You Dirty Commies!

They want you to be afraid of Socialism and Communism because they would hurt the 1%. The ones who make the rules. Our owners, as George Carlin would say. Because the answer is simple. They would have to give up some of their wealth to make the system more fair.

They pulled a switch on us.
They took our legit fear of certain autocratic Communist and Socialist regimes, and turned it into a fear of communism and socialism. The Cold war fears of Russia, China, and Cuba, thanks to the valid threat of nuclear annihilation, became a fear of Communism and Socialism.

They told us to be afraid of corrupt autocratic governments that took away the rights of their citizens, who might lob nukes at us. They used those fears to make us afraid of the economic theories that attempt to redistribute wealth more evenly, and make things better for the common folks. Why?
For One Reason:
To protect their wealth, power and control.

But it’s not the appropriate-ism that was ever the problem with China or Russia. It was the autocratic part. The corruption. Because corrupt autocrats seek to limit freedoms and take away rights.

And the nukes. Don’t forget the nukes. We now know that Communists ALL want to nuke everything good.

Socialism and communism are actually about social justice. They are about ensuring basic needs for people as human rights. They are about freedom from hunger and disease. Equitable distribution of wealth and goods. For all people, not just the ones who can afford it. Nothing to fear from, unless you have WAY too much and you’re worried someone will take it away and give it to someone in need.

You could actually make a better case that Capitalism is humanity’s grand problem, because of the inherent inequality and exploitation. Greed without controls or conscience is a recipe for mass cruelty. Capitalism is out of control in America, and Congress is complicit.

They want you to be afraid of Socialism and Communism because they would hurt the 1%. The ones who make the rules. Our owners, as George Carlin would say. Because the answer is simple. They would have to give up some of their wealth to make the system more fair. And THEY are the insatiable rich, who thirst for more no matter how much they already have. Gluttony. Greed. Capitalism. All one in the same thing.

Democratic Socialism is just capitalism with a conscience. Let the rich get rich. AFTER the rest of us are out of poverty. AFTER everyone can see a doctor and not worry about the bill. The important things that everyone needs must be a available to all. Owned by all. Not profit centers for the rich and shameless.
You can still make a killing selling people shit they don’t need…after we guarantee that everyone has the shit they DO need. Science says if you end poverty, crime is virtually non-existent, while productivity and knowledge increase…along with happiness.

Increased happiness goes a long way to solving social problems of all sorts. From shoplifting to school shooters. Happy people with their needs met (physical and psychological) don’t do that shit.

Yes, this is the picture I chose. #selfie

Authors Note: All opinions expressed here are just that: opinions. If you don’t like mine, I probably won’t like yours either. Let’s just nod, and walk away. Maybe come back with solutions instead of opinions. Because of the two, only solutions actually matter.

Success

In the end, I’d like to be known for making the world a better place. I’ll settle for not being known for fucking the place up royally.

A long time ago, somebody asked me what I thought being successful meant. Since then, I’ve thought it meant a lot of different things over the years. I’m still not really sure I’ll ever feel like my life’s been a success.

But if I fail, I’ve failed the way I wanted to. I made the best choices I could at the time. Things came out this way, and that’s the way it is. I’m still here. I’m loved. I’d call it success.

In the end, I’d like to be known for making the world a better place. I’ll settle for not being known for fucking the place up royally.

Being unknown is ok too.

Jamie Gray – musician, writer, human being

Authors Note: All opinions expressed here are just that: opinions. If you don’t like mine, I probably won’t like yours either. Let’s just nod, and walk away. Maybe come back with solutions instead of opinions. Because of the two, only solutions actually matter.

First Do No Harm

I’ve never understood why people want to become famous. Being famous means you can’t be yourself. You give up being ordinary. At least you used to. Ordinary people get pretty famous nowadays.

The Internet has changed the meaning of fame. You can have millions of followers (I don’t, but some people do) and still be pretty ordinary; obscure, in terms of the public eye.  You know…Including all those other people who are too good to Google. Too cool for TikTok.  For the rest of us, it’s sort of a golden age in a way. If you’re on the right apps, that is. If the Government doesn’t take them away because they’re afraid of the power we have.

What I want to know is where is the true music underground? The next breakout sound is out there, in some garage or dive bar. A bigger than life, but authentic scene. Where the music speaks the truth and the true seeds of destiny will spring. Not about the industry or money or fame. Music has the power to change. To change Us.

I’m a libertarian at heart. You don’t need a bunch of rules if you follow just one: first do no harm. When the industry is killing the product, the industry needs to change. The money is literally killing the music.

They will exploit us until we refuse to be exploited. Then they’ll find a new way to exploit us.

Co-Ed Pro Sports

Why are there no women in the NBA? I mean, there are women in the WNBA with more skills than some of the men in the NBA. Are the boys too scared of getting upstaged by a girl? Do we really need to protect their fragile egos?

