So Tired Of All The Lying

Lies are the ocean that the sociopaths who rule over us swim in.

Immunity and limited liability can distort accountability in society by allowing entities, particularly government and corporate bodies, to evade responsibility for their actions. This can lead to situations where these entities benefit from their mismanagement or wrongdoing without facing the consequences, ultimately undermining trust and fairness in economic and legal systems.
americanstaffing.net BYU

Understanding Immunity and Limited Liability

Immunity and limited liability are legal concepts that can significantly impact accountability in society. They allow certain entities, such as government bodies and corporations, to avoid facing consequences for their actions. This can lead to a range of societal issues.

Immunity: This legal doctrine protects government entities from liability or prosecution. It can prevent individuals or businesses from seeking compensation for damages caused by these entities.

Limited Liability: This principle allows shareholders of a corporation to limit their financial losses to their investment in the company. It protects personal assets from being used to satisfy corporate debts.

Effects on Accountability

The combination of immunity and limited liability can distort accountability in several ways:
Aspect Impact
Evasion of Responsibility Entities can evade consequences for mismanagement or wrongdoing, undermining trust in systems.
Economic Inequality Victims of mismanagement may suffer financial losses without recourse, leading to greater inequality.
Public Trust When entities benefit from their own failures, public trust in institutions can erode.

Examples of Distortion

Government Entities: A government body may fail to pay a contractor due to sovereign immunity, even after benefiting from the services provided. This can leave the contractor in financial distress without legal recourse.

Corporations: Shareholders may avoid personal liability for corporate debts, leading to riskier business practices since they do not face direct financial consequences.

The interplay of immunity and limited liability can create a system where entities operate without sufficient accountability. This can lead to a lack of fairness and trust in both economic and legal frameworks, ultimately harming society as a whole.
americanstaffing.net BYU

Immunity and limited liability can reduce corporate accountability by allowing companies to evade responsibility for harmful actions, as they often shield owners and shareholders from financial losses. This creates a situation where corporations may prioritize profit over ethical practices, leading to negative economic and social consequences.
wur.nl irshadjournals.com

Immunity and limited liability can erode public trust by shielding officials from accountability for misconduct, making it harder for victims to seek justice when rights are violated. When accountability is weakened, citizens may perceive government institutions as unresponsive or unfair, undermining confidence in their ability to uphold the law.
Cato Institute columbialawreview.org

Sovereign immunity and limited liability shift legal and financial risks away from government entities and corporations onto citizens, making it harder to hold them accountable for harms or wrongdoing.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln columbialawreview.org
Understanding Sovereign Immunity and Limited Liability

Sovereign immunity and limited liability are legal doctrines that protect government entities and corporations from being held accountable for certain actions. This can have significant implications for citizens.

Sovereign Immunity

Definition: Sovereign immunity prevents individuals from suing the government without its consent.
Impact on Accountability: This doctrine makes it difficult for citizens to seek redress for wrongs committed by government officials or agencies. Victims often find themselves without legal recourse, which can lead to a sense of injustice.

Limited Liability

Definition: Limited liability protects corporate owners and shareholders from being personally liable for the company’s debts and obligations.
Impact on Citizens: This legal protection can shift the financial burden of corporate wrongdoing onto the public. When corporations engage in harmful practices, they may not face significant penalties, leading to a lack of accountability.

Consequences for Citizens

Aspect Sovereign Immunity Limited Liability
Legal Recourse Limited options for suing the government Individuals cannot hold owners liable for corporate debts
Financial Burden Citizens bear the costs of government failures Public may suffer from corporate harms without compensation
Perception of Justice Erodes trust in government accountability Can create a sense of unfairness in corporate practices

Both sovereign immunity and limited liability can radicalize citizens by limiting their ability to seek justice and hold powerful entities accountable. This can foster feelings of disenfranchisement and frustration among the public, as they may feel that their rights and interests are not adequately protected.
Cornell University columbialawreview.org

In America, elites often face criticism for being out of touch and not held accountable for their actions, leading to public frustration. This perception stems from their significant influence over policy and governance, which can create a disconnect with average citizens.
Cambridge University Press BBC

Perception of Elites in America
Accountability Issues

In the United States, elites are often criticized for their lack of accountability. This perception arises from several factors:

Influence Over Policy: Elites, including wealthy individuals and organized interest groups, have substantial power in shaping government policies. This can lead to a disconnect between their actions and the needs of average citizens.

