"I Told You So" Just Doesn't Cut It
Seeing as so many people are now complaining about AOC and her ilk in both essays and comments, I think the title is appropriate.
When AOC and the DSA sheep dogs suddenly popped up during last year's primaries, I tried to scream from the rooftops that they would all bend the knee to the capitalists and imperialist warhawks in both parties. I was called a Bolshevik loon, told I was being too negative, basically told to sit down, shut up and submit to useless liberal bourgeois "democracy".
Now we have Sanders and Gabbard playing their roles as controlled opposition in the Democratic primary. No doubt we'll see even more shenanigans and more knee bending from the likes of Sanders, Gabbard and the so-called DSA sheep dogs to the capitalists and imperialist war hawks with all the IDpol they can throw at the electorate, though to be perfectly honest, the pigs couldn't give fuck one about LGBT+, people of color, people with disabilities or the elderly (and people with disabilities and the elderly are the most IGNORED and MALIGNED groups on the planet).
But please, go ahead and tell me how participating in this farce is helpful. It's not like we have a meaningful labor movement or an actual socialist party that can challenge the fuckers in a meaningful way like those that existed when FDR took office and implemented the New Deal to placate white workers only while the pigs continued to rape the Global South of everything of value. After Khruschev made his secret speech following his military coup, the roll back of even that began in earnest, especially with the election of Richard Nixon after he stalled negotiations to end the imperialism in Vietnam.
Then it ramped up with Reagan with the capitalists declaring the end of history under Bush 1 with the sell off of the Soviet Union by Gorbachev and Yeltsin. Clinton ushered in NAFTA, repealed Glass Steagall, instituted Mass Incarceration, the Telecommunications act of 96, illegal imperialist acts in Bosnia and Kosovo, and killing Welfare as we knew it. Bush 2 stole the 2000 election, colluded with the Saudis on 9/11, using it as an excuse for illegal imperialist acts in Iraq and Afghanistan while manufacturing new enemies from old 80s Cold War allies in the process. And let's not forget the Second Great Depression that began in 2004 along with more so-called Free Trade Agreements that fucked Central America ten ways from Sunday.
Reagan in Blackface continued the Bush doctrine, expanding our imperialism in the middle east from 2 countries to seven, let financial capital rape American workers of everything of value even after the bailout of 2008, made the Bush tax scam permanent and handed the pigs even more tax money before and after the fact, stomped Occupy Wall Street under foot while supporting far-right militias, so-called 'faith-based' initiatives run by far-right Christofascists, shoved Keystone XL and DAPL up the Empire's collective ass while stomping down water protectors and other protesters, and as icing on the cake, signing a Republican insurance giveaway into law so they could stay profitable. And this was all before Hillary and her goons handed the presidency to Donny the Douchebag and started a new Cold War with Russia with the help of trolls such as Guccifer 2.0.
But go on. Tell me how supporting McResistance figures such as AOC or backing the sheep dog McStrikes from the Company Unions the capitalists allow to exist purely for propaganda purposes and doing other things the capitalists actually want us to do will make life more difficult for the capitalists. Tell me how capitalism is socialism and how bringing back social democracy while still fucking the Global South that will be revoked in 8 years or less is a great idea. It's fun living out the very definition of insanity.
Comments
Great stuff
All true. I can see two ways out. One is actual revolution, the other is turning your back on the world and living as you think is the best way....which doesn't seem to help the oppressed..
But given that fascists run the military, the police, and anyone else who's well-armed, I don't see revolution being successful. I'd consider it suicide.
Marches and demonstrations are useless. How are the Yellow Vests doing? Has France changed?
This is not to defend our system. Clearly it's about as bad as we could imagine. However (you knew there'd be one of those) I don't think AOC or Bernie are actors. For some reason they think they can be useful this way.
Whereas Liz Warren and Harris might as well be Schumer. Warren is a Republican, Harris is a power seeker. Both pose as Democrats.
I'm not paranoid enough to think that everyone is a put up job. Some are. AOC hasn't let it slip, if she is.
In my opinion, of course.
The only way an actual revolution can happen
is if another economic crash happens that's so bad it hits everyone from top to bottom. I don't see it happening as the top 10% of the human population can just flee the destruction they openly cause whenever and wherever they please.
Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.
Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.
You're not wrong
To get elected you assemble a team of campaign consultants who steer you to groom an image. Once elected there are staff to winnow out the chaff (us) so the important people of influence can gain acess. The leadership directs your votes, tells you who not to offend, how much to meet and greet with donors and how much you're expected to bring in.
Meanwhile your circle is the upper %'ers, and you want your kid to get in that exclusive waiting list kindergarten, tony prep school and ivy league college...the one where your donors kids go. A nice second home would be nice, and it's never too early to start thinking about those boards you can sit on or that high paying consulting gig if politics goes south.
All you have to do is show up every 2, 4, or 6 years, tell us what we want to hear and pretend you're one of us. The have consultants to coach them on how to do it.
