries (Johan Rockstrom), ecological overshoot (William E. Rees), the-great-simplification (Nate Hagens), and the-closing-circle - Nature, Man, and Technology (Barry Commoner).  

Make no mistake, Michaux is in favor of Going Green; however, like many others, he recognizes that Going Green while pursuing infinite growth is an oxymoron. 

At least have a look at the graphs and charts in the Plan.  From only that, you'll learn a lot.

.......................

Not only my opinion.  Happy Trails

A two-minute video from the UK on "Nature"

 This is "tongue-in-cheek", but certainly right on the mark regarding the importance of the natural world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhlMWK7GysA

Of course, there are several more benefits of Nature in addition to those mentioned in the clip above.  Here are just a few---

1.  Healthy forests stabilize and fertilize soils.  Such happens both in the forest and downstream from it.

2.  Both macro green plants and microbes have provided us (and continue to do so) with life-saving/life-affirming  medicines.

3.  Billions of friendly bacteria exist in our gastro-intestinal tract.  Without them, we would not survive.

4.  Wetlands filter water and help reduce flooding.

5.  Birds, bats, some insects, and several other animals (e.g., frogs and toads) eat crop-destroying insects.

Too many neoliberal, mainstream economists and technocrats believe our economy is above, beyond, and superior to Nature.  The same is largely true of most people in Wall Street Finance and Banking.  They all are dead wrong.  All human activities are a subset of, and embedded in, the natural biophysical world.  The opposite view has resulted in the current Meta-Crisis.

We must stop electing people to political office who are Ecology-Blind.  If we don't, their blindness will continue to threaten organized human civilization.  Further degradation of the natural world will negatively impact our health, our food, our water, our air, our economy, and our overall well-being as never before.  Time is running out to reverse that course , and there's no greater priority.  Many people (on the micro-scale) are acting responsibly and getting on board.  We definitely need that, so KUDOS to them; however, too many politicians (on the macro-scale) and private Powers-That-Be in too many countries (including the USA) are stalling, and kicking the can down the road.

There is no comprehensive Plan to convert to a sustainable society in any country on Earth.  Bits and pieces, yes, but no holistic approach anywhere.  At least, I've not seen any, and I've searched diligently.  In my next post, I'll show you a Plan which could be a good starting point.

...........................

Not only my opinion.  Take Care

War, ignorant politicians, Eco-Crisis, famine, and what to do

Various wars around the globe are making the Eco-Crisis worse and placing more people on the path to starvation. One billion people already are on the brink of famine.  

Meanwhile, ignoramuses like Netanyahu, Biden, Putin, a bunch of minor tin-pot generals all over, and others ("The Establishment", including Trump) would rather pursue WAR than global common sense.  After all, war is great for the private war-machine industry, and such is a boon to the almighty secular god - an ever-growing GDP.

C'est la vie in an ecologically ignorant world.  Overall, anyway.  Here and there are some strong pockets of eco-ethics.  People in those areas will have a somewhat easier time of it when the 100mph freight train hits...which will be in large and scattered areas (in the beginning) most likely within ten years (or so).  Many places along latitudes closest to the equator probably will be the first to experience forced, massive migrations away from the heat and failing crops.  [Either from selling their crops or eating them, HALF the world's families get most of their food from subsistence farming on less than one acre per family.  At the same time, only twenty-six Super-Rich individuals have more wealth than that HALF of the world.]  

But, HEY, let's keep pouring $$$ into war machines, and electing politicians who think nuclear war is do-able, and the polluting & killing resulting from conventional war is required, eh?  That will help the Crisis soooo much.     [It's both tragic beyond belief, and hilarious in its total ignorance.]

So, what can we do?

1)  Stop drinking the Propaganda Kool Aid supplied by Oligarchs and their puppets.

2)  Be more tolerant of opposing views.  Stifle hate in yourself.  Hating each other is not helping anything.

