Anti-Capitalist Uprising Imminent?

[Joanne98]

Could the uprising in Greece spread to your neighborhood?



A riot policeman is immersed in fire from a thrown molotov cocktail after a demonstration in central Athens on December 12, 2008. (Kostas Tsironis/AFP/Getty Images)

The pictures are astonishing: thousands of protesters in Greece have taken to the streets, rioting for days in response to the murder off 15-year-old Alexander Grigoropoulos who was killed by a Greek police officer.

But beyond the startling images of molotov cocktails exploding, cars burning and occupations of live television broadcasts there is another story, even more surprising: the rioters are acting with the implicit support of the majority of Greek society. According to the AFP, a poll conducted in Greece found that a majority of people believe the rioters are part of a “popular uprising” and not simply group of “minority activists”. That, it appears, is the truth the corporate media would like to hide.

What is going on in Greece could very well be the first hints of a coming global popular uprising. All it took in Greece was a spark to ignite the generalized dissatisfaction of the larger society. And now, the uncontrollable flames are spreading. What we are seeing is not disorganized chaos, but the intentional response of youthful spirits rebelling against the empty promises of a staid society based upon one goal: consuming more than your neighbor.

Could the same thing happen on your street? What would it take to ignite all those dissatisfied by the unfulfilled, and unfulfillable, promises of capitalism and hyper-consumerism?

Some of the most powerful imagery to come out of Greece is available at the Boston Globe website. Take a look at these pictures, and let us know your thoughts.

http://www.adbusters.org/blogs/rethink_capitalism_blog/popular_uprising_imminent.html

[Pale Blue Dot]

1. I think this will get very ugly, very quickly.

I can feel it in my everyday interactions with people. I think we can all feel it here on DU. People are going to start looking for scapegoats, and human history indicates that we won't place the blame rationally.

[acmavm]

2. You think? Most of the people I know are either doing very well or they're

doing fine, whining and pissing and moaning. But then again, most of the people I know would tell you immediately that this government doesn't give a shit about the citizens and they won't listen to any of us.

Always remember, we have US Marines stationed on Amurikan soil to keep us in line. And a weapons that can microwave your ass from 50 feet.

[HillbillyBob]

3. It is a shame that we have to be afraid of our government that has been

usurped by corpses......
They may be able to microwave a few people, but if enough people storm the corporate fortress that is Washington. I doubt anything short of a nuke would stop it.
Nuking the poplar movement would bring much condemnation and even more angry and violent retaliaion.
Aready the rpigs try to blame immigration and the rabid religious (a la jerry foolwell and pat robberson) try to blame moral decay on us queers, all the while corporates fight a war in the mideast for their oil company masters.....I know that is only a short slight bit.
Seems like they are looking for the return of feudalism, serfdom, and downright slavery for the formerly middle class that produce the products that made the US such a power house economy.
How many times have you (as in anyone here) been outsourced and what was the impact on your lives?
My partner was outsourced several times since the 80s. I have been too. I have been fired several times because I am gay, but I have also been laid off because the company was bought and the jobs sent somewhere else , both domestic moves to another state a few out of the country.
Even if you know it is not your fault your ego really takes it in the a**.

[Fearless]

4. FEAR FEAR FEAR!

That's all I have to say.

[Fearless]

5. Oh and this...

There is nothing inherently WRONG with either capitalism or communism (in any of its versions). One puts the responsibility of accountability on the masses. The other puts accountability in the hands of the government. BOTH are corruptible and have been corrupted in the past. In fact, I'd say based on any number of examples, and since SOMEONE is still running accountability, that each is EQUALLY corrupt. That's why most of the countries who wanted a change, rose up, and installed communist leadership during the Cold War were just as unsuccessful as their predecessors and successors. There was corruption and a lack of strong accountability in each group because human greed is still a part of the equation.

NTF

[Joe Chi Minh]

9. Trouble is, in the West, greed and corruption were/are hallowed as the ultimate

expression of social responsiblity/Christian virtue! Even enshrined in a putative philosophy! Big difference from Communism, which always preferred a fig-leaf.

[Fearless]

10. You talk about communist theory, but in practice it is the same in those regards as captialism.

[Joe Chi Minh]

27. But they always kept a fig-leaf. They were never as stupid and corrupt as

the likes of Pinochet and the sponsors of the School of the Americas.

[Fearless]

28. I doubt that there is a quantitative comparison between any leaders based on corruption

Too bad too. We need one.

[Joe Chi Minh]

32. But we do have in terms of the sexual depravity of their regimes,.

both at the highest levels and in the general population. That's as reliable an indicator of generalised depravity as any.

[Joe the Liberal]

6. I doubt that will happen here in the US........

I just don't see it happening.

[bemildred]

7. Riots and insurrections are as American as cherry pie.

It's already happened many times. Not that I don't hope you are correct, but I don't think it's the way to bet.

[Waiting For Everyman]

14. I remember every major city burning and martial law.

Yes, it has already happened here, and will probably happen again if this isn't fixed and soon. It's never foreseeable what will set it off, but when conditions are this bad something is bound to sooner or later.

