Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Senator Sanders interview
In this one he addresses charges that he's pro-gun, as well as other issues.
Monday, June 29, 2015
Regressive math
I guess we can excuse them for this, being math and science is not their strong suit.
More commentary on integral anti-capitalism
My latest comment in the FB discussion linked earlier.
First of all Senator Sanders has never even remotely suggested revolution. Or destroying big business. These are paranoid delusions of the political regressives (conservatives) that are adopted by some 'integral' folk due to accepting that green automatically means relativism and/or anti-business. Sanders is working within the existing system for reform and just seeks legitimate regulation on big business so that they don't own the political process.
I'd agree with Lex that most kennilinguists are indeed using lower order formal thinking masquerading as postformal thinking. That was also expressed by Cook-Greuter at the last ITC and seems readily apparent to most integralists not enamored by only the kennilingus dogma.
As to my point about Robb on hypercognitive distinctions being counterproductive, that was one of my earlier points above on how kennilingus is indeed using formal logic as does capitalism, with a certain kind of hierarchical thinking that is metaphysical to the core as expressed in top-down, command and control structures. Many others beside Cook-Greuter think so, one being Jennifer Gidley in this paper where she tries to integrate the views of Wilber, Gebser and Steiner:
First of all Senator Sanders has never even remotely suggested revolution. Or destroying big business. These are paranoid delusions of the political regressives (conservatives) that are adopted by some 'integral' folk due to accepting that green automatically means relativism and/or anti-business. Sanders is working within the existing system for reform and just seeks legitimate regulation on big business so that they don't own the political process.
I'd agree with Lex that most kennilinguists are indeed using lower order formal thinking masquerading as postformal thinking. That was also expressed by Cook-Greuter at the last ITC and seems readily apparent to most integralists not enamored by only the kennilingus dogma.
As to my point about Robb on hypercognitive distinctions being counterproductive, that was one of my earlier points above on how kennilingus is indeed using formal logic as does capitalism, with a certain kind of hierarchical thinking that is metaphysical to the core as expressed in top-down, command and control structures. Many others beside Cook-Greuter think so, one being Jennifer Gidley in this paper where she tries to integrate the views of Wilber, Gebser and Steiner:
Sunday, June 28, 2015
Meta-Commons
In the previous discussion
I asked for examples of meta-theory and/or organization that wasn't
command and control. Here's an example from the Commons:
"The problem, says Bauwens, is that these movements do not generally connect with each other or coordinate internationally. He therefore sees the need for “meta-economic networks” to bridge these fields of action. So, for example, we need “open cooperativism” enterprises to bridge open knowledge systems and cooperatives, so that open-licensed systems are not simply dominated by large corporations in the way that Google, Uber and Airbnb have done. We also need to develop an “open source circular economy” to bridge the worlds of eco-sustainability and open knowledge. We will never address major environmental problems if the technological and product solutions are based on proprietary knowledge; open circulation of knowledge can change that."
"The problem, says Bauwens, is that these movements do not generally connect with each other or coordinate internationally. He therefore sees the need for “meta-economic networks” to bridge these fields of action. So, for example, we need “open cooperativism” enterprises to bridge open knowledge systems and cooperatives, so that open-licensed systems are not simply dominated by large corporations in the way that Google, Uber and Airbnb have done. We also need to develop an “open source circular economy” to bridge the worlds of eco-sustainability and open knowledge. We will never address major environmental problems if the technological and product solutions are based on proprietary knowledge; open circulation of knowledge can change that."
Still more on anti-capitalism
Continuing from the last post:
Neale: In
Second Tier you are not trying to negate another's right of passage by
being anti- their due process. As I said above, Second Tier can take
steps to facilitate another's right of passage, such as opening the way
for an easy transition from capitalism
to positive Green alternatives, thereby helping prevent the negative
Green formations that are the "anti" reactions to change. There is no
place here for a Second Tier facilitator to be using "anti" language in
this very delicate and nuanced process of trancending/including and
transcending/replacing.
Me: We still have to have laws that enact the highest level in transitional structures. I agree with Wilber again in his statement "The war in Iraq." It addresses that we can support one's development in lower stages in terms of basic structures, but at the same time enforce exterior law from the highest transitional structure. You're associating the word 'anti' as a blanket that denies the former and that's not necessarily the case. And not so in this case.
Riane Eisler has an interesting take on capitalism. Wilber got from her the idea of actualization and dominator hierarchies. The former are when the poles like male/female etc. are balanced in partnership, the latter when one, usually male, takes dominance. Eisler thinks certain periods then are not continually evolving but in some cases devolving. Capitalism with it's unbalanced dominance on the individual (usually male) can be seen in this light as a regression instead of an evolutionary step forward. I've often wondering whether capitalism is a continuation of the feudal system and functionally unfit to coordinate with democracy. Democratic economics would be the more functional fit with a democratic politics. That capitalism currently dominates our political system as an oligarchy seems to support that view.
Me: We still have to have laws that enact the highest level in transitional structures. I agree with Wilber again in his statement "The war in Iraq." It addresses that we can support one's development in lower stages in terms of basic structures, but at the same time enforce exterior law from the highest transitional structure. You're associating the word 'anti' as a blanket that denies the former and that's not necessarily the case. And not so in this case.
Riane Eisler has an interesting take on capitalism. Wilber got from her the idea of actualization and dominator hierarchies. The former are when the poles like male/female etc. are balanced in partnership, the latter when one, usually male, takes dominance. Eisler thinks certain periods then are not continually evolving but in some cases devolving. Capitalism with it's unbalanced dominance on the individual (usually male) can be seen in this light as a regression instead of an evolutionary step forward. I've often wondering whether capitalism is a continuation of the feudal system and functionally unfit to coordinate with democracy. Democratic economics would be the more functional fit with a democratic politics. That capitalism currently dominates our political system as an oligarchy seems to support that view.
More on anti-capitalism
Continuing from this post, Stein's anti-capitalist statement has been generating discussion the the FB IPS group. Some of it is copied below.
Lex Neale: An open letter to Zac Stein, re his: "The Integral Movement Is An Anti-Capitalist Movement" manifesto.
I quote a couple of sentences from that as a sounding board for this letter. "...integral practitioners should be explicitly and actively anti-capitalist or trans-capitalist." "...integral activism aimed at replacing capitalism with a new economic system should be one of the goals of the integral movement, perhaps its most important goal."
