(Note: See recent posts.)

As much as President Trump may want to shift the entire direction of the Titanic U.S. Ship of State from running its Endless Wars, the magnitude of what he’s up against has seldom been described in such stunning, depressing, detail as here:

David Stockman: How the U.S. Went from America First to Empire First 

Thinking about Stockman’s overview of the MIC in a larger, more abstract context: Let’s look at the idea of any “institution” as some kind of form, or structure, or pattern of agreed-upon behavior that stabilizes change. Originally human-created and run, to accomplish some kind of goal, the “stronger” and more “viable” the structure, the more it  tends to not just continue, but to expand through time. In other words, it’s not just the MIC to which Stockman’s analysis can be applied.

All of which makes me think: no “institution” should be allowed to grow beyond  . . . but beyond what? That’s the question. I have no idea. All I know is that once humans create structures, both in the mind and on the ground, these structures, if “well designed,” tend to keep going, keep growing, no matter what. Institutions, like human beings, seem to have a cancer gene that lurks inside, always wanting more, more, seeking to expand without limit. What prevents the takeover? Inside a human being, we are told that “the immune system” keeps the always present cancer cells in check. But what, really, is “the immune system”? Another big mystery.

And what is the equivalent of “the immune system” for an institution of any size? That’s one big question for our times.  And this question can be asked of governmental and other  institutions of all kinds, including corporations. But what IS the limit that should be allowed in any particular case? I have no idea.

This kind of discussion is massively relevant to the upcoming Saturn/Pluto conjunction in Capricorn (exact January 2020), itself the prelude for the first ever Pluto Return to the U.S. chart since its inception on July 4, 1776 (2021-25). Capricorn is the sign of goals, methodologies, patterns, forms, structures; stern, disciplined Saturn is now transiting through the sign it rules, and so operates more powerfully than usual. Combined with Pluto, the sign of the primal power of death and rebirth, also transiting through Capricorn (2008-2026) for the first time in 248 years, we are looking at a possible Plutonian demolition of all sorts of structures, institutions, including major corporations, media, and even the U.S. Government.

I imagine Trump does know what he’s up against.