@Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal

of Americans are falling behind, especially financially. For about two years, the following article was part if my DKos signature line,

AP December 15, 2011, 12:55 PM

Census data: Half of U.S. poor or low income

WASHINGTON - Squeezed by rising living costs, a record number of Americans — nearly 1 in 2 — have fallen into poverty or are scraping by on earnings that classify them as low income.

The latest census data depict a middle class that's shrinking as unemployment stays high and the government's safety net frays. The new numbers follow years of stagnating wages for the middle class that have hurt millions of workers and families. . . .

So, thanks for bringing that factoid up--I may incorporate that piece into a future sign line.

And, it wasn't my intention to imply that 'we get what we deserve.'

I think quite the opposite, actually. But, I do believe that shaking up the status quo will necessitate a great deal of sacrifice on the part of all who wish to achieve the changes that are often discussed--it won't be an easy task. IOW, a peaceful societal revolution will not likely come about without a significant degree of displacement and/or discomfort for many, if not most, folks. And, IMO, it's constructive to face that hard truth or reality.

While I don't consider myself to be at all reckless, I probably have a bit less aversion to risk (than many) because of my own personal history--winning a federal suit as a very young person, just entering the federal bureaucracy. As a result, I believe that I have a pretty good understanding of the personal costs of fighting a powerful entrenched institution, which should never be underestimated.

At any rate, I'm all in for changing the political status quo, therefore, improving our lives. Since Mr M's putting in for retirement shortly, I'm not likely going to be able to get real involved in the effort, since we're preparing to relocate. But, in no way did I mean to belittle the idea, or discourage anyone from believing that a committed group of folks can bring about major societal change/reform. History has taught us otherwise. And, if I can't do anything else, I'll gladly cheer the effort from the sidelines!

Mollie

“I believe in the redemptive powers of a dog’s love. It is in recognition of each dog’s potential to lift the human spirit--and therefore, to change society for the better--that I fight to make sure every street dog has its day.”
--Stasha Wong, Secretary, Save Our Street Dogs (SOSD)

The SOSD Fantastic Four

#5 #5 1/2 the country is poor. Literally poor. That doesn't include the people who aren't poor, but who are living paycheck to paycheck with no savings and too much debt.

Beyond that, there's a lot of other forms of discomfort that are not directly pertinent to money and whether or not you're being shot at currently. And those discomforts are so intense that we're getting record suicide numbers in some demographics. We have a suicide spike going. Last year, during the election, the American Psychological Association had to come up with guidelines for dealing with the campaigns, because it was causing so much mental agony.

People are not comfortable, unless by that you mean they are sufficiently comfortable that they prefer living to dying. And even that is not, given the suicide spike, necessarily true.

Perhaps we should be asking, why are Americans choosing to kill themselves rather than revolt?

As for deserving what we get, a position that pops up fairly regularly around here, I'd like to see some historical examples of revolutions that began with people saying "We deserve what we get."

Self-flagellation--or, alternatively, excoriating the people for their moral unworthiness--doesn't tend to be an attitude often assumed by revolutionaries, at least not the ones I've read about, though I'm willing to learn. It is, however, quite frequently found in religious discourse.

@Big Al
Crazy people playing games with our lives. This is not a video game, or a teevee show, this is actual people trying to live a life, while Herr Drumpf and his warlords bang the nuclear war drum.

I'm going to say this in all caps to get my feeling across: AMERICANS MUST STOP JOINING THE MILITARY! We must stop participating in making their wildest dreams come true at the expense of our lives! We must start pressing this message. It's a first step in stopping the madness.

Look at the Caitlin Johnstone quote in my sig line - is that what it will take for folks to wake up? It might be too late by then. Revolution must begin long before.

#6 the money and effort put into ways to kill and harm each other on this planet is astounding. It just keeps piling on top, getting bigger and more dangerous. Crazy people playing crazy games with the rest of our lives while we sit and read about it. The entire planet is in trouble unless we can stop them.

@Big Al
and got a shock already at the airport. Hundreds of these one-arm slotmachines, but then as many crying, desperate women, sitting dazed and in tears, realizing they had lost probably everything they had. It's a terrible environment. I never went there again. Just watched our camera crew's productions from that city, inside, outside and underground, homeless tent cities and in the tunnels.

I just don't know why there is no social revolution happening in the US. It seems to be overdue to say the least.

#8 we weren't one of the "lucky" ones.

@ggersh

I've had that happen a few times.
But then Bogie began lying to me and ruined everything.

#8 [video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5G7QuYNr60]

@shaharazade @shaharazade
he dares to talk like this to some "brothers" in the "hood" or simply to normal people, who can't buy even a tiny piece of land and certainly not a house on it in an urban neighborhood or suburban neighborhood.

There are some "farmers" on Hawaii my son got to know, all of them rich investors, who were able to buy 800 000,00 plus dollar lots with 600,000.00 dollar farms, err mansions on it and capable to "play" farmer. They hire the homeless to tend their vegetables and fruits and often are even too lazy to sell them or give them away to food banks. They are that rich and that lazy and smart talking about living self-sufficiently and self-sustaining and are full of themselves.

No thanks.

#9 in the world and just crushing it is pretty glib. I would love to have solar panels on my roof but I can't afford it. Same with moving to France or Ecuador. How did this urban farmer get the bucks to equip his farm? How can a person immigrate legally with no assets? Become a refugee? His farm looks suburban to me. I live in a city where urban 'density' is being rammed down our throats. Solar power is expensive here. Sure you can cut a deal with Portland General Electric wherein over time you will get a rebate but you still have to pay upfront for the installation. Lot's of affluent professionals here have gone solar.

So excuse me while I go try to finally finish my veggie garden planting in a world where seasons do not exist. I threw out my planting guide as it just confuses both me and the vegetables. A green house? Yeah sounds great but even getting the CU to refinance my house for needed repairs is an endless nightmare of bureaucratic hoops. Being the change you want to see isn't always possible. We all do the best we can but when people are living in survival mode it's a bit much to get shouted at by guys like this 'urban farmer'.

@edg Ah, all Jesus, all the time! I do lots of work for local churches, too.
I have mastered a facial expression of empathy which is believable, despite being completely fake.

#11

I have a small business and hear all kinds of political talk (I just nod & smile & say "mmm-hmm") and religious blessings (I'm an atheist). I have to keep my private feelings and my public dealings totally separate.