EMAIL SIGN UP!
Most Popular This Week
Popular content
Today's Top News
Wake Up! End the Silence on Afghanistan
Nearly two-thirds of Americans believe the war in Afghanistan isn’t worth fighting, almost 75 percent want “a substantial number” of US troops withdrawn from Afghanistan this summer, and yet Congressional staffers widely report that Members do not hear from their constituents about this war.
This radical disconnect between the poll numbers and action isn’t seen only at the grassroots, but also within much of the political class (with some notable exceptions), and in the very few opportunities for action up for offer by the antiwar movement.
Maybe that’s why General David Petraeus faced mostly softball questions from legislators at hearings on Capitol Hill last week, and why Congress is able to get away with focusing its so-called budget “debate” almost entirely on cruel cuts in domestic spending, with virtually no discussion about the exorbitant costs of this war: over $385 billion to date and an additional $120 billion expected this year. Over 2,300 US and coalition casualties, tens of thousands of Afghan civilian deaths and over 10,000 US wounded. Also, more than 460 suicides by US soldiers last year, a figure that significantly undercounts both reservists and veterans, and a tragedy that will continue long after this war is over.
You wouldn’t know about all the real long-term costs from the sparse media coverage. For example, when taking into account caring for the physical and psychological wounds of returning soldiers, Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz and Harvard professor Linda Bilmes estimate the costs of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars will reach $4 trillion to $6 trillion. (This looting of our Treasury at a moment when people also say they would opt for cuts in defense spending over cuts in Medicaid, Medicare or Social Security.)
But until people wake up, speak out, organize and mobilize to pressure their representatives and President Obama, the opposition numbers reflected in the polls won’t mean much, and the staggering numbers describing the costs of this war will continue to climb.
But where—aside from contacting their representatives themselves—should concerned citizens turn?
Peace Action offers this good petition to President Obama and also just held a Congressional lobby weekend along with the Friends Committee on National Legislation, Military Families Speak Out, Iraq Veterans Against the War and Civilian Soldier Alliance. There will no doubt be some good organizing around a forthcoming bill from Democratic Congressman Jim McGovern and Republican Congressman Walter Jones demanding an exit strategy and a timetable for a withdrawal.
But even while decent congresspeople do their work, they need to hear a steady drumbeat for withdrawal led by organizations that have the will and resources. Where is the inimitable MoveOn, for example, when it comes to seeking a responsible exit from Afghanistan? Actions could include op-ed, call-in and letter-writing campaigns; vigils and demonstrations; and pledges to contribute, host house parties and campaign only on behalf of candidates who demand this kind of substantive plan for withdrawal.
We are heading into a critical election year. It’s time for a new transpartisan majority—one that includes progressives, independents and libertarians (and conservatives with a conscience)—to make it clear that staying the course in this war is insanity. It’s time to invest in real security at home—security which doesn’t come from cuts in education, housing, heat and infrastructure, or from fighting Al Qaeda in a country where it hasn’t been present for nearly a decade.
If we’re going to achieve a change in course, citizens will need to make it clear that they want a real withdrawal to begin this summer—one with a fixed timetable. Obama added 50,000 troops in 2009, by July a plan should be clearly laid out to bring them home as quickly as safely possible. We also need smart diplomacy to bring a political resolution to this civil war. As the just released Century Foundation report lays out, this is a moment to begin negotiations on a political settlement involving the Afghan government and its allies, the Taliban and its supporters in Pakistan and other regional and international parties.
“Unless the people force this issue from the grassroots, sources in the Pentagon tell me we’re looking at a token 10,000-12,000 troop withdrawal with a sketchy timeline—2014 or even longer—for our continued military presence,” said Matthew Hoh, a former US Marine who resigned his Afghanistan post in protest and now serves as director of the Afghanistan Study Group.
Many Democrats—even peace activists—are reluctant to speak out against the war because they fear weakening Obama in 2012. But who’s to say Obama doesn’t want to be moved in this direction? Even the DNC endorsed Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s resolution supporting “a significant and sizable reduction no later than July 2011.”
“There are good career people in the Pentagon ready to draft an alternative to the ‘stay the course’ plan that will undoubtedly come from General Petraeus this summer, all Obama needs to do is ask for it,” said Hoh.
This is crisis time. A crisis of our democracy as seen in the disconnect between what people want and what they are getting; and a crisis in the economy when we have slashonomics and fantastically costly wars instead of smart investments to build a new economy.
