How long will we have to wait for a social revolution?

[Iris]

How much further will things have to go before some of the 51% wake up and smell the coffee? I get more and more depressed every day. I think the worst is people who reacted so strongly to the latest Supreme Court decision about the death penalty. I've read things like, "What do a bunch of judges know about teenagers" to "They're not teenagers when they are executed." I even heard a high school principal say that he knows "what teenagers are capable of. They will do anything" (implying they should be put to death because of his observation). Of course, he misses the point, which is they will do anything because of poor impulse control, which is directly related to the fact that they are TEENAGERS!!!!

And now the Artic oil drilling. The environment. . . I can't even think about it. Every time I see 4 or 5 SUVs in a row, I want to scream.

When will people understand what compassion really is and start giving a damn about something besides themselves?

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. When they are personally tourched

taht is when they will wake up, not a second before

[K-W]

2. When reality is made real to them.

There are many ways this can happen.

[Iris]

8. Like what?

My boss is 50 - she has no retirement savings and she voted for Bush. When he came out with his SS "reform" plan, she was outraged saying, "He should have told us what he was going to do before the election."

I, mean, it was out there. It's not like it was any secret that this is what he wanted to do.

[ultraist]

3. "You say you want a revolution..."

Revolution
John Lennon & Paul McCartney (Performed by The Beatles)

You say you want a revolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
You tell me that it's evolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know that you can count me out?

Don't you know it's gonna be
Alright?
Alright?
Alright?

You say you've got a real solution
Well, you know
We'd all love to see the plan
You ask me for a contribution
Well, you know
We are doing what we can
But if you want money for people with minds that hate
All I can tell is, brother, you'll have to wait

Don't you know it's gonna be
Alright?
Alright?
Alright?

You say you'll change the constitution
Well, you know
We all want to change your head
You tell me it's the institution
Well, you know
You'd better free your mind instead
But if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao
You ain't gonna make it with anyone anyhow

Don't you know it's gonna be
Alright?
Alright?

[FlemingsGhost]

28. For the sake of accuracy : "But when you talk about destruction ..."

"Don't you know that you can count me out? ... in."

John simply couldn't make up his mind, so he included both in the "White Album" recording.

---------------------------------

I think, I finally see his point.

[ultraist]

31. Ahhh! Interesting point, I didn't know that.

I just cut and paste those lyrics. Love that song.

[leveymg]

4. Aren't Hummers made for rolling over barricades?

With the 12-speaker Bose audio system turned up, and the automatic climate control on, the Cossacks didn't even notice the awful sounds and smells of civil war.

[Webster Green]

5. There are more people protesting everyday...

We will have a strong labor presence at our SF protest on Saturday.

Nurses and teachers, and even correctional officers have been protesting against the Gropinator here in California.

[Iris]

6. Thanks for the post!

This is encouraging.

[Cleita]

7. I don't think we ever will have social reform until we

root out all racism in our country. As long as a segment of any population considers themselves more entitled than anyone else, you won't be able to get past the laundry list of ills "those people" cause good, hardworking people by "standing around, holding their hands out".

When humanity realizes that when good fortune strikes them, they have an obligation to reach out to the person that is not as fortunate as them to help them also enjoy the good things of life, then we might start seeing a socially and environmentally responsible society.

[Iris]

9. Yeah. Well it will be impossible to tackle the racism because

everyone hates anyone who is different from them - it doesn't even matter what color they are.

Everyone is miserable and hates anyone who may be less miserable than they are.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. And this is the way the New World Order likes it

[Iris]

13. you have a point.

This is what I mean, though. What will it take for people to wake the fuck up? I think what horrifies me the most is the idea that they won't.

[Cleita]

14. I don't think so. It's that no one really works at it.

It's not that hard to do either. You have to get the entitled people to realize what it's like to be several rungs down the ladder from where they are now. There are people who do sessions like this in schools or the workplace, but of course they have to be invited in, first.

For instance, if you and your boss have to trade places for a day, he might get a better appreciation of your problems and vice versa. It works the same with breaking down the barriers of racism.

[LoganW]

10. Get rid of social secutiy

or have a draft. Something big.

I think the dems in congress opposing bush on social security was a huge mistake. If they stayed mute and had the absolute smallest number of dem congress people vote to abolish social security (in the name of the republicans) we would have had a land slide victory in 2006 and then again in 2008.

