if kerry's going to kowtow, if the dnc's not going to help, and if

[colonel odis]

democrats in congress are going to "move on," how do we fight back?

economic boycotts?

strikes?

sabotage within companies that are outsourcing and/or supporting the bush economic strategies?

visible and continued public disrespect in the public eye for bush -- stickers EVERYWHERE belittling him?

when the people on bottom don't like the people on top, there are lots of little ways to fight back. ways that can't be traced or pinpointed. yet ways that totally upset their little apple carts.

ideas? tactics?

[cornermouse]

1. Sabotage is out.

Boycott, yes. Sabotage, no.

[colonel odis]

4. i'm not talking about blowing up shit. "sabotage" was probably not the

right word. no one should ever be physically harmed through any of this.

but if some production quotas don't get met. if some motor pool cars break down. if some deliveries don't get made, orders filled, etc., then their mighty economic machine doesn't seem quite so mighty.

[InvisibleBallots]

7. sabotage is non-violent, and illegal

and has worked in the past. It it very illegal of course, and probably counts as "terrorism" at this point.

[Warpy]

2. Right now, starving the beast is all we have

That means no corporate news, no fast food, buying as little as possible, conserving as much as possible, buying locally and from small businesses whenever we can.

We'll have to wait until things get much, much worse before we can even discuss anything else in the way of tactics. We have to wait until some of the nearly half of the population start to wake up from whatever caused them to vote for a doofus like Bush.

In the meantime, passive resistance is the key. That way, we deprive them of an external enemy to fight, and they will turn inward and start to destroy the ideologically impure within their own ranks.

[Pirate Smile]

3. What issues are you talking about specifically? It doesn't look like Kerry

plans to "kowtow".

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1046219

http://www.theunionleader.com/articles_showfast.html?article=47936
The Massachusetts senator, slightly more than a month after the election he had felt sure he would win, came out swinging, in a call to keep up the fight for the issues that characterized his campaign.

“I feel so passionate about these issues that I am going to use all the energy God gives me to pursue them,” Kerry said.

Referring to GOP voter registration challenges in Ohio that may have cost him that state’s vital electoral votes, Kerry said, “We’re going to clearly bring (attention to) the rights of American people to vote without being harassed.”

“It is a disgrace that we have partisanly run elections in states where people don’t have faith in the outcome. We need to make sure all votes are properly recorded.”

Referring to issues that are of continuing concern to him, Kerry said he senses “an energy” and “the same passion” across the country to continue those fights.

“We brought together millions of people on the Internet and we’re going to continue to grow this,” he said.

[Career Prole]

5. Kowtow? I doubt it.

"Main Entry: kowtow
Function: intransitive verb
1 : to show obsequious deference : FAWN
2 : to kneel and touch the forehead to the ground in token of homage, worship, or deep respect."

I seriously doubt it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Ok ok Barney Franks sent a long letter to DU'er that

was posted here....


He basically said that we have no recourse legally in OH....

Now quick, go read your Declaration of Independence... I am sure there is a line in there about no legal recourse as one of the complainits.

Your marching orders are IN THAT DOCUMENT... now how do you get from here to there? What are you doing yourself? Me going to a demonstration this morning, and have been active.

How about you?

THere is a an energy in the air that could be directed... but alas we need local leaders.

Oh and as to other things... I am done shoping for my anyversary and christmas.

Let me see... a sweater made in Peru for my husband... bought directly from the people who import them (Peruvian Native American people), from the Peruvian collective that makes it (MIddle finger big corps).

My Holiday cards directly from the AFL-CIO, see that middle finger

A wooden shape and a wooden compass for my husband, nautical theme, made by a local craftsman.

Oh and some gaming miniatures for good friends, which am in the process of making, and though GW is a large corporation by gaming standards, they are peanuts compared to the rest.

Did I mention my total is well under fifty dollars? Or that the sweater was bought yesterday since it is very cold and does not own one to his name?

As to organizing, yes please do... locally, among friends and watch for any friendly DHS spy ok...but we need to do it... and the economic boycott, go over to the economic activism board and find ideas... if you absolutely have to shop for anything, there is a list of Blue companies there.

[colonel odis]

8. speaking of the list of blue companies ....

what about citgo gas? isn't citgo a subsidiary of venezuela's state oil company?

and since venezuela has thumbed its nose at bush, wouldn't buying citgo gas be supporting that, as well as spending your money with an oil company that bush can't put under his thumb?

glad you're helping starve the beast. sounds like a nice christmas list.

[Quakerfriend]

9. We must get the masses out in the streets! n/t

[Bouncy Ball]

10. Here are three big ones:

1. Cancel your cable or satellite subscription immediately. If that suggestion just made you break out into hives, do it anyway. It was hard for my husband to do it, too, but he did. Imagine if just HALF of the people who voted for Kerry did that: almost 25 million. Even one-quarter and they'd be crapping their PANTS.

2. Economic boycotts/activism. This DOES have an effect. Spread the word, tell everyone you know who is sympathetic. I've talked 32 people into no longer shopping at Wal-MArt and have sent them links telling them what businesses are red and what are blue. They are shopping accordingly. Spend less, too. But when you do spend, shop blue and/or mom and pop.

3. VOCAL VOCAL VOCAL. You no longer have a candidate you are informally representing. You can be the active resistance, the active opposition. I ordered five bumper stickers the day after the election and they are rotated out on a monthly basis. The one on now says "Hate is NOT a family value." I also have an anti-bush sticker.

[zulchzulu]

11. I'd bet that Kerry will make it a big issue for the next years as senator

Your best bet is to do vigils, join or start a grassroots movement to get election reform changed and spread the word. Boycotts can definitely work.

Sabatoging, blocking streets in busy intersections and rioting never work in the end. Not in this police state...

[m berst]

12. to answer you

1. Rally around one issue - preserving the Constitution of the United States against the fascist and theocratic threat in all of its permutations - and put the bickering over other issues aside for now.

2. Complete non-violent resistance to every aspect of the system in every way at all times

3. Build a mutual support network that joins the personal needs of the members with the political cause, where we see others in the struggle as our brothers and sisters to be helped and supported in all ways

So long as we are subject to divide and conquer, are unwilling to make the sacrifices to do what it takes, and keep our personal lives separate from our political lives, we are paralyzed.

Those are the three barriers to effective action in my opinion. Define the issue; make the commitment; build and expand the community.

If liberals take the lead on saving the Constitution -saving the country, really - from the real and immediate threat of tyranny, we will come out of that struggle with many, many converts to all of the liberal ideals. If, on the other hand, we focus on a handful of liberal positions, dig in rigidly on them, and argue among ourselves over those, we run the risk of losing everything - not just an election, not just the party, not just on one cause or the other - but the whole game. The game is freedom versus tyranny. Freedom, as decribed in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, is the prime cause and the foundation stone for all liberalism.

[Name removed]

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