Chris Hedges The Absurdity of American Empire

[marmar]

[KansDem]

1. Chris Hedges makes an observation that should be *the* wake-up call...

Around 17'00"

These communities are destroyed. Now, many of us I suspect believe that these communities might rise again if the economy improves, i.e., a major employer comes to the area and provides good wages for the community's workers. As if, let's say, an industry locates and creates jobs that promise a strong local economy for both the workers and the peripheral businesses that benefit from residents (and consumers) with good paychecks.

That's all we need. Right? But, after hearing Hedges' description of drug-use despair and the resultant "zombies," where are the workers going to come from? Will a major employer locate in a region where the residents are destroyed people? Are we to believe the drug-use despair will vanish with the hope of a job? Or are the residents so far gone that that would be impossible?

The "If only a major employer were to set up shop in one of these communities, all the despair and poverty would vanish" argument is ludicrous considering the improbability of such an undertaking...

[ricardA]

3. The problem has been dependence

So it has to be counter with 'in dependence' of the external control. Yeah, the bussiness people would not want to hire them, so the question is how long and wide can this happening be tolerated.

The new world is here, and that may also include new ways to self regulate the various societies. But no one in administration is making that clear, and that is just the problem, it makes hard to make decisions.

[ricardA]

2. Ok, basically these are open jail communities

I have been saying that what is needed is the ability to do normal activities characteristic of a normally developing human and person without the invisible restrain existing in the world society.

It seems weird to say that, but there you have it, the 'invisible restrain' actually exists, and in communities of several people, probably of all ages, races, gender, wealth and occupation status, etc.

Mr Hedges, if the economic system is the invisible red, via massive bussinesses and monopoly, then it is made of a durable material that is several centuries old and non corrosive, yet also transmutable with a given set of conditions: the magical element archetype handed down by rulers to rulers.

So one fact of the reality is that the economic system is human made. Another fact is that it is a system that controls other systems, which are needed by humans. Even by the wealthy and elite. If the problems are man made the solutions need to come from humans too, including the elites, since some of them may even be zombies by now.

The key knob is the economic system, it leads to human dignity, but technology works against the activities that make human life dignified.

[cantbeserious]

4. Chris Hedges Poignantly Speaks Truth To Power - Are We All Too Comfortable To Head The Call

eom

[fascisthunter]

5. I just heard...

Sid's head pop like bubble wrap... hmmmm.

[miamipilot]

6. We Have the Power to Fight Back!

A revolution can start with a single idea, see this man's ideas concerning "Corporate Cooperatives"!:

http://bit.ly/139HEya

[wake.up.america]

7. As he pointed out, there has to be a rethinking. Unbridled capitalism is destroying many people.

[limpyhobbler]

8. good interview

[Nod]

9. Needs

Each of us just needs a bowl and saffron robe. All else is meaningless.....