THEY have the Money and Most of the Mass Media; WE have to win the People

[Tom Rinaldo]

It really is that simple, as hard as that might be to accomplish. History has its cycles. The Union movement originated during a prior cycle like the one we now have entered. The words "Solidarity Forever" weren't just a slogan, they were a way of living, and of fighting. Without the gut support of a strong minority of Americans combined with sympathetic leanings from another equally large group of Americans; we lose. Call "we" whatever you want to call it; call it Democrats or Progressives or Liberals, call it the working and middle class Americans, call it everyday people. Without power rooted in a majority of Americans we are fighting and retreating, and that direction won't change.

We can't buy our way to victory, they will always have more money. We can't lie our way to victory, they will always have a bigger media echo chamber. We have to go back to the only thing that has ever really worked against them; Solidarity. Whether that takes the form of Unions this time is a detail. An important one yes, but a detail.

We have to win the arguments with our neighbors. We need them on our side. Our messaging has to break through beyond forums like this. Ultimately we can write off 60% of the Tea Party, but we can't write off the other 40%. They are lost sheep from our flock. They aren't where we need to start, but we will know when we are winning again when we start to peel them away. For one thing the time has come for all of us to be avidly pro Union, no matter what true stories of some corruption within unions we may learn of. Never support that corruption but always support those unions.

America as a whole needs to remember why Unions formed in the first place - and we need to be a part of reminding them. We have to restore a sense of solidarity against the bosses. Today's bosses are as heartless as any we have known. They may not literally be personally cruel, but they are heartless because corporations only think in numbers, never social needs.

There was outrage in America when the banks made out like bandits with the economic collapse of 2008. But because government had to step in to bail them out or face a total economic meltdown, with behind the scenes manipulation, most of that outrage turned against government, not the wealthy. Republicans today are blowing their cover by pushing for more tax cuts for the rich while slicing public services and doing nothing about jobs. They are vulnerable to a public sea change. We have to make that happen.

[BlueCaliDem]

1. We are fighting a losing battle

With a well-funded, taxpayer backed (via loopholes) corporate media echo chamber, there is NO WAY we'll win this war.

With spineless RepubliDems in Congress who, once again, aren't out en force, to educate the masses, leaving the corporate media echo chambers to frame the debate, it's only going to get worse and worse.

We are so screwed.

The United States of America has died.

Long live the United Corporations of 'Murica.

[Tom Rinaldo]

6. People throughout history have prevailed over greater odds than face us now

I believe the original American Labor Movdement is one example of that from the American ex[perience.

[BlueCaliDem]

7. After Kloppenburg's decision to call for a statewide recount, Michigan Citizens United going Snyder

of Michigan, five state senators in Wisconsin having recall petitions filed against them...I see hope for America.

I'm not going to jump up and down with glee just yet, but I have hope.

[Tom Rinaldo]

8. Wisconsin has been a shining example

The protests in thzty state have been broad based, sustained, and massive (especially when you factor in the the fridged weather during most of them). People there reached the breaking point and once that snapped the energy released dwarfed anything the Koch brothers can pay for.

The Right has gotten cocky. They started to push too far too fast and that is what wakes people up to action.

[BlueCaliDem]

9. Too bad this action is not given the attention the TeaBaggers got last year

during the health care debate at townhalls.

Has anyone else noticed? Rachel pointed it out tonight how little attention the corporate and beltway media are giving the protesters at the GOP townhalls, while they were up and running about trying to tape and broadcast the propped up TeaBagger events during the health care debate last year.

[hfojvt]

2. fortunately we have a plan to do that

we are going to spit in their faces http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=920125&mesg_id=920125

Our messaging needs to get beyond our forums, but it's probably a good idea if our messaging isn't made up of so many stories about how much we hate them.

[AndyTiedye]

3. How? There is No Antidote to Faux News

Has anyone here EVER managed to overcome the propaganda, with even ONE person?

[Tom Rinaldo]

4. Yes

The Robber Barrens and friends owned the media a century ago. They depicted each group of immigrants as sub-humans to one extent or another, and pitted one group against another and all of them against Americans who arrived here much earlier. Races were visciously pitted against each other. Unionists were called first violent Anarchists and then Communists after Lenin and friends took over Russia. There was no media taking the side of the working classes then other than small scale radical efforts, less established than what the left has today.

Yet Unions were formed uniting people of different backgrounds, who spoke different languagees, who had been pitted one against the other. The message of Solidarity broke through the propaganda then. Even some scabs were turned around.

[leftstreet]

5. How many people actually watch Fox news on a daily basis?

:shrug: