[Posted May 6, 2008]

Promises, Promises

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

"I'll say anything - just tell me what you want to hear"

Politico May 5, 2008 -

Clinton: OPEC 'can no longer be a cartel'

"We're going to go right at OPEC," she said. "They can no longer be a cartel, a monopoly that get together once every couple of months in some conference room in some plush place in the world, they decide how much oil they're going to produce and what price they're going to put it at," she told a crowd at a firehouse in Merrillville, IN.

"That's not a market. That's a monopoly," she said, saying she'd use anti-trust law and the World Trade Organization to take on OPEC.

Clinton has cast herself as a warrior for working people against the oil industry and malicious "speculators," and made that -- along with her push for a gas tax holiday -- central to her closing message in Indiana. go to story

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Breaking OPEC or the DNC?

Democratic Ways A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Every demon is vainly proud, thinking no one is more intelligent and esteemed than himself. Therefore the overpowering desires that urge him on to perform various activities are, according to him, ultimately beneficial for human society. In the end, of course, it is inevitably revealed that all his aspirations were illusory and unrealistic. Yet despite this revelation, the demons continue to influence the populace through manipulations and lies. more

The politicians cannot save us

excerpt from lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.26-27, Philadelphia, July 12, 1975

We do not know what is our self-interest. And we are hoping against hope, "I shall be happy in this way. I shall be happy in this way." Therefore this word is used, mudha. They do not know what is actually his happiness, and he is trying one chapter, another, one chapter, another, "Now I will be happy." The ass. The ass. Sometimes the washerman sits on his back and takes a bunch of grass and puts in front of the ass, and the ass wants to take the grass. But as he moving forward, the grass is also moving forward. [laughter] And he thinks, "Just one step forward, I shall get the grass." But because he is ass, he does not know that "The grass is situated in such a way that I may go on for millions of years; still, I will not get the happiness." This is ass. He does not come to his senses that "For millions and trillions of years I may try to be happy in this material world. I will never be happy."

Therefore we have to take the knowledge from the guru who knows things. Therefore guru is worshiped,

ajñana-timirandhasya
jñanañjana-shalakaya
chakshur unmilitam yena
tasmai shri-gurave namah

The politician or, what is called, leaders, andha, they will promise you that "You will be happy in this way. You give me vote, and I shall bring heaven for you, and let me become minister. That is... You simply wait, and as soon as I become a minister and president, I will give you such and such benefit." So you select Mr. Nixon, and again you become disappointed. Then we request, "Mr. Nixon, you get out." And we accept another fool. This is going on. This is going... But shastra says you will not be getting right information in that way. These foolish men, they will promise you something, and he is unable to make you happy. You will be again disappointed, again regret.

Then what is..., wherefrom I shall get the right information? That Vedas say, tad-vijñanartham sa gurum eva abhigacchet: [Mundaka Upanishad 1.2.12] "If you want right information, then go to the guru."

Sri Guru and Gauranga