Free Will

Free Will

I’ve been thinking about the idea of human feelings and emotions being ‘biochemical algorithms’ developed over millions of years on the East African savannahs as defined by Yuval Noah Harari in his book, Sapiens.

It certainly leads to the conclusion that there is no such thing as ‘free will’, just another human myth to try and explain the only two functions that scientists are beginning to acknowledge, deterministic evolution through natural selection and the apparent statistical randomness of the universe, which preclude any such concept as ‘free will’.

When I look back over my life, contemplating, meditating on its course and the decisions that have supposedly led me to my current position, I honestly can’t see that any other decisions than the ones I made were truthfully, factually open to me.

I know that there are those who will claim my complete agency and responsibility for those decisions. But, the longer I live, open myself to and see the reality around me, the more I doubt the idea of ‘free will’, that in truth, all our decisions could be mapped out by an AI agent, given enough data, biochemical, psychological, external, could predict every single decision I or anyone else would ever make.

Therefore, ‘free will’ is a myth (IMHO). You are certainly entitled to your own opinion on the matter…

–LE

It Doesn't Matter

It Doesn't Matter

whether it's Social Security 

Medicare

the post office

or the VA

the only reason

to privatize 

is to give our money

the public's money

(tax revenues) 

to our leaders’

crooked friends

in the private sector

and on Wall Street

private ‘efficiency’ is a myth

doesn't exist 

never did

just capitalist propaganda 

to keep the rich rich

and those in power

even more powerful

we

the ‘unwashed masses’

can go to hell

where we obviously 

belong

time to ‘kill’

the leviathan 

–LE

Common Sense

What is ‘common sense’ but what benefits the majority, the planet, and all its inhabitabts.

Common Sense

We’re always advised to use it
but not to abuse it
what’s ‘common’ for one of us
not necessarily so for the rest

like everything else in existence
common sense evolves, changes
from one generation to the next,
often unrecognizable decades hence

but for the ruling classes, the
economic elite, the status quo
IS common sense for their
vested interests against the rest of us

everything in the universe is subject
to entropy, all systems mineral, organic
political, economic, including
‘common sense’

since everything is in flux, we
can devise a more nuanced
a more beneficial sense of what
it means to be common sensible

something that uses logic and
intuition and creative thinking
to resolve our mutal personal,
social, and ecological problems

build a healthy, sustainable environment
for all of Mother Earth’s inhabitants
not prioritizing the vested interests
of the demagogues, ‘elites’ in their own minds

–LE

 

Father's Day

I had a visit with my Dad on Father’s Day a few years before his death. This poem is the result of that visit. I wrote it that night when I got back home. So, it’s about 20 years old now.

Father’s Day

Sitting at the kitchen table (Dad’s desk),
I flick the lighter and linger under each of our cigars.

After the lighting puffs, a couple of long drags,
Rolling the heavy smoke, savoring its texture and flavor,
Letting a little roll out of the mouth,
Pulling it up through the nose,
Finally expelling it deep into our silent conversation.

I’m looking into a mirror that reflects the future–
A mathematically probable future…
I consider that probability as we sip coffee–
He, through Parkinson’s shakes.

I once saw him break a pair of pliers with one hand,
Sheared the pivot pin in two–not for show,
Just getting a grip on something that wouldn’t be gripped.
A wave of shakes forces him to save his coffee
By setting it down.

I help him re-light his cigar… another long slow drag
Expelling it into our silent conversation.

We are both fathers. He’s mine.
This is a celebration of that distinction–
But it gives me the opportunity to see my future–
A mathematically probable future.

He has collected uncountable treasures over the years–
“But it’s all worth money, it’s valuable,” –to someone,
Somewhere–maybe…but for all of it, there’s no cash,
No savings–no future.

I consider the collected treasures in my own apartment–
“I’ve hung on to this stuff because I thought I’d enjoy it
When I retired and had time for it; now, it’s too much;
I’m too tired and weak, not interested in it any more.”

Better decide what’s important now–enjoy it now,
Just in case the Future Mirror predicts true.
But then, the future’s in flux.
Nothing is impossible, only mathematically improbable…

Another long slow drag…rolling the heavy smoke,
Savoring its texture and flavor,
Letting a little roll out of the mouth,
Pulling it up through the nose,
Finally expelling it deep into … silence.

–LE

The Primordial Ooze

The Primordial Ooze

the darkness is
growing and I'm old
so what to do
one thing only
fight the growing
dark strike a spark
a match a candle
light a bonfire

spark it
wherever opportunity
presents tinder
make daily choices
that brighten not
darken our
collective
futures

don't be deceived
all actions have
costs impact
ever brighter
futures or breed
dark superstitions
reverse evolution
sliding back into the

primordial ooze

--LE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Early Onset Dementia --LE - Ink (Micron Pens)
on Multimedia Paper 8x8"

SS & Medi-dare

 SS & Medi-dare

SS retired - required - inspired
just plain tired - almost expired
expiration date all up to fate
emancipated  and medicated
perhaps need bruja-ha
or shaman help truer

SS short-shrift - left adrift
SS sucking sound as
austerity abounds - moving
wealth by fiat to leach-class
warehouses for the greed
brokers and their want-a-bees

medicare not really there
less money for private
providers pirate connivers
no vision nor dental -
no meds less parts
C thru Z - extra fees

Where's my bruja?

--LE

 

            VA Parking Lot