OpEdNews » The Link Between How We Think and Whether We'll Win: II. Restoration, not Revolution, Is the Realistic Goal

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Tag(s): Change; Democracy; Left Wing; Liberalism; Public Opinion; Public Opinion US; Revolution
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August 17, 2006 at 09:57:44

The Link Between How We Think and Whether We'll Win: II. Restoration, not Revolution, Is the Realistic Goal

by Andrew Bard Schmookler Page 2 of 2 page(s)

www.opednews.com

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Radical change is now afoot in America, but it is coming not from the left but from the amoral forces aligned with the right. The radical change the leftists would like is nowhere near being on the menu.

Of the scenarios it is at all realistic to consider, the best is for the mainstream of the American public to join forces with the left in defense of our shared, established, traditional American values and institutions.

This would be true even if the left were right about the flaws in those established American institutions and values. So long as it is agreed that the way power is being wielded in America now is worse than usual, the defense of liberal democracy against fascism is what the left should willingly agree to fight for.

Willingly, but how enthusiastically? For those who regard the difference between the Bush regime and its predecessors as less than dramatic, the goal of restoring the status quo ante of our liberal democracy might be less than inspiring.

Which brings us to the questions, to be dealt with in the next installment: how profound is the difference between the Bushite regime and the normal political situation in America, and how worth fighting for is the traditional system of America's liberal democracy?

Here too, I will argue, the left's way of thinking is flawed.

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Andrew Bard Schmookler's website www.nonesoblind.org is devoted to understanding the roots of America's present moral crisis and the means by which the urgent challenge of this dangerous moment can be met. Dr. Schmookler is also the author of such books as The Parable of the Tribes: The Problem of Power in Social Evolution (SUNY Press) and Debating the Good Society: A Quest to Bridge America's Moral Divide (M.I.T. Press). He also conducts regular talk-radio conversations in both red and blue states.

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8 comments

Joel S. Hirschhorn is the author of Delusional Democracy - Fixing the Republic Without Overthrowing the Government (www.delusionaldemocracy.com). His current political writings have been greatly influenced by working as a senior staffer for the U.S. Congress and for the National Governors Association. He advocates a Second American Revolution, beginning with an Article V Convention to propose constitutional amendments. He is Chair of the Independent Party of Maryland.
Joel S. HirschhornJoel S. Hirschhorn is the author of Delusional Democracy - Fixing the Republic Without Overthrowing the Government (www.delusionaldemocracy.com). His current political writings have been greatly influenced by working as a senior staffer for the U.S. Congress and for the National Governors Association. He advocates a Second American Revolution, beginning with an Article V Convention to propose constitutional amendments. He is Chair of the Independent Party of Maryland.

Despair versus revolt

I find myself ambivalent about so much of what Schmookler says; there is value in getting more people to recognize the delusional nature of our democracy and economy, and then to transform their anger, disgust etc into something positive; but a revolt of we the people must also be guided by specific avenues of feasible, practical action; thus specific electoral reforms, support for third-parties, and greater use of ballot initiatives etc must show Americans doors that they can walk through; it all comes down to critical mass; I often think that there may be 1 million or so people who regularly read web sites like opednews, vote for third-party candidates, and read the many books (like my Delusional Democracy)that tell the Truth and provide solid information for fixing our country and our lives; clearly a million or so is not sufficient, and so much Internet activity seems to be doing more fragmenting than uniting, as so many groups and individuals push their own agendas/ideas/values; I remain convinced that as the middle class suffers more and more, we may yet reach a critical mass for a peaceful revolution

by Joel S. Hirschhorn (133 articles, 37 quicklinks, 60 diaries, 533 comments) on Thursday, August 17, 2006 at 10:17:33 AM

Nezua is an author and illustrator by trade, a rebel at heart, and a fugitive from the iron claw of ennui. You can find more of his writing at http://www.theunapologeticmexican.org , his videos at http://think.mtv.com/profile/Nezua , and graphic art at http://www.xolagrafik.com
NezuaNezua is an author and illustrator by trade, a rebel at heart, and a fugitive from the iron claw of ennui. You can find more of his writing at http://www.theunapologeticmexican.org , his videos at http://think.mtv.com/profile/Nezua , and graphic art at http://www.xolagrafik.com

Unreadable

I don't mean to lead in with a less-than-relevant comment, but the bolding thing really decreases readability.

by Nezua (42 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 93 comments) on Thursday, August 17, 2006 at 2:57:53 PM

Practical Now, Ideological Soon

I agree that we need a practical push to hold Bush accountable for his crimes. I support that fully.

