Does it feel to you, as it does me, that this is becoming about something larger than George Floyd?

[pnwest]

I do not minimize in any way the tragic needlessness of his death, nor the heartbreak and pain his family is enduring right now.

I'm saying that it feels as though his murder, on the heels of Breonna's in Louisville, is the match to the gasoline that is our outrage about everything that's happened since trump was foisted upon us - actually, since McConnell blocked Obama's Supreme Court nomination. The rage ALL of us “human capital stock” feel about everything he and his cabal have done - amplified by these last 8 weeks of quarantine with nothing to do but worry about health and livelihood - is bubbling to the surface and erupting.

I'm a privileged white woman, safely ensconced in a quiet neighborhood, with no real money worries - and even *I* want to go wilding and burn shit down. I want to vent my rage against the establishment, the sheer, brazen criminality of this administration, and the 1% who are rigging EVERYTHING to their advantage. I want to rage against the ugly hatred, the control of women and minorities, the brainwashing of the population, the ugly, awful, systemic racism that I want no fucking part of. I want to stop their agenda of keeping the populace poor and uneducated so we’re controllable, their rigging of the system in their favor, their pillaging of the American taxpayer to line their pockets and enrich corporations. I want to firebomb the establishment for the whole healthcare-for-profit crime against humanity and their stubborn, infuriating refusal to entertain single payer healthcare for all.

For the first time, I truly understand what Dr. King meant by saying "Riots are the language of the unheard". *I've* only been enraged for 3.5 years and I'm ready to firebomb some motherfuckers. I have a little better understanding of the rage and helplessness blacks and other minorities must feel every single day. It's maddening and infuriating and soul-crushing and heart-breaking, and it makes you just want to ball up your fists and scream into the night.

For the first time I am not angry about the fires and looting. I get it. Being told to protest peacefully, and then being ignored wholesale is just not going to cut it anymore. I understand the rage that needs to be expressed with violence, and flame, and TAKING. I used to be one of those who said "burning and looting doesn't help your cause". I don't say that anymore. I was wrong. I understand. The entire 1%-ers’ machine disguised as a political party, along with its vast right wing conspiracy, must be burned to the ground and the ashes scattered to the winds.

It. Must. Be. Eradicated.

And this sudden violent venting of righteous rage spreading across the nation feels, to me anyway, like that’s what it’s becoming about. The brazen, in-your-face murder of George Floyd - carried out by that smug, self-satisfied piece of shit who absolutely did not care that he was being filmed - was the last straw breaking our collective back. And everything, all of it, the rage, sorrow, anger…is tumbling out now. The "human capital stock" have had enough. The 99% are coming for the 1%.

[ecstatic]

1. Exactly. K&R.

[Captain Zero]

38. No One Expects the French Revolution (?) Something like that?

I think something larger and deeper may be trying to play out as well.

Don't be distracted by the violence of the moment.

Everybody says the peaceful protests are ignored and that is true. And especially since Trump, Mcconnel, and Barr I get this feeling that maddens me that process is ignored. It seems like the GOP regime IGNORES previous law and respect for process that we have a RIGHT to have. It's frustrating to the point of asking how can we act out?

[Ex Lurker]

2. However it started out, it's morphed into mindless violence

and it will beget more violence. I'm seeing posts online of protestors threatening to take it to the suburbs, and suburbanites replying "come ahead, we're armed."

[SMC22307]

8. Yep. Mr. George Floyd is now lost in all of this, sadly.

A local station in Raleigh has been broadcasting since this afternoon and what people are going to remember are the torched small businesses and scared residents who live above the DGX Store that's up in flames. And the "protesters" dancing around, taking selfies, and harrassing reporters like the fucking idiots that they are. This will go down REAL well with those suburban women who turned on Trump and help flipped the House in 2018. Fuck.

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

3. If I could draw...my editorial cartoon would be....

THOUSANDS of MOTHS with RACIST marked on their back... coming out of the darkness....

and drawn to the 'light bulb' of the Orange Guy tweeting.


Heavy handed? Yeah, but y'know......

[pnwest]

5. I can picture it

[vapor2]

4. Spot on

We are all angry and this emboldened monster is destroying our institutions, our constitution, our country etc etc. EVERYTHING is about him and his re election and damn human lives. And all of a sudden william barr gives a damn about the rule of law?? I fail to see where this corruption ends and the healing begins. I cringe every time I see the photos of 3 police officers who took a human life, they all need to be convicted of murder but there is a larger problem that needs to be addressed. I don't have the answers but I do know that this f**king moron (as Tillerson called him) needs to go. He has lied to the American people, he has failed us, he has isolated us and is simply UNFIT to be leader. And the republicans who enable him need to go as well.

