I have been waiting for a site like this for many years.  The tide is turning.  Become a member!  Good stuff awaits you: Democracy Now, Worldwide Hippie News, great music, poetry, everything you need to stay smart and vigilant. (news continually updated,) Hippie TV, great videos, a place to gather and unite,  and much, much more!

I am very proud to be a part of their mission.  Here are links to articles of mine they have published:

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2012/01/18/its-a-matter-of-time/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2012/01/11/dont-worry-be-happy/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/12/28/deprive-and-deprave-news-you-may-have-missed-in-2011/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/12/21/the-dark-becomes-light/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/12/14/lewd-conduct/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/12/07/occupy-aarp/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/11/30/somebody%E2%80%99s-got-to-suffer/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/11/23/giving-thanks/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/11/16/for-the-good-of-the-common/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/11/09/what%E2%80%99s-your-next-move/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/11/02/we-didn%E2%80%99t-start-the-fire/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/10/26/ceteris-paribus/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/10/19/got-solidarity/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/10/12/a-note-to-a-refrigerator/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/10/05/out-of-the-jungle/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/09/28/the-rest-of-us/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/09/07/trains-planes-automobiles%E2%80%A6-and-yachts/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/08/31/pooping/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/08/24/is-there-any-good-news-a-meeting-with-dennis-kucinich/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/08/17/one-life-to-live/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/08/10/hunga-dunga-aho-mitakuye-oyasin/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/08/03/my-toilet-bowl-is-bugged/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/07/27/the-myth-of-the-%E2%80%9Cjob-creators%E2%80%9D/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/07/20/progressive-billionaires/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/07/13/what-i-learned-in-tv-school-today/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/07/06/this-time-is-the-last-time/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/06/29/a-critical-mass-of-love-pt-2/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/06/22/a-critical-mass-of-love-pt-1/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/06/15/the-un-united-states-of-america/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/06/08/enhanced-tumescence/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/06/01/memorialize-this/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/05/25/the-dissident-deist/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/05/18/5000-years-later/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/04/27/apples-to-oranges/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/04/20/dear-mr-president/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/04/13/an-agonizing-reappraisal/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/04/06/have-you-been-scrubbed-lately/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/03/30/a-room-with-two-views/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/03/23/china-the-new-america/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/03/16/i-pledge-allegiance/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/03/09/they-killed-democracy-you-bastards/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/02/23/the-futures-market-response-to-my-series-on-the-collapse-of-capitalism/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/02/16/collapse-of-capitalism-part-iv-razor-wire-and-wealth/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/02/09/collapse-of-capitalism-part-iii-sustainability/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/02/02/collapse-of-capitalism-part-ii-squeezing-blood-from-a-stone/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/2011/01/26/the-collapse-of-capitalism-part-one-planned-obsolescence/

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/?p=12285

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/?p=11946

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/?p=4772

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/?p=5706

http://www.worldwidehippies.com/?p=5244

Check them out!

I wish we could start with an agreement of the definitions we use when discussing economics and politics.  For example, Capitalism and Communism are ECONOMIC systems.  Democracy, Totalitarianism and Fascism are POLITICAL systems.

Yet some people insist on comparing Democracy vs.  Communism, or Capitalism vs. Totalitarianism or Fascism.  This is like comparing apples to oranges.  The far right of the Republican Party is very good at confusing people by using the apples to oranges comparisons, when any intelligent, educated person knows this is a totally stupid comparison which holds no weight.  You cannot have an intelligent discussion unless you are comparing apples to apples and oranges to oranges.

The right wing uses all these terms loosely and whenever they think it suits them.

You can have a Democratic political system and a Communistic economic system.  You can have a Totalitarian political system and a Capitalistic economic system.  But you can’t equate Communism to Totalitarianism nor Capitalism to Democracy (though both have existed in history) and be discussing the same theories.