I remember neverending convoys of Army vehicles up and down the Interstates. I remember armed National Guard troops on most street corners in the city. Even tanks on the streets of D.C. (They can come up from underground there in no time.) I remember curfews.

Communications went out after the JFK assassination. All of the unthinkable things have already happened. It's just that those facts are taken lightly by people who didn't see them.

[bemildred]

18. And that was not the first time, either.

Jackson Browne rocks.
:hi:

[Waiting For Everyman]

22. Very true.

:hi:

[Joe the Liberal]

20. I still don't see it happening here.......

The police here have become far to militarized and I just don't think Americans care, they will roll over and take whatever injustice comes their way. On top of that people here have too much too lose and only start caring when something directly affects their lives. I could be wrong but the way I see it is that this won't happen here in America until the situation gets 1 million times worse. Things like rioting, revolt and insurrection are a thing of the past here in the US, not enough people give a shit anymore to actually do anything. All we are left with is organized protest which really doesn't do anything that has an impact in this day and age.

[bemildred]

21. Americans own lots of guns.

And they have a strong sense of entitlement. Americans were pretty much fat, dumb, and happy in the 50s too, but it did not carry over into the 60s. But don't let me upset you, you can believe what you like.

[Waiting For Everyman]

23. Some here are still comfortable, but many more are not.

I doubt that the Greeks who were comfortable saw it coming either.

[grasswire]

25. you forgot about hunger

Hunger is the big motivator.

[StudsT]

8. It is already spreading in Europe... if Obama doesn't make all the right moves, it will

'Greek Syndrome' is catching as youth take to streets

First it was Athens. Now the Continent's disillusioned youth is taking to the streets across Europe. John Lichfield reports

Saturday, 20 December 2008

...

The Greek, French and Swedish protests do have common characteristics: a contempt for governments and business institutions, deepened by the greed-fired meltdown of the banks; a loose, uneasy alliance between mostly, white left-wing students and young second-generation immigrants; the sense of being part of a "sacrificed generation".

source...
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/greek-syndrome-is-catching-as-youth-take-to-streets-1205001.html

StudsT

[Fearless]

11. Are we THAT afraid of a riot?

WE RIOTED in the past. It didn't end capitalism. It got things like workers rights.

[StudsT]

12. i believe the feds are much more afraid...

it will come to that when fed aid runs out next year, bet.

StudsT

[Fearless]

13. Well let's hope the Obama's first budget takes education into account.

After all we can't have that "army of teachers" or 1.5 (and now 3) million green jobs without schools to educate them. I'm not a fan of rioting. It tends that it's effects hurt the poor more than the rich who can more easily rebuild. Maybe a civil riot would be helpful, but I doubt it would get the point across. Sigh. I hate people.

[Waiting For Everyman]

15. Let's hope his first budget takes the survival of the lowest rung into account.

Many millions are hanging by a thread right now. 13 million people here are paid minimum wage, and those that haven't gone under already, are about to. Add them to the current homeless, and I think there's a problem.

And education programs won't do squat about that right now. It's survival. Cut and dried.

My worry is that Obama doesn't realize how bad it is, fully enough. I hope so.

[Fearless]

16. Agreed.

[StudsT]

17. i believe nothing short of 10 trillion dollars is needed to prevent depression

that would help get that army of teachers and hopefully an army of other american workers :bounce:

(my bro is a public HS teacher and I know he and his co-workers would greatly appreciate it)

:hi:

StudsT

[Fearless]

19. One thing I know for sure...

There's nothing this country wants/needs more now than an army of good jobs.

[Daveparts]

24. In Pictures

http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/fotostrecke-38168.html

[Fire1]

26. A riot is not eminent. If that were the case, it would have been done, already.

[Number_Six]

29. Is this the French Revolution, Part Deux?

And how similar?

The reformers _begged_ the aristocracy and the churches: "Please, you must help out! You must pay your share!"

They laughed.

Eventually, the middle class and the poor decided...enough was enough.

Louis and his pals discovered the first, true meaning of the word "topless".

Not pretty, no. But if history teaches and well, it may be around the corner...again.

We just don't learn, do we?

[leftofthedial]

30. we can hope

[southernyankeebelle]

31. Sad day in America

Well I dunno if it will get that bad. But remember the 60's when the young people in america tried to do the right thing and were called all kinds of names. This country goes in depression you will see great displeasure. Obama didn't make this mess but I don't know how long the country will wait for some improvement. All I know is people are tired of being taken advantage of by big corporations and wall street and living middle america and the working poor out on he streets. Enough is enough I just don't know how long people will wait. The first thing Obama needs to get in control will be the economy and health care. If you can fix health care than that will help businesses and main street. Than the housing issues must be addressed. People shouldn't be losing their homes. God help Obama. We all should hope the best for Obama because he will need it. The republican who didn't vote for him are licking at their chops for him to fail. Never mind that the republicans put us here. So fellow americans pray everyday Obama will help the america and in turn he will help americas standing in the world.