Corporate Culture, Corruption, Consumerism and Greed

[Ralphdraw3]

@halflinks I hope this is not a "normal bubble" - 9% unemployment for many months; more than 100 American banks go bankrupt; several of the world's largest investment banks freeze credit and cannot raise money; millions of people in foreclosure; many states are bankrupt; many European countries go bankrupt.

This is a calamity and a catastrophe - American "captialism" is rigged and corrupt.

[YaoiHuntressEarth]

I guess I can see where the over-desire for money can come from: money can't judge your and will let anyone have it (even the most unlikeable of people). It can make people "like" you, grant you popularity without the needed charm and bring upon temporary happiness in material posessions.

I agree with the gold standard not being able to solve the corruption problem, because greed is greed no matter what the currency is.

[jcfan42]

Obama and "halfway decent president" do not belong in the same sentence. Most of these politicians are in the pocket of the bankers - Obama has never been any different.

[jcfan42]

You can dismiss the Constitution all you want, but if we do not hold government to some standard, we get what we have now - a group of people who think they can do whatever they want to us. I suppose some of the blame for this situation does rest in education - people were never introduced to the idea of constitutional government, so most of us never even think about it.

[jcfan42]

By the way - what do you think of the abolishment of corporations as a business model?

[elbowbiter1]

@jcfan42 I would abolish money and all the bullshit that goes with it which includes corporations. The end of the days of merchants and bankers will be in our lifetime or we are all going to inhabit a dying wasteland. "Type I civilization or bust" and "Reject the system dictating the norms." are my mottos.

[mondoraptor]

corporate thieves get away with billions , and some are being prosecuted for shoplifting food !!!! The corruption is deep rooted and widespread!

[elbowbiter1]

Don't vote, there is no more hope!

[jcfan42]

@elbowbiter1 Why not? Perhaps we can still change it - sitting on the sidelines quietly never helped us...

[elbowbiter1]

@jcfan42 If you join in a rigged game of cards... either you are in on it or you are the one being bilked. That is why I say don't vote there is no hope. Voting is the lamest form of exacting your will on the population... there are way more effective means then voting for pre selected corporate shills. Voting IS sitting on the fence... now get off and make a difference... like me!

[jcfan42]

@elbowbiter1 Then what is the solution? I presume (perhaps I have misjudged?) from your other comment that you are anarchist - the public perception of any movement cannot be of people getting into street fights with cops all of the time. At this point, voting cannot be totally disregarded even if most elections are lost. In some ways you can be successful even when losing...

[elbowbiter1]

@jcfan42 What is the solution sans voting? Creating abundance is vital. How do we do that? Technology and Education. Do you need to vote to install solar panels? Do you need to vote to throw on a condom and stop having too many kids? Do you need to vote to read a book on how to grow hydroponic food? Do you need to vote to do anything? If you answer yes to any of this... then "reject the systems dictating your norms."

[johnmonk66]

blame the rich for everything, but if you were rich you wouldnt give up a dime

[elbowbiter1]

It's almost as if the problem is money itself, hey Johny.

[johnmonk66]

money is not the problem, it is the rabid desire for it, the worship of it. greed is the problem, if we don't desire wealth, we will not be unhappy if we don't have it

[elbowbiter1]

Dear John,

Well you can't have the rabid desire for money if you make a society without the need for money right. The question is do we have the nutz and audacity to do a thing that has yet to be done. "Reject the system dictating the norms."

Peace,

Biter.

[johnmonk66]

society without money is a pipe dream, it can't happen. If there was no money people would hoard whatever was considered wealth, like cattle. The farmer with the most cows would be rich and people would want more cows.

The secret is to live in the society but save for freedom. Imagine if you could save half your money, for half your life, then you could retire early and live free. In a strange way money can bring freedom

[elbowbiter1]

Dear John,

A pipe dream you say? Money brings freedom? I don't think folk would like true freedom. It would terrify most of us. The freedom we know today is the freedom to pick and choose which manner we become enslaved. But back to a cashless society, so if the number of cows owned became an arbitrary thing would folk value having more? In other words, if the valued thing was so cheap that it's only worth was the burden placed upon the owner would your objection still stand?

