Full in the Fog

In Today’s Episode We Discuss:

Capitalism vs socialism vs communism vs Leninism vs Stalinism vs Fascism vs Marxism vs Maoism vs Nazism.

Socialism: The idea that wealth and resources must be distributed equally between social classes

Karl Marx’s The Communist Manifesto: Original idea of marxism

Marxism : a way to interpret history (specially the history of capitalism) and a call to arms so workers fight for the betterment of their lives. The powerful (“the bourgeois”) and the powerless (“proletarians”) have irreconcilable opposing goals. The Revolution would happen when capitalism matures.

Lenin’s The State and Revolution. He applied Marx’s theories and brought on the Bolshevik Revolution

Capitalism has become an international behemoth and mere fight for more labour rights has fallen short of improving life for every proletarian of the world because the bourgeois have lured union leaders with local changes.

The Revolution can happen anywhere if a crisis hit hard. Revolution will spread spontaneously. Replace bourgeois democracy with the dictatorship of the proletariat.

Trotsky--wanted to spread Leninist revolution throughout the world

Joseph Stalin - Marxism and the National Question

The main difference is that under communism, most property and economic resources are owned and controlled by the state (rather than individual citizens); when the means of production are owned by the community. a classless, stateless, money-less, border-less, worldwide society. Just cuz it hasn’t happened yet doesn’t mean it’s not going to. Gonna be like Star Trek someday…

Fascism is a form of far-right, authoritarian ultranationalism characterized by dictatorial power, forcible suppression of opposition, as well as strong regimentation of society and of the economy

The Doctrine of Fascism by Benito Mussolini

Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler

Quotations from Mao Zedong or Mao’s Little Red Book

The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith

Capitalism--an economic system characterized by private ownership of capital goods, by investments that are determined by private decisions, and by prices; prices determined mainly by a competitive market; people try to gain material wealth by competing with each other.

New imperialism

The population is increasing at a faster rate than the amount of resources, therefore resource allocation needs to be rethought. Rate of innovation capitalistic cornerstone.

The effects of auto-mization (developing robots, mechanical arms, programs to replace jobs etc) on the economy The effects of the internet and social media on the way we live and consume information. The generation gaps.

We have effectively become cyborgs, always consulting the internet and utilizing technology constantly. We will continue to become more and more like cyborgs.

Does innovation/productivity have a limit? Have we reached it? How far can it go? Why has US always been the most innovative nation with this ideal for always having the latest gadgets and high standard of living? Has it come at the cost of peace?

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In Today’s Episode We Discuss:

The major issues - immigration, healthcare, national security, gun control, terrorism, education, economy, climate change, minimum wage, social security, medicare, environment, crime, military, abortion, taxation, federal budget deficit, trade, lgbtq, wall street.

Why are these major issues? What can become a major issue? Who decides what a major issue is?

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In Today’s Episode We Discuss:

GERRYMANDERING

In 35 states, the state legislature controls how district lines are drawn in a process known as redistricting, which occurs once every decade following the census. A decade ago, GOP strategists laid out a plan called REDMAP (Redistricting Majority Project) to take back power through state legislatures after the 2010 Census and use that power to “gerrymander” district lines to favor Republicans. At the same time, Democrats in states like Maryland and Illinois were gerrymandering district lines to favor Democrats

“Usually the voters get to pick the politicians; in redistricting, politicians get to pick the voters” -Thomas Hofeller

Redlining and other systemic discriminatory/corrupt policies

Ward, precinct, county, district

Ways to effectively make your voice heard, why you need to develop educated opinions and voice your opinions to make a democracy function the way it’s supposed to

Speak out against gerrymandering and these others forms of manipulation. You owe it to yourself to create the best life possible for yourself by making sure your voice is recognized.

US Population by race, class and religion.

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In today's episode we discuss:

• How to get a campaign off the ground? What are the legal requirements to be eligible to stand as a candidate for Congress, senate, president etc

o Reach out to people

o Develop support

o Plan events

o Budgeting

o Marketing

• Much of campaigning is a show that the politicians put on for the masses. How to dissect a politician’s campaign messages We also need to see if there is anything indicating they will be able to keep the promises they are making.

• Pacs Political action committees

National Association of Realtors
National Beer Wholesalers Association
AT&T
Northrop Grumman
National Air Traffic Controllers Association

o In the Electoral Process, dollars often equal votes.

 An early press release from Jeb Bush’s super PAC actually touted the fact that 95 percent of its donors had donated less than $25,000—not exactly within the price range of the middle class. In fact, nearly half of all super PAC money comes from just 50 donors, according to a Washington Post analysis.

o The much-vilified Koch brothers have set up a deeply financed network of political groups that almost parallels the Republican Party in funding and political prestige

o These entities are powerful instruments for influence—over both voters and elected officials—that are beyond the means of the average citizen. Economic elites did not suddenly acquire political influence in 2010—but they may have further tightened their grip on it. One does not need to be an ardent majoritarian to find that worrying.

