Can We Engineer a Bloodless Revolution?
92This Hub is dedicated to Richard W. Posner
This hub is about campaigning, and Richard, Hubpages' ColdWarBaby, is a campaigner. He is outraged at the insatiable greed, callousness, cynicism and ruthlessness of the ruling elite, and appalled that they remain in the ascendency at everyone's expense. He is motivated by outrage and compassion, never by jealousy. He deserves our support. CWB - thanks.
Do we need a bloodless revolution?
We don't need a re-run of the French or Russian revolutions. These were not marked successes in the history of societal politics. We don't want civil war or even riots in the streets if these can be avoided. But we do need a far more equitable distribution of resources than we have at present, whether we look nationally or globally. And, at a deeper level, we need a full overhaul of the monetary system.
This is not about politics...
Or at least, it's not about party politics. It's not even about Europe or America. It's bigger than that. Regardless of your party affiliation, unless you've been lucky, or are one of the elite, the chances are that your standard of living and future prospects have been in decline in recent years. Younger professionals on the job ladder are the least likely to notice, because they may still be cushioned by annual increments and promotions and are unlikely to have accrued much in the way of retirement funds. But for the middle-aged it's not so rosy. My pension fund last year dropped in value by more than I can earn in two years and more than I can save in ten. So, aged 56, I'm swimming upstream towards a retirement that I might never be able to enjoy. And I'm one of the lucky ones, in good health with a good job.
The Monetary System is not Broken
You'll hear folk say that the monetary system is rotten to the core and needs a major overhaul. I said it myself in my opening paragraph. But in fact, it is patent nonsense. The monetary system has never been in better shape. It exists not to distribute money to the needy but to funnel it upwards to the elite by the simple mathematics of compound interest. It is working so well that the elite have attained power (wealth) enough to demand and receive our children's and grandchildren's rightful share now, in the form of bailouts. That's a good machine, if you own it.
And the traditional leftists and rightists slug it out in the media and the blogs, blaming each other till the cows come home. Meanwhile, the elite, who own no party loyalty (since they effectively own the major parties) are laughing all the way to the privately owned bank.
But this is not just another hub about the evils of Global Capitalism. Anyone who doesn't already see that society is organised for the benefit of the few at the expense of the many will not be persuaded by one more article. If you fall into the category of being reasonably satisfied with the status quo, give or take a few minor tweaks, we might as well part company now, before I start to talk about revolution.
Why a Bloodless Revolution?
I would shed no tears if some terrible fate befell certain members of the elite. Those who reap huge profits from war, armaments, disease, pollution and despoliation - "They'd none of them be missed!" But I wouldn't stand in line to be Lord High Executioner. Enough blood has been spilt already. Besides which, history shows that violent revolution may start out with the highest ideals but nearly always loses its way in the fog of war, replacing the bad with the just as bad, or worse. No, what we need is not one bloody revolution but a groundswell of social and personal realignments in attitude, behavior and expectations. We are not equipped to storm the Bastille, even if we could find it. But we can all play a part in eroding its power, reducing its influence in our lives and finally laughing it to scorn. Here are a few ideas:
Revolution 1 - Awareness
An apathetic or confused populace is easily controlled. And while you may be the honourable exception, you surely see around you many people who either have no interest at all in anything beyond their next soap, sleep or shag, or who claim an interest but are nothing more than spokesparrots for one or other of the old, tired, failed ideologies. The first group are the apathetics; the second are the confused. And both represent a triumph of the elite. Focused either on little sensual fulfillments or petty party squabbles, they do not see that their true purpose in life is passing money up the chain to its natural home at the top. Awareness of the true situation is the first step in changing it, But the odds are stacked against change, through wholly owned media and virulent, omnipresent advertising. Spread the word!
Revolution 2 - Conviviality
Conviviality, literally living together, is the key to reinventing society from the bottom up. Ivan D. Illich was first to pioneer convivial communities and technologies in the early seventies. He was a great thinker whose time has come. A convivial community is one that shares resources and skills without the need for money, on a barter basis, or perhaps with a local currency. The unit is still the family household; we are not talking about communes. But in a convivial community, cooperation replaces competition as the driving force. Illich's work was mainly in the developing third world, and the irony is that his third world ideas are becoming ever more applicable in the 'developed' world, thanks to the failure (except for the elite) of the present order. A convivial community does more than look after itself. It strikes a blow at the heart of the elite machine, by denying it sustenance and increasing its irrelevance. For this reason, don't expect much help from the state in setting one up!
Revolution 3 - Consumerism
If you don't need it, don't buy it. The less we spend, the less gets produced and the less raw materials are consumed. Of course we need things, but as consumers we should fight against stupidity. No-one needs a car with a 5.5 litre engine. Unless you live in Perrier, you don't need their water. Unless you are a serious runner, you don't need $150-worth of air-sprung torsion system. Just do it, but not in Nikes. Or why help Tiger Woods to become a little richer when all you want is a sweat shirt? We should not deprive ourselves of essentials or specialist goods that we genuinely want and will use. But we, collectively, are being taken for a ride. It's time to jump off.
Revolution 4 - Pacifism
We've had all the war we need, and more. The valid reason for the existence of a military is defense against direct attack on sovereign territory. Also, by virtue of its training and facilities, the military is often best placed to carry out humanitarian work following a natural disaster. But that should be the limit of overseas intervention, unless as part of a United Nations task force to prevent atrocities against helpless people. It is not disloyal to condemn military adventurism abroad, especially when it is clearly commercially driven. Military power is the executive arm of the elite and should be recognised as such. Pacifism is a dirty word in some quarters, but if qualified by unless under direct attack, what is the possible objection? As revolutionaries, we should speak against, and vote out where possible, all who support military adventurism. We should be more discerning in differentiating between high command and serving soldiers. It is wholly consistent to condemn the former while respecting (but not glorifying) the latter.
Revolution 5 - Expectations
It is time to re-examine our expectations for our lives For years they have been far too low: typically fifteen years institutionalised full-time schooling, forty years full-time work, fifteen years retirement on reduced income. a few holidays, a few hobbies, a few luxuries if we're lucky. We've allowed ourselves to be defined by the machine, to do what the machine requires us to do. In straightened times, when the work dries up, we find ourselves wishing the 'good' old days of plenty-of-work would return. But instead we should be raising our expectations - reaching out for the possible, our birthright. To do this, we need to rid our minds of false equivalences: transportation does not mean private car, schooling is not education, employment is not work. And food is not McDonalds. Our birthright, earned for us by the genius and philanthropy of our previous generations should include: lifelong learning, the best of art, literature, music, recreation, a clean and healthy environment, peace and personal safety, convivial communities, and contentment, punctuated by joy. Anything less is sub-human. We already have the technologies and knowledge to bring this about, but it will not happen while we remain in thrall to the elite and their machine. They will fight every inch of the way. They will divide us, left against right, Christian against Moslem, man against woman, young against old. They are cunning but they are also ridiculous. Laugh them to scorn and demand your birthright.
These are only a few of the many ways we as individuals and collectively can work to gradually sideline the elite and reclaim control of our lives. We need to recognise each other as friends united against a numerically small but disproportionately powerful common enemy. We need to forget our differences in pursuit of this common goal.
Thanks for reading. Spread the word!
Postscript:
In the wake of this hub, Pam Grundy, Richard Prosner and Dave McClure (Paraglider), together with a team of twelve hub authors, set up a cooperative blog, Dropout Nation, to further explore and develop the ideas of Convivial Communities and the Bloodless Revolution. Please visit us and help keep the pot boiling.
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Comments
I can not find one idea here that I would oppose: all are thoroughly reasonable and defined with clarity. I've been trying to think of an analogy to Gandhi and his march for local salt production, and here it is in your article: communities that can take care of themselves instead of "buying government salt" -- i.e. channeling the money up to the few.
This is beautifully written and so carefully phrased, too. Thank you for writing it.
And Bravo again from me! You and I have often tripped over each other on CWB's hubs. Richard has been a lone voice in a howling gale for far too long. There is an awareness creeping in to society. Things have gone too far this time, and people are beginning to prick up their ears, and scent what is in the wind. I hope the revolution will indeed be bloodless, but I suspect otherwise.
This morning I visited our local farmer's market in Shoreham and got talking to the lady on the Transition Towns stall. The Transition Towns movement is growing very fast now, and is just one good way of making a change from the bottom up. There are a couple of hubs posted about it including one of my own, and it's certainly worth googling the Transition Towns Wiki for some great advice and information.
Elena - thanks! Awareness has to come first as the prime mover of any remedial action. It can be hard to get people's attention sometimes.
Teresa - the problem will always be preaching to the choir. It was very tempting in the writing of this to assume agreement that could lead to excessive expression. But I think that so many people remain unaware of what's going on that one step at a time is the only way to make an impression.
Amanda - yes. There may be a real revolution if things don't improve, but the danger is that the energy of outrage might dissipate itself in flare-ups against wrong targets, benefitting no-one and hurting many. Feel free to post a link here to your transition towns hub. It's entirely relevant.
Elena tipped me off about this one, and I will have to take issue with her. She failed to tell me that this would be the best Hub that I have read for a long time.
I agree fully - comparing the UK and Greece, you can see that Greek kids are far more politically aware, and have not yet descended into apathy and consumerism.
I gave up fighting the machine many years ago - it always smashes you. However, taking a sideways step, and escaping the grind - that is the way to fight, on a ground of our choosing. Big thumbs up!
Hi Sufi - thanks for visiting! Wherever there's money or resources, the machine moves in to exploit it, and the people who channel it. Here in Qatar, consumerism has all but eclipsed Islam as the dominant culture, just as it has in Dubai. I agree with you that we have to fight this on our terms, not on the elite's, because that battle is unwinnable.
I'm standing up with Elena and applauding - this is the single most powerful piece of sheer common sense about society that I've read for a long time; the clarity and simplicity of your ideas do not detract form the profundity, truth and logic expressed here; as a manifesto for a bloodless revolution it is spot on.
Hurrah !
