Effective Protest (Some Readings)

So what can we do? Protest wrongs for starters. What are effective forms of protest? Consider the following:

Five Ways to Effectively Protest According to Activist Carmen Perez

Glossary of Nonviolence
 
Dear resistance: marching is not enough

Protests in France

Know Your Rights: Demonstrations and Protests

Watching the Fire

Warning: Possible F-Bombs Ahead!

I'm sitting safely at home, well fed and more or less secure watching the world burn. It is easy to bitch about all that's going wrong. Our leadership is disjointed, the Covid 19 death toll is continuing to climb and the wage slaves are protesting to get back into their cages. Each one of these is a blog post in it's own right. Easy and plentiful pickings for sure for a disgruntled leftist like myself. If you are going to criticize something, have the common courtesy to have an alternative. Okay, challenge accepted.

Leadership.    

It should be painfully obvious to anyone leadership is lacking. I'm no fan of The Donald but this is not all his fault. It is always easy to look back and say what he should have, could have done. Dido on our congress. Not a big fan. Taking care of the .01% is likely going to backfire spectacularly. It may indeed be the undoing of what was once known as the USA. Creating a feeding frenzy for fat cats and throwing crumbs is not much of a long term solution. Then there is the Federal Reserve. I don't profess to know a lot about economics, but pumping money into a crashing market keeping it artificially afloat for the sake of "stability" cannot end well, can it? Let's go more local.

Each state is running it's own experiment on the citizens living there.
Georgia- aw fuck it, let's just reopen and see what happens.
New York- No thanks.
North Carolina- Maybe?
Our country is not well built to deal with such a crisis on her best day. Nobody likes big government until we need big government. With the party of, "drown the government in a bathtub" in charge, you can see how this went so bad so fast. Fuck you Democrats, you would have done only marginally better also taking care of Wall Street first and foremost. So here's the deal.

We have no reliable leadership. You are on your own. Socialism is for the rich casino capitalism for you. Three Doors now stand before you:
Door Number One. So stay home and prepare yourself for casino capitalism 2.0. 40% less small businesses, less real choice and even shittier working conditions with even less pay. Don't worry! If the TV and Internet stay on, you can take refuge in the worlds of "reality TV," Youtube stars and rapist athletes just like before.
Door Number Two. The grid goes down taking communications, electricity and food supply chains with it. I think this is unlikely but better to acknowledge a fear and prepare for it than just hope it goes away. Millions of guns laying around and a dwindling food supply is not exactly a recipe for Utopia.  Hey, I'll be dead in the first wave unless the local warlord chooses to keep me around for comic relief. Either way I'm good. I hope you have started your garden and are learning how to can food. The winters are long and cold.
Door Number Three. We can make a better world. This too is unlikely but we can dream right? More of us stay working at home, we curb our consumption and we let mother Earth start to breathe for once. We rethink our priorities and unite against threats cant put us all in harms way. It is stunning how fast this became a left vs. right issue complete with conspiracy theories and other unhelpful nonsense.           

Death Toll.
 
As of this writing the Covid 19 death toll in the USA is climbing above 75,000. If anything, it's an under count. No this is not the flu, car accidents or even gun deaths. None of those grow exponentially nor does a larger second (and or third?) wave loom just over the horizon. We already have two simple tools to stop Covid in it's tracks, stay at home and masks. We simply lack the will as stay at home recommendations are ignored by more and more people with each passing day and simply donning a mask makes you compliant with something called the "Deep State." Some people are like, "Fuck the scientists, fuck the government trying to tell me what to do and fuck you and your safety, nobody is gonna tell me what to do. I'm free!" Watch the number listed above continue to climb.     

Reopen Protests.

This is killing the economy. That's true. No job, no income and getting unemployment is a nightmare. How in the hell can I feed my family, pay the mortgage, put gas in the car? Credit cards, car payments, financed fancy beds, couches and high end TV's are going to have to  wait. This is killing my business! These are all legitimate concerns. People are freaking out and it did not take long. I'll pass on name calling as it solves nothing. But dressing up in flag waving attire, sporting AR-15's and joining a mob at the state capital may not be the best way to make these points. Your fellow citizens look on with horror as you draw attention to yourselves and not the problem. Bringing weapons to political protests is only something only white people can to. What happens if any other group tries such shenanigans? Bad things... Here's an alternative.
Show up dressed for work, with masks, ten to fifteen feet apart and say, "We cannot kill our livelihoods and economy. Hey, we can do this safely and effectively. The sooner, the better." This is called Adulting. Nah, flag waving and AR-15's are too much fun! Why?

