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Guest Post: It Is Time For The Ron Paul Revolution To Move Beyond Politics
Submitted by Brandon Smith of Alt-Market,
In the lead up weekend to the RNC convention, Tampa, Florida was awash in political electricity. It was so prevalent you could sense it in the corridors of air terminals across the country before you ever made it to that hot humid peninsula in the south. I admit, to be caught up in it is exciting. The ideal of democratic participation, the feeling of rejuvenation and community, joining the ranks of one’s ideological brethren to charge into intellectual combat for the future of our nation. If any of it was real, I would have been truly inspired. Unfortunately, I was well aware that the Republican convention was a farce, and knew full well what the end result would be for the Ron Paul campaign.
I had the privilege of being invited by the organizers of Paulfest, a Liberty Movement Woodstock of sorts, to give a speech on alternative economics and solutions to the general crisis we face as a country in the near future. On the long flight I found myself surrounded by GOP fanboys and even a Secret Service agent, as well as the endless FOX and CNN cavalcade reports on terminal TV’s during layovers. If you were in the middle of it, you would think something “important” was about to happen. If anything, it only clarified my concerns that there is still far too much that needs to be accomplished before the year of 2012 is over.
Arrival at Paulfest revealed immediate conflicts between the Ron Paul campaign and its base support. Certain Ron Paul staff (namely the infamous Jesse Benton) had been going out of their way to stiff and in some cases sabotage the event despite Ron Paul’s words of appreciation to those involved. Benton has had a long track record of venom against Ron Paul’s base supporters, which he referred to as “big fringe elements” in texts to potential speakers including Peter Schiff, to persuade them from partaking in the festival:
Benton has on numerous occasions kicked out alternative news journalists from Ron Paul events in a move to sterilize the press box. When the RNC deliberately buried states with large Ron Paul delegate counts in the bleachers at the back of the building where television cameras would not notice them, complaints to the GOP and the campaign abounded, and an audit of the RNC was even called for. Yet, Benton responded snidely, saying:
“I am glad so many of our delegates get to sit close together.”
It has become clear that Benton and others have been “handling” Ron Paul for a considerable portion of his campaign and attempting to divorce him from the elements of the movement which are seen as “extreme” or anti-establishment, even though these are the same elements that catapulted Ron Paul into the minds of average Americans. My impression is that they have been targeted for surgical removal because they are impossible to co-opt for the purposes of diplomacy (submission) with the Neo-Con elites running the GOP carnival.
Rand Paul’s recent endorsement of Mitt Romney is not surprising given the parasitic nature of particular campaign organizers who buzz about him, including Benton. The bottom line is that some people in the movement are not in it to fight for freedom, or to ensure a brighter and more Constitutional Republic. Some are in the movement to further their political careers and ambitions, and are perfectly willing to use the energy of popular candidates to carry them to success.
Sadly, this is the ultimate weakness of the political ideal; regardless of how honest and forthright a candidate is, even a principled luminary like Ron Paul can be undermined by those closest to him if he is not careful. Millions of people relying solely on the tenuous chance of victory of a single man in a single rigged contest is NEVER a recipe for liberty.
The internal conflict was a source of tension and depression for many who only wanted to see unity within the movement, a final hurrah for Ron Paul, and a last drive towards a respectable showing at the RNC. The problem is that for some reason there was an expectation among some Paul revolutionaries that there would be a semblance of “fairness”. I’m not sure why considering that after four years and two presidential campaigns there has never been a single moment of fair-play in the GOP towards Ron Paul or the Liberty Movement in general. We have been the targets of mass media attacks, Republican con-games, and even DHS profiling. How anyone could think that Ron Paul was going to win by playing a game in which the rules are written and re-written (literally, as we saw with the GOP state delegate selection process changes) by the corrupt system is beyond me.
The most I had ever hoped for was a broken and perhaps chaotic RNC (a rightful punishment for the Neo-Cons), and the expansion of truth. For me, the Ron Paul campaign has always been a vehicle for the movement to expose the reality of our society to those half-hypnotized by the doldrum madness of the mainstream. I never saw it as a solution to our vast problems in and of itself.
Those of us who come from a macroeconomic background tend to have a more grounded vision of time. That is to say, we know the potential danger, and have a more profound sense of urgency than those who only approach activism through politics. We have mathematical insight, not just social or intuitive insight, into the approaching storm. This comes not only with certainty, but extended responsibility. During a round table discussion which included myself, Stewart Rhodes of Oath Keepers, Chuck Baldwin, and many other fantastic voices of the movement, I found that the boys from Montana had our work cut out for us in moving the discussion away from the purely political. The talk touched on alternative strategies, including self sufficiency and independent living, but gravitated time and again back to “finding new candidates to take Ron Paul’s place”, and coming up with new protest venues.
I was not able to take an accurate tally, but my ballpark guess is that though there are millions of Ron Paul supporters out there, at least half are completely unprepared for any kind of crisis event, and really do believe they have four more years to wait in quasi-hibernation while America hangs by a thin fiscal thread. It is not my intention to drive a wedge between “preparedness Ron Paulers” and “political Ron Paulers”. Far from it. But really, these folks should know better.
Stewart Rhodes’ speech at Paulfest was the most shocking for many of the political Paulers, as well as the most necessary. He removed the kid gloves completely as well as any feel-good rhetoric, stating that the GOP as a party was dead, and deserved to be, letting the Paul folks know that any further strategy of attempting to “infiltrate” the Republican establishment and turn it over to the side of good was a waste of time. He also stated that it is no longer enough for the movement to play around as “intellectual warriors”, they might soon have to become real warriors. I agree.
