Observation on a "darkness" that seems to hang over society

Sublimecraft
The frustrating thing about your very accurate observations is that a solution appears possible, we just need to remove from society completely:

1. The Banksters.

The word is 'bankers'. I'm not saying that banks are 'corporate saints'...I know better, first-hand. That said, a surprising number of the 'poor victims of greedy banks' are actually 'poor victims of failure to exercise common sense'. I worked at a bank for 8 years, and I've done business with them for most of 50, and in all that time, I've never seen a loan officer hold a gun to a customer's head and tell them 'sign on the line there or I shoot'. Banks certainly don't *help* the financially foolish, but it's the consumer's job, not the bank's, to make sure they aren't getting in over their heads. If you take the banks out of society, you're pretty much eliminating the source for initial funding for businesses, and expansion capital, unless in this utopia, we're giving money, land, and equipment for free.

2. The current US and other governments as they exist and their agencies.

I'm going to ask you the same question every revolutionary needs to ask themselves, and few do. "And replace them with what?". Some form of government is going to be a necessity, and while I will freely admit (and in fact, do loudly and frequently complain) that our current government is inefficient, flawed, and far too large, it still seems a better framework in general than most...so tearing it down without a planned replacement isn't exactly the best of ideas.

3. Criminals intent on exploitation of innocents.

And at this point, you've gone from fairly standard (if short-sighted) neo-anarchist drivel to pure, 'where is J.R.R. Tolkien when we need him' high fantasy. Per the Biblical account, back when there were only four people on the planet, one of them beat his brother to death with a rock. Regardless of one's stance on Biblical literalness, the record of human nature over the last 6,000 years certainly doesn't contradict that story. There will always be people who choose to live beyond the law, and people who exploit others. Anything that you (or anyone else) could do to change that unfortunate fact of human nature would be so invasive, and so fundamentally altering, that no reasonable person would trust you with the power.

4. The UN as it currently exists.

Surprisingly enough, I happen to agree with you on this one...the UN as it currently exists is a fairly complete and utter waste of time and resources, but that's probably an issue for a different thread.

The parasite must be cleansed completely so we can fully heel.

Then, at the same time, install grass-roots level, non-political representatives at the local level and re-start society with the intention of taking human kind to the next level of existence - both socially and spiritually.

And where, exactly, are we going to get these totally apolitical paragons of civic virtue? Perhaps you were planning on inventing a time machine, going back, and cloning Cincinnatus? The minute you put someone in a position of any real power or authority, they stop being 'non-political'. I've been involved in grass-roots politics, both as a campaigner and as a (successful, if you don't mind me bragging) candidate...trust me, the above comments are based on first-hand experience, admittedly seasoned with a dash of snark.

As for 'taking human kind to the next level of existence'...you can't 'take' somebody to a level of existence. As an old, backwoods preacher once explained it, "I ain't in the soul-saving business. Jesus does the saving. I'm just the marketing department". His point (and mine) being that spirituality can't be imposed from outside...which means that the spiritual state of Humanity won't change one iota if we wake up in the morning sans government, banks, or the UN.

Frankly, your utopia scares the crap out of me...you want to trade an admittedly bad system of overreaching government and hard financial times for a regime that can, at a whim, fundamentally change human nature and impose spiritual beliefs on its population? Sorry, ring up the 'No Sale' flag. Messing with my wallet makes me angry...messing with my mind and soul? That level of power makes me afraid.

reply to post by MOMof3


Remember during the Cold War when it was commonplace to hear the phrase " Beware of the 5th Columninst Subvertly trying to Destroy not only America , but the Entire World Too " ? Back then they were Implying Communism , but Today I think it's much Worse . A Comglomeration of Evils Threatens us today , and I just Wonder if they just might suceed if All the people of this Planet don't eventually " Wake Up " to this Real Danger....

reply to post by freestonew


" someday the Gods will return and claim their own, Judgment will then rule for everyone else. "


We will All Rue that day , eh Pops ? ..........

reply to post by ChuckNasty

When each generation shifts the base-line of what is normal, it will lead to F'd up times.

Shifting base-lines is a very important topic that is not brought up enough on ATS. This is a key building block in the TPTBs operations and is heavily exploited. The darkness, filth and poor morales of the previous generations are accepted as the norm by the newer generations...and the cycle repeats untill all we are left with is a generation who considers the worst conditions as normal.

Great post OP! Very heartfelt and I couldn't agree more.

