Robert M.’s Post

The Illusion of Power There is no wavelength for purple in the visible light spectrum; our brains interpret the combination of red and blue as “purple.” In other words, purple is just an illusion, a product of human perception rather than a real color. Coincidentally, purple symbolizes power, especially political power. But what is power? People fear a dictator because his armed forces protect him and oppress them. The armed forces obey the dictator because he pays them. Financial incentives drive the armed forces’ loyalty and willingness to uphold the dictator’s commands. The dictator takes care of those who show more loyalty, and fires (sometimes literally) those who disobey him. The dictator obtains financial resources through taxation and controlling the national resources. He collects taxes and controls the resources using the armed forces. The armed forces obey the dictator because he has the power to distribute funds, and he has the power to collect funds because the armed forces obey him. In short, the dictator has power because enough people believe he has power. Power is just the combination of controlling the armed forces (red) and controlling the national resources (blue) and taxes. This cycle of taxation and coercion sustains the dictator’s power. But just the prospect of bankruptcy breaks this cycle. If the armed forces suspect that the dictator may not be able to compensate them enough in the near future, they may not defend the dictator against the angry people. A revolution bankrupts the dictator using two forces: increasing his costs and decreasing his revenue. Street protests engage the armed forces, which is costly for the dictator. On the other hand, national strikes will cut the revenues for the dictator. When they happen at the same time, the dictator will need to print money (a form of taxation) to pay the armed forces, but this rapidly devalues the currency and the armed forces can smell it. The prospect of bankruptcy undermines the armed forces’ loyalty, as the anticipation of inadequate compensation diminishes their willingness to defend the dictator. This highlights the fragile nature of political power, which can dissipate when people have sufficient incentives to change their circumstances. Of course, dictators commonly utilize various forms of propaganda, ideologies, and perceived security threats to justify funding the armed forces. The possibility of war and foreign invasion helps their propaganda a lot. #power #politics #politicalpower #dictators #autocracy #dictatorship #revolution #people #purplepower #paralead #powerofpeople #democracy

After just hearing RFK Jnr on Piers Morgan, I am completely incensed. The West is founded not on profit and capitalism. Capitalism is WHAT WE DO. But any person can make money. Dictatorships make money 💰. Look at the PRC and every other autocracy. They are all slavishly capitalist and are our trading partners. What makes the West special is its commitment to uphold democratic political principles. But of course we’re losing that. But with people like RFK Jnr, a person quite happy to make peace with Putin, how will that further American strategic interests in Europe? How will it further American global interests? Considering the embarrassing America political situation where the GOP has as its candidate a grade-A narcissist; the Democrats have put forward ‘the walking dead,’ and the most popular independent since Ross Perot needs a mental health check, this can only be described as the saddest period in U.S. history.

Why is Lockheed Martin receiving more in federal funds than the entire department of education that funds every state in the union? 🤔 ❓ Why are we as a nation more vested and financially invested in war interests than a sustainable peace for our present and future? 🙈 When Donald Trump promised America first - was he speaking to the diverse whole of the United States of America? Or to one specific sect in AmeriKKKa? (His xenophobic, racist, sexist, and bigoted rhetoric answers that question) 🛡️⚔️Could it be that we've had ideological fanatics calling the shots since Hollywood's film actor Ronald Reagan swept in to "save" us from the civil rights movements threatening "the empire"? The series of political decisions made with bipartisan support to enrich a minority of special interests and expand the "invisible empire" at the expense of actual domestic investments in the needs of the U.S. American people are catching up with us. ⚖️ Soft power is underrated and severely underfunded in a United States of America led by way of neoconservative and neoliberal war hawks united in one value: To put money/profits above all else, including our patriotic duties to our nation and future. That value that ironically helped build the networked tentacles of our violent empire is ultimately the one that is leading us to our demise. 👁️👄👁️ But we don't and won't go down. We, me, the younger generations, and all of us working to build our futures in this nation will fight to actualize the promise to be a beacon of hope in the 🌍. #antiwar #education #uspolitics #usa #unitedstates

The free world cannot afford a morally bankrupt leader at the helm of the United States. Such a scenario would imperil the very foundations of the international order and jeopardize the collective security and prosperity of nations committed to democratic principles. It is imperative that American voters and global citizens alike recognize the stakes involved and uphold the highest standards of ethical leadership. The future of democracy, both in the United States and around the world, depends on it. https://lnkd.in/gut6Eaud

