Okay. We know what's coming. How do we organize a national

[roguevalley]

f-up shut down? We're all networked. We all have the tech savvy. We all know that if we don't rise up and hit them where they live -- in their pocketbook -- it will be engraved into the country and never be changed. How do we pick a fucking day and have a nationwide strike? If Wisconsin can hunt their governor down and cage his ass, how do we put it to FIVE HUNDRED PEOPLE WHO ARE STANDING ON OUR DAMNED NECKS!!!

500 people hold us fucking hostage. What do we do about it so that they are the ones living with the misery and not us?

[villager]

1. well, that is -- now -- the question of our age. Stopping them in their tracks.

I look forward to seeing the hive-mind at work in this thread...

[TDale313]

2. maybe a consumer strike...

A "We can't afford this anymore" day (or more ) where people just refrain from spending anything. Dunno if this is practical or not, but I thought I'd throw it out there.

[WinkyDink]

3. A "Can't Afford to Buy" Day would make a pretty da*n big statement.

I'd push this further, but I am not on any "social network."

[roguevalley]

4. I hope you kick it. Maybe a few of the activists here can help us.

[defendandprotect]

35. Good -- and all day long people should be wearing large buttons ....

announcing what's going on wherever they go --

CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY DAY

[Canuckistanian]

5. General strike?

Can you imagine if something like that got going?

But sadly, there isn't anyone left who isn't terrified of losing the job they have.

[Jackpine Radical]

16. Me. I have no fear of losing my job.

My boss is very understanding. He's a socialist, actually, and would love to see something like this.

It's nice being self-employed.

[defendandprotect]

36. Right ... and that means FEAR keeps them imprisoned --

but the strikes can also be of short duration --

Everyone up from their desks at 11:30 am -- for a general walkout --

hit the streets -- and return to work at 1 pm --


Should be different meeting places --

Usually the offices of Representatives of USHR are in our local towns --

People could circulate in and out of businesses wearing the buttons --

CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY DAY

We'd need more creative ideas, of course --

but short term strikes to begin with are a good idea, I think!


Walking out at 4pm -- as long as everyone does it together!

[bdamomma]

6. to stop buying certain goods

would that help. we have to kick them in the pocketbook.

[WinkyDink]

7. ALL GOODS. ONE DAY. A MIDDLE-CLASS REVOLT.

[roguevalley]

8. say when. I'm there.

[tritsofme]

26. Make sure to stock up the day before!

[Ilsa]

9. We're unemployed. We've stopped buying anything besides food

and an occasional tank of gas. I wish we could not buy COBRA, but we don't feel lucky enough to go without it.

[defendandprotect]

37. But perhaps ....

you could wear an

I CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY DAY

BUTTON ????


Circulate in your town -- whatever -- ?


If we keep searching we may find some good ideas -- maybe that's not it --

but we can keep trying --

[WinkyDink]

10. AUGUST 14!! Social Security Act was signed into law by President Roosevelt on August 14, 1935.

Okay, it's a Sunday this year. But are stores closed then (I know some are in NYC)? Anyway, Sunday would also have a nice religious "cover" for many.

Something about feeding the hungry and clothing the naked. And a camel with a needle.

[defendandprotect]

38. +1 --

[crazyjoe]

11. how about, "not I one more damn dime day"

[Horse with no Name]

12. Just a thought here

Do you suppose at this moment in history--as we sit here facing this--is the reason unemployment is so high? Food costs are high? Gas costs are high?

Because this was brought to us in increments. It didn't creep up on us overnight.

Our rights, securities, privileges as citizens of this nation have been slowly being moved out the back door while strict and authoritarian measures have been brought in the front door.

We have suffered a bloodless coup. If anyone is in doubt of that, well, maybe they need to refresh their definition of what a coup is, why it is done and what is accomplished when it happens.

We are, literally, sitting ducks.

People that have jobs are too insecure to risk them. Think about the millions who are held hostage by shitty jobs because of their health insurance.

We aren't necessarily a nation of cowards, but we are a nation of fearful people who are really afraid to admit their fears because it has been ingrained into our very being that "this can't happen here".

