Kaill McNeil: Alter-Narratives 9/4/2021

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Alter-Narratives

Today’s Topic: As Labor Day approaches, Let’s play an inter-generational game of Telephone with history and economics.

New Machines

By Kaill McNeil

Cycles and Shifts

History is a cycle of paradigm shifts. The reality of any era based  largely on context. Such a view goes a long way to explain how philosophies from centuries past still resonate. Particularly in diluted, misunderstood modern forms, like and inter-generational game of Telephone. As the new social media Cold War, between neo-Communism (as in China), and tenacious defenders of capitalism (such David Koch) will attest.

Without Understanding

In today’s warfare, keyboard warriors, often spill onto the streets, defending their chosen ideology, often without fully understanding it. Going by the rhetoric flying through the ether, bread-lines, gulags, Auschwitz, and the Berlin Wall have been erased from the record. Whereas the only kind of Capitalism that seems to currently exist is Laissez-Faire, guided by the Adam Smith’s imagined ‘Invisible Hand.’ effectively striking the contribution of any other economic theorists, not least John Maynard Keynes. It is notable that Keynes was a lone voice in the wilderness, arguing against the disastrous punitive measures levied on the Weimar Republic in 1919 at the end of World War I. Those punitive measure were in a large part resp0nsible for World War II a short twenty years later. Continue reading

Labor Day: Laboring On. . .

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Labor Day: Laboring On. . .

Labor Day: Laboring On. . . 

By Wes Hessel

Laboring On…

The calendar end of summer is generally considered Labor Day, the first Monday in September.   But what is Labor Day?  And what is labor?  The idea of a holiday to recognize the organized labor movement was first proposed in 1882. There are two competing stories as to who was responsible, but was it McGuire or Maguire?

McG?

Some historians say Peter McGuire, then-vice president of the AFL (American Federation of Labor), is responsible for the holiday. It is said, McGuire, who had witnessed pro-labor parades in Toronto in May of that year, wanted to see something similar in New York.  According to that narrative, Mr. McGuire pitched the recommendation to the New York City’s CLU (Central Labor Union) on May 8th.  He said like in Canada, the celebration should begin with a labor street march, then finish up with a picnic.  McGuire proposed that the participating labor organizations sell admission tickets to raise funds.  He believed the first Monday in September was perfect for such a holiday. First, it was halfway between Independence Day and Thanksgiving. Second, the September date should insure ideal weather.

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Kaill McNeil Alter-Narratives 8/27/21

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ALTER-NARRATIVES

By Kaill McNeil

When, if ever, is war a good thing?

 

What Is War Good For?

 

Ideal World

One hears a lot about a perfect world, even in the political arena. Much of progressive philosophy is based on it. Working on progressing society to the way they wish it could be. Conservatives, on the other hand, are more likely to see things in terms of cold, hard reality, while also having little to no imagination on bettering the lot of mankind. Somewhere between these two extremes are what could be called ‘moderates.’ Neither caught in the mire of human filth, or off with the fairies, these folks are more able to see the forest for the trees. Particularly when it comes to things like military engagement.

War, What Is It Good For?

“War, what is it good for? Absolutely nothin,’” according to the song. Edwin Starr apparently keen to be speaking Japanese. A nearly sure outcome of the Japanese campaign of WWII if the U.S. had not entered into the war.  One of Japan’s major targets being the west coast of the United States. There might not be good wars, but there are necessary ones. A fact recent generations have lost sight of due to the baby boomer experience in Vietnam and the more recent invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, which were more about political face saving.

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The California Recall 2021

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The California Recall: Jeopardizing Normalcy

The California Recall: Jeopardizing Normalcy

Many are worried that the heated up California recall election; could jeopardize  normalcy, not only of California politics, but that of  the United States. Worried, read on.

By William Jones and D. S. Mitchell

Make no mistake about it, California Governor Gavin Newsom is in trouble in the upcoming Recall Election. The recall process in the State of California is screwy and that doesn’t help the embattled governor.
Gavin Newsom

The current governor of California is Gavin Christopher Newsom. Gavin was born October 10, 1967 in San Francisco, CA. Newsom, a handsome 6’3″, was fortunate enough to be born into an old and privileged San Francisco family. He is the son of an appellate court judge. He graduated from Santa Clara University in 1989. In 1992, he obtained a loan from the wealthy Getty family to start PlumpJack Wine Shop. The business eventually grew to a multi-million dollar empire. Expanding to restaurants, theaters, a wine label, and a hotel/ski resort.

Early Political Steps

Newsom became interested in politics at an early age. He served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors from 1996 to 2004, where he became well-known for his “Care Not Cash” initiative. That policy slashed cash benefits to the city’s homeless policy. Newsom was elected the 42nd mayor of San Francisco in 2004. He became the youngest mayor in over a century. In February 2004, he made national headlines when he allowed same-sex couples to obtain marriage licenses.

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Goodbye Charlie Watts 1941-2021

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Goodbye Charlie Watts

Goodbye Charlie Watts 

The world lost Charlie Watts today. Whew. I’ve been listening to the Stones since the First Millenia. Well, Charlie had a great long life full of unbelievable ups and downs. Hopefully, mostly ups. I saw the Rolling Stones in Portland, Oregon in July of 1966. I saw them the second time late in their careers in Seattle, I think August 1999. These guys are pros. Imagine working with the same dudes for 50 + years.  Goodbye Charlie. You will be missed. I’m broken hearted that you are gone but I’m so glad I got to meet you and your rowdy crew. RIP.