Greedy twats who want to control everything is whats up. All we need is food,shelter,water,love and babies. The greedy twats who want it all dont know love. Lets pray they come back to the flock.

reply to post by openminded2011


Action to help stop this trend; turn off all toxic entertainment that is poisoning all the minds. Read God's Holy Word which will renew your mind and open your heart to the things of the creator.

THERE ARE ONLY 2 TYPES OF PEOPLE
1. Children of Satan
2. Children of God

Pick #1 and you get to be torture in hell for eternity with your family of death fear and darkness
Pick #2 and you get to be part of a blissful family for eternity with Christ in love and light

YOU PICK.
The word says, Anyone who says they are a Christian and disobeys the commandments is a liar. No liar enters God's kingdom.

winofiend
So when an old lady falls as you get off the train, you step over her... or you let the other guy help her. Or you wait for the other guy to step over her.

I agreed with every word of your post except this. Dispite appearances, people in general are good and do care about each other. You have to look deep beneath the protective shell that society has caused us to create, but it's there.

All you have to do is look at any disaster. Take 9/11. There are literally dozens of stories of strangers helping strangers and lives saved. When the buildings were falling and you heard all the screams and crying, they were screaming and crying for the people in those buildings. Real disasters strip us of our pretenses and ego, and reveal only raw emotion.

It's just a shame that we have to suffer so to see it.

reply to post by openminded2011


I agree that there is a basic distance between us. Where I live it is not necessarily socially acceptable just to greet strangers. And, mosdef, there is a huge disparity between tptb and the common folk, such as myself.

BUT - I really think this kind of disparity, and basic suffering -- has been with humanity for a long time. I don't necessarily believe that the basic human condition is worse now than it was thousands of years ago. With the exception that our ability to destroy things is the highest it's ever been. Even Siddhartha saw extreme suffering among most people, and this was 2500 years ago (provided you believe the man existed).

Almost finished w/ Howard Zinn's "People's History of the United States". We tend to romanticize the old USA -- of the 19th and early to mid twentieth centuries. What that perspective made clear to me is things were VERY tough for MOST people. Just having holidays, and 40-60 hour weeks, these things didn't even exist for the majority of the US. Even back in the early 1900's, there were a handful of power-brokers (Standard Oil anyone?) that called the shots, and lined the pockets of politicians, and invaded countries, and otherwise did everything in their power to retain and grow there empires -- with the US government but a pawn. And that was the US, notwithstanding the terrible suffering of third world countries unlucky enough to have a desirable resource and no military to protect it.

I don't like any of it. But I have to say, the vast majority of people I've gotten to know are hard working, reasonably loving, fearful, flawed, but doing their very best to just be able to enjoy the simple things -- food, shelter, friends, family, love and love making. And spending their money frivolously on gadgets (raises hand, I've been there).

I don't think most people are sociopaths. But I do think the folks with "the power" do not think and feel the way the "regular folk" do. I think for the ultra, supremely, crazy rich there is a game of power, power acquisition, and merciless competition. Almost as merciless as mother nature -- they eat or get eaten. Among them, perhaps there are plenty more sociopaths.

Galadriel

Zanti Misfit
I was Born in 1956. As a Child , the World back then was a Beautiful Place . It all seemed to Change around 1980 . I feel like I have Lived Two Lives , Then and Now . The World I Live in Now is Cold and with No Compassion amoung the People I interact with . Now I know why others like me Relish the PAST..........

Absolutely feel the same way, but I had a couple different "breaks" when things seemed to change. One of them was November 2000. Then September 11 2001. Fall of 2009. And just recently, this past summer.

And yes, early 80s.

I apologize up front, I did not intend to respond to any posts in this thread and just read the responses. But... of course, but.

September 11, 2001 - Really? Are you kidding me, all the hatred and anger, the natiionalism and indignation - the 'we got to kill those Arabs...." Really - coming together? or just coming together against THEM.

We did have an opportunity, to practise restraint, compassion and reason - and that sadly lacking Christian Trait of forgiveness.

But no - from Day One it was all about revenge. Even today, knowing what we know (inside job, yadda, yadda) it's still all about killing Muslims.

I know you meant that in the spirit of the OP, but please take a look at the reality of that day.

Yes, people helped others, yes they came from all over the country to help --- individuals did marvelous things. But collectively - it was hate and vengence. Makes one think of Cyrstal Natch (my German spelling is wrose then my English spelling) in the Wiemer Republic.....

openminded2011
Happiness used to be a virtue.

As of late, its changed a lot. I dont recognize the country I grew up in. People seem to be generally more cold and ruthless. Compassion and empathy are viewed as weakness.