But I think ONE of the many good things that can be salvaged from this horrible time is that many are beginning to question the rotten framework in place. That is amazingly good news.

by Nezua (42 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 93 comments) on Thursday, August 17, 2006 at 2:59:31 PM

My name it means nothing, my age it means less. My deeds of activism are mine to enjoy and share as I feel necesary, not as some clown in a small forum's administration thinks I must..This place gets worse each and every visit.
Member banned on June 3, 2008 for repeated abuse of editors.
ardee D.My name it means nothing, my age it means less. My deeds of activism are mine to enjoy and share as I feel necesary, not as some clown in a small forum's administration thinks I must..This place gets worse each and every visit.
Member banned on June 3, 2008 for repeated abuse of editors.

I wish I could have finished this article

but I simply could not. Where is the difference, Mr.Schmookler, between your refusal to tolerate the absolute truth about this nations rather sordid history and George Bush refusing to hear the truth about his administrations endless incompetence?

A wise man once said that those who refuse to learn from the past are doomed to repeat it, thus what you expound here is dooming us all. I think that you are learning the lessons of the current democratic leadership, sad to say, as they seem unable or unwilling to speak the truth about history and events , current or past, thus , should they come to power, the capitalist system will thrive intact, with all its inherent ills.

What you suggest, speaking only half truths, or waging only a portion of the battle, you claim is the road to victory. But what will you have won? The installation of another administration that acts only on behalf of those who supply the campaign funds, thus continuing the world wide aggression that has seen numerous governments toppled and murderous dictatorships installed so that United Fruit or Union Carbide or Exxon can safely invest in the region....

If you do not know the truth of our nations history I suggest you learn it, if you do know the truth and simply choose to ignore it because you are afraid of alientating the voter, well what good are you doing?

by ardee D. (6 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 2377 comments) on Thursday, August 17, 2006 at 5:56:30 PM

Geery lived off the grid for 15 years in an earth-sheltered, solar heated home, while his kids learned in school that solar energy isn't feasible. NAPTA hosts a page on Geery's foibles in education, and explains how he got his butt fired from a tenured teaching position. Here's a short clip of his most recent solar contraption; for more on that project, and Geery's contention that the Wright Brothers took a wrong turn, please visit his airship page (hyperblimp.com). Apparently, Geery is the only...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Daniel GeeryGeery lived off the grid for 15 years in an earth-sheltered, solar heated home, while his kids learned in school that solar energy isn't feasible. NAPTA hosts a page on Geery's foibles in education, and explains how he got his butt fired from a tenured teaching position. Here's a short clip of his most recent solar contraption; for more on that project, and Geery's contention that the Wright Brothers took a wrong turn, please visit his airship page (hyperblimp.com). Apparently, Geery is the only...

to see more of bio, click on member name

True or false?

The article states, "Awakening the American people to the true nature and conduct of this regime can rally a majority of the American people around such shared American values."

I know an octogenarian who was a Republican all his life, who has on several occasions claimed he is very sorry he voted for Bush. I'm pretty sure this fellow is representative of many in his generation. I hear people everywhere talking about how bad Bush is for this country. No one I have talked politics with in the past year or two has supported Bush. Bush's ratings have been in the dumps for a mighty long time now. Editorials and letters to the editor seem to be anti-Bush here and there and everywhere. Am I mistaken in my perception that a majority of people already have at least one eye open regarding the nature and conduct of this regime?

On the other hand, if they are not awakened yet, I imagine they'll sleep through Armageddon. And I am frankly worn out sounding alarms. If the majority of Americans are still sleeping, do they really deserve to go on? Possibly, but I'll be damned if I can see why.

I believe I signed a petition for impeachment about two years ago, and one more since then. What's become of that? Last I heard, the thinking was that with Republicans in control, it would go nowhere. So the idea was to vote the cronies out. If Americans fail to do that, it may be time to accept that we will indeed be witnessing the extinction of the human race.

