George Carlin said it well- You have no choice. You have owners. They own you. They own everything.

[Orwellian_Ghost]

George Carlin said it quite well:


"Forget the politicians. The politicians are put there to give you the idea that you have freedom of choice . . . you don’t. You have no choice. You have owners. They own you. They own everything. They own all the important land. They own, and control the corporations. They’ve long since bought, and paid for the Senate, the Congress, the state houses, the city halls, they got the judges in their back pockets and they own all the big media companies, so they control just about all of the news and information you get to hear. They got you by the balls. They spend billions of dollars every year lobbying . . . lobbying, to get what they want . . . Well, we know what they want. They want more for themselves and less for everybody else, but I’ll tell you what they don’t want . . . they don’t want a population of citizens capable of critical thinking. They don’t want well informed, well educated people capable of critical thinking. They’re not interested in that . . . that doesn’t help them. That’s against their interests. That’s right. They don’t want people who are smart enough to sit around a kitchen table and think about how badly they’re getting fucked by a system that threw them overboard 30 fuckin' years ago. They don’t want that. You know what they want? They want obedient workers . . . Obedient workers, people who are just smart enough to run the machines and do the paperwork. And just dumb enough to passively accept all these increasingly shittier jobs with the lower pay, the longer hours, the reduced benefits, the end of overtime and vanishing pension that disappears the minute you go to collect it, and now they’re coming for your Social Security money. They want your fuckin' retirement money. They want it back so they can give it to their criminal friends on Wall Street, and you know something? They’ll get it . . . they’ll get it all from you sooner or later cause they own this fuckin' place. It’s a big club and you ain't in it. You and I are not in The big club. By the way, it’s the same big club they use to beat you over the head with all day long when they tell you what to believe. All day long beating you over the head with their media telling you what to believe, what to think and what to buy. The table has tilted folks. The game is rigged and nobody seems to notice. Nobody seems to care. Good honest hard-working people . . . white collar, blue collar it doesn’t matter what color shirt you have on. Good honest hard-working people continue, these are people of modest means . . . continue to elect these rich cocksuckers who don’t give a fuck about you. They don’t give a fuck about you . . . they don’t give a fuck about you. They don’t care about you at all . . . at all . . . at all, and nobody seems to notice. Nobody seems to care. That’s what the owners count on. The fact that Americans will probably remain willfully ignorant of the big red, white and blue dick that’s being jammed up their assholes everyday, because the owners of this country know the truth. It’s called the American Dream cause you have to be asleep to believe it..."

[Fire1]

1. Remember it well and been saying it since my awakening

many years ago. The really 'cute' part is when people tell you you're 'imagining' things.

[nomorelies]

6. Go Carlin...

That is the most truthful thing I've read in a long time.

[Better Believe It]

8. Welcome to Democratic Underground!

[mdmc]

9. welcome to du

:toast:

[steelmania75]

2. RIP George Carlin

[RagAss]

3. The prophet George !

[SmileyRose]

4. k and r

[ejpoeta]

5. it seems more and more evident with each passing day. every day that

we hear people arguing over how we will pay for healthcare instead of asking whyit is that we allow the insurance companies to be in control of our lives. it is more evident everytime we see OUR representatives spouting the talking points their sponsors have so conveniently typed out for them. every time they pass a bill that was written by the people who they are supposed to be protecting us from. man, carlin was very right. and he's probably glad to be rid of this place.

[meforprez]

95. I will pay for my own health care

And the answer is to allow the government to be in control of our lives?
We are supposed to be protected from insurance companies?

[FarLeftRage]

108. Well... bully for you!

Troll much???

[meforprez]

130. NO

I just like to come around from time to time and check out the craziness that goes on here.

[comtec]

143. so.. YES

you are a troll.
How much gel does it take to keep your hair up like that?

If you are going to just be a cock, go away.

If you want to bring freeperness here, be prepared to defend your position or get served.

[meforprez]

146. are you serious?

I make a reasonable post asking valid questions. Not only does the person I responded to not reply, I am attacked by you and someone else. Sure I made an off the cuff remark (but hardly offensive or cruel) to the first attacker, but geez does no one here have a sense of humor?
I notice that you really didn't want a response from me. I defended my position. Now serve me.
And I'm the cock?

[comtec]

112. OK.. what would you do?

ok, lets say for a moment you run the world.
POOF you are god/king/whatever.


now what?

You are in charge, what do you do about health care?
How do you deal with unemployment?
How do you deal with the unlucky?

If you can't answer these questions intelligently you don't have any right to complain.
If you aren't going to contribute to a solution you have no place complaining about the problem.

[meforprez]

132. complaining?

Asking two questions is complaining? The person that I responded to was doing the complaining. What solution did the poster that I responded to pose? Run to the government?
I'm not sure where that person got the idea that the insurance company was running their life, but they aren't running mine. I just questioned why anyone would want the government to run it.
Pelosi fingered the WHOLE insurance industry as villains. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not giving them a pass by any means, but they aren't alone in this. There are the hospitals, the health care professionals, drug companies, government. Everyone has a hand in this whole thing.
Is there a stat on the "unlucky"? Does that include all homeless, poor, or even illegals?
Like there are a whole lot of questions being answered intelligently around here, e.g. the first poster to my response.

[maryf]

7. Thanks for the reprise...

"It’s called the American Dream cause you have to be asleep to believe it..."
RIP George

[Orwellian_Ghost]

11. Welcome

Hey Mary. Sorry I missed ya', hopefully another time.

