Olaf J Ogland
@platoinct.bsky.social
Psychiatrist, philosopher, social thinker, inspired by Socrates, Hegel, Arendt; enamored of Being, which we used to share before materialism estranged us from each other.
Pinned
Olaf J Ogland
@platoinct.bsky.social
· Mar 8
The grave danger of mega$ to Govt was well-noted by H Arendt in her '51 Totalitarianism:
1) being a separate power, it creates its own policy
2) being "superfluous" to the nation, its policy has only pvt meaning
3) w/ pvt meaning in power, public faith in govt is destroyed.
1) being a separate power, it creates its own policy
2) being "superfluous" to the nation, its policy has only pvt meaning
3) w/ pvt meaning in power, public faith in govt is destroyed.
How can she be so callous as not to feel outrage at how she was betrayed?
Perhaps she overlooked Yrump’s sleaze for the greater political good,
But when she found out he was at the heart of the trafficking, and she had to lie to conceal it,
How could she not have felt used??
Perhaps she overlooked Yrump’s sleaze for the greater political good,
But when she found out he was at the heart of the trafficking, and she had to lie to conceal it,
How could she not have felt used??
CNN put together a supercut of Pam Bondi being for releasing Epstein files before she suddenly turned against it
July 27, 2025 at 9:26 PM
How can she be so callous as not to feel outrage at how she was betrayed?
Perhaps she overlooked Yrump’s sleaze for the greater political good,
But when she found out he was at the heart of the trafficking, and she had to lie to conceal it,
How could she not have felt used??
Perhaps she overlooked Yrump’s sleaze for the greater political good,
But when she found out he was at the heart of the trafficking, and she had to lie to conceal it,
How could she not have felt used??
They would hear her keeping her mouth shut.
Recall, her father ‘fell’ off his yacht.
Recall, her father ‘fell’ off his yacht.
“If Ghislane Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say,” the deputy attorney general said.
Top DOJ Official Will Meet With Ghislaine Maxwell Amid Epstein Files Drama
“If Ghislane Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say,” the deputy attorney general said.
www.forbes.com
July 23, 2025 at 1:42 AM
They would hear her keeping her mouth shut.
Recall, her father ‘fell’ off his yacht.
Recall, her father ‘fell’ off his yacht.
It’s ALSO about:
-“price of a nest” - unaffordable!
-worry over children’s future
-anxiety over culture, planet survival
-disdain of male posturing, lack of care:
Catastrophic erosion of hope📌
-“price of a nest” - unaffordable!
-worry over children’s future
-anxiety over culture, planet survival
-disdain of male posturing, lack of care:
Catastrophic erosion of hope📌
By 2030, 1 in 4 women in developed countries will remain childfree.
Up to 45% will be single by choice.
Society will frame this as a crisis.
Governments will panic over birth rates.
This is about choice though…
It's about women walking away from the roles that kept men comfortable and powerful.
Up to 45% will be single by choice.
Society will frame this as a crisis.
Governments will panic over birth rates.
This is about choice though…
It's about women walking away from the roles that kept men comfortable and powerful.
July 10, 2025 at 9:45 PM
It’s ALSO about:
-“price of a nest” - unaffordable!
-worry over children’s future
-anxiety over culture, planet survival
-disdain of male posturing, lack of care:
Catastrophic erosion of hope📌
-“price of a nest” - unaffordable!
-worry over children’s future
-anxiety over culture, planet survival
-disdain of male posturing, lack of care:
Catastrophic erosion of hope📌
A theory of our politics
July 7, 2025 at 2:07 AM
A theory of our politics
Insecurity
In the modern condition, where everything has changed and ungroundedness is endemic,
The idea of trusting oneself has become untenable,
And one *must* resemble an image of some sort to feel successful:
->great disputation over *which image to impersonate*📌
In the modern condition, where everything has changed and ungroundedness is endemic,
The idea of trusting oneself has become untenable,
And one *must* resemble an image of some sort to feel successful:
->great disputation over *which image to impersonate*📌
A lot of this country’s problems boil down to straight white men who see themselves as some sort of default “normal” but any variation on that as “an identity” that is “political”
July 5, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Insecurity
In the modern condition, where everything has changed and ungroundedness is endemic,
The idea of trusting oneself has become untenable,
And one *must* resemble an image of some sort to feel successful:
->great disputation over *which image to impersonate*📌
In the modern condition, where everything has changed and ungroundedness is endemic,
The idea of trusting oneself has become untenable,
And one *must* resemble an image of some sort to feel successful:
->great disputation over *which image to impersonate*📌
“Ah, but we want people to be discouraged and armed, don’t you see?”
