Forum Post: Its Time for the Other 95% to Get Involved
Posted 11 years ago on Feb. 11, 2013, 11:35 a.m. EST by OTP
(-203)
from Tampa, FL
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
Our entire society is being played. All this "freedom" nonsense is garbage, "America Decides 2012" bullshit for corporate choices, etc. ITs a big freakin game, and the people are getting their asses handed to them.
"Not to say that it cant eventually figure it out if someone teaches it, but as it stands right now, the cat will continue to react perfectly every single time."
People get most of their news and impressions from the TV. The internet is making strides, but nothing compares to a politician on TV either doing a commercial or doing a press conference.
If the "news" channels - more bullshit- were actually doing what a few here and other places do, the nation would be behaving dramitcally different. If the education system wasnt intentionally dumbed down, things would be dramatically different.
So that leaves the only option to getting people to wake up being sitting down and talking with them. Getting people to have an interest, getting them to realize whats going on and more importantly, to realize it is their duty as a member of this country to be involved in some level. And anyone who has done a shred of campaigning knows that most people just dont have the tolerance for anything political. ITs on purpose. Its why the dialogue is always so vile- its on purpose. The people have been trained to view politics with anger and resentment, with attacks and malice. And the vast majority of people simply dont want to be involved with anything that dirty.
"Politics is dirty business".... that saying isnt around by accident. All the black friday sales promotions while we are still going backwards was no accident. And the people, while the sales were off, did exactly as planned- spend their hard earned money on consumerism.
Posts like these arent meant to critisize anyone specifically. Its meant to be an overarching view of what is currently going on, from the central planners perspective. Its why Cenk, in that interview, said "Why would they lock everyone up, they already have us all right where they want us".
If your spouse isnt coming home at night, and you keep having those around you telling you its probably just because she likes working 24 hrs a day, then you are never going to get in a decent relationship.
If we keep ignoring the major cultural shit going on in this country, we are going to destroy ourselves. Its not pretty. And Im just as guilty in my own way as the other 100% of the people here. But we have to realize that something simply isnt right.
We are chasing our own tails repeatedly, decade after decade after decade. And thats not a critique of the 5% of people who got involved in occupy or other political or social or community causes.
Sometimes you need to just shake your friend and scream "Stop freaking doing that" when you see the same thing happening over and over again.
Its a call to action to the other 95% that its time to stop, take about 100 steps back, and get serious about being part of this thing.
'The U.S. is a paranoid culture. The nation has no foreign enemies posing an existential threat, yet it swoons in collective fear and bristles with the apparatus of the national security state.'
'The corporate/militarist government of the U.S. is paranoid by nature; therefore, the populace has good reason to be fearful.'
'It is not a lack of conviction that brings so much suffering to humanity; it is a lack of rigorous imagination.'
'It is anathema to the human heart for one to imagine oneself as being primarily an economic animal whose fate is yoked to the crackpot pragmatist's bottom line-fetish zing mindset of late capitalist feudalism.'
from - http://www.nationofchange.org/empire-panic-and-ephemera-applying-rigorous-imagination-america-s-paranoid-style-1360422956 and thank you for your uplifting post 'OTP'.
Never Give Up Pointing Out & Then Joining The Dots! Go Occupy! Solidarity :)
People need to wake up? Just what is it they need to wake up to? Your version of reality? Not trying to be sarcastic, just trying to make a point.
In spite of all our complaining, the majority of Americans live a comfortable life. Most make a decent wage, have a comfortable place to live, eat out, go to the movies, buy the latest iPhone and big screen TV. They think nothing of spending $25K on a car, $4 on a cup of coffee and $150 on a pair of sneakers. They’re more interested in Dancing with the Stars than Afghanistan. War is just a ten minute update on the nightly news. They know the latest fiscal cliff will get resolved without them being interested. As long as drones aren’t attacking the suburbs they’re not interested.
They will not wakeup. They will not wake up until things change that directly affects their comfortable lives. They prefer their reality over your version.
So, 'the majority of Americans live a comfortable life' do they? I find myself unable to agree and I also wonder just how much of this 'Disneyland' is financed by unsustainable debt! However I think that your wider point about apathy has some merit. Do you think that this http://www.nationofchange.org/ndaa-and-death-democratic-state-1360682539 might matter to Americans? And maybe also try to deeply reflect upon - http://www.nationofchange.org/bernie-sanders-american-people-are-angry-1340891212 .
I think that we are approaching some kind of tipping point and it will be the young who will lead the call for an economy fit for all in the near future. Any changes worth having, take time and we are in the early stages and OWS has only been going 18 months. Never Give Up! Occupy Wall Street - because they've been occupying the American Economy for long enough!
Without a doubt the American dream exists because people go into debt to obtain it. Not a good idea, but it is what it is.
I agree things take time. Maybe there will be a tipping point. But I caution when things tip you may not get the result you want. If turmoil occurs and society is turned upside down, people will be thinking about survival rather than political and social ideologies.