[maryf]

12. Maybe next time

I'll give more notice! :hi:

[Kievan Rus]

10. Carlin was a political genius

RIP

[lonestarnot]

13. I miss him soooooooooo much.

:cry:

[bdamomma]

121. me too.

:-(

we could use his thoughts right now.

[KittyWampus]

14. Carlin was a Cynic and Cynics end up reinforcing the status quo. But they do come across as smart

They just don't lead anyone anywhere.

[blindpig]

16. You think Carlin's rant supports the status quo?

Before one goes anywhere one must open ones eyes. Carlin's eyes were wide open.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

33. Well, he did get a lot of money to rant about this on HBO.

You know, the big corporation that charges people to watch their TV.

Me... I prefer the younger, funny George Carlin.

[Grinchie]

82. Yep, and how much better to hide in plain sight.

I admire Jon Stwart in his ability to illuminate the Bullshit coming out of Government and Mass Media sources, but deep down, I think he is doing a disservice to America by presenting it as "Comedy". It desensitizes people to the seriousness of the utter control the Corporations have over each and every one of our lives.

Making a joke of it only tills the ground for grudging acceptance.

The evidence is laid out nice a tidy for everyone to see, but then is promptly ignored, thus allowing the crimes to continue.

The only way to take control back is by refusing to finance these Corporate scum by taking care of ourselves, and providing as much as we can for ourselves.

It can be done. Living simply, out of debt and with very little expense is not as difficult as it seems, but gearing up for it takes time, tools, and knowledge.

Time is stolen from you by being a debt slave.
Knowledge is stolen from you by the Corporate controlled Education System.
The Tools for self Sufficiency are no longer manufactured, and the labor saving devices they supply in their place are all for show, and require huge outlays on infrastructure.

Just an aside, we recently reviewed an emergency preparedness document for the Government. In your tool kit, no mention of a Knife, Axe or Shovel. The TV is a prominent communications device in case of Emergency however.

I wonder how an Urban area would fare if the Municipal water supply would be disrupted for an extended period, considering that 20 gallons per person is the calculated average, with 80% of that used for flushing toilets.

[comtec]

113. Only the jester can tell the king he's an asshole

the only truth on the airwaves is comedy.
you must couch truth and facts in humor and entertainment.
Thats the only way to get it past the kings, and corporations.
it has been like this for millennia.

[Grinchie]

139. Very good analogy to the days of yore.

You may be on to something, but it reminds me of innumerable scenes portrayed by Hollywood, where th Jester says something so inflammatory, that the whole court hushes in the horror of the truth and waits on the inevitable wrath of the King, but then the King or whoever, eventually finds the humor in it and then All is well, and the court goes back to consuming all the food provided by the starving serfs outside.

Pretty good analogy.

[comtec]

144. Sometimes I just wish it wasn't so apropos still

but it is :(
But at least there is still a conduit for the truth to get out.
I think that's why all the Sci-Fi like star trek and the like are gone from the airwaves.
The finally saw that it was a way of telling the people what is going on, and how fucked up it is.

[Echo In Light]

17. Carlin angered those who fancy themselves as being sharper than he was.

He regularly questioned and criticized the status quo, and claimed the REAL cynics were the ones who insist that everything's gonna be okay.

[Amos Moses]

18. I can imagine the One person you think is a leader.

:eyes:

[KittyWampus]

64. You mean Gandhi or MLK? If that's who you meant, you are correct.

[Amos Moses]

74. Did Ghandi or MLK pretend everything was OK?

Did they tell people that the same system that was persecuting them would eventually come to it's senses and begin to do the right thing, if they would just put more trust in that system?:think:

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Mithreal]

92. Maybe it means they don't empower anyone to DO anything?

Offering potential solutions is more constructive. Did Carlin ever offer solutions in his rants? If he never did I can see how some would devalue his contribution, but I won't. I have not read his books, maybe he offered solutions in those?

I agree with your sentiment however.

[Echo In Light]

15. I still quote him regularly; his definition of Bipartisan is perfect - -

"A larger than usual deception is being carried out."

Rec'd :thumbsup:

[Butch350]

19. " Welcome to the real World"

[redqueen]

21. Really? Then we should just give up trying to improve things?

So I guess all my friends who have agreed with George and told me for so long that writing letters and making calls was useless... and all the people here who said Obama is the 'new boss, same as the old boss'... and all the people who said to just forget politics cause it only stresses you out - to just enjoy life while we can and ignore all that meaningless politics stuff (cause like he said, the owners control everything, and there's no point in bothering)... I guess you were all right.

I guess there's really no point.

[Umbral]

22. nope

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/08/05-2

[redqueen]

23. How does anything at that link indicate that we should bother trying?

Seems to me it only reinforces the message that there's no point, and we should all give up.

[Echo In Light]

31. People often come away from Chomsky w/the same feeling, although it's misplaced

The point is that you don't give up even upon realization that conventional avenues for change are sometimes futile, or make such baby steps that it seems as though nothing has come of one's effort.

[redqueen]

34. Too many poeple already believe this, and vote and act accordingly.

I don't see the word 'sometimes' in there. You're editing what he said.

It's comedy, and as such he's probably being hyperbolic... but I see the danger in cynical stuff like this. The message is what it is, and no amount of trying to soften it will change it.

The game is rigged, voters are suckers... it doesn't matter what we do, because they own everything.


Too many poeple already believe this, and vote and act accordingly. I don't see the value in encouraging it.

