Chris Hedges is talking about me.

[rbnyc]

Earlier I read a thread about Chris Hedges. Someone was upset that he is always blaming the liberal elite for our descent into inverted totalitarianism. The question was posed, who are the liberal elite? Is it Clinton who oversaw the passage of NAFTA? Is it Obama who crushed the occupy movement? Yes. It's them and many more. But it is also me.

I've been bred not to think of myself as elite. I grew up with a household income of about $9,000 a year. I had three jobs in college. My house needs paint. My carpet is old. I live in the suburbs, but I ride the bus. But I am the liberal elite, well educated and wealthy beyond the reach of most people on the planet, and I am one of the people who has failed us.

I'm afraid of the revolution. I'm old and fat and I like to be comfortable. I like my little house, and my fiberoptic television, and my kindle fire, and my barbequed sausages. I don't want to lose them. I am hanging onto these things by a thread. I'm afraid to shake things up. I don't want to lose what I have.

Most of my friends wouldn't know it from all the articles I post on Facebook, but I also don't want to know who suffered to make my cheap clothes or that 80% of what's in the grocery store is going to give my son cancer. It's overwhelming.

I say I want change, but what am I prepared to actually do? Vote. March. Write. Click "share" on my favorite articles at Common Dreams.

Chris Hedges is waiting for the tipping point. I'm afraid that means the day I no longer have anything to protect. I don't want that day to come. I pretend to make a difference by being kind to people, recycling, and talking about the TPP on social media.

I often talk about how right-wingers hate us so much, they would rather vote against their own interests, they'd rather ruin the world than ever take a step toward us.

I have been just as vehemently invested in this enmity. And we all know there are lots of good reasons why.

I am not one to say there is no difference between the parties, and I do believe that public policy makes a difference in people's lives.

But we're being played, again and again in our perpetual election season. We're down here fighting each other, and wondering why we're not Egypt.

I do not believe in violent methods and that's not just an excuse for doing nothing. But, I both don't know what to do, and am afraid to do it.

I am the failed liberal elite.

[polichick]

1. Great read - k&r for the "barbequed sausages"...

and the rest too!

[rbnyc]

5. We get these great...

...chicken, parsley, feta sausages at our local market and just throw 'em on the grill. Good times.

[polichick]

6. Oh yum! :)

[Mika]

2. You mean like this?

[rbnyc]

3. Yes...

Like that.

[geek tragedy]

4. "Is it Obama who crushed the occupy movement? Yes."

OFFS. That's crazier than the Birther nonsense. There is literally not a single piece of evidence anywhere to support that claim, and a ton of evidence to disprove it.

People who claim that can go sit next to Larry Klayman.

[RobertEarl]

7. Ton?

Then it should be easy for you to post an ounce?

[geek tragedy]

9. here's an ounce for you

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/15/bloomberg-on-occupy-wall-_n_1094708.html

Following the forced evacuation of Occupy Wall Street from Zuccotti Park early Tuesday morning, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg explained the decision to temporarily evict protesters was his and his alone.

"I have become increasingly concerned - as had the park's owner, Brookfield Properties - that the occupation was coming to pose a health and fire safety hazard to the protesters and to the surrounding community," Bloomberg said in a statement. "We have been in constant contact with Brookfield and yesterday they requested that the City assist it in enforcing the no sleeping and camping rules in the park. But make no mistake - the final decision to act was mine."

Here's another

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/11/villaraigosa-children-living-at-occupy.html

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said he decided it was time to evict Occupy L.A. protesters from the City Hall lawn after learning that there were children staying there.

Given the smattering of assaults and other incidents reported at the camp, “the chaos out there could produce something awful,” he said in an interview with The Times.

The mayor, a former union organizer and president of the Los Angeles chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, said he and LAPD Chief Charlie Beck jointly made the decision to allow overnight camping on the lawn in hopes of charting a “different path” with protesters. That was, he said, in part because he respects many of their views.

[RobertEarl]

34. Obama could say nothing for Occupy

But he sure was full of it when speaking about Egypt. But for his own US people, he just sat and watched as they got clubbed, beaten and assaulted by many mayors.