One must discuss the Economic theories and Political theories separately, if we are to reach some kind of consensus on the direction of where we want to go as a nation.  Keep in mind, as with all things, these “labels” are part of a continuum.  Totalitarianism is at one end of a continuum and Democracy at the other end.  It is true of Capitalism and Communism.  They are at the poles of the continuum and polarizing any continuum, be it political, economic, social, sexual, is at the root of most problems confronting the world today.

Labels!  How I hate them!  Remember the rainbow.  It is a continuum of color.  It is a spectrum that includes colors (frequencies of light) not even visible to the human eye.  If I could bring you a rainbow up close, I dare you to be able to point to the exact place where one color becomes another.  If I could stand every human being in a line according to the color of their skin, I dare you to be able to go up to the single person where white becomes yellow or brown becomes black.  You can’t do it.    It is only when we ask this enormous row of people to mingle that we actually can see a white person standing next to a black person and decide they are of different races.  But the truth is we are just one race, the human race.

Yet to make life simple, because we tend to distance ourselves from anything complex, we arbitrarily divide continua into discrete groups, merely as a convenience.  And we seem to long for conveniences.  So we label people as white, black, yellow, brown, red…. and we arbitrarily divide the rainbow into familiar colors, though the continuum of colors, blended together is pure white light and it is pure white light through a prism of glass or moisture in the air which divides this white light into the spectrum of colors.

I digressed on this explanation of a continuum because it is important to remember that when we divide a continuum into parts and give it a label, we are doing so as a matter of convenience.  In truth, it is arbitrary.  Yet these labels are used so haphazardly, and most often, they become reality or what we think is reality.  It is not.

So when talking politics, talk politics.  When talking economics, talk economics.  But do not try to compare a political system to an economic one or vice-versa.  Is this too much to ask of a Tea Partier?  Or a Progressive?

There is one “ism” that does combine the political with the economic.  And that is Socialism.  It has become a nasty word and that is a real shame.

“Socialism is a political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole. ▶(in Marxist theory) a transitional social state between the overthrow of capitalism and the realization of communism.”

Poor Marx!  So disparaged, yet such an intellectual.  Socialism is not a bad word.  Along the political and economic spectra which we have chosen to divide into categories and label, is a blending of the two continua.  It is a transitional state, but contrary to Marx, it does not necessarily mean it will transition to the opposite pole of the continuum to Communism.  It does not have to mean the overthrow of Capitalism.  As a Democracy, we have a choice where we want to end of on the political and economic spectra.

We already have many examples of Socialism in the United States:  social security, medicare, the highway system and other infrastructure.  We also have an excellent example of it by studying the way Native Americans have organized into “collectives”, namely their Tribe.  And the development of capitalistic enterprises among many tribes is actually their way of behaving as commune-ists within our “capitalist” system.  How many of us wish we were part Native American so we could receive an annual stipend based on the profits tribal casinos make!  Share and share alike!

The commune, Hunga Dunga, and others like it, also were “tribes” of a sort.  They worked within the capitalist system but regarded it as “outside” themselves.  Within the communes, both democracy and communism reigned in harmony with each other.  Share and share alike.  How monies were to be spent was a democratic decision.  We democratically decided to share and share alike.  No one was left out.  No one received more than another.  We democratically decided to pool monies for democratically chosen goals: land, food, clothing, shelter, and yes, ways to satisfy personal desires such as the Bobby’s piano, Baird’s art supplies, Laura’s loom, Lizzies trip to Hawaii, and my own journey around the world.

With patience, everyone got what they wanted as well as what they needed.  We thought living in such a way, and proving how well it worked would be a microcosmic model for the rest of society.  They would see how well it worked, and they would follow.

It didn’t happen.  But it is rising to the surface once again.  The Health Care Reform Bill was not what I wanted.  Health care should be as universally available as getting on a freeway on-ramp.  Highway systems for all, Health care for all.  It’s just common sense.  It is the role of government to put the welfare of its citizens as its top priority.  All else is secondary.

