The Enemy Is Amongst Us!

[kentuck]

This country is crying for progressive solutions.

People, We Need to Prioritize!

This is not about class warfare. This is not about socialism. This is about the truth.

The enemy wants sacrifice. They want the poor, the elderly, the jobless, and the homeless to sacrifice. They want to continue to rob the American people blind as they stuff their own greedy pockets.

It is not about Democrats or Republicans. It is about the American people.

Let us choose.

Do we want to help the sick and elderly or do we want to continue to fight wars for decades to come? The weak leaders can hold the hands of the enemy and rationalize war forever.

Do we want to help the jobless or do we want to continue to give tax breaks to those that take their jobs overseas? The "global economy" does not help America. The free traders are enemies of the American people.

Do we want to save Social Security for our people or do we want to continue to give tax breaks to the wealthy? We need to prioritize.

The enemies are those lying politicians that pretend we have to continue the direction we are going. We do not have to continue on this path. The American people, of all political Parties, want more than superficial change.

Stand up! Get up from where you are sitting!

The enemy is at the door.

[Angry Dragon]

1. kick

[FreakinDJ]

2. It is not about Democrats or Republicans. It is about the American people.

Could not agree with you more

[RegieRocker]

3. Seen across the country and this forum!

You are correct.

[FreakinDJ]

4. Progressives need to harness this sentiment

The Teaparty Sentiment was correct in that the current form of government is broken and is in dire need of replacement

But the FUX News manipulated, Dysfunctional Freeptard take over of the Teaparty forbid any actual meaningful reforms. Just Business as Usual for Failed RATpubliCON policies

[whattheidonot]

22. leader?

Who is there to lead this? this is a massive undertaking. There will not be much help from the mass media. The organization and skill to this peacefully will have to be amazing to say the least. The donations will have to come from a new direction. The information war was sorely lost in the last election. The changes needed are wide and far. One thing is for sure. The donations and funds for this effort cannot come those in power. The message was badly mishandled in the last election and Obama just gave it a little lip service late in the election.

[TBF]

5. Actually it IS about class warfare more than anything. nt

[left coaster]

9. You are right. It's about the rich trying to suck the life out of everyone else..

..and, through their mouth piece, the corporate media, they've already given a negative on all fronts slant to the term 'class warfare', just as they did the term 'liberal'..
however, it still is what it is.. The robber baron class wishes to completely obliterate the working and middle class, and replace it with a slave class, make no mistake.

[rhett o rick]

6. I see posts all the time that providing convincing arguments that we are in trouble. But we need

posts providing a plan. We need leaders, strategy, tactics, and bumper stickers. we need a propaganda machine.

[T Wolf]

8. The ONLY path to progress goes in the direction that too few are willing to even consider.

The system is garbage and must be destroyed and rebuilt from the ground up. Reforming this monstrosity is simply a method to keep it in place by slightly lessening the negative "collateral damage" that results from tweaks that do nothing of significance.

Leaders are need - just not the ones out there now.

Strategy, tactics, etc. are no good if they are executed in pursuit of a faulty and wrong-headed goal.

Bumper stickers and a propaganda machine are merely the ribbons on a shit package of pseudo-changes that do nothing to challenge the status quo.

We are long-past time for working within the system.

[rhett o rick]

29. I too feel we are past the tipping point. But armed revolution is out of the question.

"They" (we need a name for our enemy) are well prepared to crush us. And it will give them an excuse to tighten the controls even farther. But I am willing to listen to any reasonable plan.

[RegieRocker]

36. Do nothing. National Stike. Just say No.

List of demands to be fulfilled before returning to work. Someone has to take off work to even demonstrate. They have us right where they want us. The only way to break this is by taking that power from them. No one wants to try a national petition they say it is a waste of time because it will be ignored. So what is left that? Non violent?

[rhett o rick]

41. Martin Luther King Jr. would tell us it has to be non-violent. nm

[xiamiam]

7. it doesnt matter where i go..this is the conversation or some aspect of what people are talking abou

from all walks of life..all businesses..people just shaking their heads and not quite believing what is happening to them..including the local republican business owners who cant quite figure out what to do to keep their employees paid ...some get it..some dont..but everyone knows something is seriously wrong which they cant fix

[NNN0LHI]

10. As I recall most Americans wanted these wars and were unconcerned with time limits or costs

Is me recollection deficient or is this the way others remember it?