Ahem, Paraglider, excuse me a moment while I quote myself here, this is what I told Sufi in regards to this article: "I just read paraglider's new hub, excellent read, excellent message, much recommended". How can Sufi take issue then? :-)
Iphigenia - thank you for your support. We should never give up on the power of the pen to obviate the need for blood. It would be tragic if mass frustration simply boiled over into a revenge frenzy. But I suspect we're short of time.
I wish everyone would wake up this morning and read just this one hub. I'm going to find it hard to think about anything else for quite a while. I'll be passing it on as it's very worthy.
Elena - I'll let you off, this time! :-)
Thanks Jerilee - I enjoyed writing it. It's been on the back burner for a while until the format suggested itself this morning.
Great read Paraglider. Makes allot of sense and is a good reference as a resolution. Will spread this one around. You've been Facebooked.
Thanks Jewels - all the good thinkers are finding this one. That's an encouraging sign!
Sorry, Elena, but you downplayed it - you should have said 'essential reading' rather than 'recommended' - lol
Just messin' with ya.....Please put the crowbar down....:(
Paraglider - My pleasure - I love your work. There are so many people who are unhappy with things, but they do not always know where to start. I hope that more than a few people find this article. We need passionate guys like CWB, but we also need a little Paraglider cool counsel :)
Hi Paraglider--I was very glad to see this. You did the perfect job with it. I've been thinking similar thoughts but I know I would not have written it as calmly and directly as you did, and I think that calm but direct language is called for. We a need a pragmatic approach for organizing, not more hot rhetoric. Everyone is full of hot words and no action these days. It is so refreshing to see something more measured and pragmatic.
That said, how do we move from rightfully applauding you and CWB and then going about our business the same old way? Most of what you suggest my own household has already taken up (we don't live communally though).
I think the conviviality is the missing link. I started a blog calling for a national strike in July of 2010 but haven't done anything with it because I feel like an ass. Who am I? Paul Revere? But what do you think of some kind of organized online community like that with a set goal? It seems to me that this problem has two parts even once you break through apathy: 1) lack of focus--all the second hand shopping in the world won't do it, and one person taking to the streets won't do it, it needs to be big enough to be noticed and be painful (without blood), and 2) lack of conviviality--of real live people in the same space brainstorming and moving against the flow loudly.
We used to know how to do these things back in the Viet Nam era. Why can't we seem to organize today? I think the will is there--it's what got Obama (imperfect and NOT left though he is), and I think support is growing. How do we move past, "Wow, what a great hub Paraglider, CWB, pgrundy, whatever?"
You know, I've just thought of an idea with the blog. This weekend I'll email everyone who might seem interested in writing on their with an eye to organizing and see what happens. I should get my answer soon enough. People will show up and write and help or they won't.
Thanks for the push. :)
Pam - I suspect we're still in the spreading awareness stage. The huge hurdle is irrationality - people's tendency to grab easy answers instead of thinking things through. It's this tendency that leads to us fighting each other instead of recognising that we're all being shafted. Back in the Viet Nam era the media was more independent than today which made it easier to gain a wide hearing for an alternative point of view. But the blogosphere or even twitter can pull the odd surprise. Sooner or later something will take hold. Good idea to invite authors to your blog. But if it becomes another American left/right debate, it's going nowhere. The problem is global so the solution must be too.
Yes - how do we move past "great hub?" I'm in. Lets spread more awareness for the next month and see how big we can make the wave.
Is interesting timing - 60 minutes tomorrow night is doing a session on how Gen Y don't know how to handle not having a job, and the unlimited use of their credit cards!.
I should think that a website or blog where the comments aren't posted until moderated would be the ticket, with clear rules about trolling and left/right debate, or at least a place where it was to be contained--a thread or two in a forum for instance. That way, anyone trying to derail the ideas would have their comment deleted with periodic reminders that debate of that nature is to be confined to wherever, it's appointed place. A container.
I don't really think we are spreading awareness right now, we're just being angry and fighting with each other, and once in awhile a piece like yours comes through more rationally. I don't think "something will take hold" without some of us doing LOTS of work to MAKE it take hold. Something has alread taken hold--and it's choking the life out of the rest of us. Why should it let go? As you say, the system is working very well--for them.
But I'm not faulting you personally, just venting. I'll send out some emails and see what happens. :)
Paraglider, I am in a similar position to yours, in the sense that my retirement has lost much of its value due to inflation. But why do you blame compound interest of all things?
You write:"It exists not to distribute money to the needy but to funnel it upwards to the elite by the simple mathematics of compound interest. It is working so well that the elite have attained power (wealth) enough to demand and receive our children's and grandchildren's rightful share now, in the form of bailouts. That's a good machine, if you own it."
Compound interest exists neither to distribute money to the "needy" nor to "the elite". It exists in order to pay people, people just like you and me, for letting other people borrow their money. That's what our retirement is!
Our retirement has been looted by those who have asked for bailouts, both large and small. These people include: large corporations and their stockholders, and small businesses and their owners, and individuals all of whom have gone bankrupt or on the dole, and are never going to repay their rightful obligations.
If you don't want to incite a bloody revolution, then let's not blame everything on one social class!
I'm raising my own chickens so that when my money is worthless, my family will still have something to eat. The cycles of social organization come and go, but it's not different for humans than it is for bees:
independence ==> interdependence ==> exploitation ==> interdependence ==> independence
(And then a repeat...)
See my hub on the evolution of selfishness.
Paraglider - a wonderful piece of writing.
There's a severe shortage of commonsense in the world.
Perhaps we can start a school that teaches it.
Paraglider: This is, without a doubt, the best hub I've read. On any subject. It is reasoned and calm, the sign of an authentic intellectual. You can trust me to Digg, Mix, Facebook, Twitter, Stumble it - and generally talk it up as much as I am able.
Paraglider - Because I am the son of a Fortune 100 CEO (with whom I had a loving relationship and who, I still believe, was a good man), I can safely say that I am not a member of the choir. That notwithstanding, this is easily the best hub I've read and one of the best pieces of writing anywhere I've read.
PGrundy - This is one of those few times when I disagree with you somewhat. I am one who believes, sadly, that conflict (demonstrations or riots or civil war) is probably unavoidable. But I believe that is premature now and that what Paraglider is doing here is exactly what is needed. An article like his will not dematerialize "the machine", but it will cause many people to see their lives and the events around them more clearly. If one were to send demonstrators into the street now, their numbers would be so small and the general populace still so confused as to the cause of their problems, that the machine's voice -- ie, the media -- would quickly make those demonstrators look like fools and, thereby, inhibit your goals. I know you know all this and that you were just venting for the moment. So am I, I guess. But I believe that Paine's Common Sense had a lot more to do with our revolution than many people want to acknowledge.
I don't think we should all go out into the streets, not now. I don't think we even disagree. I just think that nothing will change without organization, and it wouldn't hurt to start bringing people together toward that end. I'm thinking sometime around the the middle of 2010 things will look very different, and if some constructive organizations are already in place, that will help. What I'd like to see is more organizing, not necessarily take-to-the-streets organizing, just gathering and brainstorming. Where is the American Left? It's as though it's fallen off a cliff.
I thought the American left was currently in office.
No it isn't. Obama is a centrist. The Republican Party has moved far, far to the right. The Left is more visible than it once was, but it's still fairly impotent compared to where it was in the 70s.
It's a mark of how far to the right the U.S. has moved that you (and many others) see Obama as a leftist.
Jewels - spreading awareness is still the highest priority. Most people are still asleep!
Pam - we have to stop the small town bickering and realise that this is a global oppression and exploitation. Probably it's easier to see here in Qatar, where privilege can buy and exploit labour with impunity. In the west, it's rather better hidden, under media blankets and spin. But squabbling the old left/right battle is leading nowhere.
Aya - I blame compound interest because it is the instrument used by the bankers to divert money from productive to non-productive people. I am not blaming everything on one social class. I am, however, blaming the cynical predators who exploit all of us, labour/tory, republican/democrat. These people are outside what they like to tell us is politics.
Eric, yes, but please, not a school - a learning web would fit the bill :)
Mindfield - thank you for your support, and anything you can do by way of promotion will be much appreciated.
Steve - I particularly appreciate it when someone with whom I've had a minor disagreement comes forward as a supporter. (And it was very minor!) The issue of civil war is pertinent. It would be best if it could be staved off for long enough for people to underastand that this is not an American/British/European problem but a global one. This is more of a Copernican revolution than a Tolpuddle martyrs re-run.
Pam - please stop asking about the American Left. This is bigger than left/right. We need the right on board too. They are also losing their homes and their jobs.
Aya - {I thought the American left was currently in office.} This is a perfect example of what we don't need. These old set-piece debates are exactly what the elite want us to waste our energy on. Let it go.
Paraglider,
This is a beautiful hub, for a minute my mind left reality and I saw a beautiful place. Then reality hit me again and I thought I would comment.
As a retired Warrior I know of no bloodless way to accomplish this world you speak of, I am scarred with the worst kind of PTSD, the kind that doesn't' debilitate, but makes you more refined and accurate in your trade.
As a scientist I cannot overlook the millions of years of evolution that has made things they way they are. The elite are what they are, because of who they are. I fear you do not communicate the shear desire and will, they have to keep things the way they have it.
They have and will throw the world into destruction to keep the status quo. They also know the science and understand exactly why half of the poor can always be paid and counted on to kill the other half. You call it whatever division you want to, but it always comes down to that.
I do agree with much you have here, money is the root of all evil; it can never be a part of an equation that equals equality. Once money is introduced the balance sheets can never be equal again. Someone will have more than someone else.
As for a military, no country can maintain liberty that maintains a standing Army. That is why the founding fathers of the United States only wanted a regulated militia to be called in case of attack.
Standing Armies are just Fancy Welfare Mom's they breed more of the same and always want a raise.
This is why a global approach must be taken. Anything that ends with borders and divisions give the perfect preface to a call to nationalism and the raising of an army, which leads to consumption and selective annihilation, and the resurrection of Hierarchy.