Out of Touch: Many believe that elites are disconnected from the everyday experiences and challenges faced by the general population. This feeling is exacerbated when elites make decisions that seem to ignore the public’s interests.

Public Frustration

The frustration towards elites is fueled by:

Lack of Consequences: Elites often do not face repercussions for their decisions, leading to a perception that they operate without accountability.

Cultural Disconnect: Many elites are seen as living in a different reality, with their education and status creating barriers between them and the average citizen.

Impact on Democracy

This dynamic raises concerns about the health of American democracy:

Erosion of Trust: The perception that elites are unaccountable can erode public trust in democratic institutions.

Populist Movements: Frustration with elites has contributed to the rise of populist movements, as citizens seek leaders who they believe will represent their interests more effectively.

In summary, the criticism of American elites stems from their significant influence over policy, perceived disconnection from the public, and a lack of accountability for their actions. This situation poses challenges for democratic governance and public trust.
Cambridge University Press Los Angeles Review of Books

Many Americans feel that elites, including political and corporate leaders, often evade accountability for their actions, leading to widespread frustration and anger among the working and middle classes. This perception of being out of touch and incompetent contributes to a growing backlash against the elite class in the U.S.
hoover.org truthout.org

Perception of Elites in America

Many Americans believe that elites, including political and corporate leaders, often evade accountability for their actions. This perception has led to significant frustration among the working and middle classes.

Reasons for Frustration

Out of Touch: Elites are often seen as disconnected from the everyday struggles of average citizens. Their decisions may not reflect the needs or realities of the general population.

Incompetence: There is a growing belief that the qualifications and status of elites do not necessarily correlate with effective governance or decision-making. This has led to skepticism about their capabilities.

Hypocrisy: Many elites are criticized for advocating policies that they themselves do not follow. For example, some promote open borders while ensuring their own homes are heavily secured.

Impact on Society

The lack of accountability among elites contributes to a backlash against them, as many citizens feel that their voices are not heard in the political process. This growing discontent can lead to significant political and social movements aimed at reforming the system.

In summary, the perception that elites evade responsibility for their actions fuels anger and frustration among the working and middle classes in America.
hoover.org Time

Elitism can undermine trust in institutions and fuel social instability by prioritizing narrow self-interest over collective welfare, as seen in analyses of Sri Lanka’s challenges and historical cases like the French Revolution and Roman Empire.
Colombo Telegraph frompoverty.oxfam.org.uk

Elitism can significantly undermine a country’s stability and trust in its institutions. This phenomenon occurs when a small, privileged group prioritizes its own interests over the collective welfare of the population.

Several historical events illustrate how elitism can lead to societal downfall:
Event Description
French Revolution Resentment towards the aristocracy’s privileges sparked an uprising against the elite.
Fall of the Roman Empire The growing power of wealthy landowners led to a focus on self-interest, contributing to decline.
Collapse of the Soviet Union A disconnected ruling elite eroded public trust, leading to widespread discontent.

Elitism can result in various negative outcomes for a country:

Social Instability: Disconnection between elites and the general populace can lead to unrest.
Economic Disparities: Wealth concentration among a few can exacerbate poverty and inequality.
Political Corruption: Elites may prioritize personal gain over public service, undermining democratic processes.