Most people feel so utterly powerless and helpless, they cannot help to be drawn to an event that's a big Fuck You! I WILL BE HEARD, I WILL BE LISTENED TO! The guns are there for intimidation, agitation and outrage. So congrats on that. Guns provide their owners a feeling of power, security and courage. All illusions. You will lose any shootout with police, the gun also makes you a target and are you so scared you have to carry a battle rifle? Here is a picture of a courageous protestor. 

               
Let's see somebody here face down an American M1 Abrams Tank even with their AR-15. The person pictured above drew attention to his cause the right way.

Make GOOD decisions Friends! 

Good Decisions

Be Advised: Your Government is Not Going to Protect You.  But it is Not the time for Despair.

Your health (and the health around you) depends on one thing- you. Not even a month into this and the wealthy are clamoring to "Reopen America." 40,000+ dead are not enough. They are totally willing to sacrifice you, your family and your friends for short term profit. They con the gullible into protesting for reopening (unknowingly risking their very lives in the process). Hint the Coronavirus could give two shits about Making America Great Again (or vote blue no matter who for that matter). It only cares about exponential growth. Killing human beings is only a side effect. It sounds like some of our leadership.

Bad Decisions- Reopen Now. 
Grow markets, economies and GDP's irregardless of the cost in lives. While you are struggling just to make it through the next week, remember the 0.01% are cashing in. No one lectures them about the personal responsibility of saving for a down turn. No one sends them to a website that does not work for help. No one asks them for a personal sacrifice to help their neighbors. No, you go right on and be their lackeys, this is just the flu and or a Chinese creation / hoax after all. Do their bidding as they snicker at you at a safe distance from their yachts, villas and penhouses. And if your "Side" cancels the election for an emergency of their own creation (on purpose or incompetence) dance and cheer in the streets at your great victory! You may get the theocracy you so much desire where praying for the dear leader is a requirement and daring to criticize is a death sentence. If it is good for business and Coronavirus, it has to be good for you.       

Good Decisions- Hang Tight.
 We are going to reopen soon enough. What is a few months in the grand scheme. For you, or some of your friends, only life and death. We can rebuild the economy. We cannot raise the dead. Remember unlike the flu, Mike, Coronavirus kills exponentially. We are not a patient people at all. We want everything yesterday and accept movie magic as reality. Vaccines and treatments that work take time to develop. No we cannot stay in forever but as long as we can all eat and get by, let's give the professionals actually working on this the time they need. Now is not the time for politics as usual. We need to unite against a common enemy and not drive wedges of division further into our country and the world. It comes down to you. 

Good things for reflection. 
What can I control for a better outcome? 
What can I do to be helpful? 
How can I plan for a better, brighter future after this all passes? 
Which of my beliefs are most helpful? Do I need to change any of them? 
Who can I reach out to? Who do I need, who needs me? 

Carry on friends with patience, love and tanascity! 
       

What Comes Next?

Here in April 2020, we are still in the middle of the Corona 19 pandemic but it is hard not to think about how things are going to change. Will it mean the end of Neoliberalism? Possibly but unlikely. We will still find ourselves dependent on international trade, the internet and money as we know it. Much depends on the next few months. If things wind down fairly quick, the disruption will be less painful obviously. There will be less long term change. If the crisis stretches into the summer and beyond who knows? What has changed already?

Many small businesses are not coming back. Hard to get back going with a quarter or two of zero or negative cash flow. That's a lot of people not going right back to work on that, as of now, elusive lifting of stay at home orders. The unemployment will run out and then what? We can only keep the circus going for so long. Meanwhile, the Walmarts of the world barely miss a beat. We are stuck on a hamster wheel of never ending debit bubbles. We too quickly forget the long history of socialism for the rich, S & L, Airline, Bank and automaker Bailouts. Trillions of dollars... Gone. Are you starting to see why we cannot have nice things like  affordable healthcare, a living wage and education as an investment (not a black hole of debit)? But math being math, this will end sooner or later. When the wheel finally flies apart, then what? 

