General Discussion

merrily

(45,251 posts)

28. We are at war.

Fri Jan 17, 2014, 02:17 AM

Jan 2014

Some of us are just realizing it and that is a steep learning curve.

No one with power is helping us because we have given them no incentive whatever to do so. Clinton went from being a relatively poor Governor of a poor state to having hundreds of millions of dollars, respect, affection, as much leisure time as he wants, etc. What did I do to or for him that could compare with that?

Now that we get that GOTV is not the full answer to all our political problems (and I am a latecomer to that), we need to start working much more in other directions, I think.

Things like tax strikes, boycotts, etc. would, I believe, get their attention. Massive demonstrations, as they've been having in Europe, would probably get their attention, too. Tens of thousand of people in one city. To put it bluntly, I don't think anything is going to happen unless and until they think we can unite and hurt them somehow, preferably in the wallet.

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Why bother? They're all screwing us over. [View all] Armstead Jan 2014 OP

Excellent piece. Thank you. nt MannyGoldstein Jan 2014 #1

The best thing to do now ProSense Jan 2014 #2

Mocking Scorn bobduca Jan 2014 #3

OK ProSense Jan 2014 #5

ANYTHING NOT CENTRIST IS CRAP!1111 bobduca Jan 2014 #7

+1 area51 Jan 2014 #59

As usual, I have no idea of your meaning. Armstead Jan 2014 #4

Hey, ProSense Jan 2014 #6

Once again you atre overly enigmatic Armstead Jan 2014 #9

I have to say, this is good: ProSense Jan 2014 #8

hit the nail right on the head nt G_j Jan 2014 #12

That statement is spot on infoviro Jan 2014 #93

Guy balanced the budget. Octafish Jan 2014 #113

That statement about Bill Clinton is very true. Thanks for posting it, ProSense. JDPriestly Jan 2014 #174

Laughing smilies nothwithstanding... elzenmahn Jan 2014 #185

I am appalled at OP for not having faith in Elizabeth Warren treestar Jan 2014 #71

I have much faith in Warren and Bernie and others, but..... Armstead Jan 2014 #73

I agree with the first part MissDeeds Jan 2014 #120

Obama was in the club before he got the power or he never would have gotten the power. merrily Jan 2014 #132

We are only pretending to be a democracy. nm rhett o rick Jan 2014 #10

Yep. We've been fed many myths, including about democracy. merrily Jan 2014 #35

Ancient Athens is considered a democracy even though only about 20% of the population rhett o rick Jan 2014 #115

If I am understanding your post, I think merrily Jan 2014 #121

I was merely explaining that the Democracy in ancient Athens really only rhett o rick Jan 2014 #126

Either you did not read my prior replies or you did not get it. merrily Jan 2014 #128

I am agreeing with you. nm rhett o rick Jan 2014 #129

In that case, my apologies. merrily Jan 2014 #130

Elite Theory puts forth that elites always rule in every stage of life. rhett o rick Jan 2014 #152

Yes. merrily Jan 2014 #154

If we voted on every little thing. It would be even worse. eom Blanks Jan 2014 #117

HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You !!! WillyT Jan 2014 #11

Divided? Only in rhetoric. It's Kubuki Theater. Armstead Jan 2014 #13

What I Meant Was... That It Is Some Sort Of Political Selling Point For The Masses To Digest... WillyT Jan 2014 #14

Yuppers. Armstead Jan 2014 #16

The Democrats and Republicans act together like a socket wrench. Maedhros Jan 2014 #21

Very clever analogy...and sadly true Armstead Jan 2014 #23

Also A Good Metaphor... WillyT Jan 2014 #24

I see it differently. merrily Jan 2014 #37

Democrats should have told Clinton to go to hell on many occasions Armstead Jan 2014 #43

On top of that, there is lifelong party loyalty. merrily Jan 2014 #49

+1! CrispyQ Jan 2014 #110

TPP, Loss of Internet Neutrality, Keystone, etc. G_j Jan 2014 #15

I'm 61....I'm too old for this shit. That sounds defeatist but.... Armstead Jan 2014 #18

it's realistic G_j Jan 2014 #20

Yesterday I helped a woman who was carrying a bunbch of packages into the post office Armstead Jan 2014 #22

