A Common Sense Revolution which will absolutely save America and the Earth.

[wcepler]

Imagine you're living in a community in which criminals are poisoning the water supply and basically own the police force. Naturally, they're dealing drugs and are responsible for most of the "organized crime" in the community. Also imagine that (like their television caricatures) they like to see themselves as "businessmen". Indeed, most of their income actually does comes from businesses like grocery stores, fuel companies, clothing stores, and maybe advertising on local television stations.

In short, in this fantasy community "organized crime" is thriving, even though the citizens of the community have lost nearly all of their civil rights, (remember, the criminals "own" the government), and have no political representation. Their financial lives continue to get worse and worse (many families now have three jobs and vacations are a memory), and the feeling of hopelessness is like smog of despair that poisons every aspect of the community.

And oh yes, most of the churches are worse than useless since they're either sucking up to the criminals, or they condition their followers to escape into psychotic fairly tales in which the world in going to go boom any day now. Sigh!

Politics is much worse since (big surprise!) nearly all the politicians are at the hog trough provided by the criminals for their obedient political monkeys. Are you listening, 2006 “Democratic” Congress?

So, what does the average citizen (American) do in such a living hell?

Boycotts, what else? What else CAN they do? Boycott the grocery stores, fuel companies, clothing stores, and television stations that sing the praises of organized crime.

Of course, this is simply a hypothetical community, but, as the mathematicians would say, the point is to EXTRAPOLATE our story to our dying country (and make not mistake, it IS dying!) at large.

We need to "think big" here, because IF these folks, these consumers (these AWESOMELY powerful consumers), DID boycott the criminal businesses of these killers of decency, rationality, and the very Earth, it would very quickly (how shall we put it?) draw blood.

Corporate fascism (America's current government) may look fierce on the outside, but it has a very soft and vulnerable economic underbelly.

If MILLIONS of Americans boycotted, say, Wal-mart (that archetypal trash heap for American workers), and started now, right before Christmas, that corporation would find out at the speed of light that a new force is loose in America! And this force would have nothing to do with politics (that dem/pug outhouse in Washington). That's the beauty and the power of it, because this force would be the very heartbeat of Democracy at its best: POWER OF THE PEOPLE.

There are lots of other things we can do besides boycotts. Our magnificent constitution, for example, permits us to have ENORMOUS influence on the dynamics of our country via petitions and referendums. Now these are things we don't have to check out with our one party dem/pug system. We wouldn't have to talk to Nancy Pelosi or Harry Reed first. Ugh!

These are things we can do ALL BY OURSELVES as American citizens. Strikes are another, nationwide or otherwise.

It can't be said strongly enough that all these things are POWER OF THE PEOPLE THINGS. We don't have to "go though" establishment politics -- which means we don't need the support or approval of people who are grunting and slobbering at the reality (not fantasy!) hog trough created by the elites (with a millionth of their wealth).

Of course such activism could be both/and with doing everything possible to resurrect the FDR Democratic Party. Indeed, these two activisms would run parallel and be mutually constructive.

Successful, national boycotting would dramatically help liberalize the Democratic Party and VISA VERSA. What we're talking about now is all win/win.

OK, time to be personal. I see my role in this as a barking dog, trying to get the attention of my American brothers and sisters that BOYCOTTS CAN SAVE AMERICA AND SAVE THE EARTH. To me, this is an absolute certainty.

I wish I had the eloquence of Martin Luther King (God bless him!), but I'm going to have to settle for being one American patriot talking over the fence to his neighbors. If the passionate Dr. King were saying these things I know more people would listen, but at least I can bark.

May I try to sum all this up?

There are two or three things to get clear here. The first is these POWER OF THE PEOPLE strategies are basically "independent" of politics -- which is freeing almost beyond belief. These are things WE can do, all by ourselves as American citizens and voters. And also please note that these apolitical strategies and activisms are completely peaceful and legal.

Secondly, the tragic irony is that the single biggest enemy to nationwide boycotts is us! The temptation to discount boycotts as (1.) they've been tried before, and (2.) such small scale actions aren't going to change anything, is the kiss of death.

OF COURSE they've been done before but never before with the backing of the internet! You see, that's our trump card; that's the difference. With the internet, we can synchronize and orchestrate boycotts on a truly national scale (best of all INTERNATIONAL scale!). Will it be easy? Certainly not; it will be devilishly difficult to get this all pulled together, but at least we can see in outline what must be done.

