I was watching a couple of grown men talking about their perspectives on the Vietnam era. The show was meant to give two different views (pro-establishment and anti-establishment) about the period, but what it gave me was some interesting thoughts.
Does the internet dissipate political energy?
Is the mass venting you find on the internet a great tool for the established order to keep the level of discontent and dissent invisible?
When the populace is upset, it goes into dark corners where laptop monitors are easier to see and tap tap taps on favorite political blogs and personal blogs until the feeling goes away.
All across America, the venting takes place, and it all pours harmlessly out into such a vast receptacle, that the ripples are barely felt.
“The blogosphere was alive today with people upset that…”
Hardly worth looking up from your sammy you are eating, is it?
Think of all the past civil disobedience marches and actions. Remember Kent State? The million man march? The boycotts of the civil rights movement? The L.A. riots over "Can't we all just get along?" Rodney?
The blogosphere has actually made it easier on American society to ignore the irate and angry, and in turn, allows the federal government to continue marching onward, taking up our liberties and invading our privacy, while we tap tap tap away and tell a few other souls just how angry we are…
Subscribe to this thread- Flag as offensive
- Login or register to post comments
- 253 reads
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMzR3-O9Gjs
"It is economics that ties freedom to prosperity." Most people don't care about the ideals of freedom anymore. What they do care about is what is going to make their lives better. Support for government intervention is well-meaning but based on several misconceptions that a basic knowledge of economics could dispel. What we must do now is educate people about how free markets bring about prosperity and a higher standard of living for everyone. Once people understand economics, they will change the system.
This guy made so much sense. If he is right, our task is by no means impossible, and we may yet see free markets and small government in our lifetimes. In any case, it's worth a try. Great video!
Here's the link again:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMzR3-O9Gjs
What we really need is to unite with fellow freedom lovers who have been trying to work through congress for decades, namely the JOHN BIRCH SOCIETY. I have been talking and meeting with them for a few months now and I actually see results by education, teaching, and activism. If you don't like the Birchers then I urge you to find another constructive group to be involved in, start local, power lies in the congress folks, she has the power of the purse and the sword. Let's get her back, the old fashioned way, education and educating the voting peoples in your area. This won't happen overnight and might take our lifetime, just think how many lifetimes the conspirators are riding on... shalom
Drop the Libertarian Ideals And get real...
Some of my progressive blog stops made me realize a few things about "the movement" of smaller government and less worldly involvement militarily.
Libertarianism in its purest form isn't selling well.
I am all for smaller government and the draw down of our military into our own borders and our own business. But I can't be a full blown Libertarian idealist because I don't agree with it.
Here is my selling argument for "progressives" who think Obama will "fix" what GW Bush "broke".
"""Any way you slice it, the federal government is a bad repository of power.
The mindset that 'getting someone "more progressive" than George Bush into power will cure what ails us' lives in the roots of most American's complaints about government.
We think that, because the federal government has taken power away from local communities and heaped it upon itself, we need to focus all of our attention on the few individuals who can climb into those ranks.
What ever happened to "We The People", and community government?
Barack Obama "seems" to be far more rational and progressive than Bush, so we all run over to that side of the boat, not realizing that the boat is about to capsize. He's giving away free stuff to the poor! He's gonna fix the economy by spending money he's gonna take from rich people!
If you really want a progressive thought, here it is--
Get the federal government BACK to its Constitutional roots, a small and harmless body that protects our basic rights and nothing more.
Re-establish local government, county government, and state government, whereby locals can actually KNOW the locals who are in positions of power, go see them if they have a problem, participate in local environmental or social problems, etc...
This makes government MORE responsive AND responsible, and turns it into a finer instrument for ecological and social governance.
You people who have jumped on the Obama Bandwagon are actually tools of the corporate elite, as you are acknowledging the federal right to power, and feeding into its malfeasance.
Obama promises more federal use of power, more centralized governing.
(This is NOT an endorsement of McCain, as he is far worse in the use and abuse of federal powers...)
Get with it, all of you "progressive types! You are feeding the machine that ails you.
Y'all should be far smarter than that, but you're not."""
If you want people to buy into what you are selling, you have to sell them what they want.
