Does Anybody Really Know What Time it Is?
The time is now. America is waking up. Resistance is the order of the day. I could feel it with growing certainty as I read the numerous and gratifying responses to my call for a national strike here on HuffPost. So many smart people offering so many good ideas. Even my detractors acknowledged the underlying issues I put forth.
This notion was reaffirmed on August 28 when Bill Maher interviewed Bill Moyers on a special edition of HBO's "Real Time". "The Democratic Party has become like the Republican Party, deeply influenced by corporate money," Moyers said. A short while later he added: "You really have two corporate parties who in their own way and their own time are serving the interests of basically a narrow set of economic interests in the country." In other words, it's the people versus the corporate state.
You hear it more and more, sometimes spoken in code, sometimes spelled out as clearly as a neon sign. We have reached the tipping point. The enemy has been identified. It's not left versus right it's democracy versus greed. This realization sits there like an unexploded bomb. We stare at it, waiting only for someone to light the match.
That was the essence of the debate here on HuffPost. Who will set a strike date? What date shall it be? Some called for me to set it. I demur. It's not up to me. There are enough millionaires telling you what to do. And I'm not at risk. I say, let the people decide.
That's what was so exciting about the discussion my essay evoked; it was all so egalitarian, so organic. Some who responded said they could not afford to stay home from their jobs; they were too vulnerable. Others suggested letting each participate in the way that is best for them. If you can't yell strike, or claim a sick day, then go to work but don't shop.
That makes sense to me. Like it or not, we are a consumer-driven society. Each and every purchase we make is a political action. That's called the power of the consumer. We must learn to wield this power effectively.
When it came to picking a date for the strike, some said September 11, others preferred October 1, and yet others favored November 5. I like all those dates. Why should there be just one? Or just three? We'll need a series of strikes. We'll need to build a movement. This isn't going to succeed overnight.
Whatever date is chosen, or however many, I'll throw in my support. It will be a slow build, but we can win this battle if we remain focused on the prize: meaningful campaign finance reform and serious restrictions on lobbying activity. It's time to take back our government. Let the average person have an equal voice with the wealthy.
For now, remember: The corporations do not control our government; they are our government.
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It is already September 19. I'm reading this for the first time from a link at Bigeye.com. I did a google search for November 5 and get nothing. How can this info and event get disseminated? I am an elementary school teacher in a socio-econimically challenged school. I can reach some of the parents in my classroom. Is anyone going to pick up the ball on this?
Why is no one pointing out the discrepincy with OLLIE NORTH BEING IN afganistan with special ops busting poppie fields aren't they afraid he may divert some to support hannity's T-baggin' buddies ?
You are right! I didn't know that! Ollie North war criminal and possible saboteur of the October Surprise, you know,the missing sand filters?
I wholeheartedly support the date of November 5. I am so tired of raging uselessly at my computer and tv screens, and would love nothing more than to get the word out about a massive shopping strike on that date.
Oh, what a magical moment that would be, Mr. Flynt. It races my pulse just thinking about the people united against the machine. But how do we get ALL of them? (or most of them)
The most successful politically driven boycott in the United States was the Montgomery Bus Boycott organized by a network of activists and MLK Jr. It was not as romantic as history tries to rewrite it. It would have never worked if the black community hadn't been pushed to the brink of near insanity by injustice. Remember, the black community has its conservatives, moderates and liberals and they dont all see eye to eye. It was not easy to get the middle class college educated black conservatives involved. They didn't ride the bus.
What must happen to us as a nation before we are emotionally invested, angry and 100% aware that there is a wall of corporations between us and our politicians and it must be brought down? It has to be something bigger than an economic meltdown because people are still bickering over the skin color of the president. We've gone NOWHERE since the 1960s. Its disturbing to say the least. I cant believe this is the world I live in. Its an asylum.
The beauty of a shopping boycott is it doesn't require full participation or even close.
Wall Street goes into meltdown mode from as little as a 2 percent drop in consumer spending. I'm sure that with some publicity and some star power that number would be at least 10 percent.
Despite being always outnumbered, the right wing hangs on to power by virtue of structure and ruthlessness. Progressives have been fighting with both hands tied behind their backs.
i think... that instead of not shopping..
Well, that would require nearly everyone to participate to avoid retaliation. Remember there are many working class conservatives drinking the corporate Kool Aid and acting against their own interest. Somehow they bought the idea that God is a greedy capitalist racketeer.
