Dana Blankenhorn

New World Order

Think of this as Volume 18, Number 29 of the newsletter I have written weekly since March, 1997. Enjoy.

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One of the most popular conspiracy theories of my generation is that of the “New World Order.” 

If someone trashes the “Trilateral Commission,” or the “Bilderberg Group,”  or the United Nations, chances are they’re being influenced by this theory, which as Wikipedia notes) is becoming increasingly common on the Tea Party Right.

You might be tempted to ask why. The answer to me seems obvious. By creating an alternative, strong conspiracy theory, those working on behalf of the billionaires who cross lines routinely get to ignore the real conspiracy, the one they are engaged in, on behalf of lines.

Fighting the Lines

Think of this as Volume 18, Number 28 of the newsletter I have written weekly since March, 1997. Enjoy.

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As I noted earlier this month, Lines are the most vital issue of our time.

Lines between cities and counties, between states, and between countries are easily crossed by the ultra-wealthy, and by multinational companies. Because they can so easily cross Lines, these people and entities have become the world’s de-facto government, under the principle that any person or group more powerful than the government becomes the government.

This is why the rich pay no taxes. This is why multinationals are able to extract tax concessions from states, cities and even countries. They can choose where to invest, where to live, and in what jurisdiction to account for income. This makes them self-governing in a way the rest of us aren’t.

The Lines

Think of this as Volume 18, Number 27 of the newsletter I have written weekly since March, 1997. Enjoy.

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The real crisis of our time is not really the environment. The real enemy of our time isn’t Russia, or China. The war zone isn’t where you think it is – it’s not in Iraq, or Israel, not Nigeria or on the Mexican border.

The real crisis of our time asks who will govern this world. Will it be government, its provenance notwithstanding. Or will it be the world’s billionaires and the giant corporations they control, who right now have the power to overrule any government and do so routinely, with impunity.

It is said that when any person or group becomes more powerful than government that they become the government. Corporations and wealthy individuals currently lie beyond the reach of any government.

It’s all a question of lines.

Declare Independence From The Ultra-Wealthy

Think of this as Volume 18, Number 26 of the newsletter I have written weekly since March, 1997. Enjoy.

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Since the World Cup is still going on, let’s start this off by talking about FIFA.

John Oliver gave you the basics. 

FIFA is a private organization, and governments are forbidden from running national affiliates. It’s also a global organization, and uses that status to get out of paying all sorts of taxes, pitting one country against another to do so. It’s supposed to be about promoting kids’ soccer, but it’s mostly run for the benefit of the people who run FIFA.

You can argue over whether Qatar paid off FIFA officials for the 2022 World Cup. You can argue about whether Qatar is a “21^st century slave state.” You can’t argue about the corruption inherent in FIFA. The group canned the man who headed CONCACAF, the regional group the U.S. belongs to, over corruption. A man named Chuck Blazer, who was put in charge of U.S. operations 20 years ago, got rich as “Mr. 10%", taking rake-offs on events for doing nothing more than approving them.

But this is not a football story. The FIFA story is not unusual.