KunstlerCast 307 — Yakking with Doug Henwood, a Man of the Left, About the Disorders of the Left

6 Responses to “KunstlerCast 307 — Yakking with Doug Henwood, a Man of the Left, About the Disorders of the Left”

1. DurangoKid September 18, 2018 at 5:56 pm #

   The left is no less affected by the same factors that produced a Trump. The system as it was originally constructed was supposed to prevent Trumps from gaining high office. The factors that have caused that system to decay are the same throughout society. We once had a vibrant left in labor unions and popular organizations. Enough so that a New Deal was a possibility. In the last several decades the oligarchs have had their way and this moribund society is what we have to show for it. The elites have lied, cheated, and stole their way to opulence. We are now living with the results of anything goes and nothing matters. It wears people down. If there is a way out it’s to put the people in charge back on the straight and narrow. There are probably several ways to do this. We can prosecute the bad players. We can change the laws to make grifting illegal again. We can turn out into the streets with torches and pitchforks and scare them straight again. What seems to be the most likely is the situation will get worse before it gets better and it may take a visit from Dr. Guillotine to weed out the undesirables. The first three scenarios rely on getting the elites to renounce their greed and act in ways that are responsible to the society as a whole. Option four comes about when the first three fail. It’s usually the case the elites feel as if their appetite for wealth is normal and good and they see nothing wrong with using whatever means to get what they want. For that reason they’ll resist and make a house call from Dr. G an inevitability. If they’re banking on the passivity of the masses to protect them, they may be in for a surprise.
2. Walter B September 19, 2018 at 12:20 am #

   Well I’m halfway through this podcast Jim, and I must say that it is really refreshing to hear a couple of long time liberal/Democrats not only openly admitting that the party has become a none performing entity, but that HRC has been a huge anchor dragging it down to rest somewhere alongside the HMS Titanic. Such self introspection is such a wonderful departure from mainstream reality that, I hope it continues constructively and perhaps even one day accomplishes something positive. Unfortunately, the republicans are never going to even attempt such introspection and if they even still have a platform besides “Trump sucks” or trickle down economics, well I would love to hear WTF it is.

   As a lifelong engineer I feel obligated to advise Mr. Henwood that building “seawalls” to counteract sea level rise is utterly retarded. If any engineer were asked to undertake such a project, he would give the person asking for such tripe the Big F-U and remind them that addressing the symptom rather than solving the problem is not what engineers are committed to doing. That form of “solution” is strictly for those seeking profit at the expense of fools. If the sea levels are indeed rising, retreat is the only solution if mitigation cannot be achieved. Take that one to the bank.
3. 100th Avatar September 19, 2018 at 8:47 am #

   Excellent podcast episode.

   Most people in the US, these days, are totally unaware that higher civilization exists elsewhere. Most were reared in this mess and have never left, or made their way here from an even uglier cesspool.

   Apotheosis of civilization for all is a new Texas Steak Shack next to the Kroger and WaWaSheetz sandwich making gas station just down the road from their subdivision with its asphalt trail to the too small community pool, and where Amazon makes 2 hour deliveries of soda-machines and air-fryers to their doorbell camera monitored front door.

   A bubble, alas another temporary one, separating them from the wasteland of thoroughfares and collector roads stuffed with fast food franchises, Asian nail boutiques, wig shops, vaping parlors, and tattoo studios. Each with their own decrepit sign and unconnected parking lot.

   While driving turn on the radio where one can listen to “Truffle Butter”

   Don’t google it. Just understand that no standards invites the nadir.
   The welcomed end to this civilization
4. Walter B September 19, 2018 at 11:16 pm #

   Ok Jim, just finished and I must say that you do us all a great service by bringing us such intelligent discussions and thoughtful considerations. It was especially good to hear the topics of racketeering in higher education and in medicine well covered, for although the capitalist mantra that an item for sale should always be sold at the absolute highest price possible, it should never have been allowed to be applied to these critical services. Even if the general public has been brainwashed into doing so. It is disgusting, immoral, and frankly un-American.

   Yes we do have the highest level of mental illness AND the greatest levels of drug abuse/addiction in the world, but this, I believe, is because the general public has been mind-fucked into a state where constant improvement is not only expected but required and now that the time is upon us for contraction, well we simply must be medicated rather than re-directed.

   Entropy made visible, oh yeah, there is one for the record Jim, way to go! And the loss of vitality, well even if it the few, the proud, the well read CFN readers are the only ones that notice this thanks to you, well, that is at least a good start. Carry on my friend, well done once again!
5. Kelly Monk September 24, 2018 at 7:09 pm #

   LOL USA can’t even take credit for Justin Beiber
   Great podcast

   

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