CAN YOU HEAR US YET!!!

[butterfly77]

I scream this everyday as I watch the bullshit I hear on the so called news.

This is from a post on daily kos

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/06/10/983847/-As-The... -

As the world burns in the fires of poverty and cash free-flows to the pockets of robber barons, our press is playing As The World Turns. Our politicians are treated as celebrities, while our corporate overlords operate in secrecy; turning dials, greasing wheels, and watching the whole. fucking. thing. burn.

Can you hear us yet?

No?

Well, here's some TOP STORIES, Personal Storyteller's style!



HERE'S a TOP story for ya:

I met a man outside the local Red Cross building last Saturday. I was there to take CPR classes. It's a compulsion of mine, ever since my sons were young, to stay CPR certified. I was standing outside the building, finishing the last sips of a soda and waiting for the class to begin.

I went in, and there, amongst a sea of second-hand clothes, was a confused-looking man of about sixty. He was disheveled and dirty and he stank but there was a defiance in his eyes that his obvious shame would not kill.

Those blazing, proud eyes were downcast as he sauntered between a rack of jeans and a rack of men's shirts. I sat on a bench in the lobby and enjoyed the air conditioning. Suddenly he came to me and stood beside me for a moment. He wanted to say something.



Out here the world is burning. I struggle to pay bills, this man struggles to eat and survive. And hundreds of others like him wait to eat in my little town. As the world burns our media plays As The World Turns with celebrity congressmen and women.

His question was a just, honorable question. One well-put to our media, our government, and the world in general.

When is the top story going to be the struggling soup kitchens?

When is the top story going to be the lines at the unemployment offices?

When is the top story going to be how many college kids are moving back in with their families because they cannot find jobs with their degrees?

When is the top story going to be the abject poverty of minority communities?

When is the top story going to be how many families have had to move in with close relatives just to survive?

[HCE SuiGeneris]

1. K & R

[AmBlue]

2. I'd rec this 1,000 times if I could!!

The monstrous foolishness and willful negligence of our media and elected leaders in government should be prosecutable by law! These people are FAILING in their duty to serve the public.

Worst of all are those who would intentionally exacerbate our nation's economic free-fall on the wild-ass and reckless calculation that they might be able to win the Presidency back if an even greater number of our citizens are standing on soup lines come November 2012.

SHAME ON ALL OF THEM!!!

[BobbyBoring]

16. 999 to go

n/t

[Kaleko]

19. 100 when I clicked recommend.

[grilled onions]

3. The Blind and the Blinders

We have those who can't see the disaster around us and we have those who live in tunnel vision. They only see what they want to. Our so called news will gladly have a camera crew showing the line to a Hollywood premiere,baseball game or rock concert but when do they ever show lines going into soup kitchens,shelters,unemployment office or food pantries? City planners spend all their time trying to get more upscale housing,rec centers,bike trails and tourist attractions. I never see them worry about low cost housing,affordable senior complexes,jobs and making sure food pantries,local shelters etc are enough for those in need.
We can write LTTE but these stories need to be on the front page as real stories--real life and not just as a comment to fill in a back page of the paper.
Far too many communities try to hide those in need because they seem to think it reflects bad on the city/town. It's just the opposite.They need to tackle these problems with heads held high. It is not shameful to be poor or in need but it is shameful to ignore these problems.

[Lifelong Protester]

4. I can't rec this enough!

Well put.

[Lugnut]

5. K&R n/t

[TBF]

6. They will not hear us until we shut the damned city down -

I'm not sure if the general strike should be in DC or New York (maybe all the major cities), but that's what it's going to take.

[Somawas]

20. When people raise enough hell to become annoying.

When the permanently unemployed show some serious signs of getting radicalized and being willing to do something with their pent up anger.

[russspeakeasy]

35. I would like it to happen in New york, That would get the most coverage.

[drpepper67]

7. Americans spend 1.2 Billion dollars annually on pet food.

We would rather feed our dogs, cats and gold fish than each other.

Sad isn't it?

People pay $6000 for a hip for the their 10 year old German Shepard, while grandma has to wait for her hip.

