Rocky Road

I guess I should have indicated a - World Reserve Currency, which is what the US dollar is.

Truth and Reconciliation Commission Speaking of which the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is trying to heal the pain created by the Residential School System.

I understand what Dre is saying, the cycle of debt is gross to consider based on the actual wealth. Fractional Reserve Banking is a bit of a ponzi scheme at heart, because it depends on the fact that people will not withdraw all their money at once, noone ever does, so it is "functional". In the US, the bank policies are much worse and the Toxic Assets and derivatives are creating a black hole of debt that is threatening the stability of the global Natural economy. I have wondered what the world would have looked like if the Gold Standard would have been kept in place by Nixon, and we would have an intrisically valuable commodity backed currency. Less fear? More condfidence. More security.

I agree Army Guy's writings help us understand the context much better, knowing what it is like their first-hand sure helps put things in perspective. Sometimes I think our liberal values are taken advantage of, you know. Do you think we (Canada) are viewed as "soft"?

More and more we see signs that things aren't well in the global economy. Those of you interested in Max Keiser, might already be aware that these things are going on. http://www.maxkeiser.com - Have a look and listen.

I really don't think it is any of our business meddling in the Muslim world. Libya, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran. Honestly, we got problems here at home that need addressing first than to run off and try and solve other people's crises. And in regard to Khadr, we need a zero tolerance to Extremism. That said, he is Canadian and deserves the rights of nationhood.

It certainly makes one worry when you consider all the variables involved.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/berlusconi-government-on-verge-of-collapse-over-eu-economic-reforms/article2212779/

I don't claim for one minute that "I know it all" I am just trying to paint a picture that we are in a "dodgey" situation with all these major issues floating about. Inflation IS rampant, oil is limited...what happens when you project the next 100 years ? then what? I think there are many reasons to be concerned about the direction of the economy and policy. Ladies and gentlemen, have a good night.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBLCv6k8zQw&feature=player_embedded#!

I am not scared, but I am concerned. Because like it or not we are facing some pretty daunting challenges. Not sure I would call it adversity, more like a conundrum.

Thanks for the insights. There are a few things I would like to add. First, the point made about debt expansion is completely valid, I agree whole-heartedly that we are consuming way beyond our means, and we are fast using up claims on future labour, which is what debt is-right? Second, I realize that Canada is a kind of safe haven for the uncertainty because of our stable banking system, but we are not an island to ourselves. 70%+ of our trade is with the US, and if the US dollar devalues well then we are headed south too. Third, Peak oil, water, food, overpopulation, mass extinction of oceans, climate change... I am not trying to be anything but a realist, I realize it sounds doom and gloom, but there are some worrying trends to consider.

A systemic collapse and a destruction of the dollar seems unlikely, but the way things are going, the chance of a systemic collapse are very real. Coupled with the debt problems and the "House of Cards" that is the global economy there is even more reason to believe that things are getting scary. A recent poll by Nanos gave a very poor consumer confidence rating of the economy and its future. - (CBC) http://www.nanosresearch.com/main.asp What if - politicians and public officials are reluctant to really tell things how they are because they are worried about a.) getting elected again b.) they know that its not what people Want to Hear. The growth paradigm is over, the environment is beyond wrecked. Is there any semblance of sanity left?

Quite honestly, the protests we are seeing are a sign of things to come, in my opinion. There will be more and more of this sort of thing, as surplus dries up and resources become more scarce. I realize the left and right both see things in certain ways, and I do understand both angles some of the time. Where we ought to agree is that there are many serious issues that need addressing. Business as usual - is part of the problem. How many of you believe the next 20 years will resemble the last 20 years, economically? Things to consider: 1.) Inflation - Dollar's destruction by hyperinflationary policy. 2.) Debt Expansion - Public and Private. Unsustainable. 3.) Resource Depletion - Oil, Water, Gas, Food, Soil. 4.) Corruption - The further concentration of wealth to the 1%. 5.) Multinational Corporate Policy - Destruction of social programs, governments less able to maneuver for the country. 6.) Environment - Decimation of the Ocean, Rivers, and Air. Climate change. 7.) Mass Extinction - Many of the world's species face extinction.

