#13.16 Peace Revolution Podcast 85

2014-09-22: 085 The Future of Freedom and the History of Western Civilization 

This episode spans nearly 16 hours of audio presentations. It can be divided into two parts. The first part runs to the 11th hour and about 26 minutes and consists of the most intelligent conversations concerning internet (and other) surveillance. The remainder of this episode contains a complete set of lectures by professor Carroll Quigley (1910-1977) author of Tragedy and Hope: A History of the World in Our Time (1966) and many other extraordinary books. Richard Grove said that he wanted to get this material out in front of other material, interviews etc. that would follow. Yes, we at this blog, divide people into two broad categories, those who have read Quigley and those who haven't. Obviously we consider his work essential reading.

Of the foregoing, there are so many ideas peppered through these presentations, together forming probably the most up-to-date record of where we are concerning the level and extent of surveillance under which we live today. The Quigley lecture is occasionally very difficult to understand (headphones may help) but you will want to hear what he has to say and digest some of his ideas as he really did have his mind on the pulse of what makes the institutions of the modern world work, etc. He understood contemporary ideas against a historical background extending back into ancient times. This is why his work is so outstanding. It would be worthwhile for someone to transcribe these lectures so that we can have a clear idea of what he said. Grove's audio transcription is probably the best we have, but in parts due to Quigley walking away from his podium, it's very difficult to tell what he says right away. At this point we have the record. The next step is to get this record into a reasonable print equivalent for further study. Until then, attempting to listen through this material provides some idea of Quigley's ideas.

INTERMISSION

#0 True Federalism - Thomas Jefferson (1816)

Jefferson (1743-1826)

“The way to have good and safe government is not to trust it all to one, but to divide it among the many, distributing to every one exactly the functions he is competent to.

Let the national government be entrusted with the defense of the nation, and its foreign and federal relations; the State governments with the civil rights, law, police, and administration of what concerns the State generally; the counties with the local concerns of the counties, and each ward direct the interests within itself.

It is by dividing and subdividing these republics from the great national one down through all its subordinations, until it ends in the administration of every man’s farm by himself; by placing under every one what his own eye may superintend, that all will be done for the best.

What has destroyed liberty and the rights of man in every government which has ever existed under the sun? The generalizing and concentrating all cares and powers into one body.”

– Thomas Jefferson

(Jefferson to Joseph C. Cabell - 2 Feb. 1816)

#V1.2 Fall 2014 - Winter 2015

No Interest in IVES 

September 15^th, 2014

David Burton, the blogger who began the E. C. Riegel Blog (ecriegel.blogspot.com) said today that the drive to recruit delegates to a special private conference to set up the International Valun Exchange Society (IVES) as an organizing mechanism to spur development of a real alternative currency trading network or Valun Exchange Network (VEN) had failed to receive an adequate response.

After meeting with close colleagues, Burton said that many factors have contributed to his decision to curtail postings on the E. C. Riegel blog for the time being.

One concern was that an inadequate number of hits on the blog indicated that far too few have an interest or have bothered to pursue this alternative further, for whatever reasons. Some suggested that it simply was not yet time for such an effort to get under way.

Burton surmised that many are so caught up in just trying to survive the present system, which is increasingly forcing people to deal directly with it in terms of “various para-espionage techniques” to which Burton noted that at this point, obviously most people are either still unaware that they have been and are slaves, or that they prefer being someone else's slave rather than exercising the responsibilities and requirements associated with genuine freedom.

“The degree to which most people still refuse to do their own thinking and would rather rely on the 'expert opinion,' as bad as that is, indicates that this effort would at this time be an uphill battle.” He refused to comment further concerning any who had previously been so vociferous, stating, “My e-mails have dried up. Those who did the most complaining have disappeared.”

Burton said that there had been two proposals presented to him in May and June. The first consisted of suggesting that the initial transaction representing the value of a Valun at inception should coincide with the all time highest price in dollars for gold rather than Burton's seemingly arbitrary choice of 11/2/2011. Burton said he would second the motion at any bone fide convention of the proposed IVES.

The other proposal concerned a family credit system allowing families to borrow at no interest a certain number of Valuns per child, 1,000 Valuns per child was suggested. Burton said he'd have to give the idea some further consideration, but was not closed to the idea.

When asked about the future of the E. C. Riegel blog, Burton said, “As with anything that's new to most people, the avenues of entry are frequently beset by various types of people of rather low character, people who would in any other legitimate line of work be considered cranks, losers, etc. If a truly honest person comes forward attempting to present an idea to the public, they are generally met with dismissive ridicule or worse. It's a wonder any real progress in anything is ever achieved.” He remained hopeful that at some time in the future more people would begin to understand the value of Riegel's ideas and devise something based on them that might work very well for most people.

  

“But,” Burton said, “until the thing fails and much worse befalls a woebegone humanity, few will wake up and understand their condition or what must be done to escape it. The IVES proposal was obviously one of those things whose time has not yet come.”