Caesar - Greatness Is Fleeting & Death is Eternal

Caesar Greatness Is Fleeting & Death is Eternal Gaius Julius Caesar b. July 100 BC d. March 15, 44 BC Roman dictator role in demise of Roman Republic & rise of Roman Empire [wikipedia] Documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dxff0fCe9TM Gaius Julius Caesar b. 102 BC - 100 BC d. March 15, 44 BC parents: Aurelia Gaius Julius Caesar, a praetor (army commander or magistrate) -- noble, patrician roots -- not rich or influential in this period -- aunt: Julia - married to Gaius Marius (leader of Popular faction) Sources of info available re Caesar: Roman historians: Suetonius & Plutarch (abt 100 years after Caesar death) Caesar memoir: 'Caesar:  The Gallic War' Character Ruthless, supremely ambitious Upbringing Brought up Rome -- in seedy brothel-lined alleyways of Subura -- well aware of glorious past of family / decides to climb social & political ladder to where he believes he should be -- Roman army the place to start Roman Army -- hero consul Sulla - power at the point of a spear / uses military might to seize control of Rome in civil war -- joins army age 20 / distinguishes self for battlefield bravery in Greece Homosexuality -- Caesar said to have had sexual relationship with King of Bithynia [Nicomedes IV] (northern Turkey) on what is business / diplomatic trip -- Caesar in Turkey to negotiate with king Nicomedes for warships to aid Roman cause -- gossips call Caesar the 'Queen of Bithynia' -- in that era, the issue wasn't male-to-male sex; it was taking the submissive position - role seen as too much like woman -- Caesar response:  seduction of all women in sight -- Caesar uses gossip to his advantage:  social climbing factor (ie King of Nicomedes, of Bithynia) -- vigorous & frequent sexual exploits both men & women inspire poets -- scribe Catullus:  suggests in verse Caesar has come down with something bad -- but this is unlikely  - various diseases ruled out: -- syphilis transmitted later from America w. conquistadores - eliminated -- herpes - would have left physical marks / would have mentioned - eliminated -- gonorrhoea - would have left physical marks / would have mentioned - eliminated -- chlamydia - possible (but no male symptoms) Politics / Law -- Caesar moves from army into politics & law - in 20s -- powerful & persuasive speaker; court cases draw large crowds Pirates [comment:  following is probably derived from Caesar's own boastful account] -- trip to Greece / captured by Greek pirates -- pirates major problem, infested Mediterranean -- pirates demand a large ransom:  20 silver talents (abt $130,000) - a lifetime's wages for Roman soldier -- Caesar laughs at pirates & says he's worth way more:  50 silver talents -- move shrewd:  increases his chances of remaining alive & of maintaining control of situation -- demonstrates that he can remain cool in face of danger -- turns into guest from hell:  demands quiet, orders pirates around, recites own poetry, berates them for not appreciating it -- pirates sick of him; will kill him if they don't get ransom -- Caesar issues threat of his own:  if they release him, he'll return & kill them -- promises he'll come back & crucify them all -- ransom eventually paid; Caesar released Crucified Pirates -- Caesar raises small naval force & makes good his threat -- crucifies the pirates:  painful & lingering death  |  however, he orders their throats cut first -- was the talk of Rome -- doco commentary:  story has ring of truth to it, as what is known of Caesar's later life indicates he was in control Women -- Julius Caesar, pirate slayer, attracts women:  said to have slept with almost all the wives of Rome's aristocrats -- has a series of wives:  4 -- Caesar uses sex with women to dominate women &, by extension, to show dominance over their husbands Ambition -- over the years, aims for top job:  consul, head of govt of Republic of Rome -- just as today's political campaigns are costly, Caesar accumulates debt which could kill his career -- on look-out for allies & money -- suggests an alliance with wealthy Crassus & military hero, Pompey the Great - they agree First Triumvirate - 3 Conspirators - here -- it doesn't matter that he's had affairs with both their wives -- forget the titles, this is equivalent of the city of Rome being divided up by three powerful 'mafia bosses' -- it's about patronage & power:  it's about deciding who gets the large contracts. Gaul Caesar's share of the spoils = Roman Gaul (northern Italy & parts modern France) -- Caesar becomes governor & that gives him absolute power -- but he has a problem, he has a debt -- decides to go to war / in Roman times it is good business -- money to be made in pillaged treasure & slaves -- target:  unconquered parts of Gaul -- main concern was how much profit to be made -- Rome was essentially a system of:  robbery with violence -- 'I came, I saw, I conquered' - battle-line dispatch from Caesar -- battle progress reported in Rome & Caesar is his own reporter via dispatches -- obsessive attention to detail:  crucial element of personality - psychologically needs to be in control of his image -- not leaving it to other people; Caesar the one to decide who Julius Caesar is -- described as master of self promotion & propaganda Bibracte -- Bibracte - scene of bloody battle with Gallic Helvetii tribe (occupied modern Switzerland) -- Bibracte 2,500 ft elevation / highest place for 150 miles - completely dominates landscape -- crucial for Gauls to hold Bibracte / equally crucial for Caesar to take it -- major clash - ruthless:     -- skulls pitted with sword marks     --  Caesar:  Helvetii bravest of all Gallic tribes     -- incendiary bomb unearthed from abt 1,000 years ago     -- a head of arrow shot from Roman catapult / wire cage to contain sticky substance on fire     -- designed to set Gallic settlement on fire     -- example of high-tech weaponry Gauls up against defending against Caesar     -- Caesar armed his legions with the pilum, a javlin-like weapon     -- spears tearing through shields & skewering Gallic warriors     -- pilum = uniquely Roman weapon, specifically designed for