While some have the power to create money out of thin air it seems obvious that blind pursuit of material comforts and pleasure ensures slavery to such individuals. People need to confront the implications of being for sale in an environment where the worst people imagineable have such extensive control over money.
If money controls your mind then whoever controls the money controls your mind.
Money offers the opulence of the material world, which again is another phrasing of "you can do whatever you want." But if money is given heavy constraints, either through monetary policy or self-control, then it loses that power.
There really is no winning. Either put yourself in shackles or be shackled by someone else.
I don't know when I first heard expressions along the lines of : "You can be whatever you want to be". Maybe the '90s, I am guessing from memory. But it always struck me as one of the most damaging lies an alleged grown-up can tell an impressionable child or young teen. I think events in the Western world over the last twenty years or so have probably borne that impression out. Vastly different in meaning and infinitely more nourishing would have been something like : "Whatever it is that you have an aptitude for, or can make your way in the world with, do it always to the best of your ability". Although I must acknowledge that one isn't nearly as catchy. And of course involves being responsible for your own actions and their consequences, which is now an alien concept to most of a generation, it seems.
“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.”
I remember not understanding how "following your dreams" and "you can be whatever you want to be" would even work, but turns out it doesn't work at all. I think it's harmless as long as it's properly balanced, like anything else, but it's literally become some people's value systems which is breeding insanity and nonsense.
Agreed. What was originally a fairly harmless catchphrase from TV Talent shows. ‘Follow your dream’ has become the ideology of an entire generation. If you dream of becoming a global supermodel but have the bone structure of a wildebeest and the face of a moose it ain’t ever going to happen.
Similarly if you want to become an astronaut but get vertigo climbing a step ladder then it might not be for you.
But people are told they have a ‘right’ to success, even when they put in zero effort. When they fail they become disappointed, angry and looking for someone to blame. We should be promoting hard work, self discipline and commitment not’ dreams’.
Freedom is unlimited potentiality...infinity. That's why those who enjoy more freedom are the innovators. But it also comes with a price... lack of security. Those who seek security love authoritarianism and comfortable with a slave mentality.
Yes but aren’t we all selfish to some degree given the proper circumstances? In reality we all are since every decision you make is based on your own perspectives and values that are only yours, so
Aren’t we all evil at some extent and under anyone’s else’s perspective?
Your example of the condo dwellers complaining about the baseball diamond reminded me so much of the residents of Soho in the centre of London who have managed to get local pubs closed down because they are too loud.
As I say in this article that’s like moving to Venice and complaining that the streets are wet.
The whole thing is here if you have any interest in the fall of a great European city.
Seems to be a commonality echoed across the western world where people's ridiculous expectations are coming into conflict with reality. It'll only last for so long though, because those crazy dreams are likely to create nightmares, which I believe we're already starting to see.
Beautiful ideas for a utopian and nonexistent human race, IMHO. Even though I recognize the statement may be too broad, I doubt it. And also IMHO Freedom or total freedom = Chaos therefore such freedom needs some sort of protection, restriction, or whatever you want to call it, and in that case, I ask, is it still considered freedom?
it’s freedom as it’s truth and beauty in the hands of the beholder?
That's what I was alluding to. The idea of freedom is somewhat of a misnomer. If you're free to do whatever you want then the world devolves into a prison, but if you hold back and create an inner prison then the world presents endless opportunity.
One aspect is free while another is in shackles, the question is which one do you pick?
Yes I understand and that is why I mentioned a utopian society or humanity, sadly we are not there yet if we ever get there at all, lol, we are humans my friend and I think that to some degree selfishness, survival, etc are imprinted in our DNA, meaning that at some point given the opportunity at some degree we will act selfishly and of course, this will probably progress with time, as you said in your post inner restraints, respect, etc are decadent and they have been for some time, there is no balance, and IMHO balance is more important than absolutism in our case. Again we already talked about freedom right? However, there’s this Spanish phrase that keeps coming to my mind and it goes like this (no confundas la libertad con el libertinaje) meaning, (do not mistake freedom with debauchery). This has tyranny, control, etc all over it but it takes us back to your question and what I wrote above.
Matthew 16 : 24-25 Amplified version, Discipleship Is Costly:
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]. 25 For whoever wishes to save his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], but whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake will find it [that is, life with Me for all eternity]." John 10:10 "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]." John 14:6
New International Version
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 8:32, " Then you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free".
