The more time I spend in my country the more I notice how we are heading backwards in time..
The people get it worse and worse, heck 20 years back a homeless close by was as much thought of as reality as the Greek myths. Now it's a fact.
As more people lose their jobs the unemployment benefit fund gets lower and lowered by the politicians. This is the beginning of a bad circle.
The employers and companies begin to lower everything a worker praises; among other good pay and social security.
Guess who puts the money in his/her pocket?
Yep; some get sky high bonuses and that not only goes for politicans any more.
Company directors, among other will get thick wallets out of this.
Guess who will have to suffer again?
Yeah you got it right if you guessed the workers and normal folks!
Even better if you knew it.
Some scream "It's doomsday!!!"
I say "Only if you allow it."
Some seem to have forgot that we all come from the same place; Oh and well.. Yeah..Uhh...
I'm not going to say such a word here, I hope to keep this place some-what clean of naughty words. *grins*
So any ways it seems everyone has forgotten what democracy means; it means you do not have to suck it all upp when someone is stepping on your dang feet!
It means you have the right to crave change!
That goes as long as you can get others who agree with you.
At this point I'm going to ask you something..
Do you think it's right that the directors get such high bonuses?
Can you, as a normal worker, ever even get to see or even better feel this cheer amount of money some get? I bet not. Do you think it's fair? I bet not. Have you ever tried to do something about it? I bet not, but if you have then I salute you!
Some scream revolution and patriotism, but why go to extremes when you first need enough people to have a incommon goal? There are always alternatives. Reforms being one of them.
The written word is a powerfull thing, not only for politics but also for education and entertainment among other.
So if you do want to do something, type away! Even if it's "only" your local news paper.
The more read and learn the "new" idea then better.
It's somewhat like the enlightment age, don't you think?
I have Voltaire somewhat of an icon of social critism, same goes for Jean Jacques Rousseau. All bright men who spread their ideas by the written word, just the same as I do with you today.
So good luck on your quests my friends, what ever they may be.
Voltaire
Voltaire posted on Apr 04, 2009
| views: 212
Comments
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beyondtheveil said on Apr 04, 2009....
I don't want a revolution like civil war (yet), but I wouldn't mind revolt in the streets and a good measure of civil disobedience coast to coast by most everyone. More like it was in the sixties but with a lot more anger. I'll spend some time in jail with them.
Nothing else will get their serious attention. Really, nothing.
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Voltaire said on Apr 04, 2009....
Oh you have to think of their weak point to get to them, and most of everyone's weak point is the wallet.
Don't you think it would get attention if you for example cut of most routes to a bigger city? Strike where it hurts the most. The French have done this and it sure got attention.
Not only the leaders attention, but also the media's attention, even better yet to get the word out. Now you just have to find a place to park the car. *grins*
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gingersoul said on Apr 04, 2009....
Ok, take it from somebody who comes from the Old Country.....Europe, specifically Italy. My country is well known for our endless streaks of strikes (like the word joke?).
France is doing nothing we didn't do...lol..
Since the mid '60 when (finally) the over powering supremacy of the conservative party (economically well supported by America, btw) started to fade and new political forces gained energy, first of all the Comunist party and the Green party (but this came later, in the mid 80) Italy has seen as many public revolts, strikes, political parades in the streets, arrests and even 10 years of Red Brigade (the terroristic organization that took inspiration from the Raf in Germany). The Red Brigade took advantage of the social turmoil of that period and tried to foemnt teh revolt and the chaos killing the most preminent and influential people that were working to build a bridge bewteen the conservative and the revolutionary parties of that time, between late '70 and late '80.
We lived in the midst of all that. It has not been plesant. It has been the worst time of our society.
So, we have seen everything. We participated to everything. We voted. We protested. We founded new political organizations, we signed petitions, we marched and we organized concerts. And we used strikes as a weapon.
Then that amazing character named Berlusconi swept in and polished off the remain of a decent poltical life in my country. He bought the media (litearally ...he owns 4 tv channels and too many newaspapers to count) and people seemed tired of those endless streaks of protestes that seemed leading to nowhere. They voted him. Damm, three times. He is still our Prime Minister.
