Tag: #JustThinking

Welcome to the Idiocracy

jamie

Alas, our government is soon to be under control of a South African Nazi billionaire and his cronies, who paid to have their idiot criminal Manchurian candidate installed by a ‘free and fair’ election, that was rigged by manipulating public opinion.

With the aid of complicit billionaire owned news corporations, these plutocrats controlled the media and normalized every horrid and sordid thing Trump did, while scrutinizing and demonizing the black woman who opposed him. They made it NORMAL for a convicted felon rapist dirtbag to run for president, as they played to every racist and sexist trope.

With some help from the other side. Biden’s DOJ failed to prosecute. So much for ‘nobody is above the law’.

AND…..they won the election.

Suddenly it was just another election. MSNBC’s morning hosts immediately flew to Florida to kiss the ring.  They were ALL working for the other side folks. Money decided who won. THEY did.

None of this normal. This is a class war, and 97% of us just lost a huge battle. So many of us are still cluelessly believing what the talking heads tell them. The lies will keep coming until we wake up.

In Europe, they call it Austerity Measures. Add a pinch of Faux-Christian Nationalism, and a huge scoop of racism and blame, alongside the overhanging threat of using the military and police against anyone who protests or threatens the regime, and what do you get?

The United States has become first NORTH American Banana Republic. American Idiocracy at it’s finest.

Oligarchy. Plutocracy. Look them up. Then look up socialism and capitalism. Capitalism is the highway to Oligarchy. Socialism is the fruit of Democracy. In which we learn to share, and take care of one another.

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.

In The Beginning…

jamie

In the beginning, man created God. And in his image he created Him. And when man had learned to use his God as a power to control and exploit the fears of his brother’s and sisters, he looked upon his creation and decided it was good.

In later days, Jesus came out of the desert, and tried to show people the path to inner freedom, free from the slavery to a false god and it’s creators. The same church people who created this God, put Jesus on the cross to shut him up.

Now, as we stumble blindly into the apocalypse, Jesus has come back many times since, an archetype for a stubborn world that never learns. Each time, the Church, or King or council of elders, or right-wing political party, uses their influence and power to silence His voice. Before He can get people to listen. To wake up.

The ‘religious elite’ have learned their lesson about making martyrs though, so they no longer have public trials and executions of people for heresy and witchcraft. The modern church has evolved, and secular government has replaced many of the functions previously served by religion. Now they work together.

The faceless elite, churchy or not, now know it’s much easier to ruin reputations with baseless accusations, or imprison their critics for crimes they didn’t commit. Or for treason or terrorism.

Another Jesus silenced. The power struggle continues. With Them on top, because They control everything. Except our thoughts, though They are trying to do that too, using the mainstream and social media to spread propaganda.

The voice of the next Jesus may be crying in the wilderness already. Somewhere nearby, a ‘faithful Christian’ is planning to ‘shut that heretic up’, any way possible.

(Authors disclaimer: for any MAGA moron who might read this and think, I’m talking about Trump, you are wrong!)

This is not a Christian nation. It’s a nation in which you are free to be Christian.
For Now. Keep pushing this unconstitutional bullshit, forcing your beliefs upon the rest of  us at your own risk. Fuck around and find out how fast we start crucifying your hypocrite asses.

You Dirty Commies!

jamie

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

jamie

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

jamie

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

jamie

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.

Happy 2024!

jamie

2023 has been a challenge. Now, with one day left, this difficult year is heading off into oblivion, to join up with the last few years before it, into an unpleasant haze of remembrance. The mostly dreary or forgotten days, punctuated by moments of great joy and hope, gratitude has been the glue that kept my world together.

Grateful. For the little, but important things. I am grateful for my family, and all of you guys, and for the good fortune to be here now. THIS Now.

The past and future only exist in our minds. They are not real, unless we give them the power to exist. The future does not arrive, it is created in the present tense. We choose our future by how we live NOW.

I choose a future forged of Gratitude, Hope, Kindness, and Love. Because I don’t want to see a future spawned of fear, hate, and greed. The present is evidence enough for me.

I think 2024 will matter. We can and must decide to put hate aside. #CancelHate. There’s NOTHING wrong with a culture that seeks to reject the mistakes of the past. Boycotting things that harm us isn’t a political plot, it’s just common sense. #CancelCulture is a buzz word used by politicians to divide us. Don’t buy the bull shit.

Instead, I hope we all begin to remember what it means to be hopeful again. Remember that being kind is more important than being rich. That someone who is different is an opportunity for growth, not someone to fear or hate. Being with people who are different from us is how we grow and learn.

We can decide to be better. Otherwise the haters win, and shit gets ugly.

Share if you agree. Or don’t. I’m not the boss of you. Peace.

Happy 2024!
~
May the future rise to meet your hopes
Your fears be on the run
May we meet again in better times
On this trip around the sun
May your life be filled with bigger joys
And sadness far from home
May the past forgive and heal your soul
On whatever roads you roam.
~