Thinking three (four? five?) steps ahead is something we have in common. Here's my current take, no mansplain intended. Just sharing in addition my childhood trauma-born hypervigilant modeling.
Billionaires are definitely top-tier schemers. They have plans, short and long term. Do they have a unified plan? How egos operate at that level, I think not. I think they are a loose-knit network. Sometimes they help each other, sometimes not, but they are always pathologically competitive.
My gut says Trump dies in office. Maybe due to age/health, maybe due to assassination. Maybe even this year. Hopefully publicly.
Then the power struggle between billionaires and their corporations and their sycophants, at least here in the U.S., really begin. Rival countries may make moves in the vacuum.
But we are already neck deep in dire trouble. The oil stroke is just starting to play out and the tail will last years. Israel is murderously obstinate, and will likely sabotage any deescalation. China will only tolerate the threat of losing 90% of their access to oil for so long before going kinetic. The physics and geopolitical knock-off effects go deep, all the way to the bone, and predicting how they manifest and behave is likely unknowable.
And then atop it all is the accelerating climate crisis. All of the above connected in ways that cannot be isolated from each other.
Chaos is easy to create, especially in a brittle world, but containing it as a tool is impossible. Once unleashed, it lives a life of its own. And while dreadful, it pleases me to know that the billionaires and nation-state tyrants (and their plans), will not be immune.
All we can be sure about is we are going to find out. Together. Stay spicy.
I agree with your assessment. The billionaires are certainly planning for this, but I agree with you: It's a bad plan, and it's going to run away from them, if it already hasn't.
i too think trump will die this year, or at some point create a power vacuum. it's this place that is more concerning to me than trump himself. they've really done a number on our government infastructure, and our global energy structure, that when he goes there's the potential for truly wild moves by oligarchs and greedy governments. if this occurs, i hope you're right that the greedsters won't be immune
Speak out so Europe, Canada and other democracies hear. Most of the world blames Trump and MAGA. They truly don't believe that this is a long term trajectory.
Sometimes, things get worse before they get better. For instance the Newsome and Vance as candidates for the next presidency makes things worse because it came from the same machine as Trump, Harris, Biden, Bush, etc. furthermore there no incentive for these candidates to work for the people. The presidency now is a grab bag of money via our taxes.
I think the road is going to be very rough going. Lot of things we take for granted, food on the shelves, electricity, water, housing, education are not going to be at our fingertips. Do More with less and this we can implement in our lives today. We can be frugal, and sensible. What we may see it that the country we know as the USA really breakdown into separate regions with resource traded between states. States start pulling their money and tell the IRS and Federal Government no, will be a greater catalyst to change the system. Money will not flow into Washington because it will no longer exist. The disconnect of coastal elites from flyover states will really be emphasized not by laws but by the resources the area, south, north central, Alaska. Both coasts have resources but incredible taxes, unaffordable housing, and failing infrastructure. It is an old system that no longer works. We see and are experiencing this failure up close and personal.
I am aging out of the system. I am 66 and I can do without, although having ac in summertime Texas heat is very nice. What would I do if I were young?Learn a trade, have a garden, still have a savings plan. Live cheap and efficiently. Develop a community of friends, relatives, coworkers, neighbors gather together and help one another out. Share resources within your group. Have your own library for medical, gardening and fixing appliances, houses, plumbing. Will it be hard, resoundingly yes, keep a journal, paper, video, voice of what your day it like, what your life is like. Volunteer at food banks, hospitals, libraries, churches and fire houses. Start now.
Well, we have plenty of options. Demand someone other than Newsom. Work strikes. Boycotts. Local action that builds local resilience. Getting people to listen and adopt those plans is incredibly hard. People reject the solutions, then blame people like me for not working harder to convince them. It's fascinating.
Can they? They still need people to do things for them for the foreseeable. AI isn't that powerful. Besides, their existence is predicated on fear of consequences, and more and more people are running out of fucks to give, see also the recent rash of warehouse fires and firebombs thrown at billionaire houses.
