Saturday, March 6, 2010

New Reality

There was an interesting WSJ article entitled "Atlas Shrugged: From Fiction to Fact in 52 Years."

For anyone who has not read this fiction by Ann Rand in 1957, it outlines her belief that any government intervention into the economy is wrong. In her fictitious novel she shows how government intervention during a time of economic sluggishness sends the economy into a tailspin. Many of the stories in Rand's novel resemble what is happening today in the United States. In short, those in power have bought into her fiction.

"Objectivism has become, via indirect routes, the dominant ethos of the world today."

The elite* have decided to tolerate the existence of the "the Moochers and Looters" - within limits. "The self-identifying conservative Republicans who make up the base of the Republican party stand a world apart from the rest of America..."

* those with less than $2.25 billion in liquid assets need not apply.

Unemployment will now be 12.5% for the next generation. Thereafter, it will rise to 25%. There is a large surplus of people and a shortage of things for them to do - little employment outside of soldiering the endless war. Oh, and the debt will grow because the rich refuse to pay their full share of the taxes. Warren Buffett, the third-richest man in the world, has criticized the US tax system for allowing him to pay a lower rate than his secretary.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

In normal times...

In normal times, I would not refer to the Southern Poverty Law Center. But these are not normal times. When mad dogs, frothing at the mouth, are wandering main street, the town folks need to become aware of this.

And mad dogs ARE on the loose. Oh, they don't look like mad dogs, and they don't bark like mad dogs, but they bite like mad dogs.

Now some of these folks are merely falling apart because the scaffolding of folklore they once stood firmly upon is collapsing under academic research. Others have bought into the end-times fable because they are about to be financially taken by some 'authority' or church or cult of some kind or another. Some buy into the power of prayer.

"The identities and parallels between the legends of Buddha and Jesus and between their deeds and statements require explanation." source

But not to the fear-consumed cowards on the far right.

My advice: keep your money in your own pocket - especially for the next 6 - 8 years while this Republican Depression subsides.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Martius or March

The origin of the name Martius is by no means certain. It may be a derivation of the Greek goddess Medeia who was an enchantress in Greek mythology. It was Medeia who held up the crystal flask and said: "Here is the ichor of youth. I am Medeia the enchantress; my sister Circe gave me this." Medeia reigned at Corinth after which the NT book Corinthians is named.

The Latin martius, like the French martius means 'of Mars.' And Mars was the Roman god of war. And the Roman elite, being good republicans, loved war (but hated soldiers a.k.a. pedestrians).

As Caesar reports: "The soldiers of the tenth legion... we can see what pedestrian doggerel they are..."

However, the Latin Martius is a cognitive equivalent of the Greek Ares, the Ram. There were no Greek cities where Ares was worshiped.

For the god of war, however, Romans held many festivals. And, for Roman sports, the Campus Martius is noteworthy. The Campus Martius was the center of the Augustan building.

As Romans employed more mercenaries, the general allegiance of the army to the republic declined. This tilted the scales and Rome fell.

In America today, we employ a mercenary force which is "in it for the money." When the battles end (and they will), these individuals will be returned without passing through the necessary resocialiization programs. We may have 130,000 unemployed Rambos on our streets by the end of this decade. No wonder the Supreme Court is legalizing firearms for the general population!

Great Ages (over the top):
Taurus (the Bull) - the Great Age of India (Brahma)
Ares (the Ram) - the Great Age of Egypt (Amen-Ra)
Pisces (the Fishes) - the Great Age of the Occidentals (e.g. Ixeus - fishes)
Aquarius (the Water-Carrier) - the Great Age of the Intellectuals
Aquarius is the sign of brotherhood and freedom, and honesty and sincerity. No wonder those who crave power fear it.

Wait and see.