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How To Start A Populist Movement In Under Three Minutes
How To Start A Populist Movement In Under Three Minutes
In business, the extremely successful business is one whose product or service appeals to a widely perceived need (whether real or manufactured) and can be quickly and efficiently scaled up if and when demand explodes. There is nothing worse in business than to create or identify a need and then not be able to satisfy demand.
The same can be said about ideas or concepts. Every now and then I stumble across one that is instantly recognizable as correct in every way imaginable. Its simplicity is often deceiving because the deeper you dig, the more applications it can be applied to. It screams truth and is self evident and the more you think about it, the more you see. And it is scalable to infinity.
In my view, the entire purpose of the ZH blog is to expose the lies of the Ponzi and to speak truth to power. There are endless comments (including mine) bemoaning the fact that so many people are either ignorant or in denial of the truth. I suspect the vast majority of us would like to see a movement of some sort to throw the bums out and bring sanity back into vogue. But how do you do this?
This extremely short Ted Talk video by Derek Sivers is remarkable in its power, delivered in pictures and words. Watch it twice, then watch it again. During the first viewing, watch the video in the background as Derek speaks. Feel the power of what you are seeing. During the second viewing, focus solely on what Derek is saying. Think about how to apply this in dozens of ways. Then watch it the third time for the shear joy of the experience.
If I were to condense this idea down to the 30 second elevator pitch, it would be as follows. During the critical first moments of a budding populist movement, it's not the leader who's most crucial but the first follower, who validates the leader, and the second follower, who validates the first. Herd mentality can work both ways.
http://www.ted.com/talks/derek_sivers_how_to_start_a_movement.html
Same video, different location.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V74AxCqOTvg
And another derivative.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPShQ_hVJqY&feature=related
Be public. Be easy to follow.
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Excellent point.
This reminds me of the book 'Predictably Irrational'. One of the studies discussed was on peer pressure (you can read it here: http://kidsworldlc.com/pdfs/A%20Case%20Study%20on%20Peer%20Pressure.pdf). Essentially a group of 10 people are asked which 3 lines on a page is longest. What person number 10 doesn't know is that the other 9 are actors and are deliberately giving the wrong answer. When it is subject's time to answer, he often conforms and picks the wrong answer.
What is further elaborated in the book, and is addressed in this video, is that if 1 other actor gives the correct answer, it provides sufficient confidence (leadership) for the subject to break free from the peer pressure of the herd and pick the correct answer as well.
"a group of 10 people are asked which 3 lines on a page is longest. What person number 10 doesn't know is that the other 9 are actors..."
A person with any logic or mathematical education or training can safely assume that:
If 9 of the people in their group are Amerikans... then the probability is 8 of them know nothing about math, logic or the length of lines.
Pull out a business card, dollar bill and physically measure the line, since any one who has ever studied math has seen how optical illusions effect perception of measure.
Then sit back and listen to the 9 arguments for fallacies and eliminate them one by one...
Yes, but in Amerika, no child gets left behind and all children must feel like geniuses. Reality is politically incorrect here. Haven't you heard? They can grow up to be anything. 9 Gold medals, pronto. Now, lets curve the grades. 9 got it wrong? ok, so 1 A and 9 B's. Amazing! A sign of good teachin' -- bonuses and raises for the teachers, and all get tenure. Now, be a good boy and girl and recite the pledge of allegiance.
Bingo!
When I stumbled over the Ted Talks video, I instantly thought about the experiment you discuss (which I've been aware of for a time) and how peer pressure can override a person's morals and integrity OR it can be used to fortify a person morals and integrity.
That was what I meant when I said that herd mentality works both ways.
CD- How would you get the sheeple to believe and understand the complex issues at hand? That is heart of the problem and the ponzi revels in that fact. Most of us recognize and poke fun at the sheeple..I know I do. But I rarely (if ever) see any of us discuss how to educate enough of them to cultivate a serious movement before its too late...shit it might be too late already.... and 120,000 people signing the tea party health care bill petition isnt going to cut it. ..so.....we educate, in their eyes the nut becomes less nuts, and the following begins...i am open for thoughts from you and anyone else.
"A nation of sheep will be governed by wolves."
Edward R. Murrow
We are, and we are.
