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Thanks Jonathan for another example of the folly of the lords of liberalism. This set me to thinking about how eager the European leaders were to get on board the Biden war train. Perhaps Trump scared them into pondering their futures without an American bully to be their protector, and they didn’t like their prospects going it alone. The EU is now little more than NATO’s political wing.

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Nice piece Jonatahn!

But one thing has to be noticed, at least in some european countries: in the last say 20 years the great coalition, the fake center left or the fake center right, have all worked to make rich richer, the famous Elite... But at the same time they enriched through helicopter money or other economic incentives (as for Covid...) some part of the middle class. And they choose to help the most ignorant one, the ones that believe their Narrative, the ones that still go to vote (for them of course).

So now you have the Elite, the higher class on top, that from a cultural point of view are much more ignorant than their fathers and grandfathers, as well as from a political point of view. Then you have this "new" middle class of Yesmen but without a clue of anything except how to make money (possibly black one) and how to spend that money.

The old cultured middle class, made of people with knowledge, skills, talent, are sided, marginalized from any political or decision making role.

So, I'm not surprised that the european Elite decided for Sanctions, 'cause they don't have problem of money, resources, they can face it. And I'm not surprised that the "new" middle class, don't care either because in the last 2 years of free money and incentives have made so much money, not payed or payed few taxes. But they can loose, even not knowing, if the situation get worst. They'll wake up one day and will be surprised.

Finally you have the old middle class, that is also old age, they are tired to go in the street and protest, they're tired to vote for the less criminal of all politicians, they're tired to talk, discuss, deal with the "new" middle class made of ignorants easy believers that drink all day from Propaganda bottles.

And on the bottom you have the "new" poor class, the one that used to be called "blue collar", but now is made of many different people socially and culturally, race and origin.

So that was the trick, the BIg Reset of the New Century: marginalize the one that can criticize the Status quo, make them more poor, never reward them, stop making laws to help to higher culturally and technically the population and particularly the middle and lower class. Make harder for them to access credit and financial loans.

Because at the end, look at USA, the ones that decide, the one that mange, the ones that owns, are the most criminals around and those criminals, exactly as Mafia or any big criminal organizations, don't want around somebody smarter, more intelligent, more capable.

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Always the truth Johnathan!

"The question is whether western publics will keep buying the narrative of an existential threat that can only be dealt with if they, rather than their leaders, dig deep into their pockets." This is the right question isn't it!? I believe they will stick with the Hollywood movies they are watching all the while walking off the cliff!

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founding

Well done once again, Jonathan! It never ceases to amaze me that if it is proposed that we (US/UK/ associated western gov'ts.) spend some billions on healthcare, education, or family support, the uproar is instantaneous: "How we gonna pay for that?!" -- "Where's all that money gonna come from?!?" (to which one answer is: "From those who have the most of it..."). And then of course there is, in addition, the precious "moral hazard!" canard. But -- wait! -- you say you want a mere $30 / 60 / 70+ billion for war in Ukraine? No problem! Have it for you tomorrow (literally)! No debate needed!

Well, that which we call the "West", and specifically it's irrational economic institutions, is one large "morally hazardous" enterprise, bar none. And the provisioning of war machines is the equivalent of taking a bath in the deepest of moral cesspits. Makes it difficult to convince people what might actually be "in their best interests".

Also, I think it worth noting on the energy situation in Europe, that the EU itself contributed mightily to its own problems, not only with their misguided "sanctions regime(s)", but also via Germany opting to prevent the commissioning of the Nord Stream II line (although Russia may have chosen to close the spigot on that one too, anyway). Other commenters may wish to jump in and add more detail on that - I'm sure I have only an outline on these events - but these actions on the part of the EU "Establishment' have certainly played a part in exacerbating the difficulties they (in fact, the people of Europe) now face. It is indeed easiest for them to blame the "bogeyman", instead of self-critiquing their questionable lines of action....

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The analogy of "the West", or the oligarchs that are pulling the strings, to a psychologically dysfunctional patient trapped in a self destructive circle, is absolutely spot on. Their manipulative control is facilitated by a supine and complacent public, but you can't help feeling that thei brazen behaviour of the "Establishment", allied to more widespread inequality means that the veil of deception is slowly disintegrating - high time!

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Victoria Nuland delivers baked goods in Ukraine https://youtu.be/fbjNJbjEy04

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Sep 14, 2022Liked by Jonathan Cook

I’ve been politically aware, more or less, for close to 40 years. Groupthink has become increasingly worse. If we don’t find a way to snap out of it, I fear for the future of civilization

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Sep 14, 2022Liked by Jonathan Cook

You have the ability to link all the events into a logical sequence which is only possible because your continuing reports reflect the facts and never contradict them. That’s why I’m more than happy to support your journalism financially. Please continue to keep us on top of the news. Our MSM is direly inadequate, illogical and reactionary. Thanks, Jonathan Cook.

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