You are spot on, my friend and this is true. Our society now seems to think that happiness is a sin as well as compassion and empathy. I have my reasons for thinking this - but I will SAY THIS NOW.

No society in which happiness is not allowed, or compassion, or empathy is JUST. NOR IS THAT SOCIETY GOOD. Period.

Countless philosophers, even Aristotle himself, have stated that the government's purpose is to provide *better* lives for the people. The whole point of a good society is to make good lives for the individuals in that society.

Game theory also shows us that such a society will fall.

However - Aristotle also says that a man having the right to private property is essential in being altruistic, and with the bad economy and movements to make freedom a battle just to have, this may be part of the culprit.

ItCameFromOuterSpace
Our technology has surpassed us as a species. In return, we are regressing.
Humans can't be digital.

This is true. We are wired to connect. Not connect in the sense of the internet... but face to face.

The disconnect actually began with the automobile. Before it came along people would often pass one another while traveling and more often than not they would stop, talk, and interact. Then the auto came along it made so much noise and moved so fast that it made civil conversation difficult. Then the closed in cab and faster cars isolated the drivers even more.

The telegraph and telephone further decreased face to face interaction. Finally... the web... and unsocial media came along and that has taken the heaviest toll on human social skills. There are a whole generation of kids coming up that have not learned empathy or basic social skills... it's going to get interesting...

Try working in retail right now. Customers yell at me for the stupidest reasons. Customers are impatient, cannot read the ad correctly, and yell at cashiers. People want to do a return on an item they broke 6 months ago then get pissed and yell at me when I explain the 30 day return policy.
Everyday we find open packages with the items stolen. We deal with people that will boldly and openly steal right in front of us and then threaten us as they walk right out...think the cops will do anything? ha yeah right
Once a week at LEAST we get someone using a fraudulent check or a stolen credit cards. Several times a week we get returns of items that were clearly stolen.
All of that on top of this crummy economy. Our payroll has been reduced by 25 - 40% in the last few years, and even in the last few months it was reduced again. Nobody has gotten a raise in the past 6 years. None of of make enough to live here in expensive California...even the lady whose been here for 15 years only makes $13/hr. And we have barely hired anyone to replace all those who quit...we are expected to work harder and harder with less people, less hours, and crummy pay.

Maybe this is why many people feel so angry, we just feel stuck...it used to be that the American Dream was that with hard work we could move up and own a house and move to a better side of town...but after a college education and 10+ years working our butts off we are still stuck in the same rut

nimbinned
Things may appear dire, but global consciousness is shifting and evolving quickly right now, so don't worry too much about it. We won't be continuing down this path much longer.

Concentrate on cultivating love for self and others. That's all you need to do. The rest will fall in to place.

Blessings *

What many of you who have found this love for self and others really has power, do not seem to realize, is that it is NOT all you need to do.

There is no plan to "fall into place" that is looking out for you in some glorious end, much as the mystery schools clamor for it, this message is meant as a cap to those advanced enough to see it.

And you have chosen to cap yourself to believing that it is all for some greater good...all the while really accomplishing nothing at all.

Limitless negativity exists, and believe me it loves this teaching that love is going to win if we just believe it.

MOMof3
reply to post by Dawnbreaker

 

If what you say is true, then I believe we will be our own demise, not an apocalypse. As an evolutionist, I believe we will just die off when we stop using the higher thinking ability given to us. Like ideas; justice, love, equality, space-time, empathy, forgiveness, trust.

I disagree with this statement/belief. Every single comfort and convenience we enjoy including that computer you used to type your post are all the result of as you put it “Higher Thinking”. Are you honestly aware of the amazing advancements in every single spectrum that have been made in the last twenty years? You make it sound like we as a species are nothing but stupid monkeys who will one day die off. If we are to be our own demise it’s not going to be for lack of higher thinking. Every single emotion you listed are still very much present in everyday life perhaps you simply spend to much time trying to convince yourself of seeing all these inadequacies that in reality do not exist?

reply to post by Battleline


I just found this article online. Nice analogy.

Is Social Media Turning Us Into The Matrix?

It is the same here in Europe. It is no coincidence that this is parallel to the decline of Christianity and the New Atheist war against belief. Mankind has forgotten God and replaced religion with wishy-washy New Age religion. Good is seen as evil and evil good and the love of many has grown cold. Soldier on...

I agree that today, we are being desensitized daily whether by T.V., Radio or internet.
Why just this evening when I came to ATS, I noticed a ad? for maybe a new video game?
The image was a naked woman with her hair covering her nipples.

