If Ever America Needed A People’s Political Revolution It’s Now

[eridani]

http://www.nationofchange.org/2015/10/25/if-ever-america-needed-a-peoples-political-revolution-its-now/

It’s time for the American people to take back their government and restore this nation’s democracy. In the America of today, we have a government and a political system which is tightly controlled by corporate money and power.

This government is so thoroughly controlled by special interest campaign funding, so inept and dysfunctional, that it needs to be completely overhauled. Unfortunately, there are few if any individuals in it or outside of it that have any desire or capacity to even begin the process. And the few that believe that this must be done do not possess the means by which to take on these powerful, seemingly invincible corporate entities.

The only way that such a transformational process could ever get off the ground is if leaders step forward who can ignite the currently dormant power of the American people. Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are such leaders who have called for a political revolution fueled by the power of the people. But while these two leaders have the best of intentions they are not enough; they need others who share their beliefs to join them in the effort.

The time for such a revolution is now, it can’t wait. But while that may be a great idea and one that would have a great potential to turn this country in a new and different direction, that’s easier said than done. The question is exactly how Americans can be motivated to join such an ambitious revolutionary movement when, in most elections, many more stay at home than show up to vote?

There are three key steps that would have to be taken to accomplish the objective of restoring a government of, by and for the people and, along with it, our democracy which is on life support. Here are those steps:

*Most important, those strong leaders must emerge and there is no doubt but that Sanders and Warren are the precursors and will play an important role in the development of this movement. They are, indeed, tapping into the anger and frustration that a large majority of the people feel; they see a government, quite possibility the most incompetent in this nation’s history, that refuses to follow the will of the people.

[dreamnightwind]

1. Yes!

Get off the corporate bandwagon and lend a hand, it is not the time for business as usual, the planet is overheating and capitalism won't be satisfied until it profits off of our own destruction.

Join us in our fight, there is no time to lose and we're up against long odds, we (all of us) desperately need for this to happen.

Sanders and Warren are definitely part of the solution. If Hillary would have an epiphany and fully commit to reform, she is intelligent and strong and would make an excellent ally too, but I mean a total complete conversion experience, otherwise she is fighting for the extinction team, quite literally.

Please see past my lame attempts to communicate the importance of this, and see behind it to the reality it comes from. This crisis is real, people, wake up and commit.

In my opinion this study understates or simply doesn't even begin to address the worst of outcomes, which on our current trajectory will surely come to pass. But it is hopefully enough to begin to appreciate the magnitude of what is coming.

It's Too Late to Save Over 400 U.S. Cities From Rising Seas, Scientists Say | Alternet
http://www.alternet.org/environment/rising-sea-levels-will-overtake-hundreds-american-cities

and to head off the inevitable cries of "why change when it's already too late" BS, it's too late for a few outcomes (New Orleans and Miami, for instance), but it's not at all too late to survive as a species, or at least to keep earth as an inhabitable planet (this is a possible outcome, that a chain reaction of methane clathrates and sulfuric acid releases poison our atmosphere and kill everything on this planet)

don't know if this is a good source, but it explains the problem
Planet Extinction - The Clathrate 'Smoking Gun'
http://www.planetextinction.com/planet_extinction_clathrates.htm

Back to bad but less doomsday futures:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027266411#post34

"In our analysis, a lot of cities have futures that depend on our carbon choices but some appear to be already lost...

...

http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2015/10/07/1511186112

Carbon choices determine US cities committed to futures below sea level

The total area includes 1,185–1,825 municipalities where land that is home to more than half of the current population would be affected, among them at least 21 cities exceeding 100,000 residents. Under aggressive carbon cuts, more than half of these municipalities would avoid this commitment if the West Antarctic Ice Sheet remains stable. Similarly, more than half of the US population-weighted area under threat could be spared. We provide lists of implicated cities and state populations for different emissions scenarios and with and without a certain collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. Although past anthropogenic emissions already have caused sea-level commitment that will force coastal cities to adapt, future emissions will determine which areas we can continue to occupy or may have to abandon.

The PDF containing the supporting datasets they used for different cities and carbon scenarios can be downloaded here:

http://www.pnas.org/content/suppl/2015/10/08/1511186112.DCSupplemental

It does appear as if a number of cities, including Miami and New Orleans, are beyond hope no matter how much carbon we reduce. Let's hope we can turn this thing around in time to prevent collapse on a scale we can't survive.

Anyone who believes supporting the current status quo third way corporatist du jour is a step in the right direction is fooling themselves, corporate greed has gotten us into this mess. Just leave those games behind and commit to the magnitude of change we all know has to happen. This isn't about your candidate or mine, it's about having a future.

[SmittynMo]

2. I found this video yesterday

I thought is was too cool. It's time for changes!!!!

New theme song?

[Hotler]

3. If Ever America Needed A People’s Revolution It’s Now.

Start planning now and come spring take to the streets by the tens of thousands in mass protest and stay there. Shut the economy down with the power of our wallets and pocket books. Stop using credit/debit cards, pay with cash. turn off cable and dish, turn off as much spending as possible, shop mom and pop stores and shops. The corporations need to feel the heat.

Edit to add. Boycott Amazon now. They treat their employee's like crap.

[Babel_17]

4. We have a clear choice, and a clear opportunity, for changing the rigged game

This is the essence of the matter.

[ReRe]

5. K&R

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

6. Wholeheartedly agree...

Yes, we need leaders, no doubt. But we also need a plan. We need forward thinking people that can inform our leaders on some steps to take. Fortunately there are those kind of people in existence today.

Here's a post from which I learned about "The Next Systems Project"'. There is a PDF available that is downloadable free of charge, titled "Getting To The Next System".

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251703110

Don't give up on the websites listed in the post. I say that because of the title of the post. These sites are not about socialism but about a deep systems change in our political and financial way of life.
Not only does it outline the problems today in an easy to understand format, but gives an outline for how to get a systems change accomplished.

I have only begun to study the PDF.

I have added a link to the Google search I used to get to many of the offerings "The Next Systems Project" has.

https://www.google.com/webhp?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=&tab=iw&gws_rd=ssl#safe=off&hl=en&q=the+next+system+project

The YouTube video is a great place to start. Of course like all YouTube channels there are many to pick from.

And another thank you to Ron Green for the post and the sites.

Edited to add direct link to PDF.

http://thenextsystem.org/gettowhatsnext/

[raouldukelives]

7. Well, sure. We've needed it for 30+ years.

They key word being "people" because they are the ones daily creating the future dystopian nightmare that our current trajectory more than ensures.

We still live in a form of democracy. The corporations, those who through the gracious and willing contributions of shareholders deflect responsibility for any crimes against humanity. Not to mention shielding the most horrible truth of their avarice, the demise of our natural world.

They willingly share ownership and by doing so shield the corporations from blame. It is, in a very true form, democracy. They have the power, the choice, to align with those against addressing reality or those of us in favor of living in it, of caring for the least, of protecting and standing with our most vulnerable citizens and with the wildlife who has no voice but ours.

The true root causes of our ills, if they begin from Wall St wills, will never come to light.

[Rebkeh]

8. Well said!

Great OP, nail on the head.

The word "revolution" has impressions of violence and chaos attached to it, which is unfortunate. Some revolutions have been violent, some have not. It's obvious we mean the non-violent variety. What we need is a sea change, a new model to work on while the old model falls apart.

Bernie and Warren are the faces of the movement, the leaders, but it's ultimately up to us to get it done.

[Enthusiast]

9. Kicked and recommended to the Max!

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