The game is over & We lost.

[kpete]

The Corporate State Wins Again
By Chris Hedges

— When did our democracy die? When did it irrevocably transform itself into a lifeless farce and absurd political theater?

........................

The game is over. We lost. The corporate state will continue its inexorable advance until two-thirds of the nation is locked into a desperate, permanent underclass. Most Americans will struggle to make a living while the Blankfeins and our political elites wallow in the decadence and greed of the Forbidden City and Versailles. These elites do not have a vision. They know only one word—more. They will continue to exploit the nation, the global economy and the ecosystem. And they will use their money to hide in gated compounds when it all implodes. Do not expect them to take care of us when it starts to unravel. We will have to take care of ourselves. We will have to create small, monastic communities where we can sustain and feed ourselves. It will be up to us to keep alive the intellectual, moral and culture values the corporate state has attempted to snuff out. It is either that or become drones and serfs in a global, corporate dystopia. It is not much of a choice. But at least we still have one.

.................

the rest:
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/the_corporate_state_wins_again_20110425/

[graywarrior]

1. Will we be able to afford pitchforks and torches?

[RandomThoughts]

2. They have removed justice

And replaced it with might makes right, worse then anarchy.

They believe they will be able to buy protection from retribution if things fall apart, by a limited view.

How have they won? What have they won?

They believe without justice there crimes will go unnoticed an uncorrected. For that to be true, they have to claim to be the most powerful thing in existence, to survive in might makes right, why they either claim to work for God, or even be like god, so they can think they will survive in might makes right.

It is pretty simple, they are gambling that there ways are the same as the ways of the most powerful thing in existence, then they further gamble that how they treat others on instruction from that thing, wont be how they are treated by that thing, that they know is more powerful then them, even if not most powerful nor actually God. Thereby dooming themselves.

The simple act of doing what a person knows is wrong, on behest of some power, dooms that group, since that power will eventually do the same to them, by the very definition of what it asks them to do to others.


And I am still due beer and travel money, and many experiences.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[MineralMan]

16. What is that supposed to mean, kpete?

Please expand on your question, or edit out the obvious callout. Thank you very much!

[Horse with no Name]

3. It died when people came out en masse to elect

what they thought would be a President who would serve the needs of the people instead of the corporations.

[SugarShack]

48. How does DU feel about a primary challenger?

:shrug:

[n2doc]

5. It's time for a new game n/t

[OHdem10]

6. More truth than I want to accept. To answer your question

when did this happen?

It started when Reagan set out to make changes.
Government being the problem in his view, he set about
giving Business more power. The Democratic Party affirmed
the changes when we developed the DLC becoming Republican
Lite.

This is not to be mean spiritied. I do not believe Reagan
had evil intentions. Instead, his theory could make sense
to a lot of people. The problem came later when people
seeing that it was destroying the middle class, did nothing.

Likewise, I do not believe DLC had evil intentions but
instead of sensibly pushing back against the Republican
Plan, they more and more affirmed it. The Blue Dogs
being Conservative do not appear to be able to see the bad
consequences pushing the Republican Reagan plan forward.

This is not said to create dissension but until our party
sees the truth, nothing changes. The Republicans believe
this ideology. How much longer will Democrats affirm it???

[comradebillyboy]

9. DLC more progressive than Obama

Obama is the mild mannered spineless imitation of W and is now well to the right of the DLC. Clinton and the DLC were infinity more effective and forward looking than the current resident of the WH.

[OHdem10]

13. This is not to Criticise Clinton: but when they negotiated the Budget

under Clinton, the GOP got millions in cuts to Medicare
and gave up tax cuts.

Medicare has been under attack and cut back to the point
that it is only a ghost of its former self.

Nafta has contributed mightily to our current Great Depression.

Clinton signed the laws deregulating the Banks so that
we got the Great Recession.

[KittyWampus]

7. Right. So curl up in a fetal position and suck your thumb. Cynics are egotistical fools

never offering solutions and constantly ignoring any progress.

[TheKentuckian]

10. Progress to greater wealth disparity and much loss of property, security, and incomes.

Progress my ass.

[Bigmack]

12. Hedges doesn't suggest sucking thumbs...

He suggests, and I agree, that we plan to take care of ourselves as much as possible. He writes, at the end of his piece, about "small monastic communities where we can sustain and feed ourselves." That sounds a little survivalist, but on the other hand, what's wrong with banding together with neighbors to grow food and perhaps help each other.

We've got to do something.

