We have a great respect for the founding fathers of America and Thomas Jefferson not only doubled the size of America with the Louisiana Purchase but also was a genius in many other areas. His intellectual capabilities were second to none and having fought tyranny and repression he left us great words of wisdom on the dangers of an artificial aristocracy. In the current US elections we have some candidates who fall into this danger zone.

“There is also an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents… The artificial aristocracy is a mischievous ingredient in government, and provisions should be made to prevent its ascendancy.” -Thomas Jefferson, third US president, architect, and author (13 Apr 1743-1826)

We have seen this in history time and again when leading scions of famous families come to lead nations and drive them to ruin. The misguided policies are often cheered by the populace without realizing the severe constraints they put on their own betterment. We have seen many examples where fame and wealth may give access to the corridors of power, but we have to remain ever vigilant against their corrupting influence. It is easy to be misled as all of us hunger for fame and wealth, or at the least identify internally with those who have fame and wealth. This can easily lead to misinterpretation of a person’s capabilities just because we often link wealth and fame to superior intellect and a sense of achievement.

I would include Mr. Donald Trump as a leading example of this artificial aristocracy in the current state of affairs. I seriously doubt his virtues and also question his talents towards public policy and ability to do serious government work. His statements have been mischievous and often cater to the lowest human aspirations of racial and moral superiority. I do not see any remedying qualities in his messages, or policies for the betterment of man. I see instead divisive policies, and cheap political gimmickry, to attract followers. For him to have risen so high so quickly is a testament to the gullibility of the innocent American public, who often accept people at face value.

It is only right for all of us to remove his ascendancy and seek out a better leader of the free world. After the second Bush years, who proved himself to be another example of an artificial aristocracy of modern time, we should have learnt our lessons well. We need leaders who will be ‘compassionate’ and not turn around on their own slogan and bomb the fifth largest army into oblivion and destabilize a whole region. We need builders and visionaries of the future and not aristocratic leaders fighting yesterday’s wars. Life is hard enough with global warming, species annihilation, energy, and health and economic challenges that we all face. We have to reach out to billions as fellow citizens of this mother earth. America should reach for the stars, and does not have to follow someone, who will build walls around us, and keep the world out.

Opening my inner eye leads to the firm conclusion that there is knowledge deep in each one of us, where the universe burns; in an eternal flame. We are blind to this sacred power that resides in our inner most cores, and gives us what we call life, as we are too worn down by the care of the trivial events, which surround us. It is only in moments when we awake to the great reality, that suddenly the opaque glass of Maya is shattered, and we come face to face with our own reality. It then become important for us to act on what is real, and let go of the illusion that is transitory.
I enter the burning universe and come alive as now the cosmic fire does not burn me, or the solar winds dry me, and I am the consciousness that was and will be. Primordial sound and light do not bother me, as I dance in their vibrations, and the waves are mine to ride. Time has no meaning suddenly, as it slows and eons are in my grasp, and as I unfold my grasp, eons are passing in moments. There is no joy or happiness in this moment, as it just is, and I am awake to a new sense of the extraordinary, that is here and now. I blink and worlds disappear and I blink again and they reappear, as if born again. Reincarnation is real, but just slightly different from what I had imagined, it to be. It is a flowing river of time and space, where the water is the same, but I cannot touch the same water, once it has passed.
I burn and am not consumed, for I am part of this universe where nothing is lost forever, and it is as if the more I burn, the more I live. So I let my inner eye close, and come back to my existence, and see that nothing has really changed. I am who I was and I remain who I will be. The visions of the burning universe remain in my mind’s eye, but I cannot explain them to anyone. I decide not to speak to anyone about it, lest they think I have a secret mission. I sleep and perchance will dream of the spectacle, that is all around us and yet we do not see it. I realize that the reality in sleep may be better, than the reality of being awake.We are creatures of consciousness, and I wrap myself in its layers, and am content; yet my inside burns, in the eternal flame. As i drift off I see my eternal flame fighting with the forces of dark matter and black holes, and know that tomorrow life will continue from here.

