Most of the paid work I’ve done in this life has been construction-related. I like designing & building. And repairing.
But I still regard myself (primarily) as a philosopher and a teacher.
For many years I’ve been wondering about the (hypothetical) problem – suppose I had the opportunity to have a real conversation with (say) a Mafia boss [that is – someone who is intelligent, yet has a life-orientation and world view (very) different from mine] What would I say to him? What COULD I say to him?
It so happens that I spend quite a bit of time watching YouTube clips (many of which are wonderful and astonishing) and I have learned some (non-trivial) things that I never even set out to learn.
But I have noticed that certain YouTube videos have content which is completely different from that clip’s verbal (and/or pictorial) description. And the problem is getting worse.
This is nonsense.
(at least that’s how I look at it) YouTube is the fastest-growing, largest, and most-utilized library IN the WORLD. (by FAR)
And, since the Public USES it – it’s a PUBLIC LIBRARY.
[Furthermore – its enormous size and rate of growth are due to the fact that people (the public) upload videos to it. Lots of them & UNSOLICITED. ]
(it really is a Public Library – despite the ‘legalities’)
And this Reality is at odds with the (legal) fact that Google owns YouTube.
So – the people (at Google & YouTube) whose responsibility it is to make the future-shaping decisions
find themselves faced with a tough choice ~ whether
to yield to the (materialistic) cultural norm – of simply trying to maximize profit
Or
to uphold the public Trust of managing the most important library in the world according to responsible (public-oriented) Library Practices.
And
we’re not talking about Pocket Change here.
We’re talking about big Money. LOTS of money.
The letter I wrote and sent to these folks is an ambitious one, nor is it short. The paper version / copy I sent weighed about a pound.
I had to choose, of course – between being ‘courteous’ to the recipients (that is – keeping the time they would need to invest in reading it to 2 – 5 minutes
or
writing something which might actually help them make the (fundamental / life-view-altering) changes which could actually make the planet a better place.
Mellville wrote Moby Dick when he was a teen-ager. And he wrote Billy Budd at the other end of his career. It was his final work.
Billy Budd really CARED about the inner life of The Rights of Man‘s master at arms – Mr. Claggert (whom everyone else on the ship hated). And he spoke to him man-to-man
and on the level. Billy wasn’t just trying to improve life for his ship-mates, he was trying to rescue Claggert from his inner demons, that were wrecking his life.
Dickens (in A Christmas Carol) undertakes to ‘save’ the inner life of a devoted miser – Ebenezer Scrooge. And he solves this problem by employing the aid of 3 spirits (the ghosts of Christmas Past, of Christmas Present, and of Christmas Future). But these three spirits had Considerable Deep Knowledge AND they had thorough knowledge of the client himself. And so they succeeded. They pulled it off. They were able to get Scrooge to consider numerous important realities, and on the basis of those insights (by the end of that one night, that Christmas Eve) Scrooge found himself to be a new man. A Changed Man.
But – enlisting the help of mighty spirits is rather above my pay grade. I have no privileged information or knowledge of the deep inner life of the captains of Google and YouTube. I was forced to make do with (simply) what I know about life, about the Human Condition, and about the world we live in. I had to improvise.
Here’s the letter :
[at the end I will include a copy of the (short) Cover Letter]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It’s better to die for an idea that will live
than
live for an idea that will die.
– Steve Biko
Nation states are temporary.
Money is temporary
IF
we’re able to weather our own greed & folly long enough
to come out the other side.
Our PLANET teeters on the Existential Brink; and whether the (human-driven) sixth Mass Extinction proceeds
depends on what we Humans DO in the next ten years or so.
Besides that – our individual LIFE is Temporary. (With No IF )
YouTube is a Public Library and should be managed as such.
{I have no doubt that you have a team of well-paid lawyers
who would assure you that this is not the case. That it’s simply a business that you own.
However – it is NOT the job of the attorneys to shape the future. It’s YOURS.}
YouTube is the biggest and the most utilized library IN THE WORLD.
And it’s a Public Library aside from all the ‘legalities’
BECAUSE
the PUBLIC USES IT.
I’ve had some good math teachers; but I don’t think I’ve ever had one that knew ‘what Math is.’
Like that ~ knowing what YouTube is (not ‘under the law’, but IN REALITY) is above the pay-grade of your attorneys.
Choices ~
Humanity possesses enough knowledge so that everyone in the world could have all their basic needs met and even live in affluence.
But has this become a living reality? Nope.
WHY NOT?
Because the caterpillar-torturing Super-Rich DON’T WANT IT !
The Club they belong to has its own rules and objectives.
Our current business model (the way we distribute wealth) is a Pyramid Scheme.
The Super-Rich (who do NOT regard the populace as Real People) have figured out how to make the Population support them and their outrageous and unnecessary wealth.
How’s that working out for you?
Would you be twice as happy if you had twice the wealth? Or half as happy if you had half ?
I doubt it. Any chance that there’s a power addiction being indulged here?
Many YouTube videos are now (deliberately) mislabeled. And it’s getting worse.
Everyone knows, of course that online videos, being digital, have no ‘spine’ on which to display a title. But YouTube always displays a few words (connected to each video) and this corresponds to the spines (in a book library) whereon titles are displayed for the user of the library as he (or she) browses the stacks.
And, of course, I am (vaguely) aware that well-paid staff at YouTube (and probably at Google as well) work hard on the software that allows the YouTube library to function. And one of the things that this software does is that it shapes the behavior of your clients, i.e. – the ones who – unbidden – upload videos (and many of these people depend on you to help them earn money)
So –
If the word-labels and/or the graphic images associated with the videos (at YouTube) do NOT offer an accurate indication of what’s in that particular video – this constitutes a Problem. For the User.
And whose fault is that? It’s yours. You run the library.