Rocky, how's Bullwinkle? :>)
I think about that quote often and I hope you don't think I'm attacking you. It's Murrow I have a problem with, not you.
Considering Murrow was a principal shepard herding the sheep for the wolves, he should know something about both. Yes I know there's this wonderful myth about Edward R. Murrow. And some of it might actually be the truth. But the mainstream media didn't just become compliant over the past decade or so, it has always has been compliant. The only question is how much, reducing the question down to one of degree.
I believe you are referring to that little Flying Squirrel fella. I rather take after the Beatle's famous tune.
You are correct about Murrow. Fortunately the quote is nonetheless cogent and pertinent.
Perhaps this will serve us better:
Those of us who post on ZH can take any stance we like, but the wolves will take no heed of our protestations and our proclamations. I'm not saying we are pissing up-wind, just that we are more consoling each other and firming up views rather than taking the lead in social/economic change. That can be therapeutic in its own right. I forward comments from ZH to those whom I feel might have an interest, but most just don't read them, or they say that the content is "above my pay grade". The rest ask me for investment advice -- like they have any extra money!
My usual response: Gold, guns, and gardens... not necessarily in that order.
Rally on, CD!
Truth can be both beautiful and ugly at the same time. I am reminded of something my grandfather was fond of saying.
"No one asks the steer if he's OK with being eaten because we know what the answer will be."
aurum, thank you. i am in agreement. a succinct well written one page explanation of our dilemma. Copied and printed and posted by us volunteers on cars and houses. Needs be well writ and possibly include links and answers. Needs be underestandable by all of us. Needs to relate to our own selfish interest for folks to be motivated to keep reading.
Martin Luther went against the church, church was more powerful then. They were selling tickets to heaven and martin exposed them by posting the truth on the church doors. German history.
Surely we can do as much and more.
+10
Marting Luther King, "All Men Are Created Equal", five words he believed and was passionate about, he championed it unrelentingly, and since it is what most people believe, at the right time it was adopted en mass and actions were taken too achieve that.
Mother Theresa, "All people need help. Help people." , six words, she lived it her whole live and attracted many followers.
Ghandi, "Peace and Change thru non-violence.", five words, he over thru fifty years of british rule, no matter what the brits did Ghandi's answer was 100% exactly the same everytime, eventually the Brits had monetary loses and no followers because it was not in there interest and Ghandi triumphed
Obie, "Change we can believe in", hmmmm, five words, when transposed against the last 8 years this was one of the greatest call too arms in history, people were anxious to act, and yet, he rewards the banks instead, he loses massive amounts of followers.........................as a politician he balances long term with short term, imho, he may have wanted to do more, yet, as the first black president he played standard 101 defense, do xyz because it is the standard response we have used before and if things don't work out, you have a logical reason for why you chose the path.
The problem, or better the solution has be driven consistently and almost forever non-stop, one shots are for battles, what wins a war is passion.
How do i delete one of my posts?
merehuman...thanks for your input..i agree with that.. succinct is key...balancing succinctness and the complexity and sheer amount of details within the issue will be tough. but it has to be done,. .....it seems (in my mind anyway) that the Pete Peterson Foundation and David Walker could be or maybe should be doing more with their clout...i havent heard much out of them lately......i will be back later...
How about a one page contest? We have some sharp people in this room?
Might be fun. The best one gets sent all across the country! Now that should be incentive to anyone with half an ego!
This was writ some time ago, so its outdated. My example.
Prisoner of a dilemma
My concience bids me to speak of what i know. We the American peopleare in danger and unaware. Television and otjer mass media are NOT reporting the truth.
There are no jobs coming.Recovery is a long way off and frankly we will never be the same. But worse is what the numbers indicate.
We are now as a country having to borrow just to pay the interest on what we owe.
The federal reserve bank is a private contractor. They(10 men) control the rate and flow of money and print it as well.
Goldman sachs profits 98 days out of a hundred and their people are in key positions in Central banks, the fed, the treasury and more. Our regulators look the other way. There is NO LAW on Wallstreet that is not owned as are the politicians.
Who is really in control of this country? It aint you and me!
The fed has no oversight, they wont show us the books, but they are piling trillions of debt on US. And killing the country while robbing it! Have you noticed?!