No one peep out of his office. The last thing someone said from his office about any of us was to call us Libtards and Professional leftists. And made sure DHS spied on us.

I asked for one ounce of material that said Obama did not crush Occupy, and got zip from you. Now that I have posted about how Obama sat there and ignored (only spied) us while reveling about Egypt, maybe you can think of one finger raised for his own people? Just one little finger?

[geek tragedy]

36. I provided you two articles showing that the decisions to evict

occupy protestors were made locally, not on a national level.

The comparison to Egypt is asinine, since there the people were protesting a dictatorship and wanted the right to vote. Occupy was seeking the right to camp in public parks indefinitely, which is a trivial 'rights' issue.

[RobertEarl]

41. Trivial, eh?

thousands of citizens stand up for their rights and you call them trivial?

The OP, about the liberal elite like you, who feel so elite they can label Occupy and it's thousands, as trivial, is about you. At least the OP is not as elite and special as you seem to think you are.

And you are all for the nsa spying on us too.

[geek tragedy]

42. What was the point of Occupy again?

Occupy failed precisely because it became a movement about the right to camp in a public park vs being a movement about structural wealth inequality.

They didn't Occupy the homes of the wealthy, or the banks' offices. They picked a fight with local governments by occupying public land instead.

[RobertEarl]

45. Forgot already?

Occupy was about Wall Street and the excesses of the 1%.

It was about: Whose streets? Our streets.

Obama spied on them and then sat there in the elite house and did nothing. Didn't even send the worst of the bankers to court.

And you are so elite you call us trivial. Blah.

[geek tragedy]

48. "Whose streets? Our streets."

That has nothing to do with wealth inequality and the 1%.

[RobertEarl]

51. You just can't let go, can you?

What a tragedy it must be to be one of the elite and get put in place here where it's the good common folk struggling to be heard and not run off at the approach of the police batons. Oh, but that is just trivial. Excuse me for standing up for Occupy. Just a little here is more than Obama ever did for us. If he ain't with us, he's against us. Where is he now, I wonder? Dinner with the Bushies, again? Toasting Reagan?

[Mojorabbit]

61. Evidence Homeland Security Coordinated Occupy Crackdown

http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/03/23/evidence-homeland-security-coordinated-occupy-crackdown/

[geek tragedy]

67. No, just a blog post mischaracterizing documents.

Sorry, but Hedges is as big of a liar as the people who claimed Bill Clinton killed Vince Foster.

[RobertEarl]

69. Flippant, aren't you?

The DHS was implicated in secretly investigating Occupy. They set up meetings with the various mayors and police to work together to destroy citizen plans to make their voices heard.

The elite object!

[rbnyc]

8. I think it's fair to debate that point...

...I pulled it out because it was specifically revered to by Hedges in the link that inspired this rant.

But let me give it to you. You can't definitively say that Obama had any role in dismantling the movement. He's still not an effective liberal, because no one in his position could be.

He needs us to throw our bodies upon the gears of the machine, and I'm afraid to be that person.

[geek tragedy]

10. People don't rebel unless they have to.

You yourself have zero incentive to sacrifice everything for some vague idea of revolution which has no leader, no organizing goal, etc.

Quite honestly, the most likely revolt in the US would come from the right wing, not the left.

[RobertEarl]

11. Occupy rebelled

And Obama did not lift a finger to protect the civil rights and free speech of those arrested and assaulted by police and mayors. He could have fought for the right of Occupy to occupy, but he did nothing. Therefore he helped squash Occupy.

[geek tragedy]

15. Occupy was engaged in civil disobedience.

This was their movement, not his. It's not the President's job to intervene to help political activist movements.

It was a matter of local law enforcement. It was a no-brainer for him to do nothing. That was the proper role given our constitution.

[progressoid]

43. It's not the President's job to intervene to help political activist movements?

[geek tragedy]

44. Oh barf. The comparisons between Occupy and the Civil Rights Movement

are offensively stupid.

Ending apartheid vs the right to live in a public park. Yeah, exactly the same.

[progressoid]

46. Nice snark. But I wasn't comparing the two.

Just pointing out that a President can intervene to help political activist movements.

Jimmy Carter did it with Equal Rights for Women too.

[geek tragedy]

47. Sure, when there's an order from the Supreme Court. nt

[progressoid]

52. ok

[n2doc]

13. But they are in the same boat

Most RW'ers I know have assets- cars, houses, etc. I don't hear of homeless RW'ers unless they are crazy. Some are more than happy to talk about revolution, but are just as cowardly in not wanting to risk anything to achieve it. I think we way overestimate the chance that anyone in this country will revolt, and if it does come, it will be because they have nothing left to lose. Will they be willing to fight, actually fight, to reduce taxes on the rich? or to reduce government services? Doubtful.

[geek tragedy]

19. I think the chances are very remote of a rightwing revolt as well.

We have the tools to improve things. They are not perfect, the system is imperfect, and there is a lot wrong both substantively and built into the system to work against change.

[rbnyc]

14. I love your screen name.

But to your point, I just wish it weren't the case. It's like not being willing to change your diet until after your heart attack. We know how bad things are and where we're headed, but until we're recovering from bypass surgery, we just keep eating fried chicken.

If we were to have a real, transformative, non-violent revolution here in the USA, one that served the people and placed real limits on corporate power, what do you think that would look like?

[geek tragedy]

18. Honestly, revolution is a poor substitute for evolution.

There is no quick, dramatic, satisfying triumphant fix. There is only the grind on the local, city, state, national levels.

The LGBT community didn't seek revolution--their agenda was to grind it out. And they've been the most successful political movement in this country over the past 30 years.

[johnp3907]

20. You beat me to it.

I just came back to this OP to say "Forget revolution----let's have evolution."

[rbnyc]

21. I hope you're right.

Although, a friend of mine made this remark to me after the recent Supreme Court decision:

Wouldn't it be nice if gays could change straight society? Rather than just be absorbed into it?

It was part of an fb discussion after she posted this:

http://www.historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/wittmanmanifesto.html

[geek tragedy]

22. They are changing 'straight society'

Movement forward on one civil rights issues moves the ball forward on the other one.

[rbnyc]

24. I agree.

But I understand why she said that and posted that piece at that time.

As things change, we all want to preserve what's important to us.

[Eddie Haskell]

32. We don't have time for evolution

An unfettered capitalistic system is a ship on a course for collision. We face dire threats with solutions at odds with the capitalist's objectives. Unless we wrest power from these modern day Ahab's, we are doomed!

[geek tragedy]

33. That is emotive, not descriptive. Also, the US isn't 'unfettered capitalism' nt

[TheKentuckian]

68. Every position is not a reasonable springboard to every destination

Sure, if one honestly believes that there is no reason to make structural changes then you know you have great models to improve inclusion and access. The existing order develops, fine.

The moment one considers that what folks have access to, particularly resources which are finite, then gay rights tactics are considerably less impactive to making progress in several areas. Acceptance and moving beyond bigotry just aren't the problems.

Different tools for different jobs kinda always applies.

[geek tragedy]

26. or when mayors decide to forcefully end them.

I guess people thought that the camping in public parks would just continue forever.

[geek tragedy]

28. More of a faith-based movement than anything.

A political movement that fancies itself above electoral politics, well that's a pretty potent mix of pomposity and naivete.

[Catherina]

12. Beautifully said. Thank you n/t

[rbnyc]

16. thanks. nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. Ok I know a couple Marxists around here

will shout with joy at this post.

But apart of the theories of revolution... my friend you have become radicalized.

Of all the stuff I have... I know I need the scanner and the cameras to document it. But you speak the truth about that comfort zone. I think we are accelerating towards tipping point. After we reach it, I have no clue how things will go.

[ucrdem]

25. Mightn't it be more accurate to say he's pandering to you?

And apart from losing the House, how exactly has the liberal elite failed? I'd say it's in its fullest glory at the moment. Don't listen to Hedges. He might be for real, he might be a player, but he's a one-trick pony and it's way past time to put him out to pasture.

p.s. JMHO, YMMV

[rbnyc]

35. That's also a fair question.

But he makes a lot of sense to me. Of everyone writing and speaking about politics and world issues today, I feel that he is really describing things most accurately. I believe he is earnest and knows what he's talking about.

