Aggregation

I think I might be a communist. Not that rigid that I'd go on a rampage, but I do sincerely believe the world is money crazed, produces misery and unhappiness.

I get the origins of Dutch capitalism: a few guys got together to finance „a venture,“ but that too was basically based on plunder, and moreover produced today's mastodonts that are, as we speak, ruining democracy, distorting news and even the world of books, and causing wars. Sure, they try to lure the small „investor“ with the promises of untold riches of „togetherness,“ but it's all basically a Ponzi scheme – or betting, in good ol' plain speak. Not to mention the mentioned world of politics and information proves the good old boys never intended to share anything. 

The way I see it, there are two kinds of Les Miserables in Croatia. The first kind work hard indeed, and one would expect them to be content with their lot, in contrast to my opt out misery, but, no, they but dream of more money, so that they would not have to work any more, work they have seen through as prostitution. The second type hinder any and all reforms by not daring to say aloud and accept the system has surpassed them, has no need for people like them any longer at all.

I had a brief exchange yesterday on the topic of inheritance tax, and I argued, basing this on my fifty years' experience of both socialism and capitalism, and first hand vision of the accumulation of wealth, the haves should pay and finance pensions and healthcare. „But this is irrelevant as we will never face the situation of deciding this in any parliament; they would rather drag us into intrasocietal strife and wars with neighbours.“

As for being a communist, I think the world needs some kind of new socialist economy, but am no economist. However, does anyone feed me, other than my parents? Do you clothe me? Choose your own path freely, I'll be ready to smirk at your stumbling, doing the finer things.

Private Theatre

If I have largely been able to see ahead, it's now winter in Dubrovnik, like „it's coming“ much around the globe, and today I decided to treat myself to a cinema screening: it’s quite a super strange experience since we, on account of utter state failure, have a socialised version of it for €2. Still, it is bizarre, you watch a movie with five other people inside. The hall was modernised some fifteen years ago so the place isn’t a dump though the latrine soon enough reminds one he is deep within the Balkans.

The flick was Brazilian, it is called the Secret Agent, and was nominated for four Oscars. The tale revolves around a university professor who gets killed by an “entrepreneur” within the then regime for refusing to hand over research results and patents to such private sector. It is somewhat arty, very slow moving (And lasts for two and a half hours.), and, as a friend commented – even the colours are washed out: “They were really like that forty years ago!”

Forty years ago, the world was full indeed with dictatorships, ranging from Greece, “through Spain and Portugal,” straight to Brazil, and it is from this time that the image of “free USA” comes from. The Secret Agent explicitly opens the topic of collective memory and forgetfulness, placing an emphasis on the young who even aren't that much at all interested in what had occurred before their time. 

If only it were that easy! As I once joked, “we” may not remember wars but there are always those around us with handy knowledge ready to instruct. Do check all you like, the “new” age, as it was laying the internet cables, was already laying ground for brand new dictatorships, and brand new conflicts.

I next plan to see La Grazia, an Italian film about a guy who pretends to be president and these two nicely portray what has happened “to me” during my “absence” from this blog. Theatre indeed, a very private one smack in between of a very visited place in “the middle” of the world.