Don’t Follow the Money and it’s Surrogate Political Power

Jeff & Susan • June 9, 2017

Follow the Realities of a Sustainable Future For America and the Planet.

Supporters of fuel ethanol have been seriously weakened by our failure to fully grasp this reality. Example: there is no way we could even nibble our way into the massive PR campaign of “We are Energy Voters” and other misleading efforts, reports and studies sponsored by the oil and gas industries. They simply “buy” their economic and political dominance into the future.

We should be mobilizing our vast biomass resource base moving forward into a bright sustainable future. Biochemicals, biopharmaceuticals, and biocosmetics are sailing right by their fossil competitors with way more than 30% market share while fossil chemicals haven’t even whimpered as industries shifted their feedstock base. BIO is wisely leading an effort to join with biofuels in meeting with members of Congress to better make the biomass case.

Biomass in many forms are quietly slipping into the food marketplace without a ruckus from Big Oil. Organics and home/nearby grown fruits and vegetables in stores and restaurants have been on a steady increase with little interference; actually with “Big Green Foods” frequently joining in. At the same time, the Grocery Manufactures Association teams up with Big Oil, falsely blaming ethanol for the high price of some foods.

But why is big oil and gas teaming up against biofuels, particularly ethanol as we struggle to reach 15% let alone E-30. This would actually boost their bottom line with a lower cost of octane while meeting the needs of advanced engines including direct-injected, turbo-charged, plug-in electric, and hydrogen vehicles? Is their anti-ethanol crusade based on lost market share, profitability, established refinery operations, and 100 years of successes in restraining ethanol? Who knows? The battle rages on.

What happened to the “all of the above” campaign leading to cooperative actions with Bio Oil and ethanol teaming up in the best interest of the nation while slowing/reversing climate change? E-30 could well be that beneficial common ground. Senator Daschle and the HOLC Alliance (High Octane, Low Carbon) provides a great opportunity to heal the consequences of an incredibly expensive and earth damaging war between the two fuels – oil and ethanol.

Additionally, it is fair to note that oil has been the root cause and the support of warfare for the past century plus. Consequently, it is fully tied into national security and warfare. It is a major source of funding for ISIS, al Qaeda and other radical Muslim groups. Only the U.S. Navy is deliberately turning to nuclear and biofuels in readying for the future.

So how do we turn a growing group of “hard chargers” into a literal army of like-minded Americans committed to the reality of the sustainable, biobased future? Sustainable biomass in all its many forms, including aquatic (algae and ocean plants) as feedstocks, can replenish itself in a growing year or two. Some trees take a few decades. Fossil oil takes the work of nature over millions of years, and is a major cause of carbon build up in the atmosphere

So what is bioethanol’s next series of actions? Set our positive record strait in terms of yields per acre requiring less land. No food shortage and no significant increase in cost. Enhanced organic matter in the soil, reduced use of water, and generation of water from the atmosphere with assistance from the full range of biomass. Enhancing lands supporting wildlife, shrubs, trees, forests, streams and rivers. Efficiencies in the conversion of corn, milo and other feedstocks into the production of ethanol, distiller’s grains, corn oil and pure CO2 that can reused. Then we have biochemicals and biopharmaceuticals, biogas, biothermal energy, and electricity. Include highly efficient wood stoves, furnaces and ethanol heaters. Recognize the organic and locally grown food for humans and pets. Include organic and bio fertilizers, pesticides, and compost. Strengthen soils with enzymes, micro and macro organisms, mineralization, biochar, etc. Trees, timbers and lumber for construction. Include biofibers for car and plane body parts, and trees and plants for protection of wildlife, land enhancement, and beautification. Incorporate other natural industries, all generating new opportunities as well as millions of good paying jobs with the satisfaction of living and working in concert with sustainable natural systems.

How do we reach tens of millions of like-minded people, and broaden their reach for sustainability to include biofuels and all the other renewable natural resources provided by our miraculous planet? We can rebuild farming communities and family farms with a wholesome blend of hard work, advanced science, technologies and digital revolutions while incorporating the beauty and meaning of wildlife and other natural systems. Rooftops, porches, and back-yard gardens add to the healthy food supply while adding volunteer supporters

It’s communications. We can’t spend hundreds of millions in buying PR time and political votes. We can, however, get into blogs, twitter and other systems beyond my understanding. Bless those who are doing so while embracing the wonders of nature. I would ask that you spread your wings to encompass major efforts in promoting all forms of sustainable biomass. Family, friends, neighbors and fellow workers are good starts. Creative efforts in several communities, states, and businesses are already providing great support and lessons for sustainable biomass products.