They have their private armies and mercenaries and the "laws" that can shoot us in the streets or imprison us indefinitely without any type of due process.

We are simply, at checkmate.

[WinkyDink]

14. The bloody coup was on 11/22/63; the coup de grace was 12/12/00.

[Horse with no Name]

15. Agreed. The rest of this has just been a big show

to make it seem like "they were doing this for our own good".

This has played out like the Nazi playbook. Almost verbatim.

[Jackpine Radical]

17. Yes.

Although I might argue for a still earlier date, back about when the OSS became the CIA & the CIA became the operative wing of Wall Street.

[WinkyDink]

19. Same Dulles boys, eh?

[Jackpine Radical]

21. Perzackly.

You got it.

There needn't even have been a Cold War, but by then they had learned the virtues of having a permanent enemy to justify whatever it was they felt like justifying.

And remember too it was JFK who promulgated the infamous and nonexistent Missile Gap.

[defendandprotect]

40. JFK reversed his views on missiles when he reached the WH and found out

they had been lying to him --

[Jackpine Radical]

44. I didn't know that.

This bit of information is very useful to me. It somewhat reshapes my notions of Kennedy & the period in question.

Could you provide me with a source? Book? Link? Whatever?

[defendandprotect]

51. Think this will give you the general idea of it --

In 1958 Kennedy was gearing up for his Senate re-election campaign and seized the issue. The Oxford English Dictionary lists the first use of the term "missile gap" in 14 August 1958 by John F. Kennedy: "Our Nation could have afforded, and can afford now, the steps necessary to close the missile gap."<1> According to Robert McNamara, Kennedy was leaked the inflated USAF estimates by Senator Stuart Symington, the former Secretary of the Air Force. Unaware that the report was misleading, Kennedy used the numbers in the document and based some of his 1960 election campaign platform on the Republicans being "weak on defense".<4> The missile gap was a common theme.

Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson were made aware of the differing estimates in a CIA briefing by the Director, Allen Dulles, in July 1960. Dulles later summarized the briefings in a letter to Eisenhower in early August 1960.<5> McNamara noted that Kennedy was embarrassed by the whole issue. Kennedy had already admitted as much publicly, The Listener, 19 April, 1962 noted "The passages on the 'missile gap' are a little dated, since Mr Kennedy has now told us that it scarcely ever existed."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missile_gap


And, actually we see JFK's true feelings about warfare and missiles and atomic weapons in

his dealings with the Cuban Missile Crisis --

Fortunately, JFK was a humanist -- fortunately for all of us!!

[Jackpine Radical]

52. Thanks. I very much appreciate that.

I have been carrying around the picture of Kennedy as a Cold Warrior all these years. It's a comfort and a release from a burden to set it down.

[defendandprotect]

53. Like FDR .... JFK writings are worth reading -

Bobby Kennedy's as well --

I'm not comparing JFK to FDR --

but next time you're in a book store or the library, I think you'll find

books of JFK/RFK writings --

FDR is ALWAYS worth reading and think most of his stuff is on the internet and very

worthwhile as history repeats, as they say!


And, then, re JFK, there are the tapes -- the Cuban Missile Crisis was pretty much

all captured on tapes -- including the insanity of the Joint Chiefs --

and "nuke 'em" Gen. Curtis La May -- !!

[defendandprotect]

39. True --

Just simple buttons that everyone would wear saying

JFK

signaling that awareness --


Also think the buttons for

I CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY DAY

would work --


And strikes -- beginning with short strikes --

Like everyone leaving offices at 11:30 to unite in walking around a given area --

in and out of stores -- whatever --

passing out flyers stating the cause and hoped for effect -- ?

If your Rep has a local office, that could be one meeting place --

Notes could be left for the Rep --


We need to keep working on all of these ideas --

good ideas will come!

[Brickbat]

13. If anything happens, it's not going to start national. It's going to start local, like a Wisconsin,

and then people in their own areas will realize they can take that same power. In a country as heterogeneous and huge as ours, it's going to be a lot of little things that turn into a tide.

