More than 150 years ago Thoreau commented, “Our sills are all rotten.” He was right. It is for that reason that Western, and Westernized, “modern” “civilization” is collapsing. This could be cataclysmic, of course, (as in, an ecological holocaust), or relatively peaceful, (akin to the Maya abandoning their great cities
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Writings of J. Todd Ring: US 2020 Election: One Choice Only – The Oligarchy
Chris Hedges states there is no choice in the 2020 US election if it is a choice between Trump and Biden: both are a vote for the consolidation of the oligarchy. Now that sums it up perfectly well. Mind you, it was the same in 2016. People in Germany felt
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: Importing From China: A Virus? Or A Totalitarian Model Of Elite Control?
Someone prescient once said, “Those who would sacrifice a little freedom for a little security, deserve neither, and will lose both.” We would do well to remember those words now. And we are most definitely in the process of losing both, as we speak. But maybe we aspire to be
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: Fantasy and Indoctrination: Rough notes on a few fantasy novels: part two
Here are two more fantasy books that I could not get through. That makes three in a row. And to think, I had a love affair with Terry Brookes’ Shannara series! (I read something like 20 Shannara novels in a row, and loved all of them, other than the last
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: Reflections On Stillness & Action
We need stillness and action – both, and urgently so. This should be becoming perfectly clear. I’ve travelled through 20 countries, but still I find stillness the greatest adventure, and most rewarding, enriching journey of all. Going to the mountain top is exceedingly worthwhile, but going deep within is what
Continue readingDead Wild Roses: Noam Chomsky on the High Cheeto-King
Trump level insanity dissected. Filed under: History, Politics Tagged: Al Jazeera, Analysis, Cheeto King, Noam Chomsky
Continue readingDead Wild Roses: We Can Agree that Sexism and Racism are bad, but what about Class?
Class based analysis of the system is what is required in order to raise consciousness so the work can be done to change the ground rules that are making a hot mess of things . “A now-retired colleague of Marxist persuasion once remarked on what he saw as a telling
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: Brexit Madness: Propaganda and Hyperbole
The media and the politicians are screaming that the world will end if Britain really does leave the EU. The absurdity of this now-standard narrative should be clear from the outset to anyone of sound mind. But in case it is not, let us say this. The E…
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: Feeling the Bern-Out? Feel the Movement
To put it briefly, it’s the movement that matters. The office of the President is secondary to the movement, and almost, but not quite, peripheral. Winning the presidency is significant. It can be a rallying point which inspires the people to further…
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: The Death of the Democratic Party
Let’s start with some basic facts about Hillary Clinton, the darling of Wall Street and the Democratic party establishment, and why her credibility is both threadbare, and also collapsing. From there, after establishing a basic reality check, …
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: In or Out? Democracy, the EU, and the Fate of the Earth
The people of Britain have now voted to leave the EU. That vote has deeper and more far-ranging consequences than many people realize. Among other things, it means the beginning of the dissolution and death of the EU. And I would say that is a very goo…
Continue readingDead Wild Roses: Radical Analysis – Not Out to Get *You*
“When someone says “this social phenomenon is not always empowering and in fact is coerced” they are not robbing you of agency or victimizing you. Radical analysis of the functions of power is just analysis. The analyst or theorist does not harm you, power does.” The liberal feminist response to critical and radical inquiry into […]
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: Justin Trudeau and the Continuing Saga of Canadian Apathy
A recent poll shows strong support for the Trudeau government in Canada, and I have to think, once again, that it is surprising to see that Canadians can be so uncritical and unquestioning of their government. Yes, Harper was defeated, and yes, that wa…
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: US Intervention In Syria: The Next Iraq
Here is a very brief synopsis of the US role in Syria. We will, for the sake of brevity, leave aside for the moment the obvious and documented facts of the US arming and supporting of the very terrorist groups they claim to be fighting; as well as th…
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: Obama’s Vision and Legacy: A retrospective look at the Obama presidency – before we lose all sight of recent history, as our culture is wont to do
Here are three short articles which I wrote between 2011 and 2015 which sum up the Obama presidency, and the Obama vision and legacy. We should remember, those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Let us review now the torturou…
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: Prospects for America: Sanders vs Civil War
(And that is not a threat, of course, but a prediction) An analysis of the present state of future prospects of the nation ~ An open letter in response to Daily Kos, and to anyone concerned with either justice, or peace The article I recently wrote and…
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: Blessed be the gadflies
Metaphorically speaking, and only with regard to issues of the greatest importance, I wholeheartedly agree: “When confronting your enemy, go for the jugular, and never back down.” – Alexander Cockburn (A journalist with a rare quality…
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: Confronting Evil: Not with a bang, but a whimper? Neither, I say
Yes, it is best to be cordial, courteous, friendly and respectful, and to avoid harsh words and harsh speech, generally speaking. But when it comes to confronting power, when it comes to addressing the power elite and their willing vassals, servants, p…
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: Bernie Sanders: The backlash is on – surprise, surprise!
Bernie Sanders was effectively silenced and blacked out of the media, by and large, for a long time, until he became too popular and too prominent to ignore. Now, the only candidate who is not a Wall Street hireling, hack or shill, the only candidate w…
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: Cancer Treatments and Cures – Natural and Conventional: An Overview
Here’s a thorny, delicate, controversial subject – but then again, when have I ever been known to shy away from such things? Peoples’ lives and well-being are at stake. We cannot afford to be tepid, mousey or weak-minded. Accor…
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