Here is a political reality

[nadinbrzezinski]

under the CURRENT political reality Washington does not have to listen to the people. Why? The American People have forgotten that change does not come from the power elites. These power elites are the parties, Wall Street, and other power brokers. Political elites, not just in the United States, but everywhere in the world know that a people that does not act outside this scheme of things, is pliable.

This is where MOVEMENT politics comes in. You want change? I mean REAL change? forget the party and start building a movement. This movement needs to be willing to work OUTSIDE the political establishment and to do things that will put direct pressure. This is where strikes (which have been discredited through years of very effective propaganda) come into place. Also seat ins, teach ins, alternate media and other means of agitation. But until people here realize that calling your members of congress, while important, is not the end of it... they will continue to do what they want because you are essentially compliant. I mean... they know that you WILL vote for them. They rightfully so expect it. And the reality is if I and ten of my neighbors decide to stay home or vote green it will not change a damn thing. Now 100,000 of my neighbors will have an effect, but ten of us, not really. They can continue to ignore us until the cows come home, especially in VERY SAFE SEATS.

So time for people to start realizing that the Party will not save you, and hope is just an empty promise until YOU decide to work OUTSIDE the acceptable boundaries established by the elites. I realize that I am dreaming, as most Americans these days really have no clue what I am talking about, or even understand the damn terms I just used. So the work starts at the most basic of levels, and that is education.

Nadin

PS: For you thinking this is a Marxist analysis, it is not. It is very basic political science... but I know to some talking of class or power elites is marxist. Well class might be, but power elites is not. But that is where other aspects of propaganda or US education (or lack off when it comes to basic politics) comes in.

[treestar]

1. Don't we take "listening to the people" to mean just us

the progressives or whatever. It's all very lofty, but "listening to the people" includes teabaggers. For all that, they could be listening to the people. it's just that we aren't all the people.

Most of us attribute our personal desires to what "the people" want.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. They are not listening to the tea baggers either

though that may still byte them in the ass since it is tapping to a deep anger. The tea baggers were organized by those same power elites. Freedom Works is a PAC.

[treestar]

3. that's true, the teabaggers don't want anything at all

And if asked, would rather repeal Medicare and Medicaid. Though I haven't heard them calling Bush a "failure" for not getting it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. No, the people who organized them want something

and that is to repeal reform. The rank and file, except for the 25 to 35% worst case that you could never reach even if you tried, want real change. But their anger is not directed in a proper way. That is where the sit ins come in, as well as education.

[lib_wit_it]

14. If the teabaggers are agitating for what the power elite already want and can get without the people

then why did Freedom Works, etc., feel the need to get the teabaggers out there? Seems to me the teabaggers are being listened to--the MSM treats them as legitimate and congressional action seems to be drowning progressives in a giant scalding teacup.

[kctim]

11. BINGO!

Brilliant way to put it and so VERY correct.

[autorank]

5. The Party will not save us k*r

unless we take it over. Much easier than a 3rd party, imho.

Great point. Not Marxist, it's democratic analysis. "The people" are what its all about.

:hi:

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. And I am afraid the people will not do either.

and as long as the people remain docile... the change will not come.

:hi: back at you.

[autorank]

13. Mira, por favor;)

The people are restive, it's just not allowed on tubnet and major media kitty litter liner.
They're wondering about hitting the streets.
They'd buy off any leader we had but we don't need one.
Millions in the streets at the Latino May Day Demonstrations 2006.
Scared the be you know what out of them.
Do that and sustain it, leaderless, dispersed, highly orderly and...
their heads will explode, literally.

[raccoon]

7. K&R! nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Thanks

:hi:

[Odin2005]

9. K&R

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. Thanks

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. I wonder how many of the people posting on DU

believe they are members of the power elites?

I doubt any of our DLC friendlies are actual members of the power elites, but I've got to wonder...

:-)

[JNelson6563]

15. Let me guess: Many believe so.

I remember a poll from some years ago, perhaps the early years of Little Boots' admin, it reported that about 20% of people considered themselves in the top 1% (financially speaking).

One thing humans can be depended on pretty consistently is a puffed up self-image.

Great OP Nadine. :toast:

Julie