[Jackpine Radical]

18. That's right.

And Wisconsin might not have happened without the inspiration of Egypt, and Egypt drew inspiration from Tunisia. I recall listening to a WPR story about Egypt that was followed in the next breath by a story about the first protests in madison. That's when something went "click!" in my head, and I suddenly saw the dominoes falling.

We gotta keep 'em falling.

My text on these things is the book The Starfish and the Spider: The Unstoppable Power of Leaderless Organizations by Brafman & Beckstrom.

[defendandprotect]

41. Pizza support is also important -- !!

[starroute]

20. You can't count on millions of Americans joining in

And a few thousand people not buying stuff for a day won't even be noticed.

My best suggestion would be to imitate Egypt and Spain and places like that. Do a "yes we camp." Set up a tent city in Washington somewhere that the members of Congress can't fail to notice it.

Or if the DC cops won't allow that, just have large masses of people show up -- flashmob style, say, but every hour on the hour. Not a demonstration, nothing they could get in trouble for through not having a permit. Just converge from all directions -- on the mall, in front of the Capitol -- sing, or chant, or simply engage in silent witness for five or ten minutes, and then disperse. And an hour later, do it all over again. Every hour round the clock, at noon and midnight and 4 am.

The point is to be unignorable. And to gather momentum.

And, what the heck, maybe toss in some #fuckyouwashington t-shirts.

[Jackpine Radical]

22. It might look something like this:

[Jackpine Radical]

23. It might look something like this:

[roguevalley]

24. I would come. I would come from Alaska.

[Blue_In_AK]

29. Could I hitch a ride in your suitcase? n/t

[roguevalley]

31. consider it done, blue. :-D

[defendandprotect]

42. Millions have joined in "Lights out" for the earth --

Millions can join in wearing buttons --

I CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY DAY

or in brief strikes --

leaving the office at 4:30 to mark to a park -- whatever --

wearing buttons -- handing out flyers --


DC seems too predictable -- should be diverse locations --

almost every town has an office for the USHR rep --

People also have to video/record their own activities and play on local stations --

[roguevalley]

25. kick this. if this isn't met with our resolve we deserve what happens.

keep it kicked. Thanks.

[ChiciB1]

27. I'll Kick... But Would Like To Add That I WANTED A Revolution LOOOOOONG

before it got to this point. Was told to shut up and sit down... activism is dead, doesn't work anymore. They have riot gear, they will get us. And soooooooo it goes.

Now, I'm NUMB!

[CleanGreenFuture]

28. Being told to sit down and shut up is what got us to this point.

[roguevalley]

32. hang in there, honey. sit by me. I would never say shut up to

this ever.

[tpsbmam]

47. All the riot gear in the world won't

be able to deal with either a general strike or shopping strikes. What are they going to do, come to each of our houses and force us to shop at gunpoint?

:rofl:

[Name removed]

30. Deleted message

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

[starroute]

33. Civil disobedience in itself is hollow

The civil rights leaders of fifty years ago didn't set out to cause trouble with civil disobedience. They set out to do things they had a perfect right to do -- like eating at lunch counters -- and the civil disobedience was what happened when the law tried to stop them.

Just breaking laws, sitting in intersections, or chaining yourself to old redwoods has a frivolous appearance because it's not about doing something you'd really want to do if only it wasn't forbidden. It has more to do with that old Mario Savio metaphor of throwing yourself into the gears of the machine to try to stop it -- and what usually comes of that is that the machine grinds you up and spits out the pieces.

In the current situation, the key may be an aspect of the First Amendment that doesn't get invoked very often: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

That redress of grievances thing doesn't get brought up the same way as the freedoms of religion, speech, the press, and assembly -- and I'm not even quite sure what it means or would have meant to the Framers of the Constitution. It conjures up images of poor peasants bringing their complaints to oriental despots, and I think most of us assume that in a democratic society that's not really necessary because you can always vote the bastards out.

But the power of the vote isn't working the way it once did -- thanks to corporate money, gerrymandering, and the related abuses that are making our politicians impervious to popular pressure. And as a result, the un-redressed grievances are piling up -- check out #fuckyouwashington for a long list of examples.