In the current IPM thread pertaining to this, I posted a couple of comments:
"If I am not mistaken, "anti-" anything is not a Second Tier strategy. Also, I said Yellow (Wilber Newtonian) because I use Wilber's original color scheme before he went SD. And again if I'm not mistaken, conscious capitalism is simply capitalism attempting to go Green. Eric, are you following this thread? I'd like your take on that."...
"In Second Tier you are not trying to negate another's right of passage by being anti- their due process. As I said above, Second Tier can take steps to facilitate another's right of passage, such as opening the way for an easy transition from capitalism to positive Green alternatives, thereby helping prevent the negative Green formations that are the "anti" reactions to change. There is no place here for a Second Tier facilitator to be using "anti" language in this very delicate and nuanced process of transcending/including and transcending/replacing." ...
Lex Neale: An open letter to Zac Stein, re his: "The Integral Movement Is An Anti-Capitalist Movement" manifesto.
I quote a couple of sentences from that as a sounding board for this letter. "...integral practitioners should be explicitly and actively anti-capitalist or trans-capitalist." "...integral activism aimed at replacing capitalism with a new economic system should be one of the goals of the integral movement, perhaps its most important goal."
In the current IPM thread pertaining to this, I posted a couple of comments:
"If I am not mistaken, "anti-" anything is not a Second Tier strategy. Also, I said Yellow (Wilber Newtonian) because I use Wilber's original color scheme before he went SD. And again if I'm not mistaken, conscious capitalism is simply capitalism attempting to go Green. Eric, are you following this thread? I'd like your take on that."...
"In Second Tier you are not trying to negate another's right of passage by being anti- their due process. As I said above, Second Tier can take steps to facilitate another's right of passage, such as opening the way for an easy transition from capitalism to positive Green alternatives, thereby helping prevent the negative Green formations that are the "anti" reactions to change. There is no place here for a Second Tier facilitator to be using "anti" language in this very delicate and nuanced process of transcending/including and transcending/replacing." ...
Saturday, June 27, 2015
Another win for we the people
See this story noting that home health workers in Massachusetts will get a $15 per hour starting wage. This is part of Eisler's caring economy, that those in caring professions be treated equitably for the important work they do. And another victory for we the people on this slow but accelerating march to economic and political justice.
Maher on the beef industry
In this new rule he discusses new regressive legislation to remove the origin from beef labeling. They don't want you to know where it comes from or even what's in it? Why? Armed with the facts we can make informed choices, which of course is bad for the profits of beef companies that could give a shit about your health and welfare. Maher's slogan for them is apt.
Friday, June 26, 2015
Zak Stein on integral anti-capitalism
See it here. He would benefit from reading our IPS discussion on the topic as follows: part one, part two. A few excerpts from Stein:
"[O]nce we know more about capitalism, if we want to be true to the principles of integral meta-theories, especially Wilber, Habermas, and Bhaskar, integral practitioners should be explicitly and actively anti-capitalist or trans-capitalist. Thus, revolutionary praxis, or totalizing depth praxis—integral activism aimed at replacing capitalism with a new economic system—should be one of the goals of the integral movement, perhaps its most important goal."
"[O]nce we know more about capitalism, if we want to be true to the principles of integral meta-theories, especially Wilber, Habermas, and Bhaskar, integral practitioners should be explicitly and actively anti-capitalist or trans-capitalist. Thus, revolutionary praxis, or totalizing depth praxis—integral activism aimed at replacing capitalism with a new economic system—should be one of the goals of the integral movement, perhaps its most important goal."
Supreme Corp legalizes marriage equality
See this story for the details. One again one of the regressive judges crosses the political line to vote with the progressive justices. Justice Kennedy sided with the Democrats in granting marriage equality nationwide. This could in part be due to a majority of the American people favoring this, as well as the 37 States that have already legalized it. Perhaps we the people are having an effect after all if we but organize and get vocal.
Medicare for all
Please consider signing Senator Sanders petition for this.
He said:
Add your name if you agree that the only long-term health care solution for America is a Medicare-for-all single-payer system.
Today, because of the Supreme Court's decision to protect the modest gains made under the Affordable Care Act, it is a good day for millions of Americans who will be able to keep their access to health care. It's also a good day for the small business owners who, before the passage of the Affordable Care Act, couldn't afford the escalating cost of providing insurance for their employees. But while I am glad the Supreme Court upheld the law, in my view, the only long-term solution to America's health care crisis is a Medicare-for-all single-payer system.
I start my approach to health care from two very simple premises: 1. Health care must be recognized as a right, not a privilege -- every man, woman and child in our country should be able to access quality care regardless of their income. 2. We must create a national system to provide care for every single American in the most cost-effective way possible. Tragically, the United States fails in both areas.
The health insurance lobbyists and big pharmaceutical companies make "national health care" sound scary. It's not. In fact, a large single-payer system already exists in the United States. It's called Medicare and the people enrolled give it high marks. More importantly, it has succeeded in providing near-universal coverage to Americans over age 65 in a very cost-effective manner. It's time to expand that program to all Americans.
He said:
Add your name if you agree that the only long-term health care solution for America is a Medicare-for-all single-payer system.
Today, because of the Supreme Court's decision to protect the modest gains made under the Affordable Care Act, it is a good day for millions of Americans who will be able to keep their access to health care. It's also a good day for the small business owners who, before the passage of the Affordable Care Act, couldn't afford the escalating cost of providing insurance for their employees. But while I am glad the Supreme Court upheld the law, in my view, the only long-term solution to America's health care crisis is a Medicare-for-all single-payer system.
I start my approach to health care from two very simple premises: 1. Health care must be recognized as a right, not a privilege -- every man, woman and child in our country should be able to access quality care regardless of their income. 2. We must create a national system to provide care for every single American in the most cost-effective way possible. Tragically, the United States fails in both areas.
The health insurance lobbyists and big pharmaceutical companies make "national health care" sound scary. It's not. In fact, a large single-payer system already exists in the United States. It's called Medicare and the people enrolled give it high marks. More importantly, it has succeeded in providing near-universal coverage to Americans over age 65 in a very cost-effective manner. It's time to expand that program to all Americans.