Is that really so bad, given the nature of it?

by Daniel Geery (26 articles, 74 quicklinks, 123 diaries, 750 comments) on Thursday, August 17, 2006 at 10:28:43 PM

A writer is a rogue goose. All other gees fly in a flock formation; every goose knows his place and time for honking. The rogue goose is undisciplined. He leaves the formation indiscriminately to have a look at it from aside. He roams back and forth, takes a peep at the leader, honks a little bit from behind, distracts everyone and writes on what he sees. Time passes and as he wants to return back to his place he discovers someone else there. Thus he either has to wait until they land for rest...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Mark SashineA writer is a rogue goose. All other gees fly in a flock formation; every goose knows his place and time for honking. The rogue goose is undisciplined. He leaves the formation indiscriminately to have a look at it from aside. He roams back and forth, takes a peep at the leader, honks a little bit from behind, distracts everyone and writes on what he sees. Time passes and as he wants to return back to his place he discovers someone else there. Thus he either has to wait until they land for rest...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Let's be fair

Many of the people in the US disillusioned by Bush and his criminals and being honest and educated justifiably point out at the pattern of evil in the US history. And they are right. But in all fairness the only way to see the real truth is in comparison to other countries and to the experience of individuals in other places of living. With all sadness but also in all tribute to the truth I hope people here will admit that life in the US even now(!) is overwhelmingly better for an average individual than the life in other countries including such places as Western Europe. Americans do enjoy the abundance, opportunities and even protection (yes, folks) which the world population only dreams about. Even disenfranchised Americans enjoy that. To make a simple comparison- most of the Western European countries do have a mandatory military service or equivalent for men. Even Swiss have that We have none.
The US people are by far the luckiest, although not the best people in the world. That is why I would consider that Andy's point have merits- we better first restore the things we know are good for sure. Let me tell you, folks, in many of our very radical projects we have to remember that there is only one difference between the real patriots and the fake ones- the real ones truly love the people of their country. The fake ones love only themselves. Andy Bard Schmookler strikes me as one who has that real love in him. It is rare. One person in my former country said,'To love your country is to support the honest people in it.' It is the honest man talking in that article above. Let's be fair and support him.

by Mark Sashine (54 articles, 19 quicklinks, 252 diaries, 3603 comments) on Friday, August 18, 2006 at 9:21:23 AM

Fair enough

My comment above is not meant as an ad-homin (sp?) attack. I have great respect for Andy, and I recommend his website as one of the more thought-provoking ones around. He routinely gets me thinking about things I haven't considered. I even agree that the Bush Dynasty is the largest fire that needs putting out.

But I am dismayed that impeachment proceedings, that I thought were underway some time ago, haven't seem to come to anything. I plan to be at a large anti-Bush rally here in Salt Lake, when Bozo gets here, on August 30, along with Sleezy. You can be sure I'll be voting the Pubs (as in pubic hair) out, every time. If there's more I can do, that I'm aware of, I surely will.

I can relate to Ardee's thinking above, but at the same time realize you need start the journey from where you are. The more I learn about our long, sordid past, the more appalled I become. But here we are now, and we can't get from A to C without getting past B. If we could but effect instant run-off elections, establish coporate responsibility, improve education and have an educated populace, convert the military to a useful organization, or make any one of a number of changes, we might start getting light into the shadows.

How to get any one thing going, when they all seem so interconnected, I imagine is on all of our minds a great deal of the time.

by Daniel Geery (26 articles, 74 quicklinks, 123 diaries, 750 comments) on Friday, August 18, 2006 at 3:52:51 PM

For both Daniel and Panurg

Criticising one government is not disloyalty to ones nation, in fact, some might say that it is the very duty of a good citizen.

Our lifestyle, as Panurg notes, is indeed and on the surface, a good one. Less folks here die of malnutrition than do elsewhere, less here live in cardboard boxes than do elesewhere, less go to prison for their beliefs than do elesewhere....is this good enough?

Daniel notes we cannot skip B if we intend to arrive at C. I say that one must know where one wishes to go before one can arrive there. I say that, beneath the surface that Panurg brags upon there is corruption and rot. I place the blame for this squarely upon an unfettered and unchecked piracy that is the ultimate outcome of the Capitalist System. The frantic search for more and more profit that drives our business leaders cannot hope to avoid the abuses and deterioration we see everywhere in these United States.

I further suggest that, regardless of which party holds sway in Washington, thie dependence upon money that so characterises our politics and thus our choices will lead us into more and more abuses abroad, more and more inequities at home, more folks under educated, more jobs going abroad, less folks with decent health care and less chance or choice for a quality life. Is this what Panurg wants? I seriously doubt it, as I know this poster to be an intelligent and well meaning one, just someone, like most of us, who has not taken the time to really analyze what are the root causes of our failures.

by ardee D. (6 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 2377 comments) on Sunday, August 20, 2006 at 10:28:17 AM