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In reply to the discussion: Chris Hedges: The Great Unraveling [View all]muriel_volestrangler
(101,316 posts)59. He's not that keen on small-d democracy either
Voting will not alter the corporate systems of power. Voting is an act of political theater. Voting in the United States is as futile and sterile as in the elections I covered as a reporter in dictatorships like Syria, Iran and Iraq. There were always opposition candidates offered up by these dictatorships. Give the people the illusion of choice. Throw up the pretense of debate. Let the power elite hold public celebrations to exalt the triumph of popular will. We can vote for Romney or Obama, but Goldman Sachs and ExxonMobil and Bank of America and the defense contractors always win. There is little difference between our electoral charade and the ones endured by the Syrians and Iranians. Do we really believe that Obama has, or ever had, any intention to change the culture in Washington?
In this years presidential election I will vote for a third-party candidate, either the Green Party candidate or Rocky Anderson, assuming one of them makes it onto the ballot in New Jersey, but voting is nothing more than a brief chance to register our disgust with the corporate state. It will not alter the configurations of power. The campaign is not worth our emotional, physical or intellectual energy.
Our efforts must be directed toward acts of civil disobedience, to chipping away, through nonviolent protest, at the pillars of established, corporate power. The corporate state is so unfair, so corrupt and so rotten that the institutions tasked with holding it upthe police, the press, the banking system, the civil service and the judiciaryhave become vulnerable. It is becoming harder and harder for the corporations to convince its foot soldiers to hold the system in place.
http://exopermaculture.com/2012/01/23/chris-hedges-voting-will-not-alter-the-corporate-systems-of-power-voting-is-an-act-of-political-theater/
In this years presidential election I will vote for a third-party candidate, either the Green Party candidate or Rocky Anderson, assuming one of them makes it onto the ballot in New Jersey, but voting is nothing more than a brief chance to register our disgust with the corporate state. It will not alter the configurations of power. The campaign is not worth our emotional, physical or intellectual energy.
Our efforts must be directed toward acts of civil disobedience, to chipping away, through nonviolent protest, at the pillars of established, corporate power. The corporate state is so unfair, so corrupt and so rotten that the institutions tasked with holding it upthe police, the press, the banking system, the civil service and the judiciaryhave become vulnerable. It is becoming harder and harder for the corporations to convince its foot soldiers to hold the system in place.
http://exopermaculture.com/2012/01/23/chris-hedges-voting-will-not-alter-the-corporate-systems-of-power-voting-is-an-act-of-political-theater/
I think he might support democracy under a different system, but he despises the Democratic party (and the Republicans), that's clear.
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"The very word “drought” is part of the deception, implying this is somehow reversible. It isn’t." <
jtuck004
Aug 2015
#4
I have thought that this may be the last time to use our pitchforks at the voting booth.
libdem4life
Aug 2015
#44
"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible make violent revolution inevitable."
hifiguy
Aug 2015
#61
Never heard that one, but Amen to the wise JFK. That's why they took him from us.
libdem4life
Sep 2015
#109
Hedges just has to throw in a smear against Obama and Clinton using the same Trump broad stroke
Fred Sanders
Aug 2015
#9
I read the article as far as the part I quoted, isn't that enough to know for the purposes of this thread?
Fred Sanders
Aug 2015
#18
He's basically saying that the entire system is corrupt and beyond redemption.
PotatoChip
Aug 2015
#29
I completely agree with your post. I believe what Hedges says is right on the money.
rhett o rick
Aug 2015
#33
We are in a do or die situation. Moving to a third party is sucide. The Democratic Party
rhett o rick
Aug 2015
#37
Hedges doesn't believe we can win playing the Oligarchs game. Obama and Clinton play
rhett o rick
Aug 2015
#68
It's not a direct attack. The word IF - a big word - makes it conditional at best.
hifiguy
Aug 2015
#78
This is why I'm for Sanders, and why I'm tilting at this windmill one more time.
PatrickforO
Aug 2015
#12
Great post. I think there are a lot more like Sanders that are waiting to see if there really is
rhett o rick
Aug 2015
#40
The OP is an anti-Democratic party article that has no place on a Democratic board
muriel_volestrangler
Aug 2015
#43
Hedges believes in democracy, which is the most important thing to believe in...
Octafish
Aug 2015
#55
Hedges' point is not Sanders' point; Hedges has condemned Sanders
muriel_volestrangler
Sep 2015
#101
ill-advised decision to validate the Democratic Party by becoming one of its presidential candidates
muriel_volestrangler
Sep 2015
#105
I thought 'PUMA' was a crap idea in 2008, and it would be crap in 2016
muriel_volestrangler
Aug 2015
#58
As a Bernie Sanders Group host, are you happy with Hedges' remarks about Sanders?
muriel_volestrangler
Aug 2015
#84
"If" he has a legit criticism of Bernie I have no problem with it being discussed.
L0oniX
Aug 2015
#85
No, I don't hang out there; but I'm surprised at a Bernie Sanders supporter
muriel_volestrangler
Aug 2015
#88
Is there any proof that "Bernie is just a sheepdog to herd the gullible progressives"???
L0oniX
Aug 2015
#89
He represents the "Underground" faction of the Democratic party. I believe he does belong here.
corkhead
Aug 2015
#93
Hedges is not in any faction of the Democrats. He wants the party gone
muriel_volestrangler
Sep 2015
#102
So....you would go with Marx and Engels plan? Already tried that. Doesn't work either.
Fred Sanders
Aug 2015
#74
Used to be the uber-rich were content with just all the physical toys and the simple pleasures of money.
Fred Sanders
Aug 2015
#73
"He functions as a sheepdog to corral progressives, left-leaning progressives"
muriel_volestrangler
Aug 2015
#72
Funny how often the folks beseeching others to "read the article" have obviously not done so themselves.
Fred Sanders
Aug 2015
#75
On the contrary, I welcome folks educated in Marxist lore and revolutionary zeal, it is the ID of
Fred Sanders
Aug 2015
#87
Apologies to AOR poster for my dates of death....you make a valid point of surplus from labor. Capitalism
Fred Sanders
Aug 2015
#91
Gloom and doom is not for me! I remember 2008, for example. Remember that? I recall no time of economic perfection, but
Fred Sanders
Sep 2015
#108
People will get there on there own as material conditions dictate or they won't Fred...
AOR
Aug 2015
#92
I understand what you are saying, but a revolution, fascist or socialist needs one thing above all
Fred Sanders
Aug 2015
#94
Chris is correct, we must stop the neoliberalist march. Neoliberal = Nazi.
Dont call me Shirley
Aug 2015
#66