And, since the authority for government comes from the Citizens, the Citizens now have to stand up and inform their representatives that they, having broken their Oaths and failed in their Duty to the office in which they were entrusted, are in Breach and now must Vacate the building.
As sapient human beings made by God and in the image of God we, the Citizens, realize that our national sovereignty is so important and our sacred posterity is so dear that we must reconsider our government and the way we use it to “promote the general welfare, and provide for the common defense.”
With a new understanding we will also be able to accommodate citizen proposals for program and infrastructure maintenance and improvements.
Because Citizenship, true citizenship, is not about writing letters to elected officials or voting some good person into office.
Citizenship is about the Ratification or Annulment of each line of every law, rule, regulation and supreme court decision on the books or that is on the docket waiting to be turned into law, policy and taxes.
Nothing short of this is going to ameliorate the situation for the body politic.
"beautiful ideas for a nonexistent human race" is like "not poisonous to nonexistent bodies". Don't apologize for this shit by accepting the premise that it's "beautiful" in some abstract, context-free sense. In context of reality it's ugly, horrific even, and reality is the only context in which we exist.
Even reality is in the eye of the beholder my friend, as unique and single entities your perception and perspective are unique to you and your Reality in this very instant.
Is it selfishness applied only to interhuman interactions? or to everything in general? Isn’t it selfish to kill a fish so we can eat it to survive?
To wash our vehicles with water so needed in parts of the world?
To want my kid to be more successful than others?
Etc, etc, etc.
I think it’s part of humans and to acknowledge that it’s within you may be the difference in to what extent your selfishness can grow.
We are so selfish that we all think we are right sometimes until proven wrong and sometimes not even afterward, again perspectives, perceptions, ideologies, indoctrination, etc dictate the way we act and react all the time.
Another example
How many religions do you know that claim that they are not the real ones protected by God?
Or that they don’t have the real prophet or not the ones promoting the real words from God?
Christianity. The only "religion", (in actuality it is a relationship with Jesus, not a religion) that God saves those who cannot save themselves. It is quite the standout.
I thought the question was ( What religion did God sacrifice himself to save us) Also, I get confused by your statement “ Christianity. The only "religion", (in actuality it is a relationship with Jesus, not a religion)” is it or it’s not a religion? I’m sorry but while it may haven’t been your intention, that was what I perceived based on my perspective. By the way, I do respect your beliefs and religious choices, but I think the original comment was about human selfishness and whether it is better or practical to apply self-restraint or to have rules and regulations forced upon us to follow. Even though (Religions) relate to the subject, I think it would take it to a different level, and I’m not even the Author, my apologies to Theodore Atkinson for hijacking his post.
As practiced in the early church and as learned by the disciples, Christianity is a relationship, not a religion. Man's ego invents religion in order to be gain power over other men by using our recognition of our divine nature to their own benefit. Religion is always about us and our efforts - until Jesus. Sorry I confused you. We have had rules and regulations for centuries; it isn't working nor will they ever work because humans are humans. Self restraint is better than laws, and the Bible speaks of the virtues as being of paramount importance, (the opposite of the "thou shalt not's), as well as discussing the fruit of the spirit, which includes self control. Jesus promised a helper to keep us on track. As a Spirit filled Christian who was not always one, I assure you that helper is very real. My point is that man cannot do either - obey laws or self restrain. We have thousands of years of proof. There are a few notable exceptions, but without being filled with the Spirit of the living God, man is doomed by his own nature. Few want God. The ego reigns supreme. So here we are.
While some have the power to create money out of thin air it seems obvious that blind pursuit of material comforts and pleasure ensures slavery to such individuals. People need to confront the implications of being for sale in an environment where the worst people imagineable have such extensive control over money.
If money controls your mind then whoever controls the money controls your mind.
Money offers the opulence of the material world, which again is another phrasing of "you can do whatever you want." But if money is given heavy constraints, either through monetary policy or self-control, then it loses that power.
There really is no winning. Either put yourself in shackles or be shackled by someone else.
The same with "free speech". All speech should be free AND all speech should be controlled. The duty for both lies solely with the speaker.
Yes. Metaphysics, spirituality and information theory are the same thing. Or aspects of the same thing, at least.
