I have not been to DU lately (health issues), and I really didnt intend to poast anything tonight, I just wanted some company. Anyway, I was feelng pretty good earlier today and was clicking around Kos when I came upon
this buried piece, and damn!! Kicked right in the ass with this thing! It pissed me off as I read it, but I went back a bit ago and read it again because it was really bugging me, the things this person said, and I am not pissed at the author any more, but I'm still seriously pissed.
Anyway, I thought you might want to check it out. So here are a few passages that stood out to me:
You can no longer say with complete certainty we still practice actual Democracy. You certainly cannot assert we are the Democracy the Founders attempted to create. I’m not sure what we are – part fascist state utilizing pseudo-democracy and unbridled police power? We are not quite yet the capitalist/corporate anarchy we are becoming. Close – but not quite.
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...it turns out most Dems are as fiercely delusional about Obama as Repubs were/remain about Bush. All of this, of course, leaves the door wide open for some truly vile stuff from future puppets/Presidents. Since we’re letting Obama continue Bush’s master work, we’re really giving the current power structure and how it is being utilized a big American “thumbs up.”
The author takes a bunch of different directions, and some of it is hard to take...but I like this part, especially the "human values."
But in practice, American/Christian values SUCK. Homelessness, wealth disparity, war, intolerance, poverty, violence, and a demand for the only actionable manifestation of Christianity, outside of its loud and constant proclamation as superior to any other system of values in every way, to be decidedly and single mindedly “Old Testament” in flavor...
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So where has the practice of these values/this value system led us? Does it make you proud, how these values have performed? Do you hope your children reap similar results for their futures, for their lives? Do you want them to practice these values themselves? If you do…well, you may as well stop reading. Otherwise, how about trying something different?
Forget your Christian values. Forget your American values.
How about we give HUMAN VALUES a try instead?
Oh, there's more, and its tough.
But, through no fault of their own, the Founders screwed us – and badly. They did not – and truly, could not – account for the Fourth Power of government as it exists today.
Money.
It is power, it is privilege, and it is a force used daily as a means to an end by our various governments, by corporations and businesses, and by ourselves individually and collectively. And it is completely and noticeably unaccounted for in our Constitution.
There is one obvious fix for this problem, but unfortunately it runs contrary to the collective American ego, and well, pretty effectively neuters predatory capitalism.
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Words can move mountains – yeah, sure they can – NOT!
Words inspire – BUT THEY DO NOT ACT.
You – yeah, YOU – with your texts and tweets and blogging and commenting and emails and surfing – you have become addicted to the mystique of words, and because of a selfish e-culture that rarely resists character assassination by keyboard, you have forgotten that words ALONE can never move a mountain – not ever.
Sure – you can feel all-powerful by making an insightful point commenting on a blog, or defending your point of view successfully using such literary tools necessary to defeat and humiliate those who disagree with your words. You can move people emotionally, inform and educate, and accomplish a whole lot of NOTHING other than getting an ego boost. I’m not discounting the power of words and how they can affect change – but please, a little perspective. We are literally fighting for our lives, here - and whatever power words might have, lie buried beneath the constant avalanche of words, the technological circus of words that defines our current culture. Words are everywhere, all the time, in your face non-stop, effectively diluting their power in a constant stream of meaningless invective which ultimately accomplishes little, if anything, anymore.
You are addicted to words, because they rarely require actual action. And the current Constitutional crisis we face is rooted in your word addiction. All a politician has to do is say what you want to hear – or what you don’t want to hear – and you fly into action – throwing your all-powerful words into the Intertubes to express your undying support or passionate opposition. Stroke, ego, stroke!! Stroke those keys!!
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Your outrage is getting old. Your constant bitching, hero worship, ego masturbation, cowardly fear and TOTAL capitulation to your own APPETITES, is getting very tiresome. Yes, I understand how righteous you are, how masterful your ideas, how moral your sacred Vote’s end result, how constant your fight, how deep your understanding, how gracious your giving, how perfect your soul.
What I don’t get is your utter FAILURE to do something – ANYTHING – about it. Here we sit, despite all you’ve “accomplished” with your awesomeness.
Words have a definite limit to their power, and then people must act. So WAKE the hell UP! HELLO??!!! IS ANYBODY HOME??? MCFLY??? HELLO???
We. Must. Act.
You should read the whole thing, if you can. It is a tough read, and its kind of long, but it is making me re-think a few things. The writer sure didn't hold anything back...he has some interesting things to say about revolution, too.
Edited to add article link.