The United States is not alone in being its own worst enemy, but it does it as well as any other state. Historically, the USA invested more money in suppressing the contributions of Black Americans and women than supporting them to achieve. This cost the nation trillions of dollars and left some of the potentially most brilliant people and ideas on the chopping block of history. Rather than learn from those mistakes, we continue to slash and burn with grotesque political infighting, harming our credibility and reliability around the world. Our Constitution calls for us to "form a more perfect union", but we seem inclined to explore every which way to rip it apart. With only two majority political parties we have only been successful when they have found their way to working together. Now, we have questionable antics in manic quests for power and wealth that exceed the imagination of the nation's founders. A nation bereft of social and moral leadership is one destined to implode and take others with it on the way out. Democracy and the rights of the individual have been our gift to the modern world, yet they have been corrupted by the few. Extremism has never worked in this country, and it will not work now. Elected representatives need to check their egos and party affiliations at the door and do the work as stated in the Constitution and for the people they represent. This is not rocket science, this is the least they must do. We the People must hold them accountable and return our nation to sanity, protect our democracy and once again lift our lamp beside the golden door, setting an example to the world...as our nation continues to best represent all the people of the world who have come here for freedom and a chance for a better life.

The Fight for Freedom, Independence, and Liberty – It Continues Today   From 1775 to 1783, liberty revering, independent minded, ordinary people accomplished an unheard of, unimaginable feat—a revolution which defeated the globe’s mightiest army and forced that world’s greatest empire to negotiate. Then, in 1787, many of those same revolutionaries created something exceptional: a Constitution that rejected violence as a means to change government and codified the most important four-letter word in all humanity—VOTE. Much like the long-ago English Monarchy that retained power, controlled policies, and ignored British colonial subjects, America’s current government holds power, controls the agenda, and ignores the will of the people. Therefore, I ask America’s freedom loving, independent thinking, everyday citizens to conduct an extraordinary deed—a voter revolution to defeat mighty politicians and force political parties to negotiate on behalf of the people instead of retaining their own self-interests. To succeed, Americans must not only vote, but also VOTE AGAINST every incumbent and VOTE FOR every challenger. At the very least, go the polls on Election Day and in that booth write down your own name or mine.   Augustus Lincoln Treatise (From “President You: How a Thoughtful Ordinary Citizen Could Change the Most Powerful Government on Earth,” by Tom Williams, All Wet Publishing, LLC © 2019.)

Freedom, independence, democracy. Not easy to have, not easy to keep. So does history still matter or is it forgotten? Remember the Cuban Missile Crisis? JFK had to fight off generals and intelligence professionals who wanted to go to war. Angleton was the Prince of Lies in those days, with plenty of allies. Remember Operation Northwoods? A plan by the Joint Chiefs to kill innocents and explode terror bombs in US cities and blame Castro for it, then invade? JFK's last pitch to Kruschev reminded him how the US worked. Kennedy feared a coup by the generals in order to implement their plans. Not the first time democracy was threatened, nor the last. Good judgement and a cooler head prevailed but paid a price. Are there cool heads with good judgement in the Cult, able and willing to do the right thing? Or is their judgement forever impaired by fear and ambition, their clarity of vision permanently gone ? If Kennedy and Kruschev could partner for peace, can our two warring factions do the same? Happy Fourth of July.

"In an unprecedented moment, echoing the words of Franklin Roosevelt, we are reminded that freedom and democracy are under assault, both at home and abroad. Tonight, I stand before you, not just as a leader, but as a fellow citizen, to highlight the importance of unity, resilience, and action." - President Joe Biden on the state of the nation 𝗨𝗻𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀: We're living in a unique era where the values of democracy and freedom are being challenged globally. 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆: The strength of alliances like NATO, with new members like Finland and Sweden, showcases international solidarity. 𝗨𝗽𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆: The Jan. 6 insurrection was a stark reminder that our democracy is precious and must be protected. 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: The critical importance of healthcare access and reproductive rights stands as a testament to our values. 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵: We've witnessed significant economic recovery, job creation, and investment in infrastructure, marking a period of robust growth and optimism. 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆: The commitment to significant climate action and reducing gun violence are imperative for our future. 𝗔 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲: I see a future where democracy is defended, rights are restored, and the middle class has a fair shot. America has the choice of choosing this future or the past. Let's hope for the best. #Democracy #Unity #Future

Liberal #militarism and republican restraints on #power: the problems of unaccountable #interventions for (US) American #democracy by Kevin Blachford ABSTRACT The average American citizen no longer directly pays, fghts or votes for war. The war on terror and the rise of debt fuelled militarism has detached the average American citizen from the use of force. This has left American elites largely unaccountable and able to use military force with minimal oversight. This paper examines how democratic peace theory has neglected the changing nature of modern warfare. It further calls for a return to the consideration of republican restraints on power. A belief in the importance of individuals playing a role as active citizens was fundamental to Kant’s arguments in Perpetual Peace. Modern democratic peace theory largely ignores the routine use of military force and the implications this has on the role of American citizens as a check on power. https://lnkd.in/eifF_Exs