[Amos Moses]

37. Too many people believe what politicians say and vote and act

accordingly. Then these people go out and parrot whatever lies they heard during the campaign speech and attack anyone that sees things differently. That's why we're in this mess.

[redqueen]

38. Yes... there really is no hope... I get it, ok? You can stop now. (nt)

[Amos Moses]

40. You keep saying that

but it's not all or nothing. There's far more to it than buying into the system 100% or giving up. You know that, of course, but it seems you would rather just disregard it. Whatever makes you happy. Just have faith that your "leader" will make it all better. :hi:

[redqueen]

41. What is this 'leader' business?

There are no leaders... just owners. Can't you read?

[Amos Moses]

43. Happy Thoughts!

:hi:

[redqueen]

45. *roffle*... yeah... welcome to DU. (nt)

[Amos Moses]

47. thanks, pal!

:hi:

[Echo In Light]

42. They love 'the game,' and are convinced people aren't capable of the deception/evil they are

[Amos Moses]

46. It's sad that some people equate

complete and total compliance with progress.

[Echo In Light]

39. He was convinced, as are many, that our species is doomed

On one hand I suspect that particular fate is inevitable as there are a host of things, man-made or otherwise, that could wipe us out ... although comics who used the medium as a form of social critique (Lenny Bruce, Carlin, Bill Hicks, to name the outstanding ones) weren't quite as cynical as one may think, especially if that person hasn't spent much time with very anti-establishment views/ideas/criticisms.

Lenny probably was the most personally involved (followed by Hicks, whose career similarly suffered due to his views) as it was no secret that govt, police and the Catholic church were all openly against him for daring to speak truth to power.

But as for George, his daughter insists he wasn't quite as cynical as he wrote his material...which can be viewed as stating things in a direct way that mainstream discourse obviously avoids as modern society is grounded in denial.

[redqueen]

44. The species is doomed.... yes... even more reason not to bother.

This just gets better and better.

Save your 'he wasn't really this cyncial' speech for the angsty 20-something types I always have so much trouble convincing that there's a reason to vote. They're the ones who love this kind of comedy stuff. I have no use for it.

Peace.

[Amos Moses]

24. I think the rant posted in the OP is more of a

wake up call than it is an appeal to give up. YMMV

[redqueen]

25. What's the message of the wake up call?

The owners own everything... voters are suckers... etc. etc. ad nauseam.

What other conclusion is there, besides there's no point in trying?

[Amos Moses]

29. I think he's saying we should

quit assuming that politicians have our best interest in mind. He was just being honest. Would you really rather hear some BS campaign slogans or the truth?

[redqueen]

32. No, he says it's all rigged. If it's rigged, what's the point?

It's pretty clear, really... he's not shy about saying it.

[Amos Moses]

35. It certainly is rigged.

You can decide for yourself whether you want to give up.

[hfojvt]

48. and if there is no choice

then it doesn't matter if my Senator is Barbara Boxer or if it is Joe Lieberman or Don Nickles or if my President is George W. Bush or Al Gore or Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton or John McCain or Rudy Giuliani or Mike Huckabee or Dennis Kucinich. None of those are really choices.

Also, it is kinda surprising that GLBT don't seem to care about the homophobic insults/metaphors.

[redqueen]

51. What homophobic insults/metaphors?

Cocksuckers? Is that more homophobic or misogynist?

Did I miss something else? Or do you mean from other comedy routines?

[hfojvt]

60. It could go either way

and so could the comment about anal sex as punishment "that big red, white and blue ..." is apparently everybody's worst nightmare, being raped by a large gay man.

Then again, sex is often taken to be something really bad as in "we're screwed" or "FU". So it's probably reading too much into it. It just kinda jumped out at me at the end there.

[redqueen]

63. Yep... after I posted that I remembered the 'jammed up their assholes' part.

I disagree that you're reading too much into it, though. Carlin himself had a bit about that... why "fuck you" was bad, when as far as he could tell it was a good thing.

Too bad he didn't bother to think it through.

[Echo In Light]

52. The point is this: anti-"terror" legislation is directed at the disenfranchized...

...who, at the rate things are going, will eventually organize and rise up and use the language people use when all else fails: violence. That way they're not who they are: systematically fucked over, poor people who have nothing to lose, but are instead TERRORISTS who the media can make into arch villains, and use as an example to the rest of the herd.

Now, I'm not advocating violence, but the fact is, historically, most real, bottom-up change involves plenty of it. So, if we seek to avoid violence - as we should - it's time to cast aside the old methods of seeking 'change' that vested interests prefer we use, because they're meaningless and don't accomplish anything. That's precisely WHY those useless methods are still championed. "Change" will NEVER come to america at the voting booth, or from calling your local Reps. That's one way Carlin is spot on: they don't care about you.

[redqueen]

53. What new methods do you propose? (nt)

[Echo In Light]

54. That's exactly WHERE we're at, isn't it? And that isn't synonymous w/"giving up."

[redqueen]

55. So... no ideas?

OK... well maybe just continuing to further the "it's all rigged, it doesn't matter" meme will help somehow.

Good luck with that.

[valerief]

67. What would the Mafia do? nt

[redqueen]

75. I don't know... what would they do? (nt)

[Kermitt Gribble]

59. The message is

to wake the fuck up. That we posses 'A Power Governments Cannot Suppress' and if enough people would wake up and realize what is going on, we have the power to stop it. The powerful unions of the mid 20th century were a great start to standing up to this 'ownership', but you see how quickly that was snuffed out.