Let those with big ambitions make all the money they want.  I have no problem with capitalism as long as it is based on the production of goods and services, not the production of non-tangibles, such as sub-prime mortgage derivatives, or interest on investments, ie, money made off money.

We have many examples of commune-ities living a voluntary socialist life, some bordering on communism, but the commune-ity is still working within the rules of capitalism.  Now the need is to determine the rights of citizens to an access to those things necessary for a basic, healthy lifestyle, while still allowing others to become as rich as they want as long as they are providing a service or product.  Wealth begetting wealth should only be allowed if it is regulated and taxed in a way that it will benefit the rest of the population through social programs.

Corporate capitalism has totally disfigured the intent of Adam Smith’s capitalism, upon which this nation was founded.  It is no longer the capitalism of profit made from the manufacture of goods, but rather the capitalism of profits made from profits through investments and the interest earned on those profits.  No tangible product or good is produced.  It is a giant lie.  It is the worst form of capitalism.  I don’t even like using that word for it.   “GREEDISM” at the expense of the people might be a better term.

So when discussing economics and politics, be clear that you are comparing apples to apples and oranges to oranges, and not apples to oranges.  When you do the latter, no one wins, because it is not a discussion based on rational thought.

Always remember the rainbow.  Always remember that all things in nature are part of a continuum which we arbitrarily divide into categories and label,  only for our CONVENIENCE.  The labels and categories do NOT reflect TRUTH.

Once people realize there is nothing to fear, that there CAN be a blend of socialism that meets the basic needs of citizens, AND capitalism, which meets the needs of those with initiative and ambition, all within the framework of a DEMOCRACY, then maybe civil, rational discourse can be accomplished.

Word are powerful.  Labels are dangerous.  Use them with thoughtfulness and the greatest of care.

Today, I came across a clip from the Documentary, Goa Hippy Tribe.  It was an interview with Rose Baudin.  Yes!  The same Rosie from Hunga Dunga!  My heart almost burst at seeing her again, albeit in video footage.  In the brief clip, she refers to some of the amazing adventures Jon, Rosie and Giacco had during their long sojourn in Sri Lanka and India.

The clip does not include details of how she found her Guru and her life that preceded her transformation.  But Hunga Dunga does fill in some of those gaps.  It fills in some of those early experiences that would create forks in the road.  She always chose the fork that lead to Self-realization and she would find the universe leading her to Goa, Australia, Bali,  the South Pacific Islands, etc.

Much of Hunga Dunga is about the journey of Rosie, Jon, and Giacco… from Sabino Canyon outside of Tucson, to the Peace Sign House on the beach in Goa and Alejandro, that crazy Spaniard.

I have to share this with you, because this morning is just too cosmic!!  Much peace and love upon all of us!

Phil

I LORF you, Rose!  And for those that have read Hunga Dunga, you will know what I mean.

http://www.youtube.com/user/goahippytribe#p/u/6/NuNb70cG9As

This is what I think to myself when I read certain comments or posts on various “social networking” sites.  For example, “God hates Fags,” the doctrine taught by the Westboro Baptist Church under the ministry of Fred Phelps.  ( www.godhatesfags.com ) and the outright lies perpetrated against Obama and health care.  I choose to write about these here, as there is not enough room on those sites to adequately accommodate my thoughts.  And I will not discuss these topics per se, but rather why we have this huge divisive gulf between Americans.

It is the nature of discussing, arguing, dialoguing that creates the schisms.  I have publicly invited people who identify as conservatives to engage in discourse with me, provided they understand the basics of debate, and that they are intelligent and civil.  I have had no takers.

It is only when I hear or read comments that have no basis in fact, or derive from generalizations which are false, that I am left with no recourse except to say to myself “flaming asshole!”  I do not like it when I find myself so disgusted that I resort to that phrase.  I keep reminding myself, “we are all divine, we are all divine,” but sorry, it is not working.  If I have any great fault it is that I am obsessed with logic, insistent on it use.  When logic is not in play during a discussion, I am relegated to using that knee-jerk phrase.

