WHY THE U.S. WOKE THE SLEEPING CHINESE DRAGON (R U FEELIN' THE BERN)

WHY THE U.S. WOKE THE SLEEPING CHINESE DRAGON

(R U FEELIN' THE BERN)

Ah, the intricate dance of international relations—a ballet of diplomacy, economics, and sometimes, a little bit of chaos. Today, we find ourselves in the midst of a tariff tango with China, a country that was once a slumbering giant, now fully awake and stretching its mighty limbs. But how did we get here? To understand this, we must travel back to 1972, when China was a billion-person third-world country, and the United States was in a bit of a pickle.

Picture this: America in the early '70s, embroiled in the Vietnam War, with political unrest bubbling like an overzealous pot of New England clam chowder. The Rust Belt was living up to its name, with industries rusting away faster than you could say "pollution." Lake Erie was on its way to becoming a solid mass of sludge—a potential bridge to Canada, if you will. And let's not forget the Cuyahoga River, which had a penchant for catching fire more often than your grandma's Christmas pudding.

Enter the oligarchy of the time—those shadowy figures who pull the strings while sipping on fine cognac and chuckling over their Monopoly boards. Faced with high union wages and political unrest that had conservative America clutching its pearls, they hatched a plan: open up China. It was a masterstroke. A billion-person market with cheap labor, abundant resources, and minimal political pushback? It was like finding an extra slice of pizza in the box when you thought you'd finished it all.

And so, with President Richard Nixon at the helm—a man who could charm a snake oil salesman out of his own wares—the U.S. began its courtship with China. This move was a win-win-win for the oligarchy. They could outsource pollution and labor issues while refocusing domestic unrest around law and order and that perennial favorite: drugs. The oligarchy's wet dream was coming true faster than you could say "ping-pong diplomacy."

As time went on, the oligarchy's grip tightened. They showered both Republican and Democrat parties with generous contributions, ensuring that politics became less about public service and more about retail therapy. They changed election laws to create a "pay-to-play" democracy—imagine democracy as a high-stakes poker game where only those with deep pockets get to ante up.

With their newfound power, the oligarchy bought up media outlets faster than you can say "fake news," creating a bi-reality news cycle that offered two flavors of news: vanilla and vanilla with sprinkles. Both flavors, however, ensured that the oligarchy kept control of the reins of power.

But fear not, dear reader, for the story doesn't end here. Across the nation, people are rallying like it's Woodstock '69 all over again. The Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez rallies are drawing crowds big enough to make rock stars envious. Town halls are buzzing with citizens challenging the current insanity—an administration seemingly hell-bent on ignoring the Constitution and trampling on American freedoms like they're grapes in an Italian vineyard.

People power is on the rise, and it's growing faster than a hipster's beard in Brooklyn. Citizens are finding common ground in their shared frustrations and dreams for a better future. It's a peaceful revolution that's gaining momentum—a movement that promises to be as unstoppable as an avalanche (but much more pleasant).

So stay tuned, folks. The tale of the awakened Chinese dragon is far from over. In this grand play of global politics, there are many acts still to come. And who knows? Perhaps this time, the people will write their own script.

TUESDAY IN FOLSOM CA

Where We Go From Here with Bernie Sanders in Folsom

With Special Guest Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Tuesday, April 15 

Doors Open  3:30pm PDT

Speaking Program Starts 6:00pm PDT

Folsom Lake College Athletic Track

10 College Pkwy, Folsom, CA 95630

Please note: no bags, signs, or firearms are allowed. This event will be outdoors. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs and blankets. Free parking available on-site on a first come first serve basis. Street parking is also available within walking distance of the event. Attendees are encouraged to take public transportation (SacRT and El Dorado County Transit bus stop on campus), rideshares, and to carpool. act.berniesanders.com

Please note: this event was originally planned for Auburn, CA

Big Education Ape: WELCOME TO THE HOTEL CECOT https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/04/welcome-to-hotel-cecot.html 

WELCOME TO THE HOTEL CECOT

 

WELCOME TO THE HOTEL CECOT

You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave

The Trump administration—a political era that was less a government and more a reality TV show, complete with plot twists, cliffhangers, and a cast of characters that would make Shakespeare proud. Among its many escapades was its peculiar dalliance with El Salvador's CECOT prison, a facility that seems to have been inspired by Dante's Inferno rather than any modern penal reform. So, let's embark on a journey through this bureaucratic Bermuda Triangle, where due process and human rights are as elusive as a Wi-Fi signal in the middle of the desert.

Imagine if you will, a place reminiscent of the Eagles' "Hotel California," except instead of a rock band, we have a rock-headed administration. The CECOT prison is not just a building; it's an experience—a Kafkaesque labyrinth where the rule of law goes to die. It's as if someone took the concept of "due process" and decided it was more of a suggestion than a requirement. In this dystopian paradise, you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave—unless, of course, you manage to navigate the paperwork maze faster than an Olympic sprinter.

Now, let's talk about the architectural marvel that is CECOT prison. Picture this: mirrors on the ceiling, pink champagne on ice—oh wait, that's the wrong metaphor. Here, it's more like steel bars and concrete walls with a side of existential dread. It's a place where you're not just a prisoner; you're part of an avant-garde art installation titled "The Death of Due Process." The Trump administration seemed to have taken inspiration from this setting, deciding that rights were more of an optional accessory than a fundamental necessity.

But why El Salvador, you ask? Well, it appears that the administration had a fondness for outsourcing its problems. Why deal with pesky legalities stateside when you can ship them off to a foreign land that treats human rights like an expired coupon? It's the ultimate in bureaucratic efficiency—out of sight, out of mind. Plus, it adds an exotic flair to the proceedings. Because nothing says "American exceptionalism" like denying rights in a country that's not even yours.

The CECOT prison became the administration's answer to every legal conundrum. Need to bypass due process? Send them to El Salvador! Want to avoid pesky legal scrutiny? Off to CECOT they go! It's like playing Monopoly but with real people and real consequences—except instead of "Go to Jail," it's more like "Go to CECOT."

And let's not forget the delightful irony of it all. The Trump administration, which often touted its love for freedom and liberty, seemed to have missed the memo on what those words actually mean. It's as if they were playing a game of opposites: freedom means incarceration without trial, liberty means denying basic human rights. It's almost poetic in its absurdity—like watching a Shakespearean tragedy performed by clowns.

In conclusion, the Trump administration's use of El Salvador's CECOT prison was less about justice and more about convenience. It was an exercise in bureaucratic gymnastics, where the rule of law was twisted into shapes that defied logic and reason. So next time you hear someone wax poetic about American ideals, remember that there was a time when those ideals were shipped off to a foreign prison, wrapped in red tape and sealed with a stamp of denial.

WELCOME TO THE HOTEL CECOT

A PARODY OF THE EAGLES' HOTEL CALIFORNIA

Welcome to the Hotel CECOT—such a lovely place, such a lovely face. You can check out any time you like, but due process? That's another story.

On a dark prison highway, cool wind in my hair  

Warm scent of tortillas rising up through the air  

Up ahead in the distance, I saw a flickering light  

My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim, I had to stop for the night  

There he stood in the doorway, I heard the clanking bell  

And I was thinking to myself, "This could be heaven or this could be a cell"  

Then he lit up a flashlight and he showed me the way  

There were voices down the corridor, I thought I heard them say  

"Welcome to the Hotel Cecot  

Such a crowded place (such a crowded place)  

Such a crowded space  

Plenty of room at the Hotel Cecot  

Any time of year (any time of year)  

You can find it here"  

His mind is prison-twisted, he's got the handcuffs tight  

He’s got a lot of rowdy, rowdy friends that stay up all night  

How they shuffle in the courtyard, sweet summer heat  

Some shuffle to remember, some shuffle to defeat  

So I called up the Warden, "Please bring me my phone"  

He said, "We haven't had that privilege here since 2001"  

And still, those voices are calling from far away  

Wake you up in the middle of the night just to hear them say  

"Welcome to the Hotel Cecot  

Such a crowded place (such a crowded place)  

Such a crowded space  

They're living it up at the Hotel Cecot  

What a nice surprise (what a nice surprise)  

Bring your alibis"  

Mirrors on the ceiling, the beans and rice on ice  

And he said, "We are all just inmates here of our own device"  

And in the guard's chambers, they gathered for the feast  

They stab it with their plastic forks, but they just can't eat the beast  

Last thing I remember, I was running for the gate  

I had to find the passage back to the place I was before  

"Relax," said the night guard, "We are programmed to receive  

You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave"