If you've read my previous diaries by now you must know that I am concerned about the fact that there doesn't seem to be a highly organized nationwide network of progressive activists from multiple organizations sharing information and strategy on how to combat the imposition of a Corporate State.
This is an exercise meant to demonstrate that it should not be too difficult to do. It would be great if I can get as many people as possible to participate... It's very easy!
My vision: I envision a very cohesive network of social justice and anti-corruption activists and concerned citizens sharing information and coordinating strategies across the country, focusing on presenting a united front against the corporatist takeover of our government.
This network would be focusing on root causes, and not on electoral politics. There are plenty of groups doing a lot of good work when it comes to electoral politics. As important as their work is, I think we're missing a very important component when it comes to confronting the influence-peddling corruption of our political system by corporatist cartels, nationwide.
The three areas of focus I propose are:
Mainstream Media: The U.S. corporate media conglomerate is probably the most harmful aspect of the nascent Corporate State because it is responsible for a generalized and insidious manipulation of the population at the behest of the owners. It spreads pablum, false narratives, misinformation, and outright propaganda.
It needs to be bypassed completely (or as much as possible). Their lies and propaganda need to be exposed (constantly, 24/7) with a very strategic and well-throughout plan of action. Alternatives to the corporate media need to be supported and promoted.
Politician on The Take: Corporate money has infected our entire system of government, from towns, cities, states, and the national government. There needs to be strategic coordination across the country to expose influence peddling corruption, and take concerted, direct, strategic, and relentless action against politicians on the take.
Corporatist Cartels: Groups of billionaires and moneyed interests are acting in concert (driven by a confluence of interests) to undermine our democracy, usurp our system of government, and subjugate and exploit the population.
They like to act in the dark, behind close doors, colluding and scheming. They need to be exposed, and most importantly, de-funded. There are several options for citizens to take their power back, including the consideration of forming employee-owned companies, collectives, Benefit Corporations. There are also ways to fund ventures, including crowd funding. Alternative economic models need to be studied and considered, especially when it comes to local sustainability, banking, food production, housing.
Another very important priority would be to think of innovative ways to help spread unionization nationwide, including at big-box retailers.
Assignment: So here's your assignment (if you choose to accept it)... Follow this link to an "Activist Network Directory" I set up. Choose a "nom de guerre" or pseudonym and use that for the "Name" field. Under "Description" write a short statement about which of the three areas of activism interests you the most. Then just enter your city and state. Don't enter any personal information, like phone number, real name, etc. The directory has a GoogleMaps component; as people start adding their entries, it will be nice to see the network grow. Here's what my listing looks like.
As the network keeps growing, we will all share ideas and strategies about how to deal with the three areas of activism.
I want to make sure that this is as easy as possible, so there are not set expectations from any one member. My idea is to harness the wisdom of the group (crowd intelligence) and direct it like a "laser beam" at the sources of corruption.
What I'm hoping to engender with this exercise is a realization that many of the problems we face across the nation have similar root causes: influence peddling by powerful business interests, conglomerates, monopolies, and oligopolies. Certain patterns may emerge, and once they are fully revealed, we'll be able to come up with strategies to address them.
Finally, and because I'd like to attract a wide range of people, know that at least when it comes to any initiative I may be involved with, I would never advocate or encourage any type of illegal activity, nor violence revolution. I do advocate a revolution of the mind; an awakening. That, I believe, is more dangerous to these nefarious corporatist forces because they don't count on this type of coordinated, and focused nationwide strategy by regular folks.
They count on people remaining willfully ignorant; they count on people being isolated, and confused, and when harmed, suffering alone. They count on "divide and conquer." They count on people being distracted with "bread and circuses," with reality TV, with social media, with iPads, with iTunes, movies, bills, problems, responsibilities, etc. The last thing they expect is a major awakening by regular folks... Let's surprise them.
Once we get this going, I will send out a weekly email list with updates and announcing initiatives.
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Ray Pensador | Email List | Twitter | Facebook
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The current state of affairs. Let's change it!
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Some energy driving us... Murmurations
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