Equality? My Foot

So, I've been thinking (yeah, yeah, yeah, I know, "trying to...").
Somehow it seems that people fit into stereotypes, based on what they do for a living.
Sure, there are the odd ones out, but by and large the templates seem to fit.
This is not meant to be diminishing the value of anyone or any profession, but simply point out that there seems to be a reason why some people are good at one thing and lousy at another.
A reason that goes and well and truly beyond mere training and upbringing.

Examples, farmers usually make decent administrators and decent factory workers but lousy professionals and generally lousy leaders; soldiers often make decent leaders, but poor administrators, professionals are bad at everything but their specific profession (and even that is arguable) - which is why they apparently like to go into politics and mess things up professionally once eleceted.

So, if some people are good at specific things and less good at others, why did we ever abandon the caste system?

Okay, the caste system was a bit too static to be good, but if it was set up in a way that allowed jumping from caste to caste based on one's achievements, then it would probably work.
But then, professional associations, country club membership, college and university clubs and alumni organisations, joining political and charitable organisations, all boil down to little else but a more sophisticated caste system anyway.

In other words, when we achieve a certain degree of success in a particular field, we immediately begin to socialize with "our kind" and shut everyone else out. Indeed, the elite typically has an instinctive disdain for the "unwashed pedestrians". In other words, people do their utmost to achieve a priviledged position, and once there, move heaven and earth to keep others from doing the same.

So, no matter how sophisticated and enlightened we claim to be, deep inside we don't want equality. We want to be equal to those ahead of us, and superior to everyone else.
If this is indeed natural and instinctive, then equality does not only not exist, but is in fact unnatural and thus a bad thing.

This then suggests that political correctness is unnatural and evil, prejudice and discrimination on the other hand, would lead to happieness and satisfaction. Well, you know, for those who "made it" ;o)

Cheers,
ThePrivateer.

Political undertones in Science Fiction?

After noticing the political undertones in Star Wars 1-3, I had a glance at other SciFi flicks and realized that there seems to be apattern.

Star Trek Voyager is full of anti-business references, some blatantly ridiculing business, others all but endorcing communism. Most interestingly, traders and merchants are again typically shown as ugly, non-humanoid ceatures, and are usually the bad guys episode after episode, with the exemption of 'converted traders', who help the Voyager crew and either morph into something cuddly, or are humanoids to begin with.

Of course, the mere subject matter of a Starfleet crew with an omni-potent and benevolent captain being in absolute power, is a blatant endorsment of militarism and state control.

Next, Babylon 5 seems more neutral, occasionally even pro-business and mostly anti-establishment.Yet the political undertones are clearly left-liberal. Despite the apparent theme of wheeling and dealing being preferable to confrontation, the heros have strong communal sentiments and always seem to know what is best for the people. The occasional demands for sacrifices in order to help others and the New Agey spiritualism of the non-human good guys, as opposed to their ridiculous looking counter-parts, further suggest an underlying anti-business message.

What puzzles me is the question if the shows are written by liberals and pocket-commies for fitting audiences, or if they are written for general audiences and are meant to subtly influence these same audiences?

In other words, are geeks commies at heart, or does someone try to make them commies?Both options could have quite scary repercussions in the long run.

Imagine, business being dependent on the work of a tech elite that endorses socialism.

Before you dismiss my ramblings outright, consider that if everyone is out to get you, then it's not paranoia ;o)

Jedi Knights Suck

I know that most people will immediately disagree, but I advise to watch the Star Wars movies again and pay attention to the politics involved:

How did the whole mess in the galaxy start?
By the Senate imposing a tax on trade routes!

This was in direct breach of the franchises the Trade Federation had purchased from the Senate. In other words, the Senate tried to grab a cut from something that had already been paid, also referred to as breach of contract.

How did the Trade Federation respond?
With a blockade of an outlying planet, to protest the newly imposed taxes, which was permissible under rules of the franchise agreement.

What did the Senate do?
Send Jedi Knights to force a settlement. In other words, the Supreme Chancellor was trying to use state power to enforce an illegal contract.

Against this backdrop, the rebellion unfolds. And it is a rebellion where the rebels are displayed as the bad guys, as the ones who are against democracy, while the democratic Senate is trying to use force to keep the free planets in the fold of democracy.
Weird huh?