- Posted in
Comments
Note: Disqus 2012 is best viewed on an up to date browser. Click here for information. Instructions for how to sign up to comment can be viewed here. Our Comment Policy can be viewed here. Please follow the guidelines. Note to Readers: Spam Filter May Capture Legitimate Comments...
69 Comments so far
Show AllMs. vanden Heuvel
Why in the world would Obama or members of congress alter any of their policies when self-appointed speakers for the "left" continue to voice support for them now and in the upcoming elections?
Until we organize a salient political alternative to these criminals we are doomed.
"Visiting Professor"
Katie Scarlet O'Hara vaden Heuvel would probably insist that you are not being a "Pragmatist."
Your analysis is a bulls-eye.
KvH's is a view of the bull from behind.
Well done. Thanks.
As above, I think its her picture that's doing it.
Trylon
Great post, Visiting Professor! Thank you for writing it!
iowapinko--
Any ideas about what to do in our state? It's going to be frustrating to go through the caucuses if we only have warhawk conservative versus warhawk conservative as our only two choices.
The most powerful way - the only way - to have an impact on partisan electoral politics is to organize outside of the partisan political system. Elections are an effect - a reflection - of social and political change that has already happened, and never have been and never can be a cause of political and social change.
What you are looking for, what you are asking for can never be found in electoral politics. You will be endlessly frustrated and ineffective.
It's a bad idea to ignore electoral politics altogether. It's irresponsible and counterproductive. Although campaigning and voting are definitely not the most important actions we can take, elections have an important role, if only to expose the fraud. It's an opportunity to collectively comment on the nature of our values ... but only if you vote for the candidate who represents those values.
If, for example, the Green Party was to receive 5% of the vote, the party would be eligible for public money next time around. Money means you can be heard. Nader has been running as a candidate in order to be heard, not necessarily to win. People with Nader's views are rarely invited onto mainstream news shows unless we're in the midst of a political campaign, a climate that offers an opportunity to educate and enlighten.
My rather a-political sister (a public employee) voted for Nader after seeing him on C-span. Before that, she had no idea that he made so much sense. Now she reads his books and often talks to her friends and co-workers about progressive values.
Nader stuck to his values. (the Dems had us voting for more war and torture!) The left tore at him, tried its best to marginalize him but he prevailed. You can't push the guy over. When you have goodness and truth on your side, you can't be moved (although you can be killed or imprisoned) When you allow yourself to be manipulated, used, yanked to and fro, you only become weaker.
People pay more attention to politics during a political campaign than at any other time. It's smart to take advantage of that. It's a bad idea to throw a baby out with its bath water. Keep voting, keep supporting the candidate of YOUR choice.
I agree with all of that and have participated for 40 years.
It is the endless talking about elections as though that were the main or only thing to talk about that is the problem.
RVR: Excellent post.
Visiting Prof: Your analysis is right on, too.
I know you're right. It's stupid to think electoral politics has any effect whatsoever. We're not going to see any change at all unless we find ways to reign in the people who have gone mad in their lust for power and greed or somehow get out from under their grasp.
Thanks.
Electoral politics are an effect not a cause. They measure where we have been, they don't dictate where we are going. When all people do is talk about voting, then that becomes the "where we have been." Since elections merely rubber stamp where we have already been, we can never get anywhere.
Everyone is in effect asking "what do you think the view will look like in the rear view mirror in a few months? What do you want it to look like?" The view will be of a bunch of people talking about what the view is going to look like or what they want it to look like.
I think I mostly agree with you, TA. Especially if you view the goal of electoral politics as 'winning' the election. We're likely not in a position to accomplish that.
What we really want is to create change. Liberty and justice for all, as the little boy with his sign in Madison so aptly stated. But we need to educate people politically in order to accomplish that goal. To begin to dismantle the blinders that have impeded their innate vision for so long.
Elections can create a format to begin that work if we can coalesce the energy/creativity/wisdom/dedication to take advantage of it.
Your advice would be treasured here.
First, I would ask that we always consider exactly what we mean when we say "we." You say "we're likely not in a position..." to win an election. Who is "we" in that scenario? You then say that what "we really want is to create change" and that "we need to educate people politically" in order to accomplish this goal. Who is "we?"