[BobbyBoring]

17. I can top that

My nutso neighbor just paid over a grand to have a malignant mass removed from a 14 YO dog that was in no pain and had no symptoms other than a runny sore. I love our dogs, but there is a point~

[TBF]

22. Why should we not love our animals?

I'd pay that if it prolonged his life. I've had to put down two dogs in three years for ailments relating to pancreas and kidney that were not going to get any better. I wouldn't pay that much for an extra week, but for another year - sure.

And why does it have to be either/or - if we'd tax the wealthy and stop killing people overseas we'd have plenty of money to feed everyone (including pets).

[locahungaria]

32. Excellent point, TBF......

...Why DOES it have to be either/or? There is certainly enough money/wealth in this country to go around.

[tabasco]

23. I like dogs better than humans.

Don't like it? Tough shit.

[TorchTheWitch]

40. So do I

And mine eat as well as I do... no crap dog "food" with animal "byproducts" unfit for human consumption and fillers that do nothing but go in one end and out the other to make people have to feed their dog more food. He's my family and my best friend and has been a better family member and best friend then any of them. If only I could be even a fraction of the marvelous individual he believes that I am.

[TBF]

42. I actually do as well in general, horses too -

I have a lot of empathy for people but feel more comfortable with animals. Probably my country upbringing ...

[butterfly77]

46. ...

[flvegan]

36. And here you sit on the internet.

Using (I assume) your computer.

Even if it's a public connection on a public computer, how many could we have fed with what you're needlessly burning through.

Oh, the shame.

[HappyMe]

8. It's just sad.

They won't hear anyone, because few, I think, ever actually see what really goes on out here.

[HappyMe]

9. kick

Because there are other issues out there.

[rusty fender]

10. "it takes time"

so Obama said in his weekly radio address--isn't than enough for you? He is doing everything he can! The wars are keeping us safe! He killed bin Laden! Supreme Court! :sarcasm:

[felix_numinous]

11. The people have been silenced.

No individual or society can maintain sanity without having basic needs met and one basic need is being seen and heard.

We are allowed to occasionally demonstrate with a permit--controlled and patrolled--so that we can let off steam and feel good about ourselves for awhile, and the press treats us like the latest shiny object (if at all) before moving on to the next story. So this is not working.

But they are not the only ones listening, they cannot define who we are. We listen to each other, give each other support, and this is where the country is going, IMHO. We have to pool our resources, because without homes, food, and health we cannot get anything done. First things first.

My answer to your post is: "I hear you!! If this system doesn't need us anymore, then we should declare independence, unplug ourselves and stop feeding this corporate monster in all it's forms and rebuild our communities from the ground up. We don't need monopoly money to do it, just community, trade amongst ourselves and compassion for each other."

If this system does not acknowledge our existence, what other choices do we have? We don't have the ENERGY or TIME to spend banging our heads against this corporate wall. Not everyone has to pool their resources, but all the people not supported by this system will HAVE to, and I am hoping for some creative solutions.

Thanks for opening this discussion, peace.

[butterfly77]

13. Some people are...

just facing the realities of what has really been going on in this country. Some people can't believe that they aren't living in the 50's and 60's.

Some people are just realizing who and what this country has been for many years and now they can see more clearly as they sit home if they have one...but for some reason they can't seem to see or hear it when republiCONS state day after day in words and actions that...http://youtu.be/VxGoyTWmA3k

[ooglymoogly]

12. Without an honest media, an honest fourth estate;

the powerless might as well just go pound sand if they are looking for, or are in desperate need of justice.

[obxhead]

14. I rec'd this article yesterday hoping it would make it to the home page.

Glad to see your thread on the same article made it. :)

K&R (again)

[xchrom]

15. Recommend

[Uncle Joe]

18. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, butterfly.

[deutsey]

21. None of that sells products

and that's what the news is supposed to do.

:evilfrown:

[bvar22]

24. !!! K&R THAT is THE story of America today!

There IS a solution.

"We have come to a clear realization of the fact that true individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. “Necessitous men are not free men.”<2> People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made.