Imagine ~ that your daughter has grown up enough, such that she is currently working on her Ph.D. She’s writing her thesis on the correlations between Jungian psychology and the world view of the existentialist philosophers. And these days she spends more than a little time in the University Libraries, the Municipal Libraries, and on YouTube. And what if she were to find that her study & research is being impaired by (unprofessional) Library Management Practices? What if she was finding (in ANY of the libraries she was using) that there were sometimes Big Discrepancies between the actual contents of an item and the word-label of that item? Would you not feel you’d want to protect her from such nonsense? If you could? I think so.
Suppose your daughter, while complaining to you about her “Bad Library” problems, challenged your life position. And, in the course of your argument, you say to her – “Well, that’s just the way I am.” At which point she might invoke the (existentialist) principle that ‘Existence precedes essence.”
Now ~ despite the fact that when a normal intelligent person comes across such a phrase, they might easily think – “What kind of nonsense is this?” … it actually does say something. It ‘has meaning’ :
‘Existence precedes essence’ can function like that TV game-show ‘wrong-answer’ buzzer : “Nnnnnnnnnt” (you know – it’s loud & obnoxious, and lasts for about ¾ of a second)
Your daughter might explain to you that – That you show up comes before how you show up.
Our existence (that we show up AT ALL) is not a matter of choice; but how we show up IS.
“That’s just how I am” is an (illegitimate) attempt to get ourselves off the hook. It’s an exit strategy.
But ~ The First Rule of Management is that “While power may be delegated, responsibility may NOT be.”
HOW we show up is a matter of choice. And – for our choices we are RESPONSIBLE.
Where there is no vision
the people perish.
Clubs
All of us belong to clubs. [I don’t know – 20 or so; and I’m not talking just about formally recognized clubs like the Elks or the Rotary Club]
When I lived on Quadra Island (B.C) I had a neighbor – Larry, who was in Jr. High school. Well, he decided he wanted to play the violin; so he committed to this project. But this meant that he had to CARRY his violin (on the bus) to & from school every day.
Now – you need to know that the wealthiest people on Quadra Island are loggers and fishermen. Real Men, you see.
Well the sons of these real men (who rode the school bus with Larry) made Larry PAY for his (sissy) Choice.
Not many of us can well withstand the scorn & ridicule of our peers.
His commitment lasted about a year.
(and I doubt whether Larry is an accomplished violinist today)
Now – if we were to ASK these Sons of Real Men (or even their fathers) whether they (themselves) BELONG to the Real Men Club they may well say No. But that does not mean that they do not.
These clubs that we belong to it’s an organic Reality.
The Mind is (of course) always involved, but the actual Joining is done with the Heart.
And once the joining is done, the laws of Collective Consciousness begin to function.
[I will try to explain what I know about this to you, IF YOU ASK ME TO] but for now just look at this short video (which is simply about Consciousness itself):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9n6NvDpcwLM (Consciousness explained in 200 sec | Swami Sarvapriyananda 3:40)
+ https://www.youtube.com/shorts/j2LU89KMVUg (a Yogi sitting in the snow)
Also – it’s helpful to understand that we live in a devoutly materialistic society; so, if you’re interested, I invite you to read an essay of mine: https://worldfamilytrading.com/mind-stuff/
Historical context
Lincoln probably said it best when he ended his (short) speech, which he gave at Gettysburg – “that that government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the earth.”
Here Lincoln makes it clear that the American Experiment amounts to a Co-op Model of government.
(like a food co-op only applied to the business of governance)
This is why there is so much interest (WORLD-WIDE) in how the American Experiment will turn out. ANY group could adopt it.
But the Kings of Tech do not consider that this co-op model of government fits in with their club’s charter – which does NOT seek to make life good for everyone. It seeks merely to maintain and expand the wealth, power, & privilege of their own little club. It is, apparently – perfectly okay with them if the American Experiment falls into the sewer.
American Democracy? – Expendable.
The Constitution? Obsolete.
The freedoms that soldiers have fought and died for for 250 years? – Of NO consequence.
Men died. For what?
Have some petty, soulless, con-man (puppet) dictator occupy the office of President? – Fine.
Martin Luther King learned from his father – “If you see a good fight, get in it.”
But this implies that you have the wisdom to know which side you should fight on, doesn’t it?
Choosing Humanity
Do you know what the difference is between a Human Being and an animal? It’s not whether we can make and use tools. Or whether we can think. Lots of animals are able to figure out the best way of accomplishing a task.
Here’s the difference: A Human Being is capable of coming to the conclusion that certain things should not be done at all. Animals cannot do that.
So –
The question becomes – “Are we willing to exchange our Humanity for money? For Power? For status within our Club?
The Pacific Northwest (Seattle / Portland / Vancouver) is largely inhabited by Humanist Agnostic Fundamentalists:
Humanist – because they value Human Beings & believe in taking care of them. They’re mostly Democrats. (Humanism IGNORES the issue of ‘God’)
Agnostic – because they believe in Science instead of God. (they mostly think that God is a superstition; and we’ve outgrown that stuff, right?)
And Fundamentalists – because they have no doubt WHATEVER as to the correctness of their life position.
Central, near-coastal California (silicon valley) is where live the Kings of Tech. And since this tech is the foundation for the Future they are (also) the Kings of the World.
The top level of this group (also, of course) belong to the Super-Rich club (the wealthiest tenth of a percent)
The rapid and systematic dismantling of the American society and governmental system is, to quite an extent, something that your own club is doing / supporting. Is this not true?
Can we arrive at the Truth?
It was (I believe) Socrates who said that “All agree that happiness is the goal. Disagreements are about what will produce it.”
Since about the age of twenty, I have believed that any two people should be able to come to agreement about any issue (if they are adequately sincere & mature [you know – respectful of others’ experience, are genuinely truth-seeking, & not governed by their ego, etc.] )
Though our life experiences are bound to differ, we do live in the same world after all. And we share the same Human Condition.
This belief may seem extravagant given how unable we are, these days, to listen to each other & learn from each other. We’re a mess.
You know what a teacher is? A (real) teacher is someone who, as he looks around and sees the (individual & societal) casualties he blames education.