Where is William F. Buckley or his kind?  Are they ALL dead?  At least Buckley, the conservative’s conservative, could debate an issue without using inflammatory language, understood and adhered to the rules of debate, and was an intellect whose mind had room for opposing views and, arrogant egotist that he seemed, was actually egoless enough to admit when he was wrong or the opposition had “scored” a point.

I may be generalizing, but most conservatives today seem to get their talking points from sound bites off Fox news.  They cannot argue intelligently or civilly beyond the sound bite or what they have been told by questionable authorities to be the truth.  They will stick to their guns even after the holster has dropped around their ankles!  Or, like Glenn Beck, resort to a chalk board and starting with a false generalization, use circular reasoning to so confuse his audience that they believe the conclusions he has drawn, though they be no more valid than a kindergartner doodling randomly.  Now he is the perfect example of a “flaming asshole!”  I challenge him to a formal debate.

Progressives on the other hand, are too nice.  They are too willing to hear other points of view.  Therefore they are (wrongly) seen as weak, when I think perhaps the problem is they are merely more intelligent and better educated.

I went to a small high school in a very small town in Florida.  My graduating class numbered 110.  It was a public school.  Yet the curriculum offered Greek, Latin, Logic, Debate, Advanced English and Math, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and a variety of Art and Music classes.  Can we even say that today about public schools, even those in upscale school districts?  How about private schools?

How many of you know the difference between inductive and deductive reasoning?  How many of you know what a syllogism is (too many sites to link… google it!) and how to use syllogistic reasoning to arrive at a valid conclusion?  How many of you were on a debate team and know the rules of debate:  Resolved that__________________?

How many conservatives would allow an impartial panel of judges to award points based on a true debate of an issue and abide by the outcome?  I dare say very few.  But I also believe progressives would submit to the ruling of an impartial panel.  Once again, if they did so, they would be perceived as weak, rather than simply civil… and mature.  It does take a degree of maturity to admit mistakes or that your premise was entirely wrong.  It takes balls.  Conservatives do not seem to have any!

Once again, I invite any conservative to debate me on any issue.  If I am not fully knowledgeable on the issue, I will try to become so.  But I will only debate someone who understands the rules of debate, the tenets of Logic and the principles of deductive, syllogistic reasoning.

Is there anyone out there who will engage in such a debate publicly (on this blog or wherever you’d like?)  I am eager to diminish the differences between us.  I long for discourse with someone who is willing to be truly objective.  I want us to end this so very unproductive, constant, hateful bickering that is tearing our society to pieces.  Please, debate me!  Don’t throw epithets at me.  When you are not open to sincere, civil discourse, I am left with no recourse except to say to myself, “flaming asshole!”

Shall we start?

Resolved that: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed (by their Creator) with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

I am a man of peace and non-violence. But I should let you know where I stand before you read any further. If I WERE a man of war and violence, I would like to bitch-slap Bill O’Reilly for starters. Then stick my two hands into Glenn Beck’s bulging jowls and rip his mouth apart until he can not utter another single word!

But I am a man of peace and non-violence, so I shall not do that. My Sicilian temper occassionally flares up with certain events such as recent Supreme Court decisions. They have kicked me in the balls. I can actually feel the pain, the lingering ache that will not go away. Another kick to the groin from the conservative agenda of the corporate-controlled media. Ouch, uhhh, bent over in pain again with every Representative and Senator who is a puppet of corporate lobbyists. I can’t take much more. I will NOT take any more!  So let’s begin.

I beseech true Americans to put aside the partisanship, labels, and stereotypes that have been forced upon you by a slanted media and corrupt, lying politicos. We have our differences, but with some investigation and introspection, you will find we have more in common that not.

I think everyone would agree that preserving the INDIVIDUAL as the primary concern of government is at the top of the list, not CORPORATIONS!   Upon searching for the most used phrase in the Constitution, I found it to be “by the people.”