army     -- designed to kill / to be thrown at very short distances     -- Gauls never stood chance against pilum     -- shields penetrated to 6" depth, rendering shields useless = exposure to swordsmen     -- Gauls have numbers in their favour -- Caesar on a mission to make himself a hero in Rome -- Caesar sacks & pillages Gallic towns & villages one by one, adding to his wealth Avaricum -- 150 miles south of modern Paris -- Gallic defenders behind fortified walls -- Caesar lays siege to town for 25 days -- when he storms the walls, he overruns weakened defenders -- Caesar's legions slaughter 39,000 men, women & children -- 800 left alive to carry message to other Gauls:  resistance is futile -- Caesar's standing order:  after victory, soldiers to be turned loose to do as they please -- Caesar brags that his men do just as well stinking of perfume -- sex with captives & prostitutes who follow the Roman army = Roman custom -- climax of war with Gaul, Caesar reveals extent of cruelty on battleground 125 miles east of Avaricum Siege of Alesia Siege of Alesia - September, 52 BC -- hill fort, Alesia -- battle site was probably atop Mont Auxois -- Caesar faces army of 80,000 led by Gual's most successful commander, Vercingetorix* *account refers to 'beheaded' but 'strangled' more frequently stated elsewhere Roman Commanders -- cavalry commanders Mark Antony, Titus Labienus + Gaius Trebonius aid Caesar -- against a confederation of Gallic tribes -  under leadership of Vercingetorix of the Arverni -- last major engagement between Gauls and Romans - marking turning point Gallic Wars in favour of Rome -- marking end of Celtic dominance in France, Belgium, Switzerland + Northern Italy Siege -- Vercingetorix retreated with his 80,000 men to immensely strong natural fortification, with sheer cliff faces -- unable to storm fortification, Caesar builds wall around outside, 10 miles long -- 18 kilometres of 4 metre high fortifications - constructed in abt. 3 weeks -- this line was followed inwards by two 4.5 metre wide ditches, also 4.5 metres deep -- one nearest to the fortification was filled with water from the surrounding rivers -- supplemented by mantraps & deep holes in front of ditches & regularly spaced watchtowers, equipped with Roman artillery -- known as:  circumvallation -- to pen in Gauls until starved into submission -- Vercingetorix had inflicted heavy casualties on Caesar's army -- Gallic riders break through fortification / reinforcements inevitable -- Caesar responds with another barricade around own men, finished just in time (a contravallation) -- contravallation extended for 21km -- 250,000 Gallic reinforcements turn up Caesar Refuses Passage to 20,000 Non-Combatants - Watches Them Starve -- over the weeks that pass, penned in Gauls in fort starve -- desperate, Vercingetorix lets 20,000 women & children leave fort, believing Caesar will let them pass -- old people, women & children, useless mouths in terms of war - denied escape by Caesar -- die of starvation - collateral damage / Caesar does not count the numbers -- Gauls watch helplessly as wives and children slowly die Ends Justify the Means -- Are these the actions of psychopath or does this make good strategic sense? -- David Mallott, Analytical Psychiatrist, University of Maryland:     -- tremendously ruthless act; however, Caesar has calculated that ends justify the means. -- Siege of Alesia ends with final pitched battle -- Vercingetorix & 60,000 Gauls break out of fort & storm weak point in Roman lines -- battle lasts all day - Gauls mentally & physically exhausted -- Caesar leads last reserve in person wearing a scarlet cloak so he can be recognised -- Gallic army falls apart & battle is over -- retreating Gauls were slaughtered -- Caesar writes that not a Gaul would have been left alive had his men not been so exhausted from battle Battle at Alesia is the last real organised resistance by the Gallic armies -- Vercingetorix - taken to Rome & held at Tullianum, located in the Comitium in ancient Rome     Tullianum = Mamertine Prison DETOUR:    Others imprisoned at Tullianum:          Saul of Tarsus - Jewish founder of Christianity     -- of 27 books in New Testament, 14 attributed to Paul (ie Saul)     -- later prisoner at Tullianum (Mamertine Prison)         -- conflict with Asian Jews (Roman Asia = Phrygia / pt. Anatolia (now Turkey)         -- led to 2 years imprisonment for Saul              Simon bar Giora, Jewish revolutionary leader     -- captured in Judea     -- brought to Rome to be displayed during the triumphal procession     -- executed in 70 AD     -- leader of a rebel faction during the First Jewish-Roman War in 1st-century Judea     -- helped in defence against Roman advance to Jerusalem 66 AD     -- assault on hindmost Roman troops / put into disarray     -- led many animals carrying weapons of war into Jerusalem     -- rejected by Jerusalem authorities     -- bar Giora = popular leader of rebellious peasantry     -- Jerusalem leaders wanted means of moderating revolt & negotiating with Romans     -- bar Giora then gathered large numbers of revolutionaries & robbed the wealthy in Acrabbene     -- safe retreat = Masada     -- after Ananus ben Ananus killed in Zealot Temple Siege, bar Giora went to the hills         Ananus ben Ananus (ie Hebrew:  Hanan ben Hanan)         -- Jewish priest         -- former Herodian-era High High Priest of Israel         -- allegedly ordered the execution by stoning of James the Just         -- James the brother of Jesus (ie Yehoshua) - brothers:   James, Jude, Simon & Joses         -- popular opinion turned against him over stoning of James & he was replaced by Roman governor         -- Ananus ben Ananus incited the people to rise up against the Zealots                  Zealots         -- religous/political movement - 1st century         -- to incite Judaea Province to rebel against Roman Empire         -- reportedly robbing the people and using the Temple of Jerusalem as base of operations                  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zealot_Temple_Siege                  Saint Peter         -- ie Shim'on Bar Yona         -- founded the church in Rome with Paul         -- served as its bishop, authored two epistles         -- Peter crucified Rome / Emperor Nero Augustus Caesar         https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Peter                  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamertine_Prison Vercingetorix  held captive 5 years Tullianum in Rome -- Vercingetorix paraded through Rome streets in chains in triumph -- at climax of parade, Vercingetorix is strangled Gaul Campaign  | Systemic Use of Terror -- Gaul campaign came at an enormous cost in human suffering - almost 20% of the entire population of Gual killed -- equivalent of 50 million US citizens today -- takes Caesar 9 years to subjugate the Gauls -- garrison of Alesia was taken prisoner as well as the survivors of the relief army -- they were either sold into slavery or given as booty to Caesar's legionaries (ie as slaves to legionaries) -- members of Aedui + Arverni tribes, released to secure alliance to Rome -- Caesar wants to make sure they know defeat   2,000 captured rebel hold-outs to carry the message -- Caesar orders that both hands of every man should be cut off -- mutilated men were then sent back to their villages to act as a warning -- systemic use of terror as a means of intimidating targets into not fighting back against the Romans Roman Civil War -- Alesia = major military & political success for Caesar -- senate declared 20 days of thanksgiving for this victory -- but refused Caesar the honour of celebrating a triumphal parade -- 2 years later, 50 BC - Caesar crossed Rubicon (Caesar age 50) -- Roman Civil War 49-95 BC -- each of the years of the civil war, Caesar elected consul -- appointed to several temporary dictatorships -- finally made 'dictator perpetuus' (dictator for life) 44 BC by Roman senate -- increasing personal power = end of Roman Republic & beginning of Roman Empire Caesar's Commanders -- Labinus sided with Optimates, conservative aristocratic faction in civil war -- Labinus killed - Battle of Munda 45 BC -- Trebonius, a most trusted lieutenant - appointed consul by Caesar 45 BC -- Trebonius later involved in Caesar assassination (Ides of March, March 15, 44 BC) -- Trebonius murdered a year later -- Antony, faithful Caesar supporter -- Antony appointed second in command as Master of the Horse - in charge of Italy during civil war -- Antony elected as Caesar's consular colleague 44 BC -- after Caesar assassination, Antony pursued assassins & vied for supreme power with Octavian -- first formed alliance w. Octvian & Marcus Aemilius Lepidus -- Antony then defeated in Battle of Actium 31 BC -- Antony committed suicide Egypt w. Cleopatra 30 BC -- Octavian later became Caesar Augustus First Triumvirate - 3 Conspirators - here -- Caesar made fortune conquering Gaul -- debt free, sets sights on his real goal:  Rome -- alliance has broken down:     -- wealthy Crassus is dead;     -- warrior Pompey, now in charge, is having second thoughts re Caesar -- political opponents accuse Caesar of war crimes -- if Caesar sets foot in Rome, will be persecuted -- Caesar having blackouts & seizures -- 49 BC River Rubicon - border to Italy -- as Governor of Gual, Caesar cannot be prosecuted -- as soon as Caesar crosses Rubicon, he loses immunity -- his only protection is to take his army with him -- but doing so would be declaration of war -- knows if he crosses river, he's launching a military coup -- big decision -- Caesar response:  Let's roll the dice Iacta alea est  |  Cast dice it is ie.  "Caesar chose to rebel, quoting his favorite poet Menander, "the die is cast" (alea iacta est)" [livius] -- Caesar knows the odds are in his favour -- psychologically, crossing the Rubicon means he's thrown out the rule book completely -- whole new ballgame; Caesar in charge -- former ally Pompey is all that stands between Caesar and absolute power -- in that era, where life expectancy low, 50 years was old -- narrator suggests Caesar knew he was living on borrowed time -- Caesar decides to force events -- Caesar chases Pompey & his army around southern Europe -- following 4 years civil war, Caesar defeats Pompey -- Caesar becomes absolute leader of Roman empire -- other victories:  sexual conquest - queen of Egypt, Cleopatra (22 years) -- beds wife of king of Mauritania - later 2 provinces:  Morocco & Algiers -- Richard McLachlan, MD (University of Western Ontario):     -- Caesar's fits likely caused by worm caught on conquest in Egypt     -- 1 year before first seizure, Caesar had spent considerable time in north Africa (Egypt, specifically)     -- Cysticercosis endemic in Egypt at that time - evidence seen in mummies Cysticercosis tissue infection caused by the young form of the pork tapeworm usually acquired by eating food or drinking water that has tapeworm eggs uncooked vegetables are the major source eggs enter the intestine / develop into larvae larvae enter bloodstream and invade host tissues pork tapeworm is particularly common in Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America some areas believed to 25% of affected 2010 - caused about 1,200 deaths uncommon in developed countries earliest reference to tapeworms = works of ancient Egyptians abt 2000 BC infection of pork with tapeworm was known to ancient Greeks (384-322 BC, Aristotle 'History of Animals') also known to Jewish physicians (& later Muslim physicians) proposed as one of the reasons pork is forbidden [wikipedia] -- effectively, worms have invaded his organs (incl. brain), caused cysts & seizures Consolidation of Power -- Caesar moves to consolidate power - calls himself dictator for life -- Roman public does not want king -- waters tested w. Mark Antony crown to Caesar & refusal -- Caesar opts to behave as a king, without the title -- decision will cost him his life -- Caesar 56 years old / orders that his statues be placed beside those of old kings of Rome -- orders new calendar, including a month named after himself (July) -- orders coin minted bearing his laurel-leaf crowned image -- first time in Roman history a living person was depicted on a coin -- very close to declaring he is like a king -- for 