USD@7508 and dropping, gold @ 1,105.00suddenly are indicators of inflation, weakening our currency and wallstreet is making money off it. Saving doesnt pay cause inflation lowers the dollars value.. Other countries are aware of this also. They are unloading the dollar as fast as they can without causing a stampede. China is telling its people to buy silver and gold because they know a crisis in paper money is happening now.
Silver and gold will always have value. More importantly food deliveries may be curtailed if oil goes up further(thats expected)or truckers, merchandizers go bankrupt or lose faith in the remaining value of the dollar. Buy food NOW. Prepare..
ive thought about things the last few days....it occurred to me that in most if not all revolutions throughout history, there was always a divide among the people until the revolutionaries pulled through. so in my opinion we educate when we can to those that will listen but in the meantime we stick with those that agree and move forward with our ideas....we cannot waste extensive time and effort on those unwilling or simply unable to understand the atrocities at hand...prepare your families, try to prepare others, and prepare to die for your cause.
dont know how or why the USD@75.08 turned blue. like to know how to do that , then i could add links. Help wanted and appreciated.
Ps my example is poorly done and has approximate #. It could be a lot better. Does anybody out there plan to do more than lip service?
I do,
It turned blue because the blog word processor sees it as an email address. For web links, simply copy and past them into your comment, always making sure to hit "enter" after the "paste" action to tell the blog to underline the link.
You can't post pictures, charts etc. unless you are a contributor.
thank you CD. I am learning.
personally i think the graffito supposedly posted on the cathedral at notre dame during the french revolution is more certainly "true" than martin luther's theses: "important if true".
Immediately reminds me of the bureaucrat who proposed a simple pamphlet to distribute to explain in simple terms how the new Obamacare plan was going to work and why to support it. Laughed my head off when I heard that.
There must be more adult ways to convince people that something must be done. The situation is getting out of control in DC and NY. I have been emailing a number of friends particular web links to educate them over the last two years. Barely a dent, although now two of those friends are starting to see the enormity of the problems. Just getting sheeple to wake up to the SCOPE is one of the hardest things I have encountered. I like CD's take on it a few days ago - must create a safe place to discuss and be gentle and persistent. And I am sure that the opposition will do the same.
Cookie - I have been doing the same thing - trying to educate my friends and some people in my real estate office (its not my office, just an agent for the hell of it) over the last few years and just like you barely a dent...a couple of them are starting to see and understand some of it but most are just nod their heads and continue walking toward the precipice...its almost as if they are afraid to believe the truth....thanks for your input...going golfing today and will be back later for some more discussion.
No, not me. I've given up trying to explain and educate others about the ponzi-esque, fractional reserve, fiat based "debt-is-prosperity" la-la land we inhabit. I'm tired of seeing others' eyes glaze over like doughnuts or being regarded as a tin-foil mad hatter. Gov't is stupid and I'll do what I can, quietly, to profit from that stupidity. Maybe when the herd has been stripped down to their undies will they react, but maybe not. I'm looking out for myself and family these days.
Yes CD, you have been busy and for that I am grateful.
Pardon the copy and paste but I just made this post elsewhere but it is what I would have echoed here....
The Banksters and the Jokers are going to try to smear the tea party movement. Gauging the success might have more weight than you think.
Scott Brown proved the unthinkable. If you told me just 6 months ago that that guy took Kennedy's seat I would have immediately started searching for the crack pipe or the Xanax.
The push back is already historical thanks to bandwidth, digital technology, citizen journalism and unbelievable out-of-control <corruption, ambition, gall, disdain, contempt, collusion, insider dealing, insider trading, conspiracy, conspiracy, conspiracy, conspiracy, conspiracy, fraud, fraud, fraud, fraud, fraud> and the fate of a nation is only months away. If you think this is melodrama then you are probably on the take.
Mister Market didn't buy Congress only to get Texas-Two Stepped by middle America. If they get even a sniff of that kind of power shift then Talking The Book might take on new meaning. More like throwing the book....
CD...thank you for your contributions and the link. "Herd mentality can work both ways." Thank God. And your voice could use a bullhorn. Repeat. This is not melodrama. It's life and death.
"Give me liberty or give me death" is not a slogan anymore!