I think we all know what a list of grievances should look like -- it looks like the part of the Declaration of Independence that lists all the complaints against King George III. So why don't we make up a good solid list of our own -- one that isn't over-obviously "leftie" but would have broad support among Americans in general -- and then bring it to DC and demand to be heard.

And not take no for an answer.

[defendandprotect]

43. Don't think that's true .... everyone understands the need for a job and medical care -- !!

for retirement pensions - Social Security -- !!

Everyone understands that the "Will of the people" is being ignored --

PLUS, I really think that DC is a waste -- I may be wrong -- but I think people

go to a lot of expense and trouble to get there and end up there when the town

is empty!


Locally, many USHR members have offices -- there are Municipal bldgs --

State houses --

And, small business people should also be on the side of the consumer, I'd dare say!!


Simply walking around with a button on says a lot -- going in and out of stores ...

I CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY DAY

Making oneself visible in one's town --

and to other workers and non-workers --

[EFerrari]

34. I've been thinking about this for a week.

All I come up with is to keep track of what other people are doing and to find a way to join them because accepting it is not an option.

[ChiciB1]

45. After I Posted Here Last Night I Was Too Fed Up & Decided To Log Off... But

I didn't sleep very well because my mind just wouldn't stop. So I got up this AM and made the usual calls to my Congress Critters, but I also called Senator Bill Nelson's office ONCE AGAIN and said a little more. I told his staff that I have been a long time activist and that I KNOW he's up for election in 2012 and how aware I was that he has had no REAL opponents in his last 2 elections. One was Katherine Harris and one was Bill McCollum, and given who THEY were I might not have had to vote at all because they weren't any real threat to him, or so it turned out to be.

I continued saying that THIS time my family & I (almost all live here in Florida) and we are Democrats WILL be looking for someone else to run against him if he doesn't stand up for "we the people" and HELP us! Help by voting to roll back the Bush tax cuts and ACTIVELY speaking out about this and other issues such as the Big 3 and working for us again. WE are the ones suffering and will be suffering more if they let the Repukes ROLL them again!

I did add that I was actually looking for someone else to run against him and will support them even if they were an Independent or something other than a Democrat. Of course, that other person would have to be more moderate than he, but I didn't intend to campaign for him again. I said a bit more about my long time activism and then called Vernie Buchanan's office and Marco Rubio. Not that THEY even care and I'm sure they just put me on some sore of s--t list to be targeted in some way. Yes, I know it's cynical but it's how I feel.

Now, I wanted to add a suggestion here. We are always talking about "what can we do" and all we really do is sit here and post for the most part. I don't know if it's allowed here, but what if we could compile a list of people who are willing to take part in something more than doing the usual stuff? Most here say start locally and I agree that's good, but where I live I don't think I can get 20 people together to DO ANYTHING. I don't even know if anyone who lives in my county actually posts here, so I don't know how to reach others. The local Democratic party here is rather lame and I haven't seen them do anything that amounts to much. But then the State Democratic Party here isn't all that active either.

If we could get enough people willing to "out" themselves and actually organize either locally or as a unit here, maybe we could come up with a way to make our voices heard. All the petitions I've signed only get me more emails to sign more petitions, and I really haven't seen any results.

Anyway, THIS is what kept me up last night, just trying to think of some way to get them to listen. I don't honestly think anyone in D.C. cares if I call or not. I've done it many times and have yet to see anything come of it.

I did post that I've been saying REVOLUTION for a long time, and as usual there are replies that say once again that THEY DON'T WORK, etc. And I really wish I wouldn't let this stuff bother me, but it does and I suppose it always will. I know as a Boomer how many feel about us, but what are we supposed to do? It's infuriating and insulting watching what's going on, but I don't think ONE person can really do that much.

[PVnRT]

46. Do you really think the cabal running this country would give a shit?

Hell, organize a mass suicide, they still won't care. As long as the wealthy stay wealthy and cut them some more campaign contribution checks, that's all they care about.

[tavalon]

48. National strikes?

[DearAbby]

49. We need one GIANT UNION

that could also support this. We need a union to save The Union.

[Jackpine Radical]

54. That works for me. (nt)

[swilton]

50. This website

www.October2011.org