Peace

Biter.

[johnmonk66]

of course money brings freedom, if you had a billion dollars what would you HAVE to do? you could go where you want and do what you want.

and yes, even if cows wee cheap, they are a source of food and have value, so having more is better. A penny has almost no value, so why do people want billions of them?

[elbowbiter1]

Dear John,

The burden of billions of dollars is this, knowing that it comes at the cost of impoverishing others, maintaining your holdings, and limited access to 'other things' Other things being the peace at mind that you could just be yourself in a slum. Can a rich guy safely drive his porche through poorest Afghanistan? Not with out a bodyguard. Security costs, maintenance costs... these are some of the masters of the rich. There are many other chains that bind them.

Peace,

Biter.

[elbowbiter1]

PS John, Back to the idea of food and value. If food was as plentiful as dirt would it be just as valuable. If you have just glutted yourself on turkey and there were tons of left overs would you loose sleep if your Mrs. gave some of them (left overs) away? Again if the things of value owned became arbitrary things, would they maintain their value. The answer is: no as they have beome arbitrary. How then do we make things of value arbitrary. How do we make the valuable, valuless.

[johnmonk66]

air is free, but try getting a bottle of it for nothing. water is free, but try going into a store and walk out without paying. I don't get your point...you are saying if everyone on earth had plenty of food it would have no value, you mean beside the value of keeping you alive?

[elbowbiter1]

Exactly beside the value that it keeps you alive it has no value. Kinda like the dirt under your lawn. Ain't worth fuck all on it's own... but make it scarce and it is infinitely valueable as we would need it to grow food.

[johnmonk66]

@elbowbiter1 not everyone makes their money off the sweat of the poor. screenwriters get rich selling screenplays to rich producers who employ rich actors. Baseball players punish the poor? And the only rich people who need bdyguards are the asses flaunting it.

I have a friend worth 25 million, he lives in a regular apartment, drives a regular car and is free to do as he pleases.

[elbowbiter1]

You are correct, that is hy I qualified my statements with, "these are just some of the masters of the rich. Your friend with 25million, he isnt that rich. Back to the rich feeding off the por thing... no often it isn't direct. Money however represents a finite thing the more you have, the less for everyone else. Movie folk and rock stars I would argue are by far not the richest in the land. But all of this is beside the point.

[elbowbiter1]

The point being: That money offers freedom from somethings but enslaves you in others... I am sure if you tried you could find examples. Here is one. America's Agrarian Slaves were not free (or so we are taught to think). However they were free of the burden of their own upkeep... they were fed, clothed, and housed (atleast for the most part). They became enslaved by the burdens you and I know all to well upon emancipation. We are wage slaves, we are burdened to take care of ourselves.

[johnmonk66]

wow, i never realized how nice the slave masters were to blacks, according o you they would be happier as slaves, nice. You should go and threaten terrorism so you can go to prison for life, this way you can be truly free.

you don't know what freedom is. freedom is choice. to make money, to live where you want, to eat what yo want, to do what you want, all these freedoms come from having money. being a slave who is fed by his master is not freedom, not in the real world, maybe in the kkk

[elbowbiter1]

Dear J

A very disingenuous answer my friend. Were all whites barbarioans to their slaves? Answer no. Some people actually take care of their chattel. Now to pay attention to the true point I was making, if you are honest and can get past all of the indoctrination you'd be able to admit that Slaves were fed by their masters where as you feed yourself. Slaves were housed by their masters where as you house yourself. Slaves were equiped for work by their... You get the point now I trust.

EB

[johnmonk66]

No, you are the worst kind of racist, you think kidnapping a man from Africa and selling him so he could spend 7 days a week working sun up to sun down is a good thing. Hell whitey gave the black man rags to wear and a wood shack to sleep it, god bless the wonderful whitey.

Prisons are wonderful places to, they are fed and clothed, what lucky people they re too

you are a racist and I am done with your SICK philosophy

[elbowbiter1]

Aw C'mon now Johnny,

Now you are just putting words in my mouth (or under my finger tips) just because your ego won't allow you to let me 'win.' Well this conversation was never about winning or loosing. I don't get why your tone has changed to become so hostile? As a little addendum I will let you know that I am Hafrican American ;) so assume me a racist all you like. It tickles me, almost like a whore with a feather to my ballz.