So, I will pray for the bloodless revolution, and I will do whatever I can to see that end, but when the realization sets in, that it is not possible, I also have my stash and I have no problem killing the guilty, as I have killed enough of the innocent, it would at least get my own balance sheet back to even.
I think all good revolutions require a good mix of leaders; nothing is as dangerous as complete agreement. We all have a part to play.
TMG
TMG - I am not naive. I don't think a bloodless revolution is going to happen, and I know the elite are not going to step aside meekly. But it's just possible that a revolution fueled by knowledge and outrage would yield better fruit than one fueled by ignorance and envy. So we spread the word, and hope...
Thanks for commenting!
Paraglider,
You write: "I blame compound interest because it is the instrument used by the bankers to divert money from productive to non-productive people."
Face it: retirees are not productive in the economy at the time when they retire. A free economy allows individuals to accumulate their own surplus and use it on any number of things: charity, science, art, their reproductive goals, and even ... a comfortable retirement without being productive.
If we really believed that no one is entitled to live without working throughout his lifetime, then we would execute all retirees, in the same way as worker bees are executed rather than retired.
Aya - Don't tell me to 'Face it'. You misrepresent me wilfully, set up a straw man to burn down. That's your prerogative but I don't have to play.
To Knowledge and Outrage! May it stamp out fear, envy, and ignorance forever!
TMG
TMG - I know it won't but it's better than not trying!
Paraglider,
I may come off as a cynic, but deep down inside I am very much an Optimist, and I do mean it when I say: "To Knowledge and Outrage!" it is a very catchy byline that might serve its purpose for a bit. Of course not all will be onboard, but you don't need all to change the world, just enough is all that is required.
TMG
Paraglider, I meant no disrespect. I'm very sorry if you took it that way. My hub on the evolution of selfishness is just the sort of non-sectarian discussion of what possible social arrangements we can have, without any adherence to the usual labels. It discusses what measures are available to fight exploitation. It also discusses the cycling of social trends.
In many ways, I thought we were on the same side here. I, too, think that we should avoid currency at the moment and develop independent strategies to live to our highest potential. This is not because currency is bad. It is also not because banking is inherently bad. It is because, at the moment, currency is manipulated by the powers that be to be worthless.
Are the powers that be "the elite" or "the riffraff"? Either label is beneath the notice of someone who hopes to avoid the usual politics. -- If you label the people in charge "the elite", you betray a particular bias. If you label them something else, you may betray a different bias. Why label them at all?
I personally feel very offended by anyone who claims that I am not entitled to interest on my savings. It is that interest that has enabled me to quit the rat-race and do independent research. It is the right to own property that enables me to start growing my own food, when other sources of income are depleted. Without property rights, how can anyone determine his own mode of life?
Who will decide what is productive work and what is not? Isn't this a valid question?
TMG - I am in.
'To Knowledge and Outrage!'
Awareness is essentail to wake people from the dream they are slumebring throug, the dream that our current reality is the only one possible with minor modificaions. This is simply not true. a convival community or a cooperative society is indeed doable but we need to do. We are meant to thrive not barely survive.
The best Hub I've read, without a doubt! And I'm mad as hell and don't want to take it anymore! (Someone else said that first, but I can't rember who!) So I'm all for knowledge and outrage. Thanks for this really great piece of writing. It deserves to be be widely read and understood.
And ruling elites will always behave as ruling elites do. We have seen it in South Africa where after the death of apartheid in 1994 a new ruling elite took over, and so help me it is starting to behave in many ways just as the old apartheid regime did - callous disregard for the poor and vulnerable while digging their snouts deep into the trough.
I watched with anger and disbelief the shenanigans of the G8. They are so totally caught up in the effort to keep the status quo.
Anyway - thanks for writing this necessary piece and much strength to your arm!
Love and peace
Tony
I concur: To Knowledge and Outrage. (But a part of me wants to throw the Klingon salute in afterward . . . that can't be right! ;-)
Tony - Paddy Chayefsky said it first.
I can only join the others by standing in support. Simply, logically, and truthfully put, an early morning eye-opening shot of lucidity and hope!
I'm in Pam. I'll do a blog about it and point them towards wherever. Email me with details!
(Tony - MindField is right, in the film "Network."
Paraglider,
A well written and timely hub. Your ideas are spot on. I would use the term coummunity rather than conviviality, but that is just semantics. Many of these ideas were also put forth by the Nashville Agrarians in the 1930's. This is a time we need to rethink expectations, consumerism (they used the term 'progress' for the sake of progress), and awarenss are needed. Many people are so used to passivity (not passivism) that they prefer to indulge in their personal peace and affluence (the modern day bread and circuses). The danger with passivity is that it becomes crippling to the mind and the body. We need people to be awake and be able to respond to the world around us.
Keep up the good work!
TMG - it's true that you don't need all on board, but you do need all camps (except the enemy) to prevent the thing becoming another exercise in beating up the wrong guy (immigrants, leftists, rightists, Islam, etc) We should all be in this together.
Aya - banking is inherently bad because it is based on interest. There could be no private banking without interest. If there were no interest, savings would retain their value as static neutral money.
Bob E - We are indeed, and the technology and knowledge for how to thrive already exists. But the powers would rather dissipate our potential in useless and destructive wars.
Tony - power corrupts, etc. South Africa had a chance to get it right. It is tragic if the chance is already squandered.
MindField - Klingon salute is just fine :)
Christoph - I'm also waiting for Pam's email. If enough of us start writing this stuff, it might just gain a foothold.
J D Murrah - Illich's original use of 'convivial' was as a measure of the value of a tool or a technology - does it help community or alienate people? Thanks for the visit!
WE can do it.
Revolutions of the past have all been localized. Since the sources of oppression were confined to relatively small regions, the rebellions against them were likewise.
The mightiest “empires” of yore have been insignificant in comparison to the globalized assault we are witnessing today. None has ever established global hegemony such as we see coalescing now.
Even the great "world wars" were just minor bumps in the road and a part of the drive toward the pivotal moment we now face.
We are teetering at the brink of the first global revolution. The supremacist machine has finally achieved unified, world spanning, Earth shattering capabilities. It is not even a nation. It is a class ideology that seeks total domination.
The only thing that will stop it now is the joining of the vast majority of humanity into a single force that simply refuses to participate in its own subjugation and enslavement. If the people of the world, the workers, those who create all real wealth, simply refuse to play the money game, the vultures that have preyed for millennia on the corpses of the societies they have destroyed will simply starve.
It is now time for our family reunion. I have said it many times; the human race is a single family. Gaia can provide for ALL if we will simply use her resources wisely and equitably.
I know I sometimes verge upon what may seem near madness to those who are yet complacent. I can only say, the longer you cling to your unfounded complacency, the more crippling will be the blow when reality finally shatters your illusions.
These two sites, however extreme they may seem, are worthy of some study. The first process could help in the transition to the second.
http://thezeitgeistmovement.com/
I applaud pgrundy’s suggestion and look forward to participating.
I thank Paraglider profusely for his acknowledgment.
I have been heartened and inspired by the many excellent people I have had the good fortune to encounter here. You give me hope for the triumph of reason and compassion over ignorance and greed.
Thank you.
Paraglider,
This is a really great hub. I feel that we are kindred spirits from what you've written here. You really have though this out a lot and were very clear and concise in the way you set it forth. Bloodless revolution is the key. Not that people shouldn't be willing to do whatever it takes, but like you said, those things often end up getting lost in the fog of war along the way. Check my post if you like. It's my first one on here, probably not as concise as yours but I'd be interested to know what you think.
Markus Leonidas
Hi CWB - welcome! Globalisation is not, in itself, a bad thing. Global information and education, global peer networks, global technologies, all of these can be forces for good. The problem we're facing is global exploitation by the few. For recent historical reasons, most of that 'few' inevitably come from US and Western Europe. That is why it is particularly important for real people from these countries to raise their voices and tell the world they are not part of the domination plan but are also suffering under it.
Markus - Thank you for your support. I'm just starting work now but will check out your article in the evening.
I couldn't agree more Paraglider. I'm all for globalization as long as it means a united, prosperous and free human family living and working peacefully together for the common good.
I use the term in the presently understood sense, which is the process of global privatization. It is the ongoing capitalization of all resources for the profit of a small group of supremacists.
It is still incomprehensible to me that such a small number of otherwise incompetent and non-productive people has come to wield such inconceivable power.
Paraglider, what makes it "banking"? If it's the fact that somebody charges interest, then I guess that makes any transaction where one person lends money to another in return for a fee "banking". Have you never lent money to someone privately? Have you never charged that person an interest rate that both of you thought was fair? I have. It was a person I knew. He needed quick cash to close a transaction with a third party. There was a note involved, which he drew up. We signed the note. He paid me back early. I made interest, and everybody was happy. What's wrong with that?
Even if we all went on a barter system, lending with interest would still be possible. Say I have a barrel of apples. I don't need them right now, but a friend of mine needs a barrel of apples to trade for a goat he wants. I say: "Fine. You can have the barrel of apples right now. But next September, pay me back a barrel plus one eighth of a barrel." If we both agree to this, what's wrong with it?
Letting someone have now what he could not get until later is of value. People are willing to pay for it. Other people can earn resources this way which will allow them to devote more time to their family or to scientific research or to art or whatever other pursuit is theirs. How can you condemn the practice of earning by letting other people use things that you have?
Hi Paraglider, I see that a substantial amount of traffic has passed through since I visited yesterday. I've given the whole issue quite a lot of thought and I've concluded that what we absolutely need as a priority, is a campaign against debt. The old anti-drugs slogan springs to mind, 'Just say NO'. Of course this is a tough call for those all ready deeply mired in debt, but if those teetering on the brink were to explore other avenues (such as saving, economising, and taking on extra work) then it would certainly be a move in the right direction.
I'm with TMG, enough said.