3)  Stop electing to office those politicians who are divisive, or warmongering, or hateful, and lack compassion, civility, and statesmanship.  We need people in office who understand how great are the gifts of Mother Earth and humanity.  We don't need those who are bent on pitting one group against another, and who fail to grasp the sacredness of Earth.  Main Street is fed-up to the hilt with Leaders who have no integrity or vision.

4)  If you're short of knowledge in the following areas, educate yourself in the history of nuclear weapons, the principles of ecology, the history and/or the importance of nonviolent dissent, and Edward Bernays style propaganda.  [Yes, I know: that's a lot.  At least pick one topic:]

5)  Live an intentional, purposeful, peaceful life.  Don't be distracted by "bread and circuses", or consumerism and overconsumption.  Such only benefits the ruling Oligarchy.

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Not only my opinion.  Happy Trails

"Rattling The Establishment‘s Cage: Short Essays & Notes on Unorthodox Views of...

 Environment, Economics, Ethics, Politics, War, Spirituality, and More"

The hardcover format of my third book is now available.  Paperback version will be out within a few days.  I'll try to get the eBook up and running within two weeks.  This book contains many of the most-read posts from this blog.  Here's the book's Description on Amazon---  [there's a link below the Description]

My primary academic and practical interests in a relatively long life have been (and still are) in the subjects of ecology, agriculture, economics, politics, and ethics. For this third book - which is a fairly short and easy read - I've included secondary interests as well. See the book's subtitle for the additional subjects. Also take notice of the words UNORTHODOX VIEWS in the subtitle. For the most part, you will not find these ideas in the mainstream, corporate media. The "Establishment" seems to prefer to ignore such concepts. For example, are you aware of the following? Twenty countries (including the USA) have agreed to expand fossil fuel production for twenty-six more years. Details are in this book. Another example: Are you aware that in only the last thirty years we've used more energy than in the previous 150 years, and why we must transition from a high-energy-use society to one of low-energy use? You won't find that in the Establishment's public information output, but you will in this book.

For multiple decades, the Establishment (both public and private) has been wildly successful in influencing us to accept concepts, policies, and actions which favor the Upper Crust of society at our expense. But in the last ten years or so, everyday working people have decided enough is enough. Genuine change is in the Big Picture now, and education - both formal and informal - is the key. This short book can help to overcome the Establishment propaganda, and point the way to a sustainable and meaningful existence.

Many of these essays were written for a blog I’ve maintained since 2007, IndividualSovereignty.blogspot.com; others were penned this year, 2024, and are not on the blog as of this writing. All have been written by me (no A.I.), are some of the most popular on the blog, and all were edited for this book. Each essay is on its own page (some are two or three pages in length), and for context, I’ve included the year it was written.

https://www.amazon.com/Rattling-Establishments-Cage-Environment-Spirituality/dp/B0D258YK58/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2RHAX2MAHFJMF&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.wBx0AXWwliw6AIX3UriJ-Q.XKisvXnGAbI93CJd9U3zKaklPIVVI-fDNisvcLUmp0g&dib_tag=se&keywords=Rattling+The+Establishment%27s+Cage%3A+Short+Essays+and+Notes+by+Scott+C.+Haley&qid=1714283549&s=books&sprefix=rattling+the+establishment%27s+cage+short+essays+and+notes+by+scott+c.+haley%2Cstripbooks%2C134&sr=1-1

OR---

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D258YK58?ref_=pe_93986420_774957520

OR---

If neither link works, In the Search box at the top of any Amazon page, select the  category "Books", and in the box type "Scott C. Haley" (no quote marks are needed).  All three of my works should appear.

.......................

Thanks for your consideration.  Be Well 

Here's why A.I. must be decentralized ASAP

Send this list (or the entire essay) to your political representatives.

In no particular order---

1.  Without "Open Source" (decentralized) A.I., there's no safety valve or protection against only a few people determining the content and use of the technology.  In such a situation, there's a tremendous potential for abuse, for molding the public mind.

2.  Augmented Reality (AR), which eventually most likely will be some sort of glasses (rather than a full headset or "helmet") will become affordable for most people in developed countries in the not-too-distant future.  It will enable people to be in physical/actual reality, but change/augment parts (or all) of what they see.  Some experts say it will be as addictive as heroin or crack cocaine, and over time easily could cause the user to become detached from actual reality.  With further use, varying degrees of mental illness may loom large.