[intrepidity]

6. You speak for me nt

[sprinkleeninow]

7. "...becoming about something larger than..."

I myself did not want to say.

It's occurring to me steadily by the passing of each day.

The manner in which way the pandemic was handled, radiating into all unimaginable areas, now a life taken in a cold, careless and soulless manner.

I have no idea how this all enfolds.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

53. The people

Are rising up against the abuse and murder by the 1% . The rich,narcissist,authoritarians and sociopaths. They are angry at the 1/3 of this nation who abuse people.
People are sick of the corrupt abusive bullshit that is victimizing them, over and over in a million different ways and they are tired of being blamed for thier own victimization by arrogant predatory people and institutions and society that lets it continue. The 1% are enemies of humanity morality/ ethics and nature.

[sprinkleeninow]

54. What we are witnessing and what we have become presently

has been there since forever, simmering under the surface.

Makes me sick in my soul.

The main reason is that the sickness in the oval office and his comrades have given license for this fomenting what we are seeing each day.

On edit to clarify: tЯump and his giving a pass to those who oppress and worse.

[moondust]

9. Righteous.

You might consider sending this to Moscow Mitch and maybe some other GOP racist pigs. They are largely responsible for the state of affairs that has led to this.

[pnwest]

10. They wouldn't understand, this is about actual feelings...

[crickets]

11. Well said. K&R

[Upthevibe]

12. Yes....

I think dt is stoking a race riot and a war against us - Democrats:

From Snopes:

Claim: "Did Trump Retweet a Video Saying ‘The Only Good Democrat is a Dead Democrat’?

The original comment was made by a public official in New Mexico.

Claim
U.S. President Donald Trump retweeted a video in which the speaker stated, "The only good Democrat is a dead Democrat."

True

On May 27, 2020, U.S. President Donald Trump retweeted a video posted to Twitter by the group “Cowboys for Trump” in which the group’s leader, Cuoy Griffin, a commissioner for Otero County in New Mexico, stated, “I’ve come to a place where I’ve come to the conclusion that the only good Democrat is a dead Democrat.”

Trump, a Republican, retweeted the video and added the comment, “Thank you Cowboys. See you in New Mexico!”

[joanbarnes]

13. Well said and truly felt by myself as well.....as well as the rest of 'us.'

[Praek3]

14. Everything Trump touches dies

Including civilized society in America.

This is the Rancid Racist's and Moscow Mitch's fault. All of the GOP, their supporters, the ignorant Bundy's, Proud Bedbugs, Jr., Jared, Discount Ivana, Kochs, Mercers, Bannon, Miller, King, Jordan, Nunes, Collins, Loeffler (sp?) ad nauseum are responsible as well.

They openly steal from us and look us right in the eye and lie.

What goes around comes around. It will suck to be them when the pitch forks and guillotines come out.

[summer_in_TX]

15. I understand the feelings.

I fear this is already morphing into the situation that will allow Trump to take military control of the country and cancel all future elections.

America's Reichstag event.

[pnwest]

19. I've learned with this administration to never

say, “Nah, that can’t happen here...”. You may well be right.

[Mr.Bill]

23. If that's what they are planning

they made one huge mistake.

They sold us three hundred million guns.

[wnylib]

46. I think you are right. I also believe that is

why there are provocateurs inciting riots.

Various RW groups and individuals, including people in Trump's inner circle, want a race war as an excuse to declare a national emergency. With only a few months to go to the elections, the numbers show Trump losing. He is desperate.

[CountMyVote4Reality]

16. Thank you. n/t

[47of74]

17. I'm about at the point where I'd move to Canada tomorrow if I could and seek citizenship there

I no longer have any positive feelings about this country. I'm just so tired of this country and can think of about 50 other countries I wish I and my family were all born in.

[BigmanPigman]

21. Join the club...it is a very popular club to belong to these days.

[Hiawatha Pete]

24. We'd love to have you!

Enlarge our liberal-minded voter base here

[wnylib]

47. There are quite a few of us.

I wish we qualified as refugees, but I'm afraid we don't. Not yet anyway. That might change as we move closer to civil war.

[Hiawatha Pete]

55. Like I said,

Increase the progressive voter base here.

As for civil war lets hope it never comes to that.

[wnylib]

56. I've already checked the requirements

for immigration in Canada. A large number of Americans have, you know. I would not be accepted. I am a retired senior citizen with a small pension, which got smaller twice due to markets tanking in 2008 and again this year. Could not live on that pension alone. My other income is a social security retirement account. I paid into it all my working life but it is a federal program, run by the US federal government.

