The military, from general officers down to privates, might refuse to obey illegal orders from the White House. For example, orders to continue an illegal war in Iraq, or to commence an illegal war in Iran. If so, they would have the support and sanction of the Nuremberg accords, which have the force of law.
And finally ordinary citizens, in ever-increasing numbers, would, in the words of The Declaration, publicly "absolve" themselves of "allegiance" to the illegitimate regime. As in Alabama and Mississippi in the sixties, the jails would then be jammed with non-violent resisters, and the streets would be filled with angry citizens demanding the restoration of a government that rules with their consent ? as in Manila, Johannesburg, Gdansk, Prague, St. Petersburg, Moscow.
It could happen here in the United States of America if We the People finally come to understand and appreciate that redress through the ballot box is no longer available to us. And if, furthermore, this aroused public has the good sense and discipline to renounce violence.
On the other hand, none of this may be attempted or, if attempted, succeed. If so, and if, once again, the will of the majority of American voters is thwarted in November, then the United States will likely descend into a long night of despotism. Then, at last, the rest of the civilized world might unite to bring down what we American citizens have failed to reform. Alliances abroad can crush the despotic American regime by shutting off the supply of essential resources and deflating the value of the dollar.
To avoid this fate, what must we ordinary citizens do today, just six weeks before the election?
First of all, vote! ? even in elections fated to be "Diebolded." Every impossible ("miracle") GOP victory erodes the credibility of e-voting and by implication the legitimacy of the GOP regime. Conversely, every obviously fraudulent election increases the legitimacy of extra-electoral protest and resistance. And who knows? A flood of votes against Republicans by an angry and alerted citizenry just might overwhelm the Congressional "fix" that is presumably in place.
Support the Democrats selectively ? individuals, not the corrupt and complaint national party. Send contributions to individual progressive candidates, never to the Democratic Leadership Council, or the Senate or Congressional Campaign Committees. And when the solicitations arrive from the DLC, DSCC, or the DCCC, let them know why you won't contribute.
Keep pushing the election fraud issue with letters to the editor, to the media, and to Congress, and in your personal, business and professional contacts. And contribute to the citizen organizations working toward election reform, and l
listed here.
Boycott the mainstream broadcast media and their sponsors, except for rare mavericks such as Keith Olbermann. And again, write to them and tell them why. Support and distribute the work of progressive print columnists such as Paul Krugman, E.J. Dionne, Bob Herbert, etc.
Support alternative and independent media: publications (The Nation, The Progressive, American Prospect, etc.), broadcasts (Pacifica, DemocracyNow, Air America Radio, etc.) and of course the internet.
Above all we must always remember that this is our country. The regressive oligarchs have taken it away from us. They will not willingly give it back to us. And so, we must take it back.
Copyright 2006 by Ernest Partridge
And finally ordinary citizens, in ever-increasing numbers, would, in the words of The Declaration, publicly "absolve" themselves of "allegiance" to the illegitimate regime. As in Alabama and Mississippi in the sixties, the jails would then be jammed with non-violent resisters, and the streets would be filled with angry citizens demanding the restoration of a government that rules with their consent ? as in Manila, Johannesburg, Gdansk, Prague, St. Petersburg, Moscow.
It could happen here in the United States of America if We the People finally come to understand and appreciate that redress through the ballot box is no longer available to us. And if, furthermore, this aroused public has the good sense and discipline to renounce violence.
On the other hand, none of this may be attempted or, if attempted, succeed. If so, and if, once again, the will of the majority of American voters is thwarted in November, then the United States will likely descend into a long night of despotism. Then, at last, the rest of the civilized world might unite to bring down what we American citizens have failed to reform. Alliances abroad can crush the despotic American regime by shutting off the supply of essential resources and deflating the value of the dollar.
To avoid this fate, what must we ordinary citizens do today, just six weeks before the election?
First of all, vote! ? even in elections fated to be "Diebolded." Every impossible ("miracle") GOP victory erodes the credibility of e-voting and by implication the legitimacy of the GOP regime. Conversely, every obviously fraudulent election increases the legitimacy of extra-electoral protest and resistance. And who knows? A flood of votes against Republicans by an angry and alerted citizenry just might overwhelm the Congressional "fix" that is presumably in place.
Support the Democrats selectively ? individuals, not the corrupt and complaint national party. Send contributions to individual progressive candidates, never to the Democratic Leadership Council, or the Senate or Congressional Campaign Committees. And when the solicitations arrive from the DLC, DSCC, or the DCCC, let them know why you won't contribute.
Keep pushing the election fraud issue with letters to the editor, to the media, and to Congress, and in your personal, business and professional contacts. And contribute to the citizen organizations working toward election reform, and l
listed here.
Boycott the mainstream broadcast media and their sponsors, except for rare mavericks such as Keith Olbermann. And again, write to them and tell them why. Support and distribute the work of progressive print columnists such as Paul Krugman, E.J. Dionne, Bob Herbert, etc.
Support alternative and independent media: publications (The Nation, The Progressive, American Prospect, etc.), broadcasts (Pacifica, DemocracyNow, Air America Radio, etc.) and of course the internet.
Above all we must always remember that this is our country. The regressive oligarchs have taken it away from us. They will not willingly give it back to us. And so, we must take it back.
Copyright 2006 by Ernest Partridge
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