Hundreds of public safety grants cut, worth $500 million, funded initiatives like drug treatment and gun violence prevention programs.
Justice Department cuts to public safety grants leave police and nonprofits scrambling
Hundreds of public safety grants cut, worth $500 million, funded initiatives like drug treatment and gun violence prevention programs.
www.npr.org
May 24, 2025 at 4:41 PM
“Ah, but we want people to be discouraged and armed, don’t you see?”
Greed and racism
Have the same source: shame over one’s vulnerable self, to be remedied by either
-savage acquisition, or
-savage oppression of others:
Same force, different options.
Have the same source: shame over one’s vulnerable self, to be remedied by either
-savage acquisition, or
-savage oppression of others:
Same force, different options.
You're seeing America kamikaze itself into a brick wall.
It didn't have to be this way.
But greed and racism, our two sins, will be our downfall.
Too many people still with their hands in the sand.
It didn't have to be this way.
But greed and racism, our two sins, will be our downfall.
Too many people still with their hands in the sand.
May 23, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Greed and racism
Have the same source: shame over one’s vulnerable self, to be remedied by either
-savage acquisition, or
-savage oppression of others:
Same force, different options.
Have the same source: shame over one’s vulnerable self, to be remedied by either
-savage acquisition, or
-savage oppression of others:
Same force, different options.
Ah, but there were warnings aplenty,
But so many people ignored them,
So…
We have urgency and the present devastation.
But so many people ignored them,
So…
We have urgency and the present devastation.
What happens when there are no more tornadoes warnings? joycevance.substack.com/p/when-the-c...
When the Cuts Hit Home
I am not an alarmist.
joycevance.substack.com
May 17, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Ah, but there were warnings aplenty,
But so many people ignored them,
So…
We have urgency and the present devastation.
But so many people ignored them,
So…
We have urgency and the present devastation.
Jesus, word has it, *stilled the waters*
While these folks seek to trouble them,
Claiming allegiance all the while to what they can never be.
While these folks seek to trouble them,
Claiming allegiance all the while to what they can never be.
Christian Nationalists always have their eye on what is important--shoving a religion they don't even follow down your throat, while they idly sit back and let your plane crash.
May 17, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Jesus, word has it, *stilled the waters*
While these folks seek to trouble them,
Claiming allegiance all the while to what they can never be.
While these folks seek to trouble them,
Claiming allegiance all the while to what they can never be.
Memorable, fascinating, and alarming!
Earth is sounding the alarm, and we had better heed her📌
Earth is sounding the alarm, and we had better heed her📌
OK, this is wild.
In September 2023, geophysicists across the world started monitoring a very odd signal coming from the ground under them.
It was picked up in the Arctic. And Antarctica. It was detected everywhere, every 90 seconds, as regular as a metronome, for *nine days*.
What the HELL?
1/
In September 2023, geophysicists across the world started monitoring a very odd signal coming from the ground under them.
It was picked up in the Arctic. And Antarctica. It was detected everywhere, every 90 seconds, as regular as a metronome, for *nine days*.
What the HELL?
1/
May 12, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Memorable, fascinating, and alarming!
Earth is sounding the alarm, and we had better heed her📌
Earth is sounding the alarm, and we had better heed her📌
“Vengeance is mine, saith The Donald”
You have a challenge from a self-deceived poseur.
You have a challenge from a self-deceived poseur.
A convicted criminal who has had endless trials wants to make it so he can imprison or kill anyone he wants without a trial.