On the other hand, a shopping strike would be devastating even with just a 10 percent drop in sales. Participants could be completely anonymous since they don't have to actually "do" anything. It's just a matter of "not-doing
How about a shopping strike once a week? I vote for Mondays...
Something about this REALLY bothers me. I agree with Mr. Flynt. I agree that we need a revolution and/or boycotts and a national strike, but here's what I'm worried about:
I think the Right knows a revolt is coming and THEY want to be in charge of it. And THEY want to end up in charge after it's over. Look what happened in Iran. They drove out the shah and the religious right took over. Look what happened in Germany. They drove out the financially strapped Weimar Republic and the religious right (Hitler) took over.
I'm worried because the right has a structure (they own the media and their structure includes churches, Fox network, rabidly virulent radio hosts, and now town halls and "tea parties"). We liberals and secularists and progressives do not have a structure. If something like what we're talking about actually happens, the right will try to take credit for it. They will try to take credit for it and they will try to take charge.
I'm just worried that at an even lower point than where we are now, someone like Rush Limbaugh or Sarah Palin or James Dobson will step forward (just like what happened in Iran and Germany) and then we'll be a fascist theocracy. Please think about this.
No, not at all.
What this does is give some structure, as you say, to OUR side. We have to stop being so fearful and timid and nice. No more cutting deals with the Devil, no more one-way bipartisanship. If the bad guys win an election we'll oppose and obstruct, the way they oppose and obstruct our guys.
We just need the structure.
The ABSOLUTE first thing we need to do is change the dialogue; left vs. right, conservative vs. liberal, us and them ..... etc.......
The next thing we need to do is change our perception about money. Our "currency" is in reality our "vote" and "investments". PERIOD.
EVERYTIME YOU SPEND A PENNY, YOU ARE LITERALLY CASTING A VOTE.
THINK ABOUT IT.
if it comes to real revolt... i think retro is right... the real facists would have the momentum..
Of course peaceful and non-violent. Nobody here has suggested any kind of violence.
Wow, I agree with Larry Flynt. Hey, weirder things have happened. I'm all for a strike! Pick a day (hopefully it'll be after Oct 8th so I can participate since I'm out of the US now) and I'm with you!
But one day won't mean too much, though it's a good beginning. We need to use our dollars wisely, from banks to Mom & Pop shops. This has to be a daily commitment, and may require a change in habit. We need to prove that we're serious, and that we want REAL CHANGE (not the fluff Obama prommised and hasn't delivered on). We need a strong third party that would challenge the corporation parties on both the right and left.
I'm lucky to be from Vermont, where I already have an independant in Bernie Sanders.
Dear Larry, not only do I know what time it is, I say what time it is.
Stop. Hammer time! [crab dance]
Larry, I wish I could be a bouncer at your Hustler club in New York.
I have sufficient understanding of your philanthropic entrepreneurialism, I could be a good guy to have at your New York establishment.
Please let me know if I could be granted an opportunity.
http://www
Whoever formally calls for the strike has to be a public figure -- someone famous -- so that the media will cover the announcement. Without big media coverage it will be a flop. If a group like Larry Flynt with Bill Maher, Keith O. and Arianna were to collaborate on this it would really be something.
I support a series of nationwide shopping strikes with two demands: An end to corporate lobbying and implementation of Instant Runoff Voting to break up the two-party system.
http://www
H.U.S.T.L.
Holding United Strike To Launch Egalitarian Reform
L.F., National Chairman
i vote for november 5th, larry.
the problem is that americans enjoy their red vs blue fight too much and would rather face and fight than walk together.
it's a discordian delight.
Red vs Blue
Democrat vs Republican
Us vs them
= Divide and conquer
Larry does it again. This should be the lead rather than hidden away. Many of us are seeing through their right-left charade. The wars rage on, corporate interests write the bills and the politicians don't even have the courtesy to read them.
Never heard of this guy..seems to have a magazine about con men.. Anyway some good ideas.
Never heard of this guy... seems he he has a magazine about con men.. Anyways, some good ideas ;-)
New Hustler tag-line:
" For the rest of the world - that doesn't have Internet".
--
I like the idea of not shopping. Shut down WalMart for a full day. That will send a message.
I chose to not shop there anymore years ago.
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