December 04, 2003

The history of man is the history of war, and the history of war is the history of mankind.

It is little wonder that the old cliche "might makes right" came to the world's attention many centuries ago, because that is precisely how history portrays the march of mankind toward his ultimate destiny (however he imagines it).

Few, if any, of the men who have ever come to power, genuine power, have ever left well enough alone and sought to build their own nations from within. The story of man's venture around the globe is one of conquest, slaughter, brutality and the laurels, plus the spoils, that go to the victor. The problem seems to be that while things such as weapons are neutral, men are not. Building from within is a hobby after the victorious days of battle have left little else to do, thus the survivors of the wars are finally put to work creating everything from hanging gardens, great statues and enormous tombs to commemorate the glory of the ruler who made all the prosperity possible through conquest. The ruler generally leaves a subdued populace and some very dissatisfied neighbors or venture conquerors lurking over the hills somewhere.

While the allusions used above seem to apply more to ancient Egypt and Babylon than today, do they? Isn't it the conqueror who is right, the vanquished who is wrong? That is the general state of the world in spite of attempts at introducing international laws to provide for rules. They are flawed to the side of the conqueror or influenced by him, justified for him.

If I were asked the world's greatest problem (other than man's evil nature) I would probably say that there are too many children over 30 still playing children's games with technology far beyond their wisdom to apply properly. The vision of technology as having some military application is not wrong, it is the mindset and focus that all technology be judged on its military usefulness with all other applications as side issues that is wrong. It is also wrong to think in terms of preemptively striking out at every imaginable enemy because one side has the weaponry to do it and the other does not. Is it any wonder that terrorism, genuine terrorism by people with a genuine religious and cultural agenda, have randomly struck back at anything they can that belongs to the major powers who rule the earth?

If you were not an American, then whose side would you be on?

Every morning I give a few minutes of thought to what kind of world is out there. From my front window it appears rather normal. From the morning world news, it sounds rather patriotic. From the standpoint of a worldview of genuine progress for mankind, it looks like signs of Armageddon, and perhaps it is. The morning local news will indicate how little we have gained. A body in a dumpster. A missing child. Another case of senseless murder in the streets. Robbery is so common that unless it involves huge sums or bizarre means, it isn't even mentioned.

No one on media mentions that it is the slaves of the taxation system who pay both in money and blood for this type of rule by the elite, those who claim to be elected, who rig elections so they are "elected" or those who dispense with elections and declare themselves the benevolent dictator. Well, now it's more acceptable to be titled president, whether in civilian clothes or military uniform. It all amounts to the same thing: a ruler and his serfs.

People's revolutions have been largely unsuccessful because the ruler most often controls the military. Far more successful changes of regime have been effected by a military coup, which stripped el presidente of his power by force. Even so, many of those have failed due to lack of agreement among the military themselves, doubtless more as to who will be leader than to what they will lead the country.

Greed. Selfishness. Pride.

Why are you not free? Because the rulers have managed to manipulate their lust for power, their greed, selfishness and pride, in such a manner as to keep the people subjugated. So what has happened that is really new in the past six millenia? Humans can now kill at a greater rate, with a wider array of weapons, with or without provocation but with seemingly endless media coverage. It's really difficult to hide anywhere on earth now, the US military, the spy planes, the GPS, and all the tracking and maneuvering devices we do and don't yet know about have made hiding impossible.

So the serfs stay in slavery, pay their taxes, fight the ruler's battles, and life and death march on.

Wars of independence have historically left no one free. The one exception, the one opportunity was the founding of the United States of America. Men of vision without the madness of pride apparently hammered out a document upon which a nation of free men could be founded. Skeptic Benjamin Franklin has been quoted often recently about his "a Republic, madam, if you can keep it." His cynicism was well founded.

We have lost the Republic and gained the Oligarchy, all at taxpayer expense.

It is reason for great wonder that the people are not sick of this type of life on the edge, of slavery to taxation, of empty promises and great national debt, of thugs in massive corporate offices controlling oil, food, water and other necessities of life. Then it comes home: they haven't a clue as to what is going on. All they know is what they hear on the six o'clock news. So they obediently do as they are told, no questions asked. Just a few grumbles at tax time.

Wars of independence apparently accomplish little. In America, the Revolution brought us two hundred years of relative freedom, but then the people began to cry to the government for help, and that is all it takes to undermine freedom for the individual. Wars of independence do not produce lasting results if history is the judge, because the people want their government to "do something."

The goverment is always glad to help. Just pay the bill when presented.

copyright 2003 Dorothy Anne Seese

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Six Thousand Years of Failed Governments

Not Politics As Usual in 2004

Either Americans Change Government - Or The World Will Do It For Us