3.  Relatively soon and not including AR, A.I. will be in everything made by humans.  Initially, its purpose will be to suck up data about every one of us.  [That's already in progress with the internet, SMART appliances owned by most people, social media, and a few other things...but not yet everything.]  That data will be way beyond name, address, phone number, etc.  It will include what you wear, what you read, your habits, what your total behavior is like, your politics, your spiritual beliefs, your economic beliefs, your health, and more.  Basically, a model of you will be assembled.  Why?  The models will be sold for profit.  The data will be orders of magnitude larger and more detailed than what's sold now.

4.  The data obtained will be used to create other A.I.s (assistants, tutors, companions, mentors, and the like) which will be able to influence us in a certain direction (as consumers, or voters, or employees, or citizens, or volunteers, or other functions).  Millions of people will be influenced simultaneously in real time.  The current battle is over who gets to insert their values into these A.I.s because that will determine the direction of the influencing.

5.  It will be difficult to opt out of having an A.I. assistant, tutor, mentor, etc. because those who do opt out will find it increasingly difficult to make a living, keep a job, advance in your job, get an education, change careers, and the like.  All industries will be immersed in A.I., and employers will use the technology to either "improve" you, or replace you.

6.  High Tech A.I. companies essentially are strip mining our data from us, using it to make a profit, but not compensating us.  Plus, we have zero say in how our data is used.  Data ownership is a key issue not being addressed by politicians.

7.  As the availability of natural and social resources continues to diminish, augmented reality A.I. and mentoring/tutoring type A.I. will be relied upon more and more for both mental escape and learning or decision-making.  If only a few people are controlling the content of those A.I.s, then the likelihood of authoritarian scenarios increases.  So, too, does the likelihood of some sort of neofeudalism.

Go to the link on the post below (from last month) for many more details provided by John Robb:   https://individualsovereignty.blogspot.com/2024/02/this-peril-goes-way-way-beyond-trump.html

As Robb points out, totalitarian communism was defeated largely because its system was overly centralized.  The system of democratic countries, for the most part, is decentralized, which over time makes it more innovative and resilient.  Unfortunately, though, with financialization and corporate globalization, democratic countries essentially have created a highly centralized system.  Only a relatively small number of people control the direction of finance, economics, trade, and politics.  If A.I. remains a "black box" (so to speak) with only a small number of corporations determining its content and direction, then our centralization problem will increase exponentially.  There's a high degree of probability that a somewhat subtle form of Authoritarianism will follow.  It's highly likely that a majority of people will be convinced to demand it.

Practically speaking, only politicians can prevent that "Brave New World".  If society is to thrive with any degree of vibrancy, then A.I. must be opened up, decentralized.  Inform your political representatives now.

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Not only my opinion.  Good Luck to us All

Attention: Main Street, City & County Comprehensive Planners, and Anyone Truly Interested in Sustainability

Here's why 2-4% annual Growth (which, by the way, is exponential) is harmful, and a framework for the sustainable alternative---

https://steadystate.org/envisioning-a-steady-state-comprehensive-plan/

It's somewhat of a long read, but worth it.  If nothing else, study the informative graphics and you'll get much of the central theme.

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Not only my opinion.  Be Well

"France's Start-Up Nation is a Neoliberal Hell"

 https://techwontsave.us/episode/206_frances_start_up_nation_is_a_neoliberal_hell_w_nastasia_hadjadji?emci=10369721-2fd0-ee11-85f9-002248223794&emdi=fdc8a869-ebd0-ee11-85f9-002248223794&ceid=6171896

The neoliberal Macron, elected in 2017, has more or less teamed up with portions of the neoliberal High Tech Industry to transform France into something akin to a "start-up" corporation.  [It began as only efforts to attract High Tech investment, but morphed into working toward the instituting of a full-blown Corporatocracy.]  For details, copy & paste on a new page (or do a Search for the title) the link above.