This cycle has been going on for longer than defacto7 Jan 2014 #29

To be blunt...The system is us....And we're a bunch of assholes. So the system is a giant asshole. Armstead Jan 2014 #36

Understood! defacto7 Jan 2014 #42

Sometimes, I absolutely agree that the system is us and that merrily Jan 2014 #134

just read lordsummerisle Jan 2014 #156

remember that woman in her 80s, who walked across country to raise awareness about merrily Jan 2014 #137

Wasn't that a time? struggle4progress Jan 2014 #17

Wish i could be more like Pete Seeger Armstead Jan 2014 #19

I think Lee Hayes may have written that song. But it does not matter: struggle4progress Jan 2014 #27

yeah, you read threads like this RobertEarl Jan 2014 #26

"The very moment we thought we were lost, the dungeon shook and the chains fell off" struggle4progress Jan 2014 #31

And I've been doing my part for 40 years, and thinbgs are worse...That makes ME puke Armstead Jan 2014 #33

Yeah RobertEarl Jan 2014 #38

I used to agree with that sentiment...and maybe will again Armstead Jan 2014 #41

MLK never got sick and tired of fighting treestar Jan 2014 #79

I'm no MLK....But I'm fairly certain in his private moments he got sick and tired. And if he... Armstead Jan 2014 #98

Fannie Lou Hamer struggle4progress Jan 2014 #103

I'm glad you're keeping your faith....I hope I can get mine back Armstead Jan 2014 #104

Ronnie Gilbert & Pete Seeger are still alive, amazingly enough! Manifestor_of_Light Jan 2014 #30

Ronnie has been a fantastic gift to us struggle4progress Jan 2014 #32

though, sadly, not Seeger's wife. He's still an activist, though. merrily Jan 2014 #136

And there have been much harder times than now treestar Jan 2014 #77

And they overcome our overcoming -- Sorry but I am just really tired of this bullshit Armstead Jan 2014 #81

I agree with you, Armstead. Blue_In_AK Jan 2014 #112

It Is Easy To Be Discouraged colsohlibgal Jan 2014 #25

We are at war. merrily Jan 2014 #28

Yeah, Numbers RobertEarl Jan 2014 #34

Threads like this....You sound like a broken record Armstead Jan 2014 #39

Now, now, don't go getting personal RobertEarl Jan 2014 #45

Educating about the current truth is demotivational...I wish it were otherwise Armstead Jan 2014 #46

the THREAD? hfojvt Jan 2014 #97

Au contraire.. sendero Jan 2014 #101

but we keep losing too hfojvt Jan 2014 #94

Numbers are not meaningless unless you think that the only thing merrily Jan 2014 #142

Or, a thread could make us determined to unify against them. merrily Jan 2014 #40

and threads like this defacto7 Jan 2014 #53

The system is what it is RobertEarl Jan 2014 #55

If you know how to manipulate the system to get what you want, then this must be merrily Jan 2014 #133

the 1% got rich from us. GeorgeGist Jan 2014 #116

I remember what was OWS supposed to get started... Amonester Jan 2014 #48

OWS did get a lot of things started, including legislation in California merrily Jan 2014 #54

I understand how you feel. Once you get how the whole system is rigged, you do want to give up sabrina 1 Jan 2014 #58

But the police in Europe are not militarized to the point we are here. truedelphi Jan 2014 #143

Yes; and the unions are stronger in Europe. They probably turn out people. merrily Jan 2014 #144

Rght now, I am into the truedelphi Jan 2014 #145

Let me short cut it. merrily Jan 2014 #151

So now what. Just keep fact checking, beat the propaganda, tell the truth and hope the votes go our ancianita Jan 2014 #44

My basic point in the Op is simply that I am frustrated as hell. Fuk 'em all. Armstead Jan 2014 #47

I have been trying to think of other kinds of things to do. merrily Jan 2014 #52

K&R Excellent. Do you prefer the red box or the blue box? Egalitarian Thug Jan 2014 #50

And they know we are powerless. In fact we are not. There are things that can be done but not openly Lint Head Jan 2014 #51