The demise of the middle class in the US and the rise of the 1% is the most disturbing trend of our age. The neoliberal takeover of the mainstream economic thought started with President Carter and continued with Reagan, Clinton, Bush and Obama. ‘The demise of welfare as we know it’, and the continued squeeze on social programs has pushed more people out of the lower middle class and the era of Franklin Roosevelt and Johnson is long gone. The top 1% share of income keeps rising and at over 22% it is nearing the highs of income inequality, reached just before the great depression. We are now at the edge of the abyss and the result of the next election may well decide our fate for the next age.
There is continued dissatisfaction amongst the youth, as this generation has only seen a congress at war with itself, and politicians not able to deliver on the promises they make, due to a divided house. The faith in democracy has eroded and participation in the process is fueled either by the extreme nationalistic dialog, portrayed by the likes of Cruz and mimicked by Trump on the Republican tea party right. The other side is the egalitarian socialism espoused by Sanders, who talks against income inequality, the need to reduce the risk from too big to fail financial institutions, universal health and free education. We as a society must decide which direction we want our future to go, as these are extreme choices; that we must face, to be true to ourselves.
The greatest gains in income and equality have historicaly been, when the system has been fair and not in favor of the wealthy elite and their protective power. It is only when leaders have stepped up and protected the poor, and made an even playing field, that the world has prospered and the middle class grown. This was borne out by the economic policies in the fifties and sixties in the US and I shudder to say the eighties and nineties in China when it becam glorious to be rich. The great prosperity was possible even when the top tax rate was near 90% under Eisenhower, and it is said that if Bernie’s policies are allowed to take root, we could have another great blossoming in America.
An analysis of his policies by one economist shows that median income could rise to 82,000 from less than 54,000 today while providing better education, healthcare and massive investment in infrastructure, by rebuilding this great nation. Poverty would be reduced dramatically to 6%, and the growth rate of GDP would grow at double the current projected rates to over 5% and the national budget would go from the current major deficits to major surpluses. If it sounds too good to be true then we just have to look back in history, when we had more enlightened leaders who cared. They were not elected by Super Pacs and the wealthy, but represented the ordinary people, who elected them. We cannot go to a National Right that demands it is more equal, but must proceed to a humanistic left that cares for true equality.
The age of the neoliberals is dying, and it is up to the youth and the poor to rise up and demand the new egalitarian socialism, which insists on more equality and growth. We need opportunity and the national wealth to be spent, on our infrastructure,education and health. The people need the economy to work for us and not for the ultra-wealthy and the capitalists alone. We live in a capitalistic society which has been usurped by power brokers, who no longer know how to grow the economy, and have encouraged grid lock, and politicians who will look the other way, while they pocket the rewards of our labor.
The vote in this election matters more than ever before, as either we will fall into the chasm of narrow parochial views, or rise on the waves of a shared prosperity. The choice is clear but the electorate is fooled by gerrymandering and deceptive advertising into a false sense of complacence. The revolution is here and nobody sees which way it will go, but all I can quote is, that ‘the times they are a changing’.

He who would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself. -Thomas Paine, philosopher and writer (9 Feb 1737-1809)

The U S Media is not quite sure what to do with Bernie Sanders in this election, just like they did not know what to do with Barak Obama in the election eight years ago. Last time the preposterous notion of an African American claiming the white house was hushed, sidelined by the thought of Hillary Clinton claiming her rightful claim on history. This time we have an aging socialist senator of an unhearalded state, who is fighting the good fight against wealth inequality, is for universal medical care and numerous other radical ideas on taxation, and wealth distribution.
Just as not enough people would vote for Barak as per the media barons eight years ago, now we see a similar trend with Trump grabbing the most media time, followed by Hillary and then the others candidates in the field. from both parties. Bernie is lucky if he gets 2-3% of the media time on a good day, and is largely ignored on the other days, hoping he will go away. His punditry is so old school and so extremely left leaning, that the conservatives will not acknowledge his presence or take him seriously. There has never been a greater divide between the leading candidates of the two parties in ideologies and plans for the future as exhibited in the debates of this election.
If we go by the most individual Americans donating to a candidate it was Obama over Hillary last time, and this time it seems it is Bernie taking the lead again on Clinton. The hope for change which Obama brought to this troubled land, after two of the longest wars in American history is well known. He rightly won the Peace prize as has been borne out from his steely resolve to limit US force, going instead for tangible results like the end of Bin Laden. Now we have another maverick trying to establish another revolution in America and bringing a different cry of change. The young are interested in his message and listening and joining him in large numbers.
We live in an idealist land, where no matter what our differences; we allow progressive thoughts, to be dreamed. We allow certain trailblazers in economic, social and scientific thought into our highest office occasionally. It is the democratic spirit for justice, peace and brotherhood where we must put the fate of humans as our highest concern. This is often achieved by some of the most unknown citizens, who rise from our hinterlands. These leaders speak with a deep conviction on issues that matter. Their wisdom lies in their idealistic understanding of the human spirit.
So as I look out at the snowstorm and am reeling from the volatility of our markets bracing for another cold winter, I wonder. Is Bernie really saying something I can accept on universal health care, income equality, education liberalization, parental leave, climate change, LGBT rights and campaign finance reform amongst other things?
The man who marched on Washington in his youth, has now come to the gates of power, demanding a change. Will we allow a Civil Rights and Civil Liberties leader the power to making policy decisions, which may affect our future generations? If a man who has devoted his life to public service is now saying, that he has a better way in government, do we have to believe him? Is it time for a change from the same old compromises, to a concerned citizen who talks about a revolution in ideas; as the old ones, are no longer working. As ‘America’ (thanks Garfunkel) we may have to march forward, in choosing a leader who is a non-conformist, may not be such a bad idea after all. Change is coming either way, and in these troubled times after hearing all the rhetoric from either side, I put my faith in Bernie. Sanders said in his Post interview, regarding the excitement his campaign is creating, “We have the capability to have a very good voter turnout. When we have a very good voter turnout, we retain the White House, we regain the Senate, we do well in the House, and we win statewide elections.”