400 years, Romans have not wanted kings - hence the Republic -- Caesar takes no notice -- discontented body of senators since Caesar had pushed through reforms until 44 BC -- senators among them:     -- Cassius (Caesar's rival) - Caesar slept with his wife     -- Marcus Junius Brutas the younger (someone Caesar considers a friend) - Caesar slept with his mother -- sexual exploits to come back to haunt Caesar -- goodwill Caesar had with senators is long gone -- Ides of March - March 15, 44 BC - Caesar stabbed 23 times -- Caesar described as a goal-driven killer + high on sexual dominance scale -- most similar to Genghis Khan -- people did not believe Caesar a tyrant -- to honour him, built a funeral pyre & burnt his body -- then turned on conspirators who killed their conquering hero -- statue of Caesar is put in Pantheon, building dedicated to gods of Rome -- in death, Caesar is made a god -- first person to receive that honour since Romulus, founder of Rome, 700 years before -------------- Documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dxff0fCe9TM https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Alesia More http://www.livius.org/caa-can/caesar/caesar03.html http://www.vroma.org/~bmcmanus/caesar.html Info from documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dxff0fCe9TM Otherwise, supplemented with info from look-ups in Wikipedia or sources, as marked. ---------------------- ---------------------- COMMENT The psychiatrist in this documentary makes it sound like it's 'not' psychopathy if it's goal directed psychopathy, where the ends justify the means and the individual is in a position of power.  Or that's how it comes across to me.   Will need to come back to this to follow up on the linked materials that I've only skimmed over so far. The brain-eating tape worm sounds absolutely revolting.  Another good reason for quarantine, but negligent governments don't care about that -- they're from a class that's buffered from the consequences of their decisions.  Making war meant profit in Roman times, just as it is today.  Only it was more straightforward and less costly to domestic populations in Roman times, where sale of the defeated into slavery and mass killing of the conquered appears standard.  I like the busts of Caesar, but I'm not sure I like Caesar.  Ruthless, power hungry, sexually exploitative / hedonistic sounding, manipulative propagandist, mass murder.  On the other hand, his military record seems impressive (so far, I think) and he seems fearless (so he probably was a psychopath).  But brain worms and screwing anything that moves aren't so appealing, despite the military prowess.  So maybe he's not all that impressive. Didn't like the facial reconstruction they did on the documentary.  Made him look horrible, where the features were otherwise appealing in statue form. It looks like Caesar will have been dead 2,060 years this 15th March ...  I think.  The backwards dates are confusing. The Christian / Gregorian / Roman dates are insane.   Even the dates are a lie.  The world needs to quit lying and adopt the Hebrew calendar (or whatever's older than that).   It's at least  5776, from when the Hebrews started counting. Not sure I'll remember the mountain of Caesar stuff to follow up on, but it's fun looking.

DOCUMENTARY - Arab & African Immigration Destroying Europe

ꕤ False Alarm YouTube CENSORED Documentary - 2:47:01 Title: "How Arab & African Immigrants Destroying Europe" https://youtu.be/ky3ZresFd2k ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Comment Not only is censorship itself a form of rape, censoring material related to the invasion, rape and destruction of Europe is LITERALLY facilitating the rape of European women. Ooops ... I found it somewhere else on YouTube. It really was deleted on the account, I guess. ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- DOCUMENTARY "How Arab & African Immigrants Destroying Europe" Israeli Documentary Journalists Go Underground in Malmo, Sweden & elsewhere in Europe Source https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQUn-_NPqmg ꕤ

Documentary Video | MIR PORYADOK | МИР ПОРЯДОК | World Order

ꕤ MIR PORYADOK  |  МИР ПОРЯДОК 'WORLD ORDER' [English Subtitles] [Английские субтитры] Full Documentary 1:49:40 [ Putin sounds nice   :)  ]  Assange (WikiLeaks) is in this, too. Components of Documentary* Downfall of the Yalta System Democracy First Blood Colour Revolution Tech-Forced Democratisation Refugee Crisis As a Result of Democratisation Unity in Diversity Geopolitical Struggle Must Be Civilised Interests of the Country Must Be Above All ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Think I need a sleep.  Might watch this when I get up. Hallelujah https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEYxkNqvaNg   ꕤ

Video - Documentary - Iraq

ꕤ Video SOURCE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww065_UGlGU&feature=youtu.be Uncovered: The War on Iraq   Documentary ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- About to watch this.   Hoping to keep awake through it.  Trouble staying awake even at this moment.   Been keeping all over the place hours.  Now I'm in a strange place where I can't stay away but I can't sleep either.  Zombie.  lol PS I don't have to sulk anymore.  I can watch it in the living room.  Get to stretch out.  Yay!  ------------------------ PPS I fell asleep several times during this and kept waking up, getting that startled rush you get when you're dropping in and out of sleep.   Got to watch again.  lol ꕤ

VIDEO - Pilger / Assange Interview