Chris Larsen is worth keeping on your radar -- he's not as overtly TESCREAL-connected as so many other California billionaires and he's done a better job than most of remaining a "Democrat" on the surface, but I'm starting to see his name crop up in the fine print of more and more relevant things... he's become one of my canaries-in-the-coal-mine in the watch for signs of escalation.
You're not asking the question in good faith, so I'm not going to indulge you. You're the one who chose to follow me, and I don't owe you anything if you're not coming to me with a willingness to listen. I looked at your profile. You don't show up with this kind of attitude on a male writer's platform, so take a hike.
Seems like someone so dedicated to hope and positivitiy wouldn't resort to insults so quickly. Have a nice life, and thanks for confirming your misogyny here for everyone to see.
My thoughts align with the writer’s thoughts; however my response herein may not (nor does the writer have need of it anyway).
My response to your post as to “why” should we do anything if the future appears bleak is twofold: 1.) Preparedness & 2.) Awareness. You survive by taking both actions - be aware and prepare; and further if you want a different outcome the most effective rout is awareness of all facets of what you are confronting.
It isn’t a bet. It’s an assessment. You don’t win or lose an assessment - it is what it is.
I’ve never found hope an “inspiring call to action”. I “hope” the Cubs win their game tomorrow but doing so neither inspires or causes me to act. I do plan to watch and bc I do I will plan to leave the house at x time and not drink and drive and so on and so forth.
We have to build alternative systems in our local communities. Mutual aid, community governance, growing our own food collectively, etc. We have to be independent of the corporatocracy.
Thinking three (four? five?) steps ahead is something we have in common. Here's my current take, no mansplain intended. Just sharing in addition my childhood trauma-born hypervigilant modeling.
Billionaires are definitely top-tier schemers. They have plans, short and long term. Do they have a unified plan? How egos operate at that level, I think not. I think they are a loose-knit network. Sometimes they help each other, sometimes not, but they are always pathologically competitive.
My gut says Trump dies in office. Maybe due to age/health, maybe due to assassination. Maybe even this year. Hopefully publicly.
Then the power struggle between billionaires and their corporations and their sycophants, at least here in the U.S., really begin. Rival countries may make moves in the vacuum.
But we are already neck deep in dire trouble. The oil stroke is just starting to play out and the tail will last years. Israel is murderously obstinate, and will likely sabotage any deescalation. China will only tolerate the threat of losing 90% of their access to oil for so long before going kinetic. The physics and geopolitical knock-off effects go deep, all the way to the bone, and predicting how they manifest and behave is likely unknowable.
And then atop it all is the accelerating climate crisis. All of the above connected in ways that cannot be isolated from each other.
Chaos is easy to create, especially in a brittle world, but containing it as a tool is impossible. Once unleashed, it lives a life of its own. And while dreadful, it pleases me to know that the billionaires and nation-state tyrants (and their plans), will not be immune.
All we can be sure about is we are going to find out. Together. Stay spicy.
I agree with your assessment. The billionaires are certainly planning for this, but I agree with you: It's a bad plan, and it's going to run away from them, if it already hasn't.
Solidarity, Jessica.
BTW, have you seen this yet? Chaos is already stalking the billionaires.
https://bloodinthemachine.substack.com/p/why-the-ai-backlash-has-turned-violent?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=post%20viewer
i too think trump will die this year, or at some point create a power vacuum. it's this place that is more concerning to me than trump himself. they've really done a number on our government infastructure, and our global energy structure, that when he goes there's the potential for truly wild moves by oligarchs and greedy governments. if this occurs, i hope you're right that the greedsters won't be immune
Speak out so Europe, Canada and other democracies hear. Most of the world blames Trump and MAGA. They truly don't believe that this is a long term trajectory.
Yes, that's what I'm doing. This is the biggest platform I have.
Me too… But I am just a retired old lady, an expat at that.
It’s not just the techbro oligarchs. It’s the entire venture capital fascist ecosystem.
Sometimes, things get worse before they get better. For instance the Newsome and Vance as candidates for the next presidency makes things worse because it came from the same machine as Trump, Harris, Biden, Bush, etc. furthermore there no incentive for these candidates to work for the people. The presidency now is a grab bag of money via our taxes.
