Where is America's Breaking Point?

[Joanne98]

"Unemployment is high. Average income is low and declining, making it impossible for a man to marry and support a family. Anger with rampant corruption in government is palpable and longstanding. One percent of the population lives in the lap of luxury that ordinary people can only dream of. The richest one percent is totally ignorant of the real problems of ordinary citizens. GDP is roughly 5% but the majority of the people have seen no benefit from that. When the president travels in his limousine the roads are cleared in front of him, so he has no notion of how bad the traffic problems are. Elections here are fixed and essentially a joke, as opposition parties cannot run in any effective sense. The people have been accused of lethargy and apathy, and a willingness to tolerate a loss of civil liberties. But everybody has a breaking point. The people are fed up. They have had enough."

That was Ben Wedeman, CNN's longtime Mid-East reporter speaking from Egypt last night. But that could have been Amy Goodman reporting from a march on Washington. As Hillary Clinton urged tolerance for protesters from the Egyptian government I wondered what she would say to the world if 200 million Americans took to the streets to protest government corruption, rigged elections, an absurd wealth distribution, and declining wages in America.

Where is America's breaking point? In a country where both parties in a two-party system are equally beholden to corporate money, where are the opposition leaders? When do Americans demand real elections - elections where there is no money involved and all potential candidates are funded by taxpayer dollars?

Americans are now placed in the absurd position of needing to organize a constitutional convention in order to overturn a politicized ruling by a corrupt supreme court; of needing to prove in every state that a corporation is not a human being. The apathy of Americans is equally palpable - as Congress and the courts behave as though they are enslaved by corporations and ignore the will of the American people most of the time. As Hank Paulsen was in the process of blackmailing Congress into a trillion dollar bailout for his banker cronies, every American adult with a pulse called his representative and screamed "NO". Congressmen reported on the floor of the House that calls and emails were 99% against a bailout. Congressional Democrats buckled to their banker masters and ignored us. And how did Americans protest being ignored? They turned control of the House of Representatives over to the Republicans - whose initial volley was to outlaw public funding for presidential elections. Next on their agenda: outlawing abortion and ending Social Security and Medicare.

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Where-is-America-s-Breakin-by-lila-york-110129-119.html

[dmallind]

1. A long long way away, as it should be

Anyone who thinks violent rebellion is either close or warranted in the US is not so much a dreamer as a nightmarist who wants the rest of us to share in their horrific imaginings.

[Demeter]

4. When peaceful assembly, dialog, and protest is considered rebellion

one might as well get arrested, tortured or shot for the ram as for the lamb.

All peaceful methods of change and control of our government by voters have been blocked. When there are no alternatives, violence results. We are maybe 25 years behind Egypt, maybe less.

The only advantage to rebellion now is that some of the infrastructure might be saved from looting by the banks and destruction by the "protectors"....

[cantbeserious]

5. When Redress For Grievances Is An Illusion and The TPTW Are Indifferent To Need

It is time for a revolution, peaceful or otherwise.

[fasttense]

8. When it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them.

Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it.

But when a long train of abuses... evinces a design to reduce them (the people) under absolute Despotism, it is their (the people's) right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

America seems to be shirking her duty.

[MineralMan]

2. I hope you never find out.

[glowing]

3. We have had Protest and civil disobedience in our past.. We have also had a civil war.

The govt has survived... But major changes occurred because of a push by people to fight against the govt and insert their will of a democracy that is the foundation of the country. I do think its Past the time we have a real pushback against the govt not representing the people who are theoretically in charge. This does not have to mean total destruction to protest and bring redress.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

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[Hydra]

7. The breaking point hasn't been reached

Because people still believe what they hear in the media.

This morning, one of my relatives told me in horrified tones how "Egypt was going mad! Rioting! Americans are evacuating!"

Me: "Heh. Funny how we're scared of real democracy."

Her: "No!!! They are a mob! They need to be put down militarily!"

Me: "I told you to stop watching CNN. Mubarack just appointed the person who was in charge of renditioning to be his successor. Sound like someone you would want in charge?"

Her: "Where did you read that?! Lies!"

To put it mildly, I was a bit shocked. This was the person who used to never believe the news. I guess *teh stupid* is contagious.

[CrispyQ]

9. "...whose initial volley was to outlaw public funding for presidential elections."

Evil bastards. They want to shut down any possible toe hold to publicly funded campaigns.


Congress Votes To End Publicly-Funded Presidential Campaigns

http://patdollard.com/2011/01/congress-votes-to-end-publicly-funded-presidential-campaigns/

snip...

Saying it has become an obsolete waste of money, the House on Wednesday voted to end the taxpayer-funded presidential campaign finance system that has fallen out of favor over the past decade as candidates have chosen to ignore it.

The bill steps back from the 1970s-era dream of publicly financed campaigns. More than $600 million could be saved over the next decade by ending the system that channels taxpayer dollars to presidential candidates who agree to abide by fundraising and spending limits.

more...

“This repeal bill is the beginning of the end of any hope of a system of public financing for all elections in this country,” said Rep. Lynn C. Woolsey, California Democrat.

[former9thward]

11. Sorry but that ended in 2008.

Obama became the first candidate to reject the money and opt out of the system because it had too many restrictions. He will not take the money in 2012 either. Because of his success no candidate in the future will take the money because it would be fighting with one-arm tied behind your back.

[Bennyboy]

10. when unemployment insurance runs out

all hell will break loose.

[Enthusiast]

12. Damn good article! nt

[d_b]

13. flip the cell phone and jersey shore kill switch

[Skittles]

14. we are as angry, if not angrier, than the teabagging bastards

the difference is - we know who is to blame - the very same folk who finance the teabagging bastards

[StarburstClock]

15. That's the question people are now asking and the corporate media is avoiding

The propaganda/corporate/government media is already creating the diversion they want, asking what America's interests are in Egypt rather than asking the question on everyone's minds: when does this happen in America? All it'll take is 1 event, historically it's usually just 1 big event that changes the minds of millions. It could be the election of 2012 if it's rigged like Egypt's was.

[glinda]

16. But how will we know? We already know some are and can't seem to change it.

[Citizen Worker]

17. "Where is America's breaking point?" When Joe and Suzie Sixpack can no longer afford the

electricity to power their 60" flat screen and to buy their 18 pack of Bud to watch the football game. Then they'll be saying, WTF!