General Discussion

hifiguy

(33,688 posts)

5. Good point

Wed Apr 11, 2012, 11:36 AM

Apr 2012

I have been reading Chomsky's "Chronicles of Dissent" recently, and he makes one excellent point: Civil disobedience and nonviolence only work when TPTB are unwilling to use massive force (i.e., militarized police and the actual military) against the dissenters. Gandhi could appeal to English traditions and world opinion, MLK could appeal to the words of the Declaration and to the conscience of many whites. This made the use of massive force untenable.

The 99% are pretty much up shit creek in this regard. Only a small portion of the 1% is not sociopathic, and the majority will gleefully use massive force in an instant should the peasantry start getting out of line. The ensuing bloodbath will never make the M$M, and the US PTB has never given one happy monkey fuck about world opinion (see, e.g., Vietnam, Iraq). Prospects are not good.

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Remember when I ranted that the point of modern Capitalism is to kill off millions of people? [View all] Zalatix Apr 2012 OP

If they want a war, they are going to get one this time. bemildred Apr 2012 #1

That's the problem - most liberals hate guns; and nobody uses their guns. Zalatix Apr 2012 #2

Good point hifiguy Apr 2012 #5

No we don't. We have plenty. bemildred Apr 2012 #6

So you advocate preparing for violence? el_bryanto Apr 2012 #7

I advocate being aware of the situation. bemildred Apr 2012 #8

Self defense is a 2nd Amendment right. Zalatix Apr 2012 #13

Kind of a fine line in this case I'd say el_bryanto Apr 2012 #16

99% of the killing won't be by imprisonment or murder Zalatix Apr 2012 #17

I really must agree with you. I believe the policies of today are geared for the next Blaze Diem Apr 2012 #9

I think you're operating on outdated assumptions. Jackpine Radical Apr 2012 #10

One question... Iran? Really? Zalatix Apr 2012 #14

I think the violent ones MUSt persuade towards the peaceful alternative. WingDinger Apr 2012 #18

A most excellent and long-headed post. hifiguy Apr 2012 #3

I remember during coverage of the Ethiopian famine of the 1980s Lydia Leftcoast Apr 2012 #4

Another shocking display was during the 1972 Nicaragua earthquake Blue_Tires Apr 2012 #11

The resentments incurred during that period went a long way in Lydia Leftcoast Apr 2012 #20

Yup, how did nonviolent resistance help with that? Zalatix Apr 2012 #15

I was thinking about this recently when the elderly Greek pensioner publically killed himself. enough Apr 2012 #12

And that was exactly what I was thinking!! Zalatix Apr 2012 #21

The 1% does not want "useless eaters" (those without employment or money to spend) or kestrel91316 Apr 2012 #19

capitalism requires a surplus population to keep wages down tralala Apr 2012 #22

That's where manufactured shortages fit in Zalatix Apr 2012 #27

but the capitalist needs to move product in order to get money tralala Apr 2012 #28

When you own the water, you are the landlord and creditor Zalatix Apr 2012 #29

Were does their hated of birthcontrol and abortion fit into this? Swede Apr 2012 #23

It's a way to control and divide.... WCGreen Apr 2012 #25

furthermore, how come there are more people than ever tralala Apr 2012 #26

Capitalism isn't the problem. Deregulation and obscene profits are. Initech Apr 2012 #24

Japan's economy is an unholy mess. Zalatix Apr 2012 #30

OK maybe that wasn't the best example. Initech Apr 2012 #31

An example of sucesful capitalism? white_wolf Apr 2012 #32