Man is about to be an automaton; he is identifiable only in the computer. As a person of worth and creativity, as a being with an infinite potential, he retreats and battles the forces that make him inhuman. The dissent we witness is a reaffirmation of faith in man; it is protest against living under rules and prejudices and attitudes that produce the extremes of wealth and poverty and that make us dedicated to the destruction of people through arms, bombs, and gases, and that prepare us to think alike and be submissive objects for the regime of the computer. | |
— William O. Douglas | |
Associate Justice, U.S. Supreme Court | |
[Resistance / dissent is – probably – already futile… — kmab] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2022 | End The Filibuster |
2021 | Be Creative, Question Assumptions |
By No Means | |
2020 | I’ll Eat To That (Gemütlichkeit) |
To The Front | |
2019 | #ContinueToResist |
Except Willful Ignorance And Prideful Stupidity | |
2018 | More Executive Time For #DumbDonald |
2017 | Watched The Inauguration |
Two Geniuses | |
2016 | Come Dance And Laugh With Me |
2015 | Looks Good To Me |
2014 | Desire For The Sea |
2013 | The Fierce Urgency Of NOW |
Happy Inauguration Day! | |
2012 | One Path |
Sorrow And Joy | |
The Seven Year View | |
2011 | Emergent Practicality |
Posts Tagged ‘Politics’
The Dissent We Witness
Posted in History, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged Computers, History, Humanity, Mankind, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, Wealth And Poverty on January 21, 2023| Leave a Comment »
The Darkness Of 6 January 2021
Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged 6 January 2021, Civilization, Former President Donald Trump, Nightfall, Oppression, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, The Bill of Rights, The Constitution, The Jungle, Twilight on January 6, 2023| 1 Comment »
The Constitution and the Bill of Rights we designed to get the government off the backs of the people — all the people. Those great documents guarantee to us all the rights to personal and spiritual self-fulfillment. But that guarantee is not self-executing. As nightfall does not come all at once, neither does oppression. In both instances, there is a twilight when everything remains seemingly unchanged. And it is in such a twilight that we all must be most aware of the change in the air — however slight — lest we become unwitting victims of the darkness. | |
— William O. Douglas | |
[Thinking back to the riot at the Capitol Building and the attempted coup by disgraced / former President Trump and his followers, I am reminded that “civilization” (like our liberties) is in a constant struggle with the “jungle” and the jungle never gives up in its struggle to reclaim whatever has been lost. It is up to each American to support / promote our democracy and Constitutional Republic. Trump remains an announced candidate for 2024. The darkness remains at the edge of democracy. — kmab] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2022 | Defeated: So Far (Anyway) |
2021 | Elections Have Consequences |
It’s Cold Way Down There | |
2020 | Fearless Security |
2019 | I Prefer A Neat Single Malt |
2018 | Seeking Finer Fruits |
2017 | Something That Is Absolute |
2016 | Animate And Encourage |
Out Of Time | |
2015 | In Time |
2014 | Robust Interconnectivity |
2013 | What Have We Here? |
2012 | Tributaries And Eddies |
An Honest Politician | |
2011 | Penultimate |
Says The Rich
Posted in Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, Republicans, Swimming, Taxation, Tides, Warren Buffett on December 19, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Only when the tide goes out do you discover who’s been swimming naked. | |
— Warren Buffett | |
[For most of the last 60 years, all we’ve heard from the Republicans is: “Lower taxes on the rich and require everyone to work for their social safety net “benefits” and America will be a “better” place.” How’s that worked out for the middle and working class American? — kmab] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Most Likely Beast |
Memories To Last A Lifetime | |
2020 | Meet Unexpected Success |
Sweet Love | |
2019 | Curing With Salt |
2018 | A Politician With Skills |
And / Or A Genuine Smile | |
2017 | A Lone, Brave Voice… |
2016 | Job Security |
2015 | For I Have Always Lived Violently |
2014 | We Stand !! (I Stand With George) |
Additional Requirements | |
2013 | In The Present Day |
2012 | Feeling It |
2011 | Stretching Science |
Honesty In Business
Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged Business, Frank Zappa, Honesty, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, The Big Lie, The Real Frank Zappa Book, Unions on November 23, 2022| Leave a Comment »