May 10, 2025 at 11:44 PM
“Vengeance is mine, saith The Donald”
You have a challenge from a self-deceived poseur.
You have a challenge from a self-deceived poseur.
…one guy who is the front man for a group that would replace the Public Thing [res publica]
With “our thing,”
Taking charge of Govt power, separately from the public interest:
Note: “Our thing” in Italian is “cosa nostra,” which is apt here.
With “our thing,”
Taking charge of Govt power, separately from the public interest:
Note: “Our thing” in Italian is “cosa nostra,” which is apt here.
I just really need everybody to understand that everything that’s happening in and to the global economy now (and all the businesses and people in it) is the entirely predictable result of the intentional decisions of one guy who doesn’t understand how the global economy works.
May 10, 2025 at 8:10 PM
…one guy who is the front man for a group that would replace the Public Thing [res publica]
With “our thing,”
Taking charge of Govt power, separately from the public interest:
Note: “Our thing” in Italian is “cosa nostra,” which is apt here.
With “our thing,”
Taking charge of Govt power, separately from the public interest:
Note: “Our thing” in Italian is “cosa nostra,” which is apt here.
Ah
“If we are going to do *our thing* we must make sure no one can identify us!”📌
(Some may recall the phrase in Italian, and note its methods and the separateness of its purpose from the lawful order, against which it must be vigilant.)
“If we are going to do *our thing* we must make sure no one can identify us!”📌
(Some may recall the phrase in Italian, and note its methods and the separateness of its purpose from the lawful order, against which it must be vigilant.)
May 10, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Ah
“If we are going to do *our thing* we must make sure no one can identify us!”📌
(Some may recall the phrase in Italian, and note its methods and the separateness of its purpose from the lawful order, against which it must be vigilant.)
“If we are going to do *our thing* we must make sure no one can identify us!”📌
(Some may recall the phrase in Italian, and note its methods and the separateness of its purpose from the lawful order, against which it must be vigilant.)
The only ‘Invasion’ is by them!
Malevolent, invidious, incompetent, and cruel,
And glorying in it like drunken thugs,
Using the levers of power like war clubs, smashing heads for the thrill of it.
Malevolent, invidious, incompetent, and cruel,
And glorying in it like drunken thugs,
Using the levers of power like war clubs, smashing heads for the thrill of it.
We are not under invasion.
There is no justification for suspending our constitutional rights.
Every single American should speak out against this, loudly and forcefully.
There is no justification for suspending our constitutional rights.
Every single American should speak out against this, loudly and forcefully.
Stephen Miller: "The writ of habeas corpus can be suspended in a time of invasion. So I would say that's an option we're actively looking at."
May 10, 2025 at 1:26 AM
The only ‘Invasion’ is by them!
Malevolent, invidious, incompetent, and cruel,
And glorying in it like drunken thugs,
Using the levers of power like war clubs, smashing heads for the thrill of it.
Malevolent, invidious, incompetent, and cruel,
And glorying in it like drunken thugs,
Using the levers of power like war clubs, smashing heads for the thrill of it.
‘DOGE’
=> Disruption
Of Any
Government
Enforcement
=> Disruption
Of Any
Government
Enforcement
May 9, 2025 at 8:11 PM
‘DOGE’
=> Disruption
Of Any
Government
Enforcement
=> Disruption
Of Any
Government
Enforcement
“Due Process” is about us💥
NOT about the accused person!
NOT about the accused person!
People still do not grasp that the constitutional right to due process is afforded anyone inside the U.S. REGARDLESS of status. Even if you’re just visiting here.
WATCH: @abbyphillip.bsky.social patiently tries to get batya & scott jennings to understand their views about deporting people to foreign prisons without due process are un-American and anti-constitutional. (And they both know it) 🇺🇸
May 2, 2025 at 9:49 PM
“Due Process” is about us💥
NOT about the accused person!
NOT about the accused person!
Self-loathing is a qualification for entry:
-won’t disown the loather-in-chief
-will do anything he says
-won’t quail at cruelty.