I don't know when I first heard expressions along the lines of : "You can be whatever you want to be". Maybe the '90s, I am guessing from memory. But it always struck me as one of the most damaging lies an alleged grown-up can tell an impressionable child or young teen. I think events in the Western world over the last twenty years or so have probably borne that impression out. Vastly different in meaning and infinitely more nourishing would have been something like : "Whatever it is that you have an aptitude for, or can make your way in the world with, do it always to the best of your ability". Although I must acknowledge that one isn't nearly as catchy. And of course involves being responsible for your own actions and their consequences, which is now an alien concept to most of a generation, it seems.
“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.”
-Ecclesiastes 9.10
I remember not understanding how "following your dreams" and "you can be whatever you want to be" would even work, but turns out it doesn't work at all. I think it's harmless as long as it's properly balanced, like anything else, but it's literally become some people's value systems which is breeding insanity and nonsense.
Agreed. What was originally a fairly harmless catchphrase from TV Talent shows. ‘Follow your dream’ has become the ideology of an entire generation. If you dream of becoming a global supermodel but have the bone structure of a wildebeest and the face of a moose it ain’t ever going to happen.
Similarly if you want to become an astronaut but get vertigo climbing a step ladder then it might not be for you.
But people are told they have a ‘right’ to success, even when they put in zero effort. When they fail they become disappointed, angry and looking for someone to blame. We should be promoting hard work, self discipline and commitment not’ dreams’.
"Everything bad for you is cheap or free, anything you need is crushingly expensive" which I read in either Aristotle or 4chan
Freedom is the ability to pursue the good life, not the ability to 'do as one wills,' as you say. A good post.
Freedom is unlimited potentiality...infinity. That's why those who enjoy more freedom are the innovators. But it also comes with a price... lack of security. Those who seek security love authoritarianism and comfortable with a slave mentality.
Watch for the Seven Deadly Sins and connect with God.
"Selfishness is the source of all evil ." ~ Nisargadatta
Yes but aren’t we all selfish to some degree given the proper circumstances? In reality we all are since every decision you make is based on your own perspectives and values that are only yours, so
Aren’t we all evil at some extent and under anyone’s else’s perspective?
Absolutely. None of us is exempt from the tendency to be selfish. That is, in fact, the very challenge we all face, is it not?
Ultimately, the question is: which wolf will we feed?
> https://youtu.be/x95_BTeanI8?
Freedom is freedom only if used to pursue goodness, beauty, and truth. Anything else ultimately leads to slavery or death.
“Thought precedes action, action does not always precede thought”
Thank you. A very interesting post.
Your example of the condo dwellers complaining about the baseball diamond reminded me so much of the residents of Soho in the centre of London who have managed to get local pubs closed down because they are too loud.
As I say in this article that’s like moving to Venice and complaining that the streets are wet.
The whole thing is here if you have any interest in the fall of a great European city.
https://open.substack.com/pub/lowstatus/p/london-boy?r=evzeq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Seems to be a commonality echoed across the western world where people's ridiculous expectations are coming into conflict with reality. It'll only last for so long though, because those crazy dreams are likely to create nightmares, which I believe we're already starting to see.
Thanks for the link :)
I like your article and can say that you and Rurik gravitate around the same ideas, also a very interesting podcast (also funny). Thank you.
haha glad you enjoyed it. Wasn't sure how that'd turn out.
You're killing me, Smalls!
I loved that movie. They really don't make 'em like they use to.
Beautiful ideas for a utopian and nonexistent human race, IMHO. Even though I recognize the statement may be too broad, I doubt it. And also IMHO Freedom or total freedom = Chaos therefore such freedom needs some sort of protection, restriction, or whatever you want to call it, and in that case, I ask, is it still considered freedom?
it’s freedom as it’s truth and beauty in the hands of the beholder?
That's what I was alluding to. The idea of freedom is somewhat of a misnomer. If you're free to do whatever you want then the world devolves into a prison, but if you hold back and create an inner prison then the world presents endless opportunity.
One aspect is free while another is in shackles, the question is which one do you pick?
Yes I understand and that is why I mentioned a utopian society or humanity, sadly we are not there yet if we ever get there at all, lol, we are humans my friend and I think that to some degree selfishness, survival, etc are imprinted in our DNA, meaning that at some point given the opportunity at some degree we will act selfishly and of course, this will probably progress with time, as you said in your post inner restraints, respect, etc are decadent and they have been for some time, there is no balance, and IMHO balance is more important than absolutism in our case. Again we already talked about freedom right? However, there’s this Spanish phrase that keeps coming to my mind and it goes like this (no confundas la libertad con el libertinaje) meaning, (do not mistake freedom with debauchery). This has tyranny, control, etc all over it but it takes us back to your question and what I wrote above.