William is ok, but I agree with the post that says Charles is a bit too ecentric. I understand that certain ecentricities may be acceptable, but the Queen surely upholds a pleasant demeanour in public.

It is a controversial subject that is for darn sure. Taxing the rich would be a benefit, but the rich see it as an assault on their values. I would say that -the top 1%- should be interested in philanthropy because they have so much value that their responsibility becomes so all-encompassing.

Well raising awareness is good, and if anything non-violent protest does just that. Maybe the corrupt traders are laughing at the movement, but youtube censoring videos sounds like to me that the establishment is worried about this spreading in a fragile world.

The stories of people who are either wealthy or hard-done-by all have merit. I like to think that philanthropy has its place, and there are people that help to alleviate poverty, but unfortunately I think the odds are just stacked against us. Firstly, there is not enough to go around, globally speaking. We are living way beyond our means, and the North American luxuries we all dream about are vastly out of step with a natural economy that is able to sustain itself.

Oops. Sorry guys, still new around here. Will be more careful... ...regarding topic, good to see some action on the corruption.

From Chris Martenson.com Dear Friends This is a communique intended for you individually. I have been extremely busy, and have had only time to post to Facebook regularly, but not to further networks. I hope that this note can be shared more widely. (so please do your part ) first off... if you are in the dark, I highly recommend checking out some videos on these links http://youtube.com/occupytvny http://livestream.com/globalrevolution and then google or youtube search "occupywallstreet" Where I am... As many of you know, I have been part of the group of people occupying a park in the vicinity of wall street. The Occupation is 13 days in and shows no signs of slowing up, but rather signs of growth. I meet people from all over the place who are new here everyday both from within NYC, but also as far as Georgia, Wisconsin, Michigan, Philadelphia and more. Moreover, this model of occupation is being replicated in cities all over the country as citizen activists begin occupations in places such as Boston, Sacramento, Chicago, San Diego, Phoenix, Portland, OR, SF, St. Louis, Detroit, LA…. and that is just off the top of the heads of people sitting around me right now. what is happening In short 'future kulture' is happening. We have organized a micro city on purely democratic principles in which anyones voice can be heard. There are two General Assemblies per day and many meetings of separate working groups, some discussing solutions, demands, and tactics on a global and local scale, and others managing operations of our camp. Working groups include but are not limited to Food, Comfort, Sanitation, Medical, Library, Media Production, Streaming Media, Media Relations, Finance, Direct Action, Security, and many more. I hesitate to call this a protest. It is an Assembly and a Call to Action. Three days ago, I would not have necessarily believed that I would be writing this, feeling the way I do about all of this, or even still here. This is real. It is growing, and it IS the beginnings of a new, young, social movement that has real potential (and those of you who know my typical cynicism will be surprised by this) to steer our country towards the necessary General Strike of working people, unemployed people, owning class people, students, and everyone else. a call to action I want to personally urge people to come here. On first reading that, the impression might be that we need more people on the ground here. That is only partly true. The camp grows to multiple thousands of people everyday, and more every day. However, that is a small part of why your presence (even for a day) is useful and necessary. Really, what is going on here is political education of a profound and new kind. Activists and concerned citizens need to witness the model that is happening here in order to replicate and allow the Occupation of the US to virally grow as quickly as possible. The virus will mutate. Occupations will look different as they spread, but to those of you within traveling distance of NYC, please hear me that this is something like I have never experienced and it has changed my life, and I would like to share that experience in a deeper way than posting to Facebook and telling people about it. who is here all kinds of people are here, and as I said more and different people every day. the overwhelming majority at this moment are young people who have never been part of past actions or movement. That alone is jawdropping to me. it is not the typical lefty crowds that are found at peace marches etc. it is those folks too, but it is more far-reaching, and i think that is highly significant. what to expect expect to be fed for free as much as you can eat. expect to witness true democratic decision making. expect to have genuine conversations about everything that matters to you about the future of our society and planet with fellow occupiers, passersby, and police. expect truly horizontal organizing and decision-making expect participate teach-ins. expect to lead teach-ins if you so desire. expect to work (join a working group and help with whatever your particular skillet provides). expect to be slightly overwhelmed at first. expect to be interviewed by television stations, radio reporters, and writers. expect to participate in different kinds of peaceful marches. expect to march in solidarity with unions (CWA, Airline Pilots, Postal workers, etc) expect to meet a LOT of people. expect the unexpected. when to come I have put my life on hold and taken considerable risk personally to come here. I intend to leave to rejoin my life of employment and local activist responsibility Saturday night. I urge people to come here on Friday night or Saturday. If you come Saturday, try to arrive early as marches generally leave at 9am, and activities build from there. The weekday climax of events tends to be in the after-work hours when thousands of people converge here for a daily General Assembly in which anyone can have the 'peoples mic' (a system of human amplification) that can be witnessed on various youtube videos out there. I don't know what specifically will be happening on that day, so I can't provide any more details… but I don't think it necessarily matters. This is ongoing, daily, and is not stopping. It is building, and in a few months this will be bigger than you or I can imagine. it's not a promise, but it is an honest prediction…. and I would not have predicted it 4 days ago.