-won’t disown the loather-in-chief
-will do anything he says
-won’t quail at cruelty.
I’d say that Kennedy Jr.—whose deranged conspiracy theories are now likely to cost America a new COVID-19 booster this fall—won’t be happy until his narcissism costs tens of thousands their lives, but the truth is he won’t be happy then, either.
He’s a miserable man engaged in miserable misconduct.
He’s a miserable man engaged in miserable misconduct.
Kennedy Issues Demands for Vaccine Approvals That Could Affect Fall Covid Boosters
The plans amount to an extraordinary flex of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s power as health secretary to make decisions ordinarily left to career scientists at the Food and Drug Administration.
www.nytimes.com
May 2, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Self-loathing is a qualification for entry:
-won’t disown the loather-in-chief
-will do anything he says
-won’t quail at cruelty.
-won’t disown the loather-in-chief
-will do anything he says
-won’t quail at cruelty.
“If teaching religion in school would raise morality,
“Why doesn’t it work in churches?”
“Why doesn’t it work in churches?”
“This is taxpayer-funded, state-sponsored religious indoctrination. You’ve just got to call it what it is.”
The Supreme Court is about to let religion ruin public education
Two recent cases suggest that the era of secular schools is coming to an end.
www.motherjones.com
May 1, 2025 at 9:52 PM
“If teaching religion in school would raise morality,
“Why doesn’t it work in churches?”
“Why doesn’t it work in churches?”
Whoa!
“is a dangerous dictator” is strong indeed💥
And 52% agree is damned strong!📌
(I’d’ve been impressed if even 20% had agreed!)
“is a dangerous dictator” is strong indeed💥
And 52% agree is damned strong!📌
(I’d’ve been impressed if even 20% had agreed!)
May 1, 2025 at 2:11 AM
Whoa!
“is a dangerous dictator” is strong indeed💥
And 52% agree is damned strong!📌
(I’d’ve been impressed if even 20% had agreed!)
“is a dangerous dictator” is strong indeed💥
And 52% agree is damned strong!📌
(I’d’ve been impressed if even 20% had agreed!)
‘Victimhood’
Has a personal ontology without which it doesn’t exist:
‘Misfortune’ cannot create victimhood without a *deep grudge* at play,
And its depth is in childhood, where lonely envy found no recognition, and the rejection then festers to be inflicted later on someone else.
Has a personal ontology without which it doesn’t exist:
‘Misfortune’ cannot create victimhood without a *deep grudge* at play,
And its depth is in childhood, where lonely envy found no recognition, and the rejection then festers to be inflicted later on someone else.
Imagine the biggest problem in your life being about which bathroom a total stranger uses.
Imagine pretending random people you'll never meet are somehow victimizing you with their existence.
Imagine being that hard up for troubles that you have to invent them just so you can play the victim.
Imagine pretending random people you'll never meet are somehow victimizing you with their existence.
Imagine being that hard up for troubles that you have to invent them just so you can play the victim.
April 29, 2025 at 3:44 PM
‘Victimhood’
Has a personal ontology without which it doesn’t exist:
‘Misfortune’ cannot create victimhood without a *deep grudge* at play,
And its depth is in childhood, where lonely envy found no recognition, and the rejection then festers to be inflicted later on someone else.
Has a personal ontology without which it doesn’t exist:
‘Misfortune’ cannot create victimhood without a *deep grudge* at play,
And its depth is in childhood, where lonely envy found no recognition, and the rejection then festers to be inflicted later on someone else.
True
But the anxiety is not just the dreaded ‘replacement,’ which characterizes all rt-wing mvts,
But a deeper dismay at their own impotence as human beings, unable to believe *their own* sufficiency in a world of others,
unless they demonstrate ‘winning’
to themselves📌
But the anxiety is not just the dreaded ‘replacement,’ which characterizes all rt-wing mvts,
But a deeper dismay at their own impotence as human beings, unable to believe *their own* sufficiency in a world of others,
unless they demonstrate ‘winning’
to themselves📌
If you wonder why men *obsessed* with the United States having more children are kidnapping children and sending them to other countries, those children were the incorrect color.