I happen to be unusually sensitive to certain things such as book titles.
I grew up in northwest Ohio, about 5 miles south of Lima (which is a real armpit). But I would sometimes go to the Lima Public Library. And (at the age of 19 or so) I would often just wander through the stacks and, without touching the books, just read the titles on the spines of the books. WHY? you may wonder.
(I might, unhurriedly, engage in this ‘activity’ for 15 or 20 minutes) Because – I was fascinated, astonished at how much meaning ordinary book titles were able to convey.
REALITY is unaffected by anything we might say or think about it.
Abraham Lincoln said – “How many legs does a dog have, if we count the tail as a leg?
~ FOUR. Saying that the tail is a leg does not make it a leg.”
A hundred and seventy-five years ago Lincoln was doing whatever he could do
to make the world better. But the fact that he said this means that he realized that there were people around who (instead of trying to make the world better) resorted to ‘controlling the narrative’. [and these days controlling the narrative quite often includes considerable (and well-thought-out) deceit.
The world itself (reality) is the context within which ‘Truth’ has meaning.
Happiness ensues from the recognition of truth because it can be acted out; it can be lived. Disappointment and sorrow attend upon error because, not being a reality, it cannot be realized in experience.
– Urantia Book, p 42
“Because the regime is captive to its own lies, it must falsify everything. It falsifies the past. It falsifies the present, and it falsifies the future. It falsifies statistics. It pretends not to possess an omnipotent and unprincipled police apparatus. It pretends to respect human rights. It pretends to prosecute no one. It pretends to fear nothing. It pretends to pretend nothing.”
– Vaclav Havel
I just had a little ‘chat’ with Chat GPT ~
The Independence of the American “free press” appears to have been collapsing for the past hundred years. [an Independent Free Press being necessary to the health of any democracy]
- Notably – in 1987 the FCC abolished the Fairness Doctrine, which had required broadcasters to present controversial issues in a balanced way. This suggests a (transparent / self-conscious) societal DECISION to replace the Truth with (more favorable) lies.
- Does this mean that the American Society has now walked up to the front door of the Insane Asylum, walked inside … up to the front desk, and declared – “We’d like to be committed, please. ALL of us.”.
- Are we (collectively) CHOOSING autocracy over the ‘stressful’ life of living in the Real World? Are we choosing autocracy over democracy? (self-responsibility). Is it so?
Some spiritual context
There are only two groups of mortals in the eyes of God:
those who desire to do his will, and those who do not.
– UB p 1468,3
At the end of your earth life you will all expect mercy; therefore do I require of you during your mortal life that you show mercy to all your brethren in the flesh.
The Urantia Book p 1571:4
We COULD cooperate and work together, could we not?
Unless the moral insight and the spiritual attainment of mankind are proportionately augmented, the unlimited advancement of a purely materialistic culture may eventually become a menace to civilization. A purely materialistic science harbors within itself the potential seed of the destruction of all scientific striving, for this very attitude presages the ultimate collapse of a civilization which has abandoned its sense of moral values and has repudiated its spiritual goal of attainment.
132:1.4 (1457.3)The materialistic scientist and the extreme idealist are destined always to be at loggerheads. This is not true of those scientists and idealists who are in possession of a common standard of high moral values and spiritual test levels. In every age scientists and religionists must recognize that they are on trial before the bar of human need. They must eschew all warfare between themselves while they strive valiantly to justify their continued survival by enhanced devotion to the service of human progress. If the so-called science or religion of any age is false, then must it either purify its activities or pass away before the emergence of a material science or spiritual religion of a truer and more worthy order.
– Urantia Book, p. 1457
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[I think you will NOT get such counsel as this from your Legal Team]:
[ The right use of wealth Getting clean with regard to great wealth ]
5. Counseling the Rich Man 132:5.1 (1462.2)A certain rich man, a Roman citizen and a Stoic, became greatly interested in Jesus’ teaching, having been introduced by Angamon. After many intimate conferences this wealthy citizen asked Jesus what he would do with wealth if he had it, and Jesus answered him: “I would bestow material wealth for the enhancement of material life, even as I would minister knowledge, wisdom, and spiritual service for the enrichment of the intellectual life, the ennoblement of the social life, and the advancement of the spiritual life. I would administer material wealth as a wise and effective trustee of the resources of one generation for the benefit and ennoblement of the next and succeeding generations.”
132:5.2 (1462.3)But the rich man was not fully satisfied with Jesus’ answer. He made bold to ask again: “But what do you think a man in my position should do with his wealth? Should I keep it, or should I give it away?” And when Jesus perceived that he really desired to know more of the truth about his loyalty to God and his duty to men, he further answered: “My good friend, I discern that you are a sincere seeker after wisdom and an honest lover of truth; therefore am I minded to lay before you my view of the solution of your problems having to do with the responsibilities of wealth. I do this because you have asked for my counsel, and in giving you this advice, I am not concerned with the wealth of any other rich man; I am offering advice only to you and for your personal guidance. If you honestly desire to regard your wealth as a trust, if you really wish to become a wise and efficient steward of your accumulated wealth, then would I counsel you to make the following analysis of the sources of your riches: Ask yourself, and do your best to find the honest answer, whence came this wealth? And as a help in the study of the sources of your great fortune, I would suggest that you bear in mind the following ten different methods of amassing material wealth:
132:5.3 (1462.4)“1. Inherited wealth—riches derived from parents and other ancestors.
132:5.4 (1462.5)“2. Discovered wealth—riches derived from the uncultivated resources of mother earth.
132:5.5 (1462.6)“3. Trade wealth—riches obtained as a fair profit in the exchange and barter of material goods.
132:5.6 (1462.7)“4. Unfair wealth—riches derived from the unfair exploitation or the enslavement of one’s fellows.
132:5.7 (1463.1)“5. Interest wealth—income derived from the fair and just earning possibilities of invested capital.
132:5.8 (1463.2)“6. Genius wealth—riches accruing from the rewards of the creative and inventive endowments of the human mind.