I think the road is going to be very rough going. Lot of things we take for granted, food on the shelves, electricity, water, housing, education are not going to be at our fingertips. Do More with less and this we can implement in our lives today. We can be frugal, and sensible. What we may see it that the country we know as the USA really breakdown into separate regions with resource traded between states. States start pulling their money and tell the IRS and Federal Government no, will be a greater catalyst to change the system. Money will not flow into Washington because it will no longer exist. The disconnect of coastal elites from flyover states will really be emphasized not by laws but by the resources the area, south, north central, Alaska. Both coasts have resources but incredible taxes, unaffordable housing, and failing infrastructure. It is an old system that no longer works. We see and are experiencing this failure up close and personal.
I am aging out of the system. I am 66 and I can do without, although having ac in summertime Texas heat is very nice. What would I do if I were young?Learn a trade, have a garden, still have a savings plan. Live cheap and efficiently. Develop a community of friends, relatives, coworkers, neighbors gather together and help one another out. Share resources within your group. Have your own library for medical, gardening and fixing appliances, houses, plumbing. Will it be hard, resoundingly yes, keep a journal, paper, video, voice of what your day it like, what your life is like. Volunteer at food banks, hospitals, libraries, churches and fire houses. Start now.
wow.... that`s what this whole mess is boiling down to ???
You nailed the diagnosis! The implementation of the blueprint for Project 2025 is well underway.
I remember squeaking about it years ago, only to be called a paranoid chick! Grrr
What can we do to disrupt this evil plan?? At this stage?
Well, we have plenty of options. Demand someone other than Newsom. Work strikes. Boycotts. Local action that builds local resilience. Getting people to listen and adopt those plans is incredibly hard. People reject the solutions, then blame people like me for not working harder to convince them. It's fascinating.
Can they? They still need people to do things for them for the foreseeable. AI isn't that powerful. Besides, their existence is predicated on fear of consequences, and more and more people are running out of fucks to give, see also the recent rash of warehouse fires and firebombs thrown at billionaire houses.
Yes it’s time to talk about this now and get started on implementing our vision of a better world.
Chris Larsen is worth keeping on your radar -- he's not as overtly TESCREAL-connected as so many other California billionaires and he's done a better job than most of remaining a "Democrat" on the surface, but I'm starting to see his name crop up in the fine print of more and more relevant things... he's become one of my canaries-in-the-coal-mine in the watch for signs of escalation.
Other people have done a great job answering this question "why do anything?"
You're not asking the question in good faith, so I'm not going to indulge you. You're the one who chose to follow me, and I don't owe you anything if you're not coming to me with a willingness to listen. I looked at your profile. You don't show up with this kind of attitude on a male writer's platform, so take a hike.
Seems like someone so dedicated to hope and positivitiy wouldn't resort to insults so quickly. Have a nice life, and thanks for confirming your misogyny here for everyone to see.
My thoughts align with the writer’s thoughts; however my response herein may not (nor does the writer have need of it anyway).
My response to your post as to “why” should we do anything if the future appears bleak is twofold: 1.) Preparedness & 2.) Awareness. You survive by taking both actions - be aware and prepare; and further if you want a different outcome the most effective rout is awareness of all facets of what you are confronting.
I agree, 100 percent.
It isn’t a bet. It’s an assessment. You don’t win or lose an assessment - it is what it is.
I’ve never found hope an “inspiring call to action”. I “hope” the Cubs win their game tomorrow but doing so neither inspires or causes me to act. I do plan to watch and bc I do I will plan to leave the house at x time and not drink and drive and so on and so forth.
Hope doesn’t make the crowd fun. The crowd either is or isn’t fun; and no, I won’t let you know which it was bc sophistry annoys me.
We have to build alternative systems in our local communities. Mutual aid, community governance, growing our own food collectively, etc. We have to be independent of the corporatocracy.
Giving up guarantees the billionaires get to do whatever the hell they want.
They want us all dead, if they can manage it.