It's a Profit Deal Scene - The Jerk 1979

Continuing lessons in free-market Capitalism. 

Mark Proksch's testimony at the trial of Tim Heidecker (Shocking)

Quite shocking indeed. 

Particularly at 11:05 where Tim provides his constitutional analysis of the employer employee relationship under American-style crony corporate capitalism. 

Tim gives this originalist™ reading of the constitution - 

"Let me just say for the record that I believe this to be a witness, a character witness, that is not to be believed or trusted because I would put him in charge as my employee and I have the right to do whatever I want with him. I have the constitutional right to strike him if he just disobeys me and right now, he's still under my supervision he still technically works for me."

Note - an originalist™ reads and interprets the constitution in a way that agrees with whatever ideology he or she is possessed by. Originalism is used as a fig leaf by "conservative" Supreme Court Justices to decide in favor of corporations and right-wing reactionary policies.

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

by Max Ehrmann ©1927

Female, Male, or Scrap Metal Dealer? What Are You? Take This Quiz and Find Out!

It appears that North Dakota's state legislature has clarified by law that there are three ways to classify people residing in their great state. In upper Dakota the “state” will designate you as - man, woman or scrap metal dealer.

Really? Is that true?

The official title of North Dakota House Bill 1474 (2023 session) is "The definition of female, male, sex, and scrap metal dealer"

If you put the following prompt into Google Gemini, you got the following response.

Q - The definition of female, male, sex, and scrap metal dealer in North Dakota?

A- In North Dakota, specific definitions for "male," "female," "sex," and "scrap metal dealer" were established by House Bill 1474 (HB 1474) in 2023, defining them biologically/reproductively (Female: produces ova; Male: produces sperm; Sex: biological state at birth based on organs/chromosomes) and operationally (Scrap Metal Dealer: anyone buying/selling scrap metal) for state purposes. These definitions are specific to legislation like HB 1474, establishing biological sex at birth for certain contexts, but broader medical understanding recognizes sex as complex.

What is the point?

Distraction.

It's your plutocratic kleptocratic government media complex speaking to you about all the things that don't matter, or are not pertinent to political solutions, to keep you from paying attention to what government is for (the people) while the kleptocrats pick your pockets and line their own,  

_____________________________

If you are able to read the article "The Anti-Trans Playbook" by Paisley Currah in the December 18th issue of "The New York Review of Books" I would recommend it. The article mentions the N.D. bill but goes into much more depth about the hundreds of Republican sponsored bills in red states aimed at scaring the base, demonizing the other, and most of all to get GOP voters riled up about things that don't matter while the things that do - education, health care, housing, nutrition are for those who can afford them.

I'm not too sure about much these days but I do think there may be a point in this person's assertion that, "every single person on the planet is gay." 

One way of judging a government is by how well it takes care of those who are unable to take care of themselves. On that scale the U.S. fails miserably. Another way of looking at government is how well it serves those with money (power). On that scale the U.S. is number 1 or near the top.

So, what to do?

How likely is it that those with money (power) have a change of heart and embrace the idea that a government is judged by how well it takes care of those unable to care for themselves? Very unlikely. I wouldn't give up though - you can't do that. Things change. Maybe for the better. In the meantime, I'd recommend learning all you can. Good books abound.

_____________________________

The idea that we should try to take care of those unable to care for themselves gets flipped upside down in our prosperity gospel infused culture. Rather than helping those who don't have the mental, physical, psychological or economic wherewithal to help themselves we have elected to take advantage of them for money power. 

We'll sign you up for a pyramid scheme, snake oil supplements, useless car/home "maintenance" insurance, a reverse mortgage, something to cure your baldness or limp dick. More than happy to take your money in the good old US of A. Which in some ways is what makes us great or maybe unique would be more accurate if you take a look at how well the U.S. government provides for basic government services to its people compared to all other economically developed countries. Spoiler alert -- The US is at the bottom contrary to what big media would have you believe. 

I've been thinkin and thankin lately and concluded that what we need is a National Museum of Grift. The museum's slogan will be - "Grift - as American as apple pie". Perhaps Betsy Devos would have time to act as a docent for our new museum and provide her inside story of how Amway kept the American dream alive for some by transferring wealth from the poor and gullible to the rich and immoral. 

Perhaps it boils down to...

The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.

_____________________________

Grateful for the Time

I feel fortunate to have been able to spend a fair amount of my time over the last decade reading, thinking and learning. I live in a golden age of learning. I can order a book, and have it delivered overnight, listen to podcast(s) or watch professors/experts on YouTube to supplement whatever I'm trying to learn about.

"In paradise everything is permitted except curiosity." - Lev Shestov

I am curious. Therefore, I cannot live in paradise. Socrates was curious so they killed him.

Human attempts at creating paradise fail, sometimes in spectacular and cruel ways. Hell is other people. We have met the enemy, and they is us. 

Mass movements that promise paradise require sacrificing your intellect, morality, and curiosity. 

The ability to read and think for yourself, to form your own ideas about right and wrong - what constitutes a good life. that is paradise for me.

People speak of truth - but I can't handle the truth. The question is what sort of fictions we are willing to tell ourselves and what sort of behaviors we justify using those fictions.

"In order to be happy, one must have freed oneself of prejudices, one must be virtuous, healthy, have tastes and passions, and be susceptible to illusions; for we owe most of our pleasures to illusions, and unhappy is the one who has lost them. Far then, from seeking to make them disappear by the torch of reason, let us try to thicken the varnish that illusion lays on the majority of objects."

--Emilie Du Châtelet, Discourse on Happiness

____________________ 

A couple of things have been bouncing around in my head lately. Can you know the "truth" and live? A take on the you can't see God and live from Exodus 33:20 

The other thought I've been having is "stupid costs". Meaning that even though some leader(s) have given their followers permission to be stupid it is not without costs. In the case of being stupid about public health, the environment, what is required for a representative government....the costs can be unimaginable. 

_____________________