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Forum Post: The New Normal - Corporate Bullies, Compliance, Fixed Reality, Designed Failure, Forced Reliance and what it all means for us

Posted 9 years ago on June 5, 2014, 10:10 a.m. EST by elf3 (4203)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

Each time you call a company and are treated like the patient or a subordinate, each time you go to work and accept a year without a raise again, each time you allow the government to pass a new law or create a new way for corporations to cheat us of our way of life and ability to be self-reliant, we're allowing a new normal to push back the definition of democracy. Every instance, every outrageous action, and EVERY INJUSTICE, needs to be treated with swift and immediate resistance and action. The very act of waiting... of hoping things will improve, of allowing something else to slide - pushes back what we have come to know as FREEDOM and for each new generation to follow - the rise of the corporate oligarchy will not seem at odds with FREEDOM - this is how the Nazis came to power - we must not let our freedom slip away.

55 Comments

55 Comments


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[-] 5 points by elf3 (4203) 9 years ago

potentially 60 deaths from the GM ignition failure which they knew about - if I put a bomb on my car and sold it to you - and then it went off when you hit a bump ... can I set up a compensation fund for your family instead of going to jail? Hey executives... we all have jobs and we know how that works (shit can't roll uphill) ... you can fire as many people as you want but we know they were "working as directed" and probably weren't even privy to the information you were piecing together and sliding under a carpet far away from their paygrades. I know GM is a government pet project ... but if they can get away with knowingly putting hundreds of lives at risk (how many of you drive around with your baby in that backseat that you've carefully fastened into their car seat) I ask - who are the real TERRORISTS in this world -? Is killing for the ideology of a particular god absolve you - in this case are those who kill for profit and the ideology of the might dollar (Wall Street's particular brand of God) any less guilty than those who kill for some other god?

[-] 5 points by Nevada1 (5843) 9 years ago

Fracking, bad medications, Roundup ready GMO seeds, tar sand, sacrifice zones----This is their psychopathic way---Corporate Imperialism.

[-] 3 points by MattLHolck (16833) from San Diego, CA 9 years ago

The Toll Of 5 Years Of Drone Strikes: 2,400 Dead]

The U.S. has deployed more than 11,000 military drones, up from fewer than 200 in ... Over the past decade several large companies, including General Motor

[-] 2 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 9 years ago

Potentially over " 500 " deaths - due to just the ignition switch fuck-up.

[-] 5 points by Nevada1 (5843) 9 years ago

Good Post elf3. Either corporations end, or the world ends.

[-] 7 points by elf3 (4203) 9 years ago

Yes where is all of this going? Are we on this planet to make as much money as possible for someone until we die (or perhaps even give our life to a faulty product so someone can profit)? Or are we all here to live and live our lives to the fullest? I know I wasn't put here to be farmed. I'm not a cow in some factory farm, and I'm not here to scrounge every cent away for some shitty retirement that by the time inflation hits it will allow me to just get by. There is no reason we all can't be living and enjoying life now. The world has become too expensive. The price to live in Wall Street's system is too steep and not worth the trade. Let's leave it behind, let's do away with this system for ourselves and every generation to come.

[-] 4 points by Nevada1 (5843) 9 years ago

Everything has been Weaponized.

[-] 0 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 9 years ago

[-] 2 points by Nevada1 (4248) 11 minutes ago

Everything has been Weaponized.

↥twinkle ↧stinkle reply permalink

So SAD & So TRUE.


Fuck U and Your Caps Lock Fetish - FUCK YOU !!!

[-] 2 points by MattLHolck (16833) from San Diego, CA 9 years ago

and obama and the planes he kills with

[-] 0 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 9 years ago

Yep - " PEOPLE " - even F'n Barbie!!! OPEN YOUR EYES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Fuck You And Your Bloody Caps Lock Fetish!!!!! The Caps Lock is NOT ON.

[-] 2 points by Nevada1 (5843) 9 years ago

YeoYo post Border Patrol Nation, shows that the 'Give Me Your Papers' crap is expanding inward.

[-] 1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 9 years ago

It will ONLY get worse - Until - the People regain ( TAKE ) control.

[-] 2 points by Nevada1 (5843) 9 years ago

MSM Weaponized. Internet in jeopardy. People being isolated.

[-] 1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 9 years ago

Shock Doctrine 2.0

[-] 0 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 9 years ago

It is all related = the attack on sanity and rational thinking: https://occupywallst.org/forum/christopher-james-chris-christie-is-the-55th-gover/

[-] 1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 9 years ago

As things "ARE" it really is that simple. Honestly - folks - please - thimk about it - and - if you have no courage for your own self - have courage for your children family and friends.

[-] 4 points by beautifulworld (23769) 9 years ago

Great post, elf. Solidarity!