In the name of "efficiency", the team (so to speak) is working to privatize public services and basically dismantle or drastically reduce France's social safety net.  That's the common objective and function of neoliberal policies instituted by Establishments in most "democratic" countries all around the world.  

What boggles the mind is this:  in the past several/many years, neoliberalism and the associated corporate globalization have shown themselves to be an abject failure relative to benefits to Main Street.  The failure has been ecological, social, and economic, never mind psychological and political.  If you're in the top twenty percent (or so) of income earners, then the whole thing has been great for you.  The rest of us have not fared so well.

Except in my country, the USA, most of the world has recognized the harm done by privatization, deregulation, austerity for Main Street, job insecurity, reduced retirement benefits, monopolization in High Tech, stagnant wages, and the like.  So, it's no wonder to me why Main Street in France and elsewhere has been protesting neoliberal policies and the continuing transfer of wealth to the Upper Crust.

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Not only my opinion.  Take Care

The Mother of All Feedback Loops re Human Society

A short while ago, I posted the following as a small part of a new book description---

"the complex feedback loop involving constant economic growth, which requires more energy, which then creates more complexity in society, which then requires more energy, which then creates even more complexity, etc. is ruining our habitat;".

This essay is an expanded view of that concept.

In our past (and ongoing) pursuit of infinite economic growth, we've created a System, a "Superorganism" according to the ecologist, Nate Hagens.  This System is so large, so filled with complexity, and so out-of-control that a) it can't be fully described, and b) it can't be reined-in, and c) it's ruining the ecosphere.  It's the ultimate Rat-Race.  It's a primary cause of our ecological overshoot.  It's a runaway machine with no one at the helm.  It's literally killing us, not only with pollutants, but also with food insecurity, the stress of job insecurity, inadequate health care facilities, wars, inequality and inequity, declining democracy, and the like.  About twenty percent (maybe less) of Earth's human population are managing to stay afloat in the ongoing energy binge; the rest of us are in a slow descent to subsistence living.

[The twenty-six richest people on Earth own as much wealth as HALF the entire world's population combined.  In a civil society, that's an obscenity.  It's most likely also why the Rich and Powerful (perhaps with a few exceptions) want the runaway System to continue.  They appear to not be long-term, comprehensive, holistic thinkers.]

The ever-increasing complexity is causing significant problems in the arenas of:  global supply chains, manufacturing, transportation, consumption, extraction of natural resources, generation and distribution of electricity, health care equity, income inequality, institutional functioning, and more.  As society becomes more complex, the need for more and more energy increases.

Even a High School biology student could tell you with a high degree of certainty that such a scenario is unsustainable on a planet with finite resources.  Unfortunately, it appears most (not all) of the Powers-That-Be are relying on ideology, not science, to navigate through this current Crisis.  They appear to believe the benefits of our 150-year energy binge are the norm, but fail to see the Mother of All Feedback Loops, and the negative externalities of fossil fuel use.  They also don't seem to grasp the looming minerals problem relative to our necessary transition to Green Energy.  Never mind the soil crisis and the impending food supply shortage.

According to the mining engineer and geologist, Simon Michaux, in about only five years there will be serious problems regarding necessary minerals for Green energy.  In about ten years, agriculture also will be having significant problems.  It all revolves around energy.

If we don't voluntarily reduce our energy use, we'll be forced to by lack of cheap, easily available, and abundant fossil fuels AND lack of cheap, easily available and necessary minerals (about 70 of them) for renewables.  Less energy use will lessen eco-overshoot by leaps and bounds.  It also will slow down the Rat-Race by lessening societal complexity.  This all can happen if we phase out of infinite economic GROWTH, and phase into economic development in a steady state economy.  [See https://steadystate.org/ ]

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Not only my opinion.  Be Well, and Be Aware

MAGA should become MAMA: $50 TRILLION has been taken from Main Street

 https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/make-america-mad-again-tax-the-rich

Mad about what?...trickle-down economics, that's what.