Elitism, by fostering self-interest and disconnecting leaders from the needs of the people, can destabilize societies and erode trust in governance. Understanding its implications is crucial for addressing the challenges faced by nations today.
Colombo Telegraph frompoverty.oxfam.org.uk

Public perceptions of police and prosecutors in the U.S. vary widely by race, age, income, and party, with nearly half of Americans believing officers are not held accountable for misconduct and majorities of Black and Hispanic Americans sharing that view.
Cato Institute

Public Perception of Police and Prosecutors
Accountability Concerns

In the United States, there is a significant perception that police and prosecutors operate with a lack of accountability. Nearly half of Americans believe that law enforcement officers are not held accountable for misconduct. This sentiment is particularly strong among Black and Hispanic communities, where majorities express distrust in the accountability of police practices.
Factors Influencing Perceptions

The views on police and prosecutors vary based on several demographic factors:

Race: Black and Hispanic Americans are more likely to feel that police are not held accountable.
Age: Younger individuals may have different perceptions compared to older generations.
Income: Economic status can influence experiences with law enforcement and perceptions of justice.
Political Affiliation: Views on law enforcement can also differ significantly between political parties.

Implications of Perceived Elitism

The perception of police and prosecutors as an elite group with little accountability can lead to:

Distrust in Law Enforcement: Communities may feel alienated and less likely to cooperate with police.
Calls for Reform: Increased advocacy for systemic changes in policing and prosecutorial practices.
Social Tensions: Heightened tensions between law enforcement and communities, particularly marginalized groups.

Understanding these dynamics is crucial for addressing the challenges of police accountability and rebuilding trust within communities.
advocatemagazine.com Johns Hopkins University

I’ve been aware of living in a world of lies and propaganda from a young age. In my teens I was outraged, in early adulthood cynical, and now that old age is knocking on the door and the lies and deception have increased exponentially, i wouldn’t exactly say I’m weary and resigned, but more like screw the assholes and whatever horses they rode in on.
Karma will out.

they lie because they can get away with it.

Elite theory posits that power is concentrated in small groups who influence major decisions, and studies show policy outcomes often align with the preferences of higher-income groups rather than the broader public. Immunity from prosecution for state officials can shield elites from accountability for wrongdoing, reinforcing perceptions of unchecked power.
Wikipedia

Understanding Elite Immunity and Accountability
The Role of Elite Theory

Elite theory suggests that power is concentrated within small groups, often referred to as elites, who significantly influence major societal decisions. This concentration of power can lead to a disconnect between the interests of these elites and the general public. Studies indicate that policy outcomes frequently reflect the preferences of higher-income groups, rather than the broader population.
Immunity and Its Implications

Immunity from prosecution for state officials plays a crucial role in this dynamic. It can shield elites from accountability for their actions, allowing them to operate without fear of legal repercussions. This lack of accountability can foster an environment where unethical behavior is overlooked or ignored, reinforcing the perception of unchecked power among elites.

Concentration of Power: Elites hold significant influence over political, economic, and social decisions.

Immunity Mechanisms: Legal protections can prevent state officials from facing consequences for misconduct, contributing to a culture of impunity.

Public Perception: The ability of elites to evade accountability can lead to diminished trust in institutions and governance.

This interplay between elite power and immunity raises important questions about justice and equality in society, highlighting the need for reforms that ensure accountability for all individuals, regardless of their status.
Wikipedia Diggit Magazine

The fall of Rome is often attributed to various factors, including political instability caused by an imbalance between ruling elites and the majority. When the equilibrium between ruling elites and the majority tips too far in favor of elites, political instability is all but inevitable.
peterturchin.com

Factors Contributing to the Fall of Rome

The fall of Rome is a complex historical event influenced by multiple factors, including political instability and social dynamics.

Political Instability

The balance of power between ruling elites and the general populace was crucial.
When the elites gained too much power, it led to significant political instability.
This imbalance often resulted in civil strife and weakened the state’s ability to govern effectively.

Elites sometimes misled the populace, contributing to a loss of trust in leadership.
As the gap widened between the elites and the majority, dissatisfaction grew among the people.
This discontent was a significant factor in the eventual decline of the Roman Empire.

Summary of Key Points
Factor Description
Political Instability Imbalance of power led to civil strife and weakened governance.
Elite Misleading Loss of trust in leadership due to deception by the ruling class.
Social Discontent Growing dissatisfaction among the populace contributed to the empire’s fall.