[-] 3 points by Shule (2638) 9 years ago

Now the only problem is how does one motivate a lame public majority? And what swift, immediate resistance and action can a minority of dedicated activist do that will succeed in swaying a determined and pschopathic oligarchy to do otherwise?

[-] 5 points by elf3 (4203) 9 years ago

We must first understand why we have a lame public majority. I think some people can't envision it getting worse - they don't see the proverbial run away train. For those who don't have it too bad (and can't envision it getting worse) or those that do but either don't want to trouble their lives with the thought of it or just don't have the f-ing time. We have too much shit to do and not enough time or money to do it: children to provide for, bills to pay and dishes that need washing, car repairs to make, foreclosures (or rising rents) to fight. Wall Street knows this (they know idle hands and time to think can lead to ideas) They don't want funny ideas. While we OCCUPY WS ... Wall Street is keeping the masses OCCUPIED - with lives they can't afford, commodities that cost more every quarter, and billing issues they constantly have to fight, and less vacation and sick days than ever, and lay-offs they can't weather...there is no downtime...and for those in our income brackets it is a constant epic war just to stay on board. The urgent and necessary thing is to stabilize the working class. We are too busy and tired - to have time to fight for ourselves. This is not by accident it's part of the master WS plan. We need to lower costs of basic needs - and the only thing we can do is one by one pick a company (and their favored politician) to target and boycott. Get prices of basic resources down. Stop OUTSOURCING in every way we can. If the working class has no time to fight - then there isn't going to be one.

[-] 5 points by Shule (2638) 9 years ago

Maybe we can start by boycotting Walmart.

[-] 1 points by HCabret2014 (-11) 9 years ago

And ExxonMobile.

[-] 2 points by Shule (2638) 9 years ago

And BP. Think of what they did not to long ago in the Gulf of Mexico.

[-] 0 points by HCabret2014 (-11) 9 years ago

And Apple.

[-] 0 points by HCabret2014 (-11) 9 years ago

And Cotton

[-] 0 points by HCabret2014 (-11) 9 years ago

And McDonalds.

[-] 3 points by Shule (2638) 9 years ago

and Burger King, Wendys, and Kentuky Fried Chicken too.

That should not be too hard. None of that food is any good for anybody anyway.

[-] 0 points by HCabret2014 (-11) 9 years ago

East London is like 65% burger kings and KFCs.

[-] 1 points by Shule (2638) 9 years ago

Yeh, and I'm sure 65% of East London is complaining about the oligarchy ruling over them, and the medical bills they have to pay 'cause their health is bad 'cause they're not eating right.

[-] 1 points by HCabret2014 (-11) 9 years ago

65% of East London is also Muslim immigrants from Bangladesh. They like it in London.

[-] 2 points by Shule (2638) 9 years ago

I'm sure they like it in London. London is a cool place. I wonder if the Bangladeshes are eating out at Burger King and KFC, or are the fast food joints for the tourists? I wonder if the Bangladeshes are complaining about the government. I bet they are, everybody does.

[-] 0 points by HCabret2014 (-11) 9 years ago

Tourists don't go East London. Save for Brick Lane (where they eat curry), the Tower (where they don't go to eat) and Spitalfields (where hipsters go).

They don't vote for UKIP, if that's what you mean. UKIP is like the British Tea Party and generally anti-immigrant, although they aren't nearly as right as the tea party. Conservatives in the UK are like American democrats and Labours are even further left than that.

Tourists don't generally leave the Leicester Square/trafalgar/Whitehall area of west london. They may venture to South Bank for the Tate modern or to soho if they are feeling a little more alternative, but you're pretty hard pressed to see an American in whitechapel.

[-] 1 points by Shule (2638) 9 years ago

Thanks, other than spending a day there I really don't know much about London. So, then what are the fast food joints doing there?

[-] 0 points by HCabret2014 (-11) 9 years ago

They're there to eat at. What else?

[-] -2 points by Shule (2638) 9 years ago

So the Bangladeshes in East London are getting fat and ruining their health...while complaining about the government...

[+] -5 points by HCabret2014 (-11) 9 years ago

They like their halal fried chicken.

[-] 4 points by beautifulworld (23769) 9 years ago

Please, enlighten us about some other ethnicities, their foods, their religions, and their neighborhoods. You still did not answer my question as to why you posted that. "It just a statement." is not good enough. Please explain further. I'll be honest, it seems racist to me and I'm not liking it. This is not the place for that.

[-] 4 points by beautifulworld (23769) 9 years ago

What is that supposed to mean? I've been posting here a long time and I don't exactly enjoy coming back from an absence to see this kind of crap taking up space here. "They like their halal fried chicken." What do you exactly mean by that? Do you speak about other ethnicities and the foods they eat as well, and what neighborhoods they live in? Huh?