We, the people, are to be governed by the people, for the people. What has happened? We seem to be de-volving too rapidly to stop the slide. We, the people must intercede with force and unity. I want to explore, in following posts, the nature of institutions… how they come to be, and how to tear them down. Please join me in this journey. Perhaps together we will find a cure for what ails us… all of us.

I found myself cringe.  What was the hidden message?  Certainly not complimentary to hippies.  In fact, the hidden message was that hippies had qualities opposite those of that long haired driver.  This drives me nuts.  Forty-five years later, and still, the word hippie has a negative connotation.  As far as I’m concerned, this is revisionist history and it must stop.  And it has to stop with you, my dear reader.

Because of people’s ignorance, and the media’s obsession with focusing on the negative, it seems, even after all these years, “hippie” is still a dirty word.  I had hoped Hunga Dunga would give redemption to the word and the movement.

Peace, love, respect for the earth, recognizing the connectedness of all beings to each other and nature, celebrating life, living in the now, being less judgmental, less greedy, more socially conscious… these are not bad values to live by.  These were and are the values by which hippies tried to live.  These are the values, that had they been embraced by the US for the last 4 decades, we might not find ourselves in the situation we are today.  These are values we need to live by NOW!

“Just because I have long hair, doesn’t mean I’m a peacenik.”  Well what the hell is wrong with working for peace?

“Just because I have long hair, doesn’t mean I’m a tree-hugger.”  Well, people, you’d better be hugging those trees, (especially in the Amazon basin) if you want your kids to have clean air and enjoy nature.

“Just because I have SHORT hair, doesn’t mean I’m Not a hippie.”  Well, now you’re talking.  Hippie is a state of mind, a worldview, an inherent desire to expand our consciousnesses, experience our own divinity, and once and for all, live in harmony with the world.

The moral: Only through an observation of nature can we learn the truth.  Only through the observation of a person’s actions can we know their beliefs.  Only through an exploration of our innermost being, can we rid ourselves of greed, prejudice, intolerance, war, and LABELS!  It’s time to get holy again, and I don’t mean by going to church!

It was a Poya day, the monthly celebration of the full moon and therefore a public holiday.  Maybe there’d be a party.  We didn’t care.  We were too tired to be festive, especially me having had little sleep the night before.  We were completely content to sit in the overstuffed chairs in the lobby, just being quiet; each of us immersed in our own thoughts.  It was nice.

We had an early dinner in the hotel and once again, Peter could not stop himself from sampling the many different beers that were available.   He started with a stubbie of Three Coins.  After one sip, he declared it was piss!  So he ordered a second bottle, this time Lion Lager.  Much better.  He had a few of those, when he noticed a bottle of XXXX on the shelf.  Pure nostalgia in an alcoholic liquid.   Peter walked up to the beautiful and highly polished bar.  The bartender, poised in his white shirt and black-suspendered slacks, walked over to Peter and said, “May I be of service to you, sir?”

“Toss me over a nice cold Four X, mate, would ya please?  And maybe a shot of Mendis.”  Mendis was the best arrack around.  Triple-distilled whiskey made from the coconut palm.

Debra looked annoyed.  “You OK?” I asked.

“I’m a bit cheesed off right now,” she said quietly.  “Peter never drinks like this!  He’s going to be completely off his face if he doesn’t stop!  Men!  What they will do to get up their courage!”

I didn’t understand what she meant, but once again, we had to help Peter to the room.  Once again, we flopped him on the bed but this time pushed him over to the side.  Then Debra and I undressed and fell on the bed in the “nick” and pulled the blankets over us.  She reached across, shook Peter a bit, and said, “Peter.  Peter, you OK?  You’re not going to chuck up or anything, are you?”

Set up: (Second Mile was a Born Again Christian Fundamentalist Community whose ranch was adjacent to Hunga Dunga land.)

