12 Suggestions On "What to do"

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12 Suggestions On "What to do"

Post by blindpig » Fri Jan 10, 2020 12:13 pm

chlamor
01-14-2007, 09:48 PM

1) Too much "unity"; too little confrontation...
2) Too old; where are the NAFTA kids?
3) Too organized; the "Mobe" should mobilize (i.e. logistics) - not set goals
4) Too much "bearing witness"; too little "we're going to shut this fucker down"
5) Too little pre-planning; D.C. is the place to swell numbers, after that Baltimore, Philly, NYC... Concentric Circles; go for the kids - they drag everyone else.
6) Too set piece; pro forma - it should be, "Bring your guitar and your motorcycle helmet"
7) Too little culture, or perhaps, just one kind of culture; let a hundred flowers bloom - make it a chance to meet America; turn it into a "festival".
8) Wrong allies - Natural ally is Minister Farrakhan and the nation of Islam (which has turned out the largest street demonstrations in American history); it is a natural alliance; "What would it take, Mr. Minister?"
9) The role of socialists in American street demos is to drag out the numbers and to set an example by getting their heads busted FIRST... not to TALK (this is a socialist talking). Shut the fuck up. Let passion speak.
10) Too much talking in general... The crowd should MARCH... A LOT... They form the mass around which the various tribes can organize sallies and retreat back to... Time to march our ass off.
11) The cops and soldiers are not friendly... they may be an hour before and an hour after but not during... They are the face of the enemy.
12) Not nearly enough, "do your own thing"... need snake dancers, and people who want to sit down while chanting, and those who want to write slogans on the Justice Department and those who want to carry big signs saying "SHAME", and lots of pink people (a reference to a previous thread)....

-anaxarchos
"There is great chaos under heaven; the situation is excellent."

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Re: 12 Suggestions On "What to do"

Post by blindpig » Fri Jan 10, 2020 12:15 pm

anaxarchos
01-15-2007, 12:50 AM

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Re: 12 Suggestions On "What to do"

Post by blindpig » Fri Jan 10, 2020 12:16 pm

Mairead
01-15-2007, 07:51 AM

Now, how do we get from where we are to where that is?
"There is great chaos under heaven; the situation is excellent."

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Re: 12 Suggestions On "What to do"

Post by blindpig » Fri Jan 10, 2020 12:17 pm

anaxarchos
01-15-2007, 02:10 PM
Now, how do we get from where we are to where that is?
The thread that chlamor took this from (on why we couldn't put on mass demonstrations anymore), what I was saying was that "the problem" was purely tactical... that we had forgotten (momentarily) how this was done. I dunno, but it still seems that way to me. Simple focus seems like it would cure a lot:

Six months of prep, not six weeks.
One issue (Out Now!), not one hundred.
Washington, D.C., not wherever it was convenient.
Everyone is invited, not those who "blah, blah, blah".
Mobilization committee, not a "leadership committee".

...and so on.

I could be wrong. Sometimes I feel like Rip Van Winkle.
"There is great chaos under heaven; the situation is excellent."

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Re: 12 Suggestions On "What to do"

Post by blindpig » Fri Jan 10, 2020 12:20 pm

Mairead
01-15-2007, 02:21 PM
Now, how do we get from where we are to where that is?
The thread that chlamor took this from (on why we couldn't put on mass demonstrations anymore), what I was saying was that "the problem" was purely tactical... that we had forgotten (momentarily) how this was done. I dunno, but it still seems that way to me. Simple focus seems like it would cure a lot:

Six months of prep, not six weeks.
One issue (Out Now!), not one hundred.
Washington, D.C., not wherever it was convenient.
Everyone is invited, not those who "blah, blah, blah".
Mobilization committee, not a "leadership committee".

...and so on.

I could be wrong. Sometimes I feel like Rip Van Winkle.
How do we get around the significant differences, though? I.e., no overt draft (victimising the Reserve and NG lets the 'college boys' off the hook completely), enormous transportation costs, and ---this is very figural for me--- a more uncaring, fascist, militarised face to government. The only city cops in the '60s who had armored cars and other military hardware were the ones in W.-Berlin, and they were of course really Bundeswehr units with pro-forma badges and cop suits (we used to laugh quietly at the way the real cops reacted to their appearance in the street). In the US today, the us vs them mentality is quite pronounced, don't you think? And of course there are now concentration camps and legalised torture, something that was either not happening or was completely well hidden and either way was right out of the known universe back then as you no doubt remember.
"There is great chaos under heaven; the situation is excellent."

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Re: 12 Suggestions On "What to do"

Post by blindpig » Fri Jan 10, 2020 12:21 pm

Kid of the Black Hole
01-15-2007, 04:53 PM
I could be wrong. Sometimes I feel like Rip Van Winkle.
If you're a Deadhead thats pretty natural..oh and I have some bad news for you..;)
"There is great chaos under heaven; the situation is excellent."