If my pension had not tanked twice in recent years, or if I was still working, I'd have applied for residence in Canada long ago. I live near the border.

[Hiawatha Pete]

57. Sorry to hear that

I know they don't make it easy. Perhaps it wasn't apparent but I was just trying to make conversation & speaking my own personal opinion which in no way represents that of the Canadian government.

As a Canadian who paid into it my entire working life, if I was to move to the US I'd still be eligible to collect my Canada Pension. Not sure if it would be the same with your US Gov't S.S. retirement acc't or private pensions if you were to leave the U.S.

Or maybe has more to do with Canada's new 'net worth' immigration policies, for lack of a better word. Didn't know it applied to U.S. citizens though.

As far as I'm concerned, you'd be paying taxes if living here so who cares if your income source is a foreign pension or from local employment. But again that's just my opinion.

[wnylib]

58. The pension (from a former employer)

Last edited Mon Jun 1, 2020, 04:40 PM - Edit history (1)

would still be available to me. So would the government social security payments.

But rhe Republucan party, including Trump, has been trying to eliminate social security. Also, my health insurance is connected to social security through the federal Medicare program for seniors. It might cover medical care on a visit to another country. Not sure. But I doubt it would pay for care as a resident (not just a visitor) in another country. Also, it's doubtful that Canadian doctors and hospitals would accept US Medicare insurance.

I know that Canada has universal health care, but, even if I was eligible for it, it wouldn't be right since Canafian citizens have paid into it and I haven't.

In the US, I have to pay taxes on the company pension, but not on the Social Security account.

I know you can't give advice or answer questions. I'm not really seeking it. I am only trying to make 2 points. One is that leaving the country is not an easy alternative and perhaps not possible at all. The other point is that things get bad enough here that I sometimes wish I could leave, and probably would have if it had been easier.

I am not alone. Did you know that when Trump's election was confirmed, the Canadian website on immigration crashed because of so many Americans looking up the requirements?

[Hiawatha Pete]

59. Yeah, I saw the news about the website crashing

That was something...

Probably the best & most practical solution would be to send him packing nov 3rd.

Canada has been known to update and change its immigration policies from time to time. If the requirements changed and you were able & decided to relocate, you'd still be paying taxes into the system for as long as you live here [which go towards things like health care]. And all permanent residents or new citizens are eligible for OHIP [Ontario Health Insurance Plan] after about six months [though that's greatly oversimplified, depends on situation] so you don't get the universal health care right away anyways.

The simple version of what I'm saying is, if you're planning to remain in Canada after moving here [as most new Canadians do] then I wouldn't feel bad about using the health care system.

Regardless, good luck whichever path you choose or are required to take.

[Hiawatha Pete]

60. Also, I forgot to mention

And you may have already done this, but if you wanted to be sure to leave no stone un-turned, you could try a Canadian immigration lawyer.

They may know what opportunities/options are available better than the average Joe, though it might cost some $. You can do a google search if you're interested, there's lots of them.

Best Regards,

Pete

[wnylib]

62. Thanks. Will keep that in mind.

[onecaliberal]

34. You're in good company.

[proud patriot]

18. it always has been

[smirkymonkey]

20. You speak for me too, pnwest.

I totally get it. More now than ever. Everything you said completely resonates with me. Thank you for your excellent post.

[BadgerMom]

22. K & R

From another comfortably ensconced white woman, thank you for expressing this so well.

[ancianita]

25. Yes. But it's not what we'd like to think it is.

[HipChick]

26. as a privileged white woman, safely ensconced in a quiet neighborhood...

reflects how deeply systematic racism is embedded
In the meantime, black people still have to walk around with a target on their back..

[firstwife]

27. Amen!

Exactly how I feel, (though likely more precarious financially than you.) Nevertheless, before I respond, I want to say, I deactivated my Facebook yesterday because I, feeling much like pnwest, am on my last nerve. Enraged. But realizing the FB platform was a huge part of my problem! Like Nancy Pelosi said about Drumpf, it was fomenting negative disruption in my life, violence and anger. I felt like it was a verbal battlefield and minefield all in one. Just from stepping back, I am seeing the bigger picture, and there’s lots going on. My take is, the Russians ARE trying to stir up racial dissention, plus The RNP is sending in the proud boys and nazis and trying to pin the violence on the peaceful protesters. I saw the photo of (mostly) white women, linking arms, standing between the police and the African American protesters said it ALL. WE ALL NEED to show up in droves, and STAND TOGETHER peacefully, in a huge nonviolent show of force. The Minority number of disruptors will then be exposed for who they are. Take control, stand together. NOW is the time to march. Now is when we need All our democratic leaders Peacefully marching with us. I wish I was in DC right now. Finally, I’ve joined Twitter, you can find me as: fkaHumanCapitalStock

