French protests over Public Policy make us look like sheep.

[JanMichael]

They take to the streets to defend their jobs and their fellow citizens jobs. We watch "Who Wants to Blow a Millionaire" or "Southfart".

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=574&ncid=574&e=1&u=/nm/20050120/wl_nm/france_protests_dc

We're bleeding decent jobs all over this country yet...

Wait, I screwed up here, we're not only taking a beating economically we're also in a fucking Imperialist War and heading off the cliff to Fascism.

And yet...

[kostya]

1. Yes, it's true, and unfortunately I don't have any cognitive dissonance

over it! Sad. - K

[Shakespeare]

2. Unfortunately, we ARE sheep. The Ukraine protests really drove that home.

We get the government we deserve, and until we decide to take a stand, that old maxim is pretty much true.

[Vidar]

3. The French had five real revolutions and are justly proud of it.

Americans only trot out our revolution to get drunk on the 4th.

[DivinBreuvage]

21. Yes, because the French kept putting kings and dictators back in power

Plenty of French people hated republicanism (in the sense of government by elected representatives rather than by the divine right of kings). Plenty of French people still admire Napoleon. Plenty of French people were fascists in the 1930s and collaborators in the 1940s. So many French people voted for Jacques Chirac that he won the last election.

On the other hand, plenty of Americans turn out to protest and make themselves heard... just look right here on DU. Fully half the electorate voted AGAINST George Bush in 2004 and 2000, and America chose a Democrat in the two previous terms, even sending the clear message that they didn't buy the Monica and impeachment garbage.

Our two countries are actually a lot more alike, for both good and bad, than either Francophiles or Francophobes care to admit.

[mongo]

4. The progressive movement lacks a leader

If only there was a ML King to excite us, speak truth to power (which Kerry never really did during his campaign), maybe we can get people into the streets.

[katinmn]

7. I've thought the same thing. Someone is going to emerge soon

It's just a matter of time.

[JanMichael]

8. And the French Liberal Leader (Daddy's) name is????

What?

The French aren't as stupid as we are; they understand things like job security, universal healthcare.

Who exactly are you waiting for?

A leader?

Fuck that.

[katinmn]

9. ok. were you out protesting today?

[JanMichael]

10. What's that got to do with anything?

Aggregate sweetie, aggregate. Single events are nice to wax poetic about but still single events.

The point is about wanting a super "Leader", a Jesus figure, to come down and save us. That's sad. The question was also to point out that there is no Lafeyette leading these current French protests.

It's the People. Not the Guy, or Gal.

[katinmn]

15. Everything, sweetie

What's it gonna take to get YOU off the couch?

I have been out on the streets with signs. I'm not looking for a "Jesus" figure, but someone to inspire all those who are holding back.

[JanMichael]

16. Let's see: DC (2x), Tampa, Sarasota, WPB...

I've been "Off the couch" with signs time and time again.

Go ahead, wait for your savior, it's up to the PEOPLE.

"Leaders" are indeed needed but as I can see you aren't grasping that there's more to it than that.

[katinmn]

17. *I'm* not waiting. But millions are. That's a fact. It will take someone

to inspire them.

We both want the same thing, I think. Get rid of * or at minimum disable him from doing more damage.

Someone on this thread suggested we need a leader to inspire those people who aren't yet informed or don't care enough to say anything. I agree. You don't.

But if you look at successful movements of the past, there was always a leader who motivated people.

As I said, I'm not waiting for motivation. I'm already motivated, as are you.

But we need to find ways of expanding our numbers.

[JanMichael]

19. Ok, we're on the same "team".

But I have to disagree with "*I'm* not waiting. But millions are". It's an correct statement imo.

YOU are, I am, and perhaps a few million other "fellow travellers" are, but the masses of people that get the boot instead of the hand are in a perpetual state of ambiguity.

A century of well planned propoganda, and mind-numbing intellectual/popular culture, has (Intentionally) immobilized the masses.

I'm almost afraid of a single voice raising them. What on earth would be the result? Another cult of personality? A negative one? Raise them to what?

I guess I'm more of a "party" or "organic/democratic movement" type.

That's ok though.

Atill the same team. We just need to vet the "leaders" with a fine toothed comb:-)

[katinmn]

20. I'm glad to be on the same team as you

Perhaps, in my desperation to find the one thing that will wake up and mobilize our fellow citizens, I have fallen back on the same tactics that have actually worked against us (rallying around a leader and a cause).

In the light of a new day I realize that we do have leaders out there already, should people choose to follow. Wesley Clark publicly called for impeachment on 1-20. We have Jesse Jackson and countless others who have been fighting for justice for decades.

I think there are more of "us" than we can fully comprehend. We are just the first major wave. We are finding our way and learning how to be effective.

I think we are on the same page.

:)

[shawcomm]

11. You just exhibited the basic problmem we have...

waiting for a leader to tell us what to do. Fuck that. Just do it.

But you can't. That's the real problem. People here in the bad ol' us of a are fucking good for nothing sheep anymore.

Fuck...

[beam me up scottie]

5. I remember getting a lump in my throat watching the

Europeans ratify their new Constitution, while our "selected" officials used ours as toilet paper.

[JanMichael]

6. Kick

nt

[enki23]

12. i want to be in a *real* fucking protest

all in black. no fucking clowns. nobody dressed up like the cast of "the wizard of oz." no cutesy cheerleaders. no jokes on flopping cardboard signs. no signs at all. just a crowd, all in black. i know you couldn't keep all the idiots away, and i know you couldn't get the numbers you can by bringing *everyone* to the table. but for one day, just one damned day, let it not be about mumia. not about cuba. not about "meat is murder." not about fur. not about haiti, or about tibet. not about anarchism, or socialism, or ideological fucking purity. and not about falun fucking gong.

not about peace. not about love. not about rainbows. not about women. and not about the god damned children.

this should be one crowd, with one voice, and one agenda. the end of this fucking "president" and everything he represents. every fat capitalist bastard who bought him, every fat fucking sheep who follows him. this should be about hate of these swine. hate for their idols, and for their trophies. and it should be about fear. let these assholes go to bed at night afraid the morlocks just might creep up and eat them. let them fear *us* again. they'll just buy us off, as they've always done. and we'll go right along with it. but in the meantime, let them be afraid. only, the dancing dorothies aren't going to do it. the peace and the love aren't going to do it. the weed isn't going to do it either. just one crowd, each as indistinguishable from the next as possible. leave your goddamned individuality at home for a day. you can fucking fingerpaint later. just one people, with one voice, telling these motherfuckers we're still here, and we can still get angry.

[NervousRex]

18. Well said, enki23!!!!

and no fucking permits or "freedom zones" either. When you are protesting the government, why the hell do you have to ask their permission as to how, when and why?

[KG]

13. thanks for posting this, bro.

kind makes the 'not one damn dime' thing look pretty lame.

a national strike - now that would be a meaningful gesture...

[JanMichael]

14. Yep. It sure as shit would be something.

How's St. Pete?