POWER !

[Oleg Bach]

Looks as if power is only achieved and held though either violence and or deception or both. It probably has always been such. IF you tell the truth in life you will be marginalized and made powerless. ALL power is conducted in secrecy. Those that lie to the population believe they have some sort of superiour mind especially if all believe the sham. Over and over again it is proven to be a solid and unflinching reality..that - politicans - bankers - buisness people - everybody lies constantly...and if you speak in an unfiltered manner and stand up to the lies you will find that eventually this system...crushes you and by subliminal force slowly destroys the person - Maybe it is true what the ancient wrote - that this is the domain of a satan and God and goodness are a minority that are persecuted. What do you think about POWER...is there good power in the world or is the little bit that is seen just for show?

[eyeball]

I think power is just a thing, it's what people do with it that counts. That said power is like money in the same way that time is like space - they go together even more than peas and carrots.

If we made money as accountable as we'd like to believe power can be made accountable we might have a better handle on both. Nobody seems willing to make power transparent but I'm reminded of Michael Hardner's idea of digitizing money so every single transaction would carry a time and date stamp and who was involved.

Follow the money.

[Oleg Bach]

I think power is just a thing, it's what people do with it that counts. That said power is like money in the same way that time is like space - they go together even more than peas and carrots.

If we made money as accountable as we'd like to believe power can be made accountable we might have a better handle on both. Nobody seems willing to make power transparent but I'm reminded of Michael Hardner's idea of digitizing money so every single transaction would carry a time and date stamp and who was involved.

Follow the money.

Can't do that..in time you would follow cocaine, heroine and arms dealing money right up to the heads of all the banks - that would never do.

[Wilber]

Can't do that..in time you would follow cocaine, heroine and arms dealing money right up to the heads of all the banks - that would never do.

Or not.

[bloodyminded]

Money is not the only type of power, but it IS power. And moneyed interests misuse power....because they exhibit it or affect it for their own needs. And needless to say, their needs can clash with the needs of others, even of the majority.

I think this is one aspect that many libertarians (for whom I have some respect) seem astonishingly blind. They don't realize that tyranny can be had at the slamming boot of a bank acount as well as in the halls of government.

[eyeball]

Money is not the only type of power, but it IS power. And moneyed interests misuse power....because they exhibit it or affect it for their own needs. And needless to say, their needs can clash with the needs of others, even of the majority.

I think this is one aspect that many libertarians (for whom I have some respect) seem astonishingly blind. They don't realize that tyranny can be had at the slamming boot of a bank acount as well as in the halls of government.

There's people power which is usually most evident after the moneyed interests have misused their power beyond which point people go after that like a piñata.

They may not get the respect that Libertarians do but Anarchists usually get the final word.

[maple_leafs182]

Power is the ability to influence major decisions.

The people gave up the power a long time ago.

Edited February 8, 2010 by maple_leafs182

[Oleg Bach]

Power is the ability to influence major decisions.

The people gave up the power a long time ago.

Having met only two truely powerful people in my life..I saw to kinds of power..actually three. One was power though infliction of fear the other was power through respect - and lastly the most dangerous and fleeting kind of power - and that was through deception - I call it animal or natural power. One man was establishment and the other was anti-establishment. One statement I made to Mr. Estabablishment was " Respect is the transphere of power" - He said "I like that." BUT I don't think he got the full concept down pat. That time of power through mutual respect is contractual but unwritten. It is a covenant betweet two people or God - it is a trasphere of power (respect) that travels one way and then back again like a good vibration - Mr. Establishment, I assume believed that the contract was one way - being a lawyer he should have known better.

Now the bad ass power guy - who I found out years later was a major international hustler and arms dealer - He had a statement regarding what he considered power...a young black kid was dating one of his daughters - The kid used the Benz to go to the store for the old man..when he returned he mistakenly gave him back more change then expected - he accidentally put a couple of rocks of crack into the arms dealers big open paws..so - when questioning the kid about defiling his household and family..the boy dropped to his knees in denial and began to weep - The old power broker said one thing to me _ "I knew he was lying the moment he started to shed tears" - THAT IS POWER THOUGH FEAR AND INTIMIDATION.... luckily the old arms dealer finally dropped dead a total loser leaving his family in poverty..so he really had no power to speak of.

[Army Guy]

the boy dropped to his knees in denial and began to weep - The old power broker said one thing to me _ "I knew he was lying the moment he started to shed tears" - THAT IS POWER THOUGH FEAR AND INTIMIDATION....

I would have thought that a better example of power though fear and intimidation would have seen the Kid drop his crack at the end of the driveway as he would have been terrified to gwet caught inside by the old man with it....here it shows the kid really did not fear him and took the risk anyways....

