NATIONAL STRIKE

[mrsblister]

first of all,
THANKYOU DU for allowing this topic

I've always wondered how far it would have to go before the "last resort" came to pass...

This disaster we are seeing could have been a dirty bomb with a similar breadth and scope of damage. The rescue, recovery results we have (NOT) gotten are tangible evidence of disfunction and disinterest, and this from the administration that bamboozled the electorate with the claim they were "making us safer"

I just read the post in raw story (Wired) about deployment of "Sonic Lasers"

http://wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,68732,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_1

and realize we are witnessing the administrations realtime drill and wargame against the populace.

This has GOT to be the straw that brakes the elephants back people.

Everyone here knows about the upcoming march on Washington scheduled for Sept. 24. Everyone here has thought and considered for at least a moment about how they might possibly be able to attend and MOSTLY everyone here (me included) has figured out they just can't. It's time to quit dickin around here and organize a National Strike in solidarity with the marchers as well. It would fold in very nicely on the wave of protest already in progress.

Visualize, if half a million people march (the measure of success in my view) it will be quite a spectacle that makes a whole 25 seconds of a splash on SOME of the MSM outlets.

Time is running out...Gonzalez is going to be a very ugly chief justice who will certainly frown on anyone calling in sick from work.

With a broad scale National Strike...
NOONE can marginalize the degree of outrage nor the numbers of us involved. There are certainly MILLIONS and MILLIONS of us who simply can't attend or participate in Washington or even local gatherings but we CAN make a difference collectively simply by not going in to work or calling in sick in support and solidarity with the others who are marching that day.

The Creole Genocide, the rigged elections, the war, the corruption, ALL inclusive in this massive protest and when 100 million people don't go to work that day there will very certainly be a reckoning or at least a visible show of what our numbers REALLY are.

(by the way...it worked for Lech Walensa when that population wanted their country back)

It starts with a voice...preferrably one with a microphone and perhaps that voice could encourage a few friends with microphones (Air America?) to begin spreading the word...

NOW is the time folks...anyone disagree?

(thanks for the platform)

[lonestarnot]

1. When I get back from D.C. I'll let you know!

[roguevalley]

2. who can disagree. I hear spontaneous demonstrations happened

in NYC. I am for a national strike.

[julianer]

24. Do you have a link for that?

I'd be really interested in hearing about spontaneous demonstrations.

Cheers.

[KaryninMiami]

3. I'm going to DC but will be happy to start mobilizing who I can here in FL

Let's do it. But we need to figure out how to get all of the Progressive groups on board- otherwise, we'll just be a fragment of what we know, is a huge majority of Americans. Air America is a great start- so is PDA and MoveOn and Michael Moore. I'm game and boy am I ready.

[oldtime dfl_er]

5. I'm ready too

The outrage has reached a level beyond containment.

http://www.cafepress.com/scarebaby/801334

[Xenotime]

17. What does it take

to get * out of office? How much support do we need? We can do it here.

[tnlefty]

4. Planning to be in DC.

I think a national strike of one day each week would be effective.

[mrsblister]

9. The longest journey...

begins with a single step...

callin shows, write in letters, blog blog blog and...

keep this kicked

National Strike in solidarity with the March on Washington

Sept. 24

[niallmac]

6. I am for it. The time has come.

[valerief]

7. When I read about the sonic lasers the other day,

I reconsidered my plans togo to DC. I'm afraid of being ear-blasted and shot at by the Guards. Maybe local marches are the only way. But will the press cover them?

[shadowknows69]

10. Then the fear is working and they've won

if you think this can be done without getting our hands dirty. stay home.

[osaMABUSh]

22. I find that a lame excuse for not going

[ispeculate]

8. The success of a national strike will be successful to the extent that you

have employer encouragement and even sponsorship of. Nobody's in a union anymore and people are afraid of losing their jobs.

I don't mean to throw a bucket of cold water on your idea, its just my opinion.

[mrsblister]

11. its not a union event

it's not a union, it's a populace.

If you're livlihood is at risk, think very hard about participating.

if you have a sick day, if you arrange your own schedule, if you have a sympathetic boss, tell him to do it too.

its really the only thing we have left...

that anyone will see or hear

[linazelle]

12. So the alleged 45% who don't approve will stay home and the

repugs and apathetic will go to work? Doesn't sound very effective to me.