ZH 1.0 is a movement. ZH 2.0 will be an organized movement with punch. Goal #1 & 2. bring down and remove tim geithner as Treasury Secretary. goal #3 make the audit of the federal reserve happen. goal #4 spearhead the 'anti-trust' movement that will break up the 5 big banks.
i am ready for the fight. lets do it!
Write your CONgressperson a postcard. Just say
AUDIT THE FED.
Don't be a pussy, sign your name.
I teach leadership, my impression, ehhhhhh, forgetable.
Why did it work, Hate Motivates, people saw, ie, visual having fun and they were not, and since it was the better option, came a few followers, than it looked like a hell of a lot of fun.
60% of communication is body language, the bigger the crowd the more impactful is the visual, the emotion of fun now verses sitting becomes enticing
Thank you for your feedback. I was trying to stimulate discussion and build morale, not say that this is the actual way to build a movement. Like I said in the text of the post....
"During the first viewing, watch the video in the background as Derek speaks. Feel the power of what you are seeing. During the second viewing, focus solely on what Derek is saying. Think about how to apply this in dozens of ways. Then watch it the third time for the shear joy of the experience."
You're welcome. You achieved you're main goal, discussion.
I did not watch it multiple times because personally I think it is a gimmicky example. I would guess some physch class did it as an experiment of crowd this or that. Set up camera, people notice something going on, dance crazy for 3 minutes, then add people till we got 7 or whatever number dancing and see what happens.
Second follower, hmmmm, it'a all about followers. Followers come because they believe it is in there self interest.
How do you teach leadership?
slowly, thoughtfully, and without bullshit
speaking from too much exposure on the 'receiving end', I'd agree there's plenty of bs out there. glad there are intelligent ZHers in positions like yours.
the lone nut¿
WE GOT A MOVEMENT, FOLKS!
this is utter hilarious stupid stuff
friday night stoner stuff, thanks, now pass that bong.
CD, you are quite the busy little author these days.
im thinking the cave ain't going to come alive tonight. because damn, the postings on the
March Non Farm Payrolls: +162K, Below Consensus, Unemployment Rate 9.7%, Ex-Census, Weather and Birth-Death NFP Change Is -67Kwhoa dudes you have probably overtaken the record 500 posts? busy little men's fingers keyboarding. i read them all. quite heavy, bonding going on, big TIME on ZH.
step away from the keyboard
late at night, i take complete advantage of FREE SPEECH on ZH. i like graffiti. i think it is kinda urban. zen fusion. the english language is really at the heart of everything. i have read CD phonics thing, i appreciate the enlightenment. so what do you think about the above?
i build i am an architect.
busy beavers, here.
plus i want to buy the nexus one. ad's are rampant.
http://www.woodycreekcellars.com/VeloBabe.html
Velobabe, (the other) C D's been one of the more steadfast posters here since close to the beginning, though he may have taken a breather around the time you joined...
Also, for some truly wild commentary, check out some of the early Open Threads, or the poll about the Debt Ceiling last year. Also, if you get a chance (here's to hoping Marla gets the time and inspiration to spin another round of Radio ZH), check out the chat forum during a Radio night.
As to this being silliness... perhaps a few hits of the bong/bottle/vibe of mass gatherings is always needed to lift the inhibitions that would otherwise block the beginnings of any movement... I'm sure you don't need to be reminded of the awful/awesome power of groupthink -- perhaps there are ways to harness that kind of power constructively.
I like the allegory of the video b/c (like C D) I see reflected the story of our humble home here on ZH -- a lone voice started to speak the truth, to be joined by more speakers -- then us readers validated the original speakers -- and while there is considerable distance to go to sharing this perspective with even a significant minority of the public, I feel the readership here represents an asset. Not a powderkeg, exactly -- the constituents here are far more stable than average, more like the sticks with sawdust and fuses than the volatile liquid. Yet potent nevertheless, with capacity to reach and affect people in the "real" world to a higher degree than your average internet user. With significantly higher than average resources/income/assets, more education and life experience (wisdom?). Doing the wacky, pointless dance in their heads, while willing their bodies to sit still and bemusedly observe the lone nuts (TD&gang and a few brave/foolish others) doing the real thing.