We obviously need some kind of national centralizing agency. Perhaps a site where people can vote for the "top ten" targets, i.e., those corporations which are the most destructive to the Earth and Democracy.

Organization, here, is all, because without a VERY organized central agency, boycotts are moot. However, to think positive, WITH a very organized central agency (perhaps supported and promoted by some high profile and nationally respected individuals, e.g., Jimmy Carter?), the sky is the limit.

WE ARE THE CONSUMERS and fascist corporations need us much more than we need them! Indeed, we should think of this as the empowering "axiom" of this piece.

Clearly, "organized crime" in our pretend example equals the Bush/fascist/elites. But, you know what, these scum need our money! Duh. And if we don't GIVE them our money (e.g., stop buying gas from corporations raping and killing Mother Nature, stop Christmas shopping at anti labor stores, and refuse to buy products of companies advertising on fascist media sites, etc., etc.), they are going get hurt financially beyond their wildest dreams!

However, the point really isn't to "destroy" these corporations (however tempting that might be, assuming we could) so much as simply "get their attention". We need to prove to them that "fascism doesn't pay" and if they want to stay in the economic game, they better start taking Mother Nature and our Democratic Republic (beginning with the Constitution) about 300% more seriously.

So I guess this is my dream and I'm hoping Dr. King (and Gandhi too!) will be there for it spiritually.

Lastly, this dream needs all the nitty gritty technical, realpolitik expertise it can get, so this is also a cry for help! It’s suicidal for us to consider these matters “academically”, since the clock is running and Democracy and Earth are dying as we speak, so the time for nationwide boycott activism is NOW. Even two or three months from now may be too late, so internet brainstorming may be our salvation.

Solidarity,
**********************************************************************

W. Christopher Epler (Bill)

ps: Just for a place to begin, let’s start the ball rolling with a nationwide boycott of Wal-mart before Christmas. If this piece is networked like crazy, who knows? At least it’s a first step and all journeys, as they say, have to start with a first step. The water first comes out of the mountain as a stream before it turns into a vast, surging river.

<http://theliberationofrealism.blogspot.com/>

[Speck Tater]

1. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ... Huh? What? Did you say something?

Sorry. Didn't hear you. I was sleepwalking with the other zombies on the way to WalMart to spend more money than I make.

:sarcasm:

The fact is, most of the American people are completely asleep at the wheel. They don't realize that anything is wrong. Not as long as they have their TV sets with their constant streams of sleep-inducing drivel to keep them zombified.

[Chulanowa]

2. Boycotts get government bailouts

The fix is in.

[defendandprotect]

3. As far as I can see, people are boycotting ExxonMobil in some areas on their own ---

I can tell you in one town, they've reopened the ExxonMobil gas station like four times now and
people continue to snub them for the place across the street!

It's closed again now ---

Wal-Mart is harder because many poorer people use the store to save money ---

What I think you should center on is consumer products --- the CAR, for instance ...

taking it off the road -- let's say for a half hour on a particular Saturday.

All cars off the road if you are anti-war.

Pull over to the curb or to a parking lot --- maybe even only for 20 mins.

STOP buying bottled water --

Corporations are our enemies --- stop giving them $$$---

[wundermaus]

4. been barking boycott for years...

Live the example you wish others to follow... I have. If everyone lived minimally and like you said, picked a single point of impact like WalMart... over a sustained period of time... months... it could begin the process of enabling the original powers of the organized citizenry. We, the People Of the United States of America need to organize a New Union... of, by, and for the People. STRIKE

[motocicleta]

6. Strike

That is the real power. No more work until the elites come into line.

[Control-Z]

5. I started

boycotting Wal-mart 3 years ago as did my older daughter. We've both tried to spread the word.

[izquierdista]

7. Changing behaviors

You've only got HALF an answer here. Sure, WallyMart is terrible and deserves to be boycotted. But what are people to do instead? You have to replace the trip to Wal-mart with something else to be effective in changing the habits of the public.