[redqueen]

62. So... the message is... form unions?

You're not being very clear.

Carlin says the owners own everything, and politics is a waste of time.

Please explain how you expect former voters who have now seen the light to make use of this "Power Governments Cannot Suppress".

[Kermitt Gribble]

99. Don't pretend to be ignorant.

Are you happy with the Democratic majorities since 2006? Have they been working to better peoples' lives? I had high hopes after the 2006 elections, but they were quickly beaten down when the Dems worked to further bush's agenda and they are still pushing the same agenda - everything for the corporations. Health care reform is making this as blatant as can be, but if you want to bury your head and root for your team go right ahead.

Everyone needs to be made aware of the corporate takeover of our country - that includes centrists and republicans (excluding the extremists). This 'war' between conservatives and liberals is nothing but a divide and conquer technique.

[redqueen]

100. I don't want to bury my head...

but I also don't want to engage in broad-brushing, counterproductive nonsense.

Not all Democrats are the same... there are groups of sold-out Dems doing what they do... and pretending that there's no hope cause they're all the same, I hate that dumbass Eeyore shit.

Work to educate the electorate so they will vote for better candidates... or wait for things to really turn to shit so we can have massive strikes. That's the only two solutions I see in this thread full of self-indulgent, pointless blathering.

The "war" between conservatives and liberals is not a divide and conquer technique... it is the useful idiots who champion the sold-out corporatists vs. the rest of us. Get it straight.

[Kermitt Gribble]

102. If the majority of them weren't corporatists,

there would be no debate on health care reform. It doesn't get any simpler (or obvious) than that.

PS. "the useful idiots who champion the sold-out corporatists vs. the rest of us" are the ones trying to unify everyone against the corporate takeover of our govt - how can that possibly be divide and conquer?

[redqueen]

103. So now it's just the majority... and not all of them.

So Carlin wasn't such a political genius, was he?

Is there a point to working within the system or not? Anyone who thinks there's not has no point being on this board.

[Kermitt Gribble]

105. Carlin's quote in the op

didn't state all of the politicians.

The system is broken - the only thing that is going to fix it is millions of voices loud enough to let them know we want our country back.

[redqueen]

126. Did it not?

"Forget the politicians. The politicians are put there to give you the idea that you have freedom of choice . . . you don’t. You have no choice."

"They’ve long since bought, and paid for the Senate, the Congress, the state houses, the city halls, they got the judges in their back pockets and they own all the big media companies, ..."

"...continue to elect these rich cocksuckers who don’t give a fuck about you. They don’t give a fuck about you . . . they don’t give a fuck about you. They don’t care about you at all . . . at all . . . at all"

Where's the qualifier?

[Kermitt Gribble]

129. That's the point.

There is no qualifier. Not sure why you're trying to defend the blatantly obvious corruption of our elected officials, but if you disagree with the statements in the op, you are far removed from reality.

[redqueen]

131. Why can't you make up your mind? Are they all corrupt or not?

First you seemed to agree with the comedy bit that they're all corrupt, then you said it was only most... now you're backing up the comedy routine again.

Which is it that you truly believe? Are they all corrupt or not?

[Kermitt Gribble]

134. Seems your posts are the real comedy routine here.

I could have a better conversation with 3 year old. Neither I nor the quotes in the op ever stated that all of them are corrupt.

[redqueen]

135. I just posted the absolutist statements...

there are no qualifiers... nowhere does he say 'most' don't care about you... or 'the vast majority'. This is meaningful, the fact that they are absolutist statements. It doesn't seem like you understand that.

Given this latest demonstration of your comprehension skills, I'll bow out now as clearly this is a waste of time.

[CoffeeCat]

86. I think Carlin is trying to wake people up...

...to the reality--with the hope that they will get off their asses and do something.

Most people here understand that the corporations own our government. We don't need
to be enlightened. But what about those who vote Republican...those hardworking people
who voted for George fargin Bush??? That's who Carlin is hoping that he will reach,
and he directly speaks to how they vote against their own interests, time and time again.

We know that our government is bought and paid for. However, the majority of U.S citizens
are oblivious.

Nothing will change until a majority fights back, decides they aren't going to take it any more and
revolts.

I don't see Carlin as a cynic. The fact that he spoke these words and hoped that this words
might catalyze change--means that he had faith in people.

Carlin holds a mirror up to life in this country. You can't get mad at Carlin for what is
clearly reflected back.

[redqueen]

88. Well he missed. I'm not mad at Carlin for being a comedian...

he tells jokes... I don't expect him to make sense.

He didn't wake anyone up. He encouraged people to do more ass-sitting. Cause it doesn't matter, see?

Am I really the only person here who gets that crap while canvassing? Really?

[Greyhound]

76. Really. You seem to have completely missed what George Carlin was talking about

and the ideas he advocated.

You can't change the system from within the system because the system is controlled by the few it works for.

[redqueen]

79. Kucinich seems to think so.

Since Carlin isn't here to explain what he was talking about... why don't you fill me in on how the system should be changed, since as you said it can't be changed the way Kucinich might expect for that to happen.

[Echo In Light]

80. "No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible." - Voltaire

Nation-wide civil disobedience, strikes, etc would be a good start for The People to finally challenge corporate rule ... provided a large enough % understand, and therefore care. Don't understand? Then they won't care. Then it remains at the safe, dumb level of choosing which fabricated media persona/puppet they either "like" or dislike based on mass marketing, not substance and intent.