132:5.9 (1463.3)“7. Accidental wealth—riches derived from the generosity of one’s fellows or taking origin in the circumstances of life.
132:5.10 (1463.4)“8. Stolen wealth—riches secured by unfairness, dishonesty, theft, or fraud.
132:5.11 (1463.5)“9. Trust funds—wealth lodged in your hands by your fellows for some specific use, now or in the future.
132:5.12 (1463.6)“10. Earned wealth—riches derived directly from your own personal labor, the fair and just reward of your own daily efforts of mind and body.
132:5.13 (1463.7)“And so, my friend, if you would be a faithful and just steward of your large fortune, before God and in service to men, you must approximately divide your wealth into these ten grand divisions, and then proceed to administer each portion in accordance with the wise and honest interpretation of the laws of justice, equity, fairness, and true efficiency; albeit, the God of heaven would not condemn you if sometimes you erred, in doubtful situations, on the side of merciful and unselfish regard for the distress of the suffering victims of the unfortunate circumstances of mortal life. When in honest doubt about the equity and justice of material situations, let your decisions favor those who are in need, favor those who suffer the misfortune of undeserved hardships.”
132:5.14 (1463.8)After discussing these matters for several hours and in response to the rich man’s request for further and more detailed instruction, Jesus went on to amplify his advice, in substance saying: “While I offer further suggestions concerning your attitude toward wealth, I would admonish you to receive my counsel as given only to you and for your personal guidance. I speak only for myself and to you as an inquiring friend. I adjure you not to become a dictator as to how other rich men shall regard their wealth. I would advise you:
132:5.15 (1463.9)“1. As steward of inherited wealth you should consider its sources. You are under moral obligation to represent the past generation in the honest transmittal of legitimate wealth to succeeding generations after subtracting a fair toll for the benefit of the present generation. But you are not obligated to perpetuate any dishonesty or injustice involved in the unfair accumulation of wealth by your ancestors. Any portion of your inherited wealth which turns out to have been derived through fraud or unfairness, you may disburse in accordance with your convictions of justice, generosity, and restitution. The remainder of your legitimate inherited wealth you may use in equity and transmit in security as the trustee of one generation for another. Wise discrimination and sound judgment should dictate your decisions regarding the bequest of riches to your successors.
132:5.16 (1463.10)“2. Everyone who enjoys wealth as a result of discovery should remember that one individual can live on earth but a short season and should, therefore, make adequate provision for the sharing of these discoveries in helpful ways by the largest possible number of his fellow men. While the discoverer should not be denied all reward for efforts of discovery, neither should he selfishly presume to lay claim to all of the advantages and blessings to be derived from the uncovering of nature’s hoarded resources.
132:5.17 (1464.1)“3. As long as men choose to conduct the world’s business by trade and barter, they are entitled to a fair and legitimate profit. Every tradesman deserves wages for his services; the merchant is entitled to his hire. The fairness of trade and the honest treatment accorded one’s fellows in the organized business of the world create many different sorts of profit wealth, and all these sources of wealth must be judged by the highest principles of justice, honesty, and fairness. The honest trader should not hesitate to take the same profit which he would gladly accord his fellow trader in a similar transaction. While this sort of wealth is not identical with individually earned income when business dealings are conducted on a large scale, at the same time, such honestly accumulated wealth endows its possessor with a considerable equity as regards a voice in its subsequent distribution.
132:5.18 (1464.2)“4. No mortal who knows God and seeks to do the divine will can stoop to engage in the oppressions of wealth. No noble man will strive to accumulate riches and amass wealth-power by the enslavement or unfair exploitation of his brothers in the flesh. Riches are a moral curse and a spiritual stigma when they are derived from the sweat of oppressed mortal man. All such wealth should be restored to those who have thus been robbed or to their children and their children’s children. An enduring civilization cannot be built upon the practice of defrauding the laborer of his hire.
132:5.19 (1464.3)“5. Honest wealth is entitled to interest. As long as men borrow and lend, that which is fair interest may be collected provided the capital lent was legitimate wealth. First cleanse your capital before you lay claim to the interest. Do not become so small and grasping that you would stoop to the practice of usury. Never permit yourself to be so selfish as to employ money-power to gain unfair advantage over your struggling fellows. Yield not to the temptation to take usury from your brother in financial distress.
132:5.20 (1464.4)“6. If you chance to secure wealth by flights of genius, if your riches are derived from the rewards of inventive endowment, do not lay claim to an unfair portion of such rewards. The genius owes something to both his ancestors and his progeny; likewise is he under obligation to the race, nation, and circumstances of his inventive discoveries; he should also remember that it was as man among men that he labored and wrought out his inventions. It would be equally unjust to deprive the genius of all his increment of wealth. And it will ever be impossible for men to establish rules and regulations applicable equally to all these problems of the equitable distribution of wealth. You must first recognize man as your brother, and if you honestly desire to do by him as you would have him do by you, the commonplace dictates of justice, honesty, and fairness will guide you in the just and impartial settlement of every recurring problem of economic rewards and social justice.
132:5.21 (1464.5)“7. Except for the just and legitimate fees earned in administration, no man should lay personal claim to that wealth which time and chance may cause to fall into his hands. Accidental riches should be regarded somewhat in the light of a trust to be expended for the benefit of one’s social or economic group. The possessors of such wealth should be accorded the major voice in the determination of the wise and effective distribution of such unearned resources. Civilized man will not always look upon all that he controls as his personal and private possession.
132:5.22 (1465.1)“8. If any portion of your fortune has been knowingly derived from fraud; if aught of your wealth has been accumulated by dishonest practices or unfair methods; if your riches are the product of unjust dealings with your fellows, make haste to restore all these ill-gotten gains to the rightful owners. Make full amends and thus cleanse your fortune of all dishonest riches.
132:5.23 (1465.2)“9. The trusteeship of the wealth of one person for the benefit of others is a solemn and sacred responsibility. Do not hazard or jeopardize such a trust. Take for yourself of any trust only that which all honest men would allow.