Lakoff on the Pope's framing
See his article here. The Pope frames the environment as a moral issue. It is our common home to which we should be grateful and accept responsibility for its healthy functioning. We, meaning the entire planet, are a family that should take care of and support each other. When we don't see it this way, when we see the earth as something to be exploited, this also leads to carrying that attitude over to the exploitation of people for our own greed. The right moral frame and enactment is empathy, and the Pope got it right. And he provides the science to back it up, which when framed in
moral terms is an integrated approach to coordinating different domains
of experience.
Supreme Corp upholds Obamacare
Yesterday the Supremes ruled 6-3 to uphold the subsidies in those States that didn't run their own exchange. The nominal reason two of the regressive justices jumped ship is that when taken in the context of the whole law there is no way that Congress intended to only provide subsidies in those States that set up their own exchange. Otherwise the entire intent of the law would fall apart. This is the precedent for how the Supreme Corp is supposed to handle word or phrase interpretation and fortunately they followed their time-honored precedent.
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
This is what you want?
Well this is what you get if you voted for Republicans. The below are facts about their agenda, so the only logical explanation is that the dupes who voted for them believe the regressive lies and don't accept reality. Republican politicians spend $millions and count on this.
Conscious capitalism in practice
See this story. It first details the degree to which Whole Foods rips you off on misweighing and mislabeling products. It also links to two stories where CEO Mackey, strong proponent of integral conscious capitalism, thinks that Obamacare is fascism and climate change is just fine. Still think conscious capitalism is just fine too?
The benefits of raising minimum wages
See this story where Ikea is raising their minimum wage again. Their facts belie the regressive spin on what happens when businesses do this. What are the benefits of so doing? Reduced turnover and better qualified candidates, which means "spending less on recruiting and training new replacements" and "likely helped the company lure more candidates." Presumably this leads to increased profits by providing better service. This is what happens when we share the wealth instead of hoarding it.
bitmind.co
Website here. Their blurb:
Exploring P2P Production Models
Our goal is to help Open Enterprises, Cooperatives and Communities to
distribute value between their members. Bitmind.co will integrate knowledge
production tools and team contributions tracking. Mapping workflows, ideas, donations
and incomes in a common graph of value.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
The Democrat corporate boot lickers that voted for fast track
See this article. The list follows. Primary these traitors of the American people.
Michael Bennet (D-CO), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Tom Carper (D-DE), Chris Coons (D-DE), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Patty Murray (D-WA), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Mark Warner (D-VA), Ron Wyden (D-OR)
Michael Bennet (D-CO), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Tom Carper (D-DE), Chris Coons (D-DE), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Patty Murray (D-WA), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Mark Warner (D-VA), Ron Wyden (D-OR)
Rabbi Lerner on the Pope's climate message
Posted by DavidM58 at the IPS forum:
Rabbi Michael Lerner's response to the Pope's new encyclical, posted at Huffington Post.
The Pope Might Save the Planet...If You Would Join an Interfaith Effort to Support His Direction!
Excerpt:
"...spiritual progressives can challenge the values that underlie global capitalism and materialist versions of socialism and instead chart a path to a fundamentally different global economic, political and social world. We at the Network of Spiritual Progressives have begun to do that with our proposed Global Marshall Plan (please download the full version at www.tikkun.org/gmp) and our proposed ESRA--Environmental and Social Responsibility Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (please read it at www.tikkun.org/esra).
The reason why Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, and most secular humanist organizations have not yet embraced this path is that they are dependent for funding both from the capitalist class and from many in their membership who are attached to the materialist and looking-out-for-number-one worldview of global capitalist societies and hence dismiss any fundamental alternative as "unrealistic." Ironically, it is precisely the undemocratic and hierarchical nature of the Catholic Church, and its previous accumulation of huge wealth, that frees the Pope from these concerns and hence made it possible for someone who genuinely is rooted in the spiritual values of the Bible to actually ask the world to remake itself in accord with those values. I don't recommend the undemocratic or hierarchical path, but I do rejoice that this made it possible for a religious leader and a religious movement to develop that would be unequivocal in its critique of capitalism without falling into the narrow economistic and materialist worldview that has characterized most Left movements. It is their economistic, materialist and religio-phobic perspective that keeps most people on the Left from embracing the path of the spiritual progressive, even though in their hearts most people on the Left simultaneously embrace the values of the New Bottom Line (and were they to do so more explicitly, and get progressive organizations to publicly embrace and emphasize the New Bottom line the Left would be far more successful).
Rabbi Michael Lerner's response to the Pope's new encyclical, posted at Huffington Post.
The Pope Might Save the Planet...If You Would Join an Interfaith Effort to Support His Direction!
Excerpt:
"...spiritual progressives can challenge the values that underlie global capitalism and materialist versions of socialism and instead chart a path to a fundamentally different global economic, political and social world. We at the Network of Spiritual Progressives have begun to do that with our proposed Global Marshall Plan (please download the full version at www.tikkun.org/gmp) and our proposed ESRA--Environmental and Social Responsibility Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (please read it at www.tikkun.org/esra).
The reason why Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, and most secular humanist organizations have not yet embraced this path is that they are dependent for funding both from the capitalist class and from many in their membership who are attached to the materialist and looking-out-for-number-one worldview of global capitalist societies and hence dismiss any fundamental alternative as "unrealistic." Ironically, it is precisely the undemocratic and hierarchical nature of the Catholic Church, and its previous accumulation of huge wealth, that frees the Pope from these concerns and hence made it possible for someone who genuinely is rooted in the spiritual values of the Bible to actually ask the world to remake itself in accord with those values. I don't recommend the undemocratic or hierarchical path, but I do rejoice that this made it possible for a religious leader and a religious movement to develop that would be unequivocal in its critique of capitalism without falling into the narrow economistic and materialist worldview that has characterized most Left movements. It is their economistic, materialist and religio-phobic perspective that keeps most people on the Left from embracing the path of the spiritual progressive, even though in their hearts most people on the Left simultaneously embrace the values of the New Bottom Line (and were they to do so more explicitly, and get progressive organizations to publicly embrace and emphasize the New Bottom line the Left would be far more successful).
Fox News sick projection
Funny how these sick bastards are always guilty of what they accuse the liberals.
Senator Warren on trade
See her Boston Globe article here. She is not anti-trade but anti-bad trade deals like the TPP. One suggestion is to actually enforce rules. The President has talked about the great rules in the TPP, but in every other trade agreement with similar rules they never get enforced causing suffering to the American people. Also get rid of dispute resolution by a panel of corporate cronies that always rule in favor of corporate interests over people and the environment. How about some real courts handling this?
