Haven't we (we should know "we" by now) known ourselves to not be seekers of real power for whom "power" is, subliminally, a dirty word. We seek the ineffable force called justice to do its disembodied work. That is an aspect of equating the good with innocence, and power with malevolence. Isn'…
Haven't we (we should know "we" by now) known ourselves to not be seekers of real power for whom "power" is, subliminally, a dirty word. We seek the ineffable force called justice to do its disembodied work. That is an aspect of equating the good with innocence, and power with malevolence. Isn't it true that nearly all popular and folk narratives teach us this orientation. We're watching the cultivation of moral illness as facilitated by wealth, which tried, forever, to promote wealth as a sign of virtue.
Organized labor as a power on our side has major weaknesses: The leaders are corruptible by union money that shift their politics to the other side. Many workers are not amenable to unionizing unless you're like the NYPD which is the secret, permanent government of NYC. Unions aren't political organizations in that their interests, their mission, is very narrow. A union can only exist as long as their industry exists, not being independent from the hand that feeds them. This isn't an anti-union rant.
There is something else, as you suggested, that can be advanced by using the crisis developing now: Developing ordinary citizens' class consciousness toward a solidarity of interests. It'll take education, art, relationships, community, nearly everything that makes life worth living in opposition to the consumerism we're trained to practice. This proposition has been well articulated but suppressed. It does, however, involve abandoning distractions like sports and mindless amusements and placing one's attention where the real sport is- the politics called for in that famous Franklin quote. Making that, not optional, but a necessity of life. That would be the kind of union that isn't merely about wages and benefits of a limited group, many of whom, BTW, are not with us if they're simplemindedly comfortable enough.
The problem that glares at us now is that we're lacking a political party that represents collectively ordinary citizens in a broad sense. The raw material is there but the opposition propaganda and mythology are vast.
I appreciate what you're saying, although I don't think all of us buy into the notion that power is bad. I've had many positions of personal power, and feel fine about that. And I have a lot of respect for people who wield power in ways that benefit the greater good. It's a myth that prevails, though, and is worth busting.
And, ya, I agree that we have to empower ordinary people so that we can transform our communities.
As much as I support unions, I agree that some are problematic.
The political party issue is huge, and all over the western world there are very few parties that represent ordinary citizens. Here in Canada, when we have a powerful candidate who supports our interests, the parties -- and I'm talking Green and NDP here, although I'm sure it's the same with Liberals and Conservatives -- aren't allowed to run.
I'd like to see an international left party, since the conservative agenda is so consolidated, and it would be great to be able to support each other between countries. I've fantasized about a party called 'Solidarity' or something like that.
We're in a very desperate situation, and I hope we're able to organize and do a major course correct.
We can't forget that BRICS is working for the same kind of thing, except with global majority countries. We have allies, just not in western countries.
I find you're comment worth expanding Diana.
Haven't we (we should know "we" by now) known ourselves to not be seekers of real power for whom "power" is, subliminally, a dirty word. We seek the ineffable force called justice to do its disembodied work. That is an aspect of equating the good with innocence, and power with malevolence. Isn't it true that nearly all popular and folk narratives teach us this orientation. We're watching the cultivation of moral illness as facilitated by wealth, which tried, forever, to promote wealth as a sign of virtue.
Organized labor as a power on our side has major weaknesses: The leaders are corruptible by union money that shift their politics to the other side. Many workers are not amenable to unionizing unless you're like the NYPD which is the secret, permanent government of NYC. Unions aren't political organizations in that their interests, their mission, is very narrow. A union can only exist as long as their industry exists, not being independent from the hand that feeds them. This isn't an anti-union rant.
There is something else, as you suggested, that can be advanced by using the crisis developing now: Developing ordinary citizens' class consciousness toward a solidarity of interests. It'll take education, art, relationships, community, nearly everything that makes life worth living in opposition to the consumerism we're trained to practice. This proposition has been well articulated but suppressed. It does, however, involve abandoning distractions like sports and mindless amusements and placing one's attention where the real sport is- the politics called for in that famous Franklin quote. Making that, not optional, but a necessity of life. That would be the kind of union that isn't merely about wages and benefits of a limited group, many of whom, BTW, are not with us if they're simplemindedly comfortable enough.
The problem that glares at us now is that we're lacking a political party that represents collectively ordinary citizens in a broad sense. The raw material is there but the opposition propaganda and mythology are vast.
Hi Mario,
I appreciate what you're saying, although I don't think all of us buy into the notion that power is bad. I've had many positions of personal power, and feel fine about that. And I have a lot of respect for people who wield power in ways that benefit the greater good. It's a myth that prevails, though, and is worth busting.
And, ya, I agree that we have to empower ordinary people so that we can transform our communities.
As much as I support unions, I agree that some are problematic.
The political party issue is huge, and all over the western world there are very few parties that represent ordinary citizens. Here in Canada, when we have a powerful candidate who supports our interests, the parties -- and I'm talking Green and NDP here, although I'm sure it's the same with Liberals and Conservatives -- aren't allowed to run.
I'd like to see an international left party, since the conservative agenda is so consolidated, and it would be great to be able to support each other between countries. I've fantasized about a party called 'Solidarity' or something like that.
We're in a very desperate situation, and I hope we're able to organize and do a major course correct.
We can't forget that BRICS is working for the same kind of thing, except with global majority countries. We have allies, just not in western countries.