Perhaps we could print personal cards, Facebooks, blogs, etc. One section could read – “I’m For a United America.” The other side would read – “And I’m a Sustainable Future Voter.”

Bill Holmberg – An old Marine looking for creative help in transitioning from following the money and it’s surrogate political power, to embracing sustainable natural systems. This is an incredibly powerful national security challenge.

Chapter 5: Cruising Around the World

June 2, 2025
Mexico, 5/5/25.

Making up for the sins of Capitalism

May 27, 2025
“It is soulless, exploitive, inequitable, unstable and destructive, yet also all- conquering and overwhelming.” Capitalism and its Critics: A History from the Industrial Revolution to AI By John Cassidy This is one of the best descriptions of Capitalism I have read recently. The only thing it leaves out is that Capitalism regularly destroys itself and has to be rescued with huge infusions of human labor (money). But Capitalism is so appealing to humans that it is allowed to continually transform and conform to new demands and circumstances, even though it is inherently unstable and destructive. Like the charming self destructive uncle who is so entertaining with his stories and wild money making schemes, no one wants him to stop. It is so much fun! For a few people. And all it takes is a few people to keep Capitalism going, approximately ten percent of the World population, the richest ten percent. That Capitalism has lasted and spread is testimony to its ability to keep adapting and improving on its main strengths: soullessness and exploitation. As a species we have become, over approximately 500 years, completely adapted to Capitalism. No matter what it distorts, destroys or lays waste to, it has captured our imaginations like a religion. We won't be saying goodbye to it anytime soon. But there is an antidote. We can make up for some of its most destructive symptoms with a Parallel Currency that is used only for basic human needs, food, shelter, education and healthcare, Worldwide. Some countries are already trying to do this with their tax structures and laws but a Parallel Currency would do this without taxation or inflation. It is a separate currency that can only be used to provide basic needs and is destroyed when it reaches a bank; it will not create inflation. It also will not inhibit the positive capabilities of existing currencies. They will continue to function as they usually do. The Parallel Currency is a closed loop created for the dignified survival of humanity. Freedom of speech, freedom of religion are not enough. A government by the people and for the people must also guarantee freedom from starvation, ignorance and curable illness, all things as a human species, over thousands of years, we have developed remedies.

Chapter 4: Cruising Around the World

May 20, 2025
Preface

Chapter 3: Cruising Around the World

May 13, 2025
Columbia, Cartegena, Columbia 4/21/25
A black and white pencil drawing of a little girl in a dress.

Chapter 2: Cruising Around the World

May 6, 2025
“The path of least resistance.” (The path of the most loot.)  Bonarais 4/13/25 “Island of the giants,” was the name the Spanish gave to Bonarais in the 1400’s because the native people were so tall. The prehistoric people of southwest Florida, the Calusas, were exceptionally tall also. Maybe the earliest sailing explorers? We are watching as they are unloading a container ship on the finger dock near where we are tied on. Four people halt its sway as it dangles from a crane and approaches the ground. A flatbed truck is already there, the container is placed and driven away. Repeat, repeat, again, again. An island has to import most of its needs. Bonarais is like a village of beautiful doll houses. The Dutch who were historically of colonial dominance, after they drove the Spanish out, and still maintain significant influence, designed the buildings with color and form that reminds them of their homeland. Pastel orange, yellow, and turquoise structures with contrasting gingerbread eves, cafe's where locals sit outside with coffee and converse in Dutch. The children eat ice cream. Very civilized, unhurried, no garbage.

Chapter 1: Cruising Around the World

April 25, 2025
The question is not, “ How do you pay for it?” The question is, “ What do you want to pay for?” We finally boarded the ship in Barbados 4/7/25.
A woman is holding a baby and a little girl

The Role of Women in the Economy and the Need for a Parallel Currency

March 13, 2025
Explore women’s impact on the economy and the concept of a parallel currency. Learn how these ideas shape sustainability and equitable financial systems.

