The Myth of Progress, the Necessity of Rebellion

Part 1: New World Notes #528, 28:07 (April 17)
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Part 2: New World Notes #529, 29:28 (April 24)
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In a brilliant speech, Chris Hedges argues that the class war is real ... that the ordinary people are losing ... that all of society's institutions have betrayed the people and "sold out" to Established Power ... that whatever political and economic justice there has been exists only because ordinary people struggled hard against the elite to create that justice... and that widespread nonviolent rebellion by the people is now essential to prevent disaster.

Part history lesson, part political science, part cultural analysis, and part sermon, Hedges' talk is an intellectual tour-de-force--and also a great listen.

Previously broadcast, as NWN #528-529, in December 2014/January 2015. MP3 files downloaded from the links, above, are identified as #528-529.

American Food

New World Notes #527, 28:16 (April 10)
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The season inspires thoughts of food--including the politics, economics, and ecology of American agriculture. Some personal reflections by KD are interwoven with eight short commentaries by Jim Hightower and a little music.

Topics include deceptive packaging, declining food-safety rules for corporate meatpackers, low wages at fast-food chains, huge "agricultural" subsidies for the rich, how drug-warriors destroyed an organic farm, and a Connecticut vegetable farmer decides to add a few pigs and sell a little pork.

Previously broadcast, as NWN #300, in December 2013. Files downloaded from the links, avove, are identified as #300.

Jim Hightower's recorded commentaries are from his Web site.

How 'The System' Causes Addiction

New World Notes #526, 29:03 (March 27)
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Dr. Gabor Mate

A good introduction to Dr. Gabor Mate's insights into addiction. Mate (mah-TAY) shows that addiction is caused not by chemical substances themselves but by the complex interaction of brain, experience, the environment (including society and the economy), and chemical substances. Our stressful, exploitative economic system is a major factor causing addiction.

And since The System's "War on Drugs" does little good and much harm, could its real goals be more sinister than its professed goals?

This program replays parts of an interview with Mate (January 2010) by Mike McCormick, on Mind Over Matters, and parts of a speech Mate gave in Berkeley in November 2011 (courtesy of the National Radio Project and Making Contact). The links connect to these original sources, for which many thanks.

Previously broadcast, as NWN #211, in March 2012. Files downloaded from the links, above, are identified as #211.

The Second Coming

New World Notes #525, 29:03 (March 27)
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Artists and social critics have used the idea of the Second Coming of Christ as a metaphor to highlight social ills. (Bumper sticker: Christ has come ... and boy, is He p***ed!) We hear and look at four works of art that do this: Lenny Bruce's "Christ and Moses" routine, a Langston Hughes short story featuring the Harlem character "Simple," W.B. Yeats's poem "The Second Coming," and The Police's song "Synchronicity II"--which is pretty much Yeats's poem, updated & set to music.

Previously broadcast in March 2010.
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No Nostalgia for Obama, Please

New World Notes #524, 28:56 (March 20)
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Yes, (KD argues,) Trump is unfit to be President. But so were two recent predecessors: W. Bush and Saint Ronald Reagan. The difference is that Reagan and Bush had the full support of America's oligarchs and corporate elite. Trump does not have their full support. So Trump gets the bad press.

But let not Republican malfeasance blind us to the sins of the Democrats, specifically Barack Obama. He served the oligarchs and the elite--and damaged "the 99%"--just as thoroughly as the Republicans.

A brief introduction by KD is followed by a prescient talk that Noam Chomsky delivered in November 2008--after Obama's election but before his inauguration. Chomsky explains why our election was far less democratic than recent elections in Haiti and Bolivia--and why the Obama administration would likely serve the financial elite at the expense of ordinary citizens.

Unfortunately, Chomsky proved right on every count.

Note: In his talk, Chomsky names the democratically elected president of Haiti (Bertrand Aristide) but not of Bolivia. He is Evo Morales.

Chomsky was recorded at Arlington Street Church, Boston, on November 19, 2008 . Thanks to the anonymous recordist (I have my suspicions) for the excellent recording.

Destroying the American Dream

New World Notes #523, 28:06 (March 13)
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Noam Chomsky discusses (with Ralph Nader) more of the key ideas of his recent book and film, Requiem for the American Dream: The Ten Principles of Concentration of Wealth and Power.

