Wednesday, April 21, 2004

My What Would Chomsky Do? Penpals

By Stephen Gowans

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Posted 04/21 | Add a Comment

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  1. I agree, we should not vote for Bush. As far as Kerry, I am even more disapointed than was before now that I read he thinks his comments about Vietnam were “over the top”.
    I live in NY and I can be realistic, my voting for Nader or Kucinich will not hurt Kerry.
    What we could do is hold Kerry’s feet to the fire. We need to threaten him with losing the election in order to push for polcies we want. Make Kerry aware that he will lose more votes than he thinks he will gain from play the games he is playing.
    My book is almost done. check it out: http://www.NewPrioritiesCouncil.org

    Posted by Tom Murphy from  on  04/21  at  10:48 PM

  2. Stephen, I’m curious.  Are you insinuating that our best choice is to not vote at all, or to vote for one of the alternates?

    http://www.dirtygreek.org/journal.php?journalId=506

    Posted by george from  on  04/21  at  11:16 PM

  3. This is exquisite work.  Although George wasn’t asking ME, allow me to say that the “best choice” is to NOT vote for Kerry or Bush whereever you live; that’s said partly because there’s no time...no situation at present...that allows for a No Voting movement to gain momentum.  Best, Ox

    Posted by Richard Oxman from  on  04/22  at  10:55 AM

  4. How dare you make me laugh out loud repeatedly at a subject so serious?

    But your analogy of Chomsky as Messiah, his followers as true believers, is, as Richard says, exquisite.

    Folks, I’m right on board wit’ cha: I’d like to offer “Anybody but Bush or Kerry,” i.e., ABBoK. At least you can pronounce it.

    I’ve been thinking of printing the single word “NADER” on a T-shirt, just the name, and wearing it around, and seeing what I get.

    Posted by Gary Lapreziosa from  on  04/22  at  12:11 PM

  5. If they hit you with any apple pie, save some for me, Gary.  All readers might consider --along w posting comments here-- letting Gowans know directly that you like his stuff. Stephen doesn’t get nearly enough recognition, as far as I’m concerned.  Hugs to Mark for posting this.  And keep us posted, Gary, if you will, on how the Nader Parade goes.  Best, Ox
    p.s. recommend that everyone go to http://www.satyamag.com/apr04/churchill.html to see what alternatives we have.  thanks.

    Posted by Richard Oxman from  on  04/22  at  01:42 PM

  6. So basically you’re sayingstay out of the system? You hate Bush, but you hate the system more, so you might as well let Bush get back in? Most choices in life are the lesser of two evils - who do you really think is more evil, Bush or Kerry? Whoever that is, thatis who you should vote for, and who you should encourage others to vote for. Staying at home like another rotting coach potato and writing screeds for publication which lash out at whoever those who dragged themselves of their sofa, well that shouldn’t be an option. Ya wanna know who’s worse than Nush, Kerry and the Chomsky-lovers? The idiots who stay at home and complain about the result afterwards.

    Posted by Sam Roberts from  on  04/22  at  02:41 PM

  7. I think you’re missing the point...and the boat, Sam.  Whereas most people do fit into your easy label of complaining on the couch (as they put down the most popular “choices"), some --like myself-- are a bit more complicated than that.  To wit, the American system needs to be dismantled as per Ward Churchill’s delineation on http://www.satayamag.com/apr04/churchill.html.  No one you love will be around very long on this planet enjoying any kind of quality of life if Bush or Kerry is allowed to continue our present momentum through 2008.  THAT is the problem, not my not being involved.  And not the lack of involvement of many other critics of The System.  While one places one’s vote it’s imperative that each and every one of us review how changes have been made in this country in the past.  We have no less of a call to overthrow The Powers today than we did in the 18th century...by means other than the voting booth.  Whereas The Gun is not necessarily a route that has to be taken to do so...people need to get off of the Electoral Couch if it’s making them oblivious to their other responsibilities as citizens...which will have to be met to make significant change. Taking action NOW that is radical will make it more likely that violence can be averted from any quarter.  Building up false hopes via the electoral process will guarantee that people do not meet those responsibilities.  For starters, it would be welcome to hear (voting) readers addressing what they’re doing to get apathetic Americans to vote AND do other things.  By the way, what else are YOU doing?  Best of luck, Richard

    Posted by Richard Oxman from  on  04/22  at  08:53 PM

  8. Great article.  Very witty.  Hope we see more of this writer here.

    Posted by Tracy McLellan from  on  04/22  at  10:36 PM

  9. Two points:
    1.Kerry may be just as bad as Bush on foreign policy, but if Bush gets to nominate the next supreme court justices, we are all dead meat.
    2.If you don’t like Leonard Cohen, you’re really a fucking moron.

    Posted by ron from  on  04/24  at  10:48 AM

  10. It’s not a problem for you to disagree w someone on Cohen, Ron.  But if you are under the impression that the “right” Justices selected will save us from Kerry’s military and other policies...that’s a problem...every bit as big as Bush.  Best, Ox

    Posted by Richard Oxman from  on  04/26  at  08:49 PM
    11. Commenting is not available in this weblog entry. {/if}

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