I recently finished Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond. It’s a good read for those of us into history and anthropology. Deep in the book, Jared goes on to describe the rise of States (or empires, kingdoms, etc.) and talks of the Kleptocracy. For those who are a bit weak in the understanding of dead languages, in this case Latin, klepto means to steal. The author goes on to describe the rise of the kleptocracy, and how it’s done.
1. Disarm the populace, and arm the elite. That’s much easier in these days of high-tech weaponry, produced only in industrial plants and easily monopolized by an elite, than in ancient times of spears and clubs easily made at home.
2. Make the masses happy by redistributing much of the tribute received, in popular ways. This principle was as valid for Hawaiian chiefs as it is for American politicians today.
3. Use the monopoly of force to promote happiness, by maintaining public order and curbing violence.
4. The remaining way for kleptocrats to gain public support is to construct an ideology or religion justifying kleptocracy.
We live in a kelptocracy, make no bones about it. The first point is obvious, and has been going on for years. Most state and especially the federal government has been working hard to limit the number of weapons in the hands of the populace. Our founding fathers knew that an armed society is a free society, so there were no limitations on weaponry at all. In 1800 if you wanted to buy a cannon, you could. Now, especially in my state, you need all sorts of permission and forms and AD lists to get a firearm.
The second point is all to easy. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Unemployment Insurance, Subsidies, and Food Stamps all are ways to redistribute the tribute they get. Ask anyone what they look forward to when they retire, and odds are it’s the “free” check from social security and no taxes. We all know the check is not free, we make our children pay for it. Either through inflation or outright taxation.
The third point is harder to demonstrate in concrete examples. One example is how protesters need permits, and are cordoned off from the main area of the rally or whatever is going on. Dissenting opinions are moved out of the public eye and marginalized. Another example is being arrested for “disturbing the peace” at one of these big (like the RNC/DNC, G8, etc.) or at a tea party demonstration or counter-demonstration. We could go into how all of the main stream media treats our politicians with kid gloves for the most part. When have we heard the hard questions, like “Why should I pay for someone else’s retirement?”
The last point is too easy:
I bet we have a religion worshiping him within a few years. After all quite a few people list “Jedi” as their religion. Living Color’s song Cult of Personality is so appropriate, it makes me cringe at the thought of another term from this asshat.
What can we do? As individuals, nothing. If we unite and take back our country, we can accomplish anything.We need to unite as a group and take back congress, and then kick the special interests out of Washington. All of them. That includes the SEIU and the NRA. The Oil Companies and the Free Speach groups. The PETA Nitwits and the Farmer Co-Ops. All of them. Once we free from those bloodsucking leeches can we have hope, and make some meaningful and real change.
Tags: government
The “hot air” pic is a nice touch… All of what you said is true. And I believe that “fixing” the system is impossible. It was engineered that way by the PTB in order to cement their positions of power eternally. It would take decades to dismantle the system, because those bound to it would be left out in the cold were it to suddenly disappear. But perhaps the system is dismantling it’s self, under it’s own weight. Or it was engineered to look that way…
I read part of that book. Started it and read about 150 pages until it got boringly repetitive and stayed that way. May have to pick it up again.