I think a better example would have been in the days when the mafia ruled most of NA, or perhaps, stalin in mother Russia...Hilter and germany...

[Michael Hardner]

I think power is just a thing, it's what people do with it that counts. That said power is like money in the same way that time is like space - they go together even more than peas and carrots.

If we made money as accountable as we'd like to believe power can be made accountable we might have a better handle on both. Nobody seems willing to make power transparent but I'm reminded of Michael Hardner's idea of digitizing money so every single transaction would carry a time and date stamp and who was involved.

Follow the money.

Here's some more thinking I have done on that by the way, and it could destroy economies if it took hold.

Digital money as I propose, would be used voluntarily but eventually people would see the value of open transactions. If somebody asks for economic help because of hardship, why wouldn't they volunteer to make their situation known ?

Digital money and paper money could exist side-by-side, and more importantly, digital money could begin as a barter type sytem without central government control. All that would be required would be a central authority that is 'BARF'. If you don't know what BARF stands for ( ) - from Project Management:

Bought-into

- People buy into the idea of digital money

Approved

- It's legal and shown to not be in violation of existing laws

Realistic

- There isn't any hopeful socialistic bent to it, or a libertarian ideal attached somehow. It is what it is.

Formal

- The precepts and rules for this money are published and clear.

[Michael Hardner]

Power is the ability to influence major decisions.

The people gave up the power a long time ago.

You're wrong here. Democracy is mass communication, but the masses are still there to be reckoned with.

[GostHacked]

Digital money as I propose, would be used voluntarily but eventually people would see the value of open transactions. If somebody asks for economic help because of hardship, why wouldn't they volunteer to make their situation known ?

We in the connected/online world use digital money most of the time. Credit card, debit card, direct deposit, online money transfer sites/programs. There is more digital money than there is paper money now.

Most places wont even accept a 100 dollar bill here in Canada. Next, the 50. But the most commonly counterfeit amount would be the 10 or 20 dollar bill. No one really checks those. Only the 100s.

Digital money and paper money could exist side-by-side, and more importantly, digital money could begin as a barter type system without central government control. All that would be required would be a central authority that is 'BARF'. If you don't know what BARF stands for ( ) - from Project Management:

They already exist side by side. What we need to do is not have it controlled by a central bank system. I suggest creating an independand 3rd party regulator for the banks.

[maple_leafs182]

You're wrong here. Democracy is mass communication, but the masses are still there to be reckoned with.

Na, democracy is the voice of the mob, the mob can be easily influenced and manipulated.

We saw this in Germany in WW2.

The masses do ultimately have the power but it doesn't matter if they don't realize that.

We elect politicians and give them these titles like their opinions are greater then mine or yours but they are nothing more then people just like me or you.

They already exist side by side. What we need to do is not have it controlled by a central bank system. I suggest creating an independand 3rd party regulator for the banks.

In the states the Federal Reserve is an independent 3rd party regulator for the banks and look at how they are doing.

I really think money should just be done away with already.

Money tends to corrupt people.

Resource based economy seems more beneficial to the masses then a money based economy.

I have so many friends who are choosing their careers based on how much money it will put in their pockets in an attempt to buy happiness. They are missing the point, this is life, we are suppose to sing and dance the whole way through.

[Michael Hardner]

The masses do ultimately have the power

Thank you.

I have so many friends who are choosing their careers based on how much money it will put in their pockets in an attempt to buy happiness. They are missing the point, this is life, we are suppose to sing and dance the whole way through.

You're graduating university then ? That required hard work, and saving up your labour which is what a money system does. Whatever you're talking about with banking won't eliminate speculation and investment. You can't outlaw craftiness and the desire to get rich.

[maple_leafs182]

Thank you.

Your welcome, but you missed my point.

You're graduating university then ? That required hard work, and saving up your labour which is what a money system does. Whatever you're talking about with banking won't eliminate speculation and investment. You can't outlaw craftiness and the desire to get rich.

I resource based economy would be all the people of the planet working together and becoming rich together.

Instead of what we got going on now, individuals getting rich and the rest being left out in the rain.

[Michael Hardner]

Your welcome, but you missed my point.

No, the point was mine - made above and acknowledged by you here.

I resource based economy would be all the people of the planet working together and becoming rich together.

Instead of what we got going on now, individuals getting rich and the rest being left out in the rain.

You know, Maple_Leafs, you seem like a nice guy but you're very short on details and correct facts.

You would likely give a better impression if you started acknowledging the many mistakes you've made in your posts and start picking up facts from other posters who have graced you with their responses, such as Segnosaur. If you keep doing that then in some months or years you will be truly well informed, and your ideas will likely like find a better foundation in reality.