Crazy Train Driving Me Insane
There's a storm brewing, can you feel it? Gale force winds, fifty foot waves, death, destruction, the 2018 Election.
Would you vote for the republican party?
Will you vote for the democratic party?
Some will, some won't, what does that portend? Can two sides of the class war co-exist? Can that work? I suppose it depends on your real opinion of the democratic party and this duopoly political system.
If you believe that we're in a class war against the ruling class and that we MUST wage that class war, and you believe that both political parties are clearly on the other side of the class war, then you will not want to consort, collaborate or assist those political parties in any way. They are in effect, the enemy.
Those supporting the enemy in any way are in effect, the enemy too.
Isn't that how it works? Isn't that how it should work in this Class War? How the hell else are we going to win it?
There are two sides in this class war, those against the ruling class and those for the ruling class. The democratic and republican parties are for the ruling class. It's that simple. That is not going to change.
If you believe we do not live in a democracy, which has been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt, why would you want to participate in that undemocratic system to only perpetuate it? Why wouldn't you want to oppose it and change it? If the two political parties only exist to serve the One Percent, why would you want to help them in any way? Why would you want to perpetuate their rule? If both parties are fully supportive of war, imperialism and Rule by the Rich, why would you want to join them? If you believe both parties are nothing but criminal organizations, why would you want to aid those criminals?
[video:https://youtu.be/5tu32CCA_Ig]
There's a storm brewing, it's going to get crazy.
All aboard, hahahahahahaha!
Ai! Ai! Ai!
Crazy, but that's how it goes
Millions of people living as foes
Maybe it's not too late
To learn how to love
And forget how to hate
Mental wounds not healing
Life's a bitter shame
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
I've listened to preachers
I've listened to fools
I've watched all the dropouts
Who make their own rules
One person conditioned
To rule and control
The media sells it
And you live the role
Mental wounds still screaming
Driving me insane
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
I know that things are going wrong for me
You gotta listen to my words, yeah!
Heirs of a cold war
That's what we've become
Inheriting troubles
I'm mentally numb
Crazy, I just can not bear
I'm living with something
That just isn't fair
Mental wounds not healing
Who and what's to blame
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
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Comments
Who knew the Oz man
could write? Not the easiest guitar part neither.
the little things you can do are more valuable than the giant things you can't! - @thanatokephaloides. On Twitter @wink1radio. (-2.1) All about building progressive media.
Hits the mark pretty well.
@Big Al Thanks...I've never
"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X
Yeah, I'm not much
on lyrics myself. There's a local yokel guitar player here, a lefty (like Paul McCartney), who can damn near match Rhodes note for note on that song. I never knew the guitar part was that difficult 'til I saw the local guy play it. busts his ass just to (barely) keep up with that tune. He finished in the top 40 (top 3rd) of a competition to play for one of the top 7 or 8 metal bands at the time. One of the band members says to him, "woulda finished in top 10 except for your hair" (or lack thereof). Pretty good player. Damn fine rock song. And, I don't know if Oz wrote it or not, but he sings a kick ass (more traditional) love song (I think from the late '90s). Can't remember the name of it, but was surprised Oz sang it so well.
the little things you can do are more valuable than the giant things you can't! - @thanatokephaloides. On Twitter @wink1radio. (-2.1) All about building progressive media.
Was it 'Mama I'm coming home'?
This shit is bananas.
Life Won't Wait
Life Won't Wait... but I'm sure I've heard Mama, just can't recall.
the little things you can do are more valuable than the giant things you can't! - @thanatokephaloides. On Twitter @wink1radio. (-2.1) All about building progressive media.
ah yes, I remember that song now.
This shit is bananas.
Nope, not a chance
I stopped after Obama's first term. I did believe that he was going to try to change the direction of this country, but after he voted for the FISA bill and then saw who he was going to put in his cabinet, that's when I gave up voting.
You're right that there is no point in voting for the lesser of two evils democrats. They have proven since 2006 that they won't go against republicans. Their loss of 1,000 seats was deliberate, IMO. This gave them their excuse for not being able to block the republicans. Plus they never tried to do it anyway. Seems that only the republicans can use the filibuster and secret holds. Republicans are not bat shit crazy. They just show their ruthlessness up front and don't try to hide it like the democrats do.
But how to get others to see this kabuki theater dancing? As divine order stated, this is the $64,000 question. How to show them that what that video shows is the truth?
Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.
Well, one thing I was going to point out is that
So in political terms, we're talking a super majority that has tuned out the two parties. Polls in the last ten years show the approval ratings of Congress to be in the low teens to an all time low of 8%.
It's all kept alive by the corporate media and our government, and those who want it to continue, from Daily Kos to the Young Turks to Democracy Now to anyone who makes money off it, to especially the Ruling Class, who need this system to maintain their power. I think that's a big problem, the professional left that whether consciously or not perpetuate this big fucking game and no one calls for an end to it. A gravy train has been developed over the last fifteen years on the internet, I was going to write about that sometime, that actually helps to keep this all going. Very few of the paid players will call for what is really needed or their gigs would end.
@Big Al Last year, I joked that
Next year is a Congressional election, so the turnout will be lower, regardless of what the politicians do. Bernie yelling OMG Trump Viva La Revolucion is probably the only thing that will drive turnout higher.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
@Big Al Oh, wait, you said 2014
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
@Big Al Huh, and now that I've
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
@Big Al Poor Amy Goodman.
They must have made her an offer she couldn't refuse.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
@Big Al @CSTMS Why do you think Amy Goodman has sold out?
I feel your and Big Al's judgement is harsh and I don't know why. I would want Amy Goodman to stay on the air with her productions, guests' interviews and commentary. I see differences between Democracy Now, Truthdig, Young Turks, Counterpunch, Common Dreams, Jimmy Dore, Naked Capitalism, CrooksandLiars, but I would not want one of those outlets close down. As I am not in the US mainland anymore, I don't watch or read them often, just what I am pointed to through the EB and through articles of some authors here.
I mean, don't we have our own brains to decide, what in each segment or broadcast you believe in, find correct or otherwise a little too accommodating or hyped up?
I can't help but thinking that to express your frustrations and disappointments of not knowing how to change the system with non-violent and legal means, that all you have left doing is to criticism those who have been on your side, one of your own. It sounds to me to be simply a matter of not admitting that without a revolutionary war inside the US against the corporate oligarchs, lobbyists, bought campaigns and bought representatives, you can't change the system. And to say this is just too dangerous. So you attack those who have tried. Which is not a thing I would want to.
What did I miss?
Good questions mimi.
She's part of the professional left that will only go so far so they keep their paychecks. Money has infested the alternative left and the results are the same as anywhere else.
Here's a couple examples. You're right, we all have to decide for ourselves. Myself, I stopped watching DM years ago, although I never watched it much initially anyway.
https://blackagendareport.com/activists_confront_amy_goodman_on_syria
http://www.intrepidreport.com/archives/16459
thx, Big Al, I haven't read enough and understood too little
of the little bit I read, to come to any kind of opinion about Democracy Now's coverage of the Syrian war. Thanks for the links. I just can't keep up reading so much and digesting it.
I used to think
Then they'll bitch about
the results, reminding us all, once again, that "voting doesn't matter, nothing changes... "
the little things you can do are more valuable than the giant things you can't! - @thanatokephaloides. On Twitter @wink1radio. (-2.1) All about building progressive media.
the koch's 3rd way bought the clintons and the dnc
Pelosi with guidance from clinton knowing it was a twofer first in the fact she had the dubya foil in running to be prez, secondly why upset the donors
and further funding by going after the other wing of the duopoly.
Once she lost though she still remained in power, proof being her and zero did a kumbaya with her becoming SOS, upon which she really enhanced the families grifting operation (selling the country to the highest bidder, fuck that, any and every bidder).
Zero's $65mil book deal was the quid pro quo, for looking forward and as being a big a zero as he was in every respect, he actually made dubya look good, how bad is that. rhetorical.
The Koch's 3rd way plan worked like a charm, buy the D's and make them meaningless, while they believe they're priceless. The clintons will go
down in history as the biggest traitors in US history, with zero being
nothing but a willing accomplice
I never knew that the term "Never Again" only pertained to
those born Jewish
"Antisemite used to be someone who didn't like Jews
now it's someone who Jews don't like"
Heard from Margaret Kimberley
bing! This ˆˆ n/t
the little things you can do are more valuable than the giant things you can't! - @thanatokephaloides. On Twitter @wink1radio. (-2.1) All about building progressive media.