Monday, June 22, 2015
Peer to peer economics
Published on Jun 18, 2015
Michel Bauwens, founder of the p2p Foundation, gives a brief overview of peer-2-peer economy
Peer to peer politics
Published on Jun 18, 2015
This second in the series, outlines the basic political ideas of the P2P Foundation
What is peer to peer?
Published on Jun 18, 2015
Over the last nine years, the P2P Foundation has produced a sizeable body of material, both original and curated, but none of it is specifically designed as an introduction for newcomers and people who are not so familiar with the P2P approach. Hence Irma Wilson's proposal, during a trip which FutureSharp helped organized in South Africa in the two first weeks of June 2015, to produce a number of short videos.
With Irma's assistance, and the help of filmmaker Michel Taljaard, we produced the following videos: This first video answers the question, what is peer to peer? The second outlines the basic political ideas of the P2P Foundation The third looks at P2P economics and The last highlights the legal and policy suggestions with some emphasis on the copy fair license.
With Irma's assistance, and the help of filmmaker Michel Taljaard, we produced the following videos: This first video answers the question, what is peer to peer? The second outlines the basic political ideas of the P2P Foundation The third looks at P2P economics and The last highlights the legal and policy suggestions with some emphasis on the copy fair license.
Comparing the records of Clinton and Sanders
An in-depth look at this by Ring of Fire. If you want a real progressive, that's Sanders and not Clinton.
More on minds.com
Continuing from this post.
Here are a couple of threads at the P2P FB forum discussing it:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/p2p.open/permalink/962570360453810/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/p2p.open/permalink/961974207180092/
And the FB IPS forum discussion:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/470435939720069/permalink/805829416...
And here's an interview with the CEO of minds.com
https://www.facebook.com/groups/p2p.open/permalink/962570360453810/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/p2p.open/permalink/961974207180092/
And the FB IPS forum discussion:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/470435939720069/permalink/805829416...
And here's an interview with the CEO of minds.com
Saturday, June 20, 2015
Viable alternative to Facebook?
See this article on minds.com. Some excerpts:
Facebook may have finally met its match. By directly targeting the social media behemoth’s lack of messaging encryption, infamously opaque algorithms, and government and advertiser accessibility, Minds.com has earned the attention of privacy advocates, activists, and frustrated Facebook users—and has even garnered active support from Anonymous. By employing many similar features found on Facebook and other social media giants, Minds gives its users a familiar platform without the numerous privacy concerns plaguing the long-established sites.
Facebook may have finally met its match. By directly targeting the social media behemoth’s lack of messaging encryption, infamously opaque algorithms, and government and advertiser accessibility, Minds.com has earned the attention of privacy advocates, activists, and frustrated Facebook users—and has even garnered active support from Anonymous. By employing many similar features found on Facebook and other social media giants, Minds gives its users a familiar platform without the numerous privacy concerns plaguing the long-established sites.
The impact of the encyclical
See this
article. Some excerpts:
"Leaders of the Catholic church in America took their 'marching orders' from the pope’s encyclical on Thursday, fanning out to Congress and the White House to push for action on climate change.
The high-level meetings offered a first glimpse of a vast and highly organised effort by the leadership of America’s nearly 80 million Catholics to turn the pope’s moral call for action into reality. [...] Representatives of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops said they would hold two briefings for members of Congress on Thursday and visit the White House on Friday to promote and explain the pope’s environmental message."
"Leaders of the Catholic church in America took their 'marching orders' from the pope’s encyclical on Thursday, fanning out to Congress and the White House to push for action on climate change.
The high-level meetings offered a first glimpse of a vast and highly organised effort by the leadership of America’s nearly 80 million Catholics to turn the pope’s moral call for action into reality. [...] Representatives of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops said they would hold two briefings for members of Congress on Thursday and visit the White House on Friday to promote and explain the pope’s environmental message."
Senator Sanders on Real Time
Last night. He starts with a radical idea: "We're going to tell the truth." That indeed is radical in American politics. That truth is that we have lost our democracy to an oligarchy, and few others have the gumption to say so outright. Another is the truth that we the people want to address climate change by getting off fossil fuels and transitioning into sustainable and renewable energy. He and Maher wholeheartedly support the Pope in his message on this.
The stigma of being single
In this clip (around 4:30) Maher and Black discuss their choice to remain single, and how many people cannot frame it as something other than dysfunctional. This is not to deny a single person doesn't have dysfunctional aspects. Seems most everyone has at least some. But the thought of remaining single as dysfunction in itself seems a rather dysfunctional projection on the part of those who cannot live without defining themselves within a coupled relationship. Some of these same couples are fine with being gay, or even trans-gender like Caitlyn Jenner. As long as these folks are in a couple!
Regressive religious con artists
See this Salon piece. The regressives are foaming at the anus over the Pope's encyclical. The article exposes their blatant hypocrisy on religious matters.
Friday, June 19, 2015
Some dialog on the Encyclical
Continuing from this post, some dialog from the IPS FB post on the Encyclical:
Bruce: On a related critical note, there is certainly tension between the reality of the feudal, top-heavy church structure he heads and the kind of vision he articulates here. I wonder if he is calling (carefully) as much for revolution in the systemic architecture of the church as in the extra-ecclesial world. If not ....
Edwyrd: Let not the perfect be the enemy of the good here. He's on track in certain areas, not so much in others. That he is on track with some science is a hell of a lot better than the US Republicans.
Bruce: On a related critical note, there is certainly tension between the reality of the feudal, top-heavy church structure he heads and the kind of vision he articulates here. I wonder if he is calling (carefully) as much for revolution in the systemic architecture of the church as in the extra-ecclesial world. If not ....
Edwyrd: Let not the perfect be the enemy of the good here. He's on track in certain areas, not so much in others. That he is on track with some science is a hell of a lot better than the US Republicans.
The truth about the media
It's not about the issues we care about but about diversion and entertainment. The corporate media thereby maintains its intentional and manufactured smoke screen.
Jon Stewart on the South Carolina shooting
Excellent commentary on how if this was a foreign terrorist the regressives would be all over it. But since it's one of our own the regressives just accept it as a fact of the right to carry a weapon. The hypocricy is astounding that regressives absolutely refuse any gun control and accept these kinds of regular homegrown killings as the price for that freedom. Especially so when it's white men killing black people.