His last show happened two days ago in the London summit...did you see the You Tube video of the Queen Elizabeth scolding him because he was too loud?..Well, that is our man, people.
What i want to say is...your ideas are great....in a still relatively young country like the States that really had not seen anything like this (or it had forgot what happened 20 years ago) your ideas should indeed be applied...strikes in the airports, strikes in the subways, strikes at McDonalds, strikes to block the most basic daily activities of the cities....it works, oh yes...only...be careful in what you start...
French is actually in the chaos....Italy is still paralized by this or that strike, protest or whatever....life is difficult in situations like these.....but the little people always endure and go on...
But in a way or in another way, the same people always seem to remain at the power.
In Italy we say..."Killed one Pope, another one will be elected".......:-)...
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gingersoul said on Apr 04, 2009....
Mass protest today in Rome against the financial crisis....
See? We keep doing it and doing it and doing it...:-)
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rupert7 said on Apr 04, 2009....
The western world its self is to blame.....self indulgence,me ism and greed! and it runs from the President to the road sweeper. NOT SO! ....yes, you just keep telling yourself that! Must be the fault of the Chinese, the Russians, anyone but us - right? -
Voltaire said on Apr 05, 2009....
GingerSoul; I to come from a old country in Europe, Sweden actually.
You see the mentality of my country is the very opposite the last real revolution was in the 1500's with Nils Dacke. With a mere 9 million inhabitants a "strike" does not have to result in chaos. In other words with so few people it can be easier to organize.
Random acts of violence will have no what so ever effect in the long run; they are only temporarily.
Rupert, indeed.
Regards,
Voltaire
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PieterOpie said on Apr 08, 2009....
Americans have been living the American Dream but were only prepared to pay for a little fantasy. These last decades you consumed yourselves silly!! You wanted everything all at once and forgot that credit needs to be paid back - with interest, a lot of it. More and more and more goodies, gadgets and fancy lifestyle and all way beyond your means.
What the fuck were you thinking? YOU WEREN'T THINKING!!!!!
Now you will all have to go back and try again. Waaaaay back in time.... to when times were much more simple and less opulent and more responsible. More fair.
Enjoy it.... we - the rest of the world had to do it that way. We did not assume we were entitled to it. We earned it. We may have earned it sooner had you had not behaved quite so badly....
Faced with less consumerism you might even begin to appreciate life more. Perhaps less of you will become depressed and divorce less. This reality check is exactly what America needed. Welcome to the real word.
Some humility on your part and the realisation that you are not the best nation on earth, rather just as good as the rest of us might be a good lesson.
You never know..... we Earthlings might even grow to like you in time.......
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PieterOpie said on Apr 08, 2009....
And I did not even touch on your outrageous foreign policy over the years..... Shameful. tsk tsk tsk.....
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Voltaire said on Apr 09, 2009....
PieterOpie,
Yes they have been living the American dream, but it is not only their fault either. You see the other nations also borrowed money to the US. I do not think it's the people's fault they got a bit left behind, I to be honest, think it's the polticians and their work. They control among other school, the very starting point for many to learn.
Some did give away warning cries even before we came into this economical disaster. All did ignore it.
And remember they are not the only one's in a economical crysis, so it simply not only be their fault.
Sure it's eaiser to only name the Americans yet in the end we all have made our mistakes, and it seems we've learned nothing.
I come to think of Albert Einstein's comment:
Genius has it's limits, stupidity has none.
How true, sadly.
Regards,
Voltaire
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PieterOpie said on Apr 09, 2009....
But I want to blame America. I don't care if it's not exactly fair. They did use up most of the oil, the world's resources and made the biggest mess of the environment AND killed many many innocent people in wars, conflicts, military actions and two-faced coup-de-tats all over the &#%@$)?@%# world....
Besides... it IS their fault. We did not cause this. THEY DID.
Time to pay the ferryman.
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Voltaire said on Apr 09, 2009....
So let me get this straight, you want to play with the same rules they did?
