Wednesday, February 01, 2006

What an Idiot! Bush Jumpstarts the Alternative Energy Movement...

By Daniel Patrick Welch

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  1. A wonderful and thankfully condensed appraisal of an exercise in self-delusion… and, since only the “faithful” were listening in (yes, that includes the Democratic Party, too), it was a self-delusional exercise in the extreme.

    I have argued with many on the left, been ignored by the center, and sometimes appreciated (rarely, tho’) by true conservatives on the right, but I’ll say it again- demonstrations, marches, street theater, all these play a role in the garnering of attention, but they bypass the fundamental, hard job of BUILDING A NEW POLITICAL PARTY that can really break these clowns, break them and run them out of the country without their money or control of power and the media. That being said, I realize painfully that it may be too late to attempt such an effort- mainly because I fear the government and its private armies of subverters, spies, informants, and media liars have garnered too much power to be corralled as easily as most middle-class Americans would like. The union movement is dead from the neck up, the middle-class and office proles are too afraid, insecure, and confused to be able to see the difference between a carnival barker and a orchestra conductor, have been pumped full of anti-logical fear and loathing, and can’t bring knowledge of true social & economic relations in this country to the table. They may be mad as hell, but are they going to take it any more? Anger of that sort dissipates rapidly, and requires focused leadership AND a political agenda to keep it on track to a goal. The past efforts have all been led by rich ego-trippers who have betrayed their own movements before they were out of diapers. Where to turn? I truly want to know before I just leave the country and hide somewhere, hoping the nuclear strikes don’t find me…

    Posted by Mike Protenic from Philadelphia PA  on  02/01  at  11:04 AM

  2. Thanks, Daniel, for expressing my own thoughts and feelings so accurately!  It was positively revolting, all that mindless, reflex clapping. It was like watching something out of “The Prisoner” series, from the 60’s.  A bunch of mind-controlled psych patients dressed up in a collection of uniforms, robes and civvies, dutifully performing their assigned roles in a theatre of the absurd play!

    And Mike, I’m with you—where to turn? I just thank the gods that I’m getting my nursing license soon—then I can go anywhere on the Planet and survive! <g> Although I doubt anywhere is beyond the tentacles of the criminal conspirators, the global Controllers, who ‘manage’ this government. <sigh>

    Posted by Anni von Maltzan from Prout's Neck, ME  on  02/01  at  02:05 PM

  3. For the two people who commented on the article, I submit that their expressed (troubled) reflection that there’s nowhere to escape to (with or without a professional license) is worth addressing (in detail) before hopping on the outward bound plane. To that end, I recommend in all humility that those readers take a gander at what’s been posted at http://www.oxtogrind.org ...a site which focuses heavily on “what to do.” And please note that all of the “opposition party” --ALL-- stood when George made his entrance...whether or not it was with the enthusiasm of Pelosi. I submit that we cannot stand for that standing, and...I hope that readers will take their dissatisfaction beyond complaining about what’s been obvious for so long...holding back just a bit longer before “departing.” Regarding the invocation of Orwell, please consider that Thomas Pynchon --in his Intro to 1984-- underscored how the “better George” believed that ordinary people --as the article spotlights-- have the ability to improve matters. But not with airplane tickets in hand. This injunction, btw, comes from someone who has the op to live overseas...removed somewhat from the immediate whatever. In closing, I humbly and seriously as whether the author’s school really teaches the kids what it means that all the Dems stood up...showing some approval of the mass murderer? Following tradition...on automatic. A starting place for DOING...might be to truly give up on politicians who stand up in such situations. Which,apparently, means all. Fresh ideas might then emerge.

    Posted by Richard Oxman from Los Gatos, CA  on  02/01  at  06:38 PM

  4. There seems to be no dearth of sentiment- from the Right as well as Left- for trashing the current political setup. We see slews of people and organizations throwing huge gobs of energy into planning, contacting, structuring, and policing(!?) huge events guaranteed to bring masses of people out into the streets to chant, sing, wave signs, and expend more energy, as if the entire corrupt, criminal, murderous lot of evil-doers will be lifted Lorax-like and dumped on Pluto - an exercise in levitation worthy of the finest fortune-tellers on Gypsy Lane. What a pity that it is ALL for the good feelings, egos, and consciences of the organizers, so that they have the “capital” to call another large event in the future, should we all survive until that future. None of it has the lasting value of a half-hour sitcom, nothing solid or political comes of it, everyone goes home feeling satiated, not energized. Most vote for their “good” representatives who pass toothless legislation and practice mildly guilty hand-wringing.