The other activities which seem to make sense are either passive (starve beast, exit fiat economy to the extent possible, amass real tangible/usable assets vs. notional/fictional ones) or are not workable (activism within the existing political system, voting, writing elected officials, etc.) -- mayhap we can be persuaded to stand up and dance if/when the system truly begins to fray. And maybe it will help, a little, that we already have heard the beat and know some/most of the moves...
As a slight non sequitur; an interesting exploration of the WHAT NEXT besides protesting against an unjust/broken system through historical parallel: how to maintain social fabric, order, fellowship of citizens during transformational times: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/30/AR2010033003252_pf.html
really i am experiencing the three stages of mourning in my life.
anger
depression
acceptance
that is what this damn country is doing, acceptance phase.
i just try and not take myself too seriously every day.
not to hard with the lifestyle i lead.
i so love ZH. what a platform they give us. i mean the black and white type, language, the hostar and mostar. i am so spaced out i only realized the anon's were banished last week. i like the color scheme better, now. double minding reading every one's identity via words. well that really is the problem, isn't it, our identity.
Zero Hedge what does Zero Hedge mean?
we don't do hedging here, nada.
I think I preferred the slightly tipsy, softcore porn-ish velobabe of earlier posts, than the currently depressed one.
On topic: How does one organise a movement like the one in the video if the leaders/first followers are quickly stamped out?
don't have any leaders
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUkiyBVytRQ
Similar to variations on a theme of music, there are many forms that action can take, all of which have various levels of organization (simple to complex) and sparked by ingenuity and opportunity. Yesterday while driving, I saw an OLD pickup truck ahead of me and the back window was scrawled in bright white paint something to the effect: "Hey Obama and Pelosi, you can take your Healthcare bill and ...........". He was too far ahead of me to discern the rest of the message but it was clearly not friendly. What if all of us did that, spontaneously??? Or something you come up with yourself and then report its effectiveness?? Just do it, as long as you are not endangering anyone.
I also like the idea of starting organized boycotts of NY banks and other such things like credit cards (cut off a source of capital and it forces one to become more self-reliant). The phrase "Starve the Beast" came to mind just because I use CookieMonster as an icon. But I did find a Starvethebeast.net that I am NOT affiliated with that has something to do with taxes. I am not advocating that unless you have deep pocketed lawyers to volunteer to defend you.
All stuff we can do to change OURSELVES first. The culture has to be built first, then the followers will gather.....
RE: STARVE THE BEAST
To change things, to change the system we live in, we have to focus on the beating heart of that system and take action not words. We live in a kleptocracy ruled by a terminally corrupt core of avaricious, 'rat brain' driven sociopaths. They will always want/need more of something and will do absolutely anything to get it.
(The defining literary character identifying this personality type is Milo Minderbinder from Joseph Heller's classic WWII novel "Catch 22")
http://www.shmoop.com/catch-22/milo-minderbinder.html
How do we the people deal with such a demented leadership? I would suggest a decidedly Rovian stategy: attack their strengths.
As a basic approach I like the idea of "Starve the Beast". It's simple evocative and easily understood. As for tactics around which to organize and recruit, simple sound-bite like constructs that could easily fit on a bumper sticker are preferable.
1) CUT UP YOUR CREDIT CARDS. Save your money!!! Credit is the lifeblood of the Ponzi; anything that endangers continuous credit creation is a mortal threat. If credit driven consumption could be effectively curtailed on a large enough scale, the speculative, boom-bust, get-rich-quick economy, and the power of the dark lords who profit thereby, would come to a screeching halt. A basic equation that could radically shift power very quickly, the message is simple and powerful. The needs of we the people constitutes 70% of the economy. Until we get what we want, we will save instead of spend. When we are satisfied that the changes we want are in place, we'll play the consumer economy game again.
2) KILL YOUR TV. Unplug the Matrix lifeline that guarantees cognitive dissonance as a way of life. The vast wasteland of the MSM and it's accompanying 'white noise' is a virtual reality sideshow that simultaneously motivates and imprisons. The invasive political power of the MSM is even more insidious. Politicians have one primary career goal: to confuse and confound. Once the voting public is sufficiently bewildered as to the real facts surrounding important questions, they can then be easily manipulated into making emotional decisions based on meaningless slogans and symbols. The MSM plays a key role in this infernal shadow play.