 American Federation of Teachers, Sheet Metal Air Rail and Transportation Union, and international brotherhood of electrical workers largely support democrats

 House Freedom Fund, Majority committee and American Bankers Association largely support republicans

 American Bridge 21st Century raised $43,560,574 for Biden

 America First Action raised $46,553,472 for Trump

 Some of the largest pacs are National Association of Realtors, National Beer Wholesalers Association, Honeywell International, National Auto Dealers Association, and military contractor Lockheed Martin

• Russian Hacking, other forms of espionage, Trump claiming that China is using tiktok to spy on and influence Americans etc.

• Incentives each party has to win beyond just their name and beyond just helping people. How each party itself is like a corporation, like a business

• Lobbying/Lobbyists

 There are as many as eighty thousand lobbyists in Washington, DC. Interest groups employ lobbyists to protect and advance their interests. Lobbyists do this through lobbying: informing, persuading, and pressuring policymakers to support the group’s objectives.

o The five biggest spenders in lobbying last year, in descending order, were the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Realtors, Blue Cross Blue Shield, the American Hospital Association and the Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America.

• Most data that exists are from studies funded by individuals and organizations with agendas to prove specific points

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There are so many different types of elections, ballots and political positions. Ever been to the voting booth and not known what a position entails? Ever looked at a ballot and been confused? There are so many local positions. In today's episode we break down different types of ballots at different types of elections. The American political system can sometimes feel convoluted. Watch today's episode to understand ballots, election types and political positions better.

Tags: general election, midterm election, ballots, political positions, federal office, state office, municipal office, local elections, state elections, voter education, political education, political jargon, political terminology, county election, city election, convention, caucus

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In Today's episode we discuss the following topics:

Voting in an election is a skill, not a random intuition, and like any skill, it needs to be taught systematically to people.

oWhen you are educated you are able to see past demagoguery. You are able to actually pinpoint what will help you rather than seeing the surface.

We have given the vote to all without connecting it to wisdom.

oNot suggesting that the vote should be barred from anyone. Rather that everyone should take the time to educate themselves to make sure they choose what is best for themself. Don’t take words for granted.

We have preferred to think of democracy as an unambiguous good rather than something that is only as effective as the education system that surrounds it.

oEducation is very important. It’s important not only for voting but just to find peace and success in your own everyday life. This can then be extended to education in the voter system.

•“People need to understand that their self interest is tied to the political process”

•“People feel like things are happening to them and that they’re not active agents”

oOthers also are in denial that they are doing research when they are not.

•A political candidate shouldn’t stand for anything themself. They should be a completely open minded philosopher. They should only listen to what their people have to say, process it and implement it in the best way. Politicians shouldn’t have agendas and beliefs of their own, because they should be busy representing the beliefs and agendas of the people (quote Aristotle) People should elect people who will listen and people should scan the candidates and vote on their belief that a candidate has a good strategy to get the important things done. In the end everyone has an agenda though

•Stigmas that limit our thinking. How news/media limits our thinking to what gets highlighted. How to break past this to learn and be exposed to new ideas. How to stop labeling things as bad or good and looking at them as an ideology and assessing what aspects of it could help society or harm it

oEclecticism

oLocal news sources. Small news sources. Look for Non Profit organizations that are publicly funded.

-How to identify whether or not you are in a silo, what is a silo, and how to get out of one, why it’s important to get out of one

oOftentimes on YouTube and Facebook, once you login, Youtube and Facebook will track how much time you spend on a video or post and whether you like it dislike it and recommend similar videos. They will get to know your tastes and feed you that kind of content, so you will never get to see any other content outside of that. We need to make an active effort to seek out viewpoints and engage in subject matters that we disagree with or don’t naturally find interesting to expand our horizons.

oPolitical candidates aren’t like fish/poultry, they aren’t safer whether farmed or caught wild

oYou’re ultimately voting for a person for an individual, because everyone in the party has their own viewpoint.

•Identity Politics

•Electoral College

oGet rid of the electoral college. In order for this to happen everyone needs to educate themselves. Why aren't we taking education seriously? Why are so many people lazy and don’t want to educate themselves?

•Checks and Balances (Potential Flaws)

•The president’s cabinet/advisors

•Congress - lower house, upper house authority structure terms qualifications

•Senate - authority structure terms qualifications

•Judicial branch - what cases reach, structure authority

•The federal reserve/bank

•Important citizens rights each citizen should be aware of based on precedent set by previous cases

•Smaller roles on a local level like DAs, County positions, mayor, governors, city councils, county prosecutors etc and why they are important how they play into things

•Petitioning

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