132:5.24 (1465.3)“10. That part of your fortune which represents the earnings of your own mental and physical efforts—if your work has been done in fairness and equity—is truly your own. No man can gainsay your right to hold and use such wealth as you may see fit provided your exercise of this right does not work harm upon your fellows.”
132:5.25 (1465.4)When Jesus had finished counseling him, this wealthy Roman arose from his couch and, in saying farewell for the night, delivered himself of this promise: “My good friend, I perceive you are a man of great wisdom and goodness, and tomorrow I will begin the administration of all my wealth in accordance with your counsel.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prior to the arrival of Europeans, Native Americans living in North America did NOT construe that they “owned” (or COULD own) Land (some portion of the Great Mother). They understood it in terms of “occupancy”.
Wealth ~ what is it? (& where does it come from?)
Our life would be better if we better understood where WEALTH comes from. And what it is.
Wealth certainly is NOT the same as Money. True Wealth is: Clean Air, Clean Water, nourishing food, Peace and Stability, Friends and Family whom we love and who love us, a Clean Heart, a well-educated and open Mind, a generous Spirit delivered from the hard bonds of selfhood, a societal environment where cooperation abounds, and where Truth is highly valued and the Law is honored and upheld.
True Wealth arises from Cooperation, from the Principle of Giving. Even though we are still in the Ironic Period [economically speaking] as we collectively operate under the illusion that Money is Wealth.
And so we think that we work for money, and that it’s the money that’s good.)
Whereas – if we could ‘sit on a cloud’ (that is – low enough to be able to see what people are doing, but high enough that we would NOT be able to see any exchange of money … what we would observe is – that people are all busy doing things for one another. Giving.
[It is quite clear that our current “President” does NOT know what wealth is, or where it comes from]
Of course there is a certain amount of corruption, thievery, deceit, scamming, etc. but Wealth arises in the Big Economy (in the culture) in spite of the cheating, not because of it.
Great Nature does her best to show us the nature of wealth. We used to say – ‘It’s a dog-eat-dog’ world ; but cooperation is at work a great deal more than we once suspected.
Communicating through the vast fungal networks, trees (even of different species) help each other and share nutrients.
Besides – (it is obvious that) when one more leaf comes out on some bush or tree – it does so NOT do so at the expense of the Whole. Quite the opposite. All the various components of a tree CONTRIBUTE to the overall vitality of the whole organism. And – all benefit from belonging (to the commonwealth):
Specialization and Service (to the whole). The principle of Giving.
(and of Organicity / the WAY the parts of the system are interconnected)
The IRONY is that (mesmerized by the notion that money and wealth are equivalent) we imagine that the economy is driven by selfishness and greed even though it is actually functioning on the basis of the Principle of Giving. We just don’t SEE it.
[we all have a strong tendency toward self-centeredness, selfishness, and self-absorption]
As always ~ the Great War of Ideas rages all around us and IN us. And none can escape it. ALL are participants.
One of the most important battles in the war (currently) is WHETHER OR NOT POVERTY is NECESSARY.
I once heard one of the guys from Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream (on an NPR radio talk show.) I forget which one it was, of these two, but) he was telling about when he learned the selling price of the silk-screen-printed T-shirts that are sold (in great numbers) in L.A. It seemed like a lot of money to him. (even though these T-shirts are typically produced in Sweat-Shops: low wages, no air conditioning, questionable bathrooms, no benefits, etc) It made him wonder ~ what would happen if we used a CO-OP MODEL? (instead of sweat-shop conditions) – What if the T-shirt company could be properly capitalized, equipped with air conditioning, a proper bathroom, pay the workers a living wage, with health insurance benefits, etc. …
Could the product still be sold at a competitive price?
So he DID it. He formed such a company. And how did the experiment turn out?
Here he drops two quarters on the counter (it was radio – so he needed that sound)
They had to charge fifty cents more for their shirts (than their sweat shop competitors charged)
Poverty looks like a CHOICE to me.
(and of course, this little experiment makes NO attempt to utilize the wealth of knowledge which has been acquired (reverse-engineered) from extraterrestrial/alien technology, which knowledge & technology continues [perversely] to be suppressed/kept quiet by the Super Rich.)
Quite a few times have I put on a bean-cook. Outdoors. Open fire. Three-foot iron pot hanging from a tall tripod. Sometimes there would be two fires, two fire-rings (made of rocks), two tripods, chains hanging the cooking gear. Then I would probably produce tortillas (on the 4-foot griddle) … and beans in the big iron pot.
I never (really) did this to make money. But there ARE expenses involved (I would usually cook up a 50# bag of dry beans. And it takes quite a bit of work. Two hours just to sort them [remove bean-size rocks & clods of clay]; soak them overnight; re-rinse & cook them the next day].
Tripods (which require a heavy 3-pronged pin near the top); drift pins inserted about 7’ above the ground (to stop the suspension-chains from sliding on down the pole). Big rocks (for the fire rings). Enough fire-wood. Ingredients ~ for the beans: about a bushel each of ~ tomatoes, onions, peppers, & (a half-bushel of) mushrooms; (salt, garlic, oregano, & ground cumin – quite a bit will be needed).
For the tortillas (sometimes I’ll have the customers roll out & fry up their own): white & whole-wheat flour, a sanitary surface on which to roll the dough out flat; oil, (& corn meal – after they’re rolled out); rolling pin(s); a big spoon to stir the beans, & at least one good spatula for the tortillas; melted butter in a small pot on the griddle. Also ~ the pots themselves (the pot & the griddle, both of which are heavy and require care): the 3-foot cast iron pot; and the 4-foot griddle (round or elliptical cut from ½” steel plate). Studs (½” bolts, heads beneath the griddle) & eye-nuts on the top end for the chains to pass through; six pieces of chain & a long stout stick (or a 2×4) to lift a third of the (hot) griddle, allowing the chains to be adjusted / to raise or lower the griddle as needed.