I was trying to write out a response to the Zeitgest Movement file that Richard sent out – and here comes a hub that encapsulates and simplifies the way forward from the morass of materialism we find ourselves trapped in. First off, Paraglider, let me say that it’s admirable that you’ve dedicated this hub so deservedly to someone who is so selfless, passionate and committed to making this world a better place. And then of course, kudos for this roadmap that points the way to the kind of life that is our birthright.
My one concern in all this – not with this hub but with a movement like this, is the fact that most thinkers – and they will have to be the prime movers in formulating strategies to help us break free – tend to think that only their way is the right way and this very often slows down collective progress. Maybe the reason that so much of the world’s wealth is being funnelled up to a few is because many of us are too busy looking at the motes and beams in others’ eyes instead of climbing out of the cesspool we find ourselves in.
That said, if ever in history we can do it, we can do it now. I think the Internet has made knowledge and information dissemination so fast that awareness at least can spread much quicker and much more than ever before. Do you think we can all put our shoulders to the plough and get out of the rut we find ourselves in? We can, if we focus on what should lie ahead.
Thank you for an excellent, thought-provoking, kick-us-awake hub!
Shalini, it's odd you should mention the "Zeitgeist Movement" just now. There's a hub about that here on Hubpages that includes a video that appears to endorse having a computer run the world. I've posted a hub responding to that. What is the "Zeitgeist Movement" and is it connected to the video that Indigenous posted on his hub entitled "My First Hub" ?
I haven't watched the video Aya - you can find the pdf here - it's a great read:
http://www.thezeitgeistmovement.com/The%20Zeitgeis
Interesting and intelligent view from an old perspective...I would only add that to have effective change you must first show the benefits...I'm not seeing much here that would improve or multiply the opportunities available to my family. Subordination to a " global family ", a One-World Utopian view, may appeal to some, I'm just not one of them...
My first responsibility is to my family, not a community, commune, or conviviality. My investments are a reflection of the hard work, foresight, and maturity provided to insure a safe and secure future for my family. Aya Katz is absolutely correct in her assessment of compound interest ...
One must always consider the human dynamic when proposing change....we are our own worst enemies when we delude ourselves with visions of world peace, one human family, with love for all...Admirable sentiments and one we should all, as individuals, strive towards, but hardly realistic in the larger sense.....perhaps when man has matured we will see that day...
Aya - there's a difference between letting people use things you have and charging compound interest on a debt which you then sell (at a profit) to someone else who sells it (at a profit), etc. Small private loans are not the problem. Leveraged packaged debt, and betting on debt, is what has crashed the economy.
Amanda - in 'our' day (because you are of my generation, though a little bit younger!) the only debt we took on was the mortgage against the house. Nowadays people expect everything (including lifestyle) on tick. I agree - it's stupid, and unsustainable.
Dohn121 - me too - thanks!
Shalini - on an individual level, we can sort ourselves out, but that won't alter the fact that the super-rich are getting super-richer on our backs. I think the biggest hurdle is getting people to abandon their (relatively) trivial differences and realise that we are all in this together
Aya & Shalini - I think some of the claims of the Zeitgeist movement are far-fetched. There are no technologies available, for example, that can realise 4,000 mph monorail trains. But their analysis of economics is admirable and their motivation is certainly for the best.
Shalini, thanks for the link. It seems to be almost word for word like the video on the hub by Indigenous. I quote the relevant portion:
"In a Resource-Based Economy, participation is open to everyone, because all issues are fundamentally recognized as technical.... Who makes decisions in a Resource-Based Economy? No one does. Decisions are arrived at by the use of the Scientific Method, utilizing computers that gain real time feedback from the environment, along with a Central Historical Database of all known technical information, and maintained by evolving interdisciplinary teams. This combination could be called the Cybernated Industrial System."
Am I reading this wrong, or does this say that a computerized system will use the scientific method to make all decisions for us?
maven101 - It's your prerogative to assume that we can't improve our lot. But will your grandchildren thank you for not trying? If it ain't broke, don't mend it, but if it's knacked beyond belief, at least think about it!
{{Am I reading this wrong, or does this say that a computerized system will use the scientific method to make all decisions for us?}}
Aya - yes, you're reading it wrong. Technological decisions will, more and more, be delegated to electronic processing. (This process has already started). Scientific advances will always depend on imaginative hypotheses which for the foreseeable future will come from people.
So, then if it's not the computers who will make the decisions, is it the interdisciplinary teams who will make the decisions? Dictatorship by the scientific establishment? The scientific method is not an agent, so somebody has to apply it.
What does it means that no one will make the decisions? Who or what will that "no one" be?
Aya - I am not a spokesman for the Zeitgeist movement. The main thrust of this hub is that almost all of us are being disadvantaged by the greed of the very few. If you have a cogent argument against this, please let us hear it.
Paraglider: But of course we can improve our lot...individually...there are always going to be a much larger group of folks that are unable intellectually or culturally to pursue this ideal...
Your appeal will motivate many who share your passions, but without support from the roiling masses, self-absorbed masses, your plea will be heralded in college dorms, cussed and discussed here on HubPages, kicked around by naysayers, and in the end, we will still be just what we are...Humans, with equal dollops of love, hate, greed, envy, and hope....
So, maven - do you accept or reject the statement that a small group of people are accruing more and more of the world's resources to themselves at the expense of the rest of us? If you reject it, please tell me why. If you accept it, please tell me why we should not fight it together. Thanks :)
Wow, you have a wonderful mind and perception of how this world is and what it really needs. I agree with you 100%. I pray others catch on to this, listen, learn, live it and yes, spread the word.
Sounds good Paraglider. I'm very interested to know what you think. I've created two hubs now. Feel free to look at them both.
http://hubpages.com/hub/Where-Is-Liberty
http://hubpages.com/hub/Entangling-Alliances-with-
Let me know what you think.
Paraglider, you write: "The main thrust of this hub is that almost all of us are being disadvantaged by the greed of the very few." My answer: whoever those very few are, they could not do it without the help of the very many who use slogans like "greed is bad" or "bankers steal from the needy."
I'm actually looking for a group of like minded people to join, but I can't see joining a group that wants to turn control over to a nameless, faceless entity that will govern us using the scientific method. I also think that negotiable instruments are not the evil thing you make them out to be.
i believe you may be suffering from system overload, my friend...and I do respect you as a fellow hubber and a person of intelligence...Too much information may lead us to jump to conclusions that fit nicely with previously held presumptions...
Profit always has been, is now, and probably always will be, in one form or another, the motivating force behind man's behavior...by profit, I mean not only money and power, but also spiritual profit...
Even if there exists, as you infer, an international cabal dedicated to the enslavement of man for the promotion of profit and power, what do you think would happen if they were removed..? There will always be another group of folks, just as smart, just as greedy, just as unconscionable as this group, to step into the vacuum and resume business as usual...
I, again, applaud your desire to alleviate the world's suffering, to free men's chains of indebtedness, to provide for a better future for our grandchildren. But again, I restate, I am going to do that. Not some group, not some ideology, not some orthodoxy that dictates without debate....I approach the world on my terms, in my own small way, and stay true to friends, help those that need help, love and support my country and its brave defenders, and honor and love my wife and children.
I'm not answering your question because I reject the premise. International conspiracies make for good novels and movies, but in reality, if such a cabal did exist don't you think, with this world glut of information, it would have been exposed by now..? I know, what about the WTO, the Bohemian Grove, the World Bank, the Fed, Skull and Bones, on and on...ripe fodder for the conspiracy folks...There has been no clarion call for exposure of such a group...
Hi, Paraglider...hmmm. I was just writing about passive resistance and the need for voluntary simplicity in the forums. Sufi had suggested you hub. The rightist/leftists (or at least those who buy into the stereotyping and slinging of identity politics back and forth) always think I am crazy when I mention libertarian socialism--but basically it is an idea outside the Marxist dialectic, which I see has paralyzed our ideas into a dualism of socialism/capitalism, right/left...no breaking from it. I am coming to believe from (actually) my fighting in the forums that people from both sides (those who are intelligent, anyway) are in ways correct and that, yes--we need to reclaim our birthright as true human beings which has never been about massive consumption and materialism, but always about art, education, music, exploration, scientific discovery--creativity in every realm.
In one of my recent fights on the forum, lol, I was called an elitist, actually...and I went off into a blather about meritocracy. Which started me thinking about what 'elitist' really means when you are called one and you are not--absolutely not--by your hub's definition, one of those. It's the old semantic trick of blaming the enemy for what you actually are. The confused and apathetic (the triumph sheep of YOUR elite) are calling those of us who look to everything this essay aspires to, the 'elitists,' usually because of education and/or intellectual value--and the confused being left out of the loop for some reason, basically.
I agree with mostly everything you have stated here--except perhaps the living communally--depending on what that really means (I believe it is human nature to want to own personal things--what goes over the top is greed in owning so much that it is obscene.) I'm not sure, but I think Noam Chomsky would agree with me here--he is one of the main proponents of libertarian socialism. I'm wondering if you have read him at all?
Paraglider,
This is a truly thought provoking hub with a great deal of philosophical thought instilled in it. At this time I just want to tell you that the premise has really given some of us much to think about in our lives today and in those generations that follow. This article requires reading and rereading over and over, due to the nature of the questions put forward within it. So, I will comment more when I've grasped my true feelings on the subject matter brought to the table here.
You present some valid points. That being said, there is nothing wrong with having high aspirations and being willing to work for them. Healthy competition in the market place is also good for the economy. Remember, people need jobs and this comes from things being made, sold and bought. The market took a very significant hit and thankfully we learned from the great depression that the gov't simply "waiting it out" would have been a more disasterous move than doing something. One thing that history has taught us is that despite whatever happens, the earth will continue to spin on it's axis. Events will occur that require the need for raw materials. Natural disasters, someone will invent something or cure something and so on. If there is a positive from all this it is that perhaps now more people will go back to "saving for a rainy day".
The living communally has lots of negative feels to it, usually conflict for those who like their space. I think there are ways of doing this that don't mean commune living as may have been experienced by those in the hippy error. A mindshift has to occur and perhaps if the standpoint is from what we have now, and not quite seeing the picture, it could seem a horrid experience. So it takes planning, lateral thinking, creativity and that change of mindset. What's possible? What works to accommodate all characters? I'm getting ideas.
