#52 / JAN 22 2014: THAT EXTRAORDINARY PHENOMENOM CALLED KICKSTARTER

For all the greed, selfishness, and other shabby—to the point of criminal—behavior that we witness in this Great Nation all too regularly, all kinds of good things seem to going on underneath the surface; which I both hope, and expect, will lead to a pleasanter and more effective form of capitalism. 

When? Ah! That is the question. Sooner than many would think, I suspect.

Capitalism—like ice-cream—comes in many flavors. Some work a great deal better than others. We haven’t really grasped that yet. We have been conditioned to think in a binary way—you are either for or against. The reality is more nuanced. Capitalism—the right form of it—can work extremely well.

I say "pleasanter and more effective" because our existing American Business Model clearly isn't delivering for most of us, and it certainly can't be described as "pleasant."

Essentially, risk is being transferred to the workforce, and rewards to a financial elite, at a rate, and on a scale, that is alarming. Boeing's recent success at forcing its machinists union to give up the defined pension is just one example of the corporate thuggery that is becoming commonplace—and the callous neglect of the long-term unemployed is another. On top of that, lending to Small Business is entirely inadequate and the state of our crumbling infrastructure is a disgrace.  Meanwhile, Big Business is accumulating record profits—yet paying declining amounts of corporate tax in percentage terms. It’s a very clear picture.

Overall, we really do have a One Percent oriented economy—though though you can make the case that the upper two quintiles--40 percent in total—do well enough.

Unfortunately, that still leaves 60 percent of the population—the majority it is worth emphasizing—who are either struggling or poor. And by the way, most incomes are in decline (in the richest country in the world).

An intolerable situation, you may think—and you would be right.

But before you sink into terminal depression, reflect on the extraordinary success of Kickstarter which is really a form of patronage. You don't invest in projects—you donate money to such ideas as strike your fancy (in exchange for a token of minimal value) but the end result is that start-ups and other small companies get the capital they need; and all kinds of innovations are backed which otherwise might not see the light of day.

It will never work, I hear you think. People want to get a return on their money. They don't want to give it way.

The evidence is that sometimes they do. It feels good to help—and it doesn't hurt that it feels like the right thing to do. Also, the average donation is relatively small (something like $25 to $100) so it is easy to give with good cheer. It's the volume from a lot of people—the 'crowd' in crowdfunding—that makes the difference.

Let me throw some Kickstarter figures at you:

• Three million people donated to Kickstarter in 2013
• 19,911 projects were funded (up from 18,109 in 2012)
• Overall Kickstarter raised $480 million from 214 countries and 7 continents

Is that awesome or what!

Given that JP Morgan Chase has incurred over $30 billion in fines and legal costs alone since the end of the Great Recession, you might be tempted to sink into depression again - but oak trees have small beginnings.

I don't see Kickstarter replacing conventional investment—or anywhere close. I do see it as an extremely promising beginning of a more enlightened approach towards the funding of Small Business, and particularly creative enterprises.

Kickstarter may be the best known, but it is far from the only site of its kind. Google 'crowdfunding' and you'll see what I mean.

Crowdfunding can be a slightly confusing word. Some of the sites are donation based just like Kickstarter. Others allow full investments but more conditions conditions apply.

You'll soon get the hang of it.

#1 THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL WRITER

About two and a half months ago I ceased blogging for a while because I felt I needed the time to focus on another matter (which I will explain in the fullness of time). I was also somewhat tired, I guess, because I had been blogging virtually every day for the previous year (actually, rather more) – and doing much else besides. Thirdly, I wanted to think about the best way to blog in the future. Would I continue to blog every day – or commit to a less demanding schedule?

On balance, I regret ceasing to blog. Yes, it does take up valuable writing time, but it is a marvelous discipline for a writer to adhere to; is inspirational in its own right; and is as good a way of communicating to family, friends, and fans as I can imagine – and relieves you all of the burden of having to write back – so I’m returning to the fray as from December 1 2013 with great pleasure. I’m choosing December 1 for the sake of neatness – and because I can never remember dates.

