Two Broken Wings

The last 6 years or so have been deeply transmorphic for me as far as politics, social sensibility, division, and personal philosophy are concerned. The realities of a changing and technologically hyper-progressive world have forced me to reevaluate many of my former positions. The game has changed and I have to change too.

Despite optimism brought on by the successful presidency of Donald J. Trump and an excellent economy, I still feel like we're working our way toward a dystopian future. One where we are outfitted in high technology, ruled over by massive corporations, terrorized by mafias and political extremists. Couple all of this with an underclass in the major metropolitan areas and it's a recipe for a cyberpunk story.

The problem is that much of it is happening today. It's a force, like electromagnetism. It permeates our entire society and it is changing the very basis of what it means to be human. This is a dynamic far beyond the reaches of standard politics and economics as we see them today. We have to change something. Regardless of what political avenues we hail from, there are some serious technical issues we have to address if we are to move forward and avoid this future I see coming.

The problems we have as I view them are as follows:

1-We have allowed a few extremely powerful corporations to control the internet itself, the speech allowed on the internet, and soon the money allowed on the internet (Facebook Libra), and who can buy and sell.

2-We have an identitarian left-wing that is tearing at the center from the fringes of society. The left has already ripped away from the center so much so that what is considered "moderate" on the left is socialism and open borders. On top of that, they have Antifa roaming the streets beating the crap out of anyone who doesn't comply with their demands and has been shown to be willing to engage in outright terrorism.

The right is not immune to this. My fear is that the pendulum will swing too far to the right and the identitarians on the right, coupled with right-wing neocons, will create the conditions for warfare abroad and fundamentalist suppression at home. They too have thugs on the streets engaging in violence with Antifa and view themselves as "defenders of the republic" as they continue to be part of the problem.

3-Foreign pressures continue to force us to face the specter of nuclear warfare, ignorance of Islam continues to put us in precarious positions as we import more and more incompatible cultures into our nations.

4-Artificial intelligence and automation will displace millions of workers. The estimates as to how long it will take to fully automate the vast majority of the economy range from 10 to 50 years. Regardless, that process has ALREADY started and will continue to accelerate at a rate commensurate with Moore's Law. Except for Andrew Yang, very few people are actually publicly addressing this.

His idea is a UBI, I disagree but that isn't the real issue. The real issue is that this needs to be seriously talked about and the fact that both democrats and republicans are ignoring what Yang is actually saying is very distressing to me. Leftists focus on the "free money from the government idea", and ignore the reasons Yang states for wanting a UBI. I do not believe it is the right approach, but it does address the right problem.

5-We have such a deeply biased and uncritical news media that it is wounding our representative republic in ways we don't even understand yet. Fox, CNN, MSNBC, and the new garbage woke "news" media online are all part of this cabal of garbage and propaganda. This is making it impossible to have a conversation on many of these deeply important topics. We have to demand better.

6-I have to change. My level of discourse has not always risen to the level required to adequately address the problems I identified above. I must do better because if I do not then I cannot expect change from anyone else. When I led soldiers I always told them to lead by example because anything short of that isn't leadership. "Do as I say, not as I do isn't leadership" I would say. "It's bull#". Time to take my own advice.

I have my ideas on the potential solutions to the problems we face might be. But I am only one guy and I sure as hell do not believe I have a monopoly on good (or bad) ideas. We need each other.

This bird won't fly with two broken wings.

Seems to me that you see that world exactly how it is and not how it is presented in the media. I too feel we are approaching a precipice from which we can not turn back. I sure hope in the aftermath, common sense rises again. Sad days ahead.

a reply to: projectvxn

That makes good sense.

a reply to: projectvxn

Don't sell yourself short - your level of political discourse rises above 90% of what I consume on the 'net, and at least half of what is written, spoken, or otherwise shared by media and govt figures. In fact, your posts & replies have become some of my very favorite on ATS of late, keep it going!

On topic: I see a great amount of truth in your points. Like many others I have a young child, and I'm very unsure about the world I/We are creating and setting in motion, the world they will have to live in.

Something has got to give... If not, things will be locked down and so tightly monitored, the very definition of "Freedom" will be light-years away from what we Americans enjoy today.

Excellent post friend, S&F.

a reply to: projectvxn

Outstanding on including yourself in the improvement plan. I don't know you but I am confident you will do it, one Soldier to another.

My only recommendation is to do some history reading if you do not do so already. Individuals and societies have found themselves in near the same circumstances you outlined, over and over. It could be helpful.