[MineralMan]

26. Nothing wrong with banding together to grow food, etc.

I hope you're more successful with that than some of us were back in the 60s and early 70s. It's not so easy as you'd imagine. Even small bands have differences that often destroy the community.

[MilesColtrane]

35. "That sounds a little survivalist"

I was going to say it sounds a little Unabomberist. (without the bombing part, of course)

Kaczynski was also an anarcho-primitivist who thought a solution to his predicted inevitable end of freedom was to drop out and watch the world crumble. (He actually thought he was helping that crumbling process along by killing people.)

Disclaimer: Obviously I'm not saying Chris Hedges is an insane serial killer

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

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[Phoenix63]

61. I'm confused...

are these not solutions:

"We will have to create small, monastic communities where we can sustain and feed ourselves. It will be up to us to keep alive the intellectual, moral and culture values the corporate state has attempted to snuff out. It is either that or become drones and serfs in a global, corporate dystopia. It is not much of a choice. But at least we still have one."

While I don't agree with everything in the article it seems to me that he did offer some solutions. Or at least a start towards some solutions.


Sorry, just trying to get a feel for this place.

[JNelson6563]

8. Yeah, let's all just give up. Fuck it.

Oy.

[jefferson_dem]

11. What a load of hyperbolic, defeatist bilge...

Dismissed.

[KurtNYC]

15. this isn't Hedges best stuff

unfortunately, life is not a game. Dropping out of consumer society has been an option since at least the late 1960s. These days it starts with turning off the TV "news."

Each of can only change the world a little bit. We own our own energies and can direct them toward the things we love. If the ballot box is broken then vote with your wallet, your body and your existence.

[BOG PERSON]

24. there don't seem to be any new ideas

people just keep going back to that well of 60s radicalism. in 2011.

[MineralMan]

25. I was one of those 60s radicals. We managed to get a few

things done, I suppose, but aside from pushing the civil rights movement along and helping to make the Vietnam War less popular, I don't see a lot of long-term change that came from it. I'm glad for the things we managed to help happen, but I don't see that kind of activism happening in the current situation, I'm sorry to say.

These days, I'm working in local party politics instead. That seems to be working OK, but isn't happening everywhere, like I believe it should.

[Bluenorthwest]

51. Decades old information...

These days, what you would call a 'commune' is called an intentional community, there are many of them of many sorts, all over the world. It is in fact, a movement that gains popularity with each passing year.

[MineralMan]

52. Yes. It's called history.

As for intentional communities, they go back to the beginnings of human society. Some work. Some don't. That's true for almost all human groups. I'm not really sure what your point is.

[Bluenorthwest]

62. It is an international movement,

Intentional Communities. There are more of them around the world than there ever were in the 60's. It is a rising tide. I just figured you might want some up to date language to use in a google search, to do some independent study. "Our commune went belly up in the 60's" is also not much of a point. Others flourished. You said you don't see much of that happening, I pointed out that if you look up 'intentional communities' you will see lots of it. It is not all in the US, of course, but that really is not the point. Some great stuff going on in Europe.

[RevStPatrick]

63. Here's a good place to start...

http://www.ic.org/

I've live in two intentional communities, and have visited several others.

[bobbolink]

57. But the people they are open to, for the most part, are a very narrow section of the population.

Diversity? HAH!

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

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[MineralMan]

20. Ah, so those who present a different viewpoint are

marching in "lockstep." That seems like a pretty broad slur against a group of DUers to me. Do you truly expect everyone here to agree with you? If they do not, will you simply insult them? Doesn't seem that civil to me, but I don't know.

Do you consider me to be one of those "neoliberal corporate foot soldiers?"

[Zorra]

39. Gosh, no! Why in the world would anyone think that?

:shrug:
Hamlet, Act 3, Scene II.

[Bluenorthwest]

47. That's the one everyone says backwards!

Which is fitting.

[Zorra]

50. Ding ding ding! Congratulations, you win a prize!

We think it is about an inherent contradiction to the process of globalization, one of the essences of the neoliberal model. The elimination of commercial borders, the universality of tele-communications, the information super highways, the omnipresence of the financial centers, the international agreements of economic unity, in short, the process of globalization as a whole produces, by liquidating the nation states, a pulverization of the internal markets. These do not disappear or are diluted in the international markets, but consolidate their fragmentation and multiply. It may sound contradictory, but globalization produces a fragmented world, full of isolated pieces (and often pieces which confront each other). A world full of stagnant compartments, communicating barely by fragile economic bridges (in any case as constant as the weathervane which is finance capital). A world of broken mirrors reflecting the useless world unity of the neoliberal puzzles.