I could go on and on about the risqué adverts and just all the nudity, graphic violence, killings, torture and many other socially unacceptable goings on, most of which is aimed at the younger child.

When I was a youth, an image as described above would be enough to get expelled from school, a good whooping from Dad, and some punishment that would make the community aware of your devilish escapades.

Today, you can go to the library and view graphic porn and to complain could get you booted out.

Needless to say, the OP is spot on and as you can see, even here on ATS, the slutty ads and socially wrong persuasive media gets more profane by the hour it seems.

No wonder todays youths are in single parent or foster homes and most are without conscience, it seems.
Foul language is on the rise and degradation is the new norm.

God help us.
Athiests please disregard the above line.

openminded2011
I can remember a time in the US, when kindness was considered a virtue. People helped each other. Maybe not a lot, but people seemed to have a genuine interest in their fellow human beings. People pulled together during hard times. If you had a problem, you could talk to people without them being judgmental. People cared about the general welfare of their society and their communites.


As of late, its changed a lot. I dont recognize the country I grew up in. People seem to be generally more cold and ruthless. Compassion and empathy are viewed as weakness. There is confusion as to what we define as for the common good. People are distrustful, hateful, and mean spirited. There are even some people who seem to take delight in the suffering and misfortune of others. No one wants to talk on a human level for the most part. We just accept injustice and immorality with indifference now. Violence and mass murder has become a weekly or monthly news event, and we are becoming desensitized even to that.

It seems, we are slowly losing our humanity, without for the most part, even being aware of it.

The rule of law seems to be in a state of chaos. A kid can go to jail for ten years for having a bag of weed, but a banker can steal billions and never see a jail cell. Movies glorify criminals and criminality display unbeliveable acts of violence and gore, and NO ONE even questions it anymore. Sociopathy seems to be an accepted norm now. Everyone is on the take, to beat the system, to come out ahead at any cost. And no one expects any better, people seem to anticipate and almost expect bad behavior.

And we used to be a nation of optimists. We were exploring space, technology was getting better and better, everyone knew and expected the future would be bright. And most everyone had a stake in it. Now its an epidemic of fatalism.Where people used to plan to prosper, they now just struggle to stay in place. And what is funny is, no one even gets mad or questions WHY things are so bad or why they should REMAIN bad. We have become like zombies, diddling with our smart phones and flat screens. Its scary to me because I wonder where the future lies if this trend continues. Are we all asleep? What will it take to wake us up and try to make things better? When will a sense of social responsibility and social justice return? Is our future just going to be a constant state of "every man for himself" and, "F" you, I got mine" ? Are there still moral virtues? What do we really stand for? Is our society going to heal itself, or is the decay too far gone?

And yet, with a little encouragement, people WANT to help others. Its our natural state. It is UNNATURAL for us to isolate ourselves and extinguish or compassion.

We MUST initiate a return to some sense of compassion and empathy for our fellow human beings. And we must take a long hard look at how we have arrived at where we are. I do not believe its too late.

And as this dark time descends on us now more than ever,this PROPHETIC speech by Charlie Chaplin, personifies our needs.

edit on 26-9-2013 by openminded2011 because: (no reason given)

I'm reading this primarily as a "WHY" and the truth is.... sometimes a human must bleed to realize he's human... as for humanity as well.

I see people randomly being nice and I question... I also see someone randomly being numb and I question it.... than I look at myself and I wonder what's really the purpose? Why did I just randomly be polite to this person? Because it's the RIGHT thing? Well what if I want to be LEFT today?

There must be a status quo set and it must be broken, that's what this is all about... to be alive... in motion.... there must be death in order for one to exist.

It is all necessary and equally important.

If we were all perfect.... there would have never been a Bruce Lee.

reply to post by w810i


I think you misunderstand my interpretation of "higher thinking". My computer is just another tool, no different from the first ancient rock used as a tool. The rock was an extension of my hand, the computer is an extension of my brain. But nothing is like the mind that has no physical place and looks to the stars and dreams of something better.

Welcome to the century of the self.

Every time I read about the 'global consciousness' or the 'spiritual awakening' that's bound to happen I have to laugh, not out of joy, but more of a 'yeah right' pessimistic laugh.

The Spock logic has done a complete 180, now the needs of the few outweigh the needs of the many. After decades of TPTB perpetuating the importance of the self, now we are at a stage where nearly every living person believes themselves to be above everyone else, and the rise of social media only made it worse.

There has to be a crux at some point. Why is it that only in the most dire situations do we help others? is it going to take a global catastrophe to unite everyone?