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April 16, 2008 at 07:09:49
The Most Powerful People in America by Joel S. Hirschhorn Page 1 of 1 page(s) |
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They are not the rich and superrich, nor the politically powerful running the two-party plutocracy, nor the greedy heads of banking and finance companies, and certainly not the media moguls and bloviating pundits. The most powerful people are US, American consumers that account for over 70 percent of the economy. It is exactly now, when the economy is in the toilet, that consumers hold the maximum power. So why are we the people still deluding ourselves that the path to a better future rests on electing a new president? We are suckers, conditioned by decades of clever marketing and advertising to believe the lies of politicians, and worst of all to believe that elections and our votes provide us with power. Wrong. Our real power can only be manifest through our spending dollars. The overwhelming majority of Americans have been severely damaged by economic oppression by government policies that have produced historic economic inequality. Yet, despite revolting conditions, Americans seem unwilling to revolt by using their remaining economic power. They have let themselves become economic slaves.
What is amazing and depressing is that there are no national leaders from the worlds of politics, religion, education, media or public interest that are attempting to harness consumer power at this critical time. No one is capturing the public’s attention by making it crystal clear that consumers could obtain any political or economic reform in the public interest by joining together to withhold their discretionary spending.
Where are the anti-Iraq war leaders? Why are they not shouting about forcing an immediate commitment to ending the Iraq war by using the power of a massive consumer boycott that clearly could destroy the whole economy? Tell President Bush that consumers will greatly curb their spending for a month to give him time to implement a plan for withdrawal from Iraq. Make it clear that the coming federal rebates will not be used for spending. Make it clear that Bush inaction will result in continuation of the boycott.
Where is Ralph Nader, the ultimate consumer advocate? Why is he not proclaiming the brilliance of a consumer boycott as the winning tactic to force effective government assistance to the millions of Americans screwed by the sub-prime mortgage fiasco and about the lose their homes?
Where is Barack Obama, who supposedly wants to produce change? Rather than putting all his energy into satisfying his egoistic hunt for the presidency, why is he not talking about harnessing consumer power right now to get political reforms, like .ending trade agreements that are destroying the middle class? Why does he not send a clear message to his million-plus contributors to join a national consumer boycott to obtain immediate concessions from the Bush administration?
Where are the professors who have published books making the case for a second constitutional convention as the way to restore American democracy? Not one has the courage to say that the way to get Congress to obey Article V of the Constitution and convene that the first Article V convention is by American consumers threatening to plunge a dagger into the heart of American business.
Now is the time for all the millions of Americans that make up the 81 percent who see the nation on the wrong track to take action, to think like patriotic revolutionaries and take the power that now only exists with their spending. Sounds simple. All this strategy needs is leadership. Rather than spending so much time and energy on the media-hyped presidential campaign, we the people should demand that someone step forward to inform and mobilize consumers to become powerful citizens by using their spending as the ultimate populist political weapon.
www.delusionaldemocracy.com
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| 10 comments |
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I've already cut my spending to the bone
It's called unemployment. I sure there are millions of Americans who are doing the same. Actually, I believe a boycott of what you're proposing would be favored by bush&co. right now. Their goal is to destroy this economy so they can bring on North American Union and our new currency AMERO. I'm more in favor of a General Strike which would have a shorter term but stronger impact as far as showing people power. Implementing a GS isn't as hard as some think. Because we're such a diverse and fragmented country it's been like trying to herd cats to get enough people to have an effective GS. One way to make this easier is to make as GS web-site. Then place a link on all progressive sites. When people view the GS site the format would be something like a Graig's List of General Strikes. This way strikes could be formed to target specific grievances both local and national. Having a GS site like this would make it possible to organize all the different progressive site members and be able to reach people of different ethic backgrounds and languages. Having a site like this brings the cats to you. by Mr M (8 articles, 0 quicklinks, 66 diaries, 2845 comments [654 recommended, 27 rejected]) on Wednesday, Apr 16, 2008 at 7:31:36 AM  (0+)
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Reply: Right sentiment, wrong option
To ask workers to strike in these hard economic times is unrealistic because it would place them in considerable jeopardy of losing jobs and wages. Of course, the many unemployed and underemployed together with high gas prices and rising food prices has brought our economy to the tipping point, where a national, united effort to curb discretionary spending would pose an enormous threat to the political and economic stability of the nation - making a consumer spending boycott enormously powerful in obtaining political concessions from Congress and the president. And reduced spending would help people save money or reduce their debt. by Joel S. Hirschhorn (141 articles, 50 quicklinks, 65 diaries, 546 comments [2 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Apr 16, 2008 at 8:18:46 AM (0+)