That's almost exactly my story
Except for me, his response to the global financial crisis was also significant as was his victory lap regarding the ACA. Also, I did not stop voting. I started voting Green. My reasoning was that at the very least I could "park my vote" there and maybe that'd encourage others to do the same and one fine day we'd wake up and realize we were a voting bloc.
A lot of wanderers in the U.S. political desert recognize that all the duopoly has to offer is a choice of mirages. Come, let us trudge towards empty expanse of sand #1, littered with the bleached bones of Deaniacs and Hope and Changers.
-- lotlizard
Maybe taking over the Republican party is the way to go
It's probably easier to get started as a Republican candidate than a Democrat and there's no dealing with bullshit like super delegates. Since party labels seem to mean so much to so many, irregardless of policy, I think Republican progressives could make a lot headway. A primary between a regular person who's a progressive Republican and a Koch brother stooge Republican shouldn't be a contest. Especially if there are debates. The Koch shills would melt under the challenge. Where is it written that a Republican must be a soulless stooge of the 1%?
Beware the bullshit factories.
Admirable thought but one progressive Republican
I think of the Republican presidential primaries and debates
For a convenient period of time, Trump was a populist and was calling out the other Republican candidates for their corruption and lies and he destroyed them. Jeb Bush was utterly helpless against him. Now an authentic progressive who has integrity and a soul and empathy should be able to do the same damn thing to these talking point actors who can't act.
Beware the bullshit factories.
I certainly would be hopeful to have a Repub progressive
Progressive Republican candidates
Whitmire - https://www.whitmire2018.com/
Ryerse - https://robb2018.com/
Haha you beat me to it with that.
Personally I am for supporting these Republican candidates as an alternative to despair. Win some , lose some , I voted for Jill Stein twice with no regrets.
A truth of the nuclear age/climate change: we can no longer have endless war and survive on this planet. Oh sh*t.
@divineorder For this budget mess,
Gawd I hope the nutters in the Freedumb Caucus are able to stop
...
Important to note that I do not support this type of tax ‘reform.’
I support. Robin Hood Tax
A truth of the nuclear age/climate change: we can no longer have endless war and survive on this planet. Oh sh*t.
@divineorder Me, either.
Here I thought I was asking a ridiculous question.
What a dead end waste of time.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
It didn't work for Dylan Thomas, either.
I'd be helping young people get out, with all that energy.
____________________
The political system is what it is because the People are who they are. — Plato
I could probably round up a couple thousand on my end.
the first video is really very well made - kudos whoever
produced it. Even I understood it.![Wink](https://caucus99percent.com/sites/all/modules/smiley/packs/kolobok/wink.gif)
Heh, I refuse to get off the rail in the crazy train. I walk by foot. Slowly but surely like millions of refugees from everywhere to anywhere.
Nobody here is my enemy, but whoever wrote this has a point:
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Brilliant.
Love that Mafia meme. Succinct, yet brutal.
"Just call me Hillbilly Dem(exit)."
-H/T to Wavey Davey
@Hillbilly Dem First time I saw it, I
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Yes; no; no effing way.
Grand Staircase/Escalante and Bears' Ears, just after that repugnant tax bill, should truly be a wake-up call. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop: how much more of this can the nation take before erupting?
You make another crucial point: how can people believe that a government elected by a paltry percentage of eligible voters is actually representative?! Boggles my mind.
Keep writing, Al; I feel we're at a tipping point. At least I hope we are.
This is what I consider when I think
O.k. When is the next meeting for the revolution?
-FuturePassed on Sunday, November 25, 2018 10:22 p.m.
illegitimate
Nope.
That's why refusal to vote amounts to a vote for "whoever wins". This is a feature, not a bug.
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
Dammit... another NSFI comment...
Of course, suggesting that the system is broken, and needs to be fixed just ends up with:
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61k1xpiKwEU]
Edit: Notice, throughout the sketch, what happens to the fork.
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
A tipping point or a lemming dive-off (drive-off?)
I think if I can just observe (while guerilla-talking on social media) I will be okay.
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
About 150 people.
About 150 people.
That's all they need to keep the system going.
Protesting the vote won't do anything because as long as 150 people still go and vote, it doesn't matter.
Take a Presidential election.
50 states, with 3 people voting in each state, 2 vote for X 1 for Y.
That's it. President Whatever is elected. 99% of the population may not vote, but it wouldn't matter.
Well, I don't believe that.
Hell, we got progressives advocating for electing politicians to the republican party now, instead of boycotting the system and demanding democracy.