In my speech, I gave clear cut and tangible solutions to Paulfest attendees, including alternative markets and barter networks, commodity based currencies, micro industries and localized business models, useful trade skills, off-grid living, preparedness, and if all else fails, real revolution. Not idealized intellectual activism under the catchy label of revolution, but fists in the air and rifles in hand revolution. The kind that scares the crap out of most, not because of its danger, but because of its finality of purpose. The will to fight, really fight, is frightening, especially to those who cling to the belief that one can reason with his opponents. The cold hard fact is; some men are not men. Some men are monsters, and reason is the last thing that will ever sway them…
I also closed with an admission; that I fear little for the future. Despite the flaws of the Ron Paul campaign, the elections, and the movement in general, there is something to be said for the miracle that has occurred since 2008, and I do mean “miracle”. Four years ago, an activist speaking against the Federal Reserve, for instance, would be immediately met with attacks from all sides and outnumbered 50 to 1. Today, the roles are reversed. The internet is teaming with life and defenders of liberty while the majority of Americans and even Congress are calling for an audit or end of the Fed. The preparedness culture has exploded with dedicated families willing to make the terrifying leap into a once alien lifestyle. The mainstream media has been crushed by alternative outlets; as their numbers dwindle into oblivion, ours skyrocket in turn. All in all, it is not a bad time to be a champion of the Constitutional philosophy, and the existence of such a movement gives me enduring optimism. I do not “think” we will prevail; I KNOW we will prevail.
As I sat in the Sun Dome in Tampa witnessing the last speech of Ron Paul’s campaign career, I felt the loss that lingered within the crowd, but this was not the end. Not to sound callous, but frankly, the best thing that could have happened to the movement today was a farewell from Ron Paul and an end to the political theater that most have been caught up in for the better part of this year. The game is over. The real battle begins.
Ron Paul did more for the movement than many of us had ever dreamed. He forced the Constitution back into the mainstream when we needed it most. He breathed life into America once again. But now, his job is done. Rand Paul will not carry the movement forward, nor will any other candidate, at least not in the short time this nation has left before it becomes entirely unrecognizable.
Now, Ron Paul activists will be forced to walk away from the chessboard and to examine the legitimacy of bottom up solutions at the local level, rather than being obsessed with the top down drudgery at the federal level. They will have to insulate themselves using decentralized economic systems and self sustaining living methods. They will have to learn to produce necessities for themselves, and to interact within their communities face to face. They will be compelled to educate local police and military to wake them up to the civil catastrophes ahead. If they do seek out political strategies, it will have to be at the county and state levels, where there is at least a chance of making viable progress. And, most of all, they will have to adopt a self-defense mindset in addition to intelligent discourse. They will have to become what I would call ‘Warrior Poets’ in the shadow of this dark age. They will have to think, and feel, but also be willing to fight, and perhaps even die for their principles. They will have to become whole men and women, rather than incomplete people, projecting all their hopes and dreams into a governmental white knight that will never come.
Ultimately, politics has been warped into a mechanism by which the masses can hand over their responsibility to affect change within the system they live, and pass the buck on to others. It is time to move away from this failed dynamic. It is time for the Ron Paul revolution to mature, and to embrace the pain of doing what must be done. It is time to take matters into our own hands.
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You say you want a revolution, then build a mass movement.
Mass movements build themselves. Anybody who's trying to build one is merely jumping in front of the parade in drum major garb, waving a bogus baton.
100,000 guns won't make a difference if the officials in charge of the US NBC arms are not on board. This time is different. There are nuclear arms, chemical weapons, biological agents. All of these elements are governed by agents loyal to the crown or loyal to the oath. The final question is how does this end? By default the US can destroy the world with or without the dollar. The paper as such is just a means to an end. What is that end? Who is dictating said end? Is there anything we can do to stop what is coming?
There is. The final hope of the people no longer rests in the hands of the corrupt politicians. Sadly, it rests upon those aware enough to make a difference. Those who idendify the corrupt, those who recognize injustice by the system and rectifiy it, those who are bold enough to take right action and; within the law; hold all those accountable to justice. Tun Tavern writ large. Fire all incumbent politicians. Who cares if congress or the senate are thrown into chaos. That is the point. It will expose the shell game. Then there is rightful retribution. Then there is a calibration of the scales.
If nothing else withdraw all cash from your account if you bank with the TBTF. Every dollar. Open an account with a local bank or credit union. "Oh my! That may put my wealth at risk!" Well Oh my, I'm putting my life at risk. Grow up. Freedom is not free, and if you have gained the most, then at least you can risk computer 0's and 1's while the rest of us starve and bleed. Wage financial WAR, TODAY! Or be held to account.
That would do it. But it is actually illegal to call for a run on any bank or participate in furthering one via any messaging forms. Look it up.
I drove 65 in a 60 MPH zone last week.
Not a run, a simple transfer. A run, as defined, would be in a state of panic. No panic here. As to the real meaning of your post and to the intent of the law, moving one's freely owned money from one account to another within the NCUAA or the FDCIA is within the individual's right to do so, without regard to where the input was originated. Any other interpretation of my own opinion would be an infringement on 1st amendment rights.
http://www.zerohedge.com/article/government-your-legal-right-redeem-your-money-market-account-has-been-denied
In addition, how would one calling for a transfer of accounts to local business, not just banks, but grocery, automotive, and gasoline be held to any standard of law for simply advocating that every head of lettuce, gallon of gas, or air filter be bought locally? You must be a statist, and as such I forgive you. There is much that the individual and local community can provide without Federal oversight. I direct your attention to the FEMA website, where being self-sufficient is fully endorsed.
No specific bank was named. In addition your inference was specically aimed toward money market accounts. If you wish to continue being a slave, do so. There are other ways to raise an eyebrow other than a post. Never mind Statist, thanks, but no thanks.
oh shit...helicopters....wait....they were looking for Corzine...BITCH!
IMA ANAL S.
Check out this photo, though I am a huge fan of civil disobedience and peaceful assembly this picture stabbed me right in my liberal values...
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/c67.0.403.403/p403x403/556586_412881045426756_1824989813_n.jpg
I fear the 10,000 that are stuck in this bullshit web political lies. good political documentary from Brian Springer that uses old satellite feeds he could rob. Its called SPIN: Democracy At Work
Note: this was meant as a reply comment to the gent below
What would scare you more, !0,000 people with signs or 10,000 people with guns?
Romney's "foreign policy advisors" scare me more than either of those...
Romney's "foreign policy advisors" = Netanyahu & Co...
~~~
RNC was a joke/farce to begin with, but this time they really jumped the shark...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKaXqoC4DjE
^ Now that is a shocking MUST WATCH video... shows you what the RNC and the two party system is all about.
(And in time his foreign policy advisors will also become his domestic security policy advisors...)