[Greyhound]

81. Now, that's just scary...

I was going to post, "The avalanche has started, it is too late for the pebbles to vote".
:rofl:

[Echo In Light]

83. Jung's theory of synchronicity? lol

I had noticed redqueen's sig line, and the Voltaire quote I posted came to mind.

[Greyhound]

84. Kucinich does what he believes to be right all the time.

That is why he is shut out by the party power brokers, and also serves as a practical demonstration of why the system cannot be changed from within.

This is what George Carlin said for fifty years. You are suckers, you can't win by playing their game because they own the game and they make the rules and whenever you make any gains they will change the rules. Wake up, look around you, see what is instead of how you wish it is. Once you do that, you can stop playing the game and it will cease to exist.

When the game is rigged, the only way to win is to refuse to play. Just look at the health care "debate". The arguments are only about how badly the people are going to be screwed and who will steal the most in the process, discussion of actual solutions are not allowed.

[redqueen]

85. Since there is no motivation for nationwide strikes...

which others have suggested is the answer... I still maintain that in the meantime, working from within is not pointless... and I'm glad Kucinich hasn't given up either.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

[inatrans2003]

107. not true

If everyone gives up nothing happens. Keep the faith and keep up the fight.

[redqueen]

127. Welcome to DU!

I was only being sarcastic... I don't go for that Eeyore bullshit. :hi:

[Blue_Tires]

26. a true prophet of the times...

[spin]

27. K&R (n/t)

[zoff]

28. Damn you Carlin!

You left so work undone. So much more material for you to have worked on, especially Palin. I would've loved to hear his take on Palin. And Democrats takin over DC.

[malaise]

30. Just the truth

K & R

[pattmarty]

36. Thank god for the "court jesters". My opinion Carlin was the................

.............greatest "jester" of the 20th century. Bruce got crazy from the constant harassment and died too soon. Another great comic in the Bruce/Carlin vein is a fairly young comic named Doug Stanhope. These are the kind of people that "keep it real".

[slipslidingaway]

49. knr nt

[abumbyanyothername]

50. And if you believe this, truly believe this

what next?

[Deja Q]

56. Exactly. For one thing, people made Carlin rich because he said it.

:shrug:

:D

[abumbyanyothername]

57. Well, I, for one,

happen to think that the "work hard, get rich" meme is way overdone in this country.

Being more of a "don't worry, be happy" kind of guy myself.

[ImOnlySleeping]

61. You don't understand corporations

They'll sell anything, even if it is against their better interests, as long as they're making money.

[Echo In Light]

70. Michael Moore = perfect example of that. There are limits and exceptions, though...

Carlin, being one of them for HBO, largely due to his very long history of working w/them. Had a newer comic come along and espouse the sharp social critiques he did from the first Gulf war on, HBO would not have given him/her the time of day. Carlin as an entertainer carried a lot of weight.

[EFerrari]

91. Then you reform your expectations and become more grateful

for each time you get around the PTB. It's actually pretty freeing.

[Bushknew]

58. Spot on NT

[Libertas1776]

65. "It's

called the American Dream cause you have to be asleep to believe it..." I don't think I have ever heard a more truthful statement.

Joe Pesci willing (that's right, I pray to Joe as per the advice of Mr. Carlin) one day things will really change, and these fuckers will be brought down from their high towers permanently. We can do it, with Pesci's will on our side, and maybe a couple of baseball bats. We miss you George, but you most certainly aren't forgotten. Joe bless you.

[valerief]

66. He certainly said it well. Thanks. nt

[markbark]

68. It's an old story

Easy to bitch about, hard to fix.

[Greyhound]

77. Not hard at all. When/if someone in that toon talks to one of the others

they begin to realize that they are not alone. Isolating us from one another through fear is an old and effective strategy, but it falls apart when people communicate with each other.

When the game is rigged, the only way to win is to refuse to play.

[Uncle Joe]

93. And that is one of the major perks of the Intertubes.

"Not hard at all. When/if someone in that toon talks to one of the others

they begin to realize that they are not alone. Isolating us from one another through fear is an old and effective strategy, but it falls apart when people communicate with each other."

[Greyhound]

133. Exactly.

I think it stems from our Calvinist/Puritan roots, this ridiculous sense of shame over wanting what we want and never talking about it.

The web is a revolution in communication and we're still in the infant stage. Throughout history every revolution in communication has been followed by fundamental shift in the world, it is how "liberals" have dragged the masses into the future. And it is why there is such a concerted effort being made by the parasites to control and pervert it.

[Uncle Joe]

141. I agree on all counts, Greyhound.

:thumbsup:

[balantz]

69. MASSIVE, organized strikes will be our only possibility of making demands.

One uncomfortable strike after another if necessary. Unfortunately too many Americans are not aware of what's happening right before their eyes because their eyes are glued to the "all-knowing" corporate T.V.
Until there is enough hunger to wake people up then massive strikes probably won't happen, and the controllers are not going to let us all starve just yet. They have all of their plans in order for what we may give them.

[Echo In Light]

71. Agreed. It ALWAYS requires a lot of bodies in the streets, visible, shaking things up.

It can be done provided there is the individual and collective will to do so. Hence the importance of the enormous propaganda effort to control thought here in the States.

[balantz]

72. There has to be a big enough majority willing to shut the system down.

And willing to suffer the circumstances of such action while remaing firm in their resolve to make real change.

[Echo In Light]

73. ..umm, hey, don't I know you from another forum?

