Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in The Swamp.
Understanding a Fundamental Marxist Idea
“From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.” This is perhaps the foundational idea of Karl Marx, a famous quote from Marx’s “Critique of the Gotha Program”. The practical, material expression of this Marxist idea is that the the government taxes you what you can afford, and gives to you what you need. To anyone who has paid attention to staggering wealth inequality, particularly in American society, we understand that this principle put into actual practice will invariably mean that the poor need more help to survive, and because of their poverty will end up paying less taxes. Inversely, this means of course that the rich take exponentially less in social or government assistance, and will pay exponentially more in taxes, because realistically they can afford to. It’s a fundamental idea I believe in and agree with, and at one point we did, too.
Johnny RingoPublished 3 years ago in The SwampHow Do We Define and Think About Freedom? Anarchism Versus the State
This is going to be an argument about how we think about freedom, primarily based upon my interpretations of Isaiah Berlin’s original 1958 lecture, “Two Concepts of Liberty.” In this philosophical view, freedom can be viewed in two ways, positive and negative. According to Berlin, positive freedom is freedom of choice, or freedom to do. Negative freedom is consequently freedom from, or to be free to avoid some kind of negative stimuli. When people speak of freedom, it is usually a combination of these two concepts. So in this way, people often define freedom as a combination of both positive and negative. Positive freedom posits that people must be free to choose to do as they wish, freedom to live happily and well. Whereas negative freedom is freedom from; but from what? That usually depends upon one’s politics and perspective.
Johnny RingoPublished 3 years ago in The SwampSocialism, Revolution and Foreign Policy: A Black Panther Analysis
Black Panther is one of the greatest comic book movies ever made. The film is rich with visual style, overflowing with culture, and completely immersive into a literally unseen world. This analysis of the film is somewhat spoiler-laden, assuming that the reader has seen the film and understands the plot. This analysis is more focused on the ideas, symbolism, themes, and philosophies in the movie. The YouTube channel Wisecrack has already explored some of the ideas in the film, and this analysis is an attempt to explore them further, build upon them, and explore other ideas that Wisecrack did not cover.
Johnny RingoPublished 3 years ago in The SwampHow Do Rich Liberals View “Revolution”: David Cage and "Detroit: Become Human"
Revolution. The romantic, idealized, dramatized, and sanitized idea of an in-some-way-oppressed people rising up against the city, nation, corporation, or socio-economic structure that oppresses them. This revolution often is framed in two extreme ways: one, as a violent, bloody, visceral, terrible war; or two, as a romantic, pacifist, do-no-harm-and-no-harm-will-come-to-us civil resistance akin to Dr. King or Ghandi; to change from within those people and structures who do us harm by singing about love. American attitudes about revolution have long been disproportionately described as “peaceful good, violent bad”, and this is the prefered social narrative of rich liberals in the United States.
Johnny RingoPublished 3 years ago in The SwampTo What Standard Do We Hold Muslims in Our Society?
At 5 pm on March 24th, 2019, the Islamic Society of Frederick held a vigil for the 50+ victims of a white supremacist shooter who targeted multiple masjids (what we know as mosques) in Christchurch, New Zealand. The death toll could have been worse if this man’s co-conspirators had been successful in detonating a number of homemade IEDs. Thankfully they failed to detonate, but the death toll was still unacceptable. One life taken by a hate-filled white supremacist monster, whether because of the victim’s religion or their ethnicity, is unacceptable.
Johnny RingoPublished 3 years ago in The SwampPA Dems Patron Anti-Gay Christian Group Through Local Coffee Shop
LOCK HAVEN, PENNSYLVANIA — A transgender activist in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania is blowing the whistle on an alleged Christian hate group, the Christian and Missionary Alliance (CMA). The CMA is a longstanding anti-gay Christian group which has contributed millions to the National Christian Foundation, a nationwide network of anti-LGBT fundraising and lobbying.
Johnny RingoPublished 3 years ago in The SwampMichigan in the Middle
Reuters published a fact check entitled, "Fact check: Table shows outdated voter registration numbers for eight key states on voter registration numbers" to their website on 11/05/2020. Supposedly, as they say...
Amanda SpradlinPublished 3 years ago in The SwampDear Trump Supporter
Dearest Trump Supporter: I know how a good many of you are feeling right now because I’ve been right where you are. I clearly remember the mad cycle of grief, anger, frustration, frustration, anger and grief that I tumbled in 4 years ago. I recall feeling like the world had been flipped upside down and turned suddenly hostile. It was hard to breathe, to think, to move. (I even took a personal day off from work because I was so depressed.) Social media became a mine field of people gloating, poking fun and showing their utter contempt for all I held dear. They laughed at and mocked my concerns, my discomfort and mostly my pain. They called me a “snowflake” and said things like “Suck it up” and “Awwww, your little feeeeeeeelings are hurt??” and more. My like-minded friends become safe havens, we shared a mad hope that it was all a bad dream or that the election would be overturned or that possibly aliens would come and take us to another more hospitable planet. It was a struggle to find sanity and any sense of safety or peace. Maybe some of you relate to this, maybe not…maybe some do but can’t yet admit it. I understand that too.
Nadine Buxton-WhatonamePublished 3 years ago in The SwampWhy Biden's Win is About More Than the American Presidency
For many of us, watching the actions of Trump over the last four years has brought on a wide variety of emotions; fear, confusion, amusement, incredulity and sometimes just downright anger.
Clara Elizabeth Hamilton Orr BurnsPublished 3 years ago in The SwampDon Lemon called racist/homophobic names by Trump supporters
On Saturday night November 7. CNN anchor Don Lemon made a startling admission on camera. Lemon has often said during the past four years that Trump supporters have called him names. He also has admitted to receiving death threats. On Saturday he actually cried as he gave details regarding how some Americans have treated him since 2016. Lemon acknowledged on air that he has often been referred to as a “ nig*er, f*g by those who are followers of Donald Trump.” In spite of his fame, education and, position in the world of media to some Don Lemon is not considered a successful American. His haters are trying to reduce him to being identified negatively based on his race and sexual orientation.
Cheryl E PrestonPublished 3 years ago in The SwampPresidential Concession Speech is not in the constitution
For all of my adult life as a voter, the loser in a presidential election always calls the winner to congratulate him. I do recall in 2000, Al Gore conceded to George Bush then retracted his statement due to a recount. Eventually, he did acknowledge that he lost the election. The big question on the minds of a lot of Americans right now is whether or not Donald Trump will concede and congratulate Joe Biden. The truth is that it really does not matter. A concession speech is a courtesy and not written into the US constitution. No one has to make that phone call but it is done to show good sportsmanship.
Cheryl E PrestonPublished 3 years ago in The SwampHow the Kennedy Curse Ruined a Family
The Kennedys are the closest thing the United States has gotten to a royal family. They have been prominent figures in American politics, business, public service and entertainment over the last 60 years. They even have their own coat of arms that was granted to President John F. Kennedy in 1961 by the Chief Herald of Ireland.
Shandi PacePublished 3 years ago in The Swamp