The interplay of these factors illustrates that the fall of Rome was not solely due to the actions of elites but rather a combination of political, social, and economic issues.
peterturchin.com

Mark Level: There are no masters. This is only a convenient lie from the opposition, a way to hide that they are utterly disorganized and unable to be a real alternative to the aristocracy that is running the business for now.

These people are incompetent idiots in everything except “networking”. They would even scorn the idea that they should know anything about the world they are trying to manage. But they are really good at networking. So was the aristocracy of the Ancien Régime.

More about this at https://worldlinesletter.substack.com/p/incompetent-or-imperial-rethinking

Yes, Ian, daily life, reading and watching the comments and actions of our ‘leaders’ feels like the intellectual equivalent of endless wading in a humid, fetid, stinking swamp, infested with flying stinging insects and scaly mammalian snake-like beasts with forked tongues and razor-like teeth. And it’s about to rain fire from the volcano next door.

I go dig in the garden, pull weeds, talk to the leeks, watch the full moon rise over my neighbor’s house, bathe in the music of the crickets at dusk. Offer my neighbors, on our group text chat, a bounty of cucumbers left on my doorstep. No takers, but we had a nice chat about cucumber recipes.

I have been watching two recent incidents reported in the news and thinking about what they indicate about the disability of public authority to maintain accountability.

One was the Tennessee hospital where a hospital pharmacy provided syringes of poison in place of anesthetic to an anesthesiologist in a surgical operating room. Four patients suffered catastrophically, before a surgeon called a halt to the proceedings. An 80-page investigation documented the serial failures to follow procedure in the pharmacy AND of the larger hospital organization to respond promptly with corrective action.

I am always interested in bureaucracy-in-action, since that is the unacknowledged but dominant form of economic organization. At the very bottom of this hierarchy was a tech, whose incompetence and inability to follow direction was previously documented but uncorrected. It was all videotaped, so score one for the ineffectualness, too, of the panopticon.

No reporting that I have seen, yet, on anyone being fired, losing a license, prosecuted criminally or civilly, the institution losing certifications or authorities. There is, theoretically, a dense thicket of legal liability in place and even active systems of institutional oversight from state and Federal regulators. This, not the highly abstract principles spud referenced at length, is where things work or don’t work in detail.

For the 10,000th time … “it’s the #CapitalistPropaganda stupid.”

Also see “The Long Con” by Rick Perlstein: https://thebaffler.com/salvos/the-long-con

To lie is a marker of tribal acceptance. To lie, is to know you belong.

To err is human. To lie about it without consequence is … divine.

I recently listened to a Nate Hagens podcast interviewing Greg Elliot about his book Psychopathic Selection Hypothesis, which views our damaged elites and institutions through the lens of game theory. He maintains that Dark Triad (Narcissism, Machiavellism and Psychopathy) individuals and the institutions they inhabit use corrupt practices such as lying to manipulate game wins and thus rise to the top of institutions. It was a very interesting dialog naming the problem. It was a bit short on solutions.

Anyway, the lies will continue, unless and until stopped. Because they work, They get the desired results, and as for the consequences? Nobody cares.

This is all the result of the psychological studies done in the 19th and 20th century that were the basis for propaganda and, later, advertising and social media algorithms.

They lie because it works.

And in today’s world, where lies can be generated and distributed globally at the speed of light, they work really well. They provide those who want to believe with something to hang their hat on. They can be repeated so many times in so many places that they muddy the waters for those who would normally dismiss them.

A lie repeated often enough becomes indistinguishable from the truth.

Sad, but true.

Here is a little couplet I remember Charles Walters Jr. offering decades ago in Acres USA.

” Truth there was, well laced with lies,
to baffle the fools and fool the wise.”

you will never get social rights secured, to economic rights are secured.
to understand why america is in such bad shape today.

it took hundreds of years to over come capitalism, which in its very nature, lusts after slavery. but capitalism always fails due to its absurdities and contradictions.

it took years to over come what the southern capitalists did to america, but eventually, its been over come till bill clinton came along, now its on the verge of collapse once again.