But neoliberalism not only fragments the world it pretends to unite, it also produces the political economic center that conducts this war. And yes, as we referred to before, the financial centers impose their (laws of the market) to nations and grouping of nations, and so we should redefine the limits and reaches pursued by the policy, in other words, duties of political work. It is convenient than to speak of Megapolitics> Here is where the "world order" would be decided.

And when we say "megapolitics" we don't refer to the number of those who move in them. There are a few, very few, who find themselves in this "megasphere". Megapolitics globalizes national politics, in other words, it subjects it to a direction that has global interests (that for the most part are contradictory to national interests) and whose logic is that of the market, which is to say, of economic profit. With this economist (and criminal) criteria, wars, credits, selling and buying of merchandise, diplomatic acknowledgements, commercial blocks, political supports, migration laws, coups, repressions, elections, international political unity, political ruptures and investments are decided upon. In short the survival of entire nations.

The global power of the financial centers is so great, that they can afford not to worry about the political tendency of those who hold power in a nation, if the economic program (in other words, the role that nation has in the global economic megaprogram) remains unaltered. The financial disciplines impose themselves upon the different colors of the world political spectrum in regards to the government of any nation. he great world power can tolerate a leftist government in any part of the world, as long as the government does not take measures that go against the needs of the world financial centers. But in no way will it tolerate that an alternative economic, political and social organization consolidate. For the megapolitics, the national politics are dwarfed and submit to the dict ates of the financial centers. It will be this way until the dwarfs rebel . .



http://struggle.ws/mexico/ezln/1997/jigsaw.html

[MineralMan]

18. Hedges is wrong on both counts.

Typical, really.

[kpete]

21. now

i need a beer...

peace, kpete

[MineralMan]

22. Enjoy your beer.

I assume you will not be crying in it.

I would appreciate it, though, if you would not refer to me in threads where I am not already a participant. I believe that's called a call out and is not acceptable here. If you do, please PM me with the link, so I can come to that thread, instead of finding it by accident. Thanks.

[kpete]

27. ouch

[StarburstClock]

53. What counts and how did you get called out?

These are bizarre comments, it sounds like you're simply bullying.

[dionysus]

23. yay, more apocalypse porn. i know, let's demoralize everyone 24/7!!11!

:thumbsdown:

[Thunderstruck]

30. Holy shit! You took Hedges apart! Happy days are here again...!

[DevonRex]

28. Chris Hedges is a freak. .

[Thunderstruck]

29. That is one excellent counter to Hedges piece! Wow! Very nice!

[DevonRex]

32. He's not worth more than passing derision and a few laughs.

[dionysus]

34. i am extremely worried. we need to start in on some bunkers and communal gardens...

wadsworth is a master of the turnip patch...
do you have room at your place for the cruise missle console?

:hi:

[DevonRex]

44. Why yes I do!

Right next to my recliner on the left side. The right side is where I put my stock of canned and dry goods. I'll be hosting an I-give-the-fuck-up party soon. Perhaps Wadsworth can help me prepare a suitably dismal meal for it. Turnip soup? :hi:

[Thunderstruck]

45. Did you have a rebuttal to Hedges piece? Or are you just here to ridicule and not rebut?

[dionysus]

49. turnip soup with a side of bitter stew. yum.

[Thunderstruck]

37. Yet, here you are. Why?

[dionysus]

33. pardon me if i don't care to spend time bothering with what that dipshit says.

:hi:

[Thunderstruck]

36. Yet you spend your time in a thread about one of his pieces. Curious.

[dionysus]

38. pardon me if i'm getting in the way of your doomsday fantasies.

[Thunderstruck]

41. Where did I say that I agree with Hedges? You're making an unfounded assumption. Therefore

I'll make an assumption: I think you came to this thread to ridicule, not to rebut. And that is the last bastion for those who have nothing else to contribute to a discussion.

Perhaps you should think about just letting such posts pass you by.

[liberation]

66. Technically, you're spending time bothering

since you're posting in a thread about him.

[Uncle Joe]

31. I agree with Hedges that corporate supremacy threatens the nation and by extension the world. I also

believe this corporate supremacist rise has been taking place at least since the end of the Civil War but I take the long view of history and I don't believe it's over until everyone quits.

Actually I see more promise of democracy empowering renewal today than anytime since the First Amendment was first established.

Thanks for the thread, kpete.

