Help Me Out Here

[The Old Creak]

I recently read the article linked below, in which the author states that we have witnessed a coup in slow motion over the last couple of decades. The war is over, we lost, they won. We must reconsider our strategies and perhaps settle for small acts of almost imperceptible defiance. It rang true to me, especially in light of the ruling about unfettered corporate political contributions. Have the bastards really won?:grr:

http://www.alternet.org/media/146005/we_stand_on_the_cusp_of_one_of_humanity%27s_most_dangerous_moments/

[kentuck]

1. Are you now or have you ever been a member....?

...of the Communist Party? :-) Why do you hate America?

[jotsy]

2. A writer named David Cay Johnston wrote a series of articles in June of '05.

For me, the meat of the matter was about how the 'hyper' rich had satisfied themselves that they had sucked the bottom and the middle dry and, as of then, were setting their sights on the 'merely' rich. I've had no doubt since then that the class war was lost before we ever knew the battle was on.

Welcome to DU.

[Jim__]

3. Hedges is predicting the collapse of civilization.

That's not a victory for anyone; and we have to hope he's wrong. I think he's right about a lot of it; but, the lights may not necessarily go out. Our future may only be somewhat dimer than we want it to be. If civilization does collapse, I don't believe that settlements on the fringes, the kind he is recommending we build, will be spared.

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. "Have the bastards really won?"

Well, let's see now.

Is your retirement secure?
Is your income/job secure?
Can you afford to get sick or pay for needed medical attention?
Is the Bill of Rights still enforced?
Are laws equally enforced against big guys as well as little guys?
Are taxes distributed fairly and equitably among all classes of citizens?
Are the courts fair and impartial.?
Is justice sure and swift to all?
Are we secure "in our homes, our persons from unwarranted searches, seizures" ?
What about our telephone and internet communications- are they free from government eavesdropping?
Do citizens fear government or does government fear the citizens.?

Wahtcha think?

[The Old Creak]

9. This Is Helpful?

:sarcasm:

[dixiegrrrrl]

11. oohhh...you had asked a rhetorical question maybe.

Darn..I am always doing that reality thing.

:evilgrin:

[The Old Creak]

12. Yeah......

you must be one of those kooks, like me, that believe facts DO matter. Are you a communist, too? :)

[dixiegrrrrl]

15. I thiink someone whose opinion I respect

called me ...ohhh...what was it....starts with Anarch something.....:silly:

[pinboy3niner]

5. They've only won when you give up

It's not on the clock, like a sports competition. Life is fluid. If you see yourself behind today, positions may be reversed tomorrow. As long as you believe in something, fight for it. Never give up, never say die. Even when the odds seem overwhelming, remember the lessons of our mythology: David slew Goliath. As long as you draw breath, it's not over.

[jotsy]

6. Spirit of self nice to see so articulately expressed.

We are what we are, but always only at that moment.

[pinboy3niner]

8. Thankyou. You seem to have a way with words, too . . .

In your very brief post, you subtly and elegantly point to something else in which I firmly believe: the possibility of redemption.

[The Old Creak]

10. I Agree

This was the essence of the author's recommendation. I know I am now much more focused on attempting to positively impact my little world while sometimes trying to reach-out with my music. Thanks.

[Winterblues]

7. Does five percent of the population own 95 percent of the wealth?

That fact alone should answer your questions...

[The Old Creak]

13. How Do You Feel......

about this paragraph from the article?

"Too many resistance movements continue to buy into the facade of electoral politics, parliaments, constitutions, bills of rights, lobbying and the appearance of a rational economy. The levers of power have become so contaminated that the needs and voices of citizens have become irrelevant. The election of Barack Obama was yet another triumph of propaganda over substance and a skillful manipulation and betrayal of the public by the mass media. We mistook style and ethnicity – an advertising tactic pioneered by the United Colors of Benetton and Calvin Klein – for progressive politics and genuine change. We confused how we were made to feel with knowledge. But the goal, as with all brands, was to make passive consumers mistake a brand for an experience. Obama, now a global celebrity, is a brand. He had almost no experience besides two years in the senate, lacked any moral core and was sold as all things to all people. The Obama campaign was named Advertising Age’s marketer of the year for 2008 and edged out runners-up Apple and Zappos.com. Take it from the professionals. Brand Obama is a marketer’s dream. President Obama does one thing and Brand Obama gets you to believe another. This is the essence of successful advertising. You buy or do what the advertisers want because of how they can make you feel."

[Greyhound]

14. It is an apt summation.

The one Party that rules is the parasite party, that they have purchased both "official" parties and direct them to their own ends merely maintains the illusion of choice.

A "Democratic" government that is ruling to the right of Nixon and pouring all of it's efforts and our money into propping them up while we drown should be sufficient evidence of the article's assertion.