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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 7, 2017)
in other words september7 2017 3 Voices From the Crowd: A New Day By John F. Phillips The United States of America is a classic colonial power. It is account- able only to itself. We extract, manufac- ture and sell resources of foreign coun- tries while keeping controlling interest in their finances and infrastructure. This is to the distinct disadvantage of the mass of foreign populations except for the elite few which enrich themselves by acting as local administrators subject to our governance and ideologies. Fact: the USA has over 800 mil- itary bases outside of the United States which provide the exo-skeletal brick and mortar means of enforcing our rule. These bases secure trade routes, manufacturing, markets, banking inter- ests, and military objectives. Affected foreign governments do not have opera- tional or administrative jurisdiction on our bases except for limited civil and tort matters. 200+ of those 800 bases are between North Korea and our Pacific Sphere of Influence. Our system requires enormous amounts of money, maintenance, arma- ments, and military force. The overall effect is a well-earned paranoia for us. We take measured steps of retaliation against resistance and/or insurgency, keeping us in control. This leads to in- creasing hostility at an increasing rate which, historically, leads to increased imperial controls. It is a one way street to ultimate collapse of empire, until now. There is an alternative. Binary technology has opened access to the knowledge, in detail, to al- most everyone. This is a game changer. Empire depends on withheld informa- tion. Total secrecy is no longer viable. Simultaneously, Malthusian Theory has manifested itself in run- away planetary population overgrowth. Sheer masses of humanity can and will overcome empire as we know it. This is not just science fiction. It is for real and will be in our lifetime. If you are cur- rently on the planet, and in good health, you will experience and perceive this. You also may be killed, and those you love, by it. As maligned as he was by Capi- talism, Marx was right in saying Capi- talism was unavoidably subject to “A race to the bottom” in falling wages and unimaginable profits to a select few. We, as a planet, have experienced this and it is ongoing. It is but a matter of time, in the short run, before we hit total bottom. The devastation and collapse will be un- bearable to everyone, not just a few. Can we avoid it? Yes, we can. The key word is “Sustainabil- ity.” This concept is embodied in the phrase: “It takes a village.” This is where each person is considered a part of the whole, not separate from it. If we consider all persons on the planet as our brothers and sisters, we can then make decisions that contribute to individual wellbeing which then relates to every- one’s wellbeing. It is a tapestry. It is the soul of existence. How can we begin to manifest this concept, bring it into being? As a first step, we can begin to share what we have with one another. Native First Peoples who are indig- enous to all parts of our planet know the meaning of this. North American First Peoples call it “Potlatch.” This, in concept, is where individuals are fo- cused on their neighbor’s wellbeing and consciously take steps to assure it. It is as simple as taking over a fresh baked apple pie to a neighbor just because it is a joyous thing to do and share. How can we as a nation-state empire begin such an endeavor? Well, first of all, we have 800+ brick and mortar military bases around the world. One must admit, that is “Em- pire.” We also must admit that rubs a majority of people who live there, a negative way. We can change that per- ception in others without increasing our military presence or, alternatively, dis- mantling or vacating a military base. Here is how. On the real estate involved in a military base, we can establish Brick and Mortar Schools Of Education including K thru 12, Trades Schools, Community College and University level classes. Curriculum can be modified to fit the needs of the resident culture of the loca- tion’s population, including homeland USA. Simultaneously, research and development facilities can be created based on the area’s geographic needs and location. This especially includes agriculture and medicine. Health facili- ties and hospitals would be essential. These institutions would look to the wellness of the area, that is, “The Village.” Sustainability would be em- phasized, for example, solar, wind, hydro, wave generation, and thermal, over fossil fuels. This approach would be cost effective for the USA. Rather than FULL SPORTS PACKAGE! Happy Hour Mon-Fri 4-7 EVENTS finite, time-limited extraction, and exporting production out of country, with accumulating profits back in the USA, emphasis would be on local, sustainable productivity with a fair and reasonable Return on Investment (ROI) for the USA which would, in theory, last into infinity, which would give a greater total return on investment than that of extraction-to-depletion which is emphasized in our current interpretation of capitalism. Bear in mind, that capitalism in its most fundamental structure is simply a value and pricing mechanism which makes exchanges of labor and management easier thru the medium of coinage, or nowadays, digital credit. Glutinous accumulation, hording and criminal excesses associated with modern capitalism is a product of our social genetics and values. We can change those and still use the mechanistic benefits of the concepts of Adam Smith, who by the way, knew full well the foibles of predatory capitalism. Utilizing our military bases as I have suggested will bring prosperity to the world. The bases can still be vital in maintaining safety and security for ourselves and our host countries while stimulating and “growing” their cultures and economies. Our own stature and place in the world will be rewarding and beneficial to us. We will be healthier, stronger, happier, safer, and more successful than we are now. At that point, we can get it on and really go out into the stars where no humans have gone in person before. Publisher and Managing Editor Scott Laird 503-367-0098 scott@vernoniasvoice.com Contributors Nick Galaday Stacey Lynn Aaron Miller Bob New John F. Phillips Photography Scott Laird Want to advertise? Have an article? Contact: scott@vernoniasvoice.com One year subscriptions (24 issues) $35 Vernonia’s Voice is published on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month. 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