God HELP America!
Our current foreign policy is pretty bad. Remember that congressional vote when we declared war on Pakistan?
ISLAMABAD (AP) — U.S. drones fired a barrage of missiles at a vehicle and a house in a Pakistani tribal area bordering Afghanistanon Saturday, killing at least five suspected militants, Pakistani officials said.
The strikes in the North Waziristan tribal area were the first since news that a top commander of the powerful Haqqani militant network was killed in a drone strike late last month, also in the tribal region.
Two intelligence officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to brief the media, said U.S. drones fired seven missiles at targets in the village of Degan in an area ofNorth Waziristan close to the Afghan border.
They said the area is dominated by anti-American militant commander Hafiz Gul Bahadur, but they did not know whether the men killed belonged to his group.
http://news.yahoo.com/us-drone-strike-kills-5-militants-pakistan-053921820.html
They hate us for our freedom.
New Yorkers would be safer if their police officers were replaced with drones. Drones only shoot bad guys.
New Yorkers can only make themselves safer by leaving New York.
"They hate us for our freedom."
infants and small children can carry AKs too, you know -
(as can grandmas and various assorted dogs, cats, and other pets)
also as a devout Mormon he believes in things that are extremely bizarre (golden tablets/magic hat/magic underwear et al.) and contrary to well-established anthropological science... not to mention following a religion that was founded by a serial child molester/pedophile and then another one (Brigham Young)... ever wonder why they were chased out of every place they tried to proselytize until they got to Utah which was, at the time, completely outside the boundaries of established law and order ?... still waiting for MSM to hop on that one... so... that makes Willard pretty much nuts in my book...
If you're holding your breath for the MSM to jump on anything anymore (other than a paycheck)... You might suffocate...
Name a religion that doesn't promote ideas which appear to be less than reasonable. That's why faith is required of those who believe.
Panatheism. Mainly Einstein's religion. He wrote about it quite thoroughly, and I agree with his belief's, because they are rational and are not reliant on giving faith that another man isn't trying to con you out of your life by telling you that not Tithing is a sin.
I hear ya, but I gotta wonder if going around in an Einstein fright wig wouldn't look every bit as ridiculous as wearing magic underwear.
I keep my hair short for a reason. I can't pull the complete Einstein look, but it's pretty close.
The deism of the founders of the United States is the only one. Here it is:
http://www.deism.com/images/theageofreason1794.pdf
Paine asserts that all is created, therefore there must be a creator, and that math & music are the language of creation, that we may only find enlightenment through mathematical logic & scientific inquiry, and that all religions based on mysticism, which is all organized religions, are bullshit. Paine expressed publically what the private papers of all the movers of the enlightenment show they believe. The motivation to implant superstitious dogma in the United States, to take advantage of the gullible and impair their ability to defend themselves and their posterity, is self evident from our current historical perspective.
Its a good read.
The truth is that there are those in the scientific world that would bend what they see, only to pervert observation to make a profit. It is the same in the political world, only more so. Truth has become a subscipt of what others would have you know, what they would have you think. Their story has no truth. The press is bought off by the government: see http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/the-new-york-times-admits-that...
The image of truth..obscured by religeon or government will continue to be debated.
Don't believe the hype.
Wtf is "the scientific world"? You think some adversaries who are 'academically' brainwashed to a complex belief system they don't understand have a better set of tools than you do to figure anything out? The only thing they have is the hive of similarly shortsighted idiots. Don't debate with idiots.
Hey, I grew up in a religion that promotes the virtues of 'poverty' & 'modesty'
while it has its own country and billions in secret bank accounts
Quite a departure from the example of its enlightened founder
it takes 'faith', indeed
And also has an extensive network of spies, moles and professional criminals. Quite a departure from the rules for the minions.
That is an organized religion though. Just more statism creating governmental apparatuses for control.
There are quite a few fundamentalists who want The Big One to kick off in the Middle East so that the Last Days will come . . . and they will float up to Heaven.
Maybe the gospel according to Star Trek was right . . . once a planet gets to a certain level of technology . . . . . its very dicey from then on
That video? Absolutely fucking astonishing. The brazen manner in which opposition is crushed is absolutely shameless! (And I continue to pronounce it "boner.")
If there is anything that our corporately owned neo-liberal duopoly is good at, it's sticking to their script. They are not about to let any insurgents fuck up their, heads I win, tails you lose party.
The dysfunction is getting really entertaining -great video.
I know the Olympics have passed but could we bring back singlestick (Tom Brown's School Days style) just this once. Maybe knock some sense into the whole lot of 'em. I'd make a few campaign contributions to see that.
10,000,000 people with an agenda.
Whichever group thinks they are doing God's will.
Peaceful ways to fight the system: make your meals from basic ingredients, don't buy processed food or go to McYucky, brew your own coffee in the morning, walk, cut cable, buy used items (older tools are a lot of times better quality) buy local, if you can, cut back on tobacco (taxes), find ways to reduce your mobile phone bill, and any other ideas like this that someone can add.
Purchase things with cash, not credit cards, and buy physical silver.
Many people have the ability to choose a different way of life. However, choosing a different life means things won't be the same. Too many people just want to continue on with the life they know/knew. This is the ultimate source of power for the satus quo.
FEAR+DESIRE=CONTROL
You are correct. They like it fine like it is for themselves. They bitch and moan, but don't change a single thing in their lives. Let the other guy do it.
Before anything else -
dump the television.
Haul that flat screen abomination to a field and smash it.
Then start your new life.
Its really amusing when you tell people you don't subscribe to cable . . or watch any television.
They are completely dumbfounded by that.
Drive down any neighborhood in the evening and you'll see the faint blue glow from t.v. s putting people in a stupor.
I had a little talk with my brother and some of his neighbors recently. Its in an upper middle class neighborhood, one of the nicest in that city. Made up of professionals and business people.- - They were complaining about some guy painting his door a different color than that 'allowed by the covenants' or some such shit. I asked "Does it really matter when your houses have dropped 30% in value & there are quite a few For Sale signs that have been up for a long time ?" Dead silence. - - -
Theyre still waiting for their houses to 'finance their retirement' I guess. People hold on to old notions . . . despite reality
Good observation.