April 28, 2025 at 5:30 PM
True
But the anxiety is not just the dreaded ‘replacement,’ which characterizes all rt-wing mvts,
But a deeper dismay at their own impotence as human beings, unable to believe *their own* sufficiency in a world of others,
unless they demonstrate ‘winning’
to themselves📌
But the anxiety is not just the dreaded ‘replacement,’ which characterizes all rt-wing mvts,
But a deeper dismay at their own impotence as human beings, unable to believe *their own* sufficiency in a world of others,
unless they demonstrate ‘winning’
to themselves📌
Politics
Exists in the Public Square📌
If a power is installed that replaces the Public Purpose with cruelty and deception,
Replacing our civic bonds with corrupt purposes, promoting rancor among the people instead of respect,
The People must reclaim the Public Square📌
Exists in the Public Square📌
If a power is installed that replaces the Public Purpose with cruelty and deception,
Replacing our civic bonds with corrupt purposes, promoting rancor among the people instead of respect,
The People must reclaim the Public Square📌
Booker: Do you think we got the right to vote for women because a bunch of men on the House floor got together and said “on the count of three, women get the right to vote..” That’s not how it happened… Change doesn’t come from Washington. It comes to Washington.
April 27, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Politics
Exists in the Public Square📌
If a power is installed that replaces the Public Purpose with cruelty and deception,
Replacing our civic bonds with corrupt purposes, promoting rancor among the people instead of respect,
The People must reclaim the Public Square📌
Exists in the Public Square📌
If a power is installed that replaces the Public Purpose with cruelty and deception,
Replacing our civic bonds with corrupt purposes, promoting rancor among the people instead of respect,
The People must reclaim the Public Square📌
“It’s ’our thing’ you know” Musk
Note: in Italian, that’s ’cosa nostra’
Right?
Note: in Italian, that’s ’cosa nostra’
Right?
This is a disaster in the making. Read this thread and then please call all your reps and demand that the US maintain control of our own military defense. Elon cannot own and control our missile defense or our satellites. Please make a fuss about this.
In addition to giving the contract to himself and so stealing public money the very concept of this thing is a crazy level boondoggle www.reuters.com/business/aer...
April 20, 2025 at 4:41 AM
“It’s ’our thing’ you know” Musk
Note: in Italian, that’s ’cosa nostra’
Right?
Note: in Italian, that’s ’cosa nostra’
Right?
Spot on📌
Angry at exclusion, much of public wants vengeance,
And long failure to tax wealth adequately has bred it:
In US, 80’s tax cuts broke New Deal framework, which rt-wing were intent to destroy, as Dems diddled w/ neolib’sm,
And lost to a savage boy seeking to trash his own house.
Angry at exclusion, much of public wants vengeance,
And long failure to tax wealth adequately has bred it:
In US, 80’s tax cuts broke New Deal framework, which rt-wing were intent to destroy, as Dems diddled w/ neolib’sm,
And lost to a savage boy seeking to trash his own house.
It's a straightforward relationship: high #inequality leads to the triumph of the far right. It will keep winning until governments deliberately seek to make societies more equal. I'm looking at you, Keir Starmer.
This week's column. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
This week's column. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Rightwing populists will keep winning until we grasp this truth about human nature | George Monbiot
Economic inequality breeds resentment and a desire to get even. That’s what fuels support for even incompetent regimes, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
April 14, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Spot on📌
Angry at exclusion, much of public wants vengeance,
And long failure to tax wealth adequately has bred it:
In US, 80’s tax cuts broke New Deal framework, which rt-wing were intent to destroy, as Dems diddled w/ neolib’sm,
And lost to a savage boy seeking to trash his own house.
Angry at exclusion, much of public wants vengeance,
And long failure to tax wealth adequately has bred it:
In US, 80’s tax cuts broke New Deal framework, which rt-wing were intent to destroy, as Dems diddled w/ neolib’sm,
And lost to a savage boy seeking to trash his own house.