All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
-- William Shakespeare
| Court Jesters
In societies where freedom of speech was not recognized as a right, the court jester -- precisely because anything he said was by definition "a jest" and "the uttering of a fool" -- could speak frankly on controversial issues in a way in which anyone else would have been severely punished for.
Monarchs understood the usefulness of having such a person at their side.
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"Welcome To The Machine"
-- Pink Floyd
This just in! ... an urgent,
Breaking, Non-News Announcement!!! -- Listen up consumers!
| Aristocrats
Aristocracy is a form of government, in which a select few such as the most wise, strong or contributing citizens rule, often starting as a system of cooption where a council of prominent citizens add leading soldiers, merchants, land owners, priests, or lawyers to their number. Aristocracy deforms when it becomes hereditary elite.
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| Welcome to the Feudal Age
Before a lord could grant land (a fief) to someone, he had to make that person a vassal.
The lord's principal obligation was to grant a fief, or its revenues, to the vassal; [...] it was still the lord's responsibility to maintain the land, while the vassal had the right to collect revenues generated from it. Another obligation that the lord had to fulfill was to protect the land and the vassal from harm.
The vassal's principal obligation to the lord was to provide "aid," or military service.
[...]
There were thus different 'levels' of lordship and vassalage. The King was a lord who loaned fiefs to aristocrats, who were his vassals.
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| A Day in the life of a Lobbyist
First and foremost, lobbyists must be adept at the art of persuasion, which is the mainstay of their job. They must figure out how to sway politicians to vote on legislation in a way that favors the interest they represent.
[...]
The lobbyist imparts her information with the help of graphs, charts, polls, and reports that she has hunted up or created.
[...]
Sometimes, lobbyists will even sit down and help a politician draft legislation that is advantageous for their interest. Maintaining good relations with politicians who can be relied on to support the lobbyist’s interest is key.
While lobbyists and their employers cannot themselves make large campaign donations to politicians, they can, and do, raise money from other sources for reelection campaigns.
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| The Joker's Quid Pro Quo
QUID PRO QUO - Latin. 'what for what' or 'something for something.' The concept of getting something of value in return for giving something of value. For a contract to be binding, it usually must involve the exchange of something of value.
2008 Political Ads Worth $2.5+ Billion
TNS Media Intelligence estimates that between $2.5 billion and $2.7 billion were spent on political ads this election season. Television's share was $2.2 billion.
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| The Jester's Stage, aka The Spin room
A spin room is an area in which debate participants, their representatives, and/or other interested parties attempt to "spin" or influence the perception of a debate, usually among assembled reporters.
The spin room - oily engine of the political meat grinder By Jerry Lanson - Dec 12, 2003 - csmonitor.com
The spin room. It's a concept so integral to modern presidential politics that a friendly debate organizer outside the press room directs traffic. "Spin? That building," she instructs, pointing toward a sign marked - yes - "Spin Center Media Entrance."
[...]
"I've often wondered what goes into a hot dog," wrote author William Zinsser. "Now I know and I wish I didn't."
His words resonate. Close up, what some refer to as the "pageantry of American politics" seems sweatier and slicker, a cross between a rugby scrum and a barnstorming sales pitch, with each candidate and handler trying to stay "on message," and each reporter manipulating that message, pushing to get the right sound bite on the evening news or to flesh out that story "angle" for tomorrow's paper.
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| The Fourth Estate
Noun 1. fourth estate - the press, including journalists, newspaper writers, photographers. A major social class or order of persons regarded collectively as part of the body politic of the country (especially in the United Kingdom) and formerly possessing distinct political rights.
Jefferson on the Freedom of the Press
"No experiment can be more interesting than that we are now trying, and which we trust will end in establishing the fact, that man may be governed by reason and truth. Our first object should therefore be, to leave open to him all the avenues to truth.
The most effectual hitherto found, is the freedom of the press. It is, therefore, the first shut up by those who fear the investigation of their actions." -- Thomas Jefferson to John Tyler, 1804
The Role of a Free Press in a Free Society -- DailyKos: Jul 20, 2007
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Attention!
