A brief comment on Putin, and the greater question of globalization

This is a comment that I submitted on a more reasonable political outlet. I wanted to keep it in order to possibly combine it with other thoughts, should the world live long enough to do so...

 Trade and be friendly with all nations that have not given reason to distrust. Do not lose your culture in the process.
Alliances are all well and good, but bear in mind that in times of (relative) peace, clamoring toward an amalgous union is seen as a preparation for conquest. In times of turmoil and unease, alliances are seen more as a defensive tactic. It is for this reason that one should look suspiciously at Putin in these times. With any talk from him of forming unions, the other ear of the audience should pay attention to the strife occurring all around the world, in any area that he and his oligarchs have so much as a business partner. Chaos suits his agenda, as it allows him the pretense needed to come sit at the table, and attempt to impose terms.
As for the general dislike of globalism, that I think is not so much a negative trend as is being suggested in this article. There are two groups which benefit from globalism- first and most obviously, are those disadvantaged by isolation, whose opportunities have been directly limited by the governments and ruling class of the territories they inhabit. I always cheer for the underdog myself, but these benefits to them are often shortlived, and not as substantial as we are led to believe. Sure, a few new jobs surface, maybe some new goods and services, access to better medical care... temporarily. Inevitably, quality of life suffers for any region that is sacrificing their resources to boost another, whether they be sacrificing jobs, trading power, land, or physical materials. When you once had a surplus of coal, and your trade minister brings you into an agreement that takes a great deal of your coal and exports it somewhere else, the consumers in your nation suffer, while the trade ministers of both nations as well as those that own the mines become wealthier. The people up top make more money, while the population that supports the point of origin has to pay more for what is left to them. The damage is often greater than the benefit, unless all parties involved make great efforts to ensure that a comprehensive system is in place to account for each loss. Though the idea of a global economy sounds wonderful because it means that people with less can have more, in reality we usually end up with extremely lopsided trade deals which drain one side for a time, and oligarchs take advantage of all points of the exchange while prepairing for the inevitable turmoil caused by such bad policies. They always come back to the common people when the damage is done, and they have bled the most they could from them, posing as saviors. Cynical, sure... but a historically forgivable view. Globalism does help one group of people on a long term basis, and in an increasing fashion... those who are already global, and have points of control globally. If you own two small sheds directly across from each other, with a river between, then you certainly have a motive to push for a bridge between them. Declare that it is for the good of all society, while you charge a toll each way.

Too long of a comment for the moderators at the propaganda mill...

 This was a very long comment I left on a propaganda news outlet, which appears to be far too long to allow there. I understand that this is exceedingly long for a simple message board comment, but I must say... it's got more substance than anything I've ever seen them post on their site. They prefer mostly screenshots of "tweets" to fill up their pages. Oh well...

 

I find it interesting that everyone seems to know several important facts of life about America, which should shed some light on what it is and isn't as a geopolitical power... but those facts are conveniently segmented, and never put together to form a more comprehensive view.
Why? Would it be so unthinkable to admit that just as the gallant USA was a propaganda myth, so too is the idea of a gallant Russia? Life isn't a comic book, very seldom in reality is it so cut and dry as "one or two heroes, facing off against one or two villains". In other forums, it is easy to see that most Americans do in fact acknowledge that Israel holds massive sway over the US, probably through some pretty nefarious means beyond simple bribery (we give them so much money, that doesn't make much sense anyway). Our politicians act downright terrified of angering Israel, despite the fact that we still have a superior military force, the votes just don't matter that much when it's mostly rigged anyway, and even the American jewish community (a large portion of them, that is) is pretty pissed off at the way Israel handles multiple issues.
We don't need the oil so much that we should kill ourselves and the world for it, either... so the Saudi angle doesn't compute. Our economy isn't doing well despite this elusive "arms business", because our nation doesn't typically earn anything on these weapons, we either use them or give them away. Even if we did sell them, does that in any way go back into the national treasury? Of course not, it can't!
There are almost no jobs here, no production, even food is being intentionally destroyed. We're talking "salt-the-poisoned-earth" kind of cropland loss. Our nation is being sabotaged on so many levels, it's insane. We can be slaughtered wholesale and our rulers wouldn't even bother with a plausible excuse, yet we are urged to give ridiculous concessions to whatever group has the media spotlight at the time. Congressmen will go through massive efforts to network, NGOs and foundations will spring up out of nowhere, and those people that have trouble with whatever problem real or imagined will get their way, and then some. Look at the college insanity. A professor says sensible words, urging his students to show bravery and maturity, and they attack him. A few years ago, he would have been considered an inspiration, and been invited in Oprah for helping black students overcome adversity with sound advice. Today, he's a pariah.

