When I was a kid, breaking up monopolies was a thing and media was highly regulated to keep control of messaging out of the hands of big entities. I'm not THAT old. 😉
Insightful and provocative assessment of the hubris and unbridled ego of the mighty few who control the seemingly powerless many. Albert Speer also kept a diary during his time in Spandau Prison, it chronicles his deep and thoughtful examination of the Third Reich. One of the most troubling aspects of the powers who control America today, is the moral bankruptcy and complete absence of self-reflection.
My parents lived during the Third Reich. My father was a political prisoner, because he openly denounced the Hitler Youth as a propaganda machine. When he was released from prison, he was forced to serve in the Wehrmacht. Miraculously, he survived the war in Russia and the Battle of the Bulge. He too kept a diary, which is deeply reflective of the power of propaganda and the seemingly hypnotic control Hitler had over Germans. Even when it was clear that Germany had lost the war, Hitler and his minions continued to propagate the myth that victory was in sight. (Shades of Afghanistan.)
The parallels to what is happening in America are inescapable. Mainstream media is a glorified propaganda machine controlled by the elites. Champions of truth are often incarcerated. We have a government of the few, by the few and for the few. Leaders, intoxicated by their power, are unwilling or unable to recognize that their behavior is unsustainable.
Despite the horrors that my father survived, he never lost the ability to be loving, compassionate and kind. The legacy of idealism with which I was blessed, gives me hope. Love is the greatest power in the universe and love will triumph over evil. While we must always be discerning and vigilant, we must remember to harness the power of love that resides within. Love does conquer all.
I feel that the press and Marianne's opponents during the presidential campaign were less than kind. I am sorry that this happened. Still in my heart I feel that Marianne has the pulse on this political system and how we can navigate the agenda of peace and love. Thank you for being here dear one.
The effect of the people's collective will is larger than what most individuals in that collective believe it is. A lot of the population is taken by naive cynicism that it has let those big companies and political parties get away with a hundred kinds of evil. I see the effects of that evil taking place and the prospect of its continuation is both crushing the public and jarring us into action. For example, whenever there is positive traction about almost any issue, so much "nothing will be done about this" attitude occurs online and in person. But then Manchin and Sinema are being confronted in public by protesters and in the news about their deals with donors, this is historically unheard of. I don't think this sort of trend is going away, not for as long as the existing powers act as though nothing but their profits matter. And that should encourage us all to flex our will a little harder as the years go on, and make the temptation of predicting our own defeat a little less appealing.
MW this is why I have loved you for over 30 years. You articulate what I feel and know. I started realizing this “size” thing when people stopped driving small or normal sized cars and starting buying huge SUV’s that have even got bigger. Forget using more gas and polluting we all want to drive a tank because we can!
your philosophy is desperately needed to be adapted by politicians throughout the world. I hope the time is not too far away until you can run again and win and maybe teach our Irish politicians.
Excellent article. How we lose consciousness of these things so easily. Caught in our own bubbles especially during this pandemic. I believe it has allowed the big to get bigger but has also empowered more people to do their own small and local thing.
When I was a kid, breaking up monopolies was a thing and media was highly regulated to keep control of messaging out of the hands of big entities. I'm not THAT old. 😉
Insightful and provocative assessment of the hubris and unbridled ego of the mighty few who control the seemingly powerless many. Albert Speer also kept a diary during his time in Spandau Prison, it chronicles his deep and thoughtful examination of the Third Reich. One of the most troubling aspects of the powers who control America today, is the moral bankruptcy and complete absence of self-reflection.
My parents lived during the Third Reich. My father was a political prisoner, because he openly denounced the Hitler Youth as a propaganda machine. When he was released from prison, he was forced to serve in the Wehrmacht. Miraculously, he survived the war in Russia and the Battle of the Bulge. He too kept a diary, which is deeply reflective of the power of propaganda and the seemingly hypnotic control Hitler had over Germans. Even when it was clear that Germany had lost the war, Hitler and his minions continued to propagate the myth that victory was in sight. (Shades of Afghanistan.)
The parallels to what is happening in America are inescapable. Mainstream media is a glorified propaganda machine controlled by the elites. Champions of truth are often incarcerated. We have a government of the few, by the few and for the few. Leaders, intoxicated by their power, are unwilling or unable to recognize that their behavior is unsustainable.
Despite the horrors that my father survived, he never lost the ability to be loving, compassionate and kind. The legacy of idealism with which I was blessed, gives me hope. Love is the greatest power in the universe and love will triumph over evil. While we must always be discerning and vigilant, we must remember to harness the power of love that resides within. Love does conquer all.
I feel that the press and Marianne's opponents during the presidential campaign were less than kind. I am sorry that this happened. Still in my heart I feel that Marianne has the pulse on this political system and how we can navigate the agenda of peace and love. Thank you for being here dear one.
Maybe there’s hope: even McDonald’s realized bigger is not always better and phased out their “supersize” menu options. 😉
The effect of the people's collective will is larger than what most individuals in that collective believe it is. A lot of the population is taken by naive cynicism that it has let those big companies and political parties get away with a hundred kinds of evil. I see the effects of that evil taking place and the prospect of its continuation is both crushing the public and jarring us into action. For example, whenever there is positive traction about almost any issue, so much "nothing will be done about this" attitude occurs online and in person. But then Manchin and Sinema are being confronted in public by protesters and in the news about their deals with donors, this is historically unheard of. I don't think this sort of trend is going away, not for as long as the existing powers act as though nothing but their profits matter. And that should encourage us all to flex our will a little harder as the years go on, and make the temptation of predicting our own defeat a little less appealing.
MW this is why I have loved you for over 30 years. You articulate what I feel and know. I started realizing this “size” thing when people stopped driving small or normal sized cars and starting buying huge SUV’s that have even got bigger. Forget using more gas and polluting we all want to drive a tank because we can!
E.F. Schumacher was a great influence on me as well. Small is beautiful. Plant a tree. 😊
There's light at the end of tunnel.
Thank you for pointing that out, Marianne.
your philosophy is desperately needed to be adapted by politicians throughout the world. I hope the time is not too far away until you can run again and win and maybe teach our Irish politicians.
Excellent article. How we lose consciousness of these things so easily. Caught in our own bubbles especially during this pandemic. I believe it has allowed the big to get bigger but has also empowered more people to do their own small and local thing.
So true. I hope we can get back to local and break up those giants.
❤️🙏
♥️ Thank you. I will read the book you reference on small things.
Excellent, thank you
So very true. I can only hope that we are so far along thr pathe of the gigantic that it is too late. But we must fight for human scale.
Thanks Marianne