Democracy in Jeapordy - Americans can't afford to protest

[rpgamerd00d]

The economy of the 1970s was still at a point where one parent could work and one could "stay-at-home". It was also an environment where job security was extremely high. People were still employed "for life" back then, and had great amounts of leeway to take time off of work if they really needed it. College students for the most part did not work while attending college, they simply didn't need to. So, they had lots of free time as well.

You combine all these things, and you can understand how so many people could afford to protest in the 1970s.

Now look at 2006. Both parents must work, and work 50+ hour weeks. sometimes weekends. If they try to take off unpaid time, they are denied, and if they do anyway, they get fired. College kids are all working every free hour they are not in class to afford college.

The American people simply do not have the free time we used to have, and this directly inhibits our ability to protest. Until the American people are out of work and desperate on the street, they simply cannot afford to protest except on the occasional weekend.

We need to protest this government, but we need a totally new way to do it. We need to get into the media in new ways, we need to express our opinions for all to hear in a way that we can't be squelched. We need new ideas on how to get the attention of the public eye whether it wants to look at us or not.

The only thing I can think of is ad-buying in major media outlets. PACs who are highly organized seem to be able to put commercials on primetime TV. Hell, look at all those anti-cigarette ads from "The Truth" you see every 5 freaking minutes on TV. Can you imagine if we had that kind of financial backing to protest about things WE want to protest about?

Folks, this is the path. Somehow, we need to organize on a national/international level like those anti-cigarette folks, and plaster the TV/newspapers/radio with our own protest ads. Its the only way we can keep our jobs and still get our message out, because the old form of protesting is just too limiting in current society (especially with "free speech zones").

We should start compiling lists of PACs and other organizations we can support financially, and then we need to contact them and actually do it.

[Coyote_Bandit]

1. You could

finance those ads through selective boycotts, and a careful choice of what goods and services to purchase.

[rpgamerd00d]

2. We need a massive campaign for this. -nt

[rpgamerd00d]

3. self-kick

[rpgamerd00d]

4. again

[PATRICK]

5. Moveon.org?

Sounds like the same general idea. The only trouble is the bad guys are all connected and living in an echo chamber while all the good guys have independence and diversity, not even united enough in the causes they share. The voting reform advocacy is truly hodge podge and differs wildly from region to region while the juggernaut sales machine for the select cheat companies is streamlined like a Blitzkrieg, uniform and everywhere.

[rpgamerd00d]

6. We need all these PACs to combine, or one to emerge that...

... will be the voice of the Dem Party in general. Or the DNC needs to "back" or endorse one, so we can all contribute to one. Or something.

We need to buy commercials on TV like the anti-cigarette people do. We need full page ads in the major papers weekly. Bigtime cost stuff.

[Ufomammut]

7. Weak, passive, indifferent

Mass demonstrations happened in the late 60s and early 70s for two reasons:
1) The death toll of young Americans was very high, hence, college aged kids united and said "fuck you" to their gov out of self preservation.

2) People weren't as propagandized, desensitized, depoliticized, "dumbed down" and superficially egocentric. That's what happens after thirty years of steady exposure to corporate "values."

My guess is that since a mass revolt hasn't happened after all that's happened, our populace is a sitting duck for whatever evil shit the NWO dishes out ...how people will respond once the shit really hits the fan is another question. Probably just buckle like a belt.

[abczyx]

8. Empathy

Precisely, Ufomammut.

* advisory * ... rhetorical question ahead:

Why do the majority of people everywhere need something to hit them personally in order to act so as to prevent that eventuality?

[Ufomammut]

10. The complicated futility of ignorance

Many, many people have written books on the subject, lol

It rests with what people come to believe - or are led to believe - is "normal," and not wanting to break from that controlled pattern. Never underestimate the power of denial. Plus, the cultural conditioning and constant propaganda here makes our situation very unique .....ha, yeah, "unique," that's one way of putting it.

[Trailrider1951]

9. I totally agree with your sentiments, however

there is an easier and cheaper way to get the word out. It can also be done in the wee hours of the morning when working people have time:

www.freewayblogger.com

If we all did a small effort in our own communities, there would be no escaping the message.

:hi:

[rpgamerd00d]

11. Thats cool