Megadeth “Holy Wars”

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Megadeth “Holy Wars”

Megadeth “Holy Wars”

Not only has Megadeth won at least 12 Grammys in their incredible career but they also won the 1993 Genesis Award (It was then the Doris Day Music Award. Given to artist(s) that brings animal rights to an underserved audience.)  for their single,  “Countdown to Extinction.” Today I thought we should have a little noise. So here is the Calamity Politics Juke box Choice of the Day. Mostly, in celebration of leaving Afghanistan. Here is Megadeth doing their incredibly long, incredibly loud masterpiece. I need to give credit to Calamity Politics contributor, Dave Shadrick for this one. So if you like his choice let him know. It’s all about politics, and Megadeth has maintained a very political stance. Enough, here it is, Megadeth “Holy Wars.”

 

“Just Dave” Leaving Afghanistan

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“Just Dave” On U.S. Leaving Afghanistan

“Just Dave” On U.S. Leaving Afghanistan

The last week has been hard on Joe Biden’s reputation as a competent and empathetic leader. Joe is trying to end a 20 year war that less than 25% of the American people support. However, the media; right, left, and in-be-tween have piled on the president. A man who had nothing to do with the start or in fact the end of the damn affair.  So, Dave is here to try and bring calm to the disturbed waters of American ego.

“Fox News” and Shameless Bias

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“Fox News” and Shameless Bias

“FOX NEWS” and Shameless Bias

“You see, the truth is Murdoch has become a cancer – an arrogant cancer – on our democracy,” K. Rudd,  former Australian PM

OPINION:

“Fox News” and Shameless Bias

D. S. Mitchell

“An Arrogant Cancer”

A democracy is dependent of diverse, reliable, independent, and accurate information. Kevin Rudd a former Australian prime minister has described Rupert Murdoch’s monopoly of Australia’s media as a “cancer on democracy,” that effectively serves “to chill free speech and undermine debate.” Mr. Rudd continued, “Murdoch has become a cancer – an arrogant cancer – on our democracy,” adding that over the past decade Murdoch has “viciously” campaigned against democracy in support of right wing, white  nationalism.

Politically Polarized and Manipulated News

The effect of Murdoch’s philosophy and his powerful media presence is not only effecting Australia, the UK but also the good ol USA, where media ownership has become increasingly concentrated in the hands of the few. The end result has been that Murdoch has deliberately encouraged politically polarized rhetoric and manipulated news for his own agenda.

Enemies In the Crosshairs
Rupert Murdoch through his company News Corp uses its power as a media Goliath to routinely attack his enemies whether it be in business or politics.  Murdoch uses his billions in wealth and power derived from that wealth as a media cudgel to “attack opponents in business and politics by blending editorial opinion with news reporting,” alleging that, as a result, those “who hold contrary views have felt intimidated into silence.”
Typical Strategy
This is very similar to what we see in the United States with Laura Ingraham, Sean Hannity and the Tuck.  According to Rudd, Murdoch with the strength of his cable viewing audience seeks “to maximize his political power in. . . defense of his ideological interests; one being climate change denial.”
Division In The Empire

James Murdoch, one of the 90 year old mogul’s sons  revealed recently he had quit his position on the board of New Corp because of “disagreements over certain editorial content … and certain other strategic decisions.”  Most particularly he pointed to the company’s coverage of Donald Trump’s presidency. He continued, “I reached the conclusion that you can venerate a contest of ideas, if you will, and we all do, and that’s important. But it shouldn’t be in a way that hides agendas,” James Murdoch said in a New York Times interview. It should be noted that James and his wife give millions to liberal causes and democratic candidates in direct opposition to his father’s espoused philosophy.

James Murdoch Should Know

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Cori Bush: The Face of Perseverance

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Cori Bush: The Face of Perseverance

Tenacity, Perseverance and Determination, all in one woman, Cori Bush

On Friday 7/30/2021  First term Congresswoman Cori Bush sat down on the steps of the U.S. House of Representatives with a camping chair, a sleeping bag, and a commitment to stop the potential eviction of millions of Americans from their homes.

By William Jones and D. S. Mitchell

Those At Risk

When it became clear that neither Congress nor the White House was going to act to stop a pandemic-era federal eviction moratorium from expiring, leaving hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of low-income Americans at risk for eviction from their homes Cori Bush stepped up.  Ms. Bush — now 45 and a first-term Democratic congresswoman from St. Louis — felt a familiar flood of anxiety and a flash of purpose in the face of the pending crisis.

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Kaill McNeil ALTER-NARRATIVES: Nation States

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ALTER-NARRATIVES:

The U.S. experiment tried to unite a group of people living in a multitude of states,  separated by geography, economics, resources, ethnicity, and social issues into one united country. 

Nation States

By Kaill McNeil

Making A Nation

There are many ways to structure a nation. Some better than others, particularly according to one’s own priorities and preferences. More to the point, there are some that are more popular than others. Some coming to be phased out over the centuries. TO the point there are only a few nations based on such a system. America is one such nation.

Constituting A Country

One of the most popular basis on which to build a nation, is that of a constitution. In this way, America has very much followed the trend. Opting for a constitutional democratic republic. As opposed to a constitutional democracy found in much of the rest of the western world, from Canada to New Zealand (those Brits were busy). Both versions of government have their advantages, allowing for checks and balances.

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