That said, he does get paid to deliver a certain message to a certain market.

But I do think the liberal class has failed in terms of income disparity, derision of environmental protections, subordination to the war machine, consolidation of the media, just to name a few serious issues where we are supposed to be making ground, not losing ground.

But I have to say, I really appreciate your tone. It's hard to put yourself out there and it's nice to be questioned in a respectful way. That means a lot.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

53. It is unfolding as you speak, we are moving the liberal

cause ahead, but we are having the most success at the local level, we can effect change more at that level, while at the same time also work at state and national levels.
This is a small example of what a town of 1200 persons can do at just one level.
click on the video

http://www.oceanresourceteam.org/

[Eddie Haskell]

29. I don't think he had us in mind,

but he speaks to me too.

[rbnyc]

38. :)

[cantbeserious]

30. Very Well Said - We All Share In This Condition To One Degree Or Another

eom

[99th_Monkey]

31. "wondering why we're not Egypt"?

you mean why we in USA are not in the streets like in Egypt?

or do you mean that "river in Egypt" called denial?

[Eddie Haskell]

37. I think hunger is trumps denial. We ain't there yet.

[olddots]

39. thank you for being here

[rbnyc]

40. thank you too

I come and go, but always find myself drawn back into this community.

[zeemike]

49. "But we're being played, again and again"

and some of us still have not figured that out yet...and we fall for it again and again.

[woo me with science]

59. +1

[KoKo]

50. Recommend!

[woo me with science]

54. What a great post.

Thank you.

[rbnyc]

57. thanks. nt

[rbnyc]

56. wow

I actually know it's not all about me. But I do think that Hedges, whom I adore, is saying that liberals have failed to protect democracy. As a liberal, I'm saying that I have a share in that. People are rising up everywhere, but why is it so difficult to have a people's movement here? I shared a personal perspective on that. I think your reply is a little over the top.

Respect.

[Vinnie From Indy]

58. I may have made my word choices a bit too aggressive and I am sorry for that!

I did read this OP however as a serious critique on Hedges basic thesis about third way Democrats. When you write that he is talking about you, I really do not think that is in any way valid no matter how much you might want that to be true. You are not the liberal elite even if you have that mindset.

I do apologize for being too strident in my language even though I completely disagree with your contention!

Cheers!

[rbnyc]

60. I don't actualy think he was talking about me...

...but we are part of the problem. Democracy is actually our responsibility.

I'm not contending with Hedges. It was a jumping off point.

[Vinnie From Indy]

64. You rock!

Cheers!

[joshcryer]

62. So you're an atypical firstworlder with left leaning ideology.

This is nothing to be ashamed of. Apathy is good.

It means people like you won't get in the way when the revolution really does come and you'll cheer on the revolutionaries as they actually do make substantiative change (I'm suggesting non-violently, technologically, see my journal posts on this).

In that vein I think Chris Hedges' criticism is just pointless banter, because in the end he falls into the same category. What is he doing, personally, to rid the world of economic class distinction? Blathering on in editorials and making meager moves to stop indefinite detention. Oh, at the same time, bashing the radical left when he bashed the black bloc in Occupy. Which was thoroughly rebutted here.

[rbnyc]

63. I think I love you.

As a fiction writer, I know the story isn't over until something or someone actually changes, and it's usually painful to get there.

Thanks for moving the story forward.

[tiredtoo]

65. After seeing what is going on in NC

I have to think this is going to take a revolution. Always looked and cheered for evolution but the right wing is nailing the door shut.

[LWolf]

66. I, too.

I don't know what else to do.

[sabrina 1]

70. Excellent post, thank you for your honesty. I don't think we will have to lose everything or have a

violent revolution. All that is needed is for the people to be informed about what their government is doing, has been doing and plans to continue to do to light the spark needed to make sure we no longer just take the candidates money has bought rather than the ones we want.

And I believe it is happening now. I know it will take time, it took a lot of time to get to where we are, but I do believe that the pushback has begun and that it will gain traction the more they take away from the people, which is always in the end, what causes real change. When they get so greedy they become arrogant. And that is what is happening now and the people are noticing.