The Fasten Seat Belts Sign Is On

[Tom Rinaldo]

We've begun our descent into turbulence. There is no smooth path forward and there are no accurate maps of the territory we now are entering. For the first time since the civil rights movement, since the race riots, since the anti-Vietnam War movement, we are back on the streets and staying there. It happened in the 30's also. Factories were occupied then. General strikes happened then.

In the 60's we were called "the new left". Our message was labeled "anti-American" by our opponents, because of our heated opposition to U.S. war efforts, and because it was fully our intention then to forcefully "rock the boat". In the name of patriotism, for the most part the "hard hats" fought against us in those days. This time will be different. It already is. This time we reach all the way back to the 30's.

We are not there yet, we aren't even close, but that doesn't matter - we've pushed off from the gate and there is no heading back. The civil rights movement didn't begin with massive nation wide protests. It grew from a committed small base and gathered steam. The anti-Vietnam War movement didn't pull hundreds of thousands to Washington immediately either. There were small hardly noticed "teach-ins" on some college campuses in the early stages.

This time it isn't the draft that is mobilizing students and the young into action; it is the prospect of "no future". It is the belief that tomorrow will be worse than today if something isn't done now to change that. In the 60's we all heard stories of farm foreclosure's in the 30's. Today the foreclosures are happening on our block. Today the economic safety net that we believed would catch us is we fell, is unraveling daily, with as many people being thrown off unemployment insurance weekly as are trying to get onto it. Few believe any more that we are in an economic slowdown. We are recognizing the new reality.

In the 30's the Democratic Party grabbed the banner of resistance and road it into power. In the 60's it was slower to do so and more tentative when it did. Between 2002 and 2008, most of the activist grassroots energy that is now feeding the 99% movement was channeled into the Democratic Party. A collective effort swept Democrats into control of first Congress and then the Presidency. But that movement was not encouraged to stay active, it was counted on to stay loyal instead. After a period of disappointment leading to disillusionment, much of that energy is headed to the streets. Both in the 1930's and the 1960's, movements didn't wait for the Democratic Party to lead them - it was up to the Party to win a position at the front. People aren't waiting anymore now either.

Big money owns a part of the Democratic Party today. I don't know if todays Democratic Party can get ahead of the movement this time. The steering wheel for it has slipped out of the Party's hands. I don't know what will happen next other than to say this; we are only in the early stages of significant "social unrest". It's been a while, most people can't really remember what that feels like.

[Odin2005]

1. First to rec.

[BlueIris]

32. 96th to rec. And darned sorry about it, too.

This OP is sooooo good.

[Tippy]

2. K&R...but their are plenty that do remember......

[Arctic Dave]

3. "Big money owns a part of the Democratic Party today"

No. Big money owns almost all of the Democratic Party. From the top down. If you think for a second that Obama isn't part of the problem then you have been sleeping for the last two and a half years.

[Tom Rinaldo]

7. I intentionally chose not to define "what part" they owned in this OP

People can plug in their own opinion about that. Mine is pretty similar to yours.

[FarCenter]

8. One of Obama's Chicago supporters was Penney Pritzker

In fact, he wanted her as Secretary of Commerce.

There are 11 Pritzkers on the Forbes 400 list, averaging around $1.7 billion each.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

11. No one likes to be lectured

:bounce:

[SammyWinstonJack]

24. Definitely part of the problem. I wonder how he expects to win re-election?

:shrug:

[Arctic Dave]

25. Cross his fingers the repugs nominate a nutcase?

If not, he may be in for a rude awakening.

[cui bono]

35. He wants to coopt this movement and use it against the GOP.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2126280

[ChiciB1]

33. Great Post... Some Bad News Here Too! Was At Occupy Sarasota Today

and so many people are conflicted about WHO they want to vote for. If I heard it once, I heard it many time... I will vote, but will vote for MY REASONS, not those of ANY Party!

Kind of sounded like many people are going to do "write ins" knowing FULL WELL what it means to the Democratic Party & Obama! Too many people, much too upset and many saying that no matter WHO gets in, it won't change anything. Even though we called this a "peoples movement" many are Democrats who are out at the rallies, I think for the most part that's a given.

Perhaps it's too early to get down to the brass tacks, but it's being said many, many times. I think so many have simply HIT THE WALL!

I do know what will be said here, but I'm ONLY the messenger!

[hulka38]

38. Good point.

[Enthusiast]

45. Biggest problem..................nt

[woo me with science]

50. The truth hurts,

but it is absolutely necessary to acknowledge it.

[ananda]

4. Big money owns ALL of the GOP and enough of the Dems..

.. to keep decent policies and bills from being enacted.

[Cirque du So-What]

5. Violence does not necessarily equate to revolution

but considering the confrontational nature of our society - coupled with a growing tendency toward becoming Sociopath Nation - violence is a looming likelihood.

[Tom Rinaldo]

10. The Right is "crazed" - today's militias may play the role of yesterdays KKK

I hope enough of us have internatlized the strategic and moral lessons from MLK's non violent movement.

[FarCenter]

6. For a more accurate parallel go back to the Long Depression, 1873-1896, in Great Britain

It marked the end of the economic dominance of the British Empire, which could no longer compete with the manufactures of Germany and the United States, nor with the agriculture of the United States, Argentina, Ukraine, and others.

