franchise, n. [OF., fr. franchir to free
, from frank, fem. franche, free
]
At least 55,949,407 people came together for a common cause last week. They all shared at least one thing in common. They all were somehow dissatisfied with actions of the powerful. We cannot forget that we, the people, legitimize that power with the actions that we take.
If we feel disenfranchised, we should remember that we are the licensor, collectively, and the licensee, individually of this franchise.
As our government becomes more like a corporation, and while corporations assume more of the rights of individuals in our society, it is the individuals that are the life force of this evolution.
"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?"
-James 2:14
We have faith that our government, in league with the military corporate complex, is heading down a road that leads to suffering. We must have the presence of mind to see that we and our deeds are the legs of this heading. In this our deeds do not match our faith.
In the next four years, we of this faith should endeavor to take the following actions and to have these actions spread through those 55,949,407 people like a movement, like a mass-civil disobedience:
- Live a simple life, free of the encumbrances of over-consumerism and self-image manipulation.
- Spend more quality time in leisure and connecting ourselves with nature.
- Sell our televisions.
- Read the newspapers instead.
- Buy locally whenever possible, and stay away from malls.
- Don't eat fast food.
- Volunteer.
- Tell people when they are acting hypocritically.
- Use gas-free transportation.
- Attend your town hall meetings and get more involved in local politics.
If we can be united in our inspiration, we can send a message of peace and prosperity to those in whom we entrust our power in a language that they can understand. Wealth is distributed on the heels of our commercial acquiescence, and if we want things to change, we have to stop paying so much attention to the distractive reality-television of presidential races and conspiracies; stop tuning in to the looking glass box to devour our daily dose of self assurance and affirmation of our faith, all the while being distracted to the point of inaction by the mindless entertainment of it all. For their real power is mandated by our daily inaction, not by our bi-annual vote.
It may be wise to organize our efforts in the direction of a singular, most egregious corporate offender. A unified front would have the practical result of splitting in half the American market for this entity, and serve as sanctions against a rogue power of the corporate-state. When our government can not be counted on to justly prosecute a corporation, we, the consumers of its services should withhold our endorsement as sanction. As consumers we have choices to make, and it is a war on our resolve with the mission to weaken our well-reasoned inhibition that is being waged against us by network television, by K Street, and by Madison Avenue.
We will march on Washington. We will demonstrate our resolve. We will not be pawns again in their game. We will not watch what they say we want to watch and do what they say we want to do. We will make advertisements and art to represent and sell the worthiness of our intentions. We will continue to gain in numbers and we will finish what we have started. We will make America a safe environment for those who lack fortune to seek it in comfort, and for those who have fortune to enjoy it with a clear conscious.