Like Don Quixote tilting at windmills, I've been trying to get the message across to people that we live in a one-party corporatist system. This one-party system has two wings: The Democratic party establishment, and the Republican party establishment.
The former is a little more benevolent, and has the capability for reform, and that's why I happen to always vote Democratic, have engaged in campaign activities (including attending Obama-camp), and have never missed an election (local or national) in the more than 25 years I've been voting.
Of the one-party corporatist system, the Republicans are what I call the "fascistic wing," and that's why I oppose them, and would never vote for them. But I digress... That's not the point of this diary.
I've been reading a lot of the latest diaries about the very fast succession of dastardly acts being committed against the people of this country by "the system." people are frustrated about the Sequester, the Keystone Pipeline, the treatment of whistle-blowers, the continue pillaging by Wall Street, union-busting, relentless attack of public employees, privatization of the commons, etc.
We live in a nation where doctors destroy health; lawyers destroy justice; universities destroy knowledge; governments destroy freedom; the press destroys information; religion destroys morals; and our banks destroy the economy.
- Chris Hedges
I read many comments that show how dispirited some people are; many say that we're done; that there is nothing we can do; that the so-called American dream is dead. Well, yes, to a certain extent, the "American Dream" was just a PR slogan used to manipulate people, but again, I'll leave that aside for now...
The other day I wrote a diary titled: Reaching a Higher Ground: "Something Big is About to Happen."
I believe what I wrote in the diary, but I feel we can't afford to wait until everybody "gets it;" until everybody realizes what's going on and rises up against it. I, and many, many other people out there, are doing everything we can to let people know that the time for action is now. Some people say that once everybody is so desperate and broken down and have nothing to lose, that only then people will be forced to rise up. Why wait for that to happen? It doesn't make sense.
We have almost everything we need to get going, except for one very important component. I think by now people know that much of the government is on the take; under the control of Corporatist/Wall Street cartels. By now people are becoming aware of the mind-blowing level of income inequality in this country (see video below). And then there is the total-information-awareness surveillance police state, the militarization of police departments, etc., etc. We know.
But to paraphrase one of the contemporary vile characters of the day, "The only thing that can stop a bad guy with a plan is a good guy with a plan."
Folks, this is very important! I admit that at times I get a little frustrated at the resistance (or misunderstanding) to this very simple proposition: People need to join in a national (and eventually, international) network of activists and take strategic, tactical, and coordinated action against the system.
We are 85 percent there. There are a myriad of progressive groups around the country; and then there are dozens of active Occupy Wall Street groups in multiple cities as well. It's all right there in front of you, but you need to take that one little step to get this (much needed peaceful revolution) going.
Those of you who are very angry, don't be turned off by the word "peaceful;" once we get to the point when the 1 percent owns almost 95% of the wealth, the violent revolution will happen automatically. But again, why do you want to wait for that?
Here's what we need to do:
Education / Outreach / Counter-Propaganda
This is the most important component of a successful organized resistance. The corporatist cartels have been able to achieve much of their advance by convincing a large-enough segment of the population to act against their own interests, via the use of propaganda (and their ownership of the shameful American mainstream media).
We need to launch a relentless, national advertising (counter-propaganda) campaign, 24/7. This effort, once it starts, needs to be relentless, constant, and the messaging needs to be broadcasted or disseminated using every available media, including newspapers, TV, radio, SEO, Facebook, Twitter, flyers, posters, teach-ins, rallies, seminars.
This effort has to reach every corner of the country; every town, every city, every state. It needs to be clear, concise, poignant, informative, and most of all, very high-quality, and professional.
Don't worry about the money to do it. We'll crowd-fund it. The important thing is to get going. We can start with "baby steps," like buying full-page ads at a few newspapers around the country, and then we'll take it from there.
Pressure
Sometimes people get into an either-or mindset when I bring this up. They think that I'm advocating for people not to get involved in the political process. I never advocate that. As I stated above, I vote and engage in the political process.
But since the entire political establishment is corrupt, it is not enough just to engage at that level. There has to be a multi-pronged approach.
One-day rallies are not enough, as we've seen with the recent protests against the Keystone Pipeline. You have to find a way to put some kind of pressure on the system...