Peace,

Biter.

[johnmonk66]

You think being part black means you can't be a racist? Why has my tone become hostile? Because you say living as a slave was a good thing. What's next, Jewish people were treated well in the camps? Native Americans got their fair share? Haitians are lucky cause we are giving them free food now?

It amazes me you think you are not racist, you are one of the most racists I have ever seen, more racist than Sharpton

[elbowbiter1]

Dear John, Well that is true, thanks for that. It is possible to be black and hate blacks I suppose. I think you are missing the point of what I am saying, and willfully too. This is called being obtuse. Assume I am not a racist and re read my posts. Then we can continue to have a serious discussion about what freedom is and is not. We live in a world of rules/laws, my friend. Some exist only in our minds, some are on the exterior, but they are the determiners of freedom.

Peace,

Biter.

[johnmonk66]

you are using childrens philosphy, going off on a tangent, i speak of freedom, you speak of water

[elbowbiter1]

Here is something you can contemplate, no matter how rich you are, or how poor, no matter your level current or past technology, no matter your race, creed, or culture, no matter you education or lack of it, you can travel no further than two or three days from a supply of water. Food you have some more room, a month maybe two, but water 2-3 days. You are a slave to both. You are free to obstain but then you are slave to this dynamic, to live is to eat and drink to choose not to you must die.

[johnmonk66]

you can't go 5 minutes without air, guess you are a slave to that too, but slavery is not about living, it is about freedom of destiny

[elbowbiter1]

Dear John,

Well I'll take that as an agreement then as you seem to be starting to understand me. Yes exactly we are slaves to air. In fact we are confined/chained to the thinnest of membranes in a vast, hostile universe. Freedom of destiny? Very poetic but what does that mean? Exactly what I said 2 days ago... "the freedom to pick and choose which manner we become enslaved" if we are willing to get beyond the semantics.

Peace,

Biter.

[johnmonk66]

semantics? you are speaking in semantics, freedom from air? look up the definition of the word in the dictionary, there is no freedom from necessary things. you are not a slave to oxegen, you are not a slave to blood, you are not a slave to taking a dump.  learn the definition of freedom, freedom ONLY exists where there are alternatives, only where other human beings deny you freedoms, a thing can not deny you freedom, the jail doesnt take your freedom away, the jury does

[elbowbiter1]

Dear John, I am not insulting you Johnny! I clearly stated if WE (not you) are willing to get passed the semantics then we would be in agreement. And Yes we are slaves to taking a dump and slaves to blood, as evidenced by your definition of freedom. Are there any alternatives to taking a dump or having blood? Not yet, therefore we can not be free of either. Even a guy in jail has the freedom to read or write or lift weights (at certain times) despite what the jury says.

Peace,

Biter.

[johnmonk66]

do you read your own posts? YOU are the one who said people are slaves to air, I said they are not, you can not be a slave to a thing, only to a person or group of people.

I am not a slave to anyone or anything. And I am very close to cutting the bonds to this ridiculous arguement

[elbowbiter1]

Dear John, Ok I'll do my best to resolve the semantics.From the Merrian Webster Dictionary: Slav·ery Pronunciation: \ˈslā-v(ə-)rē\ Function: noun Date: 1551 1 : drudgery, toil 2 : submission to a dominating influence 3 a : the state of a person who is a chattel of another b : the practice of slaveholding I am using definition 1 you want me to conform to definition 2. Let's use both. Agreed? Biter.

[johnmonk66]

so oxygen is a dominating influence? the founding fathers fought for our right not to breathe? to eat? to live?

your definition allows only the dead to be free, your definition allows no freedom, your definition is used for arguing, you have not yet made a valid point.

slavery is to people and ideas, to work for a master, air is not a master, it just is

[elbowbiter1]

Dear John, Sadly not according to the Merriam Webster dictionary. You continue to be obtuse my friend and I can no longer afford to discuss a thing with someone unwilling to reciprocate (as semantics tend to drag on forever). It has been a slice.

Happy trails,

Biter.