I would also question the idea that the general public is at fault, needs to be changed, and again we have to ask who is this "we" that will be doing this changing of people? I do not think that blinders have impeded the innate vision of the general public. This is far more true for the intellectuals - be they self-described as liberal, progressive, conservative, socialist, libertarian makes little difference - then it is for the general public.
If the goal is to get some liberals elected, get that faction of the ruling class into power so that the liberal style of running the empire can happen, I would say that it will be very difficult to ever convert the general public into voting for that, and I would also say that even were it possible that would not lead to any serious change in anything.
People's minds are changed through experience, not persuasion. People's political stances are determined by their material conditions and social posotion, not by their philosophy. This tells us that organizing, and organizing around conditions and then fighting to improve them will lead to change. This was beginning to happen in Madison, but there was an ongoing effort by liberals to put a stop to that and channel that energy back into the system, back into partisan electoral politics. This is because the goals and objectives of the liberals are oppositional to the working class, and that is why we need to be clear about what we man when we say "we."
Rather than saying "elections can create a format to begin that work if we can coalesce the energy/creativity/wisdom/dedication to take advantage of it" I would say that the opposite is true - organizing creates the format to begin the work, and progress will be made in the course of the struggle.
Partisan electoral politics is where movements for political and social change go to die. Always. Change never comes from partisan electoral politics - never has and never will.
Sorry if my broad use of the inclusive "we" has offended you, TA, that was definitely not my intent.
I'm a community org person and am usually hyper-conscious of the use of 'we.' It tends to offend people who have a very individualistic orientation. I myself tend to think in terms of empowering myself and others through unity, coalition-building and community development. So I'm happiest in situations where it is constructive to use the 'we' and I mistakenly thought a dialogue with you would be one. I apologize for the error.
When I used the phrase I was referring to the broad category of posters here at CD that seem to coalesce around the creation of a loving, humane, inclusive and sustainable social structure.People that are willing to work to create a world that promotes liberty and justice for all.
I never meant to imply that I thought the "general public" was at fault or needed to be changed. I hope I'm not that delusional or arrogant. Truth is, I am continually learning from the people in my community.
I do believe that many, if not most, in our communities have been misguided and brainwashed by a wide array of institutions in our culture (mass media, schools, religious institutions, soc services, etc.) so that they have difficulty engaging in critical thinking. Especially political analysis. People in our culture have been robbed of that very necessary skill and ability. It's not their "fault" in any sense, it is a crime that has been committed against them.
"This was beginning to happen in Madison, but there was an ongoing effort by liberals to put a stop to that and channel that energy back into the system, back into partisan electoral politics. This is because the goals and objectives of the liberals are oppositional to the working class, and that is why we need to be clear about what we man when we say "we."TA
I sincerely appreciate your comments here, TA, my husband and I took the time to drive to Madison in order to support the workers. It was thrilling and heartening to see the enthusiasm of the crowds. And equally disappointing to see the politicians manipulate the crowds and defuse the movement-building potential that was inherent in the situation. You got it exactly right re Madison, our hearts leapt and then they shriveled as the dem party created a vacuum of spirit.
Thank you for your guidance, TA, my heartfelt best wishes to you.
Such a considerate and thoughtful response. You made my evening. Thank you.
I am not offended by the way you used "we." I am cautioning us that we need to be careful about that word. It is the way in which our needs are co-mingled and confused with the ruling class agenda.
I am no individualist, not by a long shot, and please do use "we" as much as you like. Let's just make sure of which "we" is being referred to. "We invaded Iraq" is something people say, for example. The ruling class invaded Iraq, "we" did not.
Your comments are wonderful and I agree with your perceptions and observations completely.
leftown,
Good to make contact with another iowan. Yes, I agree, it is very frustrating to witness the pol vultures as they begin to circle overhead once again.
You're exactly correct, every one of them is a warhawk. Remember the last cycle when Clinton and Obama were both vying for the title of the MOST anti-war candidate? I went for Kucinich because he supported universal single-payer health care and I was under the delusion that a strong showing in support of his policies would move the party to the left. That was WRONG.
The existing 2-party corporate-owned system is a quicksand trap that's designed to snare opposition, pull it down and drown it. IMO, we need to avoid the democrats like the plague they are. That includes Dennis or any other sham alternative they create, no matter how attractively insurrectionist they make that person appear to be.
I think we need to challenge both Obama and the repubs every opportunity we have. We need to educate people as to how corporate $$$ controls the system and how that system is destroying the opportunities for a decent quality of life in our communities. We're being robbed blind, the people in our communities know that all too viscerally, lots just don't know who the crooks are or how to stop them.