[Keith Bee]

40. Two-thirds is optimistic

I'd say it'll be closer to 95%

[Marr]

42. The game is never over. The wealthy take and take, until people get

angry enough to do something about it. And I don't mean walk in a cute parade, holding an ironic sign.

When people are willing to break the system to get their way, they'll get some concessions. Whether that's through mass strikes, or shutting down transit, or just generally making it clear to the Brooks Brothers crowd that they're about an inch away from going out like Mussolini, I don't know. When people are ready to do something like that, take the punishment their government will dish out, then do it again, we'll get somewhere. Power cedes nothing unless it has to, and right now it doesn't have to.

[MedleyMisty]

46. That's what I keep pushing for

But apparently it doesn't even occur as an option to a lot of people. They see only voting for Democrats, shooting each other, or giving up. They concede all their power without a thought.

The mental slavery goes deep.

[ladjf]

43. Any human that knows only "more" has profound psychiatric

problems. Such sick individuals should never be in a position to harm the lives of others.

[alcibiades_mystery]

54. Woe! Woe!

Thus sayeth one of DU's Prophets of Doom.

Again.

[mstinamotorcity]

55. Its only over for

those who believe it is. Every individual has the ability to fight this in their own way. Yes there will be deserters who will concede to the other side. but as long as one individual stands tall it is one less person they can fuck over. I choose to be that one whenever possible. I will do everything in my power to not Commerce with the enemy. I choose to Take My Money Back and tell them S.O.B.'s to kick rocks. I don't give a damn how good Gain laundry detergent smells before a box ends up in my house President Sasha Obama will be taking the inaugural address. before BOA gets my money to play against my employment earned wages and that of my fellow citizens, I will dig a hole in the back yard first. No I will not be a willing participant in my own demise. I will not give them the benefit of screwing me with no protection or lubricant. No I may have to work one of their jobs for little money but I don't have to give it back. I am doing what they are doing. Keeping more of what I make and giving them as little as possible. And everyone can do the same. We still have the power of choice. They may get you on Gas and utilities, but everything else is do-able. The more you take of theirs and keep for yourself the less they have to work with. If their products are sitting on store shelves even if they are offering five dollar off coupons they will understand. Everyone must choose!!!Every time you are being the CONSUMER, you are not being AN EDUCATED BUYER!!!!

[jimlup]

56. So absolutely depressing and so absolutely true

When exactly will we fight back? When they have taken everything or before. If the answer is before then we had better get started.

[LanternWaste]

58. Ebb and flow of cultural and social tides are rarely permanent.

Ebb and flow of cultural and social tides are rarely permanent. I imagine this same conjecture was voiced one hundred years ago, four hundred years ago, on thousand years ago, etc.

[chillspike]

59. The people always decide when the game is over

And who wins.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

60. It turned to a lifeless farce and absurd political theater during the Clinton impeachment hearings.

That's when it became apparent to me, anyway.

[Chris_Texas]

64. I agree, but it is non just the corporate elite

It is, by and large, the entire boomer generation. The generation of greed and selfishness.

[Jack Sprat]

65. My belief is that every encroachment by the corporatists

hastens the day of a genuine revolution against the corporate owned governance. A growing percentage of the population will suffer the consequences of their over-reach. When a large enough percentage becomes buried beneath their wealth, I believe an inevitable revolt will occur. They have resorted to the basest of all methods to bury the rules of law and democracy itself. They have used their money for the very purpose of destroying democracy with their Diebold machines, crooked state election officials, and now the use of unlimited corporate spending to influence voting. It may just be my general trust in human nature, but I know the citizens of Egypt, Libya, Syria, and others have suddenly found their revolutionary fervor when their cost of living meant the difference between eating or not. I think they are ushering in a world revolution if their over-reach extends further into European and North American states. When greater segments of the citizenry face virtual extinction, the hunger in their gut may force them to action. The Far Right doesn't have that desperation in their arsenal because these are the people who live within those iron gates relatively safe and well fed. Right now, they are getting away with hating on the poor. But when enough of us realize that we are part of the poor they have been hating on, then.....that's a new day.

[TheUnspeakable]

67. k &r

[fasttense]

68. Our Democracy died at the end of the year 2000.

That's when our Supreme Court, an unelected body, violated the Constitution of the United States and ordered a STOP TO COUNTING VOTES.

They then turned around and made a selection for the citizens of the United States. They chose our President for us and we never marched in protest.

The Supreme Court has since joined hands with corporate fascists and have passed laws through the court. The highest court in the land has been purchased by corporate America.

We have stood by and let the Dancing Supremes smother American democracy.