The Ultimate 'Nudge' Gift....

For the smoker with a dark sense of humour
and some highly insensitive habits... 

 

Immoral Mathematics

Is it more sinful to lend money
at compound interest rates
than it is to lend the same money
at simple interest rates?

Or is the real sin in the borrower
who fails to resist the temptation
to live well beyond their means
because of the ease of appearance
that such impressions give? 

Wealth, Poverty, And Inequality

When Jesus talked about the poor
he knew that there were more of them
than could be fed and freed from debt.

He knew that government systems
would always recreate debt bondage
without seeming to. It is called economics.

But for those who hear his call,
feeding the poor is still worthwhile,
and they will always be out of fashion;
Prosperity Theology is not for them.

When the wealthy and powerful talk
of ending need, the need they most seek
to put an end to is the need to tax wealth,
and redistribute inheritance downwards.

Since wealth is such a blessing for elites,
such that it can't be divided, it can only divide
the elite from those they seek to represent
-the poor know that nothing could succeed
as well as wealth based hypocrisy.

Men, Women, And Lies

Gore Vidal used to to take instant dislikes
to many people he met, in his defence,
when queried about this he said 'It saves time'.
But aside from his acid talent for burning through
so many subjects, both in writing and with life,
there are good reasons for disliking some people.

We should not be surprised when a conman lies;
to the conman their lives depend on concealment
behind contradictory and evasive statements,
as much others need an internal consistency
for what they choose to say, to be believed.

That said the most difficult part we play,
as we seek consistency in behaviour,
is spotting the conman, and labelling him
before he ever tries to change our minds;
when we know his game we should know to not trust him*.

*yes there are con-women in the world,
often they exist in families where inheritances
are wrongly diverted and wills are contested.

Given the power imbalance that is a key part
of the patriarchal world, then women will lie,
If only to give themselves personal space
and get out from being directly underneath 
purely male-centred power structures.   

Check The Terms And Conditions

There is a vast difference between being happy
because you are in a child-like trance,
because without query you agreed to the way
somebody introduced themselves to you,
and being happy because you know
where the exits, entries, and limits are
with friendships you have.

In the former you are temporarily re-made,
unawares, to be child-like by A.N.Other
who wants you to be unable to use reason
when you want exit from being under their control.

In the latter you agreed to be with them 
in ways where you both know your exits,
and where and why they leave too, 
and with that you can be happy them.
Neither of you needs to use the exits yet..... 

People who want to misuse 'your inner child'
will never level with you about it,
they will work around what you say
and not meet your questions
when you need them to be direct and open. 

evasive people will always exist; let them,
and don't knowingly become one yourself,
little will you realise you are the first person
that you are lying to and dividing is yourself,
never mind how you misuse others after.... 

My Second New Year Card

Good Cheer can never be too late in arriving. 

 

Picture set Of The Month - The Record Sleeve Art of Souix And The Banshees

The record cover/sleeve art

of Souix and the Banshees

was never less than striking 

and surely more deserving of a celebration

than many other record sleeve designs of the 1980's. 

in a gallery of it's own; consider it done.