Rant On Brother Dogtired Jan 2014 #56

''....as stupid as Clinton or just as deceptively cunning...'' DeSwiss Jan 2014 #57

He knew. 12ZTR Jan 2014 #60

That's a big part of it...But we also have no choice sometimes. Catch 22 Armstead Jan 2014 #65

The current dismantling of a free and fair internet go west young man Jan 2014 #61

EXACTLY! And Obama should be pushing the FCC and Congress to fix it Armstead Jan 2014 #66

I'm pretty sure that he's THEIR Trojan Horse FiveGoodMen Jan 2014 #122

Millionaire Congressmen PuraVidaDreamin Jan 2014 #62

I hear you. mnhtnbb Jan 2014 #63

It sounds reasonable but I don't think they care about that any more either TheKentuckian Jan 2014 #64

If so, the oinly hope is that they'll collapse on thermselves Armstead Jan 2014 #68

with you 100% librechik Jan 2014 #67

Amen to all of it! LiberalEsto Jan 2014 #69

Life has its ups and downs treestar Jan 2014 #70

I know -- But it just cumulatively feels like it's going down faster than its going up Armstead Jan 2014 #74

Can you folks please give up trying to make the rest of us give up? great white snark Jan 2014 #72

I'm not trying to make you do anything. I'm just really pissed off and frustrated Armstead Jan 2014 #76

Why not give up and then NOT write about it. JoePhilly Jan 2014 #84

This is a discussion board....Venting and ranting is part of discussing Armstead Jan 2014 #86

Being pissed off is a personal experience. JoePhilly Jan 2014 #92

Nah...Nobody gives a shit what I think. And i'm not adviocating anything here Armstead Jan 2014 #100

Expect "or not". JoePhilly Jan 2014 #106

That is your personal opinion or assumption. I have a very different view of why merrily Jan 2014 #135

Why not PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #193

+10000000 treestar Jan 2014 #80

I hope you are not insuating something about motives Armstead Jan 2014 #91

SING IT!! SING IT!!! SING IT!!!! hfojvt Jan 2014 #99

He posted to get encouragement, not to discourage you. merrily Jan 2014 #140

You're doing exactly what they want you to do. jeff47 Jan 2014 #75

I'm not saying don't do anything -- I'm just fed up Armstead Jan 2014 #78

And the solution to that is to keep voting. Keep agitating. Keep pushing. jeff47 Jan 2014 #83

You're right -- I agree -- But I am just fuckiong fed up and have to vent Armstead Jan 2014 #85

I get through it by thinking about what we did get jeff47 Jan 2014 #90

Okay yeah...Don't mind me. I just hava gripe sometimes. Armstead Jan 2014 #96

We all do. I'm just talking about how I deal with them. jeff47 Jan 2014 #102

Bitchin on DU is probably healthier than some ways of dealing with it Armstead Jan 2014 #105

that is not what we got. That is your view of what we got. merrily Jan 2014 #139

Actually if you look at the original PNAC documents back in 97'... go west young man Jan 2014 #187

Good to know. All the more reason not to pretend Obama got us out of Iraq and that the merrily Jan 2014 #190

And Obama didn't fight for it. jeff47 Jan 2014 #196

One definition of insanity is to continue repeating the same behavior while merrily Jan 2014 #148

You only want a "different result" because you are only looking at the headlines. jeff47 Jan 2014 #195

Thank you for this rant! City Lights Jan 2014 #82

Why bother? Le Taz Hot Jan 2014 #87

You are correct and I agree with you...But i am still pissed off Armstead Jan 2014 #88

And goddess knows Le Taz Hot Jan 2014 #89

I exactly feel the same as you and reading LaTaz's remark hits home. snagglepuss Jan 2014 #109

Congratultions.. sendero Jan 2014 #95

imo there's no reason to bother on a national scale until enough people have had it... polichick Jan 2014 #107

Probably the best way to deal with it Armstead Jan 2014 #108

I agree that local politics is where we can be most effective, Blue_In_AK Jan 2014 #114

Read my sig line. CrispyQ Jan 2014 #111

We all feel that way, but for some reason I hold on to the old man imagery when it comes to parties. valerief Jan 2014 #118