The upper middle class is still in their income induced slumber.
They make enough to pay the mortgage, pay the bills, eat well, pay the kids' college costs, have a couple nice cars, some toys (Harley, etc), and some investments.
Their comfortable income and the security of their little gated community allows them to ignore what's happening in America. They just don't care.
They may know who Ron Paul is but they don't care, or think he's some right wing nutcase. They may vote for Obama, they may vote for Romney. Democrat and Republican is the only thing they know about and care about, and they don't know much about either one.
They don't care that their home has lost a substantial portion of its market value. They don't care that they might be underwater now. They make enough to make that mortgage payment. That's all they care about.
They won't wake up til they're forced to wake up. Maybe when their investment account is stolen in another brokerage bankruptcy. Maybe when their 401k is confiscated.
They'll certainly wake up when the dollar loses world reserve currency status, plunges in value, and everything costs double or triple suddenly. Now that nice comfortable income won't make ends meet anymore. That's when they wake up and ask "what's happening, why have prices shot up suddenly?"
They won't have a clue why. They weren't aware the dollar was losing value and about to lose WRC status, because they were ignoring what's happening outside that little gated community.
They'll be hardest hit when the currency collapses. They won't be mentally prepared for it. They won't be physically prepared for it.
See, it doesn't matter who is elected. America is on a straight course to currency collapse from policies neither Obama nor Romney can change ... not even Ron Paul.
don't cut back on tobacco or alcohol - grow and make your own
My intent was to avoid the tax on tobacco.
Done and done, except the cable. The wife MUST have her Sabado Giganti!
Another way to hasten its demise is to avail yourself of every legal means of leeching and sucking the federal teat. The more you claw back, the better.
Maybe.
This seems like the ultimate expression of defeatism, however.
I know some folks who are really struggling with this... they don't want to do it, but in for a dime, in for a dollar ....
Hey, Mittens is your man, then!
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-federal-bailout-that-saved...
... sucked hundreds of millions outta that teat!
On a positive note.
http://www.youtube.com/user/BenSwannRealityCheck?feature=watch
Are your non-violent fighters prepared for what the old crumbling system meant to dominate their mind is going to do to them? Are they completely ready to self-sacrifice without second thoughts?
RP could still totally fuck things up for the Republican Establishement by standing as an Independent, thereby guaranteing Obama gets re-elected. Proably better for the Repubs anyway because this ship is sinking so they can point a drowning finger at the Dems.
Is this what it has become??
RP doesn't need to burn a calorie over this. The RNC just destroyed themselves permanently. Their only hope is Diebold/SCYTL vote fraud.
Proud to be fRiNgE..Bitchez
Direct Democracy is the only way forward.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_democracy
Democracy is no solution for anything, except allow the majority to assert its will on everything. Far better would be to remove as many things as possible from the coercive sphere of government.
Direct democracy is practiced in Switzerland and is a fully viable way to decide on local matters for the community.
Ain't too shabby there, Switzerland, is it?
The fact that direct democracy works well in Switzerland says at least as much about the Swiss as it does about direct democracy. Imagine instead how well it would do in a land solely comprised of KKK members and Black Panthers. Next, imagine how it would do in a land comprised mostly of collectivists, with just a few individualists mixed in. For the sake of argument, you may assume the individualists are somewhat wealthy, what with having personal initiative and all that.
Next, imagine what it would do in a limited government that respects personal liberty, where gun ownership is an instutition, there is a sound currency and the people do not let international organizations hijack local matters.
The US is not Switzerland, and I do not understand why it's so hard for people to tell the difference between a mostly homogenous country and a country that is populated by non-like minded Individuals with ancestry from all over the globe and the cultures that come along with such a mix.
Well understood, but who would you rather like to have to decide for you on important matters:
1) A tyrannical institution like the Federal Reserve, ECB or other central bank without any representation whatsoever, that operates in secrecy without restraint or remorse
2) Corporations who pay for the chairs of the legislative, judicial and executive branches to get favorable policies enacted
3) International war criminals like NATO considering whether to go to war
4) Clusters of corporations such as the military-industrial complex deciding on whether there are geopolitical risks, the prison-industrial complex deciding on whether to invest in crime prevention, the education-industrial complex deciding on whether to promote home schooling, the media-industrial complex deciding on whether to agree with or cite the blogosphere, the healthcare-industrial complex deciding on whether to sell cheap hemp
5) Elite groups like Council on Foreign Relations, the Trilateral Commission or the Bildeberg Group
6) A charismatic, absolute monarch making executive decisions such as who to kill today without bothering with legislation
7) Majority vote
In most matters of great importance, a majority vote is just so much more intuitive, transparent and preferable. Whatever the outcome, the voters get what they deserve, which cannot be said with option 1-6.
It is popular majority opinion that the Fed should be audited, and the Afghanistan war should be ended. The majority were against bailouts and TARP. Yet, the majority is being overrun. So, believe it or not, the sheeple has got quite a lot of decisions right. To attack the popular vote as being wrong by definition under those circumstances is not constructive.
Democracy = Two Wolves and a Sheep deciding what's for lunch.
California would be the closest to an experiment in Direct Democracy. And look how that worked out.
There is a hidden assumption there implying that the wolves can decide among themselves to attack the sheep.
First off, everyone knows direct democracy only leads to mob rule (read socialism).
Second, and more to the point, most real people I know would not have time to read through legislation, let alone make educated choices for long-term decisions.
I think this thinking really puts alot of faith in people's intentions in a fuzzy sort of idealized view; reality is much more brutal.
Mob rule can be a lot of fun as long as they don't party at my house.
As for taking time to read through legislation, if it's more than 2 pages long, it should be shredded, along with the lobbyist who wrote it and the whore who introduced it.
"...if it's more than 2 pages long, it should be shredded..."
Agreed.
Isn't it amazing that a simple Bill of Rights has lasted this long? All of it can fit on a 8.5 X 11 sheet of paper, it should all be this way. If it can't be explained on letter sized paper (even using the back of it...lol) its not needed or a scam.
I would further add, as I often do, if a law is proposed, it must be accompanied by ten laws to repeal.