Thursday, June 18, 2015
The Pope's dogma gets in the way
From this article:
"Whenever religious figures enter into a debate on policy issues that have a strong scientific basis there is a slippery interplay between the desire to do good by addressing real problems, and the constraints that ideology and dogma impose upon the ability to do so objectively. Pope Francis’s encyclical follows this pattern."
"Whenever religious figures enter into a debate on policy issues that have a strong scientific basis there is a slippery interplay between the desire to do good by addressing real problems, and the constraints that ideology and dogma impose upon the ability to do so objectively. Pope Francis’s encyclical follows this pattern."
More from the Pope
6.
He [Benedict XVI] observed that the world cannot be analyzed by
isolating only one of its aspects, since “the book of nature is one and
indivisible”, and includes the environment, life, sexuality, the family,
social relations, and so forth.
10. He [St. Francis] shows us just how inseparable the bond is between concern for nature, justice for the poor, commitment to society, and interior peace.
11. Francis helps us to see that an integral ecology calls for openness to categories which transcend the language of mathematics and biology, and take us to the heart of what it is to be human.
106. The basic problem goes even deeper: it is the way that humanity has taken up technology and its development according to an undifferentiated and one-dimensional paradigm. This paradigm exalts the concept of a subject who, using logical and rational procedures, progressively approaches and gains control over an external object. This subject makes every effort to establish the scientific and experimental method, which in itself is already a technique of possession, mastery and transformation. It is as if the subject were to find itself in the presence of something formless, completely open to manipulation. [...] Human beings and material objects no longer extend a friendly hand to one another; the relationship has become confrontational. This has made it easy to accept the idea of infinite or unlimited growth, which proves so attractive to economists, financiers and experts in technology. It is based on the lie that there is an infinite supply of the earth’s goods, and this leads to the planet being squeezed dry beyond every limit.
[On the emerging Commons:]
10. He [St. Francis] shows us just how inseparable the bond is between concern for nature, justice for the poor, commitment to society, and interior peace.
11. Francis helps us to see that an integral ecology calls for openness to categories which transcend the language of mathematics and biology, and take us to the heart of what it is to be human.
106. The basic problem goes even deeper: it is the way that humanity has taken up technology and its development according to an undifferentiated and one-dimensional paradigm. This paradigm exalts the concept of a subject who, using logical and rational procedures, progressively approaches and gains control over an external object. This subject makes every effort to establish the scientific and experimental method, which in itself is already a technique of possession, mastery and transformation. It is as if the subject were to find itself in the presence of something formless, completely open to manipulation. [...] Human beings and material objects no longer extend a friendly hand to one another; the relationship has become confrontational. This has made it easy to accept the idea of infinite or unlimited growth, which proves so attractive to economists, financiers and experts in technology. It is based on the lie that there is an infinite supply of the earth’s goods, and this leads to the planet being squeezed dry beyond every limit.
[On the emerging Commons:]
The Pope's Encyclical
See it here. Some excerpts:
137. Since everything is closely interrelated, and today’s problems
call for a vision capable of taking into account every aspect of the
global crisis, I suggest that we now consider some elements of an integral ecology, one which clearly respects its human and social dimensions.
I. ENVIRONMENTAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL ECOLOGY
138. Ecology studies the relationship between living organisms and the environment in which they develop. This necessarily entails reflection and debate about the conditions required for the life and survival of society, and the honesty needed to question certain models of development, production and consumption. It cannot be emphasized enough how everything is interconnected. Time and space are not independent of one another, and not even atoms or subatomic particles can be considered in isolation. Just as the different aspects of the planet – physical, chemical and biological – are interrelated, so too living species are part of a network which we will never fully explore and understand. A good part of our genetic code is shared by many living beings. It follows that the fragmentation of knowledge and the isolation of bits of information can actually become a form of ignorance, unless they are integrated into a broader vision of reality.
CHAPTER FOUR
INTEGRAL ECOLOGY
I. ENVIRONMENTAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL ECOLOGY
138. Ecology studies the relationship between living organisms and the environment in which they develop. This necessarily entails reflection and debate about the conditions required for the life and survival of society, and the honesty needed to question certain models of development, production and consumption. It cannot be emphasized enough how everything is interconnected. Time and space are not independent of one another, and not even atoms or subatomic particles can be considered in isolation. Just as the different aspects of the planet – physical, chemical and biological – are interrelated, so too living species are part of a network which we will never fully explore and understand. A good part of our genetic code is shared by many living beings. It follows that the fragmentation of knowledge and the isolation of bits of information can actually become a form of ignorance, unless they are integrated into a broader vision of reality.
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Amy Schumer's Glamour acceptance speech
She doesn't mince words on the pretensions of the glamorous.
Robert Reich: The sharing economy is bunk
From this FB post, showing the downside of Commons socio-economics when appropriated by capitalists. Rifkin was well aware of this transitional hybrid, but it doesn't negate the entire Commons movement. Therein services like networked rideshares not based in capitalism work quite well. Uber is giving it all a bad name though.
The upside of Reich's piece though is that California ruled that Uber drivers are not independent contractors but employees, and legally entitled to all the rights and benefits thereof. So progressive governments can indeed challenge capitalist appropriation of the Commons and make it at least work better under this transitioning hybrid from one system to the other.
The upside of Reich's piece though is that California ruled that Uber drivers are not independent contractors but employees, and legally entitled to all the rights and benefits thereof. So progressive governments can indeed challenge capitalist appropriation of the Commons and make it at least work better under this transitioning hybrid from one system to the other.
538 on Sanders' chances
In recent years fivethirtyeight.com
has been the most accurate electoral predictor. And they don't think
Sanders has much of a chance of beating Clinton for the nomination,
despite Sanders recent surges.
Senator Sanders on fastracking the TPP
Talk about impact: This will tremendously affect our daily lives. Every corporation wants it, every labor and environmental group is against it. Shouldn't that tell us something? What are we the people doing about it?
The Politics of Buddhism
One can listen to the recent dialog between Terry Patten and David Loy on “The Politics of Buddhism: Awakening from Institutionalized Greed, Ill-Will, and Delusion” here.
