So when is what passes for the "Left" in the U.S...

[RBHam]

going to do something about this?

This should make swallowing all those cuts to social programs seem like a worthy sacrifice...

Eh, what?

Halliburton could get $1.5bn more Iraq work
Awashinshittington

Halliburton, under scrutiny for its contracts in Iraq, would receive an extra $1.5 billion as part of the Bush administration's additional war spending proposal for fiscal 2005, a senior US Army budget official said.

http://www.tradearabia.com/tanews/newsdetails.asp?Article=83037

[imenja]

1. what do you suggest we do?

[RBHam]

3. Revolution.

You have to save the world from your madmen.

ps. I'm Canadian. What are we gonna do? Send our tank? The best we can do is offer amnesty, but I have a feeling that the Anschluss is coming soon...

[imenja]

4. so basically you have nothing to suggest

But instead want to sit back and blame the rest of us. Thanks. Why don't you do something about it? Given the fact you're Canadian, you have just about as much power as the Democrats in congress do right now.

[RBHam]

5. Imagine you are a German Social democrat in 1930's...

When will it be too late? We're like Austria was back then - just as crewed if we piss off the Fuhrer!

Save us!

Only the people of America can save us from the Bush Crime Syndicate.

You have the power if you decide to use it.

If they take away your freedom, ours is next.

[imenja]

6. true, but our power is through the ballot box

and the next election is in 2006. The idea of a revolution in the US shows a lack of understanding of the social and economic circumstances that have given rise to revolutions throughout history.

And as a Canadian, your life is no way compromised by sweetheart deals to Halliburton. That is a crime committed against the American tax payers.

[neweurope]

7. Your power is through the ballot box? You still think so? Dream on...

----------------------------

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[imenja]

8. so basically you are saying we can't do anything

and it's pointless to try? If you believe that, those in power have got you entirely under their control. That kind of attitude serves only them.

[neweurope]

9. If I thought so I'd be hiding under my bed and crying my heart out

instead of being on this board :)

I just think that they are going to steal all elections from now on. Hoping that elections are going to change anything only gives the Bushistas more time. You have to think of other means. The propaganda machine would be the first thing on my agenda.

----------------------

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[imenja]

11. it's up to us to make sure they don't accomplish that

assuming it's preordained doesn't help.

[neweurope]

12. I don't assume it's preordained. I assume that without getting the media

back that's the way it will be. The emperor Will only be naked if it's in the papers.

Getting some other politicians might help, too... And I mean Democrats.

Whether you agree that the Bushistas are fascists or not you surely agree that a lot of people are worried about this possibility. Almost everybody here mourns the loss of civil rights etc. etc. Practically everything that the "democratic West" has been scolding third world countries for is happening in the US right now. And STILL I don't see Democrats just leaving Congress/Senate in protest, still I don't see them giving interviews to the foreign press, still I see them VOTING for the Bushista's agenda.

And that's why nobody believes that anything is wrong in the US. When I tell people about PATRIOT and PNAC and HR 418 and stolen elections they do not believe me. And why should they? Kerry didn't mumble one syllable about stolen elections, Democrats and Republicans vote overwhelmingly for the new laws. I don't know if they're bought off or bribed or plain dumb - it really doesn't make a difference. You have a one party system. And it's almost impossible to change this unless you change the whole election process. Which will not happen as long as the Bushistas are in power because they profit most by it.

So the only chance I see is reserve your strength and concentrate on the media. Without them nothing you might do will make any impact whatsoever.

-----------------------

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[imenja]

13. I disagree that no one believes anything is wrong in the US

Most Americans, including those who inexplicably voted for Bush, realize things are very wrong. (See below*.) People differ on what they identify those problems to be.

I agree with you that the media is crucial. One advantage of the internet and bloggers in particular is that it provides us with a forum for having our voices heard. Blogs are starting to have an impact. I would like to see a real liberal cable news network started. I have heard various reports that Al Gore is launching one, but I don't know the status of it. That is something rich Democrats like Soros, Teresa Heinz, or the Hollywood crowd could fund. And if they don't, we could organize a people's news network. The problem, of course, in addition to financing, is getting the cable companies to carry the channel.

I also agree that changing the election process is key. Many of us are working on that and there is legislation pending in congress to reform HAVA. Campaign finance is a tremendous problem. I believe the only way to get rid of our current cleptocracy is public financing.

I strongly object to statements that suggest we are powerless and can do nothing. They often act as an excuse for people not to get involved. I'm reminded of something a college professor of mine said many years ago when I was about 19. The greatest achievement of capitalism and the forces that dominate our nation has been to convince the American people that we can't have an impact. Our political system does allow us to effect change. Apathy is our greatest obstacle in doing so.