Until people UNDERSTAND who is responsible and what is at stake, this type of an effort won't have the support necessary to make it work.

We need leadership and education first and foremost.

[mrsblister]

13. going down to die?

i'll kick myself a few times for our own good

KICK

[Beam Me Up]

15. It's ok to keep kicking it.

It's difficult to use this forum for organizing. I know.

Also, we're still in shock and assimilating what has happened.

We just LOST a city. I know I'm in a grief phase. The anger is there, too. And a national strike is a good idea, one I believe in. But I'm also not sure we are quite there, yet. As a poster below pointed out, Sept 24 is a SATURDAY; not exactly the most appropriate time for an effective strike.

For the moment, I'd rather see us take the momentum that is building and get as many people to DC or where ever we can get them (I'll be in SF) on that day to MARCH. People need to do it and they want to do it. The bigger we can make this the better. We need to begin to see our strength this way. --Edit to add to this paragraph: The marchs in February before the Iraq war were quite amazing. They did get some media coverage but not enough. But the important thing is, we saw one another. We know who we are. We know we are here. IF we can now do that again NOT AGAIST THE WAR BUT IN SOLIDARITY AGAINST THE BUSH REGIME, that will be a VERY impressive event.

Then lets see what happens. How will TPB respond? So far they've had control of the media and, there by, have controlled our social self-image. That is changing. A few of the news people have begun to realize that what happened in New Orleans could happen ANYWHERE, it could even happen to THEM and THEIR FAMILIES. In other words, THEY HAVE BEGUN TO IDENTIFY WITH THE OPPRESSED, with the victims of the State. This is a good thing. We need nourish that awakening.

[Tace]

14. Um, OK -- But Sept. 24 Is A Saturday

Everyone not going to work on their day off won't really have much of an impact.

[thecrow]

16. How about choosing a date and really publicizing it before hand?

Get some word out to the various groups, like move on, code pink, even the meetups? We should find a suitable date and just do it...
but do it en masse or else nobody will get it.

[mrsblister]

19. agreed

now that it's being discussed, your post resonates most clearly.

as Saturday is indeed, not the loudest statement for a work stoppage, it's going to make the most noise as a stand-alone event organized for and of itself.

[kitkat65]

18. The 24th is on a Saturday.

I don't have to work on Saturdays.

Maybe those of us with weekends off can refuse to participate in commerce? Use as little electricity as possible? Don't watch TV?

Just throwing it out there.

[osaMABUSh]

20. why the hell can't most of us attend?

i will be there

[starroute]

21. Not consuming in this society hits harder than not working

So how about we all stay home from the mall and the movie theater?

[Lydia Guerra]

23. Creole Genocide - Sad Truth

The elderly and infirm - they will be discovered drowned and dehydrated - dead - in the aftermath of Katrina: rescue and recover. Yes, indeed, the Creaole Genocide will be on the hands of GW Bush, Rove, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice and every GOP and DNC official who did not have the spine, heart, teeth or guts to act or legislate according to the US Constitution and Bill of Rights. Their hands will stink of the weak and disabled - a stink that will not be washed away. Oh well. How many fewer medicare, social security and welfare checks will be saved? Both GOP and DNC elite rulers are responsible for this genocide. Creole Genocide. Newborns, elderly, infirm. People with names and hopes and loves.

[mrsblister]

25. kick

maybe another day is what we need

[demodonkey]

26. SONG HERE (listen to this!)

http://media.portland.indymedia.org/media/2004/08/296099.mp3


Is it a good time
to call a general strike
Is it a good time
to call a general strike.

It may be too early
But I know it's not too late.

Is it a good time
To call a general strike.

[Twist_U_Up]

27. The Following Monday !!! Sept 26

This will also enable the people that protest a day to get out of jail or to make it home.

My whole family will be in D.C.

No work , No consuming Pass it on

[mrsblister]

28. kick-a-dee doo dah

kick a dee aee

[DaveT]

29. A National Strike Is a Good Idea

Let's put the discussion in play.

Don't worry about the when -- September 24 is too soon for a massive organizational effort.

In the abstract, would YOU, MR or MS DUer take a day off work as part of a nation protest against Bush?