The Pope's impact
Continuing from this post on the impact of the upcoming Papal Encyclical:
See this NPR story. "He's also convinced it will have a far-reaching impact,
encouraging Catholics to make major changes in what they consume and
how they live their daily lives, and inspiring leaders of other
religions to pick up the challenge. 'Religion is one of the few
things that can motivate people to self-sacrifice — to give up
their own self-interest for something else,' Reese says. 'This is
going to be extremely important because people are not going to
change their lifestyles to save the polar bears.'"
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Ring of Fire on Sanders and Clinton
See the article here. Some excerpts:
"A groundswell of progressive support has now catapulted Sanders to 15% nationally, and new polls showing that he has a shot at beating Clinton in the primaries in New Hampshire."
"When she was a Senator, Hillary’s record is almost worse than what we’ve seen in the last few years. She voted to loosen the rules on warrantless cell phone wiretapping of American citizens; She voted to extend tax cuts on capital gains and stock dividends – tax breaks that benefit a small percentage of Americans, most of whom don’t need another tax break; And in 2002, she voted in favor of invading Iraq, although she does admit now that this was a mistake. In 2014 she told us that the TPP was beneficial to Americans, even though she opposed both CAFTA and NAFTA. Just this week, she finally said that TPP probably isn’t the best thing for American workers."
"A groundswell of progressive support has now catapulted Sanders to 15% nationally, and new polls showing that he has a shot at beating Clinton in the primaries in New Hampshire."
"When she was a Senator, Hillary’s record is almost worse than what we’ve seen in the last few years. She voted to loosen the rules on warrantless cell phone wiretapping of American citizens; She voted to extend tax cuts on capital gains and stock dividends – tax breaks that benefit a small percentage of Americans, most of whom don’t need another tax break; And in 2002, she voted in favor of invading Iraq, although she does admit now that this was a mistake. In 2014 she told us that the TPP was beneficial to Americans, even though she opposed both CAFTA and NAFTA. Just this week, she finally said that TPP probably isn’t the best thing for American workers."
The Vatican on climate change
This is their statement of 4/28/15, "Declaration of Religious Leaders, Political Leaders, Business Leaders, Scientists and Development Practitioners." This prefaces the upcoming “Papal Encyclical on Climate Change and Global Warming” due 6/18/15, which he'll discuss at the UN and US Congress this summer, very much anticipated. I enclose the first below in its totality:
We the undersigned have assembled at the Pontifical Academies of Sciences and Social Sciences to address the challenges of human-induced climate change, extreme poverty, and social marginalization, including human trafficking, in the context of sustainable development. We join together from many faiths and walks of life, reflecting humanity’s shared yearning for peace, happiness, prosperity, justice, and environmental sustainability. We have considered the overwhelming scientific evidence regarding human-induced climate change, the loss of biodiversity, and the vulnerabilities of the poor to economic, social, and environmental shocks.
We the undersigned have assembled at the Pontifical Academies of Sciences and Social Sciences to address the challenges of human-induced climate change, extreme poverty, and social marginalization, including human trafficking, in the context of sustainable development. We join together from many faiths and walks of life, reflecting humanity’s shared yearning for peace, happiness, prosperity, justice, and environmental sustainability. We have considered the overwhelming scientific evidence regarding human-induced climate change, the loss of biodiversity, and the vulnerabilities of the poor to economic, social, and environmental shocks.
Monday, June 15, 2015
Polling the 1% and the rest of us
See this article. It compares what the 1% think on a variety of issues and compares it with how the rest of us see things. It's immediately obvious that the regressive Republicans take the 1% views over everyone else. And that Senators Sanders and Warren represent the rest of us.
The differences between Sanders and Clinton
In this interview Sanders is asked
about differences with Clinton. He is adamantly vocal about being
against the TPP, while Clinton hedges tentatively. He is the same
with climate change and energy policy while Clinton is again equivocal.
He voted against the war in Iraq, Clinton for it though she now said
she was wrong on that one. He voted against the Patriot Act, Clinton
for it. Sanders only takes small donations, Clinton has a Super-PAC
that accepts 1% money.
Construct awareness
See Bonnitta's FB post on this.
Balder responded: What I've been calling onto-choreography, in the previous ITC paper and also in my new one, is a construct-aware exercise or activity (and a prepositional orientation both exemplifies and empowers onto-choreography). I agree with earlier comments that the difference between being aware of constructs and being construct-aware involves, at minimum, a shift from a nounal to a more verbal understanding - beginning to perceive the process of the content. But that alone doesn't appear to be sufficient. Construct-awareness involves a braiding, I believe, also of perspectival (pronounal), modal (adverbial), and relational (prepositional) awareness. It involves, in part, the capacity to drop into the pre-positional hiatus Latour describes -- to momentarily and creatively suspend investment or embedment in a particular mode of be/coming.
My response:
Balder responded: What I've been calling onto-choreography, in the previous ITC paper and also in my new one, is a construct-aware exercise or activity (and a prepositional orientation both exemplifies and empowers onto-choreography). I agree with earlier comments that the difference between being aware of constructs and being construct-aware involves, at minimum, a shift from a nounal to a more verbal understanding - beginning to perceive the process of the content. But that alone doesn't appear to be sufficient. Construct-awareness involves a braiding, I believe, also of perspectival (pronounal), modal (adverbial), and relational (prepositional) awareness. It involves, in part, the capacity to drop into the pre-positional hiatus Latour describes -- to momentarily and creatively suspend investment or embedment in a particular mode of be/coming.
My response:
Krugman on the emerging progressive Democrats
See this article here. He's sees Hillary's campaign speeches, and the Democrats rejection of TPP fast track, as clear signs that the Dems are going back to their progressive, populist roots. Especially since those populist issues are garnering majority support in the polls. And beside, trying to win the undecided middle has proven there is no such thing, and that it's far better to take a firm stand on your values. Plus the fact that progressive policies like Obamacare are working helps. And that progressives base their policies on facts, not ideology, adds a much-needed reality factor into politics.
Sunday, June 14, 2015
Robert Reich on Hillary
See this FB post. He gives her an A for diagnosing the problem on income inequality but a C or worse for what to do about it. To me this is further evidence that what she says is not genuine but manipulative spin, because she will only perpetuate the problem by not doing what is necessary. Here's Reich:
Saturday, June 13, 2015
Senator Sanders can win
Yet more astute analysis on why and how Sanders can pull this off: He represents the majority of the American people. Hence corporate media calls him a crank with no chance because their obscene profitability is threatened by the American people. Meanwhile see the polling numbers in the video showing he is a real people's candidate, which is why he gets little lamestreak media attention. And when he does it's always framed negatively. Good thing is that in the internet age with alternative media we can propagate our message without the draconian capitalistic media sources. Spread the good word people and we just might get our chosen leader in the White House.