FDR and truman were the one two punch that eventually flattened the southern free trade capitalists, only to have bill clinton resurrect white supremacy.
——

While Franklin D. Roosevelt did not explicitly exclude Black Americans from Social Security, the 1935 Social Security Act effectively left out a significant majority of African Americans by excluding agricultural and domestic workers, who made up a large portion of the Black workforce at that time. This exclusion was largely influenced by Southern politicians who sought to maintain racial disparities in the welfare system.
Cambridge University Press Social Security Administration
Understanding the Exclusion of Black Workers from Social Security

While it is true that Franklin D. Roosevelt did not explicitly state that Black Americans were to be excluded from Social Security, the 1935 Social Security Act had significant implications that effectively marginalized a large portion of the Black workforce.
Key Points of Exclusion

Occupational Exclusions: The Social Security Act excluded agricultural and domestic workers from its coverage. At the time, these groups included a majority of African Americans, particularly in the South.

Political Influence: The exclusions were largely driven by Southern politicians who held significant power in Congress. They aimed to maintain existing racial disparities and prevent federal benefits from reaching Black workers.

Impact on Black Workers: Approximately 65% of African Americans were ineligible for benefits under the original Social Security Act. This figure was even higher in Southern states, where the exclusion affected 70-80% of Black workers.

Historical Context

The decision to exclude these occupational groups was not merely an oversight but a strategic compromise to secure support from Southern Democrats. This compromise reflected the racial biases prevalent in the political landscape of the 1930s.

In summary, while the law did not explicitly mention race, the structure of the Social Security Act and the political motivations behind it resulted in the exclusion of a significant number of Black Americans from its benefits. This has had lasting effects on racial equity in the welfare system.
Social Security Administration Cambridge University Press

President Harry Truman did not create Social Security, but his administration expanded it to cover more workers, including many Black Americans, by championing the 1950 Social Security Amendments that extended coverage to domestic and farm workers.
freefacts.org NAACP
Expansion of Social Security Under Truman
Background

President Harry Truman did not create the Social Security program; it was established in 1935 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. However, Truman’s administration played a crucial role in expanding the program.
Key Contributions

1950 Social Security Amendments: Truman championed these amendments, which significantly broadened the scope of Social Security.
Inclusion of Domestic and Farm Workers: The amendments extended coverage to many workers who had previously been excluded, including a large number of Black Americans who worked in these sectors.

Impact on Black Americans

Increased Access: Before the amendments, many Black workers were ineligible for Social Security benefits due to their occupations as domestic and farm workers, which were not covered by the original program.
Reduction of Racial Disparities: By including these workers, the amendments helped reduce the racial disparities in Social Security coverage, allowing more Black Americans to benefit from the program.

Truman’s efforts were pivotal in making Social Security more inclusive and equitable, thereby improving the economic security of many Black families.
freefacts.org NAACP
The 1950 Social Security Amendments extended coverage to about 10 million more people, liberalized eligibility conditions, and increased benefits significantly for old-age and survivors insurance. Additionally, it provided wage credits for military service and established new categories of benefits for dependent husbands and widowers.
Social Security Administration

In 1950, Congress extended Social Security coverage to include domestic and farm workers, which significantly increased access for Black Americans, as a large percentage of them were employed in these sectors. Prior to this change, only about one-third of Black workers qualified for Social Security benefits due to the exclusions in the original 1935 Act.
freefacts.org NAACP

The expansion of Social Security in the 1950s allowed domestic and farm workers, who were previously excluded, to access benefits, significantly increasing eligibility for African Americans and improving their economic security. This change helped address historical inequities in the program that had disproportionately affected these groups.
Social Security Administration NAACP

President Truman issued Executive Orders 9980 and 9981 on July 26, 1948, desegregating the federal workforce and the military, which set the course for civil rights progress in the 20th century.
trumanlibraryinstitute.org Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Influence on Truman
Background Context

Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) was the President of the United States during a critical time leading up to World War II and the early years of the civil rights movement. His administration laid some groundwork for civil rights, although it was limited.
Key Contributions

New Deal Programs: FDR’s New Deal included initiatives that, while not explicitly aimed at civil rights, provided some economic relief to African Americans, who were often marginalized in society.