[balantz]

78. Probably someone who looks like me. n/t

[progressoid]

87. The only thing we can organize is voting on American Idol

[balantz]

89. Ha! You got that right! Makes me laugh, but kind of hurts too, You know what I mean? n/t

[Jello Biafra]

90. He also said that you do have choices

Paper or Plastic....Debit or Credit....that's it...

[LanternWaste]

94. I have choices.

I have choices. I have no owners. And I see in many shades of gray.

But as it's rather self-validating to believe that those around are guilty of the indictment, are ignorant, and are sheep while we ourselves can see clearly, I don't really foresee those particular niche-moldings of convenience going away anytime soon.

I guess that if a person with an IQ of 45 thinks everyone around him has an IQ of only 35, he most likely feels better about himself...

[robertpaulsen]

96. Scary and true. Here's something else that's even scarier and true.

This quote is not as sweeping and comprehensive as Carlin, but in its succinctness is even scarier in what it portends to what we face if the people actually rose up to overthrow "the owners" and destroy the rigged game they've been playing with our lives. You just have to remember that when I refer to "the people", that refers to those Carlin called "obedient workers" who are "getting fucked by a system that threw them overboard 30 fuckin' years ago" who are not "capable of critical thinking". What happens when those people decide to start a revolution? I wish I could give credit to the internet poster who wrote this, because this is what we face:

"Thanks to 30 years of right-wing propaganda and dumbed-down education, the current default revolutionary setting for the American working class is fascist."

I'm not worried about this happening today. I'm worried about this happening when world oil production goes past peak into a state of permanent decline. I'm worried about this happening when unemployment hits 30 percent. When a gallon of gas is higher than the hourly minimum wage. When food disappears from grocery shelves.

This is the scenario that might finally motivate "obedient workers" to rise up and revolt, but you know what that would accomplish? It would change the status quo from a corporatist government running under a democratic framework to a corporatist (Mussolini's preferred word for fascism) government running under a totalitarian framework. From frying pan into fire.

[cali]

97. incredible that anything this simplistic and stupid gets massive recs

not that I care enough about your juvenile diatribes to unrec. You can be free in this country. Largely, it's up to YOU.

[redqueen]

101. Not really, it isn't. (nt)

[Orwellian_Ghost]

109. It's the simple truth

Your ignorance on this matter never ceases to amaze.

Can the children who are born in East St. Louis, who live their lives in squalor and are harmed by lead-based paints e.g. "be free" and is it up to them? If they don't "make it" are they then to blame?

I'd say that's one of the cornerstones of right-wing thought you are parroting there. Congrats. Of course I'm not surprised.

How do you explain that? I can't wait to hear your version of the fairy tale.

Your post is actually one of the most arrogant and abhorrent posts I've read here in quite some time.

[Amos Moses]

110. "You're poor because you're lazy!"

Why do people that take right wing positions on one issue after another go around calling everyone else on the forum a Freeper?

[Echo In Light]

119. Nutty, eh?

[cali]

115. Using Carlin, you made another of your exceeding dim sweeping canned statements

Never said the children of E. St. Louis have the same opportunites that most DUers have.

And your posts are merely stupid and arrogant.

And this is how I live:

I live in a small funky energy efficient house built from mostly salvaged materials. I heat with wood. I grow a large garden in summer. I haven't been to a mall or box store in over a decade. I drive very rarely, etc. Those are CHOICES. I'm not saying that everyone has those choices, but many if not most DUers do. Many in the middle class do.

For decades I've lived a very modest lifestyle. About the only thing I buy new is underwear. One doesn't have to buy into the "American dream lifestyle".

I'm not talking about those who are trapped in the inner cities or in rural poverty. Those folks I have nothing but compassion for and think our society has been criminally negligent regarding their needs. But as for the middle class? There are other options. And most DUers are part of the middle class.

[Orwellian_Ghost]

142. I was using you not Carlin

Your words speak for themselves and as many others have pointed out in this thread you have to be impossibly self-absorbed to conflate your personal live experience with the way the world works and the way the system hammers folks each and everyday.

So who are you talking about then? You have admitted to your own illogical statement and backed up a bit it seems but then press on with your callous assessment and support of the status quo.

Your idea about choices is as skewed and incoherent as any faux analysis could possibly be. It does not represent the very real and grinding conditions that the vast majority of the people face.

[Quantess]

111. Is that from "The Secret"?

LOL, I haven't read that book yet, so I'm just guessing.

[cali]

114. No, dear. I don't read that kind of crap.

It's from life. I'm not owned. If you are, maybe you should look at your own choices. I live a very modest life. I don't even remember the last time I was in a mall. I live in a small, funky energy efficient house, built largely from salvaged materials. I heat with wood. My water is gravity fed from a spring. I have a large garden in summer and can like crazy. I rarely drive and own a 15 year old Suburu. I don't buy anything but shoes and underwear new. I do my food shopping at the local coop and the local country store. I live in Vermont and corporations don't own my reps.

I chose my life. Not saying everyone can, but a lot of DUers sure could or could have.

[ipaint]

125. Measuring all other americans

using the "self-made" pull your self up by your bootstrap yard stick you carry around is vicious and nasty. 15 references to "I" and "my" in one tiny paragraph is a typical selfish right wing reaction to a problem much larger than you're life and one that nothing to do with you're very fortunate personal circumstances.

You are owned, all conservatives are. They are the gatekeepers of the system Carlin refers to.

