By Thomas Neuburger
“We’ll take on us the mystery of things.” —Apologies to William Shakespeare
“Does death make life less sweet?” —Yours truly, here
Before the new year ages, I want to look back at the old through the lens of our most notable posts, those written by yours truly.
All of these were published at God's Spies, my Substack site — if you haven't yet subscribed, please do — and most were published here at DWT. Click any of the links for these posts to read them in full.
Hope or Despair? Accepting the State of the World
This is one of my favorite pieces:
The only sudden change the masters of society want is that which benefits them. This truth is baked into the way humans operate, especially in large groups: Unless people are truly suffering, they don’t want sudden change, and their societies are built to resist it.
That Which Waits
At this point, climate chaos seems guaranteed. Because billionaires, of course. They want too much, and all of it for themselves. Sadly, we let them have it. I’m not sure a revolution at this point would do the job, though the country needs one badly.
A few reflections on climate and the environment:
• What's Going On in the Atlantic is Off the Charts (Substack)
• Is the Gulf Stream in Danger of Collapse? (Substack)
The AMOC uses the Gulf Stream to carry heat from the tropics to northern Europe. People have known for years that it could collapse, and in the prehistorical past, has collapsed more than once.
Because billionaires, of course, who kill to keep their place:
We're dealing with a social project by the global elites to have billions of people die in order to maintain their power.
Look around, then tell me that isn't literally true.
Empire Tales
The burden of hubris and power weighs heavy on us:
Somewhere on this planet a US commando is carrying out a mission. Now, say that 70 times and you’re done … for the day.
So what’s next? Meet the new boss, same as the old boss? Or something far worse, a picked-apart failed state in the Libyan mold?
The Other Coup. The Actual Revolution.
Building the security state and our unquestioning support. Did you know the concept of propaganda didn’t come from the Nazis? Goebbels stole it from the nascent American advertising and public relations industry, created in the 1920s. We’re still at it, not that most people have noticed:
“The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society.” —Edward Bernays, the “father of public relations,” in his book Propaganda
The class war has already started, but our side’s not fighting:
Examples are everywhere. In essence, these are military ops using spook state tactics. These ops are why much of the world is the way it is.
Because billionaires and those they control. Left vs. Right is not the real revolution:
Our captured government sent manufacturing abroad to make our rich more rich. They immiserated workers, let predatory domestic companies pick cash from their bones, and trumpet on cable news the only fight that won’t hurt their bottom line.
Recognizing the Perp
Because everyone should be protected from murderers, I offer a modest proposal.
• Why CEOs and the Very Rich Should Receive Enhanced Protection (Substack)
CEOs should accept the cover and protection of a state that enables them and which they control. They should, in fact, have armed guards everywhere.
A Little Night Music
Let’s end on a high note. Listen to the great Diana Damrau as Mozart’s Queen of the Night threatening her daughter with worse than hell on earth if she won’t do as she’s told. You’ll recognize the song. It’s not a happy one. Focus on Damrau’s face as you enjoy the voice.
Be disowned forever, Abandoned forever, Destroyed forever. Hear, Gods of Revenge, a mother’s oath!
Some mother. Thank God this is just fiction. Or a new car pitch.
Thank you, Thomas. You are the best columnist on this page. And it isn't very close.
"At this point, climate chaos seems guaranteed. Because billionaires, of course."
Nope. As is our usual, we refuse to blame ourselves. We don't have to elect proxies for billionaires without exception. We don't have to elevate billionaires to false idols. We don't have to refuse to elect anyone who will ever do anything useful about anything. We don't have to elect our nazi reich.
The billionaires or their proxies are not the cause, they are a consequence of how we've voted for the past 60 years. This is all a consequence of 150 million americans voting (and 90 million NOT voting) as though they are simply dumber than shit... for nearly 60 years and counting.
Americans voted from '32 through…