"It is with regret that I pronounce the fatal truth: Louis ought to perish rather than a hundred thousand virtuous citizens; Louis must die that the country may live."
---Maximilien Robespierre
October 17, 2006 is a watershed date in the epic struggle between oppressors and oppressed. Events of that day undoubtedly prompted Marx and Engels to awaken from their eternal slumber and spin violently in their graves. A mere swish of the pen by a conscienceless swine effectively transferred absolute power into the hands of a relative handful of rich and powerful individuals and corporations.
Happy birthday, Big Brother!
Over two centuries ago, 25,000 intrepid souls sacrificed their lives to free the American Colonies from the clutches of a ruthless empire and to found a nation based on democratic principles. Tragically, on 10/17 the tattered remains of freedom for which American Revolutionary soldiers spilled crimson rivers were reduced to mere abstractions by a miniscule volume of ink.
How ironic that in a nation obsessed with beating ploughshares into swords, a pen was the weapon used to finalize the subjugation of the masses.
Lamentably, the American Revolution was not a final triumph for human rights and democracy. Gaining independence from Great Britain was merely one victory in the perpetual war between humanity's "haves" and "have-nots".
While many of America's revolutionaries believed they were fighting for their natural rights, there were moneyed men amongst them who simply wanted to reap the material bounty of the Colonies without paying tribute to the British Empire.
Contrary to the great American myths, all of the founding fathers were not created equal. Men like Thomas Paine, the intellectual catalyst of the American Revolution, argued for the abolition of slavery, social justice, democratic principles, and human rights. Others, such as John Adams and Alexander Hamilton, harbored contempt for populist notions and pressed for a government dominated by pecunious individuals.
Intense debate coupled with significant compromise eventually resulted in the ratification of the US Constitution. To minimize the diminution of their affluence and dominance, America's aristocracy insisted on the Electoral College, the recognition of the legality of chattel slavery, and the limitation of suffrage to white propertied males, who comprised a mere 10% of the population. As a means to appease the masses, they reluctantly agreed to include the Bill of Rights.
Faced with annoying constraints like the separation of powers, an independent judiciary, and the Bill of Rights, and bearing the burden of preserving the illusions of liberty and equality that kept the "mob" at bay, the ruling elite struggled to find ways to consolidate and enhance their power.
As the mercantilism that had made the American Colonies so indispensable to Britain slowly developed into Capitalism, the plutocracy rushed to embrace and nurture a system that afforded them the means to manipulate and exploit their "subjects".
Propitiously, Capitalism thrived and enabled the elite to leverage their power. Throughout the history of the United States, a seemingly perpetual torrent of fortuitousness has rained down upon the monetarily well-endowed.
Jason Miller is a recovering US American middle class suburbanite who strives to remain intellectually free. He is Cyrano's Journal Online's associate editor (http://www.bestcyrano.org/) and publishes Thomas Paine's Corner within Cyrano's at http://www.bestcyrano.org/THOMASPAINE/.
The five or six corporations that own or control the mass media are nothing but the propaganda arm of the Republican party and the Military Industrial Complex. Multinational Corporations, the Republican party and the Military Industrial Complex have been melded into one entity and this diabolical trinity of power intends to rule America, and by means of our Armed Forces, the world.
An international militaristic plutocracy already has the power to impose their will on most of the world and no one should underestimate their willingness to crush any one, any people, any country that stands in their way. They feel no allegiance to nations or the people, their only allegiance is to themselves. This is the New World Order and it is dedicated exclusively to the preservation and perpetuation of their wealth and power.
The rulers of the wealthiest, and most militarily powerful nations have joined forces to divide the spoils and dominate the world. There are no significant differences between the rulers of the United States, Saudi Arabia, Russia or China anymore, they are all despots. However, no one should assume this will lessen the threat of World War III. Rather, it will increase the threat because all despots want to be Genghis Khan.
by
rabblerowzer (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 227 comments)
on Monday, October 23, 2006 at 9:39:00 AM
The United States of America has never been a true democracy, but that doesn't mean that it will never become one. Along with bread and circuses, the democracy myth is useful to keep at bay the killing rage of the mob. Of the people, by the people, and for the people, is true democracy, and it is only the united will of the people that will secure it. We need to forget about electoral colleges and let the people determine who serves us in Washington. No gov't can withstand the determination of 200 million citizens, and so the question is, can we wrench ourselves out of our apathy and send these odious pretenders packing? "Now is the time for all good men (and women) to come to the aid of their country!"
by
Regina Carpenter (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 38 comments)
on Thursday, October 26, 2006 at 2:20:51 PM
