Asymmetrical Politics

[The Whiskey Priest]

We, those of the conviction other than the current political power, must learn the lessons from all those who have engaged in asymmetrical struggles. We shall never prevail in engagements of the classical political theory. We are out-gunned by the economic strength of our opponents.

If we are to prevail we must re-think how we meet our opponents on the field of battle. We must engage them in a manner that is to our advantage and not one that concedes their strength before the combat.

We, might consider that we enable them by continuing to play our role as consumers. Would not we gain some advantage by eschewing consumerism? What better way to play to our strength in withholding our desires and rethinking our consumption of their goods.

Not that this is the complete strategy for asymmetrical politics, but, it well might be a start.

[rwenos]

1. Anti-Consumerism and Muckraking

eventually will find a way to get through the cultural noise.

Something along the lines of The Iron Heel or The Jungle.

[Mike Niendorff]

2. Interesting concept.

I'm not sure that "consumerism" is a viable target, however, in this context. It's just so broad that it essentially becomes an issue unto itself, rather than merely being a means of confronting a specific opponent.

I'd like to suggest that, while cutting consumption is still a good idea in general, it's also a question of how you exercise your economic power when you DO choose to consume.

Just after election day, I posted a thread entitled "Payback", suggesting that it's high time that we quit funding Republican-owned (and Republican-supporting) businesses, especially at the local level (because that's where we can make the biggest and most immediate impact). I still stand behind that idea.


MDN

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. If I may, I extend all of you to the

economic activism board.

Ideas, companies, et al, are being listed

And yes, economic activism will be good.

See, they may not counting the votes, but lordly, lodly they will COUNT the money.

[greatauntoftriplets]

4. You make some excellent points.....

....but with three small children in the family, we have to do Christmas as usual.