PS... our bodies generate the dominating influence to breathe, not the air. Don't believe me hold your breath (you're free to do so).

"The unexamined life is not worth living." Socrates.

B.

[johnmonk66]

@elbowbiter1  I am very glad you will be stopping now, I will never bow down to your warped way of thinking so it is good you give it up. sitting around wasting my time talking about slavery to air and water is exactly that, a waste of time. unexamined life? you are not looking at your life, you are blabbing on about things not in your control, why? Why not talk about the color of the moon? Who will it benefit? Not me.

[elbowbiter1]

Dear John,

Again:

"The unexamined life is not worth living." Socrates

Peace,

Biter.

[johnmonk66]

you are not examining your life, you are missing the forest because you are focusing on dead branches littering the floor. Arguing about air is examining your life? Why not examine your racist thoughts and look at yourself for a while

[johnmonk66]

so now 25 million isn't enough? and so what if you have more and others have less? 90 percent of the world won't get off their ass to earn a buck, thats why people want socailized healthcare, they want shit for free so they don't have to earn it.

[elbowbiter1]

Dear John,

A pretty bleak reply here. Do you honestly contend that all people asking for hand outs are lazy? Do you think that all folk with money are the harest working among us? If a person is working 2 full time jobs and taking college courses but still earns less than $35,000/y with no health insurance gets hit by a bus would you say: well fuck her she's lazy? Stick to the point about freedom please lets first finish our conversation on that.

Peace,

Biter.

[BeaucoupRed]

On the topic of corporate corruption. The rats are jumping ship.

CHEMRISK - a research company hired by the Corn Refiners Association has recently taken down it's YouTube channel.

The removal was in response to negative public perception resulting from the discovery of dangerous levels of MERCURY in HIGH-FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP. Apparently it has become a liability to defend the sweetener.

See one of the last remaining ChemRisk videos at CornRefinersAssoc on YouTube.

[nohophil]

The Rich, and members of the Police, Government, Court Systems go free, the public goes to prision.

[KamikazeKoscki]

Madoff transfer stocks to the treasury dept. and went under the Radar, youtube congress members indicated that.

[3theThird]

Wonder if Bernie Madoff is going suddenly decide to have a heart attack and get himself cremated before anyone can check if it's really him? Seemed to work in the Enron case.

Funny thing is that Bush pardoned a dead man for any and all crimes, thus allowing his widow to keep the Enron crime proceeds. Those seeking to sue were left out in the cold. No justice.

He was convicted... he died... then Bush said it didn't count and erased the conviction. Very odd.

[SCODgreenhood]

Good points. *****

[A0Refrigerator]

Why was I linked to this video?

[007bruclee]

Ralph3,

Great video!! Watch this video !!

restoretherepublic(dot)com/top­-stories/meet-the-federal-rese­rve or google (meet the fed)

You can skip the first 5 mins or so, get to the interview with the Chicago Fed's PR person. I bet money you will trip out on the info.

[Ralphdraw3]

I am more worried at corruption at the top levels of American businesses and corporations and banks and investment houses..

[qanazir]

I too am saddended by the way the American universities have been going.

I hope they improve before I decide about studying in over there.

[qanazir]

The Real--salary of the poorest 70% havn't risen in 30 years and it will not unless America stops being a plutocracy and starts being ruled by people who care a bit more about people not owning private jets.

[KamikazeKoscki]

It's are job as Americans to write to our representatives and demand they make laws to protect us. I have made a few laws for the country and with the help of Boxer and Fienstein help make the Insurance Fair Act Doctrine, for those having their workers compensation checks being stop payment on the. Authur Anderson the accounting firm for Enron did the books, so it's are job to inform our representatives of what laws need to be made to stop them from their corruption.

[Boomer1949]

The whole idea of "Free Trade" around the world was a good one if it had worked as well in practice as it looked on paper. It was ment to raise all boats to our level. As it turned out it sunk our boat. Why? Just like you said Ralph, Greed.

[betbowt]

Hey Ralph, seems you did end up voting GOP after-all...

What is the Obomber cab now 80-90% GOP?

Gotta love the Gates pick huh... Good 'ol Gates. Hussein & him are bosom buddies.