    As Richard Oxman at the OX to Grind website, said so eloquently,

    “A full-page ad taken out in the January 25th San Francisco Bay Guardian announces…yet another rally –two upcoming, in fact!– designed to bring down Bush...They’ve gotten the imprimaturs of everyone from Asner to Zinn, including Harry and Harold (Belafonte and Pinter), Kozol, Lapham, Penn, the Ss (Sarandon, Serra, Sharpton, Sheehan, Sheen and Studs), the White Vs (Vidal and Vonnegut), the Black Ws (Alice Walker, Maxine Waters and Cornell West), among many others. And they’ve even managed to put Jane Fonda on the same stage as Michael Eric Dyson. Do any of my readers have a clue as to what kind of energy and resources it takes to organize such events? Too much, I can tell you, unless the payoff is slated to be huge. Or the seeds sown unprecedented. Neither of which applies to the above.”

    Meanwhile, back at the ranch (or the Capitol, since both have much manure laying about), Democrats take this opportunity to betray the “common man” yet again, for the countless thousandth time. The Kerry-led filibuster movement went as far as his Presidential bid, (yes, he won the election, but his courage died with his marriage). Yes, with leadership like this, the opposition to Bush seems ready to call for… a dictatorship, preferably one where the oh-so-compassionate Dems can repeat Bush, bit with a kinder, gentler face.

    Frankly, I’m sick of it. We need, in short order, a movement for a new political party that excludes the above-listed pathetic wimps who have not called for a clear break with the Democratic Party, because intransigent right-wing bullying must be met with a REAL opposition, one that has marches and sing-alongs AFTER building an organization that has some clout behind it.

    I, for one, would love to hear such a call, but right now the echo of my voice is returning…

    Posted by Mike Protenic from Philadelphia PA  on  02/01  at  09:09 PM

  5. I think it might be an instructive exercise for all who agree with Mike...to just “pretend” that the electoral process (which he invokes again in his next-to-last paragraph above) is actually obsolete...and then...discuss w at least one other friend what options exist. One approach would be to spend at least a week in that realm...with that notion as the point of departure for brainstorming...to see what, if anything, emerges. Creativity such as is called for by my suggestions here cannot arise in circumstances much different than what I’m delineating. One of the troubles with those who would like to come up with innovative paradigms is that they’re not willing to put in such time, not having any real faith in the idea that they have the “solutions” within themselves. There’s no way around having such a confrontation w oneself. Not if one is going to contribute creatively to coming up with alternatives. This means that one will not have time --at least for a week-- to participate in the circuses and/or discussion about the circuses which Mike describes.

    Posted by Richard Oxman from Los Gatos, CA  on  02/01  at  09:48 PM

  6. Hi,Richard - thanks for your very thoughtful response.  Being a Euro-American, I suppose I’m that more likely to ‘cut and run’.  I’m terribly fond of this country, but it’s mindblowing, to see what’s transpiring.  I don’t know if I’ve got the energy to stay and fight. How do you create a new party? Where are the charismatics that could come forward to lead it?  How could they overcome the enormous machinery that these political criminals have created—and their international connnections?

    I dunno how exactly I landed on this discussion site—but I’m glad I did!  I’m learning...!

    Posted by Anni von Maltzan from Prout's Neck ME  on  02/01  at  11:12 PM

  7. I am very excited to connect with someone who seems to genuinely be interested in going into solution, interested in meaningful (not made-to-order, old) action, and straight-forward to boot. You clearly --as Tom Robbins might say-- give a hoot. Well, the wise old owls tell me that a)there is a way to “stay and fight” and still relocate, b) one does not necessarily need a “party” with which to affiliate (in fact, such might be a huge liability), c) charisma is much less important re those with whom you associate than sincerity and a sense of adventure, and d) an introduction to how to overcome what the criminals have created (and the gen’l public keeps in place for one reason or another) might be had at http://www.oxtogrind.org and/or writing to me directly at or . Readers give lip service for the need for low-profiling initial discussions designed to make an impact, BUT...if one is onto something significant...that is a requisite move/attitudinal stance. One-on-one for starters...out of the public glare...when things get down to the bone in conversation. Eventually...only in some version of an open field. Best in solidarity, Ricardo.  P.S. Do you know the German/Austrian film THE EDUKATORS?

    Posted by Richard Oxman from Los Gatos, CA  on  02/01  at  11:33 PM

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