I realize that a lot of people feel that speaking out against unions is almost: ‘Un-American.’ I remind them: not all of America is unionized — in fact, the vast majority of Americans are not — and glad about it. | |
Some people fear that if the unions were to vanish, the labor situation would return to the way it was in the beginning, with child labor and sweatshops. I agree with them. Large employers do tend toward unscrupulous behavior when nobody is looking over their shoulder. | |
So, what the bottom line here? I would like to see more honesty in business — at both ends of the table. Honesty in U.S. business appears to be at its lowest ebb in history. | |
There are a number of reasons for that. When political leaders do not demonstrate honesty, when people lie constantly in the media — everybody gets used to “The Big Lie” as a way of life. At that point, honesty becomes a quaintly outmoded concept — nobody wants to be honest anymore, because if they are, they might finish last. | |
I would say that today, dishonesty is the rule, and honesty the exception. It could be, statistically, that more people are honest than dishonest, but the few that really control things are not honest, and that tips the balance. | |
— Frank Zappa | |
From his book: “The Real Frank Zappa Book“ | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Momentary Offering |
Happy Noise | |
2020 | No Crumbs |
Too Many Detectives On This Case | |
A New Day Is Coming | |
2019 | Or In This Case – What’s Wrong |
2018 | Just Passing Through |
2017 | True Torture |
Happy Thanksgiving – 2017 !! | |
2016 | Overtaken |
2015 | Alone Praying |
2014 | A Full Man |
2013 | Off Defending The Universe |
Taking Precautions | |
2012 | Never, Never, Never |
2011 | Testing 1, 2, 3 |
MAGA’s And The Big Lie About The 2020 Election
Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged 2020 Presidential Election, Beliefs, Francis Bacon, MAGAs, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, The Big Lie, Truth on November 15, 2022| Leave a Comment »
For what a man would like to be true, that he more readily believes. | |
— Francis Bacon | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | These Days Rather Loosely Held |
Harvest Time | |
2020 | Why I’m Happy |
The Wind In My Face | |
2019 | I Think Impeachment Is Another Test #45 Has Already Failed |
2018 | Second Chances – Rice, Now Trees |
And Then You Have To Start Training Again | |
2017 | Small Hands, Small Grasp |
2016 | Two Murrow’s |
Election + 1 Week | |
2015 | Not Mine, Anyway |
2015 | South By South East |
2013 | Don’tcha |
2012 | I Hear A Distant Thunder |
2011 | A Poison Tree |
Voting / Election Day, America!
Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged 2022 Mid-Term Elections, Arthur Wellesley Wellington, Election 2022, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, Today's Business, Voting on November 8, 2022| 2 Comments »
My rule is always to do the business of the day in the day. | |
— Arthur Wellesley Wellington | |
[If you haven’t already voted early, please vote today. The Democracy you save, may be ours! — kmab] | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2021 | Closer To Understanding |
On My Knees | |
2020 | Profit From Ongoing Disintegration |
I’m A Dreamer | |
2019 | Even When We Have A Criminal / Dangerous / Incompetent President |
2018 | But It Keeps Trying |
Blue Wave, But Not Blue Tsunami | |
2017 | The Promise At Risk |
2016 | Or As Will Come In Time |
2015 | It Is Another Beautiful Day At The Red Pony Bar And Continual Soiree… |
2014 | Days And Years |
2013 | Currency And Transport |
2012 | Something Which Did Not Exist Before |
2011 | True Magic |
Make It So
Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged Community, Love, Mission, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, U.S. Representative John Lewis, Young People on October 25, 2022| Leave a Comment »
What I try to tell young people is that if you come together with a mission, and it’s grounded with love and a sense of community, you can make the impossible possible. | |
— U.S. Representative John Lewis | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2021 | A Simple Choice, Really |
Waaaay Before The Movie | |
2020 | I Just Want To Stay Happy |
Fading… | |
2019 | Show Righteousness, Not Fear |
2018 | Sounds Like Politics, Too |
2017 | Resist More |
Conservatives Are Not The Enemy | |
2016 | Two Weeks To Go… |
2015 | Remembering |
2014 | The Creeping Death Of Civilization |
Orange October (X) – A Blue Morning Turns Into An Orange Evening | |
2013 | License Problem |
2012 | Giants Win Game 2 Of The 2012 World Series 2 To 0!!! |
Adage, n. | |
Questions Women Should Ask Before Voting… | |
2011 | What Are You Looking At? |
A General Guideline For Voting In The 2022 Mid-Terms