We have to first expose this duopoly for the sham it is and then work to replace it with a better alternative.
I guess we need to stay in touch leftown and encourage one another.
What are your thoughts on it all?
I
I'd like very much to stay in touch. It's nice to know a fellow Iowan who realizes that both parties are completely under the thumb of corporate dictatorship.
I certainly do remember when when Obama and Hillary were vying for the title of Chickenhawk Extraordinaire. It took Mike Gravel at that one debate to tell them to knock it off with the nuke talk.
In my opinion, Dennis Kucinich's and Bernie Sanders' votes for Obama's Health Insurance Industry Scam put the nail in the coffin of the Democratic Party (I realize Sanders is a Socialist, but no real Socialist would have voted for that law). They were both exposed as not having the courage of their convictions and I have no time for them. They should apologize for those votes.
In my opinion, the Democratic Party is dead, and in its place some sort of bastardized party that Obama's attempting to cobble together with diehard Obama fans, the wealthy, the warmongering, and the uninformed. I'd like to confront and expose the president as the fraud that he is. I'd like to see protests outside his campaign rallies with huge signs and people chanting: "Ho! Ho! Hey! Hey! How many kids did you kill today?"
I worry about the future of our state. I want Branstad recalled, before he completely damages our way of life.
I hold Obama directly responsible for the state of our nation today and the death of the Democratic Party. I didn't caucus with Obama nor did I vote for him, but I feel bad for the people who did and are now disillusioned. I hope they'll be angry enough to never even consider voting for him again.
iowapinko, GREAT, SUPER, BLUNT, HONEST comment and advice to this continuing quasi-liberal Democrat BS about where the bear really shits.
Like you, I have decided to stop conversing on any polite level with supposed principled liberals who are just extending the myth of any alternative in the current situation.
These clowns or charlatans either don't know what they are talking about, or worse, are complicit with the disguised global Empire (centered in the US) which is the causal cancer behind all the 'symptom/identity issues' that they write about ---- and behind the facade of this GD TWO-Party "Vichy" sham of faux-democratic government that they continue to distract and divide the masses, multitude, working-class, and all of us from taking real action "Against Empire" (Parenti).
These blow-hards don't take polite input, hints, or continued rational discourse about the totally corrupt, deadly, bipartisan, and veiled global Empire behind all such imperialist wars abroad, economic oppression and tyranny at home to heart --- and they keep enabling that Empire to continue to ____ us, our children, and our world.
So, iowapinko, taking the gloves off and bluntly telling these phony, distractive, and complicit weak-kneed liberals to focus on a real and "salient political alternative to these (Empire) criminals" must be done in more forceful language, or "we are doomed" by the global Empire that will continue to leverage these useful idiots like Katrina to ____ us.
Alan MacDonald
Sanford, Maine
Liberty over violent empire -- People's Party 2012
Thanks Alan, I always appreciate your comments. I am beginning to comprehend the emaciated amount of support that the dems have once you subtract all of the 'professional left' that are financially dependent on their support, the staff, the pol appointees, the contractors, etc.
Katrina knows who butters her bread. That's ok as long as we know too. Best Alan, ip
"Many Democrats—even peace activists—are reluctant to speak out against the war because they fear weakening Obama in 2012. But who’s to say Obama doesn’t want to be moved in this direction?"
Where does Lady Katrina come up with this delusional crap, and why does CD keep printing it?
"..even peace activists—are reluctant to speak out against the war because they fear weakening Obama in 2012."
And why would peace activists want to support Obama in 2012?
You're right: the woman is delusional and full of crap. She'll be part of the Obama 29%-ers in the months to come, and CD demeans itself when they publish pro-Obamaites like her.
Exactly right. I'm wondering the same thing myself.
"But who’s to say Obama doesn’t want to be moved in this direction?"
______________________________
Answer: 50 Comments so far! (51, once this one is "saved".)
And while I expect that the commenters expressing appropriate rhetorical outrage at Ms. vanden Heuvel know this, her own rhetorical question is a vestige of a moderate liberal-lite pseudo-pragmatic analysis that was once vigorously represented in CD comments. And will certainly resurge to some degree as the 2012 campaign season proceeds apace.