Use the time now to learn new skills that will be of use in a post corona, post bailout world. Anything to do using your hands may be a good idea. Building stuff, repairing things and skilled trades never go out of use. Knowing  how to deal with others never goes out of style either. If you can sell, you will always have a job. Computers will still be around in one form or another. Learn something there. Working from home may become a norm. In many countries around the world the home is also the shop. Why pay for office space when you don't have to? Why waste time and gas commuting? Working from home is not as easy as it sounds. You still need self-discipline and have a schedule.   Build time in for exercise so you don't become a diabetic couch potato with liver failure and heart disease. Cook at home to eat better and save money. We are way too dependent on external systems too complicated to last indefinitely. Speaking of complicated, what about healthcare?  

Healthcare will not be the same. I like the no waiting around e-visit I had (non-corona related). That's gotta be better for everyone. I like skipping the petri dish waiting room! If I need tho come in, the doc can let me know. Send in my prescription and I'm good! On a less positive note, this crisis will sink a lot of insurance  and healthcare companies. Where I am a hospital stay costs around $1k a night with no complications. Days and days in ICU's and or on ventilators will easily run into six figure bills for somebody. Who's left holding the bag? You cannot get it from the newly unemployed and homeless guy. Will Uncle Sam (Sugar) pick up this tab as well? We can all ride the inflation rocket to the moon! What about the awkward hospital visit? Will this too disappear for good? Doubtful. This is a basic human duty after all. Just keep it short; a half hour or less is plenty. Let's hope there is some self reflection within healthcare. What went wrong? What went right? What can we do better? National government seems incapable of such thoughts. I doubt that will change.    

Neoliberalism has already won the US election. What happens if this structure indeed falls apart? Would Joe really have any better ideas on how to  build an alternative than the Donald? Possibly, but he has to win first. That's in doubt. Our government seems utterly incapable of solving problems of those with less than seven figure incomes. This bodes ill for long term stability. In the long run this is a much bigger challenge than covid-19.      

Shot Across the Bow

The Covid-19 pandemic sweeping the world is a shot across the bow. No, it is not a civilization ending event; rather a warning of possible things to come. We live in an age of alternative facts, fake news and spin. Viruses don't give a shit about markets, political fallout or popularity contests. They will continue to operate as they have since long before humans came on the scene. They are also equal opportunity killers. There is no concern for your bank account, fancy title or power. It as if Mother Nature is forcing us to look in the mirror at long last. What do we see?

A healthcare system who's main purpose is to make money may not be the best way to go. Research and Development goes into things that are profitable. Apparently preparing for a pandemic is not profitable. Where's the money in having extra masks or extra beds? Where is the money in being proactive? Where is the money in planning? Hey, that's the CDC's job! Oh, right we cut their funding. Going to work is literally putting your life at risk. Thank goodness for safety nets. Um, about that....

This is America damn it, we don't need no stinking safety nets! Having a safety net is not profitable. Follow the money. Is this the path for society towards a long term future? It looks like we are about to find out. A virus comes along and rattles markets to their core and bam, there is a two trillion $2,000,000,000,000 dollar stimulus on the table (mostly for those involved in such markets). So much for, "we are too broke for that." But the powers that be still say, "No, we cannot afford free college, a livable minimum wage or healthcare! We gotta rescue these markets!" The universe is collapsing. Oh, you may get a check for a thousand dollars and or a little unemployment money to get through a few weeks, you greedy bastards!  Meanwhile airlines get $26 billion and there is $17 billion for "National Security."And how about all that money we gave the Pentagon?

It looks like viruses could give a shit about our shiny fleet of aircraft carriers or stockpile of new and improved ICBM's. Why prepare to fight the enemy you cannot see? Out of sight out of mind. We have hollowed out our nation for a massive bloated military unprepared for fighting stealthy microbes. Our track record in war fighting is not much better. But we did win in Grenada. It is not completely useless. The military is proving useful for setting up hospitals and doing logistics. Let's hope we don't need them for crowd control. Tanks in the streets have a way of putting a damper on the prettiest spring day.

Just a few thoughts as we struggle through the Covid-19 Spring. Next, we'll look at some changes ahead.   