For a bit over forty years, the USA has encouraged/supported "trickle-down" economics.  It has been a resounding success...for the Super-Rich.  They mined the gold; and Main Street got the shaft.  There's nothing "Great" about such economics; but Trump thinks there is.

At the link above, a Time magazine article which explains all this is discussed/analyzed by Paul Buchheit, an economic justice author.  He does a great job in this opinion piece of showing how MAGA ignores the reality of the last forty years.

To put $50 trillion into perspective, let's compare the number one million to the number one billion in the framework of "time".  One million seconds (of time) = about twelve days, and one billion seconds = about thirty-one years.  As you know, the number one trillion = 1,000 times one billion.

Often the Upper 1% of income earners like to imply (or state outright) that they pulled themselves up the ladder of wealth by their own bootstraps (so to speak).  Taking the vast High Tech Industry as an example, let's look at what really happened.

In the beginning (the 1950's), High Tech development was funded almost entirely by taxpayer dollars via the Defense Department.  If it hadn't been for public money, which was massive for that industry, development would have been held back for who knows how long.  [Even today, significant government contracts are awarded to High Tech companies and other mega businesses.]  So, whose bootstraps?

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Not only my opinion.  Be Well

More on: "Choices & Change on the Path to a Sustainable Existence..."

 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CSSVWB3N?ref_=pe_93986420_774957520

If you would like a free pdf copy, email me with the title, "Choices & Change".

Below is a list of major topics in the book---

• why we're blind to the Big Picture regarding the "carbon pulse" (fossil energy), and what it will take to transition away from it;
• why the pursuit of infinite economic growth must be abandoned ASAP;
• our blindness regarding mineral requirements for a Green economy;
• while "Going Green" is necessary, unfortunately the present approach by the Powers-That-Be is insufficient;
• why we are not superior to and separate from Nature;
• why our society must convert from high-energy use to low-energy use;
• the complex feedback loop involving constant economic growth, which requires more energy, which then creates more complexity in society, which then requires more energy, which then creates even more complexity, etc. is ruining our habitat;
• ecological overshoot is THE problem, but Powers-That-Be mostly are trying to address only the symptoms of that;
• why there's a soil crisis, and the best choices for resolving it;
• ditto for the fresh water crisis;
• ditto for the food crisis;
• why healthy ecosystems and biodiversity are the bedrock of our existence;
• how factory farming is ruining agriculture, and the best choice forward;
• what many people don't seem to understand about science;
• what is "sustainability", and numerous examples of it;
• the shift in our ethics which is necessary for humans to survive and thrive;
• the propaganda coming from the Corporatocracy;
• why the petrochemical industry must be reined-in;
• why "The Market" can't solve the ill effects of Climate Change; and
• what's needed for a bright future for us and our descendants.

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Not only my opinion.  Be Well

"Choices & Change on the Path to a Sustainable Existence..."

 My second book is now available at the link below.  Please read the Description, in which I discuss who probably would enjoy the read and who would not.    

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CSSVWB3N?ref_=pe_93986420_774957520

If interested at all in sustainability, you may also want to read a sample of the Introduction.  Click on "Read Sample" in the upper left quadrant of the page.  From time to time, I'll post other excerpts on this venue.  A hardback version will out soon.  I doubt that an eBook will be because (as I learned with the first book) getting it up and out is somewhat of a nightmare for a High Tech Dummy like me - even if I hire someone to do the eBook formatting.  😵

In any case, Thanks to All for your consideration, and 

Happy Trails,

Scott

Approaching the Net Energy Cliff

 https://steadystate.org/approaching-the-energy-cliff/#comments

It's difficult to see how any objective person can deny it, but apparently (from what I've read and watched), many do.  Combine what's at the link above with the narrative at the link below, and any denial becomes nonsensical.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0pt3ioQuNc&list=WL&index=70&t=11s

When reality says there's a high probability troubles are coming soon, it's best to plan for them instead of burying our heads in the sand or relying on a vague notion of "human ingenuity" (and the Market) to somehow see us through.

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Not only my opinion.  Be Well