Call it, a reversal of their fortunes ;-)
"First off, everyone knows direct democracy only leads to mob rule (read socialism)"
First off, not everyone (because I do or did not) knows that direct democracy leads to mob rule (not even going to address the assertion that mob rule equals socialism right now).
First question for me was what is mob rule and has it ever governed a country. Looking for some data on the etymology of the word found this brief explanation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ochlocracy
Wouldn't it be wonderful if we had a population that could understand legislation and vote on it and could make educated choices for long term decisions? So ... why don't we? Mmmm defunding of public schools (in the race to privatize everything) comes to mind. The zombification of mainstream news (supporting a corporate elite) comes to mind. Why aren't these issues being addressed.
And about that socialism thing - most of the world laughs when US politicos define Obama as a socialist - he's not!
As to what -ism or what party or philosophy might work in the future - I don't know - but I'm focusing on local business and family right now.
Defunding of public schools...What country are you in? In US, funding is up, but the quality is down.
The best thing you could do to increase the intelligence and freedom level in the country would be to defund all public schools and give the tax money back to people so they could choose where to educate kids for themselves.
The purpose of the mandatory public 'schools' is to dumb down students and indoctrinate them in collectivism.
Socialism is tyranny covered in a soft velvet glove;
and Democracy is mob rule dressed up in a sports coat.
And American Democracy is mob rule dressed in a leisure suit with too many gold chains.
And Libertarianism is just Anarchy with a propeller beanie.
(Not that there's anything wrong with anarchy.)
Q: What necessary function(s) is/are performed by government that couldn't possibly, even in principle, be performed by private companies?
(cue Sunday morning organist)
Praise Corp from which all blessings flow...
Living as a responsible individual is not a faith based activity. Asking for a hand up from an elite class which uses violence in order to extract wealth from hard working individuals is the kind of praying that requires an especially thick rug.
Woohoo, minus twenty!
My trolling works, esp in the __ is just __ with a __ category!
There's a fine line between mounting credible political opposition and inciting the crazies.
You're dangling raw meat at the end there. Opinions will differ about which *you're* doing.
Celebrate the diversity.
Indeed I do.
Ron Paul Bitchez!!
Jesse Benton is a rat. He helped to take down the Ron Paul campain from the inside. He cares more about money than saving our country. If he is involved with a Rand Paul presidntial run I will not be involved.
If Rand Paul is involved with a Rand Paul presidential run, I will not be involved. Like all hybrids, the fruit does not bear true.
I thought you were a fellow Canadian! So actively supporting one or more candidates really isn't an option (though given the influence the US has on Canadian policy maybe it should be).
I do agree with you on Rand Paul - not impressed with him at all. I remember some old saying - first generation makes the money, second one holds it and third one squanders it. And then it starts all over. Could also be applied to political capital in this case - Rand (in my opinion) is all about preservation of political power so he desires to be working within the system rather than without.
Time to move on FiSHeS. Let's git'r done.
The Second American Revolution - unfolding now in a neighborhood near you!
The current system will collapse. It could occur in one year, or ten, but the current paradigm is unsustainable.
So the question becomes what kind of political leader do you want if the collapse materializes in your lifetime?
As with all examples of succession in nature, life arises from the ashes. I would love nothing more than an individual like Ron Paul with Jeffersonian principles to take control and bring our country back to the foundation which made this country, at one point, the purview of success and freedom.
As unfortunate as it is that Ron Paul isn't a candidate, I have faith that the ideas of liberty and restraint of government will one day supersede the shameful platform we currently call our political establishment.
Unfortunately, revolutions tend towards increasing tyranny. America's past was the exception.
The first three words of our constitution were written in bold for a reason.
The second amendment was specifically written to ensure that the first three words held bearing. The second amendment wasn't written to protect the individual against individual, it was written so that the individual could protect himself against the government.
If you read the works of Jefferson, you will notice he is a firm believer of the the citizens threatening the government as it is the only way to keep the government in line.
"God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion. The people cannot be all, and always, well informed. The part which is wrong will be discontented, in proportion to the importance of the facts they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions, it is lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty. ... What country before ever existed a century and half without a rebellion? And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."
Thomas Jefferson, 1787
Yeah, the quill processor was toggled to bold and it's a bitch to erase ink once it's been put to parchment. Fortunately, Jefferson noticed it and got the quill toggled back to normal face for the rest of the document.
IS there an APP fo that is all the Sheeples want to know. Nevermind if ther eis no food or anything as long as IPHONES are avaialable nothing matters to the inbred fucks in the USSA. No more revolution bitchezzz. masses are too fucking inbred and lack the critical thinking skills.
I agree with pavman. Historically, the cycle of the ages is not in our favor. Monarchy --> Aristocracy --> Democracy --> Anarchy. Rinse and repeat. I see no reason why America can break the cycle given our present circumstances.
I think that peoples with traditional Republican values are, like the oppressed Roman citizens at the end of their Empire, switching their allegiance to the Visigoths and Vandals (both of whom were ruled by Monarch).
It's time for individuals to declare allegiance to themselves. Only individuals posses rights. Sovereignty rests with the individual alone. Go Gadsen and go Galt.
I disagree. America under the Articles of Confederation was freer than the U.S. America when the first provincial government was established was freer than the U.S.
I would love nothing more than an individual like Ron Paul with Jeffersonian principles to take control and bring our country back to the foundation which made this country, at one point, the purview of success and freedom.
Unfortunately, one of the other things which was very important to the Founding Fathers you pretend to love is that they were radically opposed to rule by a king or a dictator.
Unlike yourself.
Yeah, take control as our President.
I wasn't suggesting a dictatorship or monarchy.
You must be a liberal trying to spin my words.
Nah, just calling you out as all bullshit, like many of the poseurs around here.
You're really not interested in freedom--you just want everyone to live according to YOUR desires. That whole "freedom" thing, which you and your kind have never really come to terms with, requires that you recognize OTHER PEOPLE are welcome to do all that stuff you hate.
I'll assume, although it's probably unwarranted, that you have some understanding of the relative powers of the different branches of the US government.
The President is just a figurehead who can start wars. He can't do what you claim to want unless he becomes the dictator that you won't admit you long for.
I believe Bob was referring to leadership. Apparently you have a hard time understanding that concept, among others.