[-] 0 points by HCabret2014 (-11) 9 years ago

@beautifulworld. I don't know why the reply button isn't showing up. Sorry.

Stating that there are fried chicken restaurants in east London is racist? Is it racist to say that Italians in Naples like pasta or that the Argentinians enjoy their wine or that Americans in California enjoy Mexican food?

Am I not allowed to comment on the culinary preferences of any demographic group? Bengali isn't a religion, nor a skin color or ethnicity. It's a language group that largely spans two sovereign states. There are 160million Bengalis in Bangladesh, 100million in India, 3million in Pakistan, about a million each in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and half a million in the uk. How is it Racist to discuss something that has nothing to do with the social fact of Race?

[-] 0 points by HCabret2014 (-11) 9 years ago

@beautifulworld. My reply keeps disappearing on me.

It just a statement. Whitechapel High Street and Whitechapel road are dotted with halal fried chicken joints. HFC, Whitechapel Fried Chicken, KFC, PFC, ect. It is what it is.

Btw, how do you know that I'm not a Bengali who has lived in east London in the past? Huh?

[-] 0 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 9 years ago

Tourists go everywhere and anywhere - unless they know better or are lead by the hand ( no doubt complaining about it ). They will wan't to go where The East enders is Filmed.

[-] 0 points by HCabret2014 (-11) 9 years ago

Haha. Eastenders is filmed at Elstree in North London. It's kinda based on Shoreditch these days, but otherwise takes place in a fictional version of East London. American tourists just aren't flocking en masse to Shoreditch for site seeing. Why see the ghetto when I could see Buckingham Palace instead?

[-] 0 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 9 years ago

There is not currently a soap about Buckingham Palace.

[-] 2 points by shadz66 (19985) 9 years ago

So, Mr. ''Facts are facts regardless of my attitude towards them'' ...

I've lived in London for over 10 years of my life and know London, including ''East London'' very well but let me tell you that if you're asserting that nearly two thirds ''of East London is also Muslim immigrants from Bangladesh'' - as any kind of 'objective fact' at all, then you are patently taking out of your arse !!!

Have you ever actually even been to London ?! What's the source of your information ?!!

Is it born of some kind of prejudice ... or of any 'objective - or even subjective - ''facts'' ?!!!

ad iudiucium ...

[-] 0 points by HCabret2014 (-11) 9 years ago

Okay. 65% was an exaggeration, but yes I have lived in East London. Right down Whitechapel Road from the Mosque. HFC is nasty by the way. So is Whitchapel Fried Chicken. Ugh!

Based on my experience people generally like it there too. I did.

[-] 0 points by shadz66 (19985) 9 years ago

By what degree was it an ''exaggeration'' ?! More importantly what do you think it says about you a) that you did ''exaggerate'' (by a factor of many multiples btw) & b) that you are somewhat fast and loose with the ''facts'' ?!! Does your ''experience'' have any relation to ''objective facts'' d'you think or is it really much more about your 'subjective opinions' - if not outright prejudices ?!!!

My experience of London in general and East London in particular, is one of an exciting, cool, colourful, vibrant, multi-cultural tapestry & ''Based on my experience people generally like it there too. I did'' - too and so we can at least agree on that perhaps.

pax et lux ...

[-] 0 points by HCabret2014 (-11) 9 years ago

32% of tower hamlets is ethinically Bengali. Another 2% are Pakistani, and other 2% are Somali and another 2% are Indian. Almost 40% and growing.

My roommate loved HFC for some reason and it's sad that they closed one of the beigal places on brick lane; at least for now.

Also, facts aren't objective. They are very hard to change, but in the end they are subject to personal experience. Truth on the other hand, although very easy to change, is indeed objective.

[-] 1 points by shadz66 (19985) 9 years ago

32% is NOT 65% though is it .. and ''almost 40%'' alludes to what ?! NOR is 'Tower Hamlets' the entirety of ''East London - is it ?!! Further, consider the speed of light, the metre, the kilogram and other 'SI' units may be the closest we can come to 'objective truth' but tho' I don't know ''HFC'', I'd be much more sad to hear if the ''Bagel Bake, Brick Lane Bakery'' had shut down ... as I used to love that place and have had many a breakfast there after a night out at warehouse parties, back in the day (sigh @ the memories) !!!

So, re. ''Democracy is outdated'' .. I fundamentally disagree and would postulate that most of us in all societies around the world ... have 'democracy deficits' and that nothing undermines democracy more than capitalism and totalitarianism. Thus, now that we are living in times of 'Totalitarian Crapitalism' & Corporatocracy, Plutocracy, Kleptocracy and Oligarchy - then we are all particularly fucked right now.

respice, adspice, prospice ...