More WikiLeaks on the TPP
Recently released on the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. The TPP will ban Congress from lowering the price of drugs, giving Big Pharma monopoly patent power. It would also threaten Medicare and Medicaid. This video was released before the TPP fast track vote, which failed miserably in the House.
P2P Commons is not mere relativism
Following up on this post:
Lest one responds that this P2P collectivism plays into the green meme notion of pluralistic relativism, and/or the SDi notion of alternating individual/collective memes in the 1st tier, keep in mind the concrete enactment of nodes in a network. Rifkin's P2P network empowers individuals in ways heretofore unimaginable by giving them the capacity to generate their own energy needs at home while being connected to the world via a smartgrid. This narrative sustainably balances the individual nodes with the more influential hyperobjective nodes, and with the network as a whole. That is in kennilingus, it goes 2nd-tier in an individual-collective and well as internal-external manner. Or in ontocologese, the individual machine maintains its own autopoeisis in balance with other machines and the larger environment.
Lest one responds that this P2P collectivism plays into the green meme notion of pluralistic relativism, and/or the SDi notion of alternating individual/collective memes in the 1st tier, keep in mind the concrete enactment of nodes in a network. Rifkin's P2P network empowers individuals in ways heretofore unimaginable by giving them the capacity to generate their own energy needs at home while being connected to the world via a smartgrid. This narrative sustainably balances the individual nodes with the more influential hyperobjective nodes, and with the network as a whole. That is in kennilingus, it goes 2nd-tier in an individual-collective and well as internal-external manner. Or in ontocologese, the individual machine maintains its own autopoeisis in balance with other machines and the larger environment.
Friday, June 12, 2015
Warren full well understands Wall Street
In this podcast Senator Warren responds to Jaime Dimon, who said she just doesn't understand global finance. Warren: "The problem is not that I don't understand the global banking system.
The problem for these guys is that I fully understand the system and I
understand how they make their money. And that's what they don't like
about me."
President Obama twists Democratic legislators' arms
Here's Robert Reich's FB post on the topic:
"The President travels to Capitol Hill this morning to twist the arms of House Democrats who will be voting on whether to fast-track the Trans Pacific Partnership. Most are still opposed, for three simple reasons:
"The President travels to Capitol Hill this morning to twist the arms of House Democrats who will be voting on whether to fast-track the Trans Pacific Partnership. Most are still opposed, for three simple reasons:
1. Fast track means no amendments and no opportunity to debate. Yet the
public hasn’t even seen this massive trade deal that’s been classified.
What’s known about it has been leaked. A basic tenet of democracy is
that a deal this size and complicated should at least be available to
the media and the public to scrutinize before it’s fast-tracked through
Congress.
2. We know that the Investment Dispute Mechanism within the deal gives any global corporation the right to be reimbursed (in a special tribunal outside the laws of any nation) for any health, safety, environmental, labor, or financial regulation that reduces corporate profits – thereby providing a back door to repealing these regulations, and making it harder to raise any such standards.
2. We know that the Investment Dispute Mechanism within the deal gives any global corporation the right to be reimbursed (in a special tribunal outside the laws of any nation) for any health, safety, environmental, labor, or financial regulation that reduces corporate profits – thereby providing a back door to repealing these regulations, and making it harder to raise any such standards.
Why we're still paying for knowledge
Check
out this story. I know, for kennilinguists these facts are just more of
the postmodern conspiracy theory against integral conscious
crapitalism. In the latter ideology leads and only accepts confirmation bias, then decries conspiracy when actual facts contradict its metaphysical theory.
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Senator Sanders in kennilingus
This is in response to Marty in this FB IPS post:
I can speak kennilingus if I must Marty. Given that the US Constitution is a modern document I'd say our governance has been at this wave for some time. Granted it's regressing into feudalism via the corporate takeover of government. The latter, btw, is an accepted definition of modern fascism.
And I'd assert that the progressive movement in the US, of which Sanders is a part, is at least green in color-coding. The same kind of green that is the sort of socialism (democratic) in Scandinavia, an improvement over modern orange.
So no, Sanders is not playing into the hands of the tribalizers. That's the job of the pre-modern conservatives AND the modern capitalists, as their rhetorical framing makes quite clear and obvious. The progressives like Sanders and Warren still try to operate within the modern frame of capitalism, but with postmodern controls and adjustment. That they use government to enact this agenda is not by definition "state violence and terror to destroy individual liberty." There is nothing in their rhetorical framing or legislative action to implicate them is this paranoid delusion. One which, ironically, is part and parcel of the corporate capitalist framing of them and one you seem to eagerly accept.
I can speak kennilingus if I must Marty. Given that the US Constitution is a modern document I'd say our governance has been at this wave for some time. Granted it's regressing into feudalism via the corporate takeover of government. The latter, btw, is an accepted definition of modern fascism.
And I'd assert that the progressive movement in the US, of which Sanders is a part, is at least green in color-coding. The same kind of green that is the sort of socialism (democratic) in Scandinavia, an improvement over modern orange.
So no, Sanders is not playing into the hands of the tribalizers. That's the job of the pre-modern conservatives AND the modern capitalists, as their rhetorical framing makes quite clear and obvious. The progressives like Sanders and Warren still try to operate within the modern frame of capitalism, but with postmodern controls and adjustment. That they use government to enact this agenda is not by definition "state violence and terror to destroy individual liberty." There is nothing in their rhetorical framing or legislative action to implicate them is this paranoid delusion. One which, ironically, is part and parcel of the corporate capitalist framing of them and one you seem to eagerly accept.
Sanders' and Hillary's voting record
The differences could not be more stark. Only one of them is a true populist progressive, the other is just talk.
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
The politics of Buddhism
See this link:
Awakening from Institutionalized Greed, Ill-Will, and Delusion with David Loy Sunday, June 14th, at 10am Pacific.
Awakening to the nature of these institutional poisons is just as important as the individual awakening that lies at the core of Buddhist teaching. In fact, the two are inseparable.
Awakening from Institutionalized Greed, Ill-Will, and Delusion with David Loy Sunday, June 14th, at 10am Pacific.