I can see Paraglider your Ethics list is perhaps a prelude to this!
Kebennett1 - Yes, spread the word - thanks :)
Markus - Check out your comments section!
Aya - Why do you think it is that 'very many' say greed is bad? or 'bankers steal from the needy'? Might it be because very many are beginning to see what's going on?
Maven - I have not jumped to conclusions. I have put a lot of thought into my position. I am not talking about conspiracies or any other handy fantasy. I am looking at hard statistics on wealth differentials and how they have worsened through recent times. And I'll let you into a secret - even people who don't agree with you also love and support country, spouse and children.
Hi Lita - In fact Illich was not talking about communal living or abandoning property, and neither am I. Our use of 'conviviality' means finding ways to help communities become self sufficient or at least more resilient. Within these communities we still live in our own houses, own our own stuff. But we gradually replace competition with cooperation.
hglick - by all means come back later with more ideas. There's a lot to consider, and not just in my hub.
Advocate - Things being made bought and sold, yes. Things being made badly to wear out fast, no. Unnecessary things being made (designer water bottles??) no. We need some common sense.
Jewels - see my comment to Lita above. I'm talking about a spirit of cooperation in community, but not full communal living. I may revise the wording of the Conviviality section to clarify this. (And yes, I haven't forgotten the Ethics part 2 hub!)
Paraglider , a future with alot less selfishness and a better sense of community Is Indeed Ideal . And you put your finger on the first problem , apathy . Now here stateside people are starting to wake up because they may not be able to afford their plasma TV now ! So hopefully their long slumber will finally be done with. Because the change you would like to promote Is pretty drastic for people who just want to be left alone so they can watch " Dancing with the Stars ! "
However I believe change will only come to people when the pain of staying the same Is greater then the pain of change . And I think the clock Is winding down In that regard . In any event a well written piece . Thanks for the hub !
OK...I will have to read Illich. This sounds exactly like what I am talking about with libertarian socialism... And don't think but few are getting what you are really talking about. Still locked in the Marxist dialectic duality, ;). In the model I'm familiar with, both competition and community interest live side by side.
Tony - "when the pain of staying the same Is greater then the pain of change" That's a great observation. Thanks for commenting :)
Lita - the red/blue (or in UK blue/red!) view of society is one of the biggest hurdles to get over when trying to start a sensible discussion. People listen, not for what you are saying but for the first thing that they can label you with. Then there's no need to think any more because you're just another x, y or z. The Illich book that I'm mostly citing here is Tools for Conviviality, and to a lesser extent Deschooling Society.
Lita - I was going to write a Hub about Greek 'Agrarian Socialism,' (TMG's term!) which is the way we live here. The village works together and we do many things as one, but we still have personal liberty. Paraglider's conviviality and liberty can coexist very happily - we are living proof of that.
I am probably going to save it for Pam's blog campaign, now, but I will let you know when the article is finished - it sounds like the sort of thing that you are talking about. Worth checking out TMG, too.
Sufi - that's absolutely right. People will always want their own space and possessions, not least because we are all different. I have a lot of books, a few musical instruments but no car. That's what works for me. What doesn't work is the current grossly inflated differential between mega-rich and everyone else.
Everyone - My 'Revolution 2 - Conviviality' was maybe a little unclear. Some of you thought I was advocating communes. While these are an option, they are not for everyone. (They are not for me - I tried it in the 70s). I've added the following sentence, which I think clears any confusion:
"The unit is still the family household; we are not talking about communes. But in a convivial community, cooperation replaces competition as the driving force".
People buy too much junk they do not need. Stay out of Walmart and the dollar stores because 9 times out of 10 food is actually cheaper at the super market, and people end up buying things they do not need. Watch any episode of Clean House and you will see how much junk people cling to needlessly, which adds up to a lot of cash.
Hi SweetiePie - Every time you walk through your front door, check what you're carrying. If you're always bringing more in than you take out, sooner or later your house will fill up! Thanks for commenting :)
Couldn't agree more, the two party politics drama has been pulling the wool over our eyes for far too long. A revolution is obviously what's needed. But we're not just fighting a government, or a dictator, or a CEO, we're fightning an ideology which has pervaded our society for generations. Such a revolution will be difficult to say the least and a bloodless one infinitely more so.
EdG - in conscience, I can only ever advocate a bloodless revolution. But I think revolution is inevitable, probably in my lifetime (which means within 20 to 30 years). What matters is to spread awareness, so that we stay focused. Thank you for reading!
Paraglider,
Was just checking up on the comments, I like healthy discussions, and you have created one here. Thank you for the great Hub.
TMG
People seem to think we will have to reinvent the wheel both intellectually and in terms of our own personal behavior to effect a bloodless revolution, but for years now, even before this financial mess, I imagined a future divided in two--a sort of techie elite that is much like what we have now (at the top anyway), and a lot of what you might call 'drop outs'--people who live outside social conventions. Parallel societies: the very rich, and the rest of us.
I can see this shaping up already, with people just dropping off the grid. I don't say it will be easy or always pleasant, but I do think it could happen by default. That is, if we do nothing, that's what will happen--most of us will not be living in the society we grew up with, and we will have a more independent, semi-agrarian, lower-standard-of-living loosely organized network of local 'tribes' living alongside of, and outside of, conventional society.
Why not just take every thing in the world, all the money, houses, cars, jewelry, furniture, appliances, medical equipment, airplanes, books, art, electronics, farms, livestock, and all other assets—and divide them up equally amongst each living individual.
touche
Because equal division of 'stuff' is NOT what we are talking about. It isn't all about STUFF. And for the record, don't think for a minute that I'd give away my grandmother's jewelry, my books, my real estate, or even things I have (that I enjoy) that I purchased yesterday. Again...the old Marxist dialectic...about materialism. I believe what this is saying is not to invent the wheel intellectually either (for these concepts/modes of being have existed previously), but to reclaim our birthright as human beings, and not live as glorified animals. I think that puts it succinctly. We are talking about a saner world--where companies exist, products are produced--but more in scale with human needs (and that can be interpreted a few different ways--and I hope people do.)
I feel a few people need to go back and read more carefully. Or...I don't know. At least TRY to step out of the box you've let yourself be condemned/educated to being in.
Interesting Pam, allot of the techie elite love the concept of a better model of living. So I doubt it will be that hard to get them into this. Perhaps forget Gates and go with the Open Source mob. Even some of the MS techies are forward thinkers.
It is a different mindset we are talking here. And similar to what you've said, people think it will be like dropping out and lowering our living standards. It doesn't have to be that way. We could do with a bit more forward and creative thinking in the positive mode and for some to not see what they think they will lose.
How about we lose nothing and gain allot
Interesting discussion waiting for me this morning. Thanks everyone for contributing.
Pam - I agree that to some extent that is already happening, but as long as the very rich are free to continue their war, power and expolitation games, the rest of us will be forever pushed into their service or may even wake up one morning to find we have been criminalised for not playing. At a time when change is inevitable, it is best to raise awareness and try to steer the change, not just be swept along with it
James - what Lita said. This is not about stuff. It's about the environment and our future generations. It's also about your beloved art, which has become just another market commodity. I'd have expected a more considered response from someone of your intelligence and sensitivity.
Lita - This always happens. It is very hard to focus people on a new discussion when they have all the tired old answers from old discussions on the tip of the tongue.
Jewels - That's right. In fact we shpould be looking for a better, more fully human lifestyle, helped (but not ruled) by our lightweight networked technologies.
I stand corrected. I thought you would say, "YES!!! That's exactly what we should do!"
James - absolutely not. I keep my musical instruments and you keep your fine art collection. I believe you were not in favour of the recent bailouts of banks, markets and corporations. Neither was I. Neither was anyone I know. Many people, trying to understand it in familiar terms rushed to label it socialism. Many others rushed to call it extreme capitalism. It was neither, and the old left/right debate is dead. It is a distraction from what is really happening - the despoliation of the earth for the (short term) benefit of the few. If you are happy with that, that's fine, but if you are not, why not listen to the groundswell of dissenting voices. Better still, why not contribute to the discussion? Change is inevitable, so let's all help steer the ship.
Paraglider--What flumoxes me is, however aware we all get, what can we actually DO to make someone else change? All I can change is me. I know that's a cheesy Opraheque kinda statement, but when it comes to megafinance and investment banks and so forth it really is true. Goldman Sachs doesn't care how aware I am. It doesn't care if I'm mad, sad, bad, glad, it just wants my money if I have any, and if I don't, the as far as it is concerned I barely exist.
As you know, I do try to raise awareness. I write hubs about money. People on both the right and the left (not all, but always some) show up and say, "This isn't helpful all this complaining. Do something!" It just makes me not want to write about that stuff at all. I'm so tired of it, I'm burned out.
I've been already making the changes you list here for awhile, but I don't know that any of it will change the people who caused this. I hope I'm wrong but I don't think I am. Meanwhile, I'm just going to change me because I have to. No jobs here.
Well, in the UK we managed to stop a regressive tax (the poll tax) not by voting out the government, though that came later, but by raising awareness of its unfairness to the point that people simply refused to pay. It's a small national example, but people do have power when they realise they have. Apathy and confusion are to be fought against. If everyone changes 'me' we win.
Right, I'm with you totally on the sentiment. I'm asking about action though. In the example you give, people stopped paying the poll tax. In terms of the financial mess and the banks, what specific nonviolent action could or would people take if their awareness was raised?
I think it's hard to focus and when people can't focus on something simple like that--like don't pay the poll tax--nothing happens. I personally think that's WHY nothing is happening. It's not that people don't understand the banks are robbing us all blind. People are totally aware of that even when they argue from different political extremes. But the question is, so what do we DO about it?
I'm not trying to be argumentative, I'm asking a direct question for which I personally believe there is no direct answer. That's a problem IMO.