[cali]

137. pulled that right out of your nether region and ignored what I really said, honey.

no way do I do what you claim. I don't judge like YOU and the OP. And fuck your snide conservative dig. sorry, I ain't one. You know jackshit about my fortunate or not so fortunate circumstances, dear. And yes, in attempting the futile, to inform the uninformable you, I committed the capital crime of using the word I. There is no other honest way to describe one's circumstances.

Oh, and I don't think I'd use the word fortunate to describe a survivor of rape and incest.

shove your sanctimonious crap back in the hole you dug it out of.

[ipaint]

145. Once again it's all about you. nt.

[sandyj999]

98. And That's The Way It Is and I've Known It For A Long Time. n/t

[TBF]

104. K&R nt

[geckosfeet]

106. An arguably easier to read version,,,

"Forget the politicians. The politicians are put there to give you the idea that you have freedom of choice . . . you don’t. You have no choice. You have owners. They own you. They own everything. They own all the important land. They own, and control the corporations. They’ve long since bought, and paid for the Senate, the Congress, the state houses, the city halls, they got the judges in their back pockets and they own all the big media companies, so they control just about all of the news and information you get to hear. They got you by the balls. They spend billions of dollars every year lobbying . . . lobbying, to get what they want . . . Well, we know what they want. They want more for themselves and less for everybody else, but I’ll tell you what they don’t want . . . they don’t want a population of citizens capable of critical thinking. They don’t want well informed, well educated people capable of critical thinking. They’re not interested in that . . . that doesn’t help them. That’s against their interests. That’s right. They don’t want people who are smart enough to sit around a kitchen table and think about how badly they’re getting fucked by a system that threw them overboard 30 fuckin' years ago. They don’t want that. You know what they want? They want obedient workers . . . Obedient workers, people who are just smart enough to run the machines and do the paperwork. And just dumb enough to passively accept all these increasingly shittier jobs with the lower pay, the longer hours, the reduced benefits, the end of overtime and vanishing pension that disappears the minute you go to collect it, and now they’re coming for your Social Security money. They want your fuckin' retirement money. They want it back so they can give it to their criminal friends on Wall Street, and you know something? They’ll get it . . . they’ll get it all from you sooner or later cause they own this fuckin' place. It’s a big club and you ain't in it. You and I are not in The big club. By the way, it’s the same big club they use to beat you over the head with all day long when they tell you what to believe. All day long beating you over the head with their media telling you what to believe, what to think and what to buy. The table has tilted folks. The game is rigged and nobody seems to notice. Nobody seems to care. Good honest hard-working people . . . white collar, blue collar it doesn’t matter what color shirt you have on. Good honest hard-working people continue, these are people of modest means . . . continue to elect these rich cocksuckers who don’t give a fuck about you. They don’t give a fuck about you . . . they don’t give a fuck about you. They don’t care about you at all . . . at all . . . at all, and nobody seems to notice. Nobody seems to care. That’s what the owners count on. The fact that Americans will probably remain willfully ignorant of the big red, white and blue dick that’s being jammed up their assholes everyday, because the owners of this country know the truth. It’s called the American Dream cause you have to be asleep to believe it..."

[Echo In Light]

120. Thanks for that!

[TheWatcher]

116. There are choices.

Continuing to play about and go along within the false left/right paradigm and this utterly fake, bankrupt, political system that does nothing but pit us all against each other, while those in Power laugh all the way to the purpose of their agenda that has nothing to do with us, (we are just means to an end to accomplish said agendas) will never bring about any real change.

The choices we truly have left more than likely fall far outside of the confines of that system.

But I think the choices that are left, most Americans wouldn't touch with a ten foot poll.

Interestingly enough, the Forefathers did.

The Declaration instructs specifically what We The People should do.

But We The People, for the most part, have lost the will, the courage, and the conviction to ever do so.

[cali]

117. what specifically are you suggesting?

[TheWatcher]

122. Wow, it took me a bit to find out who you were.

I have you on ignore, so I had to go through the list, because morbid curiosity got the best of me.

I have to admit, I am amazed you didn't respond to that post with your usual venom and childish insults.

The restraint must have nearly killed you. :)

To be honest, I am not specifically suggesting anything.

Read the Declaration, cali. It's all right there for you. You know the passages in which I speak.

Strangely enough, it instructs the People what they should do when the government no longer serves it's interests, and refuses to represent them in the way it was duly elected to do so, and has become despotic, criminal, and corrupt beyond the point of redemption, and is not willing to remove ITSELF legally and peacefully. When it has become the OPPRESSOR.

Strangely enough, the language in that document, when put up against the legislation and draconian measures taken by the previous dictatorship to render it and the Constitution as "quaint" as the criminal Gonzalez suggested they were, would probably get the writers of the document sent to Gitmo for terrorism.

And thus, the measure of how far we have truly fallen as a country.

It wouldn't surprise me if many Americans bristle uncomfortably or nervously if they were to read it aloud, because those in power, REGARDLESS of party have done such a good job cowing and programming us away from such bold stances, and made us forget what true Power We The People have.

Carlin didn't say the "R" word or invoke it in this particular routine, but he danced around it and insinuated it enough.

And if such a thing were necessary to actually take back this country, although it is something that the majority do not want, and would never want to come to pass, I have a question for all Americans, including myself.

Did we REALLY think we would only have to do this once? Did we TRULY think that the Freedom that generation won for us, as lamented by John Adams, would not be endangered again by opportunists, would-be tyrants, oligarchs, Robber Barons, and general assholes to the point where we would have no choice but to confront said creatures once again and actually have to FIGHT to keep it?

