What Do You Do When All Your Institutions Are Hopelessly Corrupt?
I learned the hard way when I was battling Wall Street corruption that the SEC was hopelessly corrupt at the highest levels, when the head of enforcement was married to the president of the NY Fed and had the worst naked shorting offenders in her cell phone’s speed dial. I learned how corrupt the media was when dealing with “journalists” who deliberately misstated at every turn in an attempt to create a justification for libel or slander suits. I’ve made a hobby since leaving the US to follow the corrupt antics of the DOD, both political parties, the EPA, the IRS, the cops…basically every organ of government you can name. It therefore surprises me not at all that the CDC, NIH, FDA, and the MSM that reports on health issues, is also hopelessly corrupt, as described in this noteworthy blog.
Well worth the short read. The corruption drips off the page. It’s that palpable and obvious.
Yup. Dirty as a ditchdiggers shoes, man.
So what?
What I mean is that this has been this way for a couple of generations. At least.
Personally, I'm on Team Stone in that he showed me this in the film JFK and his subsequent documentary. When I think about it, and the stuff I just learned about Eisenhower's volatile temper and how he gave a parting shot about the 'Military Industrial Complex' as he was leaving office... yeah... it's dirty as anything.
It's funny, b/c I also think that Stone was instrumental in showing us the current Zietgiest of The Elite in Wall Street where Gordon Gecko stated 'Greed Is Good'. In a way, well, from a cultural perspective anyway, that kinda gave permission to business people to be shameless in pursuit of profit.
I mean today, company A gets raked over the coals by 60 minutes for doing shady stuff. (Puts on old man's hat)... 'Back in MY day, that woulda made those bastards shape up and do the right thing!'
Today?
Shoot- hang on, b/c a week later nobody will think about it. I mean, Flint STILL has dirty water, y'know? The so called 'news' cycle will find another shiny to moan about and the crises will simply fade and the company will not even slow down doing what 60 Minutes caught them doing.
So...
So What?
For me personally, shoot- my lifestyle hangs by the click of a mouse. No lie. I earn my living selling books on Amazon, and I'm too lazy and old to be widely distributed. Which was a business decision. For me, it's a hella lotta work just w/ Amazon; to have other e-book distributors is just too much a pain inna neck for me.
But...if some joker in India clicks the wrong button and cancels my author account, my life as I know it is over. Done. Finito.
My wife and co-owner of our writing biz knows this too. It terrifies her. Especially when I say...
"So what?"
Cuz if that did happen, I'd figure out something else to do. If that required me having to actually work for 40 hrs / week instead of the 3 or 4 hrs a day...sure I'd do it. (no pension nor investments here...)
In other words, I'd move on with my life.
Here's the funny thing:
Both of us- you moved to Mexico in what, the '90's or so? Me? I left a 'good job' in NYC in the 80's for Canada.
Both of us just did what we could to have the best life possible.
Neither of us live in Utopia, but it's a better life for each of us where we are.
We kinda figured it out.
I can't do a damn thing about the decadence and decay going on in DC. I can only watch and comfort myself w/the illusion that Canada's system of government is better. It IS better than what's going on in the USA fer shure. But it's dirty too; just in a different way, and I'm happy that Canadian politics is about as exciting and interesting as watching paint dry.
IDK if you agree w/ me on my take:
The problem in the USA is that it's deeply corrupt and has been for generations. The difference today is that anyone who's interested about stuff like this is much, MUCH more aware of this in today's day and age.
I mean, 'c'mon man!' (LOL)... you just put up a blog post in Mexico, referring to something some guy wrote and I'm a zillion miles away from you is able to comment on this.
The average schmoe is much, much more aware than he used to be.
This corruption is ultimately unsustainable. Just as Capitalism ultimately is.
I'll eat my popcorn and watch as it begins to crumble. And each time a fault line appears (see Jan 6 as the latest example), the system weakens.
It's a downward spiral.
So what.
So what? That's my motto. I've found strength in that kind of apathy. I know I'll figure it out if/when the shit well and truly hits the fan. In the process, I'll do what I can to support people out there trying to make a difference. Matt Stoeller's doing a great job. As is Taibbi and Weiss.
I'll handle whatever the hell happens.
And so will you.
And probably all the readers of this blog. We're frustrated, but not stupid. Each of us knows how to look out for number one.
And... and... we'll be pretty much OK. We'll 'figure it out'.
As this world continues to smoulder- and it is- I put my faith in that what comes next will be much better. But that's not going to happen after a lot of things burn down. Not cities...ideas.
Greed's not now, nor ever has been good. Ayn Rand is dead wrong.
Honor is good.
Honesty is good.
Compassion is good.
Love...
Love is good.
And I, like you, experience love in all it's faults and pains. Because there's also comfort, acceptance and episodes of such mind blowing joy that I feel grateful to be alive to have experienced it.
Merry Christmas, Rusty.
And to all of us in this community- Peace Be With You, and Merry Christmas.
I worked in pharma and medical education and omg the stories. BIG money, big corruption. Amazing it took this long for the chickens to roost