Next, the Jedi are essentially a religion, similar to warrior monk orders.
This means that the democratic Senate routinely uses religeous figures to 'keep the peace'.
Whatever happened to seperation between church and state?

The Trade Federation and their allies, the Corporate Alliance, Bankers' Guild etc. are moreover portrayed not only as cowards, but are also visually unappealing. Talking about brain washing.
Fact is however, the Rebels are taking a huge risk by not doing the Senate's bidding and facing down the Jedi Cult. And despite all that, tens of thousands of planets are likely to join the Rebellion. In other words, "The People" are fed up with the bureaucracy!

And despite the fact that the Senate is trying to use force against anyone who is not complying, they have the nerve claiming to be democratic.

Furthermore, from the fact that the Naboo are claimed to be starving by the hundreds on a planet that looks clearly agrarian, we can deduce that the Trade Federation has been instrumental in feeding those lazy-heads prior to the blockade.

In light of the above it becomes clear that the Senate was well aware that thousands would die if the Trade Federation resisted a tax on trade routes, and yet they went ahead.

Afterwards everyone blames everything on the future emperor and on corruption.

But why doesn't anyone wonder how all the bad guys were former Jedi Knights?
How come one of the Jedi Masters had an army built for the Republic long before the problem arose and caught the Rebels (and future Emperor?) by surprize?
Lastly, with all their respect for life, why did the Jedi condone the use of clones, rather than do what the alleged bad guys did, build battle bots?

Frankly, given a choice, I'd rather live under the Trade Federation.

Been on the road, on the sea an in the air

Yeh, right, I was actually away for a while. Seeing places, meeting people, the usual drill.

One thing struck me during the many check-ins, check-outs, check-ups, etc.
Not much has changed outside the unfree World since 911. Outside the US and EU things are very much the same way they were before.

A positive thing I noticed I noticed is that there seems to be a seed of consumer resistance.
Meaning, when people are unhappy about something, they no longer silently curse or loudly complain and then take whatever corporations throw at them anyway. Instead they begin voting with their feet.

Like in Nigeria, when the plane was six hours late and I rallied 40 fellow passengers to put their wallets on the table, pool their resources and stick it up the airline :o)
We chartered a plane and left two hours later. Screw that. Up yours.

I believe large corporations, just like democratic governments are not only utterly incompetent, but also force whatever whim down their customers' throat. Luckily, with corporations one can fight back with boycott and by ignoring them. Of course, you can do that wioth governments,too; I'm living proof, but it's far more difficult and for many other people it's even out of the question.
You know, like risk a pension when demanding that the government sticks to its mandate and stops annoying you as a matter of principle.

Another thing I noticed is how everything keeps getting cheaper everywhere. Of course, you gotta bargain and parlay, armtwist and blackmail, but things are getting cheaper.

Like, walk into a 5 star hotel and put $100 on the counter and demand a Deluxe room or Junior suite. They turn you down. Have a drink at the pool bar, tip well, and go back to the reception at the beginning of nightfall. Put $80 on the counter and demand a Deluxe room or Junior suite.
Chances are that they will now offer you a normal room at $100 or thereabouts.

Depending on how tired you are, you can now go to the restaurant, come back later and offer $60 for a Deluxe room.

If they still don't deal, go back to the bar, return when the bar closes and offer $50 for the Deluxe.
If they still don't play ball, wait for day break which is likely to be a couple of hours away, in the lobby.

Geddit? You spent about $50 on drinks and dinner in a five star place, used top notch bath rooms, had air con and a nice atmosphere and didn't waste a cent on the hotel.
And that's the worst case scenario. If it's off-season, you are quite likely to get a room for a song from the night receptionist.
And when that happens, stick around for a week :o))

I can't understand how some morons spend $200 on a room and the leave the hotel to eat for $20 outside, when they could have had the room for $100 and superb dinner for $35 instead.

Takes all sorts to populate a planet, I guess. And after all, someone has to build the hotels, wait on me, clean up my mess and make sure that I'm happy. Isn't it great to know that God created the planet and put all these people here to ensure your well being and entertainment?

I'll post more regularly again now.
Unless I feel like travelling again, of course.