Here is a good video as a Cicero primer...
www.youtube.com...

a reply to: projectvxn

Once the dependency on human life is no longer required, there will be no need for human life. We are all in it together.

And, as I have also heard it relayed ," Give me Liberty, or give me death!".

a reply to: projectvxn

The Great Experiment is over.

Lets be honest for once.

We now have socialists in power in our government. It's only a matter of time before our once great nation is ruined.


Not even drama-queening it. It's a foregone conclusion at this point. All Trump has done is slowed to progress to total destruction.


Even Rome fell.

Alas Babylon.

a reply to: projectvxn

Well put

Just before reading your thread this morning I came across this quote from Howard Zinn which is appropriate for the conversation.

" Civil disobedience is not our problem. Our problem is civil obedience . Our problem is that people all over the world have followed the dictates of leaders.... Millions have been killed because of this obedience. Our problem is that people are obedient all over the world in the face of poverty, starvation and stupidity and war and cruelty. Our problem is that people are obedient and our jails are full of petty thieves..(and) the grand thieves are running the country.

a reply to: hopenotfeariswhatweneed

Howard Zinn would have been adamantly anti-Trump.

Howard stood up for the marginalized, the minorities, the historically oppressed, and he was decidedly anti-fascist.

originally posted by: Liquesence
a reply to: hopenotfeariswhatweneed

Howard Zinn would have been adamantly anti-Trump.

Howard stood up for the marginalized, the minorities, the historically oppressed, and he was decidedly anti-fascist.

So he would be totally against the Democratic party, since all they do is use all the groups you mentioned to maintain and grow their own political power without any regard for the people themselves.

To the OP... yep, I think we're pretty much screwed.

When 33% of Americans right now think that socialism is a great idea...

The Department of Education's real job is pretty much complete.

I really don't care anymore.

Just let it all burn down around me, for I shall continue to live my life until my last breathe.

originally posted by: Groot
I really don't care anymore.

Just let it all burn down around me, for I shall continue to live my life until my last breathe.

If I could give you more stars I would...

What would really fix this is a good ELE.

originally posted by: Groot
I really don't care anymore.

Just let it all burn down around me, for I shall continue to live my life until my last breathe.

I'm with you.

It's like an awkward junior high dance where everyone is just standing around looking at one another.

Let's just kick this off and let the chips fall, it's getting boring talking/thinking about it. If it's inevitable, we are just wasting time getting to the important part, the aftermath or rebirth if you will.

a reply to: projectvxn

My hope is that on a locality level, rank and file don't trickle down in worse case scenarios.

No matter the BS thus far, whenever I level with authorities for lack of a better term, if I say where I'm coming from things usually work out so long as I'm not in the wrong.

I am certainly skeptical if not clinical of the direction we're heading, but I keep getting checked by genuine human encounters. I'd be hard pressed to see our military and law enforcement tow the line of true lunacy.

Then again, I'm in a good mood 😀

The Great Experiment is over.
a reply to: DBCowboy

We are being consumed from within just like Rome and our fall will be as great as Romes. A new dark age will begin which the world has never seen.

Now this is how you're supposed to 3NL1GHT3N people.


Very insightful rant.

a reply to: projectvxn

An excellent post



One of (if not) the best i've read in my short time on ATS.

You sum up the current status quo perfectly in my book.

Seems like there is a great tribulation on the horizon

a reply to: highvein

And here I would say... Human Life is its' own reward. The problem is humans do not always value 'other' human life. Mr. Roddenberry envisioned it, but, I fear we are too base to live up to it.

Until we make the person next to us more important then ourselves, we will never ever leave this rock.

I see people blaming things like social media, and the sort, as some kind of problem part and parcel to the issues plaguing us today. If we can't handle the matrix (and its limitations) of social media's ability to transfer our intent currently, while on this earth.... How are we ever to go anywhere else other then here?

We would just tribal up upon separation of a few years/generations. Kind of what is going on now...

And it's "Just" because we have a form of seamless communication, that is, so very limited transmitting the characteristics of communications we developed while living in Caves, Great Halls, and Long-Houses. Living together. I dare say...

The murdered are slain by humans, regardless of the weapon. It is always us... destroying us.

a reply to: Newt22

Until we make the person next to us more important then ourselves, we will never ever leave this rock.

I love the way you said that. If I could only make one adjustment I'd say from our current situation (of debt), the most cost effective and promising is to make everyone's children more important than us. While I've said a thousand times, this does not mean more money, just a bit more attention and conviction. It's a true investment.

And while adults can change, they generally don't.