Hi Paraglider - I hope that you are having a great day.
Think of it like this, Pam - if, through quiet example, you influence two people, and each of those influences two people.......it is a slow and organic growth of awareness. The Bloodless Revolution is a marathon, not a sprint! I was looking at the names signed up for the blog - there are some powerful writers on there...
James - I have a feeling that you are actually of the same mind. As an example, we produced more oranges than we can possibly eat, so gave some to the neighbours. Sometimes they bring us eggs or tomatoes. That is the key, willingly sharing rather than being forced to share.
I call it Greek Agrarian Socialism, but you could just as easily call it Greek Libertarian Community Values. We are not talking about trying to argue over national governments, but making a difference to those around you. Influence your community through kindness and supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs, rather than Wal-Mart. The left/right definition is a red-herring at this local level!
Rather sheepishly, I must confess I was hoping to be in charge of the inventory and dispensation.
OK. Let me reflect on this further.
Pam - I understand that frustration. The thing is, you've been 'aware' for a long time. Many haven't. Also, the banking issue is only one of the problems, albeit a big one. While not claiming to have written a manifesto, I've suggested 5 areas of work. Awareness - you've graduated from an observer to a teacher in this one and are already doing a great job of spreading the word. Conviviality - in this one, you've said that you're already doing it with your closest, but could reach out to a wider network. Great. Consumerism - you say you've already adopted these measures. Great. Pacifism - this is a back burner one. Slowly, people speaking out against military adventurism will win through. (Though I'd like TMG to come back and explain his standing army point more fully). Expectation - this is a hard one, that basically comes down to non-attachment to outcomes. You write an article for the writing of it.It takes a day so it's a day better spent than working for the man.
By the way, did you send invites for contributions to your blog?
Sufi - growing oranges where they grow naturally and sharing the surpluss on the informal expectation of eggs or tomatoes in season is exactly the kind of thing we're talking about. Building an indoor real snow ski run and maintaining it at alpine temperatures in one of the world's hottest countries (Dubai) is a perfect example of environmentaly destructive stupidity.
Whether we call your example by one label or another really doesn't matter. It may even be a barrier to communication. Because as we know, the word socialism has totally different affective power in the US from in Europe.
James - I think you've just offered to work for the Revolution. Welcome :)
You are right - Greek Community Values is a better and more neutral term!
Anyway, off to bake some bread :)
Paraglider I confess I still have not done it. Christoph Reilly has been doing all my work. I was in Indiana today visiting my kids, but I PROMISE tomorrow, a big email to everyone I can think of, include you. :)
I'm an Aries so I'm impatient and yet have no follow through. Very annoying combination. Good thing I have people around who love me!
I feel much encouraged by the meeting of minds Paraglider and James are having. We tend not to hear each other because of those oft-repeated sentences that fill our heads and block our ears, as well as the emotions that obstruct reason and sense. When we find a quiet place to talk calmly and think a bit more clearly, it turns out that the ideas we have and the ideals we hold are frequently a great deal closer than we realized.
"If you want peace, you don't talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies." ~Moshe Dayan
Paraglider, my respect for you has always been very high, but it has climbed into the upper stratosphere after reading this hub! Excellent job of seeing through the smoke and past the mirrors, pointing out how circuses and bread continue to this day to confuse, satisfy, divide and conquer us all.
I have known a few people who have risen to the "elite" incomes and have seen them give up that income to do something truly wonderful to make a small part of the world a better place. A good friend of mine gave up a multi-million dollar oper year job and went to Africa to help a village gain self-reliance. A big shot once in Sears gave up his executive position, started working with poor kids to help them overcome their school systems and become really educated, apart from just being able to take tests and show off "book smarts."
I was fired from my last two schools because I went past the lousy curriculum there and made a difference. But rocking the boat often means the frightened the other passengers there with you they will do anything to get you overboard. They had allowed themselves to be satisfied by the system, their little part in it, and the meager comforts they had come to measure their lives by, and they didn't want to really educate the young, just indoctrinate them in a hum-drum bit of going along to get along.
CWB also has my highest regards as being one who educated himself in spite of the crappy system of education we suffer through and become a thinker and a poet and a scholar. I salute you both!
Cheers!
Chef Jeff
Mindfield - James and I have quite a lot in common, especially in the fields of art and music. And though he has no time for people who expect everything on a plate, I've no doubt he'd be the first to help someone in genuine need. Much like my father in that way, even though we're almost exactly the same age.
Chef Jeff - thanks very much for your words of support. It's always a pleasure to hear from you. I agree with you that many people can rise to the heights within the system yet still retain or in some cases regain their humanity. This hub is certainly not just a tax-and-share appeal. Old fashioned redistribution isn't the answer (though it's still a better answer than 'give to the rich and hope for the best'). Money has allowed many people to do a lot of good. But the elite I'm targeting here are the power-hungry few who use their wealth simply to extract (not generate) more wealth for themselves, regardless of the human and environmental cost.
Your phrase "to help them overcome their school systems and become really educated" is to the point and a terrible indictment of what we have now.
Superb hub Paraglider! It is my hope that more people will become aware of the big con that is being pulled by the elite at everyone's expense. Awareness is only half the battle though. Getting people to follow through with some action is yet another step that must be taken if we are to succeed in overthrowing this corrupt system.
Thanks David. I agree. Awareness is a first step but essential if we are to avoid thousands of little squabbles and protests aimed at the wrong target. Some of us are starting up a blog as a communal effort to try to fly the flag. It's in its early stages but you can find it here http://dropoutnation.blogspot.com/
I am so glad that I visited this Hub. Really very well written and very thought provoking and yes defenitely worth spreading the word around! Thanks for the Hub
Thanks Packerpack - I'm hoping this one might be a slow burner and keep attracting views after the initial flurry. Because I relly do want to get the word out there that the old left/right political scene isn't going to solve anything. People need to take control.
I am so new here that I have yet to set up a profile, but upon finding this true gem, could not contain my enthusiasm, and felt the need to take time to thank you. I applaud this article as a shining example of the kind of social and political commentary so necessary to make meaningful progress on the first step you describe, awareness. By uniting economic literacy with what seems very genuine concern and compassion for the others sharing this time and space, you seem to have contributed greatly by doing exactly what Einstein (et. al.) urged but which is so rarely seen- offering a solution to a problem(s) that doesn't rely on the same thinking that created it. This is indeed, way beyond the stale concepts of `left' and `right'. Much gratitude!
I look forward to reading the rest of your hubs!
Wandering woman - thank you for the read and comment. We need people to work together to rein in the true extremists, the ones who seek to own and control the whole world. But to do this, we need to stop fighting their battles for them, and stop fighting each other. Welcome to HubPages!
You are most welcome and I agree wholeheartedly. The old guard isn't going to go away, but they will die off. We can teach our children that `divide and conquer' always has been the first tool of those who seek to oppress, conquer and control. We do have so much more power than we collectively recognize. All of us vote at the cash register nearly every day. No one can do `everything', but I believe all of us can do `something'. Following the example of wealth hoarders, due to fear we will otherwise be left without, is somewhat understandable, but seems to inevitably bring about the `dog eat dog' mentality we are trying to escape being caught up in.
I've sent a link to your hub to some friends and hope that it is indeed widely read and discussed. Thanks again!
Seems like you've started a little fire here Paraglider. I hope it can be fanned into a worldwide blaze of awareness. Thank you again.
Hi CWB - the difficulty is always that once people agree, the next question is, what do we do about it? And often the answer is nothing much, except add your voice, and at a personal level, adjust expectations. Though some people find ways to do more. Have you heard about http://www.theyesmen.org ?
WW - I missed your second comment yesterday. Thanks for spreading the word :)
OH MY! The link! Yes! Not since Colbert's speech at the White House Press Conference have I laughed this hard at a well placed little `affliction of the comfortable'. The smartest teenagers I know got link to the hub, now I am afraid I must send this to them before I sleep.
Only an hour into Monday here and you made my week!
You're welcome! Monday is like Tuesday here, because our working week is Sunday to Thursday.
I agree with much of what you say here, Paraglider, and I commend you for your thoughtful and intelligent presentation. But I cannot agree with the path you propose to take to correct the situation we find ourselves in. I am a staunch supporter of the two-party system, despite my abhorrence of the right wing. The two-party system has been incredibly successful in the United States despite very difficult and trying times, especially over the past few decades. Political opinions will always be divided. There always will be liberals and conservatives. Awareness of our many problems is certainly important, and some of us understand that. But there are millions of Americans who enjoy the fruits of our present system because they are in a position to take advantage of it. Those people, mostly right wingers, are not about to give up their social or financial advantage. They are aware of their advantages, and they like it that way. It will take an awful lot of awareness on the part of the poor and powerless to overcome the awareness of wealthy and powerful of their advantageous position. Compound interest is indeed a major problem as are tax laws and the laws of incorporation that absolve the wealthy of any responsibility for their actions. When wealthy people can live high on the hog because of interest, dividends, oil depletion allowances, etc., the rest of the population is forced to do the labor. When the rich and powerful dictate the trade laws, initiate unnecessary wars and allow corporations to control the markets, the poor and powerless inevitably suffer. Even President Eisenhower, a Republican, warned of the industrial-military complex. Any revolution that replaces the incumbent rascals with new rascals is doomed to failure. Unless a majority of the electorate has the desire, ability and power to change the system to make it fair to all, failure is a virtual certainty.
Hi William - I'm glad you found this hub because I always value your insightful commentary. In the UK, the (effectively) two party system worked well enough for many years when there was a genuine difference between Labour (socialist) and Conservative. Strangely enough, because the parties had real agendas, neither party could afford to become too extreme, at the risk of marginalising themselves. So, we would have a few years of steering left then a few years steering right, with the Civil Service keeping the ship upright. But recently, Blair's New Labour has joined the Conservatives as just another business party. There is no party in UK (except the Greens) seriously challenging the corporations.