John Pilger in conversation with Julian Assange from John Pilger on Vimeo. 2015 - 'The Coming War' - Contribute to John Pilger's new documentary project here bit.ly/PilgerMovie Watching this at the moment ... Pilger just said "motherf*ckers".  Wasn't expecting that.  LOL Might have to rewind and watch properly because I've been distracted by editing this post. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ PART SUMMARY Sweden & Belgium have specific [journalist] source protection laws. Sweden as part of its constitution (Press Freedom Act) & Belgium pursuant to specific law dealing with communications protections between a source and a journalist (using any means whatsoever, including electronic transmissions). Governments that have blocked access to WikiLeaks? China is the worst offender (with the most aggressive, sophisticated interception technology that places itself in between every reader inside of China and every information source outside of China.   WikiLeaks have been fighting a running battle to make sure that information can get through.  Variations on the site address -  'wikileaks.org' - are accessible from China, although main site access is blocked. Iran has previously blocked WikiLeaks as well.  However, that block has been lifted in Iran. The Australian government has added WikiLeaks to their secret list of internet sites that are to be blocked once a national filter system is put in place. Australia and Germany are the only Western governments that have sought to block internet access to WikiLeaks [as at date of interview - 2011].   Like most institutions in the West, CENSORSHIP HAS BEEN PRIVATISED, meaning that: Big corporations go through court system to get injunctions and use the COERCIVE POWER of the STATE and the ability to deploy ARMED POLICE to ENFORCE a court order — they use the court apparatus to do that.

Four Horsement - Documentary - Notes Part 2

FOUR HORSEMEN DOCUMENTARY NOTES, part 2 - From:  44:22 - 1:38:53 ........................................................................... https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=5fbvquHSPJU#t=319 ........................................................................... Democrats & Republicans beholden to corporate interests. Until this changes, we will never have a government for the public. See:  Top 100 Campaign Contributors [below is Politico's list, selected randomly.  However, this list did not appear in documentary.] Blue billionaires on top POLITICO’s list of Top 100 donors Source:  http://www.politico.com/story/2015/01/blue-billionaires-on-top-114151.html ........................................................................... Terrorism see - political language / Orwell ... solidity to wind Political language... is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind. George Orwell Military intervention in: > Iraq > Afghanistan > Pakistan justified as 'moral obligation' But who are the beneficiaries? 1.  Arms & Military Equipment Sales However, military intervention results in radicalisation. eg. Drone attacks (as opposed to surgical commando operations) seen as attacks on a sovereign Pakistan. 2.  Rebuilding of Infrastructure / Aid (ie loans) Beneficiaries of huge loans = own corporations Infrastructure built does not benefit the majority (benefits the elite); but majority/poor are left with a huge debt. Money goes to Western consultants and companies. Aid is a hindrance instead of a help.  ........................................................................... Is foreign policy based on altruism or in the benefit of corporations / money interests? US evangelicalisation of democracy is riddled with contradictions:  >democracy at the end of a gun >US opposing democratic regimes that aren't democratic in the way US wants them to be Promotion of free market capitalism riddled with contradictions: Countries on the cusp of change, structurally changing, not too free or transparent (opaque), is how the US companies make their money. Wall Street speculators (made billions 'riding the short' / massive short on housing market), but this does nothing to benefit the economy vs free market scenario: eg. benefit scenario = invention of, say, vehicle that is fuelled on grass clippings inventor makes money but society also benefits because of this needed invention  ...........................................................................   London, St Paul's Cathedral backdrop: Goldman Sachs Chairman & mouthpiece, Lord Griffiths, a devoted Christian, defended extortion and bonuses: "I am not a person of despair, I am a person of hope, and I think that we have to tolerate the inequality as a way of achieving greater prosperity and opportunity for all." [not in documentary] out of interest, note also:  Public Must Learn to 'Tolerate Inequality' of Bonuses - The Guardian Above is a self-serving argument. Financiers will twist the worlds of classical economists.  Adam Smith (philosopher, pioneer of political economy) mentioned. Will rely on arguments: 1.  Trickle down economics 2.  Horse & sparrow but by the time the money trickles down to the bottom of society, the money loses purchasing power. The political process is badly flawed (see lobbying), and requires restructure to give more voice to ordinary people and less influence to interest groups and lobby groups. Documentary tried to convey (I think) that terrorists see themselves as 'freedom fighters' and that they are motivated from positions of eg. loss of the farm or fishing waters (as result of Western corporate projects). Therefore, could this also be called 'terrorism': > Corporations > Speculators > Policy makers ........................................................................... Noam Chomsky was also interviewed. If I understand correctly, Latin Americans refer to US intervention in Chile as the 'First 9/11': Chile - 11 Sept 1973 Allende Coup Augusto Pinochet dictatorship installed (1973-1990) economists installed (driving worst conditions in history) Suppression of dissidents:  1,000s of political dissenters imprisoned & murdered Chomsky tried to convey that what was done in 9-11 was bad, but it could have been worse.  