In this final installment, Nader discusses three more ways in which the rich and powerful are destroying democracy and establishing plutocracy in the U.S. These are: (1) "Keep the rabble in line," (2) "Manufacture consent," and (3) "Marginalize the population."

A brilliant, cogent, and very true-sounding talk.

Audio (slightly condensed by me) courtesy of the Ralph Nader Radio Hour (originally broadcast May 27, 2017). Many thanks.

Two earlier installments of New World Notes carried other portions of Chomsky's long talk: #499 ("Potpourri 5"), September 26, 2017; and #510 ("Potpourri 6"), December 12, 2017.

The Other America

New World Notes #522, 29:15 (March 6)
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Martin Luther King, Jr. (left), and Malcolm X (right),

March 26, 1964

A very good but little-known late speech by Martin Luther King, Jr. "The Other America," was delivered at Stanford University (California) on April 14,1967--10 days after King's great (and somewhat better-known) speech, "Beyond Vietnam."

Here King goes beyond mere "civil rights" and speaks forcefully on the larger issues of growing economic inequality and an out-of-control Military-Industrial Complex.

The sonewhat condensed audio recording was produced in 2008 for the radio program, "DC37 Radio"--apparently the predecessor of the "Building Bridges" show. Thanks to producer Ken Nash.

The Hidden Ideology of the News Media

Part 1: New World Notes #520, 28:39 (February 20)
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Part 2: New World Notes #521, 28:41 (February 27)
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Another in our series of classic talks by Progressive political scientist Michael Parenti.  This one--one of his best--dates from 1997.
 
Parenti demolishes the myth of "the liberal media."  With wit, humor, facts, and examples, he shows that the US news media are little more than the propaganda arm of the the most powerful corporations and the government.

Parenti spoke in Burlington, Vermont--at the same university that had fired him for his antiwar activism 25 years earlier.

Previously broadcast, in May 2015. MP3 files downloaded from the links, above, are identified as NWN #375 and 376.

Only Mutiny Can Save the Ship

New World Notes #519, 29:25 (February 13):

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A stunning talk by journalist/prophet Chris Hedges.  Herman Melville's novel Moby Dick is an apt (and scary) metaphor for the U.S. today, says Hedges.

The relentless pursuit of an insane goal: that's Captain Ahab on the ship Pequod, and that's corporate capitalism today. On the Pequod, the pursuit yielded repression and then destruction of ship and crew. That's where the world today is heading.

Only mutiny by the crew could have saved the Pequod, and--Hedges argues--only nonviolent rebellion by citizens can save the U.S. and the planet's ecosystem

I have condensed Hedges' talk substantially.  He delivered the talk, under a different title, at Moravian College on October 22, 2013.  A video of the complete talk is available on YouTube.

Previously broadcast in February 2014. MP3 files downloaded from the linls, above, are identified as NWN #311.

Things Fall Apart

New World Notes #518, 28:50 (February 6)
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 A public library, from The Ruins of Detroit
by Yves Marchant and Romain Meffre
(Click to enlarge)

The economy ... American political democracy ... the climate ... the whole ecosystem--all seem to be collapsing at once. In a poem of 1920, W.B. Yeats noted, "Things fall apart; the center cannot hold." The show features a good routine on the very subject by George Carlin (early 1990s), music by James McMurtry ("Ruins of the Realm"), Yeats's poem, and somewhat-humorous reflections by K.D.
 

William Butler Yeats

Anti-Russia Hysteria

New World Notes #517, 27:32 (January 30)
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Philip Giraldi

K.D. reflects on U.S. exaggerations of the Russian threat in the 1950s. Those "Cold War" lies and distortions greatly increased the profits of the military-industrial complex (as intended). And it looks like the same stunt is being pulled again today.

Next we read an article on the subject by retired CIA officer Philip Giraldi--"Washington Invented Hacking and Interfering in Elections." Then a recording of Giraldi discussing today's anti-Russia hysteria and related issues.

The Giraldi audio is excerpted from the radio program Takes On the World (January 11, 2017). Many thanks to producer and host Jeff Blankfort. An archive of Takes On the World is available on radio4all.net.

Giraldi's article was published in Unz Review on January 10, 2017.

The Map Is Not the Territory

New World Notes #310, 27:28 (February 11):
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Click to enlarge (all graphics)

In brief

Illusion vs. reality in America today.  Getting lost on Groundhog Day inspires a reflection by K.D. on S.I. Hayakawa's maxim, "The map is not the territory." The "map" of reality handed to us by the corporations and politicians falsely depicts the lay of the land (so to speak).  Inaccurate maps are useful to Established Power, bad for the rest of us.

