I began to write sharp and short political and economic articles on
these pages of Ensign some five years ago, and such articles have
been complemented with artistic pictures imagined by Timothy Shire,
Editor of Ensign. This writing was triggered as I experienced first
the corporative and narrow minded 'stick and carrot' management
philosophy of Saskatchewan health, and later as I experienced the
unjust understanding of Saskatchewan justice.
Such despicable experiences have a very private perspective, but
whenever we realize that the current world wide economic and
political problems have their roots into our own private experiences
then it is no wonder that our despicable private experiences can
collectively have a public interest.
We live in a world of hypocrisy as commanded by hypocritical
elitist leaders. I had no preconceived notion that I would have used
the term 'common' as often as I am presently doing. This term
'common' is becoming the critical focus for understanding our social
and economic predicament.
I got disgusted by the private (individual contract) justice
system and of the related rule of law and I focused my attention on
the understanding of Common Law.
I got disgusted with the flawed economic theory of "supply and
demand" as played by the theoretical market composed by rational
agencies and I focused my attention on the Common Good, that is of
everything which makes our collective lives more intelligent.
I got disgusted by the crony capitalism as peddled by the
strategic plans of rational leaders to cut costs and I focused my
attention on Common Sense.
I got disgusted by the bundling (fascism) of corporative and
political interests and we focused our attention on the
understanding of reality as either fictionally commanded by
corporative interests or really chosen by our Common Interests.
We live in difficult times and we are beginning to realize that
we have only two super powers today, Bush&Co. and the common people
of the world. Therefore, I want to stress the importance of
democracy as an expression of the common people rather than as an
expression of Bush&Co. As a consequence, I want people to reflect on
the social significance of this extract of an interview between U.S.
Army intelligence officer Gustave Gilbert and Nazi leader Hermann
Goering which occurred during the Easter recess of the Nuremberg
trials, 1946 April 18:
Goering: "Why, of course, the people don't want war.
Why would some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war
when the best that he can get out of it is to come back to his farm
in one piece. Naturally, the common people don't want war; neither
in Russia, nor in England, nor in American, nor for that matter in
Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of
the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple
matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a
fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship."
Gilbert: "There is one difference. In a democracy the
people have some say in the matter through their elected
representatives, and in the United States only Congress can declare
wars."
Goering: "Voice or no voice, the people can always be
brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to
do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists
for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works
the same in any country."
References
Gilbert, Gustave M. Nuremberg Diary, p. 278,1947, Farrar, Straus
& Co.
Questionable Quotes, confirms the origins of Goering's comments
to Gilbert http://www.snopes.com/quotes/goering.htm |