A Government is not a Business

March 7, 2025
The purpose of government is not to make profit, it is to protect and defend its citizens. Government is not a platform from which a business deal is made. It is carefully structured to sleuth out the most important needs of all its citizens and provide for them. When it operates as it is built to do, its citizens are generally content. When it is gamed, in bad faith, for personal power and wealth, things fall apart and the government and its citizens have to move to defend themselves. The necessity to do this should never have evolved. But a well functioning government depends on people working in good faith, who are honorable, who seek truth and have guiding morals. As we know, sometimes people get into positions of power who don't have these qualities. The unfortunate development of political positions being won by individuals who have the most money to spend has placed a significant number of people in Congress and some Presidents in the White House who have no moral compass. We see the influence of unimaginable amounts of money on campaigns. Made worse when corporations were found to be citizens. Let's dive down the rabbit hole of history. In 2010, when Obama was president, the Supreme Court found in the case called Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission that corporations have 1st amendment rights to free speech and political spending. They named this “ corporate personhood” which holds that corporations are associations of people and have certain constitutional rights. This allows, among many other things, corporations to make independent political expenditures and allows corporations to spend unlimited funds on elections. Also, a corporation is allowed to exist in perpetuity. Even Voldemort would have envied this! So, here we are. Both Democratic and Republican administrations have pushed more and more power and wealth into the hands of the few and in turn the recipients of this largesse have shown their gratitude by paying into more and more autocratic governments that will continue to protect their economic and business advantages. This is not hard to see. It is very hard to live through. And even harder to reverse. But this has been done before and can be done again. Good government is not a given. It has to be watched carefully (thank goodness for bureaucrats). But everyone needs to play a part and feel they can be effective. At Renew the Earth, renew the-earth.org, we have been developing over the past 20 years a concept that allows choice within our World Economic System. We call it a Parallel Currency. This separate currency can only be used to provide basic human needs, food, shelter, education and health care. It cannot be invested or hoarded and will not cause inflation because it is destroyed when it reaches a bank.  Susan Caumont, President, Renew the Earth

Making the World safe for Gangsters

February 28, 2025
David Brooks made this statement in reference to recent events that may threaten the existence of our democracy. Is this where our country is going? Or are we going to stand up for our “inalienable rights”, Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness? “To secure these rights, governments are instituted among men.” Governments guided by laws and run by Bureaucracies. When we look at our “inalienable rights” one at a time, we understand the profound intention of our Constitution. Life. All people are created equal and have the inalienable right to life. To have life, each person has to have the elements that sustain life; food, shelter, education and health care. Liberty. Freedom of movement. “Free from oppressive restrictions imposed by any authority on one's way of life, behavior or political view.” Pursuit of Happiness. Not just to try to be happy, but a guarantee of happiness. This is an “inalienable right” not just a quest or pass time. We negotiate the inevitable disappointments and tragedies of living but also experience the joys that keep us alive. And the resulting happiness, in its fullest reveal, is a good life. This good life also depends not just on the happiness of one person, but all citizens, including immigrants and refugees. We suffer and rejoice together. Government must ultimately guarantee basic needs to all citizens; food, shelter, education and healthcare. Most World Constitutions include these guarantees, but cannot afford them. There is a way to pay for all human basic needs without creating inflation and debt using a Worldwide Parallel Currency dedicated only to the basic human needs. You may ask, “How do we provide basic human needs to 8 billion people Worldwide?” “Is it possible?” If a majority of people agree that this is something that needs to happen in order to preserve our survival on Earth, it can be done. We already have invented all the tools necessary. We need more than a patchwork of aid that can be interrupted by a statement from the president. We must build a permanent infrastructure that conveys efficiently and consistently the human right to live in the form of basic food and shelter, education and healthcare. Efficient systems that get needs where they have to go can be designed by already existing computer intelligence. How much, where it needs to go, what kind of transportation is available, how long it will take per shipment, all these things are calculable and apply to food and medicine and building materials. Education needs shelter, and schools will be built where they are needed. We can do these things on a “small scale”. We know how to do it. We do this in our Military. Now, we must think Worldwide and ramp it up. This is where AI can become a hero! Ultimately, we do live in a “Small World”. As Bucky Fuller once put it, we are living together on “Spaceship Earth.” We glide through the dark in the company of stars, our orbit warmed by the sun and encouraging life. We are connected by visible and invisible strands, tracks and roads. A thread is plucked somewhere and reverberates Worldwide. Our fates depend on each other.

Why a Parallel Currency?

February 28, 2025
Money is fluid, it has perceived value, and can be manipulated subjectively toward stupid stuff or toward important stuff. With a separate parallel currency it would be possible to buy basic human needs, Worldwide. The closed loop of a parallel currency dedicated to providing basic human needs can produce whatever amount of money necessary to fulfill human needs, (food, shelter, education and healthcare). This money will circulate generally after its initial use but when it reaches a bank it is destroyed. It cannot be invested or saved. It will not create inflation. Savings will also be possible for taxpayers, because most social services will no longer need to be paid through taxes. The currency that is presently used in each country will continue to function as usual, toward profit making and investment. The result is two currencies functioning simultaneously, in parallel. The intent is to treat Human Needs as essential, as a Right. And to be able to afford them.
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