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Re: 12 Suggestions On "What to do"

Post by blindpig » Fri Jan 10, 2020 12:24 pm

anaxarchos
01-15-2007, 06:22 PM
Now, how do we get from where we are to where that is?
The thread that chlamor took this from (on why we couldn't put on mass demonstrations anymore), what I was saying was that "the problem" was purely tactical... that we had forgotten (momentarily) how this was done. I dunno, but it still seems that way to me. Simple focus seems like it would cure a lot:

Six months of prep, not six weeks.
One issue (Out Now!), not one hundred.
Washington, D.C., not wherever it was convenient.
Everyone is invited, not those who "blah, blah, blah".
Mobilization committee, not a "leadership committee".

...and so on.

I could be wrong. Sometimes I feel like Rip Van Winkle.
How do we get around the significant differences, though? I.e., no overt draft (victimising the Reserve and NG lets the 'college boys' off the hook completely), enormous transportation costs, and ---this is very figural for me--- a more uncaring, fascist, militarised face to government. The only city cops in the '60s who had armored cars and other military hardware were the ones in W.-Berlin, and they were of course really Bundeswehr units with pro-forma badges and cop suits (we used to laugh quietly at the way the real cops reacted to their appearance in the street). In the US today, the us vs them mentality is quite pronounced, don't you think? And of course there are now concentration camps and legalised torture, something that was either not happening or was completely well hidden and either way was right out of the known universe back then as you no doubt remember.
Funny, that's what they said on the other site too... Militerized cops, blah, blah, blah... It seems like the exact opposite to me. The "us vs. them" among the cops, etc. is MUCH less then in say 1968 in Chicago (Police Riot). Then, "Rodney King" was a daily event. The confluence of Civil Rights with hippies and "communist sympathizers" was too much for the police organs, etc. to take. Yet, in D.C., they were fairly restrained (less so in Virginia, at the Pentagon). I would think they would be even more restrained now, their paramilitary toys notwithstanding. We have to test it in any case. Sitting and musing on what "they might do" will just not cut it.

The changes in mass or popular organizations is more bothersome... The Unions are half their previous size (although urban locals may actually be more left wing). Not sure how fragmented the black churches are (then, they had been mobilized by the Civil Rights struggle, as had some white liberal churches). I wouldn't dismiss the current conservatised evangies out of hand but not sure if you can get anything out of them. This time, we should be able to hit the mosques and the temples of the Nation of Islam (if the national supports). Not sure what else...

The local campuses are key (in the area from D.C. to Philadelphia). I'm not sure what that looks like these days either. Maybe I'm dreamin' but I haven't really seen anybody try it. The current "Mobes": 1) Aren't "Mobes"; 2) Are on a different plan.
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Re: 12 Suggestions On "What to do"

Post by blindpig » Fri Jan 10, 2020 12:29 pm

Kid of the Black Hole
01-15-2007, 06:57 PM

The thread that chlamor took this from (on why we couldn't put on mass demonstrations anymore), what I was saying was that "the problem" was purely tactical... that we had forgotten (momentarily) how this was done. I dunno, but it still seems that way to me. Simple focus seems like it would cure a lot:

Six months of prep, not six weeks.
One issue (Out Now!), not one hundred.
Washington, D.C., not wherever it was convenient.
Everyone is invited, not those who "blah, blah, blah".
Mobilization committee, not a "leadership committee".

...and so on.

I could be wrong. Sometimes I feel like Rip Van Winkle.
How do we get around the significant differences, though? I.e., no overt draft (victimising the Reserve and NG lets the 'college boys' off the hook completely), enormous transportation costs, and ---this is very figural for me--- a more uncaring, fascist, militarised face to government. The only city cops in the '60s who had armored cars and other military hardware were the ones in W.-Berlin, and they were of course really Bundeswehr units with pro-forma badges and cop suits (we used to laugh quietly at the way the real cops reacted to their appearance in the street). In the US today, the us vs them mentality is quite pronounced, don't you think? And of course there are now concentration camps and legalised torture, something that was either not happening or was completely well hidden and either way was right out of the known universe back then as you no doubt remember.
Funny, that's what they said on the other site too... Militerized cops, blah, blah, blah... It seems like the exact opposite to me. The "us vs. them" among the cops, etc. is MUCH less then in say 1968 in Chicago (Police Riot). Then, "Rodney King" was a daily event. The confluence of Civil Rights with hippies and "communist sympathizers" was too much for the police organs, etc. to take. Yet, in D.C., they were fairly restrained (less so in Virginia, at the Pentagon). I would think they would be even more restrained now, their paramilitary toys notwithstanding. We have to test it in any case. Sitting and musing on what "they might do" will just not cut it.