[calimary]

33. Welcome to DU, firstwife!

Glad you're here. You're right - WE have the numbers. There are more of US than there are of the bad guys (aka trump, GOP, trumpers, and the nogoodniks setting fire to our cities and looting our business districts). I hope we all remember that, and MAKE USE OF THAT ADVANTAGE in November.

[niyad]

28. KNR. Absolutely spot on.

[dalton99a]

29. Kick

[gopiscrap]

30. yes absolutely

[louis-t]

31. I've been feeling it for a week and mentioned it

earlier today. I feel momentum. I feel a breakthrough.

[Midnightwalk]

32. Thanks for this

Many of the same thoughts have been dancing in my head but I couldn’t have put them like that.

There is pent up outrage. The murder was the trigger. Obvious in hindsight. Maybe it’s the year for foresight as well.

This is what mass protests look like in the US. Day permit protests get a bit of air time. I don’t think these are stable and sustainable for very long. They will escalate or stop or change.

What worries me most is that the 99% is better at going after each other than the 1%.

It is encouraging to see people standing up. There are many inspirational pictures and stories out there.

It is well worth doing that while still worrying about things getting worse

[DanieRains]

35. It Is Us Being Looted By The 1% I Realized Today

A little more fully.

There is so little opportunity left.

Wanna go to school? How about 100K in student loan debt. Environment? Collapsing. Want help? Good luck.

The 1% don't want to share.

[Aussie105]

36. Flash point!

Just one thing too many.

The secret is now out in the open. Some police forces in the US have white supremacists in their ranks, using their position to do what they think needs doing - the intimidation and murder of people of color.

But let's be honest. If people felt secure in their daily lives, both in their homes and on the street, lived in a nice neighborhood, had a steady job with a decent income, and there was no virus, the death of George Floyd would have not been a flash point.
There would have been words of sympathy, an internal investigation, and life would have gone on as before.

As it is, it's the straw that broke the camel's back.

As for that video:

"The brazen, in-your-face murder of George Floyd - carried out by that smug, self-satisfied piece of shit who absolutely did not care that he was being filmed".

Oh, that wasn't a smug self satisfied look. It was a look of pure sadistic pleasure. A white supremacist getting off on what he was doing.

[LittleGirl]

37. As an American abroad

I feel your pain, your frustration and your helplessness because I too, am white living in a suburb and don't have financial worries (yet).
I feel it.

Thank you for sharing.

[AntiFascist]

39. K&R...

Imagine how many of the residents of South Central LA must have felt about Authority in 1992. The destruction in the LA Riots was horrendous, and much worse than anything we're seeing now, but it did ultimately bring about some necessary change.

[UCmeNdc]

40. Yes! It is something much deeper splitting the United States into small parts right now.

[BannonsLiver]

41. Get back to me in a couple of weeks

We have short attention spans. People were saying the same stuff after Ferguson.

[wnylib]

48. This is different. Ferguson did not

spread as far and wide as the current demonstrations. There are many layers in what is happening now. Many sides involved.

[BannonsLiver]

50. Yeah.

“Different.”

[canetoad]

42. K&R

Righteous rant.

[roamer65]

43. His death was the spark that set off the powder keg.

The next inflection point is November 3.

[akbacchus_BC]

44. pnwest

Your thread is powerful and you hit the nail on the head. You speak for millions of us. Thank you.

[uponit7771]

45. No, seems like some coordinated chaos shit started by Red Don himself

[wnylib]

49. Yes, I agree with you on the

coordinated chaos by Don. But, consequently, people are coming together in anger and opposition.

I think it will get worse. Don's side has the weapons.

[Amaryllis]

51. Yes, you are right. Also the thing that was different about this time, compared to

shootings, is that it was prolonged, deliberate, intentional and challenged by others as it was happening. Shootings are fast and can be written off more easily as impulsive, freakouts, fear, etc. Not this time.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

52. I would love to see

The 1% suffer. And hopefully die for thier crimes against humanity.

Yeah I am pissed because it never had to become like this if people were not abused by people with money. And people stood up in countless ways and told these rich motherfuckers no more power to abuse or money to excuse your moral bankruptcy for you.

[Wounded Bear]

61. It always was...nt