James Fallows: people are close to a revolt

[eridani]

http://www.readersupportednews.org/opinion2/277-75/7397-people-are-close-to-revolt

I've never actually written to a journalist before, but I was one of the 1,252 people arrested this weekend in front of the White House. I also live in the rural Midwest and your source is right. People are close to revolt. I think it will be a five year process of movement building, but even my very conservative staff of library assistants all cheered me on when I told them what I was doing. The people I interact with here and the ones I met in DC are all fed-up at a deep and fundamental level.

All of the people I know who are capable of rational thought also understand that the combination of (we're rural so pretty much everyone gets climate change) climate change and energy issues, lack of jobs, and the refusal of government to provide us with basic services means that a new revolutionary social movement is needed. Food prices are soaring, gas prices are making it hard for people to get to low paying jobs, and the amount of suffering because of lack of access to medical care is dire.

I sent a staff person home today (without pay since she's part-time) with a draining ear infection and a high fever. She also has a mass in her abdomen. She has no insurance and she's divorced with children and her ex also has no money. She is paying her bills with what I would call scam student loans that will eventually ruin her. These people are getting closer and closer to the point where we will have fundamental break-down of law and order.

[Sherman A1]

1. The anger has been building for a very long time

People are and have been angry at the unfairness in this society (for about 30 or so years). They very often have not understood at what they were angry and frankly the whole Faux News/Talk Radio thing has really diverted and confused them, but they are indeed angry. I only hope that when the top comes off the kettle that there some clarity as to just who, when and where.

[opihimoimoi]

3. The Sane out there are not Lolo...they can see the problem is with the Baggers

and their odd way of rejecting Reason and Logic....instead embracing simplistic notions of solving things...when actually is the opposite...creating worse than when they started...

The Baggers and their GOPer regulars are going to see their efforts for 2012 hampered by lack of Common Interest, Clarity, and Honesty...

[fasttense]

2. Living in a rural area does not always mean people get man made global climate change.

I live in a very rural area. I've seen insects and their predators so out of sink that infestations of different bugs comes every year, destroying whatever crop they target. I've seen the month of August change into a dead time for planting due to almost constant droughts and 90+ temperatures. I've watched spring and summer come too early and cause my lettuce, radishes and spinach to bolt. I've seen fall come too late and watched my cabbage, beets and kale seeds bake and never sprout. I've watched as air quality warnings are posted for a rural area that didn't know the meaning of smog 5 years ago.

I've seen all these things and yet I've talked to farmers who pretend there is no climate change. They say it's always been like this or that this is a temporary change. I guess some people have to be hit over the head with the truth before they admit to something they don't want to hear.

[enough]

12. Right. We still have small farmers here (mostly Amish) who refuse to get their diary herds out of

the creeks and streambeds, even when offered financial and physical help to do it. The idea is that we've always done it this way so nobody can tell me to do it differently.

Most of the non-Amish rural population here is utterly dead right-wing. They honestly believe that talk of climate change is some sort of satanic plot to make them look like fools. And they eternally elect the most right-wing know-nothing politician available, and keep him in office perpetually.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

19. Oh but somebody will say you are broad-brushing.

That's what they did to me, ignoring that I was speaking of my experiences where I live.

I was accused of generalizing and broad-brushing.

I am speaking from experience where I LIVE, not the whole state.

[dkf]

4. And revolting will get health care for everyone in what version of reality?

Rioting is doing so well for the Greeks. It looks like they will be kicked out of the European Union soon which UBS estimates will lower their standard of living by half. Fiat money can pay the bills but it can also make inflation pretty unbearable.

[NNN0LHI]

6. But they are going back to the drachma

Wait until they try paying for a boatload of imported goods with a stack of drachmas.

Don

[quaker bill]

9. Rioting is not rational

These are not things people carefully consider and plan. Often they are counterproductive. They happen anyway.

[Warren Stupidity]

11. you are right, the best thing is to sit at home passively and accept

the Austerity Regime that is being shoved down the throats of working people around the world. Just look at the Greeks, if only, if only they had stayed home, why right now they would be, um what? They would be getting pretty much the same shit they are getting right now only more of it and sooner.

A revolution does not have to be a riot.

We will not have fundamental reform in this country until we are out in the streets, riot or no riot, on a regular basis for months on end. It is pretty damn clear we aren't going to vote in reform. Not with the established power structures in place and in control.

[dkf]

20. Watch what happens to the Greeks and then we can decide if Austerity would have been better.

[socialist_n_TN]

22. What you said, Warren

ESPECIALLY your last paragraph.

[Harmony Blue]

13. Rioting has led to multiple Republics for the French

and also has led to Greece returning to a Democratic system by kicking out the military junta. The idea that rioting is beneath you is humorous. I would have never guessed on a progressive site people would be talking down rioters. You know why we celebrate Labor Day? I hope?

Greece's standard of living has already been lowered by austerity cuts, so the Greek people understand that they rather start from scratch then deal with being indentured to the bankers.

[Nay]

5. Unfortunately, most of these ppl will settle back down again once a god-fearing

righteous white Republican is back in the Oval Office. Hate to be so cynical, but there it is.

[NNN0LHI]

7. That is exactly it

[liberal N proud]

8. You nailed it.

[quaker bill]

10. As Howard Dean put it in 2004

Change is coming. Either you can get started, plan for it and accomodate it, or it can just happen. When allowed to happen on its own, the change occurs usually in a manner and at a pace no one is comfortable with. The pickle is headed your way, you can choose to eat it, or....

[Odin2005]

14. Things are starting to come to a boil and it's not going to be pretty.

I think we will see mass protests in 2012 and localized general strikes in 2013 and 2014. If things keep sucking by 2015 state governments will start taking matters into their own hands and there will be whispers of the states wanting to convene a constitutional convention.

[Creideiki]

15. Careful. I asked whether it's time for a Constitutional convention and the Cognoscenti

spit in my face--right after they were done laughing at me for suggesting it.

[Odin2005]

16. Don't worry, I'm used to being spat on for supporting a constitutional convention.

[Occulus]

18. As part of the problem, that's their job.

It most definitely is time to call a Convention, limited to one and only one item:

A Constitution Convention to Fire Congress.

[NC_Nurse]

17. Which people? I don't see anything like that. Most people I talk to are too jaded.

They don't seem to think they can do anything to change the system.

[southernyankeebelle]

21. How can you get through to people who vote against their own interests? Even the

democrats aren't doing what they should be. Congress has become a game. No one there care what is going on. I called both my republican senator and congressman today and told them to vote for Obama jobs bill.