I’ve done this routine (I quite LIKE doing it) ~ in Iowa (at MIU); in Seattle (at Harvest Fairs); at the Spyker farm in SW Washington; in British Columbia (when I lived on Quadra Island); and in Arizona (at GCCA).
Sometimes I’d just do a pancake breakfast using the big griddle.
Anyway – I tried selling the tortillas & beans (at a modest, fair price). I’d hang a crock about head-high from one of the tripod poles and just post the prices.
And – I’ve also just accepted donations (for the tortillas and the beans). And, you know what I found? It doesn’t make much difference.
I bring in about the same whether I sell them or whether I just accept donations.
So – I quit selling them. (in favor of ‘donations only’)
(and, of course – if I’d never TRIED it, I’d have never found out. That it doesn’t matter)
About 25 years ago Amazon made a decision to allow 3rd-party sellers to advertise (& sell) their products on Amazon. (for a price of course)
Still – it’s rather counter-intuitive (to help one’s competitors).
And there must have been considerable debate about it behind closed doors.
But they went ahead and did it.
And today about 60% of Amazon’s physical product sales are 3rd party sales.
And the fact that they are still doing this means (to me, at least) that Amazon makes money from this program. And probably quite a bit of money.
Why? Why is it a success? Because it’s a Real Service.
And – lots of Amazon customers then became even more ‘Amazon-loyal’. They would then just go to Amazon no matter what they were looking for.
Besides – Amazon is free to slightly raise or lower the commission that 3rd party sellers must pay them. (And Amazon is FAMOUS for being “data-driven”, and creative in the doing of it.)
But I consider Jeff Bezos (& Amazon) to be a “lost cause”.
In his song – “After the Gold Rush” Neil Young makes no mention of any gold rush, nor does he even talk about greed & materialism. The closest he comes is in the last verse in which he refers to a dream in which there is preparation (for certain ‘chosen’ humans) to depart in silver space ships “toward a New Home in the Sun”. This may be understood as an image of choosing a Higher Life.
If we Humans continue as we are currently doing … if we do NOT change and do better then the chances of Human Civilization still being here on the Earth a Hundred Years from now seem Very Slim to me.
I just now asked ChatGPT what we’d have to do to survive another hundred years. I won’t bother you with the details; but I can tell you that the necessary changes are not trivial. They’re massive. (if you don’t believe me, you can ask for yourself. It’s not a secret. Nor, I think, is it arguable.
But – let’s suppose for a minute that things go well (in the next few decades). You know how the time we’re in right now will be thought of a hundred years from now?
Our current time will be known then as “The time of fooling around” (or something to that effect. And if things go Very Well, our current time will be referred to as – the “pre-family period”)
Because
We are NOT taking care of business. Even though we KNOW that our world (certainly human civilization) is teetering on the Existential Brink we are NOT ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM !!
Instead we stick our collective head into the sand and do the ostrich asana.
Why?
Because to actually confront the problem would be Very Uncomfortable. And we already (many years ago; we don’t even remember it) have given ourselves permission to (simply) AVOID anything that might make us feel weak or stupid or inadequate. (we’re “within our rights” to do that, aren’t we?) I mean – even it we do EVERYTHING that’s within our power to do (to prevent the self-genocide that we are currently prosecuting) we still MIGHT FAIL
And wouldn’t THAT be unpleasant?
Better to leave it to someone else.
We can still party.
Have an end-of-the-world garage sale (ROCK-BOTTOM PRICES EVERYTHING MUST GO)
Also – we do not address the great planetary / existential crises confronting us because it would not be good for our holy “bottom line” – our (short-term, selfish) profits; and because our (whole society) economic incentives are ALL WONKY and do NOT reward choices that are in the direction of Sustainability.
And we lack the character and will to re-design the Economy / re-tune the Incentives for Survival.
In other words – we are Stupid (we’re in a stupor).
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Pj_zVp_OqXI (We’re Mortal – Anthony Hopkins)
Anthony Hopkins reminds us that 3 generations from now everyone who knew us will be dead.
Jeff Bezos may (for a time) be remembered for Amazon, for how much money he made by maximizing profit through data-driven decisions. Good for him. (but that’s the most he can hope for)
And I would definitely NOT want my sister to marry him or anyone LIKE him.
What would YOU like to be remembered for?
Google & YouTube are like a mighty ship. And YOU are on its bridge. At its helm. You are in a position to wield power which few can even imagine. And how will you spend that nickel? Making money?
Really?
For a beautiful home? A snazzy car? Plush family vacations? A good education for your kids?
Surely you could achieve all such things on a TENTH of what you earn now could you not?
Maybe you reckon you need ALL the money you have (& can get) to be able to influence geopolitics. Or just to be able to control what happens in this country. Mmm?
If so I hope you know what you’re doing. Because, honestly, I have my doubts.
If you do not hold every human being (& ALL Sentient beings) in your heart similar to how you hold your own children …
If you do not feel intimately connected to the life-support systems (the sun, the rain the air, the soil, the rivers & oceans, the forests …) which keep us alive (& the Spiritual Forces which do the same) all day every day
then you are not qualified to lead.
“The sun is a Powerful Man.
If he dies, everybody dies.” – Dersu Uzala ~ Kurosawa
(We are part of a biological system LONG before we’re part of a political or economic system)
FAMILY or enemies ? (connectedness or alienation?)
We (ALL) stake our lives on what we think is true. & what we think is possible.
So we need to ask ourselves:
Is Poverty a choice?
Is the (psycho-spiritual abandonment &) exploitation/oppression of the Populace necessary?
Is Nature trying to show us the way to abundant Life and Harmony?
Is Predation (in Business) necessary? Do we WANT to be in a predatory relationship with our clients? And with our customers? Do we (actually) believe that it’s necessary? (that we have no choice)?
It’s true that (in Nature) some animals eat plants. And some animals eat other animals.
[but the notion that “It’s a dog-eat-dog world / Survival of the Fittest” is no longer believable.]
Some orcas eat mammals & birds. And some eat only fish. But the difference is CULTURAL NOT BIOLOGICAL.