The thing about internet forums is that they tend to attract only people who share the same perspective, and to be basically invisible to everyone else. I think a site like BTM is a great starting point, a place for us to hone our ideas and to learn new things about the freedom movement. But real progress toward breaking the matrix will only come when we take the discussions we are having here out into the real world. When our neighbors, colleagues at work, or friends at a dinner party start talking about politics it can require some courage to stand up for a libertarian alternative, but the idea isn't going to make it out there on its own without flesh and blood people standing behind it. So, by all means, log on to BTM and kvetch away-- but do take a break from time to time to talk about the issues with people face to face.
Excellent point I take whole heartedly. You guys are right, it does take bravery and courage to talk about politics everywhere you go everyday.
That is why I would love to see BTM come up with some business cards to use for advertising. We can do a brief political speal to those we encounter daily then hand them a card to come join us in the discussion here. I know I try to bring it up every chance I get even if it may not always be welcome or I just get the 'look' of apathy. But discussion with those asleep is where it starts.
We all were asleep at one time.
Makes you wonder what would happen if all of us found a way to organize some think tanks online to 'utilize' our 'blogs' to the fullest extent. There are probably 100s of 'blogs' that continue the same rant to relieve their frustrations with no avail. See think tanks..... Share your thoughts :D
How do we make our 'hobby' blogs pay off polictially?? Travel is too expensive, kids are discouraged for fear of violence, marshall law at political events, etc. etc.
What I suggest are physical acts outside of cyberspace.
What those acts should be is an open ended question.
Remember sit-ins?
(Makes me want to go out and buy some Hendrix and Crosby Stills Nash and Young...)
Unfortunately they are being ended by the martial law jack boots removing people, or putting you in a free speech / sit zone. That is one of the main reason there is so much ANGER and frustration today by many online. They have cut all avenues of dissent off.
That is why some of us get a little hostile when we start hearing that we need to watch what we 'talk' about online.
THIS IS THE LAST PLACE that there is that is being 'allowed' for people to gather, protest, sit in, etc.
The internet is the last remaining place of freedom today world wide, and it is soon to fall.
I would say also that when a person is demanding the right to exist, that right being manifest by allowance of that beings thoughts into manifestation as well. I would say that allowing a being to manifest and exist without any clauses, then that is freedom.
When we as a people can no longer have "Force", then are we as Conscious Entities in the Universe going to demand our allowance of Force?
If denied that free, birthright as Humans; which might be coming sooner than later, will we use further Force to repossess our given Birthright?
This already takes place today, here, in America....
The first amendment fell by the way side years ago, with the creation of such 'policy' to begin with.
Just the very fact that we have to keep referencing, defending, and justifying these subjects shows how far we have come from them being "self evident".
That is the dark question gnawing in the back of all minds.
How far will it go, and to what existent will I have to defend myself and others with Force.
That should be a topic that starts forming. It might send a message as well, letting them know, that the public is willing to defend ourselves, and that we wont be allowed to be physically forced into any situation no matter what comes.
This is a very interesting perspective. I don't know if I agree, disagree, or both. It just never occurred to me to look at it this way. Great perspective, Scott! If there are benefits to tap tap tapping, you are certainly right that one must bring that anger or dissatisfaction out of cyberspace and into the real world or it is useless.
In the movie The Matrix, Neo is invincible inside the Matrix, after his "epiphany," but as the series progresses, he must commence his fight in the real world, where he can be hurt, and eventually dies for his mission. Perhaps it is that way with each one of us. It is great to cultivate ideas and build community on the internet, but sooner or later you must go out and try to effect change in the real world where the stakes and the risks are real.
Great thoughts - thanks!
Tom Mullen
www.tommullen.net
www.myspace.com/skepticsongs
"Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because if there be one he must approve of the homage of reason more than that of blindfolded fear."
-Thomas Jefferson
Very interesting indeed.
DARPA did create the net. I wonder though if they where expecting what is taking place, or did they just make to many mistakes and the public found out, and that is now why they are threating to shut down the free internet?
I would think that they could not have created it, without knowing the ramifications. I know for a fact that there are many subjects that would not even be known about if it werent for the internet, subjects they dont want people knowing about.