The Chile example was given:  as in, government could have been taken down, dictator could have been installed, economy could have been screwed by economists installed etc, but it wasn't. Chomsky: principle of ideology = never look at own crimes Instead:  exalt in crimes of others & our own nobility in opposing them. ........................................................................... [not in documentary] out of interest, note also:  Covert United States foreign regime change actions 1949  Syrian coup d'état 1953  Iranian coup d'état 1954  Guatemalan coup d'état 1959  Tibetan uprising 1961  Cuba, Bay of Pigs Invasion 1963  South Vietnamese coup 1964  Brazilian coup d'état 1973  Chilean coup d'état 1976  Argentine coup d'état 1979–89 Afghanistan, Operation Cyclone 1980  Turkish coup d'état 1981–87 Nicaragua, Contras List source: Wikipedia  ........................................................................... West will export injustice through finance. Root causes of terrorism will not be solved by increasing inequality. If government is serious about combating terrorism, must start with real structural reform on domestic front. "As long as banking empires chase infrastructure and debt deals in pursuit of profit, the West will continue to export injustice through finance, millions more will be displaced, terrorism will thrive, and neocolonialism will continue to end more and more lives around the world." ........................................................................... Resources World is being filled with more and more things: >more people (population growing at rapid rate, eg trippling in lifetime of speaker). >more and more man-made objects. The world is full of man-made capital. But the more we grow the more poverty we create. Royal Dutch Shell view of the future (ending year 2075): 1.  Blueprint view.  Bloody. 2.  Scramble view.  Substantially more bloody struggle for depleted resources. Oil supplies are dwindling.  Deep sea drilling for oil is taking place because most easily accessible oil has been found and consumed. Metal resources - new major discoveries are increasingly rare. 40% of worlds agricultural land is seriously degraded, causing volatile yields. Exhaustion of world's resources coming our way. Billions of Earth's population require farming lands; fossil fuels; water. Options (a) sharing resources or (b) combat/struggle/scramble. Shell's bettering on option (b) vs sharing. Antidote is moving from globalisation to localisation, promoting fellowship, responsibility, purpose (ie production vs consumption driven economies). In the growth economy, consumption is a way of life. Growth economy associated with: * military * production of what is not needed Documentary is saying that individual achievement without incorporating the needs of the vulnerable is a myth.  Human affection is missing.  Humans are propelled by affections.  Purpose of life is outside of oneself. [Not certain if I have understood this correctly.  This caring/sharing bit of the documentary was lost on me.] ........................................................................... Progress Systemic problem is being ignored.  Clearing out a few bad apples will not cleans systemic flaws in the heart of the Western economic system. Four Horsemen 1.      Rapacious financial system 2. Escalating organised violence 3. Abject poverty for billions 4. Exhaustion of Earth’s resources The Four Horsemen gallop unchallenged because the cognitive map (shaped by schools, universities and the media) does not encourage us to question norms.  Instead, there is apathy and people take the depressive point of view that nothing can be done and that it's a dog-eat-dog world. We can, however, reach a more equitable society. Disinformation of the neo-classical school of economics is advanced by academia and the media. Education can be a form of mind control.  Banks often fund universities, educational foundations and think tanks.  Ivy league universities only teach neo-classical economics. Learn also about: 1.  Classical economics. 2.  System of money. The money system requires reform as we cannot function on the fiat money system, or it will spell the end of industrial civilisation. The fiat money system is governed by man-made law which is abused. Contrast:  gold standard @ growth of about 1.75% per annum, which is in approximate balance with supply/demand and average population growth, and is beyond the control of politicians. Fiat = chronic debt build-up.  Debt = form of slavery. Refer to German debt cancellations of 1947 to clean the slate, which would involve wiping debt & wiping savings. Taxation reform required.  Taxation based on consumption, not income. Classical economists - tax reform on resources / consumption. Wage labour (seen as 'temporary) is no different to slavery. Inequity in wages:  those at top 500-1,000 times more than those at bottom.  Commonality of interest is lost in this vast class difference. Hubert Spencer (classical liberal political theorist):  'survival of the fittest' does not apply; monopolists have too much because the system is rigged. Reforms: 1.  independent money system 2.  taxation reform - resources/consumption. 3.  employee ownership of means of production Boundaries can be withdrawn:  eg in the past, selling any chemical as pharmaceuticals, child labour, slavery. Same thing will be true of active money management. Breakdown seen in Depression and again at beginning of 21st Century, occurred because in the name of growth much was taken out of the system by those that contribute very little.  Multi-national corporates and banks will always want to grow without having to compensate the people who actually do the work to produce the surplus. In the past, every time too much was taken by those who contributed little, people rose up to halt the violent practice. Central banks unregulated cheap money, pumped up land values, which created an unsustainable 'asset bubble', in a world that once again operates a rigged tax system that enriches entrenched privilege. Neo-classical economics have ruined life for the bottom billions, tempted everyone into inter-generational conflict and created massive suffering that has no limits. There is a formless Wall Street enemy pervading every element of economic and democratic process: The following have trashed the economy: > central banking > rigged capitalism > land speculation > income taxation > neo-classical economics and have corporatised democracy, stunted progress, perverted the course of human destiny, and compromised the future of this planet. Status quo can be challenged. Essence of American democracy is the repeated confrontation / showdown: 1830s Andrew Jackson beat the Second Bank of United States. 