I hate to say it but we get plenty of bulletts from Dems Armstead Jan 2014 #123

We get that from Repubs, too. nt valerief Jan 2014 #124

That's my point -- I want politicians I don't have to worry about any bullets coming from Armstead Jan 2014 #125

K&R Kurovski Jan 2014 #119

R = D = I when it comes to big $$$$$. Most in that game do not give a fuck about the RKP5637 Jan 2014 #127

K&R, Good post. Just don't give up. Not just yet............. wandy Jan 2014 #131

Obama gave the PTB the friendly soft spoken person of color needed truedelphi Jan 2014 #138

There are 33 or more national "third" parties already. merrily Jan 2014 #153

Let's see - First of all six years ago, we were about to truedelphi Jan 2014 #186

Thank you for a very thoughtful and informative reply. merrily Jan 2014 #189

IMO, TPP *IS* the last straw. Triana Jan 2014 #141

K&R Totally agree. We're fucked. Coming and going. trof Jan 2014 #146

All Republicans are overt corporate stooges. sulphurdunn Jan 2014 #147

I'm still voting in 2014, and 2016. Say whatever the hell you want but I've made my decision. nomorenomore08 Jan 2014 #149

Not everyone is certain about the "lesser" part. merrily Jan 2014 #155

They may be corporatists, by and large, but at least they aren't theocrats. nomorenomore08 Jan 2014 #157

Re-criminalizing gay sex would take a constitutional amendment, as would merrily Jan 2014 #158

I'm not saying the Democrats are great by a long shot. But I'll still vote for them on the federal nomorenomore08 Jan 2014 #160

Again, not everyone would agree that they are the best option. merrily Jan 2014 #162

They have every right to vote third party, write in a candidate, or not vote at all. nomorenomore08 Jan 2014 #163

I always vote. merrily Jan 2014 #164

Millions of left-leaning Dems and independents stayed home in 2010, and look what that got us. nomorenomore08 Jan 2014 #166

I've seen this discussed on another board, but I don't recall the details. merrily Jan 2014 #169

I understand that. But I don't know what else to do except throw up my fucking hands. nomorenomore08 Jan 2014 #172

Fair enough. Thank you. merrily Jan 2014 #191

I'm not tryin g to talk you out of that. Better a D than an R Armstead Jan 2014 #180

I have no disagreement with anything you said. And I would love Sanders or Warren for President nomorenomore08 Jan 2014 #183

It will have to start with local elections. Seattle just got it's first socialist city council liberal_at_heart Jan 2014 #150

It does not have to be either or. merrily Jan 2014 #159

I won't give up. I might lose, but I won't give up. But then...... socialist_n_TN Jan 2014 #161

Wow, I really couldn't agree more. Not Sure Jan 2014 #165

That's what frustrates me -- I can deal with slow progress. But we're going backward Armstead Jan 2014 #181

I liked your use of "higher versus lower nature" BelgianMadCow Jan 2014 #167

I remember you...and it's good to see you when you Come and Post... KoKo Jan 2014 #168

Welcome back Armstead. kentuck Jan 2014 #170

Well expressed, Armstead. pacalo Jan 2014 #171

I like Obama -- and Clinton too. I'm just tired of the type of leadership they represent. Armstead Jan 2014 #182

I agree they'd do a heck of a lot better if they fought for liberal principles. pacalo Jan 2014 #184

I Am Glad I have the Automated Claptraps on Ignore fascisthunter Jan 2014 #173

Agreed.. go west young man Jan 2014 #194

Oh, being screwed royally, alright. But it's a "bi-partisan" screwing. Feel better??? blkmusclmachine Jan 2014 #175

So glad to see you again, Armstead! And I totally feel the same way. scarletwoman Jan 2014 #176

Well said. K&R n/t OhioChick Jan 2014 #177

Nicely done. K&R n/t ChromeFoundry Jan 2014 #178

Well said.. russspeakeasy Jan 2014 #179

That sums up how I feel for the most part. K&R deutsey Jan 2014 #188

Ask yourself "Why do we depend on leaders in the first place?" johnlucas Jan 2014 #192