Her question is rooted in the presumption, or speculation, that Obama, while a shrewd, tough pragmatist, is-- or wants to be-- a benevolent progressive leader at heart. The analysis posits that regardless of his true beliefs and wishes, he is politically impotent-- trapped and constrained by circumstances.
Thus, (the analysis continues) Obama can only push the agenda in directions favored by left-leaning progressives if he is "pushed", and "given political space" to do so. Obama will acquire political power and "capital" to Do the Right Things only if his progressive constituency supports him, and concomitantly relentlessly attacks his opponents.
This is one of those approaches that sounds sensible in the abstract. But it's loaded with specious assumptions, and in any case founders in the circular trap of the enabling abuse victim: if Obama ISN'T Doing the Right Things, it's got to be our fault for failing him.
It's not worth drilling into the archives to identify them, but over the months-- especially during the Obamacare debacle-- there were more than a few articles from "Huffington Post"-type "inside politics" mavens and simpatico commenters scolding progressives for not giving Obama a pragmatic basis to gratify the disgruntled progressive constituency.
So much for the delusional crap. Why it's reverently honored here is still an open question.
KvH,
Wake up! We are living in some default Hobbesian social contract, not a Rouseauian social contract as implied by Democracy. Visit a prison to see a daily model of this.
Trylon
Trylon, we are living in a disguised global corporate/financial/militarist EMPIRE --- which is using some very very sophisticated mind-bending propaganda to pose as a bipartisan democracy.
This first truly effective global Empire would put the attempted global empire of the Third Reich's crude single-party "Vichy" facade in France to shame.
Alan MacDonald
Sanford, Maine
Democracy over violent empire -- People's Party 2012
The most prominent feature of which is that 21st century Capitalism and Military Priapism cannot be controlled by 21st century Democracy, or democratic ways and means and process. They have been MOOTED.
The number of brilliant persons who contribute articles to Common Dreams, but fail to comprehend this reality is staggering and frightening. We might as well form crack platoons of Chimney Sweeps to save us from Roving Gangs of Piano Tuners.
And a person too befuddled to see this is editor of The Nation and yelling at ME to Wake Up. It boggles the neocortex.
Trylon
from a Libyan writer:
"I call on all the peoples to support us, the Egyptians, Tunisians, French, even Chinese, all the peoples of the world, we welcome their support and sympathy. ---- In a few hours, the UN Security Council will decide to start air strikes against Libya. France has said that it is ready to start the bombardment from tonight. --- We condemn this international resolution, if it is realized. And we totally reject any foreign intervention in Libya, whatever shape it may take, especially a French one. France, that sold Qaddafi weapons worth billions, weapons that he is using today to blow up Libyans, the same France that didn't stop such deals until 3 weeks back. --- We condemn this intervention that will transform Libya into a real hell, even more than now. That intervention will also steal the revolution from the Libyans, a revolution that has cost them thousands of dead women and men so far.
An intervention that will also divide the Libyan resistance.
And even if these operations do succeed and Qaddafi falls (or dies) like Saddam Hussein, it will mean that we were liberated by Americans and French, and I can assure you that they will keep reminding us of that every minute.
How we can stand this later? How we can explain all these casualities to the coming generations, all those dead bodies that will be everywhere ?
To be liberated from Qaddafi just to become slaves to those who armed him and empowered him during all those years of authoritarian violence and repression.
After the first mistake - the militarization of the popular revolution - here we are committing our second mistake - the establishment of a new leadership of figures arising out of the remnants of the Libyan Jamahiriya regime. And our third mistake is coming inevitably, which will be to ask for help from our enemies. I only hope we will not reach the fourth one: that is, occupation and the arrival of the marines.
Sarkozy and France are our enemies; they are also enemies of the whole Third World. They don't hide their contempt of us. All that Sarkozy cares about is to be re-elected next year.
The man who organized the meeting between Sarkozy and the representatives of the interim national council is none other than Bernard-Henri Lévy, a quack philosopher, and for those who don't know him, a French Zionist activist who concentrates all his efforts on supporting Israel and defending its interests. We saw him lately in Tahrir Square just to make sure that the revolting youth there would not chant against Israel.
What can be said while waiting for the bombs?
Thanks for that.
USGS found trillions of dollars worth of gems in those mountains...god forbid Hill Cluntin doesn't get her emeralds.