Don

[Hawkeye-X]

14. Did you even check the pollings back then?

None of them wanted war.

Only Chimp pressed on. He focused on the wrong front, and then again, yet another wrong front when Afghanistan was included.

[NNN0LHI]

17. Did you look back on the polling from that period?

I don't need to look back because I can remember that the polls back then showed definitively what I posted above is true.

Didn't they?

Don

[jotsy]

23. I'm remembering it differently.

<http://articles.cnn.com/2003-02-15/us/sprj.irq.protests.main_1_anti-war-rallies-anti-war-movement-police-use-pepper-spray?_s=PM:US>

Just because people have no interest or opportunity to record their voiced opinion doesn't mean most 'wanted' it. A notion which in and of itself I find disturbing. Wanting war? I would debate the levelheadedness of that attitude with a measure of insistence.

Specifically to these two wars? I'll concede Afghanistan LOOKED like the appropriate response at the time, but not so in the subsequent adventure. Forces that guide government into these conflicts has little to do with governance. What the world will remember is that for half a century the youngest kid on the block as a nation thought it could bully the world. Not a legacy I would wear well, tyvm.

edited to add mean, I guess I don't like to go there.

[NNN0LHI]

24. You don't remeber the polling done back then? Here, take a peek and refresh your memory

http://www.pollingreport.com/iraq.htm

[jotsy]

26. How hard did you look?

I thought we were talking about the mind set when these efforts were launched, very few of all the stats you link to speak to opinions at that time we attacked.

Numbers from the Pew poll have a single set of statistics from 2003, the data jumps straight ahead to 2007.

"Do you think the U.S. made the right decision or the wrong decision in using military force in Iraq?"
74% said yes, 19% said no, 7% were unsure.

CBS listed 8 questions, only one has response data of the time in question.

"Do you think the result of the war with Iraq was worth the loss of American lives and other costs of attacking Iraq, or not?"

It was asked four times from August to October of that year and if I average out the responses of those who felt it was worth it, I get 44%. How does less than a majority equate to most Americans?

I think it relevant to discuss how opinions are formed and what role news sources play in that process. Cable news programs at the time paraded a great many military analysts who were paid by the defense department and other weapons producers as consultants, which miraculously were never mentioned while beating the war drum. These venues shouldn't wonder why they're viewed with skepticism and justifiable disdain now.

<http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4112790>

<http://mediamatters.org/research/200805130001?f=h_top>

Am I to understand you support the continuing occupation of countries we went to war against under false pretenses?

[NNN0LHI]

27. Hard enough to click on the "Earlier polling on Iraq" link at the bottom of the page a few times

I never supported invading and occupying either Afghanistan or Iraq and my posts are here from that period that attest to that.

The CBS poll you cite was taken after the invasion already began when it became obvious that we fucked up and is meaningless.

If you continue looking at the pollingreport pages you will see the vast majority of Americans were for invading both countries before the invasion. If you don't want to believe that believe whatever you want to believe.

Am I to understand that you at one time supported the invasion and occupation of these countries?

Don

[jotsy]

28. As I stated.

I could see how the Afghanistan matter appeared the appropriate response, AT THE TIME. I never anticipated we would be there indefinitely. The invasion of Iraq was clearly a war of choice from the word go which I never supported it.

Noticed you did not address how much of a role the mainstream media played in the public's perception, perceptions that generated these poll numbers. By the way, I know if you pose the question a certain way and ask for responses of a specific demographic and geographic segment, I can pretty much get whatever results I want. These polls are a reflection of a lie's impact, not needless and endless wars.

[blindpig]

11. It is about Capitalism.

It is Capitalism that is the enemy and until enough get that we're spinning our wheels.

[rhett o rick]

30. We are in the throes of the capitalism whirlwind. There is too much momentum to stop it. Hold on. nm

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

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

[conspirator]

13. Hello? Which class do politicians belong too? That's right, it is CLASS WAR n/t

[kentuck]

16. It is but...

that very word is a diversion, a trap to turn people's attention from the bigger picture. Be careful of its use.

[mikekohr]

15. Pragmatic Persistent Progressive Policies are the path to cementing our position

and self identification numbers among a significant percentage of the American electorate.


Liberal/Progressive ='s 20%
Conservative ='s 40%
Moderates ='s 40%

Until we gain self identification status (we already have majority support for our policies) among a majority of Americans we remain in a vulnerable political position opposed as we are against a monolithic, unified, motivated Republican/Tea Party.