1900s Teddy Roosevelt beat JP Morgan & JD Rockefeller. 1930s Franklin Delano Roosevelt beat everybody on Wall Street. If this Four Horsemen scenario not addressed, the next implosion will be on a scale unimagined. COMMENT I really enjoyed this documentary, but I'm not certain I've understood it all.   The 'caring and sharing' section is where I got lost.  Also, I'm not that clear on how a different taxation system makes a difference, but I know nothing about economic theory so it's not surprising I don't quite get that bit. I've provided links of look-ups within the notes about the documentary, for ease of reference (for my own benefit).  Found this interesting, while doing my look ups: [Look-Ups, not in documentary] Marshall Plan (refused by Soviet Union & its allies, to avoid US control over economies) Noam Chomsky wrote that the amount of American dollars given to France and the Netherlands equaled the funds these countries used to finance their military actions against their colonial subjects in East Asia, in French Indochina and the Netherlands East Indies respectively. The Marshall Plan was said to have "set the stage for large amounts of private U.S. investment in Europe, establishing the basis for modern transnational corporations". [Wikipedia] Germany's debt restructuring (London Debt Agreement 1953) mentioned here: Germany's post-war economic miracle Only 16pc of polled Germans currently think Greece should be the recipient of some form of debt cancellation from the eurozone. The irony of Berlin's obstinancy on debt relief may well be lost on some. Following the end of WWII, the London Debt Agreement of 1953 saw the abolition of all of Germany's external debt. The total forgiveness amounted to around 280pc of GDP from 1947-53, according to historian Albrecht Ritschl. The cancellation, along with an extension of its repayment schedule, allowed Germany to return to the financial markets, and become part of the IMF and World Bank. The London agreement also helped set in motion the country's incredible export performance as Germany was required to service its debt through money earned from foreign trade. In the words of historian Ursula Rombeck-Jaschinski, Germany's "economic miracle would have been impossible without the debt agreement." http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/11383374/The-biggest-debt-write-offs-in-the-history-of-the-world.html From what I've read elsewhere, it looks like Germany was being screwed by those giving Germany a 'helping hand', so the debt restructure can't have been much of a miracle: The Marshall-Plan Hoax Marshall Plan vs. Robbery, Murder and Destruction? An Eternal Mockery of the German People! http://www.wintersonnenwende.com/scriptorium/english/archives/articles/marshallhoax.html This is just a quick skim of the Chilean coup, the Marshall Plan (and the Marshall-Plan Hoax) etc.  An initial look and skim that will need to be followed up by some more reading. Need to also keep looking for Teddy Roosevelt the 'trust buster'. In the meantime, I've come upon this really cool summary of a book: American Oligarchy, J.P. Morgan, Bankers' Coup Creates Federal Reserve, Morgan's Fed Finances World War I excerpted from the book Gods of Money Wall Street and the Death of the American Century by F. William Engdahl http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Engdahl_F_William/American_Oligarchy_GOM.html SUMMARY - PART 2 - HERE.

Four Horsemen - Documentary - Part 1

FOUR HORSEMEN - DOCUMENTARY NOTES - To:  44:22 Ruling elites seek to maintain power by controlling the 'cognitive map' / what we think. What matters is what is left undebated.  1971 USA off Gold Standard adopted: fiat = So Be It  {Latin} $, £ + € = govt fiat >only govt has power to issue fiat currency >Banks 'create' it thru lending Fiat money = currency that derives its value from government regulation or law. Adoption of fiat currency = greatest growth of supply of money in HISTORY. Who benefits: 1>those that issue $$ (govt) 2>banks 3>Also benefit: >companies & individuals who get this money early b/c spend it prior increase in prices by $$ in circulation inflated prices = increase gains for asset holders (real estate or shares) - WITHOUT improvements > 'speculative bubble' Fiat currency system just redistributes money from the BOTTOM to the TOP (the monied elite). Gulf b/w rich & poor widens. Fiat currency system + fractional-reserve banking system = compounding DEBT faster than you can produce to support debt = DEBT SLAVERY Result: > for every $1 of GDP in #USA, create something like $5.50 debt Of all the money in the WORLD today, 97% of it is DEBT!!!!!!!!!!  America has existed on the assumption that resources can be expanded. But resources limited. Cannot expand pie (like you could in early American history); must divide pie.  America not prepared. Last 40 years, capitalism has taken an extreme form. Goes back to economist Milton Friedman (Chicago School), Ronald Reagan, Thatcher etc. encouraged: >HUGE amounts of debt >privatisation >smaller 'govt' >bigger military (so bigger spending) >deregulation (esp. corporations = Gods) Milton Friedman (Chicago School) neo-classical approach beat the classical approach to economics & became framework for today's capitalism. Classical = favours less govt interference, more personal autonomy & recognition that cannot function w/out natural resources neo-classical = >dismissive of natural resources >govt to rule economy & solve social probs >free market to distribute wealth neo-classical school emerged about 100 years ago, due to vested interests desire to protect assets neo-classical mathematical models & assumptions divorced from reality vs classical models, based on what actually *is* Neo-classical models of economics, championed by Reagan & Thatcher, have been used to legitimise financialisation of the global economy. 