Joe, why did you crap out on us? (Joe Bageant)

[Tace]

Joe,

Did everything get so hopeless you just gave up? I liked your fighting spirit here, in 2004, and feel when you've got a voice, as you have, we'd appreciate hearing it as a call to arms instead of an old man's complaints. I can say this without being ageist, I'm probably older than you.

So get out of my way and Katy bar the door! I for one am taking to the streets, joining every damned faggot commie tree hugging protest march that comes rattling the pike. I don't care if these are the last days of the empire of the locusts. I don't care if the entire jackal nation is at our very throats. Let whatever history remains record that some of us went down with a fight, and that perhaps a few of us indeed became "sages with transfigured faces".

The economy stinks, but there's a lot of work that needs to be done -- that in itself is an indictment of our economic policy.

The environment is trashed. Even more work to be done here.

In the meantime the jackals are winning.

Just some thoughts.

Sincerely,

Diane

Hawaii

***

Hi Diane,

Well, I've certainly changed my view of things since 2004. In the subsequent six years of reading, listening, trying to learn what's going on, I find the conclusion inescapable that that it will take a collapse to initiate the sort of ground-up change necessary. That doesn't mean good people should not carry on the struggle if they can find it in themselves. But I really don't think there are enough souls with time or stamina to pull it off in the face of the overwhelming corporate/government machinery opposing them (us).

At the same time I believe we can become finer within ourselves, even during collapse, which will take god only knows how long. Or not. So I have become interested in the in the spiritual side of things, as well as the political -- because as near as I can tell, spiritual courage, insight and judgment, are what is missing from the progressive struggle (or whatever you want to call it).

more

http://worldnewstrust.com/index.php?option=com_flexicontent&view=items&cid=122:commentary-wnt-original&id=7655:joe-why-did-you-crap-out-on-us-joe-bageant

[rpannier]

1. I understand what he's feeling

But I do think it is getting better

[KoKo]

7. When I see Bill Clinton working with Bush I & II after what was done to him

and Obama waste time going after Repugs for his weak Health Care Bill with No Public Option and playing Golf with the Heads of Banks that were criminal in their actions. And, When I see honest folks like Dennis Kucinich and Cindi Sheehan trashed and villified it's all I needed to know.

Joe makes some strong points. It's still good to keep trying to make change "around the edges" and locally, but the national scene is a waste of time.

[polichick]

2. Most of my family, once political activists, now feel this way. k&r nt

[Bluenorthwest]

3. Well, let's talk about this Joe character

I have always found his work to be alcohol fueled and interesting, but not for what he had to say or observe, but for how he said it, and for observing him, in the grand trad of writers you'd not want to know in real life, who make compelling strings of words.
As always he speaks only about himself, but his ego is so strong that he thinks he is speaking about larger issues. He's not. He is getting old. And he thinks he's the first. He thinks his farts are prophecy.

[Tace]

4. Joe's A Charming Fellow In Person

I spent a few days with Joe in Minneapolis a few years ago, and I can tell you that he's a charming person, and very, very intelligent. You still might not like him, but he's my pal, so I'll stick up for him. : )

[polichick]

5. Sounds like character assassination, something Republicans resort to...

...when they don't like the message.

[nashville_brook]

10. +1

[KoKo]

8. Cassandra might have hit the "vino" once in awhile...for all we know or don't know. n/t

[tom_paine]

6. Sadly, Joe is spot-on about this

Even worse, if "collapse" does happen, the Empire's Owners (Corporate Neofeudalist Aristocrats) already have a plan in the New Brownshirts/Teabaggers they have created.

Nothing changes much in history, does it?

[pscot]

9. It feels like we're at a watershed

in human history, and probably too late to do anything about it. Given the ever increasing rate of human generated extinctions, it's obvious that the planet's ecology is not just at a watershed, but about to run off a cliff. Most people act as though they have no skin in this game. People who believe that are delusional, in my estimation. There's a shit storm coming, and we go on as though it's business as usual. We had a chance to do something about it. Just for example, we could have listened to Jimmy CArter, instead of running him out of town. Things didn't have to play out the way they're going. Really, it's a fucking shame.

[sweetroxie]

11. I couldn't agree with you more.

The human race is in an advanced state of denial. We're toast and we're taking down the rest of the planetary residents as well.