They were'nt kidding when they identified the Cheney/Hussein bloodline...

Oh well, we tried to warn you. Sometimes it sucks always being right. I suppose it comes from doing the research and taking wise folk's advice. Two things an old dog like yourself seems to have a bit 'o trouble with.

Here's to 100 more years!

[Ralphdraw3]

We have a two party system - dominated by money and corporations.

If you are a Paul-head, Ron Paul is a member of the war-mongering NeoCon Lying Republican party...

If you are libertarian - you have almost no hope getting elected to anything - not even Dog-catcher...

[betbowt]

I am neither. I am human. I am not a dog or an inanimate object that you can place in some limiting category. I am constantly evolving. I am not controlled by the categorization, restriction nor box you nor anyone miserably try to place me in.

[betbowt]

I am of the realization that if and when every single person could transcend their societally and psychologically conditioned repression and false reality transcending the denial and fear that rules their pathetic, ridiculous and miserable lives becoming self-realized and completely self-aware that the corrupt bank controlled system they have put in place for their serfs, servants and tax slaves would instantly crumble beneath their feet.

[betbowt]

But as long as their are brain-washed, pacified, passionless slaves such as yourself and the vast majority of the pathetic populous this will never be realized because you slaves are complacent in your miserable lives, servitude, serfdom pacification and fear.

46+2 Ralph, not 44+2. Awaken your dormant chromosomes. They have made a baboon of you. You have wandered thru life drugged, deaf, dumb and blind. They have made you into their zombie.

Time to awaken your DNA.

[Ralphdraw3]

Quite a lecture... from a person whose icon is an empty YouTube-generated image!!!

My guess is that you would do very poorly under anarchy....

Read some more Ayn Rand - it will comfort you... (and for heaven's sake DON'T READ either article I linked in the video info box - clearly you know IT ALL...)

and work on that icon!!

[betbowt]

I have spoke with you several times. I am big talk yes, and bigger action as well.

I have had 17 accounts suspended and 2 IP addresses blocked on YouTube hence your suspicion of my account.

17 accounts, 2 IPs and 3 years latter my YouTube revolution has come and gone and has been more than slightly successful. Near the end I had over 20 million views and 11,000 subscribers. But that is beside the point.

[betbowt]

My revolution began in 1971 when I converted my land, farm and homes to solar, wind and hydro power and began my first 3 bio-dynamic, permaculture, organic farms, converted my back-hoes, tractors, my land, my families and my partners vehicles and emergency generators to run on sustainably farmed bio-diesel fuels and used, recycled vegetable oils and stopped purchasing gasoline and diesel and began teaching all of the above to the public-at-large.

[betbowt]

My revolution has gone deeper than a deluded, psychologically, societally conditioned and pacified man such as yourself will ever know...

But this is not about me it is about you. Most folks are hardly capable of even considering, let-alone initiating their own revolution.

Big talk, big action. Some walk their talk, some would never dare, most will die in fear with the look of terror in their eyes.

46 + 2 Ralph, 46 + 2.

[Ralphdraw3]

Great...

Why bother us at youtube?... I don't own farmland...

[Ralphdraw3]

I am just a poor city-slicker....

[drexelohio]

Me too. I live in Dayton, Ohio. We've had a depression for the last 40 years.

Being ghetto-smart is going to be helpful for a lot of folks.

[Ralphdraw3]

When does the revolution begin???

The weather is really bad where I am... perhaps the revolution should wait until the spring...

BIG TALK!!!!!!!

[Ralphdraw3]

Wow!!! Human??? watching YouTube!!! amazing.....

Hitler was human too!!! So was Saddam...

[blair227]

The loss of our manufacturing base came with Reagan,Ralph.He allowed the illegal dumping of cheap subsidized steel into this country by Japan and Germany.He is solely responsible for the rust belt.He was the orginal Union buster.

[IcyKitty]

I agree. The main problem is that the US does not manufacture anything. We need a working wage manufacturing jobs instead of shipping our raw material overseas to import cheap and in some cases unsafe products here. Import tariffs are needed.

Also, as consumers, we have to stop wanting cheap products........ of course, if we had good paying manufacturing jobs, we could afford to purchase the higher prices on American made products.