Britain maintained military (especially naval) dominance during that period and through increasing expenditures for battleships until WW I.

The US is in an exactly analogous position now, losing economic dominance and striving to maintain sole superpower status.

The end is likely to be another period like 1914-1949, with intermittant global warfare and revolutions that will establish a new world order.

[Tom Rinaldo]

12. I'm not up enough on British History

I'm not knowledgable about how much social unrest there was in Britain during that time and how it was expressed. I think we are seeing the end of American world dominance now also, but that was not a factor in the 30's or 60's. Vested interests always compete for power - and not just inside the world's most dominant economy.

[FarCenter]

22. Hobsbawm or Ferguson

The Age of Empire: 1875-1914, by Eric Hobsbawm
Empire: The Rise and Demise of the British World Order and the Lessons for Global Power, by Niall Ferguson
The latter is an easier read, but perhaps more polemical.

[Tom Rinaldo]

28. Thanks

This would be a good time to learn more about those times.

[lunasun]

14. yes agree

[AntiFascist]

21. The New World Order that the PTB wants to see...

likely involves Washington DC becoming the seat of power for globalist big business, while ignoring the needs of the people they are supposed to be representing. If you want to become a shareholder on Wall Street then you can take your chances and participate, otherwise we would be left on our own. This is the whole point of their wanting to privatize social security. If Wall Street does well then we would have a future.

[upi402]

9. The hard-hats are on our side this time

Remember when they were worse than the police?

Hell, even the cops and the troops stand to gain if we change things. But the media has them duped.

[SHRED]

13. Yes we are!

[Tom Rinaldo]

15. And today's protesters who aren't in Unions themselves;;;

...are appreciating and supporting organized Labor more with every passing hour. We are pulling together.

[malthaussen]

16. Sorry, I must dissent

We are ascending into turbulence, we are not descending.

-- Mal

[Tom Rinaldo]

17. A most honorable dissent indeed. n/t

[hwmnbn]

18. nailed it!

[Le Taz Hot]

40. LOL!

Excellent!

[swilton]

19. Right on!

[myrna minx]

20. Excellent essay. K&R n/t

[Mosaic]

23. They fight us and then We Win!

You know, something like that.

[Remember Me]

29. LOL -- CLose enough. Here it is --

First they ignore you
Then they ridicule you
Then they fight you
Then you win

-- Gandhi

[nichomachus]

26. K&R

[sarcasmo]

27. Big money owns both parties. I sure hope a labor party can be created out

of this movement.

[Fire Walk With Me]

30. Recommended and kicked!

[lonestarnot]

31. Trust me I remember!

K & R!

[L0oniX]

34. K & R

[99th_Monkey]

36. In 1968, there was nothing "tentative" about MLK, Sen.s Eugene McCarthy and Robt. F. Kennedy.

It's just that JFK and Martin got gunned down in cold blood.

This is an important point to not fuzz over, IMHO. thank you.

[Tom Rinaldo]

42. I don't disagree, but...

MLK was not a Democratic Party leader, he was a Civil Rights Movement leader. I said the Democratic Party was slow and tentative; not all individual leaders of the Democrats. There was an Anti Vietnam War movement before McCarthy challenged LBJ, and LBJ was the leader of the Democratic Party who got in the neighborhood of 65% of the NH primary vote against McCarthy - but ultimately decided not to contest for another term. Scoop Jackson was a leading Democrat back then also, so was the original Mayor Daley. Even when McGovern won the 1972 Presidential nomination - a lot of old time Democrats did not rally behind him with any enthusiasm.

[tavalon]

37. Yes, we will need to over winter which is hard

but I don't think anyone has any interest in stepping back. As far as the Democratic Party goes, Lead, Follow or Get The Hell Out of The Way. They missed the boat on leading, so that option is gone. Follow or ......

[Tom Rinaldo]

43. Winter will be hard, but it will also harden people's committment and resolve

And harsh winter in most areas is still a couple of months away. There is still a lot of time left for momentum to grow. Meanwhile the connections are being made, activist networks are growing. Spring could be explosive. This is all happening in the context of a Presidential election year also.

[Le Taz Hot]

39. Spot on.

K & R

Revolution is in the air and it's being led by the youngins. I know I've said it often here but I'll say it again, I'm SO PROUD OF THEM!

[Doctor_J]

41. Without a political party to represent us, I don't see where this is going

Come Jan 2013 the Repukes will control the House, Senate, and SCOTUS, and maybe the White House. And of course the media. Then what?

[Enthusiast]

46. They have these things now.

Think about it. They just passed Obama's three free trade deals against the wishes of the American people of every political persuasion.

[graywarrior]

44. During the 60's, we didn't give a shit about parties.

We just wanted the war to end and we went after everyone. I'm feeling the same way lately.

[leeroysphitz]

48. +1

[concord]

47. Excellent post

>> This time it isn't the draft that is mobilizing students and the young into action; it is the prospect of "no future". It is the belief that tomorrow will be worse than today if something isn't done now to change that. <<

My favorite part.

[Tom Rinaldo]

49. One kick for the work week n/t