tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post5268533447249398143..comments2024-03-27T18:00:02.032-04:00Comments on Sardonicky: Democratic PAC and MoveOn Using OWS As Fundraising ToolKaren Garciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15612731479365562803noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-52077186527662885092011-10-22T16:25:50.286-04:002011-10-22T16:25:50.286-04:00@Anne,
Yes! You are so right! Thanks for correcti...@Anne,<br /><br />Yes! You are so right! Thanks for correcting me! Alan Grayson = Good Guy!Valerienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-26076685061054221482011-10-22T15:33:11.038-04:002011-10-22T15:33:11.038-04:00Co-optation has become the primary strategy used b...Co-optation has become the primary strategy used by the major power blocks in the twenty-first century --- even in some of the traditionally totalitarian nations.<br /><br />Co-optation of fundamental human emotions and desires so skillfully done by advertisers has convinced so many in our consumer society that they don't just want, they MUST HAVE that new product or glamorized service.<br /><br />And western governments don't need a contemporary Lubyanka prison or accompanying gulag system for political prisoners --- not when most of the opposition can be made prisoners of their own manipulated hopes. There's always the hope that just a few years down the road, "your" candidate will win, and make "your" priorities real --- never mind that the candidate was likely bought and paid for by establishment interests even before he threw his hat into the ring, and that what most people think of as their own priorities have actually been expertly molded by a lifetime of socialization and faux "information".<br /><br />An astronomer faced with an asteroid on a collision course with earth knows that it will be far easier to deflect it than to destroy it. Likewise, politicians know that opponents of their world will be more easily co-opted than fought head-on. If they can additionally convince the rubes to contribute money towards their own co-optation, then they've really hit the jackpot. That's why we're seeing the established political organizations try to link up with OWS.Fred Drumlevitchhttp://www.freddrumlevitch.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-30746222911956529622011-10-22T10:48:24.956-04:002011-10-22T10:48:24.956-04:00This is off topic, but is yet another example of m...This is off topic, but is yet another example of media dishonesty.<br /><br />The news media recently relayed the news that Obama was announcing that all US combat troops would be withdrawn from Iraq by year's end, bringing a close to a 9 year war. <br /><br />That is only NEWS if you believed we were going to violate Iraq's demand in the SOFA of 2008 that required we get out by the end of this year. <br /><br />The 2008 Status of Forces agreement (SOFA) signed by Bush, with a deadline of December 2011 was a DEMAND made by the Iraqi government as a result of Iraqi OUTRAGE over the Blackwater slaughter and other indiscriminate civilian deaths. <br /><br />The US negotiated a timeframe for withdrawal of a couple of years. Ever since then, the US has been the one begging to stay. That is well documented by former Defense Secretary Gates' official statements. <br /><br />The news media announced that this withdrawal was a result of there being no agreement reached for troop immunity from prosecution, so we had no choice but to leave. That is only partly true and a very twisted version of reality. <br /><br />Here's a kicker. CBS news actually attempted to amend their news piece by saying that 'something was left out' and attached another piece telling us that the Iraqi government had been BEGGING us to stay, but Obama was keeping his promise to get us out.<br /><br />That wasn't twisted. That was an outright lie. Obama and the US Military was trying to STAY and failed. Do they think we forget everything we see and hear? Apparently so. <br /><br />What a weird 'reality'. The US originally bought time, then tried to extend it saying we thought they weren't ready, insisted on immunity for troops to stay, failed, and TIME WAS UP. End of war and occupation, thanks to Iraq.<br /><br />It wasn't Obama's choice or even Bush's. It was Iraq's. That is Reality.Anne Lavoienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-26683312376259491852011-10-22T08:53:19.731-04:002011-10-22T08:53:19.731-04:00@Valerie