3) VOTE THE INCUMBENTS OUT. The Congress and the White House are wholly owned subsidiaries of the crime cartel. Both major political parties have been terminally compromised by corporate cash. The idea that there is some meaningful difference between Democrats and Republicans is part of the con. Alleged ideological and/or party differences are illusionary issues generated as part of ongoing 'daze and confuse' operations. The only thing that should really matter to voters is access and accountability.
In closing let me say that these ideas are offered only as examples of simple, action oriented programs that might produce results. Everyone knows that something is terribly wrong but very few people can put their worst fears into words. There is, I believe, an archetypal unconscious that we all share. To be successful, one must tap into this powerful subliminal reservoir.
If faced with a genuinely threatening, internet based uprising, the first order of business would be to eliminate all such electronic message boards. As part of some kind of 'national emergency', the internet could quickly be disabled. There is already a carefully crafted story in place that could serve as an effective cover for such actions in the form of news reports concerning 'Chinese hackers'. Any one old enough to have lived thru the Cold War knows that, in any geopolitical conflict, each side needs and uses the threat of the other as a means of keeping their own populations in line.
oh man you turn me on.
“powderkeg“
give it to me, baby†
i am creaming¿
http://www.woodycreekcellars.com/VeloBabe.html
I'm often full of irrational exuberance... ;-) [love the yellow shirt, BTW]
Overestimating the societal and economic impact of blogs is an occupational hazard for me. But all of the larger-scale societal transformations brought about from within (as opposed to imposed from the outside) that I'm familiar with started with a 'non-mainstream' group of dedicated, wily people ignoring their bodies' need for sleep, drinking both nectar of local distillation and stimulants -- having these kinds of debates. While that alone is not sufficient, it is certainly a necessary condition. So cheers; I hope to sample your vineyard's wine someday soon.
i too liked the piece from the wapo and the yellow shirt (more properly, what appeared to be inside the yellow shirt). the seeming parallel between the earlier time and now might be the committees of correspondence and such blogs as zh.
Interesting synchronicity...I was reading "The Wisdom of Crowds" yesterday...no reason, it just seemed intriguing, maybe I'll find a nugget of wisdom. What was startling was that after the Challenger disaster, the stocks of Lockheed, Martin Marrieta, Rockwell, and Morton Thiokol started to tank. But it was Morton Thiokol that bore the brunt of the selling. They investigated the trades to see if there were insiders trading, other shenanigans involved..but no, it was as if the crowd knew. Another surprising fact, was in the game show "Who wants to be a Millionaire", it was not the lifelines etc. to experts or the smartest people you knew who would be correct. The audience had a 91% chance of giving you the right answer. The universal subconscious, gut instinct, that something that resonates and tells you to pay heed...according to my lousy methodology of combing through many many view points, throwing it out there for reactions etc. We all have reached the same conclusion. We are screwed.
Where do we go from here? Is that the question CD? Yes, ZH has been a beacon for the awakened, but they are everywhere, and they are dancing...it is just a matter of time.
Great post. Great video. Thanks for sharing it.
Now lets all dance.
I have always aspired to be that first or second follower.
The applications to ZH are obvious. I look forward to the discussion begun by you and Bob along these lines.
However, I think this idea has already gone too far in one case: federal politics. Not only in the US, but maybe that's the easiest example to hand.
We have an example in Obama now, along with the last few POTUS, where it is arguable that the 'leader' is/was actually a figurehead, or puppet even, of those first and second followers. That they WERE/ARE the real, in-effect, behind-the-scenes, leaders.
A brilliant look at the role of the follower in leadership...and brings up the question, of how far this can be stretched and the more sinister implications of who the 'followers' are, wielding that power from behind the throne.
Maybe the anthem for the new movement can be my daughter's populist song "Mr. Moneymaker" at myspace.com/newtonwhite. It's only rock and roll, there are no discussions of derivatives or basis points, but it is about TPTB and TBTFs and how they've done a number on America.
All of the songs are quite good, kudos and congrats. Get her to read some ZH, if she is not here already...
What a beautiful voice.
A pity this song isn't on a video - it should be. Maybe coming soon?
People like her are a reason I love Generation Y and the Millennials. They see what's going on and they are no fools.