Blunder is as 'Blunder' does..."Apparently (he has) a hard time understanding that concept, among others."
lightweight
There are no "leader" candidates. There are Preznit candidates.
I know what you're talking about, but leaders have been driven out of the political process.
"So the question becomes what kind of political leader do you want if the collapse materializes in your lifetime?"
None.
"none"
That worked great for the "occupy" movement.
The failure of the occupy movement was as predictable as any socialistic entity.
Everyone wanted the fruit, but no one wanted to put in the labor for free.
No shit, huh?
The same can be said for the teabaggers. I can't figure out why these "upstart' movements refuse to have leaders. They run the risk of being co-opted and used by a dictator.
Draft the military and overthrow the traitors in Washington DC.
What? You, motherfuckers , should be rounded up and put in jail where you belong.
Any day -any time --I will be there to kick your lousy, stupid, putrid , ignorant ass - you low life POS
Was watching Obummers speech to the military in Texas today on the tube. To say the response was mild would be exaggerating. Hardly any applause from a hanger full of GI's and spouses, with lots and lots of dead air where the applause from a paid room would normally air.
CNN cut it off after about ten minutes and the Live feed I was watching cut off about 15 seconds before his Grandness's final statement finished. Lots of queen claps for that, very light, inaudible and had me ROLF.
Obummer apparently is high up on the military's troopers DO NOT WANT list.
They don't like Mitt either.
Dats a fact.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2o0V6VPX_E0
I don't know.... not one word on the armed forces from Willard or anyone at the RNC. It's like they've given up on the military vote, or are taking it for granted ...
still too much "respect" for a military that kills on command for wages, and appears to have zero moral values or awareness of the government agenda - who cares whether they "like" obama or any other figurehead? since when are they considered wise and informed? uni-formed & commanded.
flag wavers need to wake up.
That is pretty high on my list of potential outcomes... MIC comes in under the pretense of upholding the Constitution (which would be a fair argument actually) and pulls the rug out from the whole thing. The Pentagon suddenly becomes the new White House. Where we go from there? Who knows.
Amongst a crowd of liars nothing more frigthening than an honest man.
How about an honest man with ebola?
The Ron Paul Liberty movement in 5 years has exploded. Ron´s understanding that this is a two party gig and the only way is to take over one of the parties is correct.
Unless folks really want to get out guns and get the real thing going. And that isn't going to happen nor does it need to.
I have followed this closely state by state from the Iowa caucuses in Jan 08. And I have some political background and I was appalled at first how little folks knew about what they would need to do to in order to be successful in taking over the party and getting RP nominated.
And throw in MSM lies and lack of coverage, dirty tricks played out all over state by state including this past week in Tampa.
But in this cycle people had learned and took over many states and are infiltrated in many county and state GOP organizations.
The solution is not hunkering down and try something else. keep the thing going.
Sure most of us here know we need to prepare and stack and prepare. Anyone not doing that is taking a big chance.
Unfortunately RP was not a slick candidate (which was a big part of his draw to the minority) but he has opened the door. He won't go away in the sense that he will be around to keep us focused on the future.
I am no big Jesse Benton fan. Sure there were a lot of mistakes made. I prefer to look at the more than half filled glass we now have and keep working towards filling it up.
By the way anyone interested in a really good analysis of some aspects of the campaign can click on this Doug Weed interview. He pretty much nails it on the head about what happened in the campaign and including Jesse Benton.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbrUPtwIKuk&feature=youtu.be
In Liberty
http://designismymuse.tumblr.com/post/29916034682/feature-house-of-glass...
.
design / muse
where's my stone?
Where's the HVAC?
where is the kitchen?
Real change and defending the Constitution is not wanted by the establishment.
Their number one goal is to make money and gain power in the moment and prolong the kleptoligarchy.
No surprise that leeches, fleas, and ticks attach themselves to a strong body to get a blood meal and swell themselves.
Detach from the system and don't feed it; hasten it's collapse.
brandonS learned something? so now he's still a know-it-all! L0L!!!
when baby_b said he needed to split, he needed to split! i kept putting delegate counts up after the primaries, trying to insert some slewie-sanity and explain how the party primaries and convention actually worked and rPaul was toast by last april 1
junked!
at least randP has a future at the heart of the neoCon galaxy which bSmith doesn't like anymore, now!
his dad gave it to him on the way o.u.t.
this crap-filled writer and his spews that ron was somehow victimized by the handlers he ACCEPTED from the GOP but in true zH fashion, must appear to know what he is doing altho covered with egg:>
too bad he didn't write something and publish it here telling rPaul to get o.u.t. and R.U.N.
i musta done it 20 times!
tyler, scooping up bagfuls of moolah for mittens coulda cared less about the strategies of his "candidate" rPaul
so we were treated to non-stop propwash and right-wing lies! and a few noticed. not many. the "bloodbath that was certain to happen b4 july 4 in america", as "predicted" by all the ORI-ites [so why try to think straight here anyhow (?)] didn't happen, but the doomerism did! and the 'thought' on zH has just become cartoonish and in front of the entire world too
and now these fuktards are gonna tell us what they think we should do next!
you and i took things into our own hands long before we showed up here and we agreed on that last sentence of yours the first time we met or v. soon after
dNoland addresses what i have been screaming about for weeks: there is intellectual dishonesty in "predicting doom" for a living and never saying "when"
at least ORI said when! of course he was wrong about the timing and his thought is too "mythic" to be rational, but he isn't blind!
and dNoland did yesterday too:> within 5 years he said
what? the sta-puffCreditPerson, BiCheZ! Repubs, Dems, anarchists; students; boomers; banks; insurance; ag; medicine; transports: ka-BOOM
he thinks between now and 9.1.17 and he is also capable of explaining "why" he thinks this too!
dNoland is certainly no optimist, but he's not a moronic fool like tyler or shitheadSmith1 or 2 either!
Right on Slewie! There is no reason for not failing.
@pi-rat/3.14161416------------rat
James Joyce has nothing on you.
I am re-posting yours from 8/30/12 below because you put words to the grinding in my belly that occurs every time I read the comments here; I think it should be posted several more times so that the few old-timers that are still here can remember what it was like a year ago and more at zh.