“The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists, who are dedicated to justice, peace, and brotherhood. The trailblazers in human, academic, scientific, and religious freedom have always been nonconformists. In any cause that concerns the progress of mankind, put your faith in the nonconformist!” -Martin Luther King, Jr., civil-rights leader (15 Jan 1929-1968)

New York State has been taking care of its mentally disturbed, and those who are physically dependent on substance abuse, for over 150 years. Today our needs for this fair treatment, have become even more desperate, as now a a single sickness can destitute a family. The income disparity has made a very few able to afford the best care in the world, while the poor end up in Jail, or other inner city situations, not supported by the State any more. It is a shame that the hospital complex, that grew up so boldly over a hundred years in N Y State, is now closed. The the original 400 acres that were planned so grandly to be a haven for its inmates, have gone to waste. Where the industry of the inmates grew gardens, and ample crops and livestock, today there is a chained fenced blocking off a large institute of limestone and brick.

A hundred years before my birth American Dr. J Edward Turner did research in Europe and on return to his New York, entreateds the State legislature to pass funding and finally,  “The United States Inebriate Asylum for the Reform of Poor and Destitute Inebriates” is chartered by the New York State Legislature. The institute a picture of true American largess is built in a stately Tudor castellated architecture style institute on 250 acres and is 320 feet wide and 82 feet deep made of solid stone and brick, to last a thousand years. The motto was “The object of the institution is to provide an asylum for the poor and destitute inebriate, where his physical and moral condition will be alike the care of the physician and philanthropist, and where his labor may be rendered productive and of service to his family. With the asylum will be connected Workshops to make the institution self sufficient and relieve prisons and almshouses.”

The institute under Dr. Turner provided large rooms with modern gas heat and running water all the ameneties know for a fine and healthy living over a century and a half ago. This temple to the destitute had many patients over the years and one was described in its violent ward as “ The patient used to call himself: “ZZZ Wafe Rainmaker Father Mother Simon Joseph Francis Carl”. He said he was the maker of Heaven and Earth. He sat in his chair in the hallway and shuffled all day. He sat all day in a chair and shuffled his feet back and forth and wore a considerable size depression in the wood” Those indentations into the wooden floor remain as a reminder to this day. It is an amazing fact of history that the good Doctor converted a tax on Liquor to fund such a pioneering institute, where the destitute were cared for in style and even treated..

In a testimony to his own treatment at the fine institute after a 100 sessions of shock treatment, first electro-convulsive, then metrazol, then insulin shock therapy William was pronounced cured. William upon his release went on to write “’The Mind in chains” Autobiography of a schizophrenic’. He published his memories in an autobiography, concluding to his readers: “So the dream which led me to the State Hospital still has possession of me, and where it will lead me only the future can reveal. I go forward in hope… my whole future is in your hands, at your mercy. I can only give my life, and you must make it or break it for me.”

In modern day such a frank discussion of a topic so dark, is not possible as a lot of the disturbed in today’s society, find no ready place to be fairly incarcerated, till they become productive members, of our human family again.  I am truly stunned at William’s words, and what he must have just survived, at the institute to modern treatment methods, of mind control. His hopes are the hope of all mankind, his whole future is at our mercy to offer his whole life, to be made, or broken, by our trust. Today young Williams would be found in a prison, or homeless, with no hope, or dream. Has our society become so divided, that common human consideration, has been lost, in the wealth, of those; who have and no longer, care. Callous modern life has forgotten the basic needs of a society to take care of its weakest and most vulnerable citizens.

Such a pure raw emotion of hope and mercy, and to talk of a future hope, which will lead him on, is pure heroics, of a superior man. I salute his thinking as often times, a dark shadow comes over my soul also, and I am lost in this world. I can well understand how important it is at such times, of brief hope; to find mercy and compassion, in this world. Else there is only the dark sub conscious that grips me, and drags me to places I have been, but never acknowledged, even to myself. These are experiences I bury so deep in my mind, which it is best, that they be left to disappear. And may the darkness, shroud them in its veil, to be forgotten; as the dream that possesses us, has to be left at the State Hospital. The dream as he says still possesses us, and so we must go on into our future, wishing for hope and Mercy, but our mind is now in chains.

Dr Turner showed the way that a caring person can provide a way to care for the destitute and we must learn from his example. Our best hope in the future will be on how well we treat our weakest members now, else it grows dark.and realizatioin is lost.