We need to have a total policy change. LET them fu** the country. Hell, quietly encourage them. Just give them enough rope.

[Iris]

12. I see what you are saying, but it still makes my heart leap

into my throat.

[ultraist]

32. I agree, it's very sad

But, raising awareness does help to alleviate racism and xenophobia. Anyone who I have talked to that is racist lives a segregated life and is totally uneducated on the issue.

But of course, there are those who are extremely selfish and hateful and will say anything to cling to their power.

I'm not giving up all hope though. We are going through a particularly bad time right now but looking back to people who died to fight for equality and made major changes in our society, I can only conclude that change for the better IS possible.

[Career Prole]

15. I think it will need to start in the workplace.

We need our own Lech Walesa...I can't talk anybody into a general strike. I've tried.

Until we get the courage to stop worrying about our personal comfort (lost wages) we can't threaten them in the only place that we can hurt them...in their moneybag. And until we prove we can hurt them they will never listen to us.

[guitar man]

16. absolutely correct

We have got to teach the Capitalistas that cheap labor is not an entitlement program for the billionare class. We MUST learn to stand together and refuse to work for the substandard wages and benefits that are becoming more and more commonplace these days.

[Iris]

19. but most people I know

don't consider themselves cheap labor. They think they are "on their way" - to what, I don't know, but they still think it.

[guitar man]

20. give them some time

the Bu$h cheap labor for billionaire$ bandwagon will get around to them sooner or later. When enough people find themselves stuck in a rut with no way up and suffering, something will happen. It just might take a while.

[Career Prole]

22. Are they republicans?

If not, perhaps they'd be more comfortable that way.
Republicans, after all, are traditionally the ones who turn their backs on the poor just as fast as they can say "I got mine!!"

[Iris]

23. Some are.

But they're all mostly middle class. A few probably have the potential to eventually be one of the fat old white men who run the world, but most are just regular people.

[Career Prole]

24. Tell 'em ol' Rick said

"Get well soon!" :)

[woosh]

17. when gas hits $3 a gallon.

[JNelson6563]

18. As long as we "wait"

we will just wait. If we all take action and urge others to join us, I predict a much shorter wait.

:toast:

Julie

[Robeson]

21. When we hit the bottom of the abyss we're being pushed in....

[Niccolo_Macchiavelli]

25. not so optimistic about that

many people got lazy with their comforts. as long they have some left they will bitch and thats it.

fascism is quite designed to "counter/corrupt" democracy and hard to break from within. the pretorians have been brought into position long ago, the interior inteligence is the largest segment of intelagencies.

so you wait for the republicans and the theocons to take up the banner.

fine. double loose.

scenario a: they do and will take credit...dem wussies didn't we solved it southern style.

scenario b: they dont and in 2 years you start in your second decade of gubmint by corp, from corp, for corp. and eventually get a first row seat in WWIII.

[FlemingsGhost]

26. Pssssttt ... It's already started.

:hi:

[KG]

27. not until the dammed TVs get turned off.

[BiggJawn]

30. Yep, as long as there's "Must-See Teeee-Veeeee"

They have their docile, compliant populace.

OMFG! I heard TWO people got kicked off the Island last night!

Kill the fucking TV and you give birth to the revolution.

[reprobate]

29. It will have to be political, not just social.

And it won't happen until conditions are more terrible than you can imagine. In France it didn't happen until none but the rich could afford bread.

In Russia it didn't happen until massive starvation and a terrible war killed some of almost every family.

Here it will be even worse because the media will do everything in their power to keep the people from knowing the truth.

But it will happen eventually. Most people today know that the government is controlled by corporations, and have no trust in their representatives. I don't know what will set off the spark, but something will. People may deny it, but they don't trust the government. Never really did, but the last four years have driven the point home.

Just wait, watch, and bide your time. It'll happen when you least expect it. That's the way it always is.

[ultraist]

33. Yes, something like the Great Depression number 2

A condition where soooo many are affected that even the very few with money feel uncomfortable because they have to deal with the high crime rate. (Crime rate increases as the poverty rate increases). They can only hide behind their gated communities for so long. They will want to go out in the world for entertainment, medical care, and shopping.

[reprobate]

34. Exactly. The French Revolution-American Style.