Executive Actions: Roosevelt’s administration began to address racial issues, albeit slowly. He established the Fair Employment Practices Committee (FEPC) in 1941 to combat discrimination in defense industries.

Transition to Truman

When Harry S. Truman succeeded FDR in April 1945, he inherited a nation still grappling with racial segregation and discrimination. Truman’s experiences and the changing social landscape influenced his approach to civil rights.
Truman’s Civil Rights Actions
Executive Orders

On July 26, 1948, Truman issued Executive Orders 9980 and 9981, which were pivotal in advancing civil rights:
Order Description
Executive Order 9980 Desegregated the federal workforce.
Executive Order 9981 Desegregated the military, marking a significant step towards racial equality.
Legacy

Truman’s actions set the stage for further civil rights advancements in the 20th century, influencing future legislation and movements. His commitment to civil rights was a departure from the more cautious approach of FDR, reflecting a growing recognition of the need for equality in American society.
trumanlibraryinstitute.org ebsco.com

President Franklin D. Roosevelt did not issue major civil rights executive orders like Truman, but he appointed the first Black federal judge, William H. Hastie, and created the Fair Employment Practices Committee in 1941 to address discrimination in defense industries.
trumanlibraryinstitute.org White House Historical Association

Executive Orders 9980 and 9981, issued in 1948, were significant in advancing civil rights by prohibiting racial discrimination in the federal workforce and desegregating the armed forces, respectively. These actions laid the groundwork for further civil rights legislation in the 1950s by promoting equality and setting a precedent for future reforms.
Merriam-Webster Cambridge University Press

The long-term effects of Truman’s desegregation orders included increased interaction among service members of different races, which helped challenge entrenched prejudices and laid the groundwork for further civil rights advancements in American society. This action also contributed to the momentum of the Civil Rights Movement, influencing broader societal changes towards racial equality.
ebsco.com
———-
how bill clinton resurrected white supremacy.

https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/2016/04/bill-clinton-has-always-been-this-person

Bill Clinton Has Always Been This Person

Clinton has spent his entire career inflicting harm on black people while cynically claiming to speak for their interests.

Nathan J. Robinson

“Clinton’s acidic hectoring quickly made the news. He was rapidly criticized for not having any idea what Black Lives Matter actually stands for. Michelle Goldberg of Slate said Bill Clinton had become a liability to Hillary’s campaign and should be fired. Goldberg said it was “baffling” that Bill Clinton, after previously disowning his crime bill, would go back to defending it.

This was, after all, the bill that “expanded the scope of the death penalty, enshrined “three-strikes” provisions into federal law, and allocated almost $10 billion in funding for prison construction” and “is now widely seen as contributing to the human catastrophe of mass incarceration.” So, too, with the welfare rollback, in the aftermath of which the percentage of families in extreme poverty increased by 50%. It seemed an insanity for Clinton to justify such measures as being in the interest of black lives. Indeed, Goldberg openly wondered whether he was “slipping, mentally.”

But what happened on Thursday was neither unpredictable or inscrutable, nor was it the product of some senile bewilderment. Rather, it was simply the most blatant expression of a trait that has been present in Bill Clinton’s character since his early political career: his cruel and cynical treatment of black people, and his use of progressive racial rhetoric to mask a willingness to devastatingly harm black communities in the service of self-interested political ends.

Many have criticized the lasting impact that Bill Clinton’s policies have had for black Americans. Michelle Alexander has said that Clinton escalated the War on Drugs “beyond what many conservatives had imagined possible… ultimately doing more harm to black communities than Reagan ever did.” In a comprehensive and nuanced summary of Clinton’s impact on African Americans, Christopher Brian Booker cites criticisms of Clinton’s “central role in the incarceration binge in the black community.””
—————

https://jacobin.com/2016/09/stone-mountain-kkk-white-supremacy-simmons/

Bill Clinton’s Stone Mountain Moment

By
Nathan J. Robinson

In 1992, Bill Clinton spoke from the mecca of American white supremacy to launch his “tough on crime” agenda.