[-] 1 points by HCabret2014 (-11) 9 years ago

The authority of government, even such as I am willing to submit to—for I will cheerfully obey those who know and can do better than I, and in many things even those who neither know nor can do so well—is still an impure one: to be strictly just, it must have the sanction and consent of the governed. It can have no pure right over my person and property but what I concede to it. The progress from an absolute to a limited monarchy, from a limited monarchy to a democracy, is a progress toward a true respect for the individual. Even the Chinese philosopher was wise enough to regard the individual as the basis for the empire. Is a democracy, such as we know it, the last improvement possible in government? Is it not possible to take a step further towards recognizing and organizing the rights of man? There will never be a really free and enlightened State until the State comes to recognize the individual as a higher and independent power, from which its own power and authority are derived, and treats him accordingly. I please myself with imagining a State at least which can afford to be just to all men, and to treat the individual with respect as a neighbor; which even would not think it inconsistent with its own repose if a few were to live aloof from it, not meddling with it, nor embracing it, for fulfilled all the duties of neighbors and fellow-men. A State which bore this kind of fruit, and suffered it to drop off as fast as it ripened, would prepare the way for a still more perfect and glorious State, which also I have imagined, but not yet anywhere seen. –HDT, Civil Disobedience

[-] 0 points by shadz66 (19985) 9 years ago

Thoreau died over 150 years ago but that quote could have almost come from Ayn Rand, in my opinion and thus in reply, I append and recommend ..

''The American today is expected to bow to authority unquestioningly, even as he is told he has the freedom to do otherwise. He is told to trust those in power at the very moment they betray him. He is encouraged to participate in the affairs of public life while simultaneously being denied access to the necessary means and knowledge. He is living in a world that preaches openness and honesty while simultaneously insisting on the necessity of secrecy in matters of state.

''He is living in a nation that preaches peace and democracy while sustaining an ever-increasing war budget, a nation that in the name of democracy supports the decimation of weaker countries for purposes of private gain. He is told that it is dangerous “out there,” where the enemy lurks, but safe “in here,” when in fact the enemy lies within.

''He is living in a world based on power, fear, deception, exploitation, and hypocrisy. Like a traumatized and abused child his natural response to such a situation is the response he learned as a child—to believe in the good intentions of those who abuse him while retreating to a position of acquiescence, numbness, and indifference toward the outcome of events that dramatically impinge upon his well being and his very existence.

''Many of us suffer from meta­noia. While a paranoid person will think he is in danger when he isn’t, a metanoid person will think he is safe when he isn’t. A metanoid is liable to call someone who sees hidden dangers “a paranoid conspiracy nut.” Metanoia insulates us from the disturbing reality around us and thus renders us powerless to do anything about it.

''Once we begin exercising our imaginations and sharing our ideas with others, we have begun the process of change. We find we are not as alone as we thought we were. We aren’t trapped. We aren’t powerless. There are viable alternatives. It is as simple as getting together and talking to each other about what is wrong and how to fix it. The process will carry us forward.''

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I don't recommend this very insightful article (which I have savagely abridged above, lol) to any sensitive soul who wants a good night's sleep - but it could reward a close read for any inquiring minds out there.

pax ...

[-] -1 points by HCabret2014 (-11) 9 years ago

@shadz66 my reply buttons gone again.

The fact that Thoreau dies 150 yo is irrelevant. Ayn Rand and Thoreau are extremely different. One hates religion, the other could care less either way and considers such things personal. One is obsessed with money, the other lived in a cabin by himself for two years. One is obsessed with other people , the other only cares about himself.

[-] 0 points by HCabret2014 (-11) 9 years ago

And TESCO. Those poor Indians and Chinese have no idea.

[-] 1 points by MattLHolck (16833) from San Diego, CA 9 years ago

ideally

Japanese robots

[-] 2 points by nakedsex (94) 9 years ago

Yeah, we need to use this networking. If all of our activism could be called to a particular action, that could bring enough people together for a mass strike or political maneuvering. It needs a beacon, an organization to spearhead it, something with good identity that can be consistent and recognized as the serious call to unite. Multiple petitions are spreading us thin, and that's the whole strategy of it, dividing our voice so it makes no sound. We need something to demand a response to democratic regulation. Like Arundhati said, putting a lid on this inordinate exploitation. Otherwise like you said, the Nazis are sure not going to do it.

Hopefully someone or some people can make this happen. Good things always take effort. Just keep shouting about legitimate dissent, and the First Amendment, as public as possible. And don't give up.

[-] 3 points by Shule (2638) 9 years ago

You bring up a good point. Back about a decade ago there was a pretty much focused anti war movement going on; primarily focused on Iraq, but also against all the war activity going on in the Middle-East. Then Obama won (on the promise to stop wars which he never did), and shortly after that this Occupy Wall Street thing popped up. The anti-war movement diffused and fizzled. Next thing you know there are all these occupy causes going on taking us in all different directions. One only has to look at this website forum to see it. A setup????