Plus--making similar points--a selection from Virtual Renderings' new audio collage. Includes commentary by Woody Harrelson, Chris Hedges, and Jordan Maxwell and a timely song by Jackson Browne.

Virtual Renderings' collage is titled, "Ponderings From Within Leviathan."  The complete (56-minute) version is available for free download. (Lo-Fi version and program information page are also available.)

Above: S. I. Hayakawa

Below: Suzuki Hayabusa

(Easy to confuse!)

This installment was previously broadcast, as NWN #310, in February 2014.

Power, Propaganda and the Silence of Writers

New World Notes #515, 28:54 (January 16)
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In brief

Independent journalist John Pilger exposes the hypocrisy of the news media--and how they further the aims of Established Power by producing a barrage of propaganda.

The examples he cites are striking. In Pilger's native Australia, the media have invented a child-prostitution scandal among Australia's indigenous people--thus furthering yet another land-grab by the government.

Then there's the press's "propaganda of silence": not reporting facts and stories that contradict the (often false) claims of the powerful.

UN weapons inspectors and all the major U.S. spy agencies report that they have found no evidence that Iran has a program to develop nuclear weapons. Iran has signed and is abiding by the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Under the treaty, Iran has the right to enrich uranium to levels useful for power generation and medical research. Enriching it to the much-higher level needed to make bombs would require a huge increase in uranium imports and a huge increase in infrastructure--impossible to conceal.

Israel has not signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and possesses hundreds of nuclear weapons.

Don't look for any of these inconvenient facts on the front page of the New York Times--or from any other Establishment "news outlet."

John Pilger

Notes, credits, & links

Pilger gave this talk on August 23, 2008, at the Melbourne Writers Festival. I've condensed the talk for radio broadcast. A video of the entire presentation is here: http://www.blinkx.com/watch-video/melbourne-writers-festival-john-pilger/ce8xBDNRwI04RdzibPvOjA

This installment was previously broadcast, as NWN # 212, in March 2012.

Killing Us Softly

New World Notes #514, 27:42 (January 9)
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A smart, funny, and important talk on advertising's image of women.

With wit and humor, Jean Kilbourne shows the preposterous body images, emotional styles, sexuality, and attitudes towards violence that consumer advertising presents to women (and men) as desirable and normal. Kilbourne's critique is far from radical, but it is very sound, very interesting, and in places very funny. Both men and women will find this talk well worth a listen.

Based on the video (Edition 3, year 2000). Condensed and adapted to radio by KD. This video is available on The Internet Archive (www.archive.org).

This installment was previously broadcast, as NWN #144, in December 2010. MP3 files downloaded fromthe links, above, are identified as NWN #144.

SCADs and Conspiracy Theories

Part 1: New World Notes #512, 28:49 (December 26, 2017)
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Part 2: New World Notes #513, 28:38 (January 2, 2018)
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Lance deHaven-Smith

Public policy scholar Lance deHaven-Smith discusses the concepts of "conspiracy theories" and SCADs--State Crimes Against Democracy. "Conspiracy theory" is a pejorative term introduced by the CIA in the 1960s to smear critics of the Warren Commission Report. SCADs, though, are real crimes that high government officials (often conspiring together) committed.

Part 1 of this interesting talk discusses both concepts and provides some little-known facts about famous SCADs including Watergate and candidate Richard Nixon's scuttling of the Vietnam peace talks in 1968.

Part 2 says more about both concepts and provides many little-known facts about proven SCADs, probable SCADs, and possible SCADs. One focus is this country's many assassinations and attempted assassinations.

Previously broadcast, as NWN #404-405, in December 2015. MP3 files downloaded from the links, above, are identified as #404 and 405.

Lance deHaven-Smith spoke in Denver on September 6, 2013. Robin Upton, of Unwelcome Guests (unwelcomeguests.net) provided an edited sound recording--which I have edited a bit more. Thanks to Robin.

deHaven-Smith is Professor of Public Administration and Policy at Florida State University. His books include Conspiracy Theory in America (University of Texas Press, 2013).

