SOTU: Capitalism v. “Capitalism” – Podcast of January 24, 2015 Show

I didn’t mention it on the show, but in googling for images of “cronyism,” I found the picture above of Obama and Corzine…so what ever happened to Jon Corzine? Law, like taxes, is for the little people, I guess…

Hour 1

Hour 2

I guess we’re not the only ones who can’t stomach the State of the Union Address!
STATE OF THE UNION TELEVISION RATINGS DROP TO 15-YEAR LOW

Here is the book, Dynamics of World History, by Christopher Dawson, I was talking about that suggests that not only common values but a common religion are necessary for a culture or civilization to survive. Regardless of whether or not you agree with Dawson’s conclusions, this book is a very thought-provoking read with the added novelty of being a totally honest pursuit of truth in the field of sociology:

Here is an excerpt from the back cover of the book:

Several major themes run through Dawson’ work, but perhaps his most significant contribution was his insistence on the importance of religion in shaping and sustaining civilizations.

Religion, Dawson believed, is the great creative force in any culture, and the loss of a society’s historic religion therefore portends a process of social dissolution. For this reason Dawson concluded that Western society must find a way to revitalize its spiritual life if it is to avoid irreversible decay. Progress, the real religion of modernity, is insufficient to sustain cultural health.

I got some serious negativity on facebook for even mentioning this. I did so, however, because I thought it was a mind-blowing thesis that’s worth thinking through even if ultimately you disagree with Dawson’s conclusion.

Finally, I almost never click on European or Russian analyses of “wealth inequality” but given my topic this week, when I saw the new Crosstalk this morning I had to check it out. I’m glad I did. Max Lawson’s viewpoint is what I would have expected – he still has hope for the benevolent socialist government. Richard Wellings‘ viewpoint, however, is totally consistent with mine, and Michael Hudson’s, while not consistent with mine by a long shot, is interesting and much deeper than Max’s. What do you think?

UPDATE: By a strange coincidence, a caller on the next week’s show (January 31, 2015), recited from memory this MacArthur quote (apparently without having heard my reference to Christopher Dawson):

In this day of gathering storms, as moral deterioration of political power spreads its growing infection, it is essential that every spiritual force be mobilized to defend and preserve the religious base upon which this nation is founded; for it has been that base which has been the motivating impulse to our moral and national growth. History fails to record a single precedent in which nations subject to moral decay have not passed into political and economic decline. There has been either a spiritual reawakening to overcome the moral lapse, or a progressive deterioration leading to ultimate national disaster.

http://www.themoralliberal.com/2011/04/26/general-douglas-macarthur-mobilize-spiritual-forces/

9 thoughts on “SOTU: Capitalism v. “Capitalism” – Podcast of January 24, 2015 Show”

  1. Wow, I see a common thread between Christopher Dawson’s views and mine, and the thread is ‘common’. He talks about a common religion and common values being necessary for a culture or civilization to survive. I take that ‘commonality’ a step further and throw more criteria in the pot. It’s all about building unity and strength…and commonality. Diversity, to the extent we are forced to endure it, is a civilization destroyer! Diversity is not our greatest strength…just the opposite. There is a proper balance.

    And Monica, I found the Crosstalk episode fantastic. I will view again as once is not enough. Our current state is sort of like a Monopoly game where the board is now in the hands of one and all hope is lost for the rest…or at least we certainly appear to be heading fullsteam in that direction.

  2. Amen ,Hugh! I want the whole world to advance and prosper. When people say Diversity ,brings us engineers,scientist ,etc.,that we need,from around the World,makes me sad. To me that is Reverse Colonialism. Even if they come here and get great education, let them use it to help the consanguinity of their native land.My doctor is from Poland,my dentist is from Korea,wonderful friends from Ukraine,Russia, Mexico, Turkey,Israel,and yes MUSLIMS from all over. They are an asset to America. When I ask them who they are going to vote for,they say,Democratic. I ask why? They say because they believe in democracy ,that is what they love about America,democracy. Thirty nine years ago,I met a 21 year old in the mountains of north Georgia,who was looking forward to voting for the first time.I asked him how he was going to vote.He said Jimmy Carter.He said his Daddy ,Grandaddy and Great Grandaddy always vote Democrats. Yes,same answer,believe in democracy ! Thomas Jefferson was elected as a Democratic Republican.I say let the the Third Party be named Democratic Republican Party and bring in all good people. America may be slowed by a population with limited AMERICAN language understandings.

  3. Thanks to Neal Boortz,I understand we are a Republic and not a democracy. The Main Stream Media however, constantly says the heart of the American people is to spread democracy to the enslaved world. Under educated people and English as their second language, probably have no clue, what republic means. They equate democracy to the party that sounds most like it. The huge amount of independent voters who see a better vision than what we have now ,could join the new party. Let us challenge the two existing ,Federalist partner parties, and as Thomas Jefferson and the father of the U.S. Constitution, James Madison did, reconstitute the Democratic-Republican Party . Neal for President and Monica for Vice President ! Hip,Hip,Hooray!

    • WE ARE NO LONGER A REPUBLIC, OBAMA HAS A PEN AND PHONE, AND OUR UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION HAS BEEN DISSOLVED UNDER AGENDA 21 IN THE NEW WORLD ORDER. WE DO NOT NEED NEAL NOR MONIC FOR PRESIDENT, OR ANYONE THAT WE ARE FAMILAR NOW, WHO WE NEED AS PRESIDENT, IS AN EXACT REPLICA OF GENERAL PATTON AND NOT ANYTHING LESS. CELEBRITIES ARE NOT GOING TO ACCOMPLISH A THING, AND THAT GOES FOR BOTH NEAL, MONICA AND ETC…WE NEED AN EXACT REPLICA OF GENERAL PATTON, AND UNLESS SOMEONE HAS HIS CHARACTERISTICS, ANYONE ELSE WOULD JUST KNUCKLE UNDER, THOSE ARE THE FACTS AND THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER.

  4. In1953 , I slipped into a comma and came out of the comma in 1973 .They told me I had been in a comma for awhile . The first thing I asked was, How was President Eisenhower ? When they told me he had died, I said my-my,so Nixon is President ? When we told this joke back in the day we added expletives . Good point Futeret ; Eisenhower great Army General. Kennedy- Navy, excellent handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis, Nixon-Navy ended the war in Vietnam.

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