In our day these economic truths have become accepted as self-evident. We have accepted, so to speak, a second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established for all—regardless of station, race, or creed.

Among these are:

*The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation;

*The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;

*The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;

*The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;

*The right of every family to a decent home;

*The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;

*The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;

*The right to a good education.

All of these rights spell security. And after this war is won we must be prepared to move forward, in the implementation of these rights, to new goals of human happiness and well-being.

Americas own rightful place in the world depends in large part upon how fully these and similar rights have been carried into practice for all our citizens.

For unless there is security here at home there cannot be lasting peace in the world."---FDR

[Utopian Leftist]

29. Brilliant Quote:

For unless there is security here at home there cannot be lasting peace in the world."---FDR

That really sums everything up, doesn't it? Americans are such blood-thirsty warmongers because we have no security of our own. We're the classic battered children of the world community, indoctrinated from the time we begin school to believe that everything our forefathers did was written in stone and guided over by angels, and that ours is the best way of life. At what age is one EXPECTED to shake off the shackles of ignorance and say, "Enough with the propaganda, speak to me of the TRUTH!"? When adults prefer fairy tales to science, at what age?

[locahungaria]

30. Ah! FDR's Second Bill of Rights...

It is truly a shame that I see no second FDR anywhere in sight.

[defendandprotect]

25. K/R ---

[bluevoter4life]

26. THANK YOU

And a HUGE K&R. I'm one of those "recent" college grads who had to move back home. When I first entered college in 2003, HR Recruiters were practically begging for resumes outside college graduation ceremonies. Nowadays, people like me, 26 years old, and nothing to show for it. Shitty part time job, beat up old car, living with mom and dad. It's embarrassing and has no indication of stopping anytime soon.

[SHRED]

27. One of our TOP STORIES here in San Diego

On the local news TV was a story about MTV coming to a house in La Jolla to film episodes of the "Real World" and what the neighbors thought.

Holy shit.
Talk about free advertising!

----

[hay rick]

28. K&R

[Butch350]

31. Hey!

Lay off the pet owners! You dam right i'd pay 6000 dollars for my dog's whatever. You don't like it. TDB!

[PhillySane]

33. How the fuck did a discussion of pet's get in here?

I feel like I'm on Southpark on this board sometimes. I mean, WTF? Where does this shit come from?

K&R

[butterfly77]

43. This is because some people think that..

pets are more important than people. Someone on DU once told me when we were discussing pets and animals that they would rather see a child die than an animal.


They were highly upset when other DUers tried to get him/her to see how irrational they sounded.

[russspeakeasy]

34. It will be a story when it starts happening to the elite.

The press pays attention to individuals and families that have slipped from middle class to poor for only a 5 minute segment. The gib story won't be shown until it happens to them and/or their ilk.

[Tripod]

37. OMG

Help

[DeSwiss]

38. You would need a "real" press for those top stories. - K&R n/t

[Moostache]

39. The moment is NOW...just as Limbaugh came at the Reagan era, we need a counterpoint.

This is not to say we need another voice on the left howling about the moron at EIB and his golden mic and limitless supply of pharmacological goodies.

Our message is simple - THIS SHIT CAN'T STAY ON PAGE 7 ANY LONGER!!!!

WE need the voice of the true left to represent the real news from around the globe and to shine the light of truth on our worthless corporate mouthpiece media as well. Hell...I am over-weight and obnoxious...I'll volunteer for the gig if anyone can get me on air in front of a mic and a phone bank. I can very easily offend people by the masses here in St. Louis, East Kansas...you need that to garner enough attention to have the idiots in the mainstream give you enough free pub to take hold!

[butterfly77]

41. ...

[RT Atlanta]

44. Kicking since I can no longer rec

Truly, your questions are the right ones.

I'll add another - how do "we, the People" make sure that these questions are heard by the collective body of our citizenry? I wish I knew the answer....

[butterfly77]

45. One way is to post these questions..

wherever and whenever you can to get people thinking about what has really been going on for the ignorant,uninformed and brainwashed.

[butterfly77]

47. ...