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Post by POA on Apr 10, 2004 4:43:05 GMT -5
It is often said that the protests in advance of the invasion of Iraq in the United States last year were unprecedented. Yet, at the same time, they failed to actually stop the invasion; and in fact, a lot of "Democrats" failed to listen to the protests whatsoever; even (or especially) in places where they really would have had plenty of public support for taking a stand against the Bush administration slaughter and criminality. I know that I've certainly given Feinstein and earful, and she's been nothing but a dismal failure.
Are protests as effective as they used to be? If not, what would be a better set of means for taking action to show our revulsion with the American government and it's codependents?
I've been thinking about several different methods:
1) General strike.
2) Protests at surprising places.
National conventions are predictable targets for protests. Unfortunately, what this also seems to mean is that:
a) Authorities are prepared for them.
b) No politicians actually listen to them any more.
c) As kind of a corollary to a), authorities use predictable protests to bolster their own worldview.
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Post by Moses on Apr 10, 2004 12:08:37 GMT -5
I think the protests were useful because it demonstrated that there was widespread opposition to the war -- but clearly, one of the major agenda goals of the neo-cons in both parties is to snuff out democracy and make public policy a matter of what a handful of special interests have engineered for peoples.
The key is money. The monied activist organizations like MoveOn and True Majority have proven to be allied to establishment Party powers. Working Assets has taken to raising funds through credit card solicitations.
True Majority has been very helpful here in Maryland, however, by placing ads in the district of a Democratic Senator who was abusing her power in the State senate to kill efforts to ensure a paper trail for the Diebold system our state contracted for.
But to me, this is the key. Go after representatives at the federal level in their districts.
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Post by calabi-yau on Apr 11, 2004 18:14:05 GMT -5
Obviously, normal protests have not had the desired impact and from what I know, general strikes are not favored in the workaholic US of A.
I like POA's suggestion about spontaneous protests in unusual locations, but that would be hard to pull unless you have a well-connected and dedicated base to rely on.
Economic protest I believe is also feasable, again if there are sufficient numbers to make it work. Without money being put back into the market economy, corporations would surely awake to the situation REAL quick and who can force anyone to buy anything ?
Shop at Wall-Mart, eat at Arby's, drive a SUV or you're dead meat !?!
Are Americans willing to sacrifice convenience until their government listens ?
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Post by Moses on May 1, 2004 20:58:38 GMT -5
An example of LACK of action that really bothers me, is the failure of those who understand how detrimental the media is to stage a mass protest by terminating their cable service en masse.
This is yet another area where the hypocrisy of those who term themselves as "Christians" is seen writ large.
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Post by Jay Berner on May 7, 2004 20:17:09 GMT -5
On a practical note, everybody help me think of what I can do in Boston during Demfest. Set up some tables with literature? Rent a Dick Cheney costume and get torn to shreds? If nobody can come up with anything better I'm going to try to approach the Fleet Center with a sign. I was scoping out the terrain this past Tuesday, and it looks like it could be easily controlled by a few hundred cops with horses and dogs.
So let's put on our thinking caps and figure out what a 40-yr-old man with a limp can pull off. Probably a great chance to recruit folks for the State Party.
By the way - the first meeting of the New Dems of MA will be tomorrow afternoon. There will be two of us attending, which is pitiful, but a start.
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Post by Jay Berner on May 7, 2004 20:19:50 GMT -5
It looks like the nannyware considers "D i c k Cheney" an obscenity!
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Post by calabi-yau on May 7, 2004 21:30:52 GMT -5
On a practical note, everybody help me think of what I can do in Boston during Demfest. . . By the way - the first meeting of the New Dems of MA will be tomorrow afternoon. There will be two of us attending, which is pitiful, but a start. I'll suggest something on one condition...nobody laugh ! Do you have a good beat Jay ? Any bongos around ? (I did say nobody laugh) Seriously, nothing moves a crowd like a good beat. The more percussionists banging away in unison and with rythm at a protest march, the better. I speak from experience...really. It unifies the crowd movement, brings rythm to the chanted protest words and loads the atmosphere with positive energy. People are automatically pulled in toward the beat...good time to recruit. Tam tam tadam, tam tam tadam tadam... Have a good meeting tomorrow. It is a start. |
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Post by POA on May 10, 2004 20:33:11 GMT -5
It looks like the nannyware considers "D i c k Cheney" an obscenity! Well, you could use Thingycheney (which, in it's own humorous way sort of fits because there are many things distinctly wrong with him) or Frankencheney (I like the last, actually).  |
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Post by POA on May 10, 2004 20:36:01 GMT -5
I'll suggest something on one condition...nobody laugh ! Do you have a good beat Jay ? Any bongos around ? (I did say nobody laugh) Seriously, nothing moves a crowd like a good beat. The more percussionists banging away in unison and with rythm at a protest march, the better. I speak from experience...really. It unifies the crowd movement, brings rythm to the chanted protest words and loads the atmosphere with positive energy. People are automatically pulled in toward the beat...good time to recruit. Tam tam tadam, tam tam tadam tadam... Have a good meeting tomorrow. It is a start. I'm not laughing because that's actually a very good point. |
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Post by stonefruit on May 10, 2004 20:48:10 GMT -5
Protests are just focus groups...
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Post by Ropegun on May 10, 2004 21:07:10 GMT -5
You guys should know that I have a full drum kit, as well as a djembe in my apartment.
As a matter of fact, I have a full digital recording studio in my apartment.
If we ever need to record things like radio ads, I can certainly do it here, and professionally too.
Just a plug for me ;D
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Post by calabi-yau on May 10, 2004 21:28:23 GMT -5
Thanks POA. I thought I'd just made a fool of myself and I'm usually good at it. In line with bongos, welcome to Montreal's Tam TamSummer in Québec. There is nothing like it and it's got rythm. |
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Post by POA on May 11, 2004 20:41:43 GMT -5
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