Court Jester Theater -- now in Session:
The following is but the Continuing Saga, of Serfdom in the 21st Century.
As mere citizens naives, at least we still can find an Audience, out in cyberspace.
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Today we are besieged on all sides, by irresponsible "corporate persons", and their irresponsible "Congressional Aristocrat enablers". These vassals, and their well-connected special interests, ARE the crux of SO many real problems, that we face as Nation, and as a pseudo-Free People.
This elite class is far too willing to take the immediate short-term profits, granted by their status, all the while passing on the long-term, costs and consequences, of their irresponsible decisions, unto someone else, further down the line -- the next CEO, the clueless shareholders, the naive Home-owner, the hopeful Pension-holder, the Canceled Cancer Patient; pass on their moral debt to Future generations.
Unto the next President. This happens, time and time, again.
If Corporations were truly "persons", as they love to claim in court, and in politics -- they would be shunned by society, as bullies, assholes, and criminals (even if only the "white collar" variety).
Yet "Corporate Persons" they remain, in the eyes of the law, and in the realm of politics.
Which raises some interesting dilemmas for those "Corporate folks" to explain away:
When Corporations pursue Hostile Take-overs, at any cost, are they acting more like Piranhas, or Persons?
If it is really "a Dog eat Dog world" -- what happens to Last Pit Bull standing?
When Corporations Consolidate and Merge, who's responsibility is it, to look after all the "Downsized Kids", once the two Competitors, have become one?
Since the Corporate Mantra, is to Maximize short-term Profits,
in exchange for long-term results and societal stability:
Who's responsibility IS it, to Stop Global Climate Change?
Who's responsibility IS it, to pay the Insurance Bills of the Cancer Patient? the Heart Patient? ... the Pregnant Mom?
If Corporations can outsource everything, including the future well-being of so many Communities, just Where will they sell their wonderful Products to, when all those Communities are gone?
And here's another introspective question they should try on for size:
If Corporations are truly "Persons", in the eyes of the Law -- What Kind of Persons would they be?
Most Corporations, especially the short-sighted variety, display all the traits of Addictive Gamblers -- They recklessly Spend Money they don't have, they force other people to take on their risks, and they will always ask you for a Bailout, when they are down on their luck, and have no where else to turn! ... They promise to reform, and fly right, the next time! -- yeah Right!!
Maybe can we should ASK them to go into rehab, lol.
(you know, submit to rules of Transparency and Accountability, Hardy Har, Har, Har!!). But why would they listen to us anyways -- mere citizens, on the stage?
Did you know folks, that Thom Hartmann and (Economist Ravi Batra) have identified that achieving a "Living Wage" as the Floor is the best way to stop the Corporate "mad dash for the cash", to put an end that "race to the bottom" -- (Pssst! TIME OUT Wall Street, there are People being trampled, down here!)
Did you know my fellow surfers, that FDR was a strong Voice for such Demand-side Economics, in his day and time: Progressive Economics 101: A Living Wage. But he did not live to see that Dream fulfilled. Other forces held sway, in that day, too.
In this new Age of Open Government, who really listens to fool-hearty Progressives, anyways? -- Certainly not our current batch of Aristocrats, in charge of their precious little, fiefdoms!
When will Congress "persons", grow a conscious, for a change, and an actually listen to the little people, their subjects, ... ummh ... their meal-tickets?
And How do WE, as minor bit-players on that stage, gain an audience with such well-connected, and dismissive, Royalty?
Perhaps, if we all wore Clown Costumes, then maybe they'd notice, our continuing, and dire straits?
Maybe someday, as part of their restitution to society, these Gambling Corporations, can host "Unemployed Homeless and Hopeless Theater" in each of the communities, they helped to decimate, in that never ending quest for Multi-National Global Status? ... for Fame, ... for Silver and Gold.
And perhaps, our Corporate Media "persons" could, learn to investigate, learn to report, learn to listen -- instead of always cajoling their Puppet Masters, on speed-dail, from the Entertainment Departments?
Perhaps?
That is the question ... as William would say ...
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(... End of Jester Theater -- you will now be returned to your normal programming ...)
Good Day!