CTV had a W5 special on Knaan the Somali-Canadian Pop Star on Saturday night, and it was interesting to see his view of the crisis in Somalia, they went to Mogadishu and they brought a film crew and he is a hero to the Somali people. It is nice to see that someone can come as a war refugee and make it, live their dream and be a success. Obviously he is heart-broken about all the starving people there.

What we need is a leader who doesn't coddle the rich. Someone who champions middle-class people and sees the wealth of the whole as a priority. I see bottle pickers every day in my neighborhood, I realize some people fall through the cracks and end up on the streets, but one would think more could be done to reduce things like homelessness, substance abuse, illiteracy, and most of all, hunger.

Well aside from the Tar Sands protests on the Hill not much that I am aware of, it seems the mainstream media isn't covering the protests in the states ... here is a snippet I thought I would share: from Chris Martenson's Forum: "...Corporate Capitalism is supranational in the sense that it has no loyalty to any nation state. It seeks to inflict a kind of worldwide serfdom. You tell American workers that they should be competitive. Well, competitive with whom? ... With sweatshop labor in Vietnam, prison labor in China - that's the real message and that's what they're doing. All energy has to be focused against corporations who have seized control of our economic and political systems and our educational systems. That's what charter schools and the destruction of teacher's unions are about. It's about imposing rote learning where people are taught what to think, not how to think. The tentacles of corporatism have now reached so far and so deep into our society that the only hope is to have them rooted out... Globalization is imploding; it's destroying itself. What we're watching in the Middle East and countries like the Ivory Coast and others is the breakdown of globalization. It's a dead system... The systems managers of globalization and corporate capitalism know only how to serve that system. Lawrence Sumners is a perfect example of a [globalist] figure. As Treasury Secretary for Clinton, he deregulates the banking system which leads to the banking collapse, and then he's brought back into the White House with Geithner and all these sort of tools for Goldman Sachs and Wall Street.. to ostensibly fix the mess they [created]. They don't know how to do anything else. They know only how to serve a dead system. So that when Wall Street implodes and $40 trillion in worldwide wealth evaporates, what do they do? They loot the U.S. Treasury to bail out Wall Street. And now a few blocks from where I am sitting, Wall Street is engaged in precisely the same games that it played in 2008 which will lead to precisely the same mess. Will they be able to suck us dry again? Given the conclave of advisors around Obama, I wouldn't be surprised if they did. They're not trained to challenge or question structures and assumptions. They're only trained to serve that system and keep it alive, but it's very clear that the system is dying because it's unsustainable... we have to begin to prepare."..

Ya I have seen that before, the exponential growth of population, debt, resource depletion, all of it is enough to make you lose sleep at night. What really shook me up about Chris M's ideas are how they are all grounded in observable fact, and backed up. Anyone else hear that the Wall Street protests have spread to LA?

Wow, great that you are familiar with him. Anxiety fits in the umbrella of Mental Health, and it certainly is a valid issue, in my experience.