In the US, looking in from the outside, politics seems to have been hijacked by single-issue fanatics on both sides, where the issues are immaterial to the real problems we are all facing. I'm not suggesting that liberal and conservative types are suddenly going to get together as best friends, but while they are slinging mud at each other, the truly rich and powerful just get richer at everyone's expense. Do you see any evidence that the two party system is going to rein in the elite? I think we're all out of our depth this time around, and just _have to_ try new ways of thinking.
The election of President Obama,Paraglider, is one small step in the right direction. He is fairly moderate, true, but he understands the realities. Forcing the submission of the other side doesn't work -- they why the Bush Administration, finally, was rejected via the defeat of John McCain. I agree that something has to be done, but, if change is to be bloodless, it will be necessary to make all moderates and undecided voters understand what is in their own self interest. I applaud your efforts, but it isn't the two-party system that's at fault it's the inability of the downtrodden to understand that they are victims, not participants.
Obama was the only electable candidate, I agree. But I don't really see the Republicans (or the UK Tories) as the other side any more. The real other side are against all of us, and are unelected and unremovable. The average rightwinger is probably richer than the average leftwinger, in most countries, but both camps are treated equally cynically by the industrial-military complex, as expendable conduits for the upward movement of money. What party can you vote for that is genuinely trying to reverse this trend?
Libertarian.
Well, as for Conservatives and Liberals getting together as friends, the Catholics and the Protestant Evangelicals have joined forces on the abortion issue. That seems odd to me because the Evangelicals are also busy trying to convince the nation that the Catholic Church is "The great whore of Babylon" or some such nonsense.
Buyt I believe we already have a revolution, very bloody, going on right now, between the have-nots. You can see it going on in our cities right now.
The Democratic Party is truly an umbrella organization, Paraglider. There is a large contingent, particularly in the South, who are very conservative. The national party doesn't generally have enough strength to overcome the combination of Republican and conservative-Democrat votes in Congress -- and there are always some who will be influenced by financial considerations. Nevertheless, this situation will not be alleviated by the destruction of the two-party system. I believe our goals are the same, Paraglider, but the military-industrial complex is maintained by the selfishness of those who benefit from it at the expense of the rest of us. Greed exists regardless of political party. The two-party system, I think, helps us identify who favors the elite and who favors the working class.
Philippines have had engineered a bloodless revolt already in 1986 under the leadership of Fidel V. Ramos and Juan Ponce Enrile, that installed Cory Aquino as our president. Millions of people trooped to Luneta Grandstand to show their unity in overthrowing the then President and Dictator Ferdinand Marcos. This marks for the first time in history of the world that a bloodless revolution had taken place.
Aya - I was more under the impression that libertarian was in opposition to all but minimal government. That's wholly different from opposing corporatism, surely?
Chef Jeff - you mean between different groups of have-nots? I agree, and it's very sad, because the ordinary people blaming and fighting each other is highly convenient for the mega-rich. It lets them go their own sweet way with impunity.
William - I agree we are on the same page, and I bow to your far superior knowledge of the American political scene. But as a Scot living in the Middle East, my perspective is rather different. I don't see this as an American problem. The corporations are operating on a global scale - playing dice with the world in fact - and it will take a global movement to stop them. Any such movement will manifest itself differently in different countries, and I agree that in the US it has a better chance of taking hold in the Democratic Party than in any other. But that would require the democrats to change the political agenda and stop fighting the old battles.
General - yes, I remember that one, and that's when the phrase 'bloodless revolution' came into common usage. And Thailand seems to do something similar every couple of years!
Hi Paraglider, wow, what a great, desirable program. May I extract the core for quotation? According to you this is our birthright:
"lifelong learning, the best of art, literature, music, recreation, a clean and healthy environment, peace and personal safety, convivial communities, and contentment, punctuated by joy."
I can see how some of these can come from a collective, peaceful, bloodless revolution. I will substract some, though, that I simply don't see how they can come from any collective endeavor:
Lifelong learning (you need to wish this, and I can assure you by personal experience that this desire for learning does not come from education, or rather, this desire, no matter the education, might not arise in the individual).
Peace (there's no community that can give this to the individual, there are people who are peaceful in the midst of war and problems, and others who do not have peace in the best of outer circumstances).
Contentment ponctuated by joy (Same. There's no community that can give this to the individual, there are people who are contented and joyful in the midst of restricting circumstances whereas others never tasted neither contentment nor joy in the midst of plenty).
Of course, communities can act negatively, that yes. The creation of false needs is nowadays undeniable, particularly for youngsters.
No matter what, I'm all for your proposal. Let's see how to implement it. Thank you.
Rosario - I agree that these more personal fulfillments have their roots in the individual's psychology and will not automatically be realised in all people in any society. But if we provide the encouragement and foster the expectation, we'll be doing better than we are now (by breeding discontent through consumerism and favouring celebrity over true accomplshment). Thanks for the read :)
Paraglider, I think that more people agree with you than the elite, the media, etc. would have us believe. You've presented your ideas in a sensible fashion and your writing is superb. I can't believe I haven't read your stuff before.
Dolores - thank you for your support. You might like to visit some like minded people on our new blog http://dropoutnation.blogspot.com
All welcome :)
I enjoyed this Hub and have read it four times. I wrote out a long comment a couple weeks ago and switched windows to look something up to make a final point and the whole comment disappeared.
Anyway, not much to disagree with here. What I really like is your Revolutions 1 through 5. Each of those are outstanding ideas that would benefit humankind.
Thank you for thoughtful, insightful article.
Hi James - thanks for the return visit. It is annoying when a comment vanishes into the ether; I've taken to doing a CTRL C copy before I hit send, especially to Blogger which crashes more than most.
Anyway, there's a long uphill struggle ahead if we are to create a critical mass for change, but the only certainty is that it has to come from the ground up.
Libertarian?
I prefer Humanitarian.
The charging of interest, ANY interest, is usurious without exception.
Yes, paraglider, I mean between the have-nots. It's like a circus for the very powerful, watching us all duke it out and get nowhere. I like your approach as well as CWB's for getting above the dust of the fray to see just who the person behind the curtain really is.
It seems useless to fight each other when the cause is neither my fault nor yours. Us versus Them is never the real cause of the anger, it's always the manipulaters making us believe that is the cause. And, sadly, we fall for their tricks all the time.
Jeff - thanks for revisiting this one. It's very hard to see how to break the cycle. I suppose the main thing is to keep trying.
Wow you were better than coffee in waking me up. Sigh, So what do you do when you live in the conservative midwest and no one shares these ideas. I believe all the things you write are possible and Christian( Christ= Social Justice andgiving all the chance to develop their god given talents) What outlet does one find to work for these things?
Becca's Blog - What do you do? - I would say we are still in the early part of phase 1, trying to spread awareness of what's going on. Without putting yourself in any danger, the best you can do is keep spreading the word. (By the way, though not a Christian, I agree with you that the bloodless revolution's aims are compatible with Christ's teachings, and Buddha's, and others. That the Churches might not agree is cause for concern!)
Well I'm a late comer here but I have something to say.
Paraglider when you say "the chances are that your standard of living and future prospects have been in decline in recent years" it reminds me that I felt more wealthy in the early 1970s while making $4 per hour than I was in the early 1990s while making near $20 per hour. In the late 1970s and early 1980s I had saved near enough to buy a house outright, without a mortgage. That was my plan until I got layoff papers and then in 1984 the real estate bubble started which still hasn't burst here in Canada yet. Since 1994 I have been fighting a worker's compensation claim. So my dream of a mortgage-less home has been replaced with living day to day. Retirement, what a laugh. Basically I have been fighting a Bloodless Revolution for 15 years. Well Revolution 3 has been rather forced on me. :-)
Paraglider I am with you all the way my friend.
I'll have to read your followup, The Bloodless Revolution - Be a Part of it.
http://hubpages.com/hub/bloodless-revolution-2
I'll have to read some of ColdWarBaby's Hubs as well seeing I have enjoyed some of his posts in the forums. For sure, Humanitarian over Libertarian in a big way. Although if the Zeitgeist Movement has anything to do with that fictitious zeitgeist video I'd have to pass. If you have 3 and a half hours this video explains the history of the problems of our banking system very well. You might be interested in this yourself Aya Katz.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-515319560
Amanda's Hub on the Transition Town movement sounds very interesting as well as your Hub Paraglider on Conviviality. Lot's of reading cause the comments are all useful too, but I'll catch up.
Viva la Bloodless Revolution
Mike
Hi Mike - Latecomers also welcome! More and more people are finding they are chasing a boulder downhill when it comes to retirement. It just keeps getting faster. Re Zeitgeist, the movement is more sensible than the movie, though some of the claims they make are on the fanciful side.
Thanks for the reading campaign!
Well Paraglider after spending about the last 12 hours reading about a half a dozen of your Hubs, including all the comments as well as about the same of ColdWarBaby's Hubs including the comments and one of Amanda's and commenting on most of them I'd be rather disappointed if the basis of your Bloodless Revolution is based on the zeitgeist movie.
You see Paraglider scholars have gone through the zeitgeist movie and debunked the entire video as a fraud. It is pure bull shit.
Paraglider will you please, please take 3 1/2 hours to watch this alternative to the zeitgeist movie.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-515319560
If you do I am sure that you will come to the conclusion that those that the zeitgeist movie so slanderously attack are in the same camp as you, and me. We are not that far apart Paraglider.
I really like your Bloodless Revolution with the 5 steps Paraglider and I would like to be a part of it. But if the basis of the Bloodless Revolution is built around the zeitgeist movie then I do not want anything to do with it because the zeitgeist movie is just a slanderous, fictitious lie against my faith.
Mike
Mike - I haven't even seen the zeitgeist movie. I've seen some presentational material by the movement and as I said some of the economics analysis I agree with. Much of the scientific & technological material is pure wish list. And I'm not in the habit of basing my views on movies. My sources are more people like Popper, Illich and the like. The Bloodless Revolution, though none of it is new, is very much my own slant on the situation we all find ourselves in, and the best way to approach it.
