Through a series of events this morning, the John Birch Society came to mind. We have a local gas station that (years ago, at least) used to sell their literature. It’s where my dad bought a bumper sticker that read “Get US out of the UN.” Funny that anyone ever saw the UN as a threat.

Is it any wonder that in such a brutish time–a martial time–the lords of the world are trying to reach Mars? War is a god and it’s calling all our names.

Vote for me and I pledge to bring back city-states and then go find something better to do than politicking.

As I read Trump say he’s in no hurry to end the war with Iran, I was reminded again of this post from Adam Kotsko:

My overarching question throughout the second Trump administration has been: why hasn’t the other shoe dropped?

… I believe that the answer to this tangle of questions is relatively straightforward: money. American society is largely able to absorb Trump’s destructive actions because we’re the wealthiest nation that has ever existed. And America’s erstwhile allies and trading partners adapt to his behavior because they figure there is still money to be made and any attempt to stand on principle or rein him in would endanger the flow of money. The same is true on the corporate level, as the biggest multinationals have more than enough resources to smooth out the impact of tariffs on consumer prices, for instance by building up huge inventories before they came into effect.

Even the muted response to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz—through which 20% of the world’s staple fuel, as well as countless crucial chemical inputs, have been prevented from flowing—can be chalked up to the cushion that wealth provides, as many countries have built up considerable fuel reserves since the last time the ruler of a major nation got it into his head to do something stupid and disruptive. The situation is certainly regrettable. It’s not what any of them would have chosen. But they can move some things around and make it work. Kings change and kingdoms change, but capitalist accumulation endures forever.

Will we ever burn through these mountains of money and face the consequences of our actions? God only knows.

It appears that the president will be making a case for more war funding tonight. Remember: he may be on death’s payroll but you don’t have to be.

Once you decide that you are on the side of life, you suddenly have a lot more clarity about thorny issues. Problem is, the side of life is manifestly out of power right now. The powerful–rather, the Powers and those aligned with them–are bent on blood and domination.

“Don’t obsess over politics”—click through to read a good quote posted by Patrick Rhone. It’s not healthy for people to think about politics as much as they do. And I understand why: too much is at stake. That’s the problem. Too few people hold too much power. Literally world-changing power. That is the province of the gods, not humans. Our governments and corporations have long since abandoned human scale, and our anxieties have increased accordingly.