________________

*Check out this collection of polls asking if the country is on the right or wrong track. http://www.pollingreport.com/right.htm
Here are some of the results from recent months:

2/16-21/05 38 56 6
1/5-9/05 40 54 6
12/1-16/04 39 54 7
10/15-19/04 36 58 6
7/8-18/04 38 55 7

The first column is dates, second right track, third wrong track, and forth is "unsure." The most recent poll indicates that 56% of those sampled by the Pew Research Center believe the country is on the wrong track. Only 38% believe it to be on the right track.

[neweurope]

15. I like the numbers you posted :) Looks good! But

I had meant "over here in Europe". I'm German. And no - I didn't mean to suggest that you were powerless. I do think though that the next elections will be even more rigged than the last ones. Unless you get the media on your side - in this, we agree.

Yes, the blogs are extremely important. I'm absolutely dumb when it comes to computers. But I do know that the Bushistas have stated in PNAC that they want to control the internet. That scares me no end.

------------------

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[Deja Q]

19. The malcontents are merely waiting for a figurehead. One that can

unite them all in their common cause and stride forward in dignity in order to topple one evil, to unwittingly install another.

In other words, do nothing. Sounds like the better of the two choices.

I don't know. Again, apathy, thy name is HypnoToad.

[imenja]

24. apathy is what makes injustice possible

Without apathy, we wouldn't have a war in Iraq, a patriot act, or other unjust policies. To give up and do nothing is in effect the same as actively supporting the Bush administration and the corporate capitalist system. It is they who benefit from our apathy.

[GreenArrow]

26. conversely

injustice, repeated and systemic, breeds apathy.

[0rganism]

17. How can we vote out what we didn't vote for in the first place?

Sad as it may be, 2004 showed me that things are going to get a lot uglier before they turn around. The people who blindly support the fascists will have to be genuinely displeased with what they see from their representation before we get any change.

[imenja]

21. work

It requires more than voting. It required putting in time volunteering and organizing for progressive Democrats. Republicans work harder than we do. They are better organized. That is a major reason why they win. Democratic voters need to display the same level of enthusiasm and discipline that Republicans do, more in fact.

[bpilgrim]

16. Thank GORE he 'INVENTED' the INTERNET's!

because we are having a MEDIA REVOLUTION and that is just what the doc ordered :bounce:

peace

[bin.dare]

10. begin by reading CounterPunch everyday ...

... and then read:

Phase One Against Empire: A Period for Pedagogy
By STAN GOFF
January 1 / 2, 2005

But as a leftist, and not merely an anti-war veteran, and as one who decries the political stasis of Democrat-dependency, I am also interested in how to break out of policy-focus inertia and get back to the struggle, first, for the hegemony of socialist (yes, that's the word I used) ideas, and then the direct struggle for political power, beginning with a campaign to bring down the Democratic Party from the left.

(lots more)
http://www.counterpunch.org/goff01012005.html

[Bluebear]

2. Wheeeeeeeee! MORE money for Halliburton!

[bpilgrim]

14. the only thing we can do is to keep spreading the word

from our our daily acquaintances to our reps and let them know that we are keeping score.

thanks for sharing :toast:

peace

[sweetheart]

18. Preparing to evacuate

Everyone i know on the american left is leaving the country, or has
left already. The momentum for a stupendous collapse is in place and
why interfere... just get thy ass to a safe haven and let nature fix
what no politics can sort out.

It's the john gault solution, granted, but one that works.

[Deja Q]

20. And those of us who can't leave are left to slowly rot?

:-(

In other words, no Leftie worth his values would leave out of selfishness.

[sweetheart]

23. The people who didn't run were killed in the tsunami

Its not an issue of selfishness... rather survival.

My mates stateside are either dead from freak accidents, dying of
cancers or planning to leave.... one way or another. Surely people
will vote against the nazi's... but what else is to be done?

:-(

[KG]

22. the 'left' has been mariginalized and hold no sway in the dem party.

the 'centrists' sell-out run the dem party, and they've decided to concentrate on 'winning' elections, even if it means becoming republicans, and being correct on important social issues be damned.

dont expect help from the dem party leadership on important social issues, and you won't be disappointed.

[Telly Savalas]

25. Halliburton is a winning issue for both centrists and leftists

in the party. Being in the minority, there isn't much Democrats can do to put an immediate stop to this sort of corruption, but bringing the public's attention to it can only make the GOP look bad. It's disappointing that the party isn't doing more to put this issue on the front-burner, but ideology on social issues has nothing to do with it.