We praise democracy most of the time, but we practice it as if we had accepted every argument against it, as if we believed it must depress the level of culture and of public life
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Americans Unready to Revolt, Despite Revolting ConditionsAmericans Unready to Revolt, Despite Revolting Conditions Joel S. Hirschhorn The latest NBC/Wall Street Journal national poll results vividly show a population incredibly dissatisfied with their nation’s political system. In other countries in other times such a depressing level of confidence in government would send a signal to those running the government that a major upheaval is imminent. But not here in the USA. Why? First, here are the highlights of the poll that surveyed 1,008 adults from June 8-11, with a margin of error of plus-minus 3.1 percentage points. A whopping 68 percent think the country is on the wrong track. Just 19 percent believe the country is headed in the right direction - the lowest number on that question in nearly 15 years. And most of those with the positive view are probably in the Upper Class. Bush’s approval rating is at just 29 percent, his lowest mark ever in the survey. Only 62 percent of Republicans approve, versus 32 percent who disapprove. Take Republicans out of the picture and a fifth or less of Americans have a positive view of Bush. Even worse, only 23 percent approve of the job that Congress is doing. So much for that wonderful new Democratic control of Congress. Bipartisan incompetence is alive and well. On the economic front, nearly twice as many people think the U.S. is more hurt than helped by the global economy (48 to 25 percent). Globalization does not spread wealth; it channels it to the wealthy, making billionaires out of millionaires. I have long asserted that Americans live in a delusional democracy with delusional prosperity and these and loads of other data support this view. There is a super wealthy and politically powerful Upper Class that is literally raping the nation. Meanwhile, the huge Lower Class continues to lose economic ground while their elected representatives sell them out to benefit the Upper Class. Yet no rational person thinks that a large fraction of the population is ready to rise up in revolt against the evil status quo political-economic system that so clearly is not serving the interests of the overwhelming majority of Americans. Why not? [Joel S. Hirschhorn is the author of Delusional Democracy (www.delusionaldemocracy.com); and a founder of Friends of the Article V Convention (www.foavc.org).] [edited by oD moderator: when pasting text/articles, please only post a couple of paragraphs and a link to the original text. This is to respect original copyrights. This point is made clear in our Terms and conditions. Thanks].
Submitted on Thu, 2007-06-14 14:50
Being the richest, most
Being the richest, most powerful people in the world: that's so revolting.
Being the richest, most
Being the richest, most powerful people in the world: that's so revolting.
Darn right! How dare the Americans be more successful than European socialists! Success is a capitalist plot that must crushed beneath the benevolent boot of Islamic fascism and cheap French wine.
IM
Revolt against what?
Hmmm,
Lowest levels of unemployment in US history...
Highest levels of home ownership--especially among minorities in US history....
Unlimited potential for individual freedom and success...
The economy continues to grow despite terror attacks, continued threats, and staggeringly expensive war...
Our "poor" live better than the middle class of much of the world...
Yes---it's a mystery why there is no revolt in the US.
IM
Land of the rich and the powerful.
I just love how any criticism of America is countered by some with arguments of 'look how rich, powerful, and successful we are'.
Gee, who is it they're trying to convince I wonder…?
Not criticism...just answering the mail
I just love how outsiders are puzzled why the American people do not revolt. Non-Americans see "revolting circumstances" and fail to appreciate how it is balanced with good. I guess we don't have to convince anyone outside the US since those inside the US are already sufficiently convinced that they feel no need to revolt and pursue change through the very venues that secure their freedom. Perhaps its the outside critics who are delusional.
IM
Ok, You win!
'Non-Americans see "revolting circumstances" and fail to appreciate how it is balanced with good.'Mike
Fail to appreciate what? That the revolting circumstances in America are balanced with the good circumstances in America? Ok, fine, for once I'm going to agree with you whole heartedly, the revolting circumstances in America are balanced with the good circumstances in America.
There, are you happy?
Delighted!
