in reading C.S.Lewis, I seem to remember his opinion was that birth control ie. sex without consequence marked a loss of social altitude.
3 Likes
When I started practicing law several decades ago, this was a criminal act described as a “bust out scheme.” Nowadays it is commonplace.
As far as Chris and Paul’s presentation, it just confirmed what I have been thinking for months, to wit, “it’s over. It is going to collapse. I have to accept that and plan as best as I can.”
I know that is true but it is so hard to accept.
11 Likes
“This Is Fine”
How can we describe Chris’s Sense-of-Humor?
Sardonic?
Chris sometimes likes to Take-the-Piss, right? For example, the time that Chris during one of his Morning Wake Up Call’s declared that he might have to rethink whether Reality Matters anymore?
Spoiler Alert: “Reality Matters!!!
And, NO..,THIS is NOT Fine, Mutha F…ker!!!”
My Peak Prosperity Social Credit Score Sucks!!!
We need to get Bill Cosby and Johnny Cochran on “The Show” to talk about Raw Justice in America and to talk about Jazz and “White People” and how the “Black Community” can become successful “Preppa’s”?
There must be Black “Preppa’s”?
There’s that Chicago rap band called “Salt ‘n Preppa”?
Didn’t they do “Let’s Talk About Sex” baby, let’s talk about you and me…
As a kid, I found that funny. Around the same time, there was another song - I Wanna Sex You Up.
All the clues to the destruction of our societies were there. It was all done on purpose.
1 Like
One can argue where the downfall started, but no one can argue that there is a downfall.
3 Likes
Tucker and Darryl Cooper had a great discussion about the decline (deliberate) of traditional society.
And Miri, the conspiracy theorist’s conspiracy theorist, with almost the same theme at almost the same time. If I were getting my A-level results today... - by Miri AF
1 Like
Trust in the U.S. Financial System has already been Popped by the [. ] who have recently hacked into the US investment bank servers to grab Client data? No one will park their money and their financial information in a bank that is not secure. Once the “Trust” goes, it only takes one good “Push”?
We need to get Bill Cosby, OJ, and Johnny Cochran on “The Show” to talk about Accountability and “Raw Justice”?
The Chicago rap band called “Salt ‘n Preppa”?
Machiavelli did talk how difficult and important for leader it is to portray and keep in check different groups: public, aristocrats trying to get your position, some other groups in society playing (eg lawers). If one wins popular vote but aristocrats dont respect you, they can easily depose you. And so on. There were multiple groups/segments, 3-4 at least, which makes this very difficult. This plays to our era PR, propaganda, marketing, “image”, optics and so on. Propaganda was known already 2000 years ago, in this power game context.
As things are in motion, as Paul always reminds, boomers (current pensioners) are in good health generally, so they can live 30 years, which means this crumbling system wont help them as they expect. It simply cannot. So it will backfire also on them. At some point nobody can be helped once (hyper)inflation kicks in. China or Russia dont do anything, they simply continue living as before, producing products, but west is unlikely to be able to buy them at that point. Maybe it comes down to taken for granted products like kitchen knives. (Paul always reminds how it is possible to plan 5 years, but how about one lives 20 or 30 years more from now… then maths problem becomes impossible)
1 Like
" boomers are in good health generally…" I’m not sure if I’d agree with that statement… quite opposite actually…
If Finance U ever gets released on April 1st, I reserve the right to steal this image to make the thumbnail.
I agree. Every boomer I know is on some sort of medication, if not several. Most can’t even spend 5 minutes on google checking to see if their drugs have bad interactions. I could go on for hours about my disappointment in their behavior and belief systems. We’ll spend the next 50 years cleaning up their failed financial party.
1 Like
Totally, dude! I would be honored:)
1 Like
Good or bad health , if they are alive 30 years more, unhealthy means more expensive care. But as other thread folks talk, some young folks get cancer at 37yo and may not see even 50yo. 80 is “healthy” milestone, 50 would be “3rd world” number.
1 Like
And our ‘retirement’ systems are NOT built for long lives after retirement. When the aged pension was introduced in Australia in 1909, only 4% of the population was eligible, and they typically died before age 70. Now, 10% of the population receives the age pension, and their average age of death is 83 years, often including decades of ill health.
Then of course there are the other ‘pension’ systems that also consume money - Australias NDIS (National Disability ‘Insurance’ scheme’) only started in 2013, yet now funnels money to over a million people, potentially for their whole lives. Add in all the other ‘free’ stuff being provided by the every shrinking number of citizens who are actually net contributors and its easy to see why government is getting bigger and life is getting harder.
6 Likes
“Machiavelli did talk how difficult and important for leader it is to portray and keep in check different groups: public, aristocrats trying to get your position, some other groups in society playing (eg lawers).“
Comment: The issue of whether Machiavelli discussed Propaganda depends largely upon whether you adopt a Broad (it’s un gentlemanly to use the term “Broad”) definition or a Narrow (a politically correct term) definition of “Propaganda” (Political Correctness is pure propaganda). So, if can be argued Both Ways (AC/DC…if that’s Yo “Thang”….)
My Peak Prosperity Social Credit Score Sucks!
Question for Grok-a-Roo:
“Did Machiavelli discuss propaganda as a tool of governance? Take your time to think about it.”
Grok:
Yes, in substance, even though he never used the modern word “propaganda.”
Machiavelli wrote long before the term “propaganda” acquired its current meaning (systematic, organized efforts to shape public opinion, usually by a state or political actor). What he did discuss at length is the deliberate management of appearances, reputation, and public perception as essential tools of power.
The clearest statements appear in The Prince:
• A ruler does not need to possess all the classical virtues (mercy, faith, humanity, integrity, religion), but he must appear to possess them. Actually living by them can be harmful; seeming to live by them is useful.
• “Everyone sees what you appear to be, few perceive what you are.” Most people judge by the eyes rather than by direct experience, so the prince must carefully control what is visible.
• He must be a “great pretender and dissembler.” Deception and the strategic use of image are not optional extras; they are necessary arts of statecraft.
• Religion is especially powerful in this regard. Appearing devout is one of the most useful masks a prince can wear.
In the Discourses on Livy he examines how the Romans used religion, omens, and public ceremonies as instruments of political control — manipulating belief and collective emotion to maintain order and obedience. He treats this not as incidental piety but as calculated political technique.
So while Machiavelli did not talk about newspapers, radio, or mass media campaigns, he systematically analyzed the political value of controlling how power is seen and believed. That analysis is the direct ancestor of what later writers would call propaganda as a tool of governance. The core insight — that effective rule depends heavily on the management of appearances and public opinion — is unmistakably present in his work.
1 Like
Boomers were born from 1946 to 1964, so slightly fewer than half are under 70. If every person you know who’s in their 60s is on multiple medications and in shit shape, you need a better class of acquaintances.
My 69 year old ass got 18,000 steps last Wednesday and 19,000 steps (about 8-1/2 miles) on Thursday walking around Colonial Williamsburg in 90+ degree heat with my daughter. Only medicine I’m on is from a bio prosthetic aortic valve from a congenital heart defect. So one pill twice a day with no apparent side effects.
I’ll send you some pics of my garden if you want to know what I do for a hobby.
10 Likes
I’m noticing that most people today seem to be made of the soft stuff. Good on you living it full until the end. That’s exactly what I want.
I’ll admit I’m starting to get uncomfortable after everyone in the room is passed out.
2 Likes