Matthew 16 : 24-25 Amplified version, Discipleship Is Costly:
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]. 25 For whoever wishes to save his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], but whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake will find it [that is, life with Me for all eternity]." John 10:10 "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]." John 14:6
New International Version
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 8:32, " Then you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free".
Maybe He was on to something.
--------------------
It is obvious to everyone....
Representative democracy has failed.
And, since the authority for government comes from the Citizens, the Citizens now have to stand up and inform their representatives that they, having broken their Oaths and failed in their Duty to the office in which they were entrusted, are in Breach and now must Vacate the building.
As sapient human beings made by God and in the image of God we, the Citizens, realize that our national sovereignty is so important and our sacred posterity is so dear that we must reconsider our government and the way we use it to “promote the general welfare, and provide for the common defense.”
With a new understanding we will also be able to accommodate citizen proposals for program and infrastructure maintenance and improvements.
Because Citizenship, true citizenship, is not about writing letters to elected officials or voting some good person into office.
Citizenship is about the Ratification or Annulment of each line of every law, rule, regulation and supreme court decision on the books or that is on the docket waiting to be turned into law, policy and taxes.
Nothing short of this is going to ameliorate the situation for the body politic.
"beautiful ideas for a nonexistent human race" is like "not poisonous to nonexistent bodies". Don't apologize for this shit by accepting the premise that it's "beautiful" in some abstract, context-free sense. In context of reality it's ugly, horrific even, and reality is the only context in which we exist.
Even reality is in the eye of the beholder my friend, as unique and single entities your perception and perspective are unique to you and your Reality in this very instant.
Another good, related read:
> God Save Us From the Utopians
-- https://thefreethinker.substack.com/p/god-save-us-from-the-utopians
Is it selfishness applied only to interhuman interactions? or to everything in general? Isn’t it selfish to kill a fish so we can eat it to survive?
To wash our vehicles with water so needed in parts of the world?
To want my kid to be more successful than others?
Etc, etc, etc.
I think it’s part of humans and to acknowledge that it’s within you may be the difference in to what extent your selfishness can grow.
We are so selfish that we all think we are right sometimes until proven wrong and sometimes not even afterward, again perspectives, perceptions, ideologies, indoctrination, etc dictate the way we act and react all the time.
Another example
How many religions do you know that claim that they are not the real ones protected by God?
Or that they don’t have the real prophet or not the ones promoting the real words from God?
How many of those religions claim God sacrificed Himself to save them, because they could not save themselves through their own efforts?
None that I know of, you?
Christianity. The only "religion", (in actuality it is a relationship with Jesus, not a religion) that God saves those who cannot save themselves. It is quite the standout.
I thought the question was ( What religion did God sacrifice himself to save us) Also, I get confused by your statement “ Christianity. The only "religion", (in actuality it is a relationship with Jesus, not a religion)” is it or it’s not a religion? I’m sorry but while it may haven’t been your intention, that was what I perceived based on my perspective. By the way, I do respect your beliefs and religious choices, but I think the original comment was about human selfishness and whether it is better or practical to apply self-restraint or to have rules and regulations forced upon us to follow. Even though (Religions) relate to the subject, I think it would take it to a different level, and I’m not even the Author, my apologies to Theodore Atkinson for hijacking his post.
As practiced in the early church and as learned by the disciples, Christianity is a relationship, not a religion. Man's ego invents religion in order to be gain power over other men by using our recognition of our divine nature to their own benefit. Religion is always about us and our efforts - until Jesus. Sorry I confused you. We have had rules and regulations for centuries; it isn't working nor will they ever work because humans are humans. Self restraint is better than laws, and the Bible speaks of the virtues as being of paramount importance, (the opposite of the "thou shalt not's), as well as discussing the fruit of the spirit, which includes self control. Jesus promised a helper to keep us on track. As a Spirit filled Christian who was not always one, I assure you that helper is very real. My point is that man cannot do either - obey laws or self restrain. We have thousands of years of proof. There are a few notable exceptions, but without being filled with the Spirit of the living God, man is doomed by his own nature. Few want God. The ego reigns supreme. So here we are.
A mystical scientist is an alchemist.