    

Democrats are Professional Losers

I heard Michael Moore once say this, "Democrats are professional losers." In light of recent events, I'd have to agree. Let me explain before you cast me off as a disgruntled Bernie Bro. There is no doubt in my mind the powers that be in the Democratic Party threw all of their weight (and I'm sure a few dollars as well) behind Joe Biden. Why? Bernie Sanders offers a more left stance on many major issues. For most of my lifetime we have drifted further right because our distinctly American Oligarchs want it that way. They have long paid the bills for our shit show attempt at democracy. Any small amount of democracy left was power-washed away with Citizens United. It is so bad companies pay for regulations they write to become law so they can go on TV and say we are regulated! The Democratic Party has been bought right along side their Republican friends. Remember when Republicans used to like things like good roads, schools and even Social Security? The pro-business party knew such things were necessary to keep an economy going. Now pro business means no regulations, no accountability and this quarter's bottom line. The democrats are much the same way but without the religious, homophobic, xenophobic science denying tendencies. Democrats pretend to be your friends while rummaging through your pockets to steal whatever is left.

We live in a time of grave, clear and present dangers. Climate change / ecological collapse, nuclear proliferation, a rising tide of nationalism / fascism. Yet we cower clinging to the familiar same ole politics of moderation and compromise. Which turns out to be neither. Was Obama's drone bombing really any more moderate than Trump's kids in cages? Was Hillary (I never met a war I did not like) Clinton the great compromise we needed in the face of Trump and his brand of self-worship and national nihilism? Yet here we are four years later with Joe Biden and his brand of moderation. "Hey Republican friends and banker / finance cronies, I want to cut Social Security too!" Yes, it's natural to fear change. But things are going to change.

Continuing down the path of business as usual is NOT sustainable. I think we have waited too long already and our inability to accept reality is going to hurt a lot more then it would have otherwise. Had we taken President Carter's example of putting solar panels on the White House and ran with it how far along a better road could we now be? But Nope. Democrats ran a moderate / compromise candidate and we got eight years of Ronnie RayGun! Bill Clinton and Barack Obama broke this pattern only reveled  to be status quo protectors while in office. Trump won because he was not in this club. (That's how his supporters see him to this day.) Oh, and a little thing called the Electoral College that can give the office to the candidate with the second most votes. You Go Greatest Democracy in the World! We are headed for a crash into the side of a granite mountain called reality. Instead of slowing down, we are accelerating. This is going to hurt.                         

Trump is Gonna Trump

Well here we are on the verge of a worldwide pandemic. What's Emperor Donald going to do? Pass the buck to Vice President Mike "No Science" Pence. Yup, he put that guy in charge of our response. And Trump is going to tell us everything is under control with vaccines just around the corner. Of course thy are, right? Right. The dearly beloved stock market is taking a hit and this is all The Donald cares about. He measures himself according to this number which is another absurdity of American politics. Does the President actually have anything to do with the national or international economy? The economy runs in bust boom cycles no matter which clown car party is in the White House at the moment. Yet both parties take credit when little is due and blame the other when things are bad. Getting off topic... Maybe that rant another time. Microbes are an old foe. We are better at fighting them but never defeat them completely.

All the aircraft carriers, fighter planes and tanks are useless in a war with microbes. Bad microbes come around from time to time to change history. Ask the Europeans about The Black Plague or Native Americans about diseases of the old world. It is unlikely that Coronavirus will be anything like these two killers but it may still me a history changer. These things have to run their course and at best we can hope to slow them down some. It may change the outcome of an election or two if it disrupts the world economy. This is not a Hollywood Movie or Stephen King Novel so don't run off to your bunker just yet. Humanity has always faced deadly microbes and we are still here. Just maybe it will make us reconsider our priorities? Probably not. There is too much money in war machines and war making.

Trump is going to do what he does best finger point, blame others and stoke fears. We have the CDC and other related agencies for a reason. Were budget cuts a god idea really? Big Daddy Putin in Moscow has no answers. A bunch of "Yes" people is useless. Insert miracle is never a good answer to a scientific problem. Sorry if that offends you. That's not even the saddest part. What's even more sad is a full third of this country will follow him right off the cliff of science denial and economic delusions. Sooner or later such a leader faces his downfall. Trump will face his but what will be the cost to the rest of us in the meantime?