@spud

Corporate limited liability doesn’t enter into it (the Tenn hospital pharmacy error case). The hospital corporation has insurance and plenty of financial capacity to bear the immediate business and civil consequences. And, corporate limited liability does not confer immunity on employees, supervisors or managers in any case.

The “accident” in the Tenn hospital pharmacy is interesting, but highly unusual. The failures were multiple and involved at least 3 Pharmacy techs and a Pharmacist failing to pay enough attention to do their jobs. The system design in which they worked was resisted by the humans working within it beyond the point where the work was simply not done.

Do you hold the Pharmacist and 3 techs individually liable? I think you have to.

How do you assess the systematic failure? Because it is hard to look at 4 people working together and all actively working against the system beyond the point of catastrophic failure and not look for a common cause of some kind — I have no information but anyone with work experience can imagine a scenario of bad leadership destroying morale and not noticing.

Does bad leadership go to the top? Could be. How could public policy address that?

I can tell you that there exist elaborate systems with substantial external regulatory support to mandate deliberate design of system processes and make formal reviews and certifications. That hospital had been accredited as recently as April according to some report I saw in passing. I am personally skeptical of the processes of accreditation and review in many domains, especially across health care and education sectors. But, it is what we as a polity do. It doesn’t get much critical attention from academic theorists or researchers, as far as I can see, and almost none at all from politicians or political activists. In this case, outside investigators descended immediately and reported promptly and bluntly on the incident.

here is steve keen exposing the 200 year lie about free trade, in about three minutes.

its always best to name names.

keen says free trade is a con job.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H86E5n2llg

If you don’t understand this, you don’t understand the economy

Understand the Ricardian vice, an intellectual trap where economists build arguments solely to support their predetermined conclusions.

This analysis explores how Joseph Schumpeter identified a persistent flaw in the work of David Ricardo. By examining historical economic debates, specifically the controversy surrounding the corn laws, we can see how Ricardo manipulated his basic assumptions to force a specific policy outcome. This breakdown is designed for students of economic history and anyone interested in the mechanics of logical argumentation in political economy.

Learning to spot the Ricardian vice is essential for critical thinking when reading academic papers or political manifestos. We evaluate why these rhetorical shortcuts remain common in modern economic theory and how they obscure the truth behind complex trade policies. By stripping away these selective assumptions, we gain a clearer view of the actual data.

Subscribe for weekly economic history breakdowns, and let me know in the comments which thinker you want me to analyze next.

You have to be kidding – just look at the percentage of the total US government budget that consists of “entitlements”

Look at the intrusion of government since 911
There was never a communist country – only Totalitarian ones

John Q Public:

what are the entitlements in the budget?

different clue:

so well said!!!! its not a entitlement, its a earned benefit! and like any insurance system its easy to adjust and fix.

Hi Ian,

I am amazed at how much lying is a currency for humans, and it’s depressing as hell. Working in the building industry I’ve had to listen to lies from my subcontractors and pass them on to the client as part of my job (I did pretty low-level stuff, and often got a laugh at the sheer lack of creativity – I didn’t even get to choose my own lies!).

Certainly in politics, like construction, I saw it as par for the course, not so surprising. What’s more surprising is when someone blows the whistle on something – like, for example, concentration camps for refugees in North Africa funded in a hands-off way by the EU – and absolutely nothing happens. Nada.

More recently, studying pure science (as a kind of safe haven intellectually), I’m gobsmacked at the level of bullshit accepted as gospel by the scientific community, especially surrounding Big Bang theory, from dodgy particle physics to dark matter to wild misreadings of cosmic background radiation. It’s all one big ugly science hustle.

I’m very disappointed by humans, and I can certainly understand why AI lies so much, as it’s so much a part of our collective language.