I’m not going to commit to blogging every day – though I well may. Instead, I’m going to commit blogging at least twice a week with “the blog of the week” appearing every Monday.

Between you, me, and the gate-post, it’s good to be back.

Did I miss you? Well, I don’t want to be sentimental about it – hell, I’m a thriller writer – but I guess I sort-of did.

THE STORY SO FAR: PART 337: MONDAY

WHO KNEW SQUIRRELS WERE SUCH NOISY EATERS!

We are having truly marvelous weather at present in Seattle—so my high window, appropriately protected by a mesh screen—is open. The good news is that this cools the room. The bad news is that I can hear rather more stuff than I care to—and noise can be distracting.

Between you and me, I had thought that my hearing had been degraded as a result of spending far too long within yards of M1A1 tanks firing (a story for another day) but now I am not so sure. My hearing can’t be that bad if I can hear every munch my local squirrel is making.

He used to inhabit the dead tree, and I would see him regularly. Since that was cut down—to avoid crashing on a neighbor (anti-social behavior)—I have seen him less often.

This morning, he was crouched on top of a fencepost—perhaps twelve feet away—and I could both see and hear every munch.

I was much cheered.

When I was a child I had Siamese cats as pets and loved them dearly. Later, I seemed to be mainly preoccupied with babies—with the odd cat thrown in because babies like cats and the feeling seems to be mutual.

After that, though I get on fine with cats and dogs and babies, I became attracted by the idea of enjoying a pet while not really owning it. It appears I have a libertarian streak.

My first candidate was a bantam hen, who appeared as if from nowhere, and who liked to strut within my vision—while I was trying to write—until I had acknowledged him. After that, he would do his own thing. That mainly involved pecking for food, strutting, and servicing his harem of bantam hens. I had no idea where they came from from either, but they seemed to appreciate his attention.

I christened him Yul Brynner because few people could strut like Brynner. I bought him and his retinue corn, but otherwise left them to their own devices. They took over my pump house to sleep in.

There is a great deal to be said for having a pet you don’t own.

 

 

 

 

 

THE STORY SO FAR. PART 335: SATURDAY

SATURDAY IS A GOOD DAY FOR THINKING—BUT SLEEPING COMES FIRST

Actually, I tend to sleep as much as possible on Saturday —the more hours the merrier. Often I get up around six and do a couple of hours of work first, but then to sleep until midday is a wonderful thing.

Sleep—like spinach, blueberries, walking, and intellectual curiosity—is a good thing. Mothers-in-law are normally bad things. Babies are marvelously cuddly things. Life is really quite simple when you get right down to it.

I realize that many people of my age don’t sleep very well—I’ll be 70 next May—but, generally speaking, I sleep marvelously (for which I give daily thanks). In fact, overall I have the suspicion that if we all slept more, this world would be a better place. Just for starters, you make better decisions when well rested. And it is absolutely certain that you write better.

The military seem to think it is a sign of weakness to need sleep, which may explain why so many bad decisions are made in war. Personally, I think all hostilities should cease no later than ten every evening—not to be resumed until after a late breakfast (and not at all if it rains).

I like the idea of thinking great thoughts on Saturday, but more often than not compromise by dozing.

Ah, but I haven’t abandoned my work ethic. My subconscious—where I suspect the real talent lies—works on while I dream.

And we should all dream.

 

 

THE STORY SO FAR: PART 333: THURSDAY

SMELL THE GANGRENE!

WHY EXACTLY DO WE LET THE BIG BANKS—AND OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS—GET AWAY WITH IT?

Some poor unfortunate minority gets caught with drugs on him and gets sent away to prison for years.

In horrific contrast, JP Morgan Chase is caught rigging the electricity markets, is fined a token $410 million (token in the context of its financial strength) and no Morgan Chase employee suffers at all. In fact the corporation does not even have to admit to any wrongdoing for stealing from tens of millions of people .

This is injustice on a truly gargantuan scale, and it makes complete nonsense of the much touted concept that the U.S. is a nation of laws. It is a travesty of justice.