Did we really think it was going to be a one time thing, and then all would be well, preserved, and forever unchallenged?

Perhaps we were all a bit naive, but at long last, those who still have the mental capacity to do so REALLY need to take a GOOD look around them. We are not there yet, but we are creeping along toward that destination, bit by bit.

We are lost in a false paradigm by which we vote and then sleep, investing all our hopes in the system and the leadership to do the right thing, and represent us they way we duly elected them to.

We leave it all up to the Football Team, and entrust them to keep the ball away from the other "Bad" Football Team, as if it matters anymore.

We have forgotten that The White house does not belong to Obama, any more than it belonged to the Giggling Murderer, Kennedy, or even the first George. You know, the valley Forge guy.

It's OUR House. The People's House.

These people are supposed to be OUR Representatives. They are supposed to SERVE US.

Not RULE us.

Not OWN us.

And many of us have lost perspective on that.

We have become our own worst enemies in a sense.

Good God, King George must be seething in his grave.

He did it all wrong. If only he had had the proper tools.

Just think if their had been Massive Junk Culture, Distractions, Television and American Idol back during the days of the Revolution.

To make the point short, There would have BEEN no Revolution.

We have forgotten who we are. The Power those Documents give us.

The Place we have with our Representatives, and The Place, Duty, and Obligations they have to us.

Accountability? Rule Of Law?

All you have to do is look at how many of the denizens of the LAST Dictatorship have gone to jail or are facing due process to know how far we have fallen.

The fact of the matter is, the whole thing is Broken.

How do we fix it?

Perhaps we are nearing the point that whatever solutions and choices there are, we dare not yet speak their names. It would be preferable to avoid having to do so, but when I say that apart from that, I don't know, I am not speaking a cop out.

I simply DON'T KNOW how in the hell you fix things working within the current system, which has rendered our ability to have a true impact in the process of fixing things basically moot.

So, specifics for fixing things while operating within the current system and structure? That will result in the accountability and adherence to The Rule Of Law and a return to TRUE Representation and not Exploitation?

I don't know. You got me.

But there is that 233 year-old Document.....

I bet it has some clues in it.

And as for my statement about Americans no longer having the will, courage or conviction to consider the language of said document, I was not being selective.

We ALL bear a degree of blame in this. Me included.

These Bastards can only continue this game if we LET THEM, and their perception of Absolute Power is nothing more than an Illusion.

They have whatever Power they have in the end to do whatever they want because we continue to ALLOW them to.

There are 300 Million people in this country.

They cannot overcome that kind of math.

I would like to think they couldn't overcome a tenth of it.

I'm not sure what your response will be to this Post.

I've never been very good at gambling, but the odds are so high that it will be typical, I think it would be a safe bet to put you back on ignore so that I don't have to be subjected to it.

As Jimmy once said, "Let Us Not Speak Falsely Now, The Hour's Getting Late."

And Speaking Falsely coming from you is usually far too nasty an ordeal to waste time with. If I'm wrong, Far be it from me to be too full of pride to give you an apology, and credit where it is due.

:hi:

[cali]

123. skipping over your gratuitous nastiness (it';s always amusing to be lectured on civility

via a nasty personal attack) I don't know how you fix things either. I can only live my life as best I can, work on the issues that matter most to me- and work hardest on them locally. I do understand that I live a different lifestyle from most Americans and most DUers. I understand that I live in a place where being hopeful about gov't isn't being blind- Vermont is a small place and in many ways, divorced from the larger culture.

As for being nasty, it's pretty clear who's being vicious and nasty in this exchange. Go look in the mirror. I haven't attacked you falsely and viciously. That's what YOU are doing.

Please feel free to put me back on ignore. I can't say it wounds me in any way.

[Echo In Light]

124. Barn-burner of a post, Watcher. Spot on. And as Father Time warns,

It's later than you think.

Important questions you've laid out, and each should first and foremost point the finger at themselves ...and is quite likely what Carlin had hoped he might inspire and bring about with more people...hence he used the his platform as he did.

[bdamomma]

118. Carlin was right still is.

[nolabels]

128. The owner[s] own objects, things, places, material and a lot of other non-transitory things

Getting upset that others lay claim doesn't make much sense to me.

[Kid Dynamite]

136. And what of the statement that they own YOU?

You're OK with that too? No reason to get upset, just how things are?

[Serial Mom]

138. He was a comedian... but sometimes there is a little truth in jest...

Truth, not truth, cynic, no cynic - doesn't matter - what he said is thought provoking and that is what is needed more in this country - debate and THINKING FOR YOURSELVES - the "grassroots corporations" (owners as Carlin may call them) tell the birthers, the tea baggers, the ditto heads, the faux news junkies - in other words they tell STUPID PEOPLE WHAT TO SAY & THINK.

[Le Taz Hot]

140. Extend this to political parties

and you've got the complete picture. Since BOTH political parties have been bought and paid for by the corporatocracy, their function has become to convince average, ordinary people to fund, work for and vote for candidates that will ultimately fund, work and vote AGAINST the interests of the people they are supposed to represent. It's a neat trick if you can pull it off and they've done a masterful job. Yeah, George Carlin got it.

[Echo In Light]

147. If our species survives long enough, people will study this era and marvel at the methods of control

...provided there is a future with free thinking individuals to look back at this time in a historic perspective.

You'd like to think that it wouldn't actually be just that easy for a Few to control Many with such astonishing efficacy...all via propaganda and perception management. But it is. The "Big Lie" approach is far more insidious than the Big Stick approach.