I appreciate the existence of the WNBA, but in a lot of ways it seems like the ‘separate but equal’ flavor of discrimination, that isn’t equal at all.

I think basketball would benefit from women in the NBA, and they could replace the WNBA with ‘farm teams’ like in baseball, so second best would be reserved for those who aren’t quite ready for the big league…male AND female.

It’s just my opinion, but I hope the amazing ladies in the WNBA demand their right to play in the NBA. Their right to compete for equal salaries is being denied because the WNBA doesn’t have the sponsorship and fan base of the NBA, and likely never will. Look at the USFL and other attempts to compete with the bigs. It doesn’t ever work.

Women can only compete equally if allowed to compete in the NBA. Separate but equal is never really equal. It’s just gaslighting, meant to draw attention from the discrimination.

Authors note: I don’t really watch basketball, or any pro sports really. I think many of them make too much money for doing what they love. But this isn’t about sports. It’s bigger than sports. It’s about equality for all.

I’m Ending My Abusive Relationship with The Wealthy.

I think it’s time that the human race figures out, that progress for a few should never mean regress for some. If your success comes at another’s expense, it is not really success.
It’s abuse.
Abuse of human rights. Abuse of our shared resources. Abuse of power, for profit…and more power.
Call it Capitalism. Call it anything you want to, to justify it in your conscience. But I call them crimes against humanity, and only the wealthy and powerful are actually able to commit them. Uber Wealthy People. Big companies. Countries.
Because after all, who can actually hold them accountable?

Authors Note: All opinions expressed here are just that: opinions. If you don’t like mine, I probably won’t like yours either. Let’s just nod, and walk away. Maybe come back with solutions instead of opinions. Because of the two, only solutions actually matter.

Religion isn’t about God

It doesn’t matter which God you choose to call your own, RELIGION is the ultimate problem that mankind must overcome. Religion is, by definition, perversion of God to manipulate people into behaving a certain way. God just IS (or isn’t). What you believe about Them isn’t relevant to anyone, except to YOU and God.

At best, religion is a distraction from finding your own spiritual destination. Easy answers to reassure, instead of clues about your truths. At it’s worst, religion has brought us countless Crusades and Jihads, The Holocaust, 9/11 and The War on Terror, and so many other atrocities committed by “righteous men” in the Name of God.

Religious hypocrisy is legendary, and yet the sheep keep coughing up their tithes to reach enlightenment or avoid the scourge of Hell. I completely understand the need to believe in something. I just think it’s better to search for, and believe in your own truths, rather than in others who might profit off your faith.

Authors Note: All opinions expressed here are just that: opinions. If you don’t like mine, I probably won’t like yours either. Let’s just nod, and walk away. Maybe come back with solutions instead of opinions. Because of the two, only solutions actually matter.

Please visit https://jamiegraymusic.com/WordPress/ for more content like this

Critical of CRT (Critical Race Theory)

Here’s what I think about Critical Race Theory (CRT). I think it sucks. Making school kids feel bad about their race, white or black, is not positive or useful, and can harm their mental health. Stop it teachers, if you’re doing it (I don’t actually think most of you are).

Critical Race Theory shouldn’t be a thing. In fact, it really isn’t a thing, except in the minds of the anti-woke. But, no one should be made to feel bad about their race, gender, or religion, or blamed for events if the past committed by others ‘like them’. History should be taught in an objective way, the truth being prioritized over politics and prejudice.

The sins of our forefathers are our past, not our future. We must learn about and use the events of the past to guide our steps into the next chapter of human evolution. To make a better future.

We must learn of past injustices…without blaming anyone for them… in order to devote ourselves to fixing them, avoiding making the same mistakes over and over again. We can’t sensor out the bad parts because we don’t like the way they reflect on us. We cannot allow ourselves to forget, because our history…our collective memory…is the key to learning to do better.

But that means we must teach ALL the facts about the past…even the uncomfortable ones. In the past we may have fucked up. OK. Now it’s time to move on. It sure as fuck wasn’t my fault. I’m gonna say it wasn’t yours either.

Look…We can simply choose to accept “that’s just the way things are”, or we can decide to change things for the better. Fear of change doesn’t mean it isn’t necessary. I won’t accept that we can’t do a LOT better, despite some very great progress.

But there are still plenty of haters out there, and they are only getting louder, angrier, and more violently hateful, trying to create a more divided nation. They resist being “woke” because they don’t want us to wake up.

Because they know the truth: Change is overdue. But they don’t want change. It will hurt their profits and wealth, and they’re “doing just fine the way things are, thanks”, and you know, rich people are so much more important than the rest of us.

E pluribus unum. From many, One. One people, one voice. #Vote for Change. Vote for #Progress. #VoteProgressive


Authors Note: All opinions expressed here are just that: opinions. If you don’t like mine, I probably won’t like yours either. Let’s just nod, and walk away. Maybe come back with solutions instead of opinions. Because of the two, only solutions actually matter.

Please visit https://jamiegraymusic.com/wordpress/ for more content like this.