I think you meant Grayson, not Simpson. G...@Valerie<br />I think you meant Grayson, not Simpson. Grayson=Good Guy, Simpson=Government Teat <br /><br />@Will <br />Democracy Now! Please! (Thanks)<br /><br />Occupy sign:<br />The System is Rigged<br />BuY the Gov't, For the RichAnne Lavoienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-26143293593499347322011-10-22T04:27:54.400-04:002011-10-22T04:27:54.400-04:00I'm off topic again but I just heard an interv...I'm off topic again but I just heard an interview with Bill Black (another one of my heroes) on Democracy Now (Thanks, Will for sending me off in that direction). Apparently, Merrill Lynch has just moved several billion if not a trillion (no one knows) of its bad assets (derivatives) over to Bank of America because B of A is covered by FDIC insurance. Long story short, when it all blows up, as it is about to do, the tax payer will be on the hook for yet another bailout where the investment bankers privatise the gains and socialise the losses. This was done with the blessing of the Fed by the way so Bernanke is up to his hind end in doo-doo. Ditto for the Prez.<br /><br />So, as mayors are shifting to bully tactics against the protesters, Wall Street and the big bankers are up to their same old dirty tricks. Here are some links. I found it pretty difficult to understand - which is why they get away with it.<br /><br />http://www.democracynow.org/2011/10/19/former_financial_regulator_william_black_occupy<br /><br />http://dailybail.com/home/william-black-not-with-a-bang-but-a-whimper-bank-of-americas.html<br /><br />http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2011/10/bank-of-america-deathwatch-moves-risky-derivatives-from-holding-company-to-taxpayer-backstopped-depositors.html<br /><br />By the way, as much as I love Elizabeth Warren, and I do, Alan Simpson is also running for election in Florida. From everything I see, he is a really good egg too. Just thought I would throw that one out there. If anyone disagrees, I would be interested in understanding why.Valerienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-53390366154222480182011-10-21T23:45:23.742-04:002011-10-21T23:45:23.742-04:00@Valerie
Yeah, you've got me thinking now of ...@Valerie<br /><br />Yeah, you've got me thinking now of various new angles to take with the messaging. Maybe something like Serve Your Country ..., Honor the Constitution..., Exercise Your Rights..., Show Your Patriotism...., Love Your Country... with a brief message after. Thanks!<br /><br />BTW, there was a lady at each of the Occupy events I went to who was collecting email addresses from participants. I declined to give mine and asked if she had a website I could go to, but she said she didn't. <br /><br />I told her I got my event info from OccupyTogether.org. The Meetup part of that website also asks you to sign up using your real name and email, neither of which I did - I simply showed up. Everyone is trying to collect info!<br /><br />One of my favorite signs: <br />1% Richer<br />99% Poorer<br />100% UnfairAnne Lavoienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-43218405061492292442011-10-21T21:53:40.524-04:002011-10-21T21:53:40.524-04:00@Anne
I wonder if you would have any luck getting...@Anne<br /><br />I wonder if you would have any luck getting people to join you by making a sign that says, "Join us in our fight for fairness! Your country needs you!" Not necessarily those words but you get the idea. I am thinking about making a similar sign to take to Occupy Adelaide on Nov 5. Noam Chomsky is in town. Organisers are hoping he will visit the protest site.Valerienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-75859521282663604422011-10-21T21:49:51.818-04:002011-10-21T21:49:51.818-04:00Thanks for this, Karen. As always, the best place ...Thanks for this, Karen. As always, the best place for me to pick up the REAL news is in the blogosphere and sites like Sardonicky. I think it is really important not only for the Occupy Movement to "out" MoveOn, et al. but for those of us who are aware of what is going on to speak out about it. Well meaning liberals who think they are supporting a progressive group can easily be taken in by their rhetoric. I certainly gave more than I could afford to MoveOn in 2008 before I realised, to quote Chris Hedges, what a "reprehensible" organisation they are.<br /><br />It is interesting the police are starting to arrest incredibly peaceful protests like Tampa and Cincinnati. I imagine the powers that be have concluded that Occupy isn't going to go away like they thought and is in fact, gaining strength. So they now need to try to cut it off at the knees. If you read about Occupy Tampa (thanks Neil), the protesters couldn't possibly more peaceful and accommodating - sleeping on the sidewalk next to the park (because it is illegal to sleep overnight in the park) and laying down orange tape to maintain a free/clear space for pedestrians to pass safely on the same sidewalk. Chris Hedges says the turning point in all this will be when the rank and file police refuse to arrest the protesters on behalf of the corporations. I imagine there are a lot of the rank and file just trying to stay clear and in the background an not harass the protesters. But eventually, they will be forced to take a side.Valerienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-60993507738315810572011-10-21T15:48:04.965-04:002011-10-21T15:48:04.965-04:00Good on you, Karen!
I was thinking about writing ...Good on you, Karen!<br /><br />I was thinking about writing an essay on this subject. I quit MoveOn years ago when it was obvious that they were just another placating org set up to siphon off real revolutionary "change" sentiment (and make money for their own uses from it).<br /><br />I did write an essay last week or so about not being coopted by these pretenders!<br /><br />Thanks for all you do to keep us informed.<br /><br />SuzanCirzehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07070125217972397204noreply@blogger.com