http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9642837Cyrano (1000+ posts) Sun Nov-28-10 11:19 AM
Original message
Why are we letting ourselves get screwed … and screwed … and screwed?
Edited on Sun Nov-28-10 11:21 AM by Cyrano
I believe the answer is because we are both unwilling and unable to do anything about it.
Who’s destroying our country and our lives? We know a few names like the Koch Brothers and Rupert Murdoch. But most of them are faceless, nameless, incredibly wealthy people. And wealth buys power. I’m speaking of the top few percent who own our politicians, our main-stream-media, and just about everything else -- including us.
But even if we had the names of our owners, what would we do about it? My guess is, not a damn thing.
Somewhere along the way, we lost the ability and the knowledge of how to stand up to oppressors. We are seemingly helpless to stop out modern day robber barons. And there doesn’t seem to be any Franklin Roosevelt on the horizon to come to our rescue. We’re on our own, we’re being raped, pillaged and plundered, and we are doing absolutely nothing to put an end to it.
So here’s my question for anyone who thinks they have an answer. Given the vast power arrayed against us, what can we do to salvage what’s left of our country and our own well being?
Let me break it to you gently Cyrano.
You are a spineless,emotionally overwrought loser.
You could be given a million dollars and would stand in the street sobbing over not knowing where to spend it.
Failure points to you when asked what it is,that was your fate the moment your balls were cut off years ago.
You have no hope.
Lorien (1000+ posts) Sun Nov-28-10 11:25 AM
Response to Original message
1. simple: demand campaign finance reform and a return of the Fairness Doctrine
the only problem is that the people have been duped into believing that doing either is *impossible* and that challenging power is "crazy", yet Europeans do it successfully all the time. We'll probably have to get at least two chief justices removed to overturn Citizens United and then battle for campaign finance reform, but it really is the only way.
How about prove via evidence that your beliefs work and thus the public will support them?
Nah...easier to shut up the other side so they can`t speak the truth against us.
Cyrano (1000+ posts) Sun Nov-28-10 11:40 AM
Response to Reply #1
10. We may be looking at another 20 or so years before
we can turn around the crimes committed by our current Supreme Court.
Will one of you idiots please sign up here with a list of all the "crimes" you talk about?
backscatter712 (1000+ posts) Sun Nov-28-10 11:26 AM
Response to Original message
2. This country's not going to turn itself around until we see a few good riots in the streets. n/t
Cyrano (1000+ posts) Sun Nov-28-10 11:45 AM
Response to Reply #2
11. Riots in the streets will be put down with maximum force and brutality.
The "haves" will do whatever is necessary to protect their power. And they don't even need the U.S. military. Companies like Xe (formely Blackwater), and others, have gotten plenty of practice in Iraq and Afgahnistan.
Don`t be surprised if there aren`t a whole bunch of folks stopping you.
leveymg (1000+ posts) Sun Nov-28-10 11:28 AM
Response to Original message
5. It's not difficult to find out who "they" are. But, what are you going to do with that knowledge?
Their logic is a merciless extraction of rents from the public sector as well as private assets. Public debt = privatized wealth. They own the banks, which control and milk the government.
Nobody's coming to our rescue, if we can't help ourselves. Don't wait for some sort of messiah and don't get too deeply invested in charismatic "hope and change" figures. You are the revolution.
But Cyrano will get dirt under his fingernails!!!!!
T Wolf (1000+ posts) Sun Nov-28-10 11:30 AM
Response to Original message
7. Direct action against the specific people who are causing the destruction is the ONLY WAY
change will happen.
But, Americans are too comfortable and too cowardly and just too damn lazy to take the necessary steps.
Nope,just not batcrap insane like all you.
mzteris (1000+ posts) Sun Nov-28-10 11:48 AM
Response to Original message
12. I think the culture of "anti-intellectualism" is taking hold.
People used to revere the "smartest guy in the room". Now they resent them, hate him, mock her, wish and work for their downfall...
They embrace those who are as ignorant and uneducated as they are. The Palin's and Beck's and Limbaugh's and O'Donnels and teabaggers of the world.
They became used to "having it good". They were okay way "being nice" to others because it didn't cost them anything and they didn't have to sacrifice anything to do so. It was still all about "me me me" - but there was enough to go around. Now times are hard. Jobs are scarce. Getting that big new house or brand new shiny car, the latest xbox, etc is no longer a given every time you just "want one".
Dumbed down schools where "making the grade" - AVERAGE - is considered a resounding SUCCESS!! Critical thinking skills are not encouraged. Discussions discouraged. Just answer the question - like this - color in that bubble. No essay questions. No considering "what - if". No reflections on how what happened when these people were in power. No dialogue between the sides. This carries over into sports.
Everyone gets a trophy just for SHOWING UP. The kid who whines about being "tired, constantly shows up late, misses half the practices, doesn't learn the playbook, lags behind on every drill, and when he gets put in the game, screws up the play because he didn't know it or didn't care or was afraid he'd get hurt or his head hurt... Meanwhile the kids who bust their ass on every single drill, every single play - get the same stupid trophy because the other kids parents will go ballistic otherwise.
So the ones who aren't "so smart" want everything the the "smart" ones do - but they're not willing - and not even capable - of working for it. We're used to "instant everything". Food, coffee, clothes, success. We resent those who have it better than we do. We don't respect them.
Funny how it's okay to brag about how good an athlete your kid is, but you're not ALLOWED to talk about how much smarter he is than other kids. People "think" they're "smart" because they "know some facts" (or "facts" as they've been brainwashed to believe) - but they're NOT SMART. They can't analyze those facts. Can't extrapolate what happens when you apply those facts to "Situation A" or "Experience B". They can't apply that knowledge. They're completely incapable of comprehending the world around them to any great degree and they resent those who DO! They want to drag us all down to their level. They want to surround themselves with idiots so they feel better about themselves.
They see their petty little privileged lives going up in smoke. Being a white protestant male is no longer the guarantee of "superiority" - raises, promotions, jobs, homes, pretty wives - that it used to be. They're threatened by women. by minorities. by gays and lesbians. Their insecurities and fears are fed by the hate-mongers. They hate themselves and their petty little lives and the fact that they are no longer "top dog" and they want to blame someone. They want to make someone PAY!! by god!
They LOVE SARAH PALIN because she makes them feel SMART!! They hate Obama because he makes them feel as stupid as they truly are.
You just described what the liberal education elites have foisted on us all.
What you hate is those of us not brainwashed by it.