My whole point is I think it doubtful ANY social movement will garner much popular support under our current social conditions. I think it more likely that some event will threaten the comfort and security of the masses. That’s when the masses will react. How they react is still unpredictable.
Most of us are 3-6 paychecks from penury and bankruptcy and many even less than that - so yes, it is not a question of ideologies but of survival and I can agree to some extent but never discount the power of ideas. Here's insight into the current climate - http://www.nationofchange.org/obama-s-state-union-address-calls-middle-class-revival-poverty-and-inequality-still-get-short-shrift - and also please refer to - http://www.nationofchange.org/shame-wealthy-america-some-facts-about-victims-your-greed-1360595041 .
We can have an economy fit for all that works for The 99% - we have just got to want it, say so and start acting in our own collective best interests, although given ALEC, the Corporate MSM and selfish, lunatic 'Randianism' - that struggle still has some way to go. We Must Never Give Up! Occupy Wall Street - because Wall St. has been occupying the economy for long enough! Solidarity With 'The Masses'!
"it is a lack of rigorous imagination.'"
I agree 100%. The people have lost their ability to create their own solutions, in their own communities. Instead, they wait for two of them to be put in front of them, usually both horrible, and then beat the shit out of each other on it.
'By means of rigorous imagination, one must seek collaboration with the figures populating the landscape of the psyche. Because: how is it possible to navigate the bewildering terrain of one's fate alone?' (from the NoC article above) - however, be wary of blaming the victims of Corporate Propaganda and The Police State for their plight & see - http://www.nationofchange.org/michael-moore-chris-hedges-challenging-ndaa-indefinite-detention-and-corporate-coup-d-etat-136060064 . Never Give Up On The 99%! Occupy Solidarity!
I will never give up on them. That day on October 15th when there were HUGE rallies in almost every single city in the country was an incredible experience and something I will never forget.
Great clip from OccupyPhilly: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3jj0I7aQ5Y
'Jobs NOT War!' Excellent, moving and inspiring video clip! Here's why we do what we do - http://www.nationofchange.org/shame-wealthy-america-some-facts-about-victims-your-greed-1360595041 Everyone who attended any event on that day, will never forget and hopefully - Never Give Up! Occupy The Collective Imagination! Solidarity to all occupiers, everywhere - past, present and future!
Focusing on jobs is chasing your tail. Ever notice how strongly the slavemasters support job growth?
Not sure that I totally get your point so - http://www.nationofchange.org/seven-reasons-obama-should-focus-jobs-not-deficit-during-his-state-union-1360684273 Never Give Up Struggling For An Economy That Works For All! Occupy Solidarity!
The point is, we are long past the age where we are ever going to approach anything near full employment. In other words, it's two thousand fucking thirteen, we have these things called robots and computers that are eventually going to do the majority of work that humans have done up to now.
The problem isn't a lack of jobs, it's a lack of sense. We have what we need to fulfill the needs of everyone, and the technology to coordinate a transformation to a society that isn't just about expanding into the exact same amount of space.
In other words, we don't need more jobs, we need less of them, while keeping less for ourselves and sharing more with others. We can do it, and we need to do it in a way that doesn't continually use more materials and energy.
Is the US ready for radical de-industrialisation? You could say that has happened already and you'd have a point but exactly how are people to support themselves and their families in such a climate of Corporate Control and Deep Greed? Please see - http://www.nationofchange.org/obama-s-state-union-address-calls-middle-class-revival-poverty-and-inequality-still-get-short-shrift and ask yourself how less jobs will help. There are massive infrastructure projects that we need as well as services for the elderly, indigent and for good education to properly prepare our kids for the but would you counsel against this? We need an economy that really works for the majority. Never Give Up On The 99%! Occupy Solidarity!
You think because I'm against jobs, that means I'm against infrastructure, social welfare, and education?
Actually, it's quite the opposite. By assuming jobs are the answer, you are implying privatized society is just fine. Privatization is what's bad for the majority. We need "massive infrastructure projects" because society is badly designed. In reality, we need to do more with less, and that involves this crazy concept called sharing.
We are more in agreement than not, I think and in evidence, please see -
http://www.nationofchange.org/lamest-excuses-money-can-buy-1361198392
http://www.nationofchange.org/minimum-wage-guns-healthcare-and-meaning-decent-society-1361024552
http://www.nationofchange.org/big-corporations-put-seed-funding-republican-dark-money-group-1361030575
I love the idea of sharing - hence these links! I like your comments. Never Give Up Occupying!
Solidarity.
Please please get involved in this: http://occupywallst.org/forum/the-99-conglomerate-has-acquired-two-future-subsid/
It is the one strategy I know of that can get 95% of the world on our side, if anything can. Even the movement-haters who are in denial of what they are.
https://secure.groupspaces.com/group/99Conglomerate/join/
"OK, at this stage in the game, the subsidiaries are not really officially "acquired". It's more of a pledge of allegiance in Phase 1. When Phase 2 happens, these brave entrepreneurs will choose to continue or not."