Thank you for continuing a battle as diligently as is required----I can't seem to get past my disgust at the senseless trash that is the common fare today in the comments. Yeah, I'm a 'pussy' as I am certain someone will accuse me of being. I am also very disappointed in the shift that has occurred in pandering to the norm. I think tyler knows what he/she is doing and she/he is right---there are more of 'them' than there are of 'us', so the hits keep increasing and the bank is kept well-fed with deposits.
Enough of my stuff, though-----for those who missed this most well-written and articulate piece that is so sophisticated as to be nearly unintelligible to a simple-minded oldman, please dig into the feast that the pi-rat has left---------------
Thu, 08/30/2012 - 11:55 | 2749640 slewie the pi-rat
almost all the posts today are addressing basic issues covered here months ago
b/c of all the trolling, lying and political and bankstereng misinformation published here since we went "chat room ready" to war in GROUPS of bots or the few other actual persons here who readiliy gave up their anonymity for "new friends", tyler may have, as i've been trying to point out to others for a long time here now, a c.r.e.d. problem
se he hasta try to re-establish his cred on the way to the bank this morning
ther's another article explaining the ltro and the EU "jumping over its own knees" fiscal problem too! trying to re-establish some meaning for himself here after after becoming one of the most heinous douchebags of propaganda vomit in interwebs history
b/c of the typhoon in theGulf, one of his prop-agents didn't get the memo that the schedule had been changed and published the "evilFED" hit-piece without the political action with which it was s'posed to dove-tail
and i just steam-rolled them both for using zH as a toilet for mittens
speaking of trolls and asswipe propagandist, this is where million$cunt's post would be if he hadn't jumperd the string again (or tried to--somebody hit "save" before he did there, see it?) for his formulaic "joke" vomit
to tell us about "printing" so over-simplistically again and feed the people who can't think straight here (about 75% of the humansl 92% of the total 'bloggers')
in fairness to mil$cuntster, he did reply to someone about a week or so ago and it was quite intelligent; everybody wondered wtf was going on here, too
he stepped out of character and slewie would say that the people who pay him to fuk up our work here below the line were very displeased b/c they took him down for a while and he didn't get paid while down, propably, did he?
so now he is back to "innocent" and again, only 1-2 people understand the actual REAL dynamics here
so the efforts to re-establish c.r.e.d. are well underway here and i applaud THAT
unfortunately, the rupublicunts are doomed and may not be given control of the USA for many elections to come
when your last 4 'winners' consist of nixon1, reagan2, CIA bushI3, and skell&bones harvard ignoramus bushII4 and theParty shit-canned rPaul for neoCon mittens whose career was also launched by drug-goonie money from central/south america, you are now unelectable
the fact that the criminals running the GOP (or can't one figure where "lindaGreen" was created and why?) are just thugs and not smart enuf to win at this point probably makes their "convention" a bit less that "bubbly"
but they were strong enuf to take rPaul down while he was "serving" them (and tyler) with gobs of money when people see nixon, reagan bush & bush, and a solvent and our strong nation go totally BK in 5 years of "war on terror" under them, even americans might say: what's that? coffee?
perhaps even tyler and the other mindless republicunt trolls here are now "getting" that their precious mittens in unelectable
the party of rockefeller is the party of the manchurian candidates, ya know; nixon DID go kiss mao's ass to get jMcCain out the hanoiHilton; reagan went propwash on rusiia, NOT china, and under bush I & II america was economically gutted and her military put under the control of the NWO, as well as our CFR
and the bankster may have been given a "pass" b/c they all have "diplomatic immunity" as agents of our debt-holders; or did you conclude they were working for "american interests" and just "made a mistake"
now i won't stick up for billClinton as an apologist for the WTO; he marginalized ALL the intelligent young people who knew in their hearts and guts it was a sell-out and gave china "favored nation status" in 96 (just in case he didn't "win" 5 months later
by jCarville hit the "economy styooopid" theme and get him back in there, didn't he?
in fairness to the repubs, the Ds are so "nannified" they just don't "get it"
however if they are gonna govern or try to, for the next 4 years, i think the citizenism might see the danger of losing OUR sovereignty to DEBT
this is why greece hasn't been slammed isn't it? the NWO wants to wait till after november before nation of TV-controlled "goodies" is shown theRealityShow on that one!
it will be "Pay or Consequences"
but america has already been BK'd under bushII, hasn't it? the capital structure and what's left of the economic engine has been "bailed out" by putting it all into the NWO holding company and annuitizing it. can you say "manchurian candidates" or can't that be true either b/c the TV doesn't "know" it?
but unless ya turn off yer TV you will not be "able" to see it, b/c the MSM doesn't want you to see it; neither does million$cunt, btw, you moronic shitheaded asswipes!
anyone with the most rudimentary understanding of the geopolitics of the vietNam (2nd indo-china war) knows that the mekongDelta is the "breadbaskets" of the north and of chin, too; kennedy went after it, hard, and was taken out, as were both his brothers, one with a gun, another with a dead woman and a narrow bridge on matha'sVineyard
and now the US breadbasket is under the control of the internationalists, also, thru corpo-fascist organization and the "tax codes"
food is pretty important economically; even debt-slaves hafta eat; but the constant propaganda about OIL (and tyler is certainly not unique in pandering to this illusion) mans the TV doesn't hafta even mention the politics/economics of food which (golly) just "happens" to be about the only "markets" with any real action which i try to advise people of continually, btw
go ahead and take a nap if you wish; tyler has to get back to basics now and see if he has a site and ANY cred salvageable' i think it does
but is fightClub really for our tyler? or is it just a "theme" which the spooks dreamed up for him to play offa? and us too. of course
Thanks. I missed that one.
Have a feeling that when the heat finally gets turned up (when, not if on that) the talk around here has a chance to get a little more "real."
when the heat gets turned up, there may not be a here here. maybe better to talk now in between the lines?
Imagine the moment our internet/social media addicted population suddenly finds out the i-device they are glued to 24/7 doesnt work. lol.
