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Michael Arturo's avatar

During the Gold Rush, while the essential tools needed were simple—a pick and some initiative—the real difficulty lay in navigating the misinformation and deceit from those who might lead you astray to secure their own fortunes first. “Oh, yeah, I hear that mountain over yonder was the place to dig. No one ever panned in that river successfully.” Saying anything to misdirect the competition. Nothing’s changed in America today, but the competition has become more intense. The stakes are higher, and the levels of poverty are lower. Thus, the propaganda is wall to wall. The NY Times this morning is telling us there is nothing wrong with seed oils RFKJr. is looking to remove from processed foods. Like the Gold Rush, go look over there, and maybe a boulder will fall down a mountain and kill you.

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The Inmate's avatar

Thanks, Michael. Great comment. Nothing wrong with seed oils! The NY Times has sold its soul....maybe it never had one.

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John's avatar

As a lifetime native of the once golden state, I too am amazed at the changes of the past 20-30 years, all propped up on the stilts of propaganda, lies and misdirections.

Just going back a generation or so, the streets were nice, well made, potholes were rare and there were actual street sweepers that came by every week or so. I can remember visiting relatives in San Francisco (the tenderloin district no less) and being able to walk around at night, looking at all the Christmas displays in shop windows and all the boats in the marina district strung with lights.

In the central valley, the air was clear and the sky was usually a brilliant blue. I could hike the Sierras for a week, wildfires were rare and creeks ran most of the year. I grew up walking and riding my bike everywhere without concern, often well past when the streetlights had come on.

It's hard to say what exactly broke this paradise, but the expansion of the unrestricted power of "our betters" (both political, and corporate) has most definitely had catastrophic consequences. Unfortunately too many in our state have become addicted to the synthetic drugs of government and convenience to see their shattered reflections in the mirror.

And yes it is a simple as "shut it off", but someone has to wrestle back the levers of power.

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The Inmate's avatar

I had a similar experience growing up here in Southern California...

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