Comic Satire for Christmas

New World Notes #511, 27:15 (December 19)
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Stan Freberg

Some brief commentary by me, five satiric songs, and an imitation Broadway "big production number." All take a comic but critical view of American hypocrisies, religiosity, commercialism, militarism, class warfare, and other Christmastime traditions.

Playlist:

• Hugh Blumenfeld, Long-Haired Radical Socialist Jew
• Simon and Garfunkel, Silent Night / Six O'Clock News
• Anne Feeney, Brave New Christmas
• Roy Zimmerman, Buy War Toys for Christmas
• Stan Freberg, Green Chri$tma$
• Tom Lehrer, A Christmas Carol

Note: MP3 files downloaded from the liinks, above, are identified as NWN  #355.

Potpourri 6

New World Notes #510, 29:00 (December 12)
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A bit of this, a bit of that. Features more of Noam Chomsky's discussion (with Ralph Nader) on the ill effects of the growing concentration of wealth and power. Plus KD's "Press Review" of oddball newspaper stories and a song by Ethan Miller & Kate Boverman.

Chomsky audio courtesy of the Ralph Nader Radio Hour for May 20, 2017

This installment of New World Notes presents the second part of the Chomsky/Nader discussion. For the first part, see NWN #499--Potpourri 5--broadcast in September 2017.

Bruce Gagnon on Endless War & the Economy

Part 1: New World Notes #508, 29:20 (November 28)
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Part 2: New World Notes #509, 28:19 (December 5)
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Aegis-class destroyer USS Oscar
Austin leaves the Bath (Maine) Iron Works. Balloons for the kiddies
of Gagnon's home town. Maine's principal exports appear to be
Aegis destroyers and potatoes.

Antiwar/antinuke activist Bruce Gagnon shows how militarism is detroying both the American economy and our lives.

In Part 1, he discusses the connections among crumbling infrastructure, unemployment, decreasing educational opportunities for working-class kids, the increasing militarization of our society, the export of war machines, aggressive U.S. foreign policy, corporate globalization, our rulers' desire to control the world's oil, ...  and the wisdom of forming alliances with the "Tea-partiers."

Bruce Gagnon (2004)

 In Part 2, he shows the bad effects of NATO expansion and of our encircling Russia and China with "missile defense" installations.

He also discusses universities' increasing dependence on Pentagon funding (for war research); ... the allegiance of both parties to capitalism, oligarchy, & military empire; ... & how spending on infrastructure creates many more jobs than "defense" spending.

-- ### --

Bruce Gagnon is Coordinator of the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space (www.space4peace.org).

Recorded live by me in West Hartford, Connecticut, on April 16, 2010.  Gagnon's talk was sponsored by the West Hartford Citizens for Peace and Justice (www.westhartfordpeace.org). This program was originally broadcast in 2010.

George Carlin on American B.S.

New World Notes #507, 28:13 (November 21)
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In his last years, socially-engaged comedian George Carlin seemed less angry, more resigned, and shrewd as ever as he observed American politics and culture rushing to hell in a handbasket. Our show presents some of Carlin's last performances and parts of an interview--plus a Carlin-like song by David Rovics.

The theme is B.S., America, and why the two make an especially bad combination.

Prologue by K.D.

George Carlin died June 22, 2008.

Notes:

Thanks to Chuck Rosina for the live recording of David Rovics' "God Bless the USA"

A faint echo of the word "bullshit" can once (barely) be heard in the "mid-fi" audio file. The "broadcast quality" file snips the echo out.

This installment was previously broadcast, as NWN #272, in May 2013. Just to keep you on your toes: the "decent quality" file downloadable from the link, above, is identified in the filename as NWN #272. The "broadcast quality" file is identified as NWN #507. As they used to say in my old neighborhood, "Same difference!"

An Earth-Toned Collage

Part 1: New World Notes #505, 28:49 (November 7)
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Part 2: New World Notes #506, 27:56 (November 14)
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A new audio collage on responding radically to the environmental crisis. It's by Chazk (aka Virtual Renderings). It features commentary by figures such as Dale Pendell, Derrick Jensen, Guy McPherson, and Charles Eisenstein--plus some relevant music.

IMHO, this is one of Chazk's best.

With a brief introduction by K.D.  (Original title: An Earth Toned Collage of Collages.)

Near the top of the gray sidebar, to the right of this page--in the section, "Worth a Look:"--you'll find a link to a large, free archive of audio colages by Chazk / Virtual Renderings. Feel free to browse, sample, and download!