One day we got a visit from Ben Myers from the Second Mile Ranch.  He said the Second Milers had met a spiritually based commune from Seattle, which was in the valley for a few days before heading up to the Aeneas Valley outside Tonasket, where they had friends.  The Second Mile Ranch invited them to Sunday dinner and extended the invitation to Hunga Dunga as well.  Ben was no lightweight when it came to making puns and he and Jon connected immediately.  When Ben asked us how Jon fit into the picture, we just said that Jon was Hunga Dunga, tried and true.  That may not have been possible back in San Francisco, but here in Twisp, there was unanimity on this issue.  And as far as I was concerned, Joel was being inexorably absorbed into our sphere of influence.

When we arrived at the ranch, there was already a mess of chairs set up in a circle around a fire pit.  The Love Family, as they were known, was already gathered around, sitting next to each other and taking up about one third of the circle.  They were all, without exception, handsome people.  The men were fastidiously groomed, and physically, well put together.  The women were beautiful without the need for make-up.  They all wore unisex clothing.  Loose blousy shirts and pajama pants.  Some of the men wore shorts, revealing legs that were muscled by hard work.  They scrutinized us while we happily scrutinized them.

Homemade cheeses and breads and assorted salads graced the plaid tablecloth covering the picnic table.  Beside it on the ground was a very large cooler filled with beer, juice, and soft drinks.  Jon and Joel helped themselves to a beer, while the rest of us, including all the Love Family, chose juice.  None of us was into pop.

Ben and Loretta invited us to take seats and relax.  One by one or two by two, the rest of the Second Milers placed food on the table and then joined us in the circle.  Ben stood in the middle and asked for silence.  He said a very nice prayer thanking his lord for our presence and the hope that peace and love would prevail in the world.  To the chagrin of Wes Williams and a couple of other Second Milers, Ben did not refer to Jesus or Christianity.  It was a perfectly fine, generic grace and was all-inclusive except for the atheists present.

Loretta suggested we all go around the circle and introduce ourselves.  She pointed to the presumed leader of the Love Family, who happened to be the son of Steve Allen, the famous comedian, jazz musician and founder of the Tonight Show.

“Hi everyone!” he said jovially.  “My name is Love.”

The Second Milers and Hunga Dunga exchanged glances. It was probably the first time we were all thinking the same thing.  We tried desperately not to show any expressions of mockery on our faces.

Love turned to the woman sitting on his left.  “Hi all you beautiful people!  I’m Charity.”

We heard a few suppressed sighs, but nothing identifiably negative.  Then Charity turned to the woman on her left.  She was very pretty, but extremely shy.  With her head still bowed, she said, “I’m Faith.  Hello.”  The Second Milers nodded with approval at such a nice regular name.  She quickly turned her chin to the man on her left.

He was a big brawny guy with a very deep voice.  He looked around the circle and said, “Thank you for inviting us.  I’m Hope.”  Once again, many of the Second Milers shifted in their chairs at what they considered pretentiousness.   Hope turned to the last member of the family sitting on his left.

He was without a doubt the looker of the group.  A handsome stud with beautiful long brown hair.  He was sitting directly in the sun and was perspiring.  The thin muslin shirt clung to his chest and stomach.  He had great pecs and a ripped abdomen.  The first three buttons on his shirt were undone, revealing just the right amount of chest hair and the enticing trail heading south.

“I am so glad to be here today, everyone!  I’m Integrity.”

By now we all got the drift and the rest of us said hello back, without any strange looks.  Then Integrity turned to Little Richard, who was sitting on his left.

Set up:  Jon, Rosie and Giacco have decided to take local buses in favor of an Express bus from Madras to Bangalore.

I am also very grateful to Don Ashford at local radio station KTRT for interviewing me for a full hour the morning of the day before the reading.  The reading was filled with laughter and applause.  The reception the large audience gave me turned what was to be a simple reading into an extraordinary event I will always remember.

Thank you Ganesh!