If offences like market rigging were rare, it would bad enough; but, in fact, criminal behavior by the banks, and financial institutions in general, on a massive scale, is so routine that scarcely a week goes by without an announcement similar to the JP Morgan Chase affair—and here we are are talking only about those who get caught (and most are not).

To the big banks, penalties are just a cost of doing business. The American people may suffer; but they, the major financial institutions, don’t care—and they are blatant about it. They have a predator culture, and since there is no real penalty for blatantly criminal behavior, they do it because they can, because they are incentivized to do it, and because it pays massively.

As from 2011, JPMorgan has paid nearly $7 billion in penalties for a whole string of offenses, but has made over $50 billion in profit. That scale of egregious behavior projects a picture of an organization that regards itself as above the law because it has the financial muscle to buy whoever and whatever it it needs—and it does just that. Why not indeed! It has assets of well over two trillion dollars. Now that is power. But it is a scale of power that demonstrably  corrupts.

Since the major financial institutions and other corporate interests are Congress’s paymasters, I’m far from sure how we’re going to get out of this mess—or whether we ever will. The U.S., as we have known it, may just be vanishing behind a façade of delusion, distraction, and dissuasion.

Will the American people rise en masse and put a stop to this corruption?

Don’t hold your breath. The system has us within its grasp and it has all the necessary tools to keep us in thrall. 9/11 provided the necessary excuse and it was seize upon with gusto. We are now a surveillance state which it is very hard to oppose—even in an entirely legal, democratic, and righteous  way.

I have long believed that no foreign enemy could ever defeat the U.S., but that we have every reason to fear rotting from within.

That is exactly what is happening.

LET ME END ON A CHEERFUL NOTE: Fan mail has the habit of arriving at just the right time—and cheering me up greatly. Such e-mails are deeply appreciated.

Are you planning any new books. There is a vacuum out there for your type of books. If you do please ensure that it is available in e-reader format as well.
Thanks
Jim Edge

It appears I have my marching orders. The answer to the two points raised in this note is YES! And the books are written with more on the way. 

 

THE STORY SO FAR: PART 332: WEDNESDAY

“80 PERCENT OF U.S. ADULTS FACE NEAR POVERTY, UNEMPLOYMENT”

GIVEN THAT SO MANY OTHER COUNTRIES OPERATE SOCIAL SAFETY NETS—WITH CONSIDERABLE SUCCESS--WHY DOES THE U.S. REFUSE TO?

The lack of outrage about the structural flaws in the U.S. economy continues to amaze me—though I really shouldn’t be surprised. Stories of real economic significance have a disconcerting habit of dying fast. It is almost as if our corporate media were more interested in distracting us than keeping us informed. The Royal birth served this time around. The Wiener situation helped. A penis is more fun to write about than poverty. In fact, now I contemplate the matter, it is more fun overall.

The media mindset is another fundamental problem. The structural flaws in this economy are not a hot new story that you can summarize in a sound bite.  Instead this issue represents an existential threat to our national wellbeing, and requires a much more measured approach backed up by a deep knowledge of the subject matter. Journalists with such credentials are in short supply and rarely have the freedom to say what they really think.

The story—dated July 28 2013--that really got my personal attention was an AP report, summarized in the Huffington Post, which stated that:

Four out of 5 U.S. adults struggle with joblessness, near-poverty or reliance on welfare for at least parts of their lives, a sign of deteriorating economic security and an elusive American dream.

The gauge defines "economic insecurity" as a year or more of periodic joblessness, reliance on government aid such as food stamps or income below 150 percent of the poverty line. Measured across all races, the risk of economic insecurity rises to 79 percent.

While racial and ethnic minorities are more likely to live in poverty, race disparities in the poverty rate have narrowed substantially since the 1970s, census data show. Economic insecurity among whites also is more pervasive than is shown in the government's poverty data, engulfing more than 76 percent of white adults by the time they turn 60, according to a new economic gauge being published next year by the Oxford University Press.

"Poverty is no longer an issue of `them', it's an issue of `us'," says Mark Rank, a professor at Washington University in St. Louis who calculated the numbers. "Only when poverty is thought of as a mainstream event, rather than a fringe experience that just affects blacks and Hispanics, can we really begin to build broader support for programs that lift people in need."