What I would propose is that you get people to commit to buying at the local thrift store instead of Wal-Mart. Convince them that they can give up cheap Chinese crap and maybe even get a better deal in the process. I would much rather shop for furniture at the thrift store than at Wal-mart. For one thing, a 40 year old American made dresser is likely to last another 40 years, while the particle board and laminate Chinese dresser will be ashes in the fireplace in another 4 years. And who knows, maybe something you pick up at the thrift store will qualify for Antiques Roadshow and be worth much more than you paid for it.

[bklyncowgirl]

8. Particle board and laminate in the fireplace--talk about bad for the environment

Just kidding.

I do a great deal of thrift store shopping myself.

[wcepler]

11. boycotts are complicated, but worth the effort

Point well taken. More evidence that boycotts need realistic examination. I really didn't expect much action anyway, since one barking dog drowns out pretty quickly. The boycott strategy simply has to have a centralized ground of individuals who do the necessary analytical homework. Shooting from the hip may be satisfying, but for the boycott strategy to have real effect it has to be "somehow" coordinated so that thousands, or hundreds of thousands, or even millions of individuals agree who to boycott. Unfortunately I have no magic wand to make this happen, but my desperate hope is that networking about this will gradually come together.

Last thought: it would also be helpful to have a list a labor and Democracy friendly companies to give kudos to, e.g., I understand that Costco is a very labor friendly company and in a way it would have the same effect if people went to the "good" companies (since this would in some since preclude going to "bad" companies). Such an affirming list might work better. What do you think? Of course it could also be both/and.

[flashl]

9. In some communities, boycotting is a none starter

corrupt local governments have sold-out their citizens a hundred times. Wallymega stores are the center of many local economies.

[Daveparts]

10. From, The Servants of Pilate (Who You Are now)

We are fifty generations from the time when Christ walked the earth; we have survived feudalism, the plague, innumerable wars, famines, fascism, socialism and communism. But today we face a new ism, more onerous than all of its predecessor’s. Ignorism! In ancient days feudal lords struck a deal with their subjects by which they traded protection for service. Socialism offered us the same bargain communism went even further. The guiding principle of all these philosophies was that the people and the state were mutually dependent on each other for survival and that they were bonded together by this principle. That one would fail without the active participation of the other.

All of the major religions of this world demand that we care for each other and assist one another other. This covenant between us is approved and ordained by God as well as by man.


“The Bible declares it would be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven. Yet as I stand here today I say that under this policy of Ignorism it would be easier for a poor man to pass through the eye of that needle than to be heard by his government. For the rich control not only the government but also the camel and even the needle.


Our government’s policy of Ignorism says just the opposite of all these covenants both political and spiritual, it says we don’t need you any more and we don’t want you around! We will hold our tea parties on your graves and our gated communities will be painted in your blood for we don’t need you any more! and we don’t want you around. You’re in our way! So we will build more prisons and we’ll hire more cops because we want you to go away your poverty is spoiling our party and annoys us!


This is a free country! They claim we have freedom of speech but that doesn’t mean they have to listen to you. You may say what ever you wish. Provided you have a parade permit and a demonstration permit and don’t make too much noise or take up too much space or block any of their traffic. Then they say we will grant you a free speech zone!
You are allowed to speak provided you don’t make any noise. Under the principles of Ignorism you and I are just an annoyance, a hindrance and they don’t care what you think! Because this is their world not yours!

Congress passed a law banning new logging roads in old growth forests. The forest service received more positive comments about this law than any law ever passed involving the agency in the history of this nation; ninety five percent of the comments were favorable to this law. What did this administration do? They repealed it by executive order! They said in effect we don’t care what ninety five percent of you think! The five percent of us that runs things say to just fuck off, go away, and be gone! And let them eat cake!


Mario Salvo once said in 1964 There is a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious, makes you so sick at heart, that you can't take part; you can't even passively take part, and you've got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus, and you've got to make it stop. And you've got to indicate to the people who run it, to the people who own it, that unless you're free, the machine will be prevented from working at all! In nineteen sixty-four that was extreme talk, on the far edge of the political spectrum. Who among us can say that today? In our broken bankrupted country when those who could save us as our ship of state takes on water are instead far too busy filling the lifeboats with their loot! So that there will be no room left to allow you or I to board.


While they blame you! How many of you have exported jobs overseas?”

“None!” The crowd roared, “How many of you raised healthcare rates?”