We have some choices to make. That’s all.
Most families love and protect everyone within the Family. [particularly the father assumes this responsibility]
Now – one could argue that (since the Family Boundary is typically drawn so small) that this is (in reality) a modern version of Selfishness. (selfishness pretending to be Love)
In ANY case we have to CHOOSE how to draw the ‘family’ boundary;
Any real family is a predation-free zone.
Albert Schweitzer says –
“I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy
are those who have sought and found how to serve.”
Nisargadatta says –
“In dream you love some and not others.
In waking up you find – You are Love itself, embracing All.
Personal Love, however intense and genuine, invariably binds;
Love in Freedom is Love of All.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kp7YGIamtN8 (“I realized I’m the worst person I know”
Scott Harrison, of Charity Water 15:41)
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G2Qt6Zno3w9yFFH4aJEGJNsuVPQ7q_wJr4F4dr6MK3I/edit?tab=t.0 (Thomas Merton’s awakening)
Do we dare to believe – that what Merton experienced was nothing more than a clear apprehension of the truth?
The Old Onion Seller
In a shady corner of the great market at Mexico City was an old Indian named Pota-lamo. He had 20 strings of onions hanging in front of him.
An American from Chicago came up and said: “How much for a string of onions?” “Ten cents,” said Pota-lamo.
“How much for two strings?” “Twenty cents,” was the reply.
“How much for three strings?” “Thirty cents,” was the answer.
“Not much reduction in that,” said the American. “Would you take 25 cents?” “No,” said the Indian.
“How much for your whole 20 strings?” said the American.
“I would not sell you my 20 strings,” replied the Indian.
“Why not?” said the American. “Aren’t you here to sell your onions?” “No,” replied the Indian. “I am here to live my life. I love this marketplace. I love the crowds and the red serapes. I love the sunlight and the waving palmettos. I love to have Pedro and Luis come by and say `Buenos dias’ and talk about the babies and the crops. I love to see my friends. That is my life. For that I sit here all day and sell my 20 strings of onions. But if I sell all my onions to one customer, then my day is ended. I have lost my life that I love – and that I will not do.”
– from “The Gospel of the Redman” by Ernest Thompson Seton
An old farmer in Montana was once asked – “What would you do if you had a million dollars?”.
After a little thought, the farmer replied – “I don’t know. I guess I’d just keep farming till it was all gone.”
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“Betrayal of public trust by an elected or appointed official is regarded as a most heinous crime, and such offenders are summarily executed.”
– from UB Paper 72 ~ ‘Government on a Neighboring Planet’ which begins on p. 808. I suggest you read the entire paper:
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I’m pretty sure – that YouTube has (already) had considerable beneficial impact on our Collective Life.
One that (quite) impresses me is that it shows us that there is a lot of connection (possible) among animals – (even) of different species, and also connection between animals and Humans. Furthermore – I was led to this realization DESPITE the fact that I did NOT seek it or even intentionally study this topic. WHY? – Because of the youtube software AND because of the enormous body of videos in the library.
Suppose that you are searching (in your own, personal) collection of hardware – for a certain bolt that you need. The chances that you’ll find one that will do the job – will be roughly proportional to the number of pieces of hardware in your collection / (your ‘hardware store’).
YouTube functions as a powerful Window onto the World of which we are a part. This is NOT trivial. And it is astonishing.
We need to understand & appreciate that (because of its vastness) YouTube now offers Humanity a (hitherto unavailable) VIEW of REALITY. It’s a New Thing in Human History.
Hanging out on YouTube is going to EXPAND your view of Reality Expand our View of the World.
And the (YouTube software) “goal” of Maximizing the amount of time a user spends sitting looking at YouTube should be abandoned. Because it’s predatory. And it’s unnecessary, and off-the-point.
I’m not saying that the software itself should change. But the REASON for it (the purpose for it) should be re-understood.
The programmer should think of himself as an Educator. And as a Gracious Host.
Baskin-Robbins does not say (to its customer) – “Okay. Make up your mind. What kind of ice cream do you want?” NO ! They have TASTING SPOONS and will gladly (before you order) give you a taste of any kind of ice cream they have.
The YouTube programmer should imagine he (or she) works in such an ice cream store. And that the ice cream (the videos) is Education. He should endeavor to interest the user in as many flavors of ice cream as possible.
And once he learns that a given customer likes a certain flavor, the software should REMEMBER that.
One chronic disappointment I experience while using YouTube is that the Software FORGETS TOO SOON.
It should, for example, have figured out that I LOVE the art of Bonsai (miniature trees). And the fact that I haven’t REQUESTED or searched for or selected a video on that topic for quite a while – should NOT be interpreted as an indication that I no longer love it ! No. The software should have learned ALL the things I’m interested in and then (every now and then) OFFER me a (good) clip from each area of interest (whether I’ve looked at any videos in that area of interest recently or NOT.
I think maybe you think you already DO this. But I am confident that the software could be improved in this regard. (at least – for me)
WHY, do you suppose – Andrew Carnegie decided to fund lots of public libraries?
Does not ready access to a Public Library (even an old-fashioned one – one that’s full of books) foster Human Progress? It does. Because it is an augmentation of the Human Mind. An individual Human Being is no longer limited to making do with his own limited experience (& thoughts & memories). The invention of Language, Written Language, and the Printing Press / (books) grants us access to the ideas (and memories) of OTHERS. And ready access to Public Libraries means that one does not even have to BUY a book in order to read it. It is a Great Boon to Humanity, surely. To Education and Progress.
- But as I contemplate YouTube – its benefits to Humanity (& its potential benefits) I am IN AWE.
- Every person (automatically) has ready access to his (or her) own memories. But – YouTube (is so enormous that it) functions as an augmentation of Human Memory. It pushes Individual mind (& memory) toward Humanity Mind (& memory).