And we must not lose sight of the fact that while the under 25 vote has went our way for the last three election cycles, this demographic is VERY resistant to labels and to considering themselves as a member of one party or the other.

We must control the message and point to the record,-ad nauseum,- until the 70 year record of economic accomplishment of the Democratic Party and the utter ineptitude of the Republican Party is as ingrained in the American Public's mind as is presently the falsehood that Republicans have planted that associates the word Liberal with Socialism and failure.

ECONOMIC RECORD: http://bureaucountydems.blogspot.com/p/economic-record.html
JOB CREATION RECORD: http://bureaucountydems.blogspot.com/p/job-growth.html
HISTORY OF RECESSION: http://bureaucountydems.blogspot.com/p/history-of-recessions.html
NATIONAL DEBT: http://bureaucountydems.blogspot.com/p/national-debt.html

We are on the right and winning side of ALL the above issues. But you would never know it listening to the media and the deeply ingrained Republican Talking Points that have entrenched themselves into the American narrative like a bloodsucking tick. Until the record is known, we will continue to swim upstream.

Results matter, when they are known.

[felix_numinous]

18. K&R American solidarity

is the only way out of this mess. We have to work to be the antithesis of their divide and conquer techniques!

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Hope you all are having a good holiday season~~felix

[OneGrassRoot]

19. At first I didn't agree (as I feel it IS class warfare)...but I see your point

How that phrase, along with many others, are used to divide and conquer.

Coming up with the "message" that resonates with people across the spectrum -- including those in the 2% who have a heart and a conscience -- seems to be the challenge.

I've asked this question before on DU: Can we define the "enemy" more clearly?

I, personally, am in favor of working TOWARD what we choose rather than expending all our energy in what many feel is a hopeless battle AGAINST what is.

If we can define the enemy, can we then more clearly define what we are choosing instead?


I see the enemies as APATHY, GREED and LIES.

I see the alternative as COMPASSION/EMPATHY, COOPERATION/COMMUNITY and HONESTY/TRUTH.

Who would -- in their heart of hearts -- choose apathy, greed and lies as the defining traits of their existence?

Of course, this requires people be brutally honest with themselves, and to get to that point we have to work through the muck of M$M lies and conditioning and images of a world that is not based in reality.

But, seriously...don't you feel most people -- if they sit with the question and tap into their humanity and close off the "white noise" -- would choose a world of compassion, cooperation and truth?

I have to believe so, and that's what I'm struggling to create in my own way.

[kentuck]

20. To be successful, it cannot be about Democrats or Republicans...

..or conservatives and liberals or any label. It must be about the People. It must be about our Country. Otherwise, we are divided and lost. These people are the enemy of us all. Do we need to say who "they" are?

[OneGrassRoot]

21. I believe so....

Personally, I think it's helpful to define the enemy, especially when trying to connect with others who have a different worldview, but have a common "enemy."

It's easy to say "multinational corporations" or "all politicians" or "the wealthy."

I do feel it has to be much more specific. Not necessarily names -- as I don't think witch hunts are helpful -- but a very clear definition of who "they" are.

That's my feeling. :)

[Doctor_J]

25. What's the point of this post?

Besides

1. Stating the obvious, and
2. trolling for rec's?

Get up and do what?

[rhett o rick]

31. Go back to sleep. nm

[kentuck]

35. "trolling for recs"?

How do you do that? Can you explain?

[mix]

32. K&R! nt

[WillyT]

33. K & R !!!

:kick:

[unkachuck]

34. K&R....n/t

[GeorgeGist]

37. I disagree. It is about class warfare.

For nealy all Americans, the Master class is the enemy.

[kentuck]

38. It is but that is falling into the trap...

...if we use that term. That divides the debate and that would defeat the purpose. We are looking to unite the people, not divide them. We can only win with the People on our side. We cannot defeat this enemy by playing by their rules.

[rucky]

39. The one thing everyone agrees on (even Teabaggers)

is that the government is so corrupted by monied interests that it's lost its ability to function.

Let's start there.

[kentuck]

40. Good start.

What unites us is much bigger than what divides us, whether or not we realize it. Their ability to divide gives them their power. We must look to what the People have in common and who the real enemy is that we must confront if we are to survive as a nation.