Ms. vanden Heuvel's credibility in attempting to persuade Americans to protest against Obama's Vietnam is practically non-existent considering that she and her magazine The Nation urged liberals to cast their votes for a candidate named Barack Obama back in 2008. What makes Ms. vanden Heuvel's desire to now speak out against Obama even more hypocritical is that she should have been aware that Obama had stated during his presidential run that he had every intention of escalating the conflict in Afghanistan. The time for her to take action was in 2008 when she could have thrown her support and that of The Nation behind a genuine anti-war candidate such as a Ralph Nader or a Cynthia McKinney.
You are correct, but she is more of a weather vain of her class: the ruling elite wealth class.
It seems that her class is now turning against the expense and lack of success of Obama's wars.
She and her class have not turned against empire or military action to secure their wealth and power.
She is a shill.
You can't change a tigers stripes.
Visiting Professor, an apt analogy --- and I love George Lakoff's conceptual breakthroughs on 'analogy-thinking'.
Katrina, why don't you take your own advice from the title and "Wake Up! End the Silence on Empire".
'The Nation' talks around almost every 'symptom issue' in the world ---- but never get's serious about the ____ing EMPIRE that is the causal cancer of all the multitude of 'symptom issues'.
How about focusing on the hidden global Empire behind our fading Nation in 'The Nation' and use a little ink wisely?
Alan MacDonald
Sanford, Maine
Liberty over violent empire -- People's Party 2012
PS. Visiting Professor, just to continue your analogy; that "psychic (quack) surgeon's promise" about curing cancer, everyone knows that the real cure is to 'excise' it ---- particularly if the cancer is EMPIRE.
Now here's the old loveitorleaveit TROLL that I was starting to think had been converted by rational sensible 'democracy-thinking', but who is still the same old spokesman for 'Empire-thinking' --- inspiring the misleadable among us to "just get together, hold hands, and in a moderate and 'civil' manner 'work within the system' that the global Empire has allowed us the privilege of using so as to distract any serious change from their nice, polite, comfortable, hidden EMPIRE".
Thanks, but no thanks, my half-sly little troll!
Alan MacDonald
Sanford, Maine
Democracy over violent empire -- People's Party 2012
PS. it's quite clear that the intelligence community's training for their new domestic troll program on left-wing progressive web sites is not up to snuff yet, likeitorleaveit, eh?
I want the USA to be a peaceful nation as much as anybody.
But, these wars are resource wars. Stating the obvious: the economy and people of the USA are wholly and completely dependent upon oil. Without oil the way of life we have enjoyed for over sixty years will vanish.
If we want out of the resource wars, we need to develop different forms of energy for our use. Solar, wind, hydro comes to mind.
Or we can fight the resource wars more efficiently. Dominate with less murder.
rat4, have you "enjoyed the last sixty years"??
Will your children (or grandchildren, if you're my age) "enjoy the next sixty years"?? ---- in this ____ing EMPIRE, eh?
When is enough "enjoyment" enough?
When is it time to get off the train to extinction at the hands of global Empire?
Remember Hannah Arendt's advice and warning from her painful experience with the Nazi Empire, and her careful academic study of all Empires:
"Empire abroad entails tyranny at home."
Best,
Alan MacDonald
Sanford, Maine
Liberty over violent empire -- People's Party 2012
or . . . we could actually BUY those resources we desire!
That never occurs to anyone, which is quite odd. Often the same people who fall all over themselves defending the "free market" and "free trade" and other such idiocy are the ones who assume that we have to fight wars to get oil.
I read a study once comparing trade between Germany and the Soviet Union before the German occupation of the Ukraine and after. It cost the Germans less to buy the grain before the war than it cost to invade and steal it, and war always does horrific damage to the infrastructure.
So why war rather than trade? Because the ruling class profits from war, and we are all shocked and awed into submission and compliance.
Let's say that the "we are addicted to oil" line as an explanation for the wars in the Mid East are true, and so we implement the implied solution - getting off of oil - and the whole world starts converting to solar energy. The IMF and the World Bank will be all over that one, loaning countries money to go solar in exchange for the regimes being friendly to US corporations, and Haliburton will be reaping all of the profits. Here, the public would be gouged - first by paying for the infrastructure that will then benefit private interests, and then by being beholden to privatized utility companies. Going solar will give the corporations all sorts of excuses for raising rates and degrading service.
The wars are not for oil - the oil could be purchased and it would cost much less than fighting wars to get it - the wars are for power and control, and in that the Libya exercise is not different than the actions in Iraq and Afghanistan - power and control for the corporations, and power and control over the working class people here and in other countries. The working class people must be kept powerless and confused.