Allow me to use myself (as a YouTube user) as an example: Already (and without meaning to) have I become acquainted with (not only) how much connectedness there is among ALL forms of Life, but – the amazing amount of creativity of a Great Many people. AND the incredible level of skill of (again) Very Many People. Skill which had to have been attained through a GREAT amount of Training & Practice.
[and there are, as well – other things I have learned that are not easy to describe succinctly]
I recently asked ChatGPT three questions; and here’s what I found out ~ People (world-wide) make use of / (spend time in) Public Libraries at the rate of (approximately) ⅓ of a billion hours per month.
People (world-wide) spend time reading books at (about) the rate of 30 billion hours per month.
People (world-wide) spend on YouTube: about one billion hours a day.
This means that (currently) the people of this planet spend about the SAME amount of time reading books as they spend on YouTube (though, I’m guessing – they’re not the Same people. People who read books may not be the same people as the ones who watch YouTube)
And – the time we spend in libraries (ALL the libraries in the world) is about 1 % of the time that we spend on YouTube !
This means that YouTube is the MOST WIDELY USED LIBRARY IN THE WORLD. By far !
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BgRacnXc7WiBmKBzdtzPWE9j8cE8fxxavKHVHBe1Nu8/edit?tab=t.0 (a few links)
(You can see that I am not just a YouTube user, I’m also a Fan. While I do have some problems with YouTube as a philosopher & teacher – I love youtube because it pushes us / (Humanity) to move beyond our stereotypical & injurious World View.
YouTube must be the coolest library in the world!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hDJ7uIpEU6ppPdTSDr8RArTRGc2hPF6tLDaH1m_5Ljo/edit?tab=t.0 (quite a few links)
What would you do if you were certain that you’d never have to worry about having enough money ever again?
Or (let me put it to you another way) –
How would you steer Google & YouTube if you knew that (tomorrow & thereafter) all money would be obsolete?
or if you were to come to the realization that the ‘maximization of profit’ was IRRELEVANT? that it is an unworthy goal for your life’s contribution?
[ref: “‘Tin Cup”, 1996 – Kevin Costner & Rene Russo ]
(We may be able [while technically respecting the rules] to simply ‘choose a different game to play’)
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The Kings of the World
The kings of the world are growing old
and they shall have no inheritors.
Their sons died while they were boys,
and their neurasthenic daughters abandoned
the sick crown to the mob.
The mob breaks it into tiny bits of gold.
The Lord of the World, master of the age,
melts them in fire into machines,
which do his orders with low growls;
but luck is not on their side.
The ore feels homesick. It wants to abandon
the minting houses and the wheels
that offer it such a meager life.
And out of the factories and the payroll boxes
it wants to go back into the veins
of the thrown-open mountain,
which will close again behind it.
– Rainer Maria Rilke
Transl: Robert Bly
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Some mis-labeled YouTube videos:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bORJNMWSEsAJCSsFy70oqA3EVjwrTXV1fbamaHfJP10/edit?tab=t.0
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You may like to have a look at my resume:
A’Journe Resume: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qW-JUpvR37nHDSUNLH8oOO6W61fssBE-teoL7KL-Fo0/edit?tab=t.0
& upon request
I will submit a list of some suggestions for proper management of the Public Library of YouTube; (or meet with you if you’d prefer)
Blessings
A’Journe Spyker
You needn’t pay any attention to anything I say. Unless it’s true.
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“NAMES”
You should try to hear the name the Holy One has for things.
There is something in the phrase: “The Holy One taught him names.”
We name everything according to the number of legs it has;
The holy one names it according to what is inside.
Moses waved his stick; he thought it was a “rod.”
But inside its name was “dragonish snake.”
We thought the name of Umar meant: “agitator against priests”;
But in eternity his name is “the one who believes.”
No one knows our name until our last breath goes out.
– Rumi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6unS2JF8TA (Pathology of the Rich – Chris Hedges 23:37)
A few days ago I watched the film “The Social Dilemma”. Surely you know it: https://thesocialdilemma.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpv1mjTedow (LIVE: ‘Ukraine War is Over’, Jeffrey Sachs Makes a Fiery Speech At EU Parliament, Challenges America) We should learn to tell the truth.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wNt7ReCcauFANfzxHGI0LXv2GWLD5wU60yEUsii_bBo/edit?tab=t.0 (Stockdale) {copy link into URL bar} When life is easy, we may be able to get by without deep thinking; but when life presses hard upon us – such is not the case.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [the ‘cover letter’ ]:
2 September 2025
Attn: Neal Mohan, James Manyika, & Kent Walker
Dear [Mr. Mohan / Mr. Manyika / Mr. Walker] :
I am writing to share with you a letter I have prepared concerning YouTube’s role in society. My central conviction is that YouTube, by virtue of how it is used by billions – already functions as a Public Library for the world. As such, it carries with it responsibilities for stewardship, accessibility, and truthfulness that extend beyond being a commercial platform.
The attached letter is written in a spirit of constructive concern. It argues that YouTube, as a global commons of knowledge, should be managed with the same sense of duty we expect from public libraries: responsibility for the information held, and care for the people who rely upon it.
I appreciate the enormous complexity of guiding a platform of this scale, but I believe that aligning YouTube more explicitly with its civic and cultural role could serve both humanity and Google’s long-term mission.
Thank you for considering these thoughts. I would be deeply grateful if you or someone on your leadership team could take time to read the letter that follows.
With respect,
A’Journe Spyker
PO Box 2030 Sisters, Oregon 97759
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For the full letter: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17PrYEN5FdyXVgTcDY6uJwlvfc8-ompxw8wJj1HALfPk/edit?tab=t.0
[A paper copy of this (full) letter was mailed on 28 August to ~ YouTube, LLC,901 Cherry Ave. San Bruno, CA 94066 USPS Tracking # 9534 6158 2673 5240 8905 17 ]
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{I send this as a fax as a last resort. I’ve tried emailing this cover letter to: public-policy@google.com , to youtube-legal-support@google.com , to youtube-creators@google.com , & to support@youtube.com but none of these would receive my email.} A’J