I like this guy, in spite of his usual self-promotional lead-ins and apparent addiction to the use of the f***-word.
I like Keith’s insightful critical analysis into current political and sociological footballs, stuff that I tend to get lazy about, writing them off as just more of the same collective (albeit intensifying) vitriol.
At my age, looking at the exit, I’m more interested in Keith’s offer of fine-tuning, of deepening perspective, than the idea that there are things to be pushed around toward some favorable outcome, other than a deeper and deepening understanding …which may, in itself, on some level, move the ball forward.
“Words as Violence …”: Even better listening to it a second time. Wanting a better understanding of Keith’s view on the relationship between speech and violence, I noticed I had at first glazed-over at his equally provocative “silence is violence” passage, the “silence implies consent” position that “Green-ish” types tend to guilt people with.
Worth investigating, I think. I’ll be my own judge concerning the right hill upon which to die (Oh, the drama!).
Ÿes, I thought this was one of KM-S’s better podcasts in that it seemed more balanced in terms of addressing the shenanigans of the right as much as those of the left, the pre-rational as much as green. The podcasts with Alexander Love on STAGES have been good too.
There is a type of silence I have adopted over the years. The best I can describe it is in the spirit of the movie “Sleepers”, where a group of men with a shared experience do not even have to say anything to each other, but yet successfuly work towards the destruction of a mutual enemy while aiding each other.
Silent action is 100 times better than voiced inaction, even moreso because one does not have to die on a hill at all.
Silent action can be taken at small scales - working to subvert those in our community we see as the problem through social and economic sabotage.
Silent action can also be taken against larger structures - working to subvert economic and political powers. Most important on this level is to not get caught - from cheating on taxes and digital piracy, or if that is all too much, participation in alternate economies to any degree possible and minimizing consumption. For example, refusing to use subscription services unless absolutely required to make more money and absolutely in the case of recreation subscriptions.
The conflict now is “Authoritarian Wealth + Stooges” vs “Independent NonWealthy” Trump and Maga is just one faction of the “Authoritarian Wealth + Stooges”. People who are thoughtless Stooges to other MegaBillionaires are also culpable.
It’s not really “Left vs Right” anymore because the Authoritaian Wealthy who are actively working to destroy the quality of life of the Nonwealthy and take their money pretend to be on either side depending on what group of stooges they want to recruit.
It’s only a little different than when rich Railroad and Oil Barons distributed blankets with smallpox to Native Americans, or when Missionaries bought land rights from Native Hawaiians for a case of Beer. Each and every company is trying it’s hardest to extract every penny from you while providing as little in return as possible and in many cases even outright actually poisoning you or otherwise destroying your physical, mental and emotional health.