I suggest "pulsating flash-mobs." This concept is easy to implement; there is no law-breaking of any kind, and yet it could put a lot of pressure on the system.
Example: It's 12 noon in the SF Financial District. Out of "nowhere," a couple thousand people appear coming in from different streets. All of the sudden you have a huge crowd of people. Take that opportunity to pass out professionally-designed flyers with carefully throughout messaging (again, see the videos below). Ask people to join the "movement." Offer an easy way to do so, like going to a website, and organizing flash mobs, or other activities.
When the authorities arrive, follow all their requests; don't engage in civil disobedience. Once there is a large police presence, everybody disperses peacefully in different directions. The people take that opportunity to talk to other members of the movement, have a coffee, etc. Everybody is checking their "flash mob" app, or Facebook or Twitter, and another location is agreed on. Then two hours later, thousands of people show up by the Metreon (I think that's by 4th and Mission), and the same thing happens. Flyers are distributed. Posters are displayed.
The police shows up, everybody disperses, peacefully. Two hours later, thousands show up at the Union Square area, and the same thing happens. And then, encourage young people to join in, and regular middle class people. And keep this going indefinitely.
When the bought-off media, like The San Francisco Chronicle asks why are people doing this, we'll send them a very professional and cohesive press release (along with the video about income inequality). And we'll send them reports about the rampant corruption in the city.
And you do this in Seattle, Portland, New York, Miami, Washington, D.C., Dallas, Los Angeles, San Diego, and in hundreds of other cities, and it keeps growing, and it goes to London, Athens, etc.
Don't worry if it may seem too complicated; it's not. It's easy; we can do it now. Hit me up, and I'll jump on BART right now... But we need at least a few hundred to start.
If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning.
They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters. This struggle may be a moral one; or it may be a physical one; or it may be both moral and physical; but it must be a struggle. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find out just what a people will submit to, and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them; and these will continue till they are resisted with either words or blows, or with both.
The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress. Men may not get all they pay for in this world; but they must pay for all they get. If we ever get free from all the oppressions and wrongs heaped upon us, we must pay for their removal. We must do this by labor, by suffering, by sacrifice, and, if needs be, by our lives, and the lives of others.
- Frederick Douglass
Cleanup
Keep the pressure going. The system needs to be stopped, even if temporarily. It needs to convulse (hence, the relentless "pulsating flash-mobs"). Expose the corruption; expose what ALEC is doing; expose every single politician's relationship with special interests, etc. Demand reform; remove money from politics; overturn Citizens' United. Break up the criminal TBTF Banks. Break up the media conglomerates. Restore every single Constitutional right that has been weakened or taken. Tax the rich, the corporation; create economic opportunities; close corporate loopholes. Those are the demands; we all know. They are pretty straight-forward.
Revival
We will win; we will achieve our goals. After we the people force reform and remove corruption, and end the horrendous disparity in income distribution, then let's make sure we put mechanisms in place to avoid a repetition of this situation for future generations.
We have to learn that tyranny never rests in trying to destroy democracy; it is ramming at the city doors constantly, non-stop. Hence, a free people, if they want to remain free, have to be eternally vigilant against tyranny.
Don't worry about how long this may take. The only thing you should worry about is about not delaying taking action. If not now, when? You can do this right now, this very moment.
I'm going to be reaching out to people in Oakland, and San Francisco to organize the first "pulsating flash mob" in order to prove to a wider audience that this can be done. But if there are already networks out there who are ready to get going, just let me know at contact@raypensador.com, and I'll be in SF for the first flash-mob.
Here's the point: Let's say that you don't agree with any of these tactics; fair enough. But my point is that there has to be an effort to coordinate action, strategy, and tactics, across the country. It needs not be haphazardly or reactionary. It needs to be pro-active, driven by a clear agenda, and strategy, and cohesiveness.
This is what's missing in the mix. This is what people are waiting for. I'm ready to go! Either call me to action, or join me and let's get going.
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Ray Pensador | Email List | Twitter | Facebook | Social Justice National Ad Campaign
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Some energy driving us... Murmurations
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The current state of affairs. Let's change it!
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