From my perspective, I actually imagine that moment to be real freakin scary from the perspective of the information flow being shut off - and thinking that if the net goes down, the turd must have officially made contact with the fan.
it will make the burning of the library of alexandria seem like a bbq. starting to download all sorts of practical information and diy-stuff if and when that day comes, just in case. i choose to believe that if one is prepped enough, it may be a blessing in disguise, as it could feel like a giant weight of noise is lifted off our collective backs, enough to free enough of us to get to work finally. i dread and welcome that day in equal amounts.
just returned from six weeks sans electricity, working some land with only sunlight to guide the time spent awake - I surprised myself, thought I'd have some "withdrawals" but in the end the internet was only mildly missed. . . was grateful I'd never bothered with cell phone gadgetry, or teevee - those folks were lamenting the loss of their best friend(s), and occasionally snuck off to find a wi-fi hot spot, heh.
I realise that I knew I was going back to being "connected" and that it wasn't a loss but a short break, but there is something peaceful about not doing "news" that I appreciated.
nice art, as usual tip e. *smiles*
picked up an old Castaneda book from a street vendor last week. from the introduction:
"Don Juan stated that in order to arrrive at "seeing" one first had to "stop the world". "Stopping the world" was indeed an appropriate rendition of certain states of awareness in which the reality of everyday life is altered because the flow of interpretation, which ordinarily runs uninterruptedly, has been stopped by a set of circumstances alien to that flow.
DJ's precondition for "stopping the world" was that one had to be convinced; in other words, one had to learn the new description in a total sense, for the purpose of pitting it against the old one, and in that way break the dogmatic certainty, which we all share, that the validity of our perceptions, or our reality of the world, is not to be questioned."
welcome back to the World, aura. looking forward to you sharing your observations gained from your brief respite.
The rat is also right about food. Add water to that as well. Liquid gold. Bush family knows the drill. Paraguay anyone? Oil is up there too. Got to move the water and food around.
(most) everyone's trolling for dollas these days, most especially the profit prophets of doom...that should be obvious to anyone who's willing to see. all of these comments are being used as fodder to feed back to the masses (including anyone and everyone on here).
the disclaimer on this site makes it clear...hedge accordingly. caveat lector.
(and yes slewie, food is the real top of exeter's pyramid imo...it might be wise for the bugs to figure out the secret corridor that leads from gold to food while bypassing the oil chamber, but it won't be found here, except hidden in the rantings of lunatics.)
yes, food - and water - needs to be a top priority for everyone who considers themselves a "prepped" soul. . . folks will not survive without knowing where their sourced nourishment lies.
So, how do you "detach from the system"? Sounds like a sound bite or something. I mean, say you're a middle-aged guy with two kids in elementary school, working overtime to make ends meet, wife also working...what do you expect the poor schmuck to do?
"Detaching" could put your family at a big disadvantage. Your simplistic anarchy is just short of ridiculous.
Yes. Fight the system before it destroys you. It's NEVER too late. I'm fighting for about 8 years now. Working for a multinational and seeing the grasshoppers mentality from the inside. It's sick. It sucks. And it is boring. And when things get boring, it means they are easy to fight.
They know they suck.
Yes they suck, and suck and suck
there's only one way to fight the system, luckily it's peaceful, fast and effective...
Stop Paying Your Taxes ..stop feeding the suckers. Game Over
Great sentiment. But what if you're one of the rare individuals who has a job. That means the boss sends your taxes to the IRS for you.
And I know one can claim 100 dependents to almost eliminate the withholding, but that only works until they come and gather you up into a waiting vehicle paid for by somebody else's taxes.
Fucking tripe. Propaganda speaking to the useful idiots. So tired of the libertarian elite speaking out against the sheeple. Economic populism finds a home in the ignorance of the economic royalists.
To my way of thinking, the better plan would be to stop consuming. So far they don't throw you in prison for that and I'm really not into enriching the prison industrial complex at the moment.
The incredible strength of the Ron Paul movement and its embrace throughout the internet, on college campuses and by genuine conservatives does not signal a grassroots bottom-up type movement.
This is a national attack on the top leadership of this country; that’s why the target has become the Federal Reserve Bank. To fix America the object is no longer to reform the political parties; it’s to overwhelm them, to go over their heads, to go to the American people and take on the Congress.
It’s success is closer than anyone believes, given the outstanding effort by Paul people in all of the states. The showing is even more pronounced when one realizes that the Republican Primary voters are Republicans left after the George Bush presidency…war, inflation, big government, bailouts, Republican turncoats in Congress, and warmongering Israel-first neocons in positions of power.
For Ron Paul to do well against these odds in this sad, corrupted, now failing political party shows the incredible national strength of the Ron Paul revolution.
Ron Paul brought the movement to this point and to know him is to know that he will still be a critical part of the movement. It’s a mistake to wait for the white knight that will come to lead, yes, but it is also a mistake to believe that strong movements like this one do not produce white knights.
The Ron Paul movement is a freedom movement; you can’t stop it; it’s going to grow, and grow, and grow… And triumph.
it is silly to think that we could turn around the repub party to our viewpoint.
they have thiers and it is as set as stealing and corruption is to the democrat/nazi party.
the only way to build a movement is outside the 2 party facist control.....the complete destruction of the carpet bagging democrats and the invade everyone party should be our goal.
the chair IS empty....now is the time to take it
The US electoral system allows only 2 parties. Co-opting one of the existing parties is pretty much the only way to make change.
The electoral system, and the state itself, must be replaced. Any system where a small group of people can lord over the vast majority is evil and unacceptable. Change must occur at a much deeper level than "co-opting one of the existing parties".
You have no idea what the Electoral College is do you?
I'll tell you what, I'll give that up if we go back to electing federal senators the way it was intended.
You're well on your way to being controlled and have no comprehension of it or why it is happening to you. Your grand-daddy asked for it...so deal with it.
//////////////////////////
I take it your gonna have a vote somewhere out of the public eye to come up with a response?
I'll be more frank and honest (if you can handle it) federal senators shouldn't be elected by popular vote...at any tiime.
Agree or disagree Mr. Electoral College expert...and give reasons for why they should...sans Hillary banalities.
+1 on the federal senators.
The "up for bid" system of electing them is a perfect example of how the elites have disenfranchised the sheeple.
I can tell you this; it takes more than $10,000 a year to get into a decent Electoral College.