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Reply: Their jobs are already gone
It's gotten to this point - most of us won't have to worry about our jobs much longer, no matter if we strike or not. We're in a nothing to loose situation. The economic tsunami that's about to hit us has hardly been felt yet. We're about at that place where the tide ebbs - the big wave is about to hit. It would be wise to strike while we still have some reserves and strength as opposed to when the waves are washing over us and we're not so much interested in stopping war, or torture as we will be weak and struggling just to survive. General Strikes might be the most effective tool for social change the masses have ever had. Gandhi used it to perfection. Our problem is we may as well have twenty different regional states and hundreds of city-states and getting them to act as one is extremely difficult unless you happen to be a member of the M$M. I believe if you were to ask most people if they would give up one day's pay to change to world for the better, and therefore aid themselves, they'd go of it. But, if we're at the point that they can't even do that - it'd be a moot point anyway, because we'd be too far gone to save. by Mr M (8 articles, 0 quicklinks, 66 diaries, 2845 comments [654 recommended, 27 rejected]) on Wednesday, Apr 16, 2008 at 2:56:34 PM (0+)
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Curb discretionary spending
I think curbing discretionary spending would work, even if people cut it down by 10%. There are junk letters that make their way throughout the entire population in a few days... why shouldn't a message like this not be able to make it? Second, the message should contain a specific demand, like end the war, as you suggest. Third, Joel qualifies as the leader, since he has the fire and the time to get it started. by Nick Polimeni (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 5 comments) on Wednesday, Apr 16, 2008 at 9:01:41 AM (0+)
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boycotts and strikes
http://wearenotbuyingit.org/ has been working on this; it could really get traction if a coalition between all constitutional and progressive groups could be formed around this; savetheinternet.com got the Net Neutrality gutting legislation killed in the last Congress 9/11 strike strikes were called for last 9/11 and April 15, just passed by Better World Order (4 articles, 568 quicklinks, 39 diaries, 1110 comments [56 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Wednesday, Apr 16, 2008 at 9:43:34 AM (0+)
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Pizzio had the perfect idea
Steve posts on OPed every once in a while and his current post is great as always but, the post that is on his site now - newsforreal.com - has the perfect way to flex the power of the American consumer. Boycott credit card payments. If enough people decide on a particular month and not pay you could hurt the real perps where they will notice. Imagine if half of the 100million credit card holders skipped a payment in June and held a press conference demanding a cap to credit card interest rates. The sound of hundreds of credit execs crapping their pants in unison ... priceless. by erik mouse (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 106 comments) on Wednesday, Apr 16, 2008 at 11:05:53 AM (0+)
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BOYCOTT PURCHASES?
How would boycotting the purchase of discretionary items hurt anything other than Walmart, Target and China? After all, the point of everything Clinton and Bush have done seems to be to lower the American standard of living to that of a third world nation. Damaging our own economy only helps them. A real threat would be to organize small groups with sufficient funds to begin local production of necessities, taking big oil and the multinationals out of the equation. With our manufacturing base now shipped overseas, and our food supply imported, our urgent need is to rebuild America from the base upward, redefining politics as economic cooperation as we rebuild. by W.M.L. (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 537 comments [52 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Wednesday, Apr 16, 2008 at 7:59:35 PM (0+)
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Reply: W.M.L. you've got it
We definitely need to replace the corporations and mega farms with our own local producers. How can we move forward with this? What if we compiled a list of where to get local items in every community in the country? I think your plan is excellent for the longterm, if we can get publicity and a unified front, it would be great for the "now" times as well. by Suzanne Smith (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 20 comments) on Thursday, Apr 17, 2008 at 8:14:24 AM (0+)
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"The Most Powerful People in America"
by Munich (1 articles, 86 quicklinks, 14 diaries, 1125 comments [86 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Wednesday, Apr 16, 2008 at 8:00:20 PM (0+)
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Labor is the Root of all wealth
The Longshoremens Union is calling for an 8 hour strike on May 1st, labor day. A boycott of spending could take a long time to produce any affect. If labor walked out in any significant numbers for any extended period of time; it could drop this criminal regime, and do it in a shorter time. What good is money, if there is nothing to spend it on. Money itself is an "Abstract receipt of labor." No labor, no receipt, and the paper receipt that we call 'Money,' by itself, is of little value. If this criminal regime should tumble and fall due to a general strike, we need to take away the power of private banks to create paper money and vest that power in to the political structure. . by Patrick (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 519 comments [22 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Apr 16, 2008 at 9:27:28 PM (0+)
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