Yeah, like I say I really like your take on it. All 5 steps of the Bloodless Revolution can be accomplished without confrontation, basically flying under their radar, with nothing to be confronted about. I particularly like that we should not be divided, "left against right, Christian against Muslim, man against woman, young against old." As Celts we both know that divide and conquer can be a recipe for disaster.
I think my problem is that when I see the word zeitgeist I automatically associate it with that zeitgeist movie, where in reality the Zeitgeist Movement may not have anything to do with it. I know the word zeitgeist is a German word meaning something like "our current state of affairs". So it could mean something completely different to two different groups.
Maybe I was just burnt out with all the reading yesterday. Yeah I'll read some more of the Dropout Nation blog.
Thanks Mike. Most of us have multiple 'influences' in our lives. If you focus on one only. we all become extremists!
I retired from full time work a few years ago. It is amazing how quickly I learned to do without things I thought I had to have when all I did is work. We are in the process of down shifting and catching sunsets. Let the revolution begin.
GNelson - that's the way it has to be. But how to persuade those on the treadmill that 90% of their effort goes to enriching the richest?
Great hub. like the "its time to jump off". Awareness, knowledge is the only way now. If you are still deeply entrenched in the matrix then jump off or "unplug". Develop yourself and find out the real truth of our sciences, religion and our real history. A great site which will keep you busy for hours deprogramming yourselves is www.projectcamelot.org if you havent found it already. Every video on their site needs watching if you are beginning to get to what is really going on. Whistle blowers from all disciplines are there, if you need to blow the whistle then blow it now.
Namaste
Universal Laws - thanks for the visit and the suggestion. Awareness is the key. Keep spreading the word!
Excellent hub, some thoughts:
All people need to challenge usury, most people are unaware that MOST loans made are usury by definition of the law in your country.
In Spain the law on usury states that the legal definition is when the interest charged is more than 2.5 times the bank rate set by the Bank of Spain.
As of Dec 2008 that was 1.26% so any loan over 3.15% interest is usury. If ALL of 'us' challenged for usury, the courts and the banking system would freeze. Check the laws of usury in your country and see whether you can pursue a claim against lenders.
Leave the system.
I was running a 200 million Euro hotel project until the banks had their little crisis, and hey presto instant bankruptcy, excepting their was nothing to claim so the banks have (to date) not bothered spending the cash to sink me fully!
So being newly broke, I just signed out in August 2007, registered as unemployed, collect nothing, contribute nothing, live by faith.
Of course you need to strip out ALL the toys you used to play with, but in reality it's freedom ONCE you quit the habit.
ALL habits take 40 days to start and 40 days to finish, you can adjust really easily ONCE you decide to tell your greedy little inner self to shut up.
The more people who go off the radar the better, remember we are looking to bring down the system here, and people just disappearing is a really fast way to do that, and it freaks out the auhtorities.
Tip. If you are going to do this, stop immediately replying to ANY official letter - The authorities have the systems in place to harass you if you reply, but no reply means that pretty soon they give up on you.
Dead people don't reply to letters.
It's also best to move somewhere else as well, preferably rented (in another 'family' members name)as who needs property when you are pulling the system down?
Never reply to ANY debt collection agency.
Your credit record is going to be swat really quickly once you quit the system, so what's the point. When you quit, there is no going back (at least not where you currently live, but move country and you get a fresh start)so once you subscribe to the bloodless revolution, you are committed to it's success!
Be sure you REALLY want to pull it down.
Pulling it down means effectively living your life out for the benefit of your grandchildren, because the revolution, bloodless or otherwise, will take a while to sort out and 'normal service' will not resume overnight.
Speaking personally, I'm a believer in Christ, and have been for 16 years, so for me I have read the 'end of the book' and guess what - God wins!
Stay Blessed
Aguasilver - total disappearance is an interesting angle, though possibly a step too far for many. I'm not a follower of Christ, but hold that the five principles set out in this hub are far closer to his teachings than the mess we're campaigning against. Thanks for the visit.
"I'm not a follower of Christ, but hold that the five principles set out in this hub are far closer to his teachings than the mess we're campaigning against."
Amen to that!
If you think about it, they'd need to be, for he was one man that changed the world.
in the Philippnes in 1986, the people had bloodless revolution when they ousted the dictator president replaced by CORAZON AQUINO first woman President. The people, millions of them flocked to the streets and the leaders were the church. In the Phils, church hierarchy is powerful, they can mobilize people. The Constitution clearly states the separation of state and church. I dont know if there are other bloodless revolution in history, all I can think of are all bloodless revo...
This is a very good dedication to the cause of Richard W. Posner! I am for him and to what He fights for.
Bloodless revo is a dream, but it could be achieve.
Good day to you always and take care!
Prettydarkhorse - yes, I remember these events in the Philippines. This time around, it's difficult because of globalisation, but something has to give.
Paraglider I'm just thinking that it might be a good idea to inform everyone here that the Dropout Nation blog is also affiliated with the Bloodless Revolution.
Mike - good idea. There's a link on the follow-up hub, but this one predates the blog. I'll add a postscript to the main hub, with a link to the blog.
Mike - done, thanks!
Hey any time Paraglider. I see you added Michael Gartner's 'No Left Turns' article to the blog. I thought you'd like it.
Which reminds me - I'd better write something to follow it with!
Thoroughly enjoyed this hub. I wrote an essay on how to close banks but I have since lost it. The general idea is this, and all the information is freely available, I am not assuming knowledge of every persons home nation. I live in Australia. Voluntary bankruptsy can cripple banks. Obviously you need a home to live in but bankruptsy does not mean you cannot own a home, you just need to plan and time your actions correctly. Read the laws and you will work it out. The other figures you want to look at are the profits of banks. Then consider the effects of a well prepared and coordinated dropout in the form of voluntary bankruptsy. Some people may be excluded from the ability to take these actions and for some it might involve patience. Just as an example, if 1,000,000 people could afford and make the decision to volunteer for bankruptsy and deny the banks of say $100,000 debt that is $100,000,000. It may be hard right now for some people but not for others. Even myself, I am on a disability pension but I have debts of $50,000. Again, Brilliant hub, thanks.
If one person defaults on a bank loan, he is in trouble. If 5,000 people default, the bank's in trouble. All it takes is coordination!
exactly. I want to help. I am but one person but it is a relief to find like minded people. If I can do anything to help in what you have already organised :)
For me, I will not be defaulting yet. $50,000 is not enough. I will be doing it in a big fashion.
In 2001 the people of Argentina stood in solidarity and engineered a bloodless revolution.The government sent in the storm troopers and the people refused to leave the town square,there was some blood but overall the people prevailed.
In America this would never play out with a similar result,the people would destroy their chances by turning on each other,victims of the ministry of propaganda we like to call television and talk radio.I read an article today that stated that 49 million Americans are having trouble feeding themselves.I read another a few days ago that stated that middle class Americans have begun to shoplift the material possesions that they are accustomed to having,you know those things you simply can't live without like that new cell phone that has all of the same functions of your old cell phone,again victims of the ministry of propaganda.
Enough guns have been purchased in the last year here and if you buy a new Chevy in the midwest you get a voucher for a brand new AK-47,I remember a time when car dealers used to give away toasters.Ah but who needs bread when you can have bullets,as we slip into the abyss and soon come to the realisation that taxation will be the only way to pay for the guns and butter and grotesque bailouts of the financial oligarchs,I see a lot of angry and hungry people,armed to the teeth and the blood dimmed tide washes over the fruited plains in a tidal wave of rage,towards each other.Homos vs. heteros,black vs. white,red vs. blue and on and on ad naseum and brought to you in high definition 24 hours hour a day courtesy of...the ministry of propaganda also known as cable television.
Bovine Currency and MindlessBrute - thanks for your responses. I think we have entered another period of complacency and denial, brought on by untruths we are hearing daily about recovery. I hope both of you will visit http://dropoutnation.blogspot.com from time to time and even consider contributing the occasional comment or article to help the cause.
TMB - are you serious about that AK47 comment? I would have thought that impossible, but have been surprised so many times by extremism in modern US that I can almost believe it. Certainly I share your assessment that the people (with honourable exceptions) are being dangerously polarised by an extremely cynical media industry. The signs are not good.
Paraglider,
I've been following the blog since it's inception.Here is a video clip on the car dealership's sales promotion:
Thanks TMB - I'll check it out after work!
In my humble opinion the drop out nation needs an actionable plan(at least for Americans) and I don't mean printing up t-shirts or typing about organizing a massive protest,that will never materialise beyond the internet.Something that can be taken,printed then implemmented in a backyard b.b.q.then spread neighbor to neighbor,street by street,then to city hall and beyond.I'm afraid the momentum is shifting towards destruction and there needs to be an alternative...or not,there's always this way(from the state that brought us AK's and Chevrolet's)
Step:1 Starve the beast
Step:2 Vote out the incumbents
Step:3 If steps 1 & 2 fail then:
Prepare for war.
http://www.firedupmissouri.com/content/lafayette-c
There are some great minds on the blog,definetly great writers and the first 2 steps from the billboard in the link above can be agreed upon by members of the left or right.I think even the theist,atheist and agnostics can even agree on a convivial community being a infinetly wiser solution to anarchy.Maybe someone could even get the theist/atheist to pass around the the digital plate and purchase space on a billboard with the ___ steps towards a convivial,civilised community.I'm sure the drop out think tank could come up with the baby steps that could fit on a billboard then direct them to the site for a more indepth actionable plan and a universal rational code of ethics.
TMB - It is deeply frustrating. I think we are being steered towards misdirected civil unrest, perhaps as a distraction, perhaps as an excuse to impose draconian measures. Revolutions in the past have been triggered by writers, academics, philosophers, etc, but never led by them. They have to be led by Lech Walesa types - do you know any suitable candidates? But seriously, yes, we should work on some form of manifesto document that can be easily downloaded and distributed. Thanks for the suggestion.
Elena. says:
5 months ago
Paraglider, I feel like standing up and applauding. Well done on putting "awareness" number 1 in the list, too! Bravo bravo!