Posted in Humor, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged An Incomplete Education, Bedroom Shades, Books, Bugs, Censorship, Democrats, Democrats vs Republicans, Exterminators, Humor, Judy Jones, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, Republicans, William Wilson on October 22, 2022| Leave a Comment »
How can you tell if you should be voting Democrat or Republican: | |
Vote Republican if you hire exterminators to kill bugs in your house. | |
Vote Democrat if you step on the bugs. | |
Vote Democrat if you buy books which have been banned somewhere. | |
Vote Republican if you form censorship committees and read the books as a group. | |
Vote Democrat if you eat the fish and game you catch or hunt. | |
Vote Republican if you hang them on a wall. | |
Vote Republican if you keep your bedroom shades drawn (although there is little reason you need to). | |
Vote Democrat if you ought to but don’t. | |
— From “An Incomplete Education“, by Judy Jones and William Wilson | |
[The above quote was posted several years ago, but I’ve recently re-read it, so I’m re-posting it. I would add: | |
Vote Democrat if you believe America should be a representative democracy based on the votes of a majority of the American public. | |
Vote Republican if you believe a theocratic minority (mostly hypocritical) should be able to impose their religious beliefs on the rest of America. | |
— kmab] | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2021 | Press On |
Mama Said There’d Be Days Like This | |
2020 | AMA |
Still Shiny | |
2019 | Things That Go Bump In The Night |
Hoping I’m Careful | |
2018 | I Must Be Truly Wise |
2017 | My Sensei |
2016 | The Worst Sin |
2015 | Rules Of Thumb |
2014 | A Prayer |
Orange October (IX) – Giants Lose Game 2 In Bullpen Collapse | |
2013 | Complacent Reality |
2012 | Two-minute Sex |
Just Staring, Why? | |
2011 | A World Of Difference |
…A Decent Human Being Or A Successful President
Posted in Leadership, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged #TrumpTheTraitor, Artist, Hubris, Larry Wall, Leadership, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes on October 12, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Hubris itself will not let you be an artist. | |
— Larry Wall | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Better To Lie, Get Rich And Destroy Your Country |
Love Is All There Is | |
2020 | You Remind Me Of Someone |
When I Grow Up I Want To… | |
2019 | Running History, But I Don’t Expect Many To Match It… |
It’s Probably Easier When You Live Alone | |
2018 | 25 Days Until The November Election |
Old And Young | |
2017 | Universal Soul Sounds |
2016 | Not Rivals |
2015 | Dead Sure |
2014 | Are You Educated? |
2013 | For Myself |
2012 | And When I’m Gone… |
2011 | Complete Conviction |
Only More Democracy & Honest Elections Can Keep America “Great”
Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged 2022 Mid-Term Elections, General Welfare, George Santayana, MAGAs, Majority Vote, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, Representative Government on October 11, 2022| 2 Comments »
Fanaticism consists in redoubling your efforts when you have forgotten your aim. | |
— George Santayana | |
[You cannot “Make America Great Again” by restricting the voting rights of those who don’t agree with you or redistricting representative government to promote minority rule over a majority vote. The “way” to win elections is with better policies and ideas for promoting the general welfare. — kmab] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Of Course The Term “Value” Is Undefined |
Waiting | |
2020 | I Hadn’t Thought Of That |
Keep Looking! | |
2019 | Knocking On Impeachment’s Door |
2018 | Do You Remember? |
2017 | Choose Life |
My Response To President Trump’s Threat To NBC | |
2016 | We, Us, All |
2015 | No Less |
2014 | Life Advice (50) |
Orange October (IV) – Giants Win Game 1 Of NLCS! | |
2013 | Running To |
2012 | Suddenly |
2011 | Liberal Washington |
2010 | Giants Advance To NLCS!! |
Why Does ANY Conservative Still Support #45TheTraitor?
Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged #45IsATraitor, #45TheTraitor, Bishop Desmond Tutu, Conservatives, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, Republicans, Rivers on September 24, 2022| 2 Comments »
There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out why they’re falling in. | |
— Bishop Desmond Tutu | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | The Mirror Would Know |
Mamasaydobeddyalong | |
2020 | Why #45 Is Always Crying |
Watching #45 Hold A Rally | |
2019 | I Think Reading Books Is A Good Place To Start |
2018 | And Pay In Full |
2017 | If Only |
2016 | Equal Justice |
2015 | Not Enough |
2014 | Are You Even Listening? |
2013 | Namaste |
2012 | Looking Up |
2011 | Et Tu Brute? |
Count And Be Heard!
Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged 2022 Mid-Term Elections, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, Voting on September 7, 2022| 1 Comment »
Voting is your chance to be heard! | |
If you are registered: VOTE in November!! And tell your eligible family, friends and neighbors to do the same. | |
Vote by mail, by drop-box, or in-person; vote early or vote on election day. | |
If you are not currently registered, see if your state will still let you register. If not, see if they will let you register and vote on the same day. | |
Take the time to learn about your local issues / candidates and vote down ticket as well as for your Congressional House District Representative (or Senator if they are running). | |
Your vote ONLY counts IF you (they) actually cast your (their) vote. — kmab | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Practically Worthless In Every Way |
It Never Was | |
Frustrating Incentive | |
2020 | You Too? |
Six Degrees | |
2019 | A Branching Stream |
Day 9: One Day At A Time | |
2018 | Pity The Nation (Part 2) |
Day 1: Redux | |
2017 | Good Blogs, Too |
2016 | My Prediction For #AmnestyDon |
2015 | Worth A Try |
2014 | I’m Feeling It |
2013 | May I Have A Little More, Please? |
2012 | Increasing Doubt |
2011 | You Can’t Touch This |
Guard Rails: Feeling Gravity’s Pull
Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged #45TheTraitor, American Democracy, Guard Rails, Joe Biden, Joe Scarborough, Morning Joe, MSNBC, Philosophy, Political Gravity, Politics, Quotes, Republican Insurrectionists, Rule Of Law, Swing Voters on September 7, 2022| Leave a Comment »
When you look at all of these people, breaking all of these laws, all over the country, thinking that they live in a world that’s not only a post-fact world, but a post-law world, and they really believed because Donald Trump always seemed to get away with breaking the law. That they could just break the law. And now we’re seeing that actually, they’re all feeling gravity’s pull. That this was not a vacation from history. This is not a vacation from criminality. | |
… | |
I think for millions and millions of Americans that probably don’t even like what Joe Biden is doing right now, this is a relief, this is a relief that actually in America, if you break the law, you still — there are consequences. | |
But I think it’s a relief for a lot of independents, a lot of swing voters, a lot of people who aren’t a member of either tribe, that, my God, laws still matter in this country, and these people are getting rolled up by authorities for going out of their way to breaking the law, whether it was battering and abusing cops on Jan. 6, trying to beat them to death with American flags, or whether it’s, you know, and it’s not just criminal, it’s also civil. If you lie about election workers, you’re going to pay the consequences, like there are actually guard rails in America’s democracy, even if Donald Trump tried to convince millions of Americans that there were not. | |
— Joe Scarborough | |
Co-host of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe“ | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2021 | Practically Worthless In Every Way |
It Never Was | |
Frustrating Incentive | |
2020 | You Too? |
Six Degrees | |
2019 | A Branching Stream |
Day 9: One Day At A Time | |
2018 | Pity The Nation (Part 2) |
Day 1: Redux | |
2017 | Good Blogs, Too |
2016 | My Prediction For #AmnestyDon |
2015 | Worth A Try |
2014 | I’m Feeling It |
2013 | May I Have A Little More, Please? |
2012 | Increasing Doubt |
2011 | You Can’t Touch This |
#45: Guilty As Sin And Still The Biggest Loser
Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged #45, #45 - The Loser, #45IsATraitor, Blaise Pascal, Heart, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, Reason, Truth on August 25, 2022| 3 Comments »
We know the truth, not only by the reason, but also by the heart. | |
— Blaise Pascal | |
[The sooner #45 is charged and brought to trial, the safer the country will be. — kmab] | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2021 | Helping Refugees |
2016 A.D. | |
2020 | Imagine That! |
Call Me Sometime | |
Before It’s Gone | |
2019 | Imagine If… |
2018 | How Many Now? |
Day 29: Tied (By The Time You Read This) | |
2017 | Earn The Gift |
2016 | Still Loud |
2015 | Surprise! No Evidence |
2014 | Real Ideals |
2013 | A Happiness Weapon |
2012 | An Eagle Has Departed |
Ummm | |
And In My Prayers | |
2011 | Welcome Doubt |
2010 | Talk, Talk, Talk… |
Every Day At Least | |
Democratic Suicide | |
Pleasurable Reading | |
Loose Joy | |
Do, Er, Write – Whatever | |
This Glorious Company | |
Relax With A Good Book | |
Neither Vice Nor Weakness | |
That’s Rich! | |
Man Will Prevail!!! | |
Frankly Speaking to Arizona | |
Brother By Another Mother | |
Getting Into Good Trouble
Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged Action, Freedom, Just Society, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, U.S. Representative John Lewis on August 16, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Freedom is the continuous action we all must take, and each generation must do its part to create an even more fair, more just society. | |
— U.S. Representative John Lewis | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2021 | Universal Vibrations |
Stitched With Love | |
2020 | Weakness In The Oval Office |
Doo Wop (1961) | |
2019 | A Temporary Surrender |
2018 | I Am Spartacus |
The Privilege Of Milking | |
Day 20: Relief | |
2017 | Try Not To Run Short, Too |
2016 | I Feel The Same (Thankful) |
2015 | It Couldn’t Hurt |
2014 | Sir, I Have Reasoned It Out! |
2013 | What Are We Becoming? |
2012 | Miracles |
2011 | “W” Finds A Nut! |
2010 | No Strain At All, But I’m Not Sure About Stress… |
An Evening at the Pavilion… | |