I've followed Bernie for a bunch of years, and like him, and AOC and posse piss off Pelosi which is a plus.. But yeah, in the end not expecting much.
Yup. Kids are forced to compete right out of the womb now.
And if they can't, or worse, if they're "too much trouble", they'll just be herded off to what my mother-in-law referred to recently as "Behavioral Management", or more accurately, what's left of the public education system.
Based on my experience in said system, I suspect that behavioral management was all the disability programs the school boards initially set up really ever were. Hell, some teachers flat out told me I'd never amount to anything for that very reason.
Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.
Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.
Meanwhile Mulvaney is still working on drowning the government
in a bathtub. There was an oligarch coup during Ronnie's tenure and then good old democritic President Bill Clinton continued passing every republican wet dream that they couldn't get passed under a republican presidency.
As Trump Sows Discord, Chief of Staff Mulvaney Reportedly Focused on 'Building Empire for the Right Wing'
"Cabinet members are pressed weekly on what regulations they can strip from the books and have been told their performance will be judged on how many they remove."
Would old Mulvaney be in government today if the Kambama had truly represented the people that she was sworn to and went after Mulvaney with everything she had? How many democrats voted to confirm Mulvaney as well as the other horrible Trump cabinet picks?
There were problems with running a campaign of Joy while committing a genocide? Who could have guessed?
Harris is unburdened of speaking going forward.
Yup
Everybody focus on the shiny thing, the media says that's what's important. Meanwhile the republicans screw the life out of us. If only the democrats were in power. Then it would be a bipartisan screwing.
Enough for plausible deniability, I'm sure.
After all, they don't need every Dem to vote yes on shit like this, tax scams, imperialist actions or slashing budgets of things people with disabilities need. Those who don't vote or vote no are just as culpable as those who vote with the fascists.
Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.
Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.
I have read this over and over
It should be it's own diary/essay. It is how we lose. It's why we say there is no difference between the parties. For if the republicans are driven out past history will show the democrats will not repair most of the republican damage. For all the pain republican and democrats policy decisions inflicted, little will be done by democrats to fix their "mistakes" or republican damage . This makes them just as bad as the republicans. If there are any historians still working in the future they'll chronicle how the destruction of America was a bipartisan endeavor.
Nice rant. nt
dfarrah
FWIW, BAR's Bruce Dixon didn't define 'sheepdog'
as someone who isn't 'sincere' about his stated values, or proposed campaign platform/stances.
Here's Dixon's characterization of what a sheepdog does. It doesn't apply only to Bernie--but to any Dem Party politician who vehemently opposes the mainstream (corporatist) DP candidate, then, turns around and supports them in the General Election. (He gives several other examples.)
Below is an excerpt from his piece,
Or, as FireDogLake's Jane Hamsher probably would have said, 'sheepdogging' is an attempt to keep Dem Party activists and left-leaning voters in the proverbial Dem Party 'veal pen.'
More often than not, the DP candidates are quite candid that they don't intend to be spoilers. So, it's not what I'd call nefarious. It is, what it is.
IOW, another form of LOTE thinking. And, IMO, it's up to each one of us to decide or determine how much of this we can, or cannot, tolerate from a Presidential Candidate.
My personal use of the term LOTE is pretty much synonymous with 'incremental,' and, to some extent, unacceptable thinking/behavior/actions.
At any rate, acting on this (LOTE) thinking clearly does not mean that a candidate is evil or a phony, in regards to his values or stated beliefs. (IMO)
BTW, not sure if this is what Aspie was saying, or not. So, attempting to reply to Shah's comments about sheepdogging.
IOW, I don't believe the term 'sheepdog' implies duplicity, or insincerity. But, I've provided the link, so, Everyone can read Dixon's BAR piece, and make their own determination.
Back to Excel, now.
Have a good one!
Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.
hmmmm.
about this:
that may be, depending on the sources. i did find this, and i dunno if i even or agree with most of it or not. 'Jane Hamsher Leads Left Away from White House', ben smith, common dreams, dec. 2009, Ben Smith
she dd her own share of selling out, and my diaries were a bt too radical for an all-dem webite, and i got moderated and my diaries suspended for 'conferences' until they either resurfaced or not. jane would dig into my diaries herownself, and tinker with them...even swapping out art images, wtf? (one could tell who and how many times they were edited.)
but reckoning my days were numbered was the reason i'd created the Cafe to begin with, and moved diaries there, or the ones i remembered, anyway. one that got suspended was 'I've been van Jonesed and democRatted,...etc. to the paul simon tune. anyhoo, jane hamsher, imo, ended up being part of the veal pen she'd railed against. further, i believe that dedication to dems was what caused the place to fold, and she'd willed it to kevin gosztola. asshole 'mark from ireland' said at ian welsh's juke joint that t'was my fault the place died, but that was too funny to respond to.
