These are truly historic times. The adage that says that people can get drunk on power applies perfectly to what the billionaires trying to take over the country and their front groups are doing. They just got too greedy and too cocky, thinking that they would be able to fool most people all the time; and that will be their downfall.
During the last several years we have been living in what could be considered an absurd situation. Phony wars designed to transfer hundreds of billions of dollars to war profiteers; pillaging and looting of the nation's coffers (the people's money) by a small cabal of Wall Street criminals, with total impunity; dismantling of the regulatory infrastructure; de-funding of the proper functioning of government, on purpose; a mass media that in essence is a powerful, mind-numbing propaganda machine; a government on the take.
Of course, this all has been done in order to transfer as much wealth and power from the population to a tiny ruling class...
But again, "they" got too greedy. The ruling class wasn't content with just being rich; they have to take everything away from us, even if it means plunging millions and millions of people into despair and poverty.
What is about to happen bears some similarities to what happened in the late 1800's and early 1900's, when disparate groups of progressives who had been disorganized and ineffective against the corrupt ruling class of the time, started to come together into a cohesive and powerful movement. A movement that brought about all the benefits we came to take for granted, for the average woman and man, and worker.
Some reading these words may be skeptical, thinking that the corrupt powers are too entrenched; or thinking that average Americans are too oblivious to what's really happening, distracted by bread and circuses, and propaganda.
But this is not hyperbole; something big is about to happen. The progressive movement is about to awake from its century-old slumber, and its going to roar back into action--big time!
You are living in truly historic times. Heck, Occupy Wall Street alone deserves a nod in that respect. But that was just a teaser; a precursor.
A good example of this progressive awakening is the REPEACE movement (for Realize Peace).
Repeace is an online social movement that wants to cut the ties between private interests and government with a very simple method. Repeace wants to make accountability a profitable currency, at times where institutionalized corruption has become endemic. By rallying people behind 3 positive pledges (demands) Repeace creates a market for accountability and hopes to move small-medium business to new standards of social responsibility (back off of funding elections in exchange of support). The movement is called Repeace, which means "realize peace" and is inspired by John F. Kennedy's alternative interpretation of peace, from his 1963 Commencement Speech at American University. Repeace is not only a relevant project and a suggested solution, but the reflection of the current nations revolutions, which are, in essence, demands of accountability.
One of the things I like the most about REPEACE is that it has an international focus, correctly realizing that the citizenry in different countries is facing an all-out attack on the middle class by the same type of corrupt ruling classes.
I also like how they ask people to take three simple pledges (which I believe address the endemic corruption we are facing, at a root level):
- I WILL SUPPORT businesses that focus on sustainable, local products and services, not on buying influence.
- I WILL SUPPORT politicians who are accountable to me, not to corporations.
- I WILL SUPPORT countries that promote and defend freedom of expression.
I've often written about how nice it would be if social justice and anti-corruption activists were able to join forces internationally. I think REPEACE is doing that in the U.S., and Spain, and Iceland, and Greece (coming soon), and Egypt (coming soon). Imagine that! Decent, hard-working people from different countries, uniting in solidarity against a common threat.
Needless to say, in addition to being a Kossack, I am now a REPEACER as well!
I will continue reaching out to people of good will who are offended by the greed-driven corruption that has engulfed the country, encouraging people to eventually start to meet in person, share ideas and information about what's happening, and eventually come up with strategies to remove the choke-hold of financial and corporatist cartels on our Republic.
I also encourage people to visit RootStrikers. Folks, progressive coalitions are taking shape now that finally people have woken up to the reality of the situation. This to me is very exciting since I've been trying to get this message out for years and the typical reaction for most of those years was advice to take off my "tinfoil" hat or references to conspiracy theories, etc.
But I knew that eventually the corruption would get so out of hand that people would start to pay attention. We are finally at that point! Now is time to act on that knowledge!
The only thing I ask you is not to loose hope. Take small steps if you have to, but get involved. Even something symbolic, like taking REPEACE three pledges is a good start.
I'm excited about this summer. I will continue to reach out, meeting people, encouraging others to meet, build community, share ideas, coalesce into a real progressive movement, and bring and end to the corruption.
Each blue dot on the map below represents a member of a growing nation-wide network of social justice and anti-corruption activists committed to finding the best way forward. Join us in the effort!
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Ray Pensador |
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