A nation does not go through a systematic looting and degradation on bad policy alone, when it started out strong, much more sensible, and had a history of overcoming it's own social issues. I know we always had a spotty history, what they told us in the books was a collection of nice fairy tales, but we still took the reins from despots and fools plenty of times. We tried to make something better every time reality slapped us in the face... until lately.
I don't blame Obama. I don't even blame Bush, Clinton, Reagan, Ford or Carter. I've come to realise that our presidents are more selected than elected, and have been for some time now. I think we need to look at the gaping wounds in our nation like those in a corpse at a crime scene. What could be the motivation behind such a prolonged, brutal attack? Religion doesn't answer it. Racial issues don't explain it, despite what a lot of spin says.
I'll tell you this, events in the rest of the world are coming together like clockwork. One day a nation unfairly demonized with no advocacy outside of it's small group of friends becomes a darling in the world media, despite the supposed "mafia bosses" not approving of such kindness. With so much false terror, everyone knows that all world events are suspect, there's always an agenda. It's all too neat and clean. Sure, things are constantly on fire, innocents are dying, but the same leaders, in all nations, are seemingly quite pleased... it's like nothing is going on at all, in their little bubbles. I don't buy for one moment, this idea of "Big Bad USA is going bye-bye, and Big Brave Bear is gonna save the day!". I think it's far uglier than that, and it certainly must be far more complex. For one thing, a major destabilizing nation is hardly mentioned by this Big Brave Bear, yet the US is fair game. This is no accident, it is the strategy chosen. It would seem that one arm is getting tired hammering on the world, so another is taking over. If the Bear wasn't afraid of offending a superior, why not call out that which we all know is directly responsible? If you're going to do anything meaningful, and attempt to "challenge the West", why are you only attacking the employee, and not the boss? For that matter, why do your best to demoralize the citizenry of the West, when you know full well that a huge portion of us want change, but will be murdered horribly should we actually attempt it, and nothing would come of it? We aren't "supporting" what has been going on for so long, we've been the victims of the same bloody regime, and any statesman should know that. If we are undermined, all that will be left are those that are being shown favor over us by our own tyrants, and that strengthens your enemy, doesn't it? Our oppressive government seems to want exactly what you want... interesting.

Do you people not put the dots together out of fear of being on the "fringe"? I have news for you, every common sense idea is now the fringe. I have a sickening feeling that I am not wrong when I feel that this isn't "national politics" driving the events we've been witnessing, but a larger, much worse plan in action. Start planning for a bigger fight than you've ever thought you'd have to face... in your mind at least. Get used to the idea, so you won't find yourselves in shock, and drooling at what occurs, should it occur. Good luck.

The joys of the lukewarm abyss

When we live, and feel the sensations of life pulsing through our being, we seem to need continuity of it all. Each breath begs another, every heartbeat wants at least one more to follow.

Though it doesn't occur to us while we have hopes, dreams and ambitions, this innate demand for perpetual experience is a hindrance.
As surely as we think and feel, while bumbling about in what we call our lives, we see so many things in this realm that are simply not right, and absolutely untenable. Injustice on a grand cosmic scale, distilled and focused with extraordinary precision, burns into our cores, giving rise to brief courage inside us, and a zeal to fix whatever we can, to set balance and sacred harmony back upon it's holy pedestal.
Then... then, comes the reality of our condition. Just as we are braced for the dash, our knuckles white, teeth gritted, minds resolute... our frail mortality dares to interupt us, a crass voice cutting through our inner prayer. Might we try a different approach, and save our lives, that we may enjoy the fruits of our altruistic determination? Of course, the answer is always a shameful resignation, and a whittling away of our dignity. So it goes, all of our years, until we perish, regretful and empty.

This, in it's strange dualistic essence, is what empowers those of us discarded by the universe. Were we to retain any concept of preservation, any dreams for a future, our hands would be stayed, and the taunts of our failures would drown out the songs of our inner pride.
We dead, we misty appartions of a forgotten realm, our power is greater than the strength of all the living combined. We cannot be destroyed, for we are uncreated. With no future, no past, our emptiness leaves a void that will swallow every foe, along with their vulgar cries and vain assumptions.

They can no more strike us down than they can capture the shadows of days past.

We are approaching ever nearer, you of the venomous imbalance. We shall bring you over to death with us, and feed upon you again, once you are of a substance that will sate our long deprived hunger.