It is absolutely disgusting to read what people are writing here - presumably working class people - as they stick a knife into the heart of the world wide popular uprisings and cynically buy into the absurd and illogical justifications from the rulers. They may as well put a noose around their own neck - worse, they are betraying all of us and condemning millions of people to increased suffering. This will not end well.
I think I'll go back to sleep.
Wake up! Don't listen to Katrina and her ilk. She is part and parcel of the fake opposition. It is real simple folks: the people like her that are given corporate media access are part of the problem; otherwise, they would not be given access by the media, corportocracy.
Why does CD continue to post this fraud? KvH has been politically behind the curve since before there was one. Outrageously delusional, but that's The Nation for you...and they still refuse to come clean on their yearly cruises on virtual slave ships.
KVH is the media whore par excellence. Her corrupt publication supported the creep for president knowing fully well that he was planning to escalate the carnage in Afghanistan, now she's bitching about it? Who are you trying to fool, KHV?
Notice that the word "Lybia" is not even in this poorly written article, why?
Obama should be impeached NOW for starting a war without a declaration from congress, forget Afghanistan. But impeached first for being a HOUSE NEGRO, an Uncle Tom installed in the White House solely for the purpose of pleasing and pleasuring his white masters in the health care, oil and weapons industries.
For the idiots who think HOUSE NEGRO is a racist term, it is not. It was popularized by Malcolm X, who was black. It can be applied for persons of all races and it has to do with the person's corrupt CHARACTER, not with that person's race.
bigots are funny.
yes, you crack me up.
When I read this piece from KVH, I envisioned Hitler pulling his hair out while screaming 'oh the humanity!' at the top of his lungs, while looking over the mass graves in Auschwitz.
I wish some shrink would shed some theory on what's going on in the heads of some of these people. Seriously, is there a problem? I'd love to be a fly on the wall, listening to how people like Katrina come up with this shit. (Julian, Moore, are either of you listening? What's left now but an expose' of the media?)
NPR back in the 90's, 'All Things Considered' (I think) did a show which the subject was "Can a Nation Be Sick". I think they were on to something.
Katrina needs to get back into her limousine, along with the rest of the fake liberals at The Nation and MSNBC, and go back to her McMansion in Whitebread AmeriKKKa.
You f-in Wake Up Katrina! Call for a nationwide rebellion and peaceful civil disobedience or STFU!
All you have done is apologize for the status-quo. A typical bourgeois liberal co-opted shill for the Oligarchy. You are part of the "guardian class" Your ivory tower arrogance just pisses people off.
Pull your money out of the banks and crash the corrupt financial system. That will also get their attention. At this point we have nothing to lose as the banks are only giving us less than .5% interest on savings and real inflation is approaching double digits.
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/business-inside-former-seiu-official-reveals-secret-plan-to-destroy-jp-morgan-crash-the-stock-market/
So true. Your point exactly is what bothers me most about Common Dreams. There is a fundamental naivety in many of the articles and comments posted here. People seem to be only looking at the short term issues... "Oh it's Obama's fault"... has replaced "It's all Bush's fault"... same damn thing.
People need to realize that there's a war going on... and we're losing. It's the CLASS war. Voting isn't going to change anything. The system is completely gamed against you. The only thing that will make any difference at all is massive and widespread civil disobedience and shut the country down. That's when the mask will be pulled off the government and the true murderous beast will be revealed. The elite and their paid thugs will start shooting people... many will lose their lives. But look back in history at what it took to secure even the small scraps we are fed from the elite's table... Much blood, sweat and tears!
We can all sit behind our computers and post remarks on sites like CD and congratulate ourselves for being smarter than the rest, or we can get off our complacent asses and DO SOMETHING about it before it's too late.
I've been coming to CD for 10 years now and the more things change, the more they stay the same. Same old tired articles pontificating self-righteously about the injustice... One washed up Ivory tower liberal after another... same old shit. Yet, NOTHING has changed. If anything, it's much much worse! Democrat or Republican does not matter. It's the fundamental sickness that's infecting all the western democracies... The rot that is consuming the US is consuming other countries as well, just on a smaller scale.
The ONLY ones that can change this are the American people. Get off your lazy asses and fix it! The world is depending on you.
2/3 of us want out but the oiligarchy wants us in.
And that, my friend, is the bottom line.