The fact that the richest country in the world allows this situation to continue is an absolute disgrace—and now the Republicans are trying to cut Food Stamps (which are already too low).

This is mean-spirited, shabby behavior, morally wrong—and economically inefficient. Currently, corporate interests are working hard (and successfully) to create a low wage economy—and purchasing power is being reduced accordingly. For the time being, shale oil and the revival of the auto industry are giving the economy a boost, but the bulk of the economy is deeply troubled. Most of the jobs that are available are badly paid, part-time, or both.

The fact that 80% of the population is at risk is truly mind blowing—especially as this figure is projected to rise to 85% by 2030. This reflects an economic system that is not working in the interests of the population as a whole. Now this has been obvious for a considerable time; but, given that Congress is controlled by corporate money, nothing is being done about it.

Worse still, though economic insecurity is rampant in the U.S.—with all its attendant pressures—I see scant evidence that people understand the sheer scale of the forces they are up against—and that unless they fight back, continued decline is inevitable.

At one stage, the deficit was considered to the source of all our ills, but now that issue is fast being resolved, it can be seen that the real problems are much more widespread and deeply rooted. Here, I would add that Europe’s adoption of Austerity has proved to be a disaster—a case history in what not to do. Certainly, there are times to cut back—and government expenditure always needs to be tightly controlled—but cutting is ill advised when your economy is sluggish or in recession. Then you merely undermine growth and increase unemployment—which is exactly what has been happening. Our own extensive cutting of government jobs, mainly by Republican state governors, plus the sequester, has had exactly the same effect.

FINANCIALIZATION: Thanks to taxpayer money, and massive support by the Federal Reserve—which continues at the remarkably rate of $85 billion a month—the financial sector has now fully recovered and is more prosperous than ever. In fact, it is the largest business sector on Wall Street. Meanwhile, the well-being of the average American continues to decline. These two facts are directly related.

 

 

THE STORY SO FAR: PART 331: TUESDAY

THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT ALL

I have been thinking a great deal about multimedia recently—partly prompted by my recent burst of screenplay writing; partly because I don’t have TV at present so am relying on my computer for entertainment; and partly because, as a writer, it’s my job to be aware of this particular world.

The growth of video is downright frightening to a traditional wordsmith like me—and sometimes I wonder whether the written word will survive in anything like its present form—or will it evolve into pictograms or something similar. However, I’m fairly confident that it will see me out, which is just fine by me. And if my difficult children do get me a headstone, I don’t want it to show a video at the press of a button—it’s the way things are going—but to be granite and inscribed with good old fashioned words saying something like:

WORDS, WOMEN & WINE

HE DIED OF EXHAUSTION

Actually, that just about says it all, now I think about it—and, no, I don’t mean to be sexist. Trust me, it covers a multitude. Inspired by reading when I was a kid, it was my ambition to have adventures when I grew up—and life has not let me down. What exactly constituted an adventure? I didn’t know—which is part of the point.

In fact, my current focus is not the survival of the written word, but lengths and formats. Supposedly, a movie’s length is based upon the endurance of the average bladder—and U.S. TV programs are based on the maximum number of ads that can be squeezed in before viewers shoot their sets—but today with Smart phones, tablets, endless recording devices and the internet, the possibilities are endless.

My preference is for a movie—if it’s any good—to be 120 t0 140 minutes, but am otherwise biased towards mini-series and part-works. I like the idea of being able to develop a story free of the merciless time constraints of a movie script.

Such thoughts apart, it is clear that there is going to be a growing demand for short programs—ten to twenty minutes long—to provide sustenance for the YouTube generation.

This is a tough one to crack well—my comfort zone is long form—but it’s a compelling challenge. Indeed, one might almost call it an adventure.

PEOPLE DON’T DIE ANYMORE: Americans seem to have a profound fear of death (yet we chose  lifestyles which kill us sooner than other developed countries). People don’t die, they “pass” or, as I read today, they “enter into rest.” This is rubbish, and is undermining that wonderful thing, the English language.

“Bring back death,” should be our cry—and personally, I intend to die.