....as long as you note that I use "revolting circumstances" in quotes, since "revolting" is in the eye of the beholder...or revolter if you will.
IM
Noted
heck, If an old ex-military dog can use the word 'delighted', it's the least I can do.
I can live with that.
IM
Got to wonder why the fellow
Got to wonder why the fellow who posts this stuff never sticks around to defend his rants. Who does he think he is, Stephen Lendman?
"Globalization does not spread wealth; it channels it to the wealthy, making billionaires out of millionaires."
Globalization has spread more wealth more effectively than any system in history. Look at the developed and emerging economies of Asia... where would Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia be without globalization? China and India over the last ten years have seen the single greatest movement out of poverty in the history of the planet - a consequence of globalization. Wherever you see developing countries embracing market principles linked to the global economy you see emerging middle classes and the early signs of economic dynamism. Where nations remain isolated from the global economy you see stagnation.
There's still a great deal to be done, of course... but not much will be accomplished by discarding the tools that work.
Add IRONMIKE to the list of NeoContradicting seers
2007 International Spelling Bee Final two words - QUAGMIRE & IMPEACHMENT
What Americans think, feel, vote, and say has zero bite.
With a million plus votes easily stolen, accountability - oh so slight.
Only these Republican Neo-ConMen can tell us what's right ---
Exactly where, when, and why we must start a fight.
One place remains with 30 years plus oil reserve still in sight.
Must control it; keep it flowing, our economy going, right?
Pick unrelated threats, then fan the flames to such great height.
You know - 9/11, or a mushroom cloud type of fright.
With balled-up flags they plug their ears.
How well the shredded Constitution wipes away fake tears.
Fat cats, well fed by exce$$ corporate greed, now six straight years.
Say what, a change of plan to end war profits? Sharpen up the spears!
Another traitor must be skewered, trot out the neo-contradicting seers.
From Limpbowel, O’Rlie-to-me, and their ilk, we start to hear the jeers.
Some freshly think-tank-framed simplistic verbal smears.
Sad sight, so many flags draped over coffins never seen.
The sinister lies that filled them neatly hidden behind a patriotic sheen.
Human losses well disguised, and media filtered from our collective eyes,
By corporate puppet leaders, whose agendas we must now despise.
Pity the Iraqi families, alone with blood, pain, death, despair,
As pompous jingo windbags fill the U.S. propaganda-polluted air,
Can spews of false praise glory, hide true neglect in veteran care?
Fox Snooze hype NOT, as your heroes, our loved ones lost;
Their blood for oil - spent badly – much too high this cost.
Keith Rupert Murderdock, the boss who must be tossed!
Now past the “mission accomplished” date in years by more than four,
Our so delusional leader is still not looking for an exit door.
Despite the drifting smells of failures everywhere,
All we can hear is that which plays upon our deepest fear.
A drone of platitudes preached to stretch our stay another year.
“The job is almost done! “
“Must keep them Terrorists on the run!”
“We can't abandon this war until it's won.”
“Just re-up another 20,000+ more of your brave sons.”
“Another trillion dollars, your kids can pay these no small sums!”
NO NO NO! Time true Patriots stand and shout “Impeach the Bums!”
Time to lean on leaders, like Lieberman, to not just lose their parties,
But to also find the country again, while we still have one!
Launch the attack that targets the REAL Axis of Evil => IMPEACH Cheney-Bush!
Perhaps small justice, but at least some.
Add RRLedford as latest BDS victim, Poetic variant
RRLedford demonstrates the symptomology of acute Bush Derangement Sympton (BDS) with a curious poetic variant.
IM
RRLedford
Lookup the concept of slippery slope, take two aspirins and call your Shrink in the morning.
If anyone has been paying
If anyone has been paying attention for the past five years; if you remove one gov't not using the proper channels, you will most likely invite very unsavory characters to fill the vacuum. If you're US hater you would welcome the disarray from a revolt. If you're a patriot you'll wait till 2008.
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