The changes in mass or popular organizations is more bothersome... The Unions are half their previous size (although urban locals may actually be more left wing). Not sure how fragmented the black churches are (then, they had been mobilized by the Civil Rights struggle, as had some white liberal churches). I wouldn't dismiss the current conservatised evangies out of hand but not sure if you can get anything out of them. This time, we should be able to hit the mosques and the temples of the Nation of Islam (if the national supports). Not sure what else...

The local campuses are key (in the area from D.C. to Philadelphia). I'm not sure what that looks like these days either. Maybe I'm dreamin' but I haven't really seen anybody try it. The current "Mobes": 1) Aren't "Mobes"; 2) Are on a different plan.
Y'know I was gonna let that go, and I wasn't sure how you were gonna react but this shit is fucking retarded. All of these trendy assholes whining about how "habeas corpus has been suspended" and "they're taking away my civil rights!" and "torture is legal now!" can kiss my ass.

What the fuck do they think has been going on forever in this country? Oh thats right a whole lot of people never had habeas corpus, never had civil rights, were subject to disappearing anywhere anytime. And these crybabys didn't raise a peep. Or if they did it was so tepid and noncommital they deserved to have their balls beat in for it.

The police and military are worse than motherfucking Kent State now?

This is such blatant affluent revisionism (OMG look at how Bush is eroding our precious Constitution) it is unconscionable.

I wasn't there and I know that.
"There is great chaos under heaven; the situation is excellent."

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Re: 12 Suggestions On "What to do"

Post by blindpig » Fri Jan 10, 2020 12:30 pm

chlamor
01-15-2007, 09:22 PM

That DC is configured like a wheel and certain spokes/arteries are integral to the proper functioning of the place.

Strength in humility is a myth. Passive denial of the enormity of the problems that confront us and the radical solutions needed to address these, while understandable in light of all the devastation being visited upon the Earth by developers, corporate greed heads and a largely acquiescent populace, is still an indefensible and repugnant position.

As long as women and African-Americans were nice humble and passive what did they get? Nothing. Unless you count subjugation and servitude as something. Would those in power one day have awakened one day in a particularly genial and loving mood and said, "You are so nice and humble I'm going to allow you to vote, own property and while we're at it let's throw in equal pay?"

Dream on.

It took suffragettes and civil rights activists being insistent, unpleasantly arrogant, unrelenting and a willingness to risk what little they did have to attain the few freedoms that are "allowed" today. This meant laying their bodies on the line.

Those who are destroying our earth and our communities at breakneck speed are as humble and caring as barracudas, all apologies to the piscine creatures, and will not easily or at all relinquish their stranglehold on the gasping terra firma or your neck.

What it will take is nothing short of large scale purposeful sustained direct actions that bring the system to a halt. this means tremendous sacrifice. This means discomfort. In this there is the inevitably of tremendous risk.

The only remedy will be when people begin to get interested in taking back active control of the processes that rule their lives and work with each other rather than crossing their fingers and heading off to the ballot box.

There is no political solution.
"There is great chaos under heaven; the situation is excellent."

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Re: 12 Suggestions On "What to do"

Post by blindpig » Fri Jan 10, 2020 12:32 pm

PPLE
01-15-2007, 11:17 PM

The only remedy will be when people begin to get interested in taking back active control of the processes that rule their lives and work with each other rather than crossing their fingers and heading off to the ballot box.

There is no political solution.

Next is Le Monde’s thought-provoking report on Venezuela and Hugo Chávez’s new approach to socialism -- an approach that seeks to solve the structural deficiencies that became so evident in the Soviet model:

Before Chávez was elected in 1998, two parties shared power for 40 years: the Venezuelan Christian Democratic party (Copei), and the social democratic party, Democratic Action (AD). They were adept at using petrodollars to deal with problems. They handed out government posts to calm social unrest but had to comply with the neoliberal ideology of the North and the need to limit public policies. The only way to offset the bloated state apparatus was to organise its inefficiency. With Venezuela’s social divisions, skilled civil servants often come from backgrounds resistant to social change, sometimes because of ignorance of the conditions in which most Venezuelans live…

The Fifth Republic Movement that brought Chávez to power is not a political party. After 1994 (3) it grew out of a coalition of leftwing parties and former guerrilla movements disgruntled with their leaders, who some thought settled too comfortably into the society they had struggled against. Young activists trained by AD and Copei quickly realised that the Chávez candidature would open up new ways to reach power and many joined his ranks…

Now the community is the basic structural unit of government of the new state, legally defined as 200-400 families in urban areas, around 20 in the countryside and from 10 up for the indigenous population. The Spanish political analyst Juan Carlos Monedero observed that the main reason 20th-century socialism failed was a lack of participation by the people. Communal councils may be instrumental in the construction of Venezuela’s 21st-century socialism.
http://wolfgangvonskeptik.mu.nu/archives/210748.html

hat tip to Newswolf
http://wolfgangvonskeptik.mu.nu/archives/210748.html
"There is great chaos under heaven; the situation is excellent."

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