1932 aftermath of stockmarket crash Glass–Steagall Act protection intro'd to separate ordinary high street banking from investment banking. Glass–Steagall Act http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass%E2%80%93Steagall_Legislation 1999 Clinton repealed Glass–Steagall Act Banks could take ordinary depositors money & speculate on it = 'casino' Unfettered banker gambling resulting from 1999 Glass–Steagall Act repeal pushed global financial system to near collapse. Banks with balances & debt obligations larger than GDP of entire countries, banks had become too big to fail. West unprepared for financial meltdown. Govts reeling. Banks: you have to bail us out. What are you to do with tens of millions of ppl who have lost everything in bank accounts. Bank to govt: cautions you'll have revolution on your hands.  Urged:  borrow money. Create it out of nothing & give it back to us. $700-b needed from US Congress. 2008 banking crisis exposed Western economic system divided as: >socialism for the rich (ie govt bailing banks ...( & therefore obligating the taxpayer to pay off this borrowing to bail out banks)) & >capitalism for the poor. Taxpayer paying 4 misplaced speculation of bankers = economy not serving human = human in perpetual service 2 amoral financial organisations. $8.5 trillion bail-out. Post 9-11 Federal Reserve Head, Alan Greenspan slashed interest rates to encourage lending / bankers needed cash flowing into global pyramid scheme Newly created money entered housing market, creating unprecedented inflation. Huge home loans. Double-income a necessity. #USA Banks got together to exploit minorities /charge more for loans. Wells Fargo targeted urban minorities. Predatory lending. *Not about race; it's about PROFIT. #USA Lobbyists for banking industry amount to x5 per Congress-person, to persuade them to pass legislation favourable to financial industry. Democracy = uneven playing field: the devastated poor cannot afford lobbying equal to that of the banking industry. Ideological control, the cornerstone of Washington-Wall Street corridor: >finance good >more finance better >unregulated finance is best Q. Who controls Washington? > Lehman Bros collapse - 80% population against bail-out > Notwithstanding, Congress passed bail-out A. Banking. Not good reflection on democracy when a group of companies says 'our interests are more important than national interests'. How can corporations control Washington in a democracy? >Campaign contributions >Lobbying >American political structure = flawed democracy Fed Reserve to regulate Wall Street but ... >Wall Street has veto over who is head of Fed Reserve  >Regulators are from banking industry itself As long as this stands, this is not regulation. It is *deregulation* (but called 'regulation', using Orwellian doublethink) Democracy is 'government by the people' Plutocracy is 'government by the rich' Equal voting rights movement early 20thC abolished system where rich have more votes than poor, but lobbying negates that. Lobbying has reduced American political system to mere clearing house for the concerns of the rich. Goldman Sachs machine = >use profits to buy influence in WA >to change laws / easier to make money on Wall Street >use to buy influence WA Famous for claiming it did God's work, Goldman Sachs = one of most influential investment banks in world.  Golden sachs alumni often occupy positions of great influence in governments and central banks. 2008, 1mth prior collapse, Goldman changed GS status from investment to commercial (meaning eliglble for state protection). = socialism for the rich Riding the 'big short' (selling soured securities) in 2008, Goldman Sachs made BILLIONS of dollars & they're back BIGGER & RICHER. ***  Don't think I really know what a 'big short' is. Short selling & collecting insurance might not be the whole story? *** Short selling explained: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/shortselling.asp   Money also made on insurance; so it's a WIN, WIN, WIN, WIN etc http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/24/goldman-sachs-emails-big-short_n_550547.html LINK TO DOCUMENTARY: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=5fbvquHSPJU#t=319 COMMENT Other (non-banking) example lobbying: *********  Sheldon Adelson & wife spent around $70 million in 2012 trying to defeat #Obama. http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/02/cory_booker_biggest_democratic_recipient_of_pro-is.html  *********  While the world was in financial meltdown in 2008, I barely noticed.  It just didn't interest me. Watching this documentary has been a catch-up for me. Got through only about three-quarters of a hour, so I'll have to make the time to watch the rest while it's still fresh in my mind. The link to the political lobbying article above (Senator Corey Booker, Democrat with the biggest pro-Israel donation -- that mentioned $70-million spent by the Adelsons in effort to prevent Obama gaining the Presidential seat -- was just a random article that was topical today.  But it's a good fit on the subject matter of democracy, money and lobbying (even though it is outside of the banking subject). Was blown away by the amount of money the Adelsons spent. The term 'big short' isn't clear to me.  All I know is there's money to be made from lending and selling and insuring (I think).  And no matter what, it's a win-win for the banker ... especially if when it all goes belly-up, the banker is covered by a government bail-out. An article I read yesterday fits in with this capitalism gone rogue theme: The Root of all Evil "The world's richest person (Bill Gates) has a personal wealth of $78.7 billion. This is higher than the (nominal) GDP of 130 countries ..." LINK:  http://99998271.blogspot.com/2015/02/the-root-of-all-evil.html?spref=tw The details about how much the wealthy few have compared to the rest of the world are sobering. Will revisit the article and have another read, as it takes me a while to absorb information. Looked at a heap of other odds and ends, but I think this is it in relation to capitalism, currency and banking. ***** Just did a quick edit, as the lobbying link I'd placed in the documentary summary could maybe have been confused for having appeared in the documentary (it didn't).  Anyway, it's been shifted to avoid confusion. SUMMARY - PART 2 - HERE.