Hi, WD! Sorry for delay in replying,
I just now saw that you commented about Jane and FDL.
Well, from what I recall, MFI was a piece of work. I would have ignored him, too. What was he talking about--if anything, you were the 'top' blogger there.
(which was probably his real beef with you)
Also, I didn't know they were moderating and/or suspending your diaries. So, guess you may have a point about Jane being more of a Dem than she let on. As I recall, Kevin was a nice Guy, but, definitely somewhat of a Dem apparatchik. (IMO)
One thing I did like about Jane--her love for dogs, naturally.
But, more importantly, I respected how she moderated, at times. Remember her rule about not assessing others' 'motives.' And, how she put up that photo of Johnny Carson playing the part of Carnac The Magnificent? I totally agreed with her view that no one could possibly 'know' another blogger's motives, so, that we should steer clear of making accusations in that regard.
Never have kept up with Kevin's blog--is it Shadowproof? Wonder if he's still making a go of it?
My best to Mr WD. Hope you Guys are having better weather out west, than we are in the South. ('Real feel' hit 100 degress, two days ago. Yikes!)
Blue
Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.
If AOC cops out....if she doesn't endorse Bernie....
Justice Democrats is dead. Most never supported it, certainly didn't give them or their candidates money. We all knew the party couldn't be reformed from within. We told them so too.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
That's a big reason I don't pay attention to them anymore.
As for AOC herself, she already copped out and endorsed Pelosi and supported imperialist action in Venezuela, so for her, supporting the candidate the capitalists pick for president in 2020 isn't much of a stretch.
Hell, Andrew Gillum practically handed Florida to overt fascist and Dipshit supporter Ron DeSantis, as I knew he would. I was already registered Green before the 2018 primary so I didn't shed too many tears for him.
Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.
Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.
Here's where my new icon comes from:
Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.
Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.
I can't imagine why anybody
would consider you a Bolshevik loon.
We wanted decent healthcare, a living wage and free college.
The Democrats gave us Biden and war instead.
Better a Bolshevik loon
than one who pines for the half ass measures of war criminals and imperialists.
Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.
Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.
That pretty much covers the political side
...of what been happening for the past 50 years.
It is also true, that by voting in an abusive corrupt democracy, where no real choices are offered, the American people have repeatedly confirmed that they approve of the privatization of government services, which create extortionate profit streams for immoral, abusive, and virtually indemnified corporations. Now, when the people want to use these once-trusted, government-sponsored services, they are forced to do business with corporate racketeers who siphon up every last penny that they didn't have. Getting a college education in the US is one of many examples of privatized social services that's become a temple of asset-stripping racketeering. It has already stunted and enslaved the the lives of an entire generation.
Nonetheless, Americans are going to continue to vote — even though the evil is now nearly transparent and visible to anyone who cares to look. And the corrupt kabuki of restrictive voting will make them hunger for it more than ever. This is a brain injury in action. There's nothing you can do to stop it. You are already aware that no one is going to come along and save the day.
If you cannot accept this, you should walk away and stop the pain and anguish. Most Americans are engaged in activities and social worlds, endeavors and pursuits that completely obscure this nation's political shitshow. They don't have to look at it. They tuned it out and forgot about it. They're happier than we are. You can deprogram yourself, too. Takes about 30 days to achieve a better frame of mind.
IMAGINE if you woke up the day after a US Presidential Election and headlines around the the world blared, "The Majority of Americans Refused to Vote in US Presidential Election! What Does this Mean?"
Considering I live right next to an outdoor mall...
there really isn't much to do other than shop and eat. I wish I was joking.
Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.
Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.
lol...
I've called it pretzelizing your brain to get to being able to accept certain viewpoints such as Russia Gate, but a walking brain injury sounds better. I get to like this because I'm a walking brain injured.
There were problems with running a campaign of Joy while committing a genocide? Who could have guessed?
Harris is unburdened of speaking going forward.
I guess that makes me a sucker
because I don't believe that everyone is out to get me.
I don't believe that the outrage at JD, DSA, and Sanders is fake.
I don't believe that giving up is cool or helpful.
So pity me for being a fool.
No one is stopping you from going along with the farce.
But if calling it out for what it is and refusing to take part in the lie that is liberal bourgeois "democracy" is giving up, so be it. At least I won't be herded along by Bernie and Tulsi next year when they capitulate to the capitalists' chosen candidate.
Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.
Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.
So don't vote.
I don't recall this happening....
"I was called a Bolshevik loon, told I was being too negative, basically told to sit down, shut up and submit to useless liberal bourgeois "democracy"."
You have freely shared your opinions on this site and only asked to curb your enthusiasm when it gets close to personal insults.
I tried reading this all the way through, but my eyes glazed over because it's so repetitive of all your other writings and comments. I think we get it when it comes to your core message. And, you are still pretty angry. It's exhausting.
"Without the right to offend, freedom of speech does not exist." Taslima Nasrin