Awakening to the nature of these institutional poisons is just as important as the individual awakening that lies at the core of Buddhist teaching. In fact, the two are inseparable.
Why should you vote for Senator Sanders?
And in the process be voting for the American people? Is this what you want? If so, get active in his campaign.
Net favorability of candidates
See this article, which provides the above using the latest Post-ABC News and Quinnipiac polls . The net is positive to negative favorability. E.g, if one gets 55% favorable and 45% unfavorable, the net is +10%. Fictitious characters were also tested in the poll, like The Terminator and Voldemort. The only political candidate with a positive favorability rating is Bernie Sanders at 1%. Rubio is at 0%, with Clinton and Obama at -4%. The rest of the regressive field are much lower, most in fact rating worse that Voldemort.
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
What Sanders naysayers really mean
See this article. I was thinking something similar when I read this. Hence I've been active in creating the kind of government I want.
"When people say that Bernie won’t win, they are observing the American scene from a comfortable distance and declaring that the American people simply do not have the ability to alter the current political dynamic. We have reached a dangerous juncture in our nation’s history when many people seem to have completely given up on the possibility of influencing their future.
"When people say that Bernie won’t win, they are observing the American scene from a comfortable distance and declaring that the American people simply do not have the ability to alter the current political dynamic. We have reached a dangerous juncture in our nation’s history when many people seem to have completely given up on the possibility of influencing their future.
Pool party, Texas style
Jon Stewart highlights how police in TX respond to a pool party. And there's no police culture of racist violence?
Open Access Button
See it here. For all you scholars that tire of the proprietary capitalistic
educational system that sells your work at exorbitant fees, consider
sharing it on the Commons. And don't worry, you'll be compensated in
ways far beyond a buck.
Monday, June 8, 2015
LeftOfYou also thinks Sanders will win
See the article here. S/he thinks Sanders will win the Democratic nomination and the Presidency because he's learned well from how the regressives have dominated framing. That is, blame those responsible for our ills like the big banks, oligarchs and billionaires. Keep the framing simple with emotionally charged rhetoric. And focus on a few big ideas with emotional impact, like income inequality, climate change and government responsive to the people.
Make polluters pay
Here's the next one in Reich's series on how to build a better economy. In this clip he talks about taxing companies that pollute instead of having the rest of us taxpayers foot the bill. He also discusses up approaching our local governments to divest from oil and gas companies that pollute our environment, instead investing in green energy. We also curtail climate change by so doing. See the video for more ideas and the details.
Zuesse predicts Sanders is the next US President
See his article here. He's basing this on net favorability ratings, and Sanders has the highest, even better than Clinton. Those identifying as progressive had the highest rating of 67%, and Sanders is the main progressive candidate. And noted before, Clinton only talks progressive. See the article for a lot more detail.
Senator Sanders' popularity growing
See this story, where Sanders got 41% to Clinton's 49% in the Wisconsin straw poll. Granted this poll was among Democratic activists, but it does show that Sanders is closing the gap between Clinton and gaining momentum. Hence Clinton adopting a lot of Sanders' populist rhetoric, which many of us progressives know is mostly just tactics and not under girded by actual principal or practice. At this rate Sanders can surpass Clinton and get the Democratic nomination if we the people keep on with our own activism.
Invisible hand job of conscious crapitalism
Continuing from this post wherein I said that conscious crapitalism is like New Age superstition, recall the following from Chapter 11 of my review of The Zero Marginal Cost Society.
[T]he capitalist invisible hand [...] was itself a holdover from a theological God in control to rational, self-interested individuals in control. Lacking a systems view it replaced God with the invisible force of a marginally less superstitious autonomous Market. Backed by ecological and other scientific advances, it is being replaced with the visible systems view of the global eco-social commons and redefining our place within it.
[T]he capitalist invisible hand [...] was itself a holdover from a theological God in control to rational, self-interested individuals in control. Lacking a systems view it replaced God with the invisible force of a marginally less superstitious autonomous Market. Backed by ecological and other scientific advances, it is being replaced with the visible systems view of the global eco-social commons and redefining our place within it.
Sunday, June 7, 2015
Senator Sanders is a proud democratic socialist
As well he should be. He explains that once we know what that means most Americans can relate and will want that form of governance. I know I do.
Thomas Piketty on Anthony Atkinson
For all you strictly spiritual types, a few select excerpts follow from this article. See it for his more specific proposals:
"Anthony Atkinson occupies a unique place among economists. During the past half-century, in defiance of prevailing trends, he managed to place the question of inequality at the center of his work while demonstrating that economics is first and foremost a social and moral science."
"Anthony Atkinson occupies a unique place among economists. During the past half-century, in defiance of prevailing trends, he managed to place the question of inequality at the center of his work while demonstrating that economics is first and foremost a social and moral science."
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Bruce: indeed, I would not have written a piece like this (with this structure, brevity, and tone) were it not for the demands of the ITC panel. That said, it was a useful (and apparently attention grabbing) exercise.
Fractal: indeed, I find some of this naive and bourgeois, and in fitting with my story about Hegel, i.e., "Capitalism is as it should be; it's developmentally appropriate" is exactly the trap of conservative dialectic that the Young Hegelians dismantled...
Bonnitta: indeed, the developmental thinking is too simplistic. I agree with Bonnie on the complexity of moving from thinking about individual development to thinking about socio-cultural development. But I would also say that the views expressed in the letter on personal development, involving terms like 1st tier / 2nd tier; Orange, Green, etc, are a problem all on their own, even when not applied to social systems. Capitalism and capitalists are not "at" a single given level, exactly because no single person is ever "at" a single level. We have developmental ranges, as well as developmental profiles (psycographs), etc. etc. See any of my papers on development, and especially on the development of reasoning about integral theory itself, where I show these colors and cut and dried rankings are stereotypes and need to be, ironically enough, negated but preserved by higher-order ways of understanding development.
All that said, I lover Bernie Sanders smile emoticon … and were I to write a longer piece on this kind of thing it would lay out a much more complex set of constructs about the global transformation into a post-capisalist sociosphere. I see this as mainly an issues of interiors, which is to say I think that humanity’s inability to understand itself is cascading into a planetary phase shift; a species wide identity crisis is coinciding with the climax of the Anthropocene…. but that is a longer story you can read about in my forthcoming book…
Hope this clarifies and helps… not sure I'll have time in the coming days to engage further. But, thanks for your interest in my work!