@Al:
Well, you've always been onto it.
Until now, for me anyway, the question of what to do -- what can we do -- has stymied me. Tax boycott, consumer boycott, general strike: all sound great, but impossible for most.
But we have nothing to lose with a complete boycott of the 2018 election. And it seems to me an easy concept to explain, and mobilize around.
Yes? No?
Definitely yes.
As many of us have been saying all along, it takes organization but we need to agree on the action.
What I've always wanted was to get a large group of people together in some conference hall somewhere to brainstorm how we can challenge the oligarchy. Hell, with Occupy Portland still active, Vets for Peace in Portland, we have a foundation that can be accessed.
Actually, you don't need to agree on the action
At least not right now. All you need to agree on is that the duopoly is failing you (collectively). Beyond that, it is sufficient to do as I'm doing and "park your vote" somewhere so that a voting bloc can form. That'll take some time anyway. While that's happening you can sort out what to do when you have the power to do it.
A lot of wanderers in the U.S. political desert recognize that all the duopoly has to offer is a choice of mirages. Come, let us trudge towards empty expanse of sand #1, littered with the bleached bones of Deaniacs and Hope and Changers.
-- lotlizard
@Big Alinstead of boycotting
What does this even mean? Boycott the system... to ultimately do what? To do any of this requires power. Power is violence or economic. You could have 100% of people boycott the election and not vote...and what would that change? OK, everyone stayed home and no one voted, now what? Hell at that point the politicians themselves would vote themselves in as the only voters who voted.
You got people boycotting the system and demanding democracy, and then over there you have the system you want which is democracy. In the middle there is the actual mess and transition to get it.
What is the transition? These folks won't give up power. Violence or economic -- pick one. And I'm not seeing either.
Americans don't have it in them to do violence against the system. Violence against everything else, definitely a possibility but not where it actually matters. Scapegoats against easy targets could happen, but ultimately Americans are still too intoxicated by creature comforts to do what is necessary. And economic boycotts? With Black Friday just recently being one of the biggest in years if I remember correctly it seems people can't stomach that option either.
Quite the problem we have eh SD?
It's not boycotting the election, I would view it more as boycotting the duopoly and this political system that is not democracy and serves the ruling class.
It's the "collective" part that led me to vote Green
Sure, I had no real belief that the Green party was going to win... or even place strongly. But I didn't want to simply disappear either. So I "collected" in the Green party. I'd be happy to collect somewhere else too but if we're going to be collective then we need to get to it.
A lot of wanderers in the U.S. political desert recognize that all the duopoly has to offer is a choice of mirages. Come, let us trudge towards empty expanse of sand #1, littered with the bleached bones of Deaniacs and Hope and Changers.
-- lotlizard
@Strife Delivery That sounds like a
@MichaelSF I think this is where I
A mandate for what? That people are boycotting the election? Cool, what does that mean?
Really, what does that mean?
Unless again you got 100% of the people to participate, the system will keep churning. Do you think they ultimately care if there is a record number of people not voting? Nope.
Again, a mandate to do what? Destroy the system and demand democracy? OK, and those in power will laugh and continue on with business as usual.
What people want and what they get are two different things. Vast majority want single payer. Sound like a mandate, but well our politicians won't vote for it.
Unless whatever we do has power, it is meaningless. Power is either violence or economic.
If anything
You're right about us Americans, I think: many of us are far too comfortable / lazy / scared / all three to do anything. Also, as I alluded to above, it's often difficult to understand what to do: resistance seems futile.
A mass boycott of the 2018 election won't change the political system we have; certainly not overnight. And: it can show the politically paralyzed a new way forward.
I don't know where the momentum might lead, or what that new path looks like, but I do know that we have to start somewhere. A boycott like this is easy to wrap my head around and I think it can tip the scales. IMHO. YMMV.
Well then, go elect more politicians.
Just stay in the box Al.
*chuckle* I doubt there's a lot of inside-the-box here
For instance, I understand your reasoning to a point. I'm just not sure how it gets from protest to action. It's the bit where the collective collects that I'm most intersted in.
A lot of wanderers in the U.S. political desert recognize that all the duopoly has to offer is a choice of mirages. Come, let us trudge towards empty expanse of sand #1, littered with the bleached bones of Deaniacs and Hope and Changers.
-- lotlizard
@Strife Delivery My comment was