You see that's what you are saying, and if you really want that, well then your no better then them. *wink*
So they used up a lot of resources... Tell me another super power (nation wise) that doesn't in modern days?
The biggest mess with the environment is caused by nature.
As far as innocents killed in wars, heck if there is a war people die, that's a rule of thumb.
Regards,
Voltaire
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PieterOpie said on Apr 09, 2009....
You're trying to trick me and it won't work. 100 years ago I would have blamed Britain. In 20 years I will blame China. But for now I am blaming America and I'll play with whatever rules let me get away with it. hehe....
It doesn't matter anymore I suppose who is to blame really but one thing is for sure; we are heading for a more austere time in the future. We will all have to live a more frugal lifestyle and learn to save up before we go mad buying our toys. No more ridiculous credit limits. So regardless of where we came from (and who's to blame) we are headed for simpler times.
Except for the richer of the Chinese - they are going to party likes it's 十九一百和九十九....
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Voltaire said on Apr 09, 2009....
If I wanted to trick you I wouldn't be so direct in my approach. *wink*
Whom ever you blame it won't change the very situation. (obvious no?)
Yeah a more simple lifestyle is a most likely result for a huge amount of people.
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PieterOpie said on Apr 09, 2009....
If you keep winking at me like that your life is going to get a liitle bit more complicated darling......
So.... tell me Voltaire; do you happen to be tall, good-looking and well built? Hmmmm.....??? are ya.... huh...? kissy kissy
Is it me or is it getting hot in here? <wink wink... winky wink>
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Voltaire said on Apr 10, 2009....
It's you reading more then there is.
And yes I happen to be tall, well built fellow though as far as good looking that is up to the beholder.
I bet it's you.
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PieterOpie said on Apr 10, 2009....
I chose to read more than there was. I understood the true nature of your winks but I was bored and I thought why not? He can't do anything... If he becomes enraged then I will do it again. If he remains calm and polite then everything is fine. If he takes off his clothes and winks again I can book my flight.
However it was not meant to be.
I'm curious... you bet it's me?? What do you mean? What is me? Is this a linguistic quirk that I am not understanding?
Anyway... this crisis so far has not touched me at all. It s on the TV constantly and I am getting sick of hearing about it, but that is all so far. I never use credit so I was not affected. I don't work so I can't lose my job. I'm not a big consumer of gadgets and fashion - or anything really, so I don't spend much.
Only my pension funds that had investments would have suffered losses but I haven't checked them and won't, so I am blissfully unaware of the loss. By the time I need it the market will have come back - I hope.
How some people used credit cards was insane in my opinion. The ridiculous amount of interest you can pay is such a waste of money. The convenience of a card is not worth that much. If you have debt, you are a slave to your bank and your work. Fuck that!!!
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javadewd said on Apr 10, 2009....
A little humility (not false humility) would go a long way in this case. Who put America in this position? Well, Americans did. We can blame those sneaky zipper heads, towel heads and cheese heads... Okay, well maybe not the cheese heads... But my point is that greedy Americans did lead dumb/ignorant Americans down bad paths: real estate, technologies, stocks and bonds, policies. You can put the blame on Madoff, terrorists or whatnot, but the buck has to stop at self-government.
From there, you take your beating and go on. You improve. You don't humiliate yourself, your country, your brethren, your family, your military and your morals and values. You don't hit bottom and keep digging. You don't reenact bad policy from years prior (bad policy from past Dems and Reps alike). This country will have to wait until we get a stronger leader before we see this end of the stick, I'm afraid...
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Voltaire said on Apr 10, 2009....
Opie,
I rarely get enraged I do though love a "tempered" discussion.
I bet you know why.
As far as the comment "I bet it's you."
It was directed to the last question of yours, I reply in the order you type.
This crisis hasn't directly touched me but it has touched a lot of my people I hold close. Family among other.
I always prefer to pay in cash when I can, and I prefer to save up to something I want.. When it seems like a better route to go.
Java,
You are correct. A stronger leader might very well be required, it depends on how the people embrace their new leader and follow him that is a starting ground.
Regards,
Voltaire
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