Endurance

Ignorance results primarily from two sources: poverty and privilege. Either denied an education or entitled to power, this isolation that enables ignorance breeds arrogance, and our society suffers from both.

In an interview on American News Project, Joe Bageant talks about ignorance and insight among America's working class in rural Virginia.

In an article on Daily Kos, some thoughtful people describe how even San Francisco's politically correct can be led astray by allowing their intelligence to be overshadowed by their emotions. San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom discusses this human rights tragedy in his city.

Kevin Annett's documentary film Unrepentant tells the story of the Canadian holocaust. For those unfamiliar with the systematic mass murder of indigenous people in Canada by the United Church of Canada and the Canadian government, this is possibly the most powerful film you will ever see. Testimony from survivors of the Indian Residential School death camps exposes how "Christianity was hijacked" by a people Annett shows could "kill without a shred of conscience".

It's always interesting to see how the economic technicians think, but frankly, the only phrase I found promising in recent discussions was "resilience against fraud". And as the proponent himself put it, the symptoms we are experiencing go much deeper than managerial solutions can address.

Where we part ways is in the diagnosis, and thus the prescription. Even the structural deficiencies are a symptom of a behavioral problem based on moral shortcomings, ethics if you will, and the requisite philosophical corollary.

All the soothing bromides usurping the language of ecology won't overcome the fundamental corruption of spirit embedded in capitalistic culture. Indeed, fraud as a way of life in the US is so pervasive that to create a sustainable economic system would cause our society to have a nervous breakdown.

That may already be in progress, but predictions aside, the only justifiable remedy, based on the historic record, is to institute what indigenous philosophers call the "law of generosity". Of course, as long as the policy and management of economic systems remains an essentially anti-democratic process, the results can only be expected to fail.

After all, the international elitists begin with the assumption that they are the brightest and best-educated. By whose standards?

Palin's church video.

When it comes to threatening behavior, mainstream media's cover-up of Governor Palin's violent friends is a much bigger story than her abuse of power. Of particular interest to Native Americans -- according to Dr. Rudolph Ryser at the Center for World Indigenous Studies (the premier indigenous think tank in the world) -- is that her political base is rooted in the Anti-Indian Movement.

Not since the Founding Fathers unlawfully seized the reins of government has their been such a threat to human liberty in America. What little was granted in the Bill of Rights by these ambitious murderers and thieves (in order to forestall rebellion against their brazen abuse of power), has now been largely diminished. What was begun under Reagan and completed under Bush has paved the way for absolute power under his successor. Whether Americans will again rebel, or be grateful for what crumbs they are granted remains to be seen. But the liberties taken for granted will be a long time returning, and hard won at that.

Frederick Clarkson discusses McCain's long-standing support for domestic terrorists (reconfirmed by his selection of a virulent anti-abortion activist as his running mate).

The top-of-the-fold headline I caught walking by the newsstand today said, "Vice Presidential Debate Spirited But Cordial." How progressive.

Palin supports nuclear aggression against Russia and Armageddon in Israel, and Biden is cordial. Style over substance, the progressive mantra.

Palin builds a political career on hate and intolerance, and Biden is polite. To progressives, manners matter most.