“None!” the crowd again roared as the pitch of the crowd increased. “How many of you abandoned your neighbors during a natural disaster? Just walked away and let them drown! Or starve! How many of you have started wars under false pretenses and then sent some one else’s children to do the fighting?


Mr. Salvo was right” John continued as he saw Michael approach him out of the corner of his eye, he looked over at him and gave him a smiling acknowledgement of his presence. Michael walked straight over to the podium and said as he took the podium and pushed John to the side.

“Thank You John, that was great, come on everyone give it up for John Smith,” as Michael lead the crowd in applause for John. “Hello,” he said to the crowd with his now familiar captivating smile, “My name is Michael Weathers, I work at the Scared Heart of Jesus homeless shelter several blocks from here. John is a great guy isn’t he, he’s honest and sincere and patient but I got to tell you John you’ve got to learn to be a lot more patient. He’s impatient after ten weeks! and he’s only going to give them a few more days! Well John,” he chuckled, “You’re going to have to be a lot more patient than that!”


“Two thousand years John two thousand years, Christ has been waiting two thousand years. Nothing yet Jesus, but just be patient! Yet millions of white middle class Americans are sitting in their church pews on Sunday saying he’s coming to save me from this two car middle class suburban existence! Be patient folks, George Washington Carver was the first black man ever invited to the White House and do you know what they told him? He would just have to be patient! Dr. King advocated peaceful change, as we marched he told us be patient. Malcolm X advocated peaceful change too but warned that there is a limit to our patience! Jesus, King, X. I can give you a list as long as my arm, of all those advocating peace and change through patience but you know what? The powers that be, the powers that stood against them they aren’t patient! They just killed them all stone dead!


When the Nazi’s conquered most of Europe did anyone think to say why not just be patient? When they built a system to exterminate the people they didn’t want around anymore, did anyone say just be patient? They murdered eight million people with their system. We have a similar system like that in America! I call it the box system!

My brother is doing twenty years to life for almost killing a man who tried to rip him off in a drug deal. He sits in his box eating the food they feed him and wearing the clothes they give him to wear and doing what he’s told. My other brother he’s a Marine and we are so very proud of him, he lives in a box eating the food they feed him wearing the clothes they give him ready to kill anyone they say, on a moments notice because he’s a patriot. My sister lives in a Navy box, my mother she lives in a government box she’s forty-six years old and she has never even had a night on the town but she’s patient.


My little brother and sisters they live in a school box, caught in a no man’s land between gangs and drug lords who fight over the scraps of what’s left. Criminals that won’t get in their box! Refereed by teachers, staff and the cops who like the students realize the futility of the situation. What good is an education without a job? but be patient. Under the box system some can escape!


They can make it out under the wire by singing or dancing or stuffing a ball through a hoop but for most part they just stay in their box and die with just be patient still on their lips. Now those brutal Nazi’s they’d shoot anyone who tried to escape from their system but when the police in this country shoot a black man forty one times in the ghetto for the crime of being outside his box how is it any different? Does anyone think to ask? Why couldn’t those policeman just be patient? Now they’ve turned the police on you folks” Michael smiled and leaned back one hand on the podium pointing with his other hand at the crowd. “The first time they busted heads and dragged you off by the bus load, but the second time was it patience that made them turn and run? Or fear?


During the civil right movement in the sixties was it doctor King’s peaceful marches or the cities in flames that changed things? When George Washington led the Continental army did he tell his men just be patient! John’s losing his patience after ten weeks and he’s only going to give them a few more days! Not me! I’m done! not one more day! I’m out of my box! And by God I’m not getting back in! I’m escaping from this box today! Hell they’re going to kill me anyway. Maybe if I was living in middle class America I could wait on Jesus, But Jesus isn’t coming to this neighborhood. So I guess it is up to us,


John said we should throw ourselves on the gears and levers of the machine and that we will stop the operation of your machine. What good would that do? They don’t care about us, your blood will only lubricate the gears of the machine and your bones will only sharpen the teeth on the gears. But what I’m here to tell you is, I say we throw their children in the gears of their own machine and that we tell them we will tear your machine to atoms. Wake up! They haven’t liberated black folks the've enslaved working folks. We are all niggars now! Don’t like it too much do you! Well just be patient, you’ll get used to it or die with those words on your lips. But as for me, here today this is the last day no more! Not one more day, not one more hour, not one more minute!”

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