Reply #38: First, we need to unite and recognize that we all have a "clear and present danger", [View All]

[Zorra]

a common enemy. This is, I believe, going to inevitably happen as corporate control of us continues to grow.

Like people did back before the War for Independence.

Then, we could try the political process, putting pressure on elected legislators, and electing competent legislators that are of the same mind that we are.

Like people tried back before the War for Independence.

If that does not produce results, and we see beyond the shadow of a doubt that the political process will not serve our needs, we take unified economic action and insist that our demands be met.

Kind of like Gandhi did.

If that doesn't work, below is what Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence, which is the continuation of the passage quoted in the OP:

"That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world."

Kind of like the people did before the War for Independence.

Hopefully, we can reinstitute a government of, by and for the people through the political process. IMO, electing someone like Dennis Kucinich, Bernie Sanders, or Alan Grayson to the Presidency would be a huge step toward reinstituting democracy. I am not advocating violent revolution here. But historically, oppressed peoples have frequently gotten to the point where they wouldn't take it anymore, and when the time and space was right they did whatever they felt was necessary to try to improve their situation as much as possible. I hope our country never reaches this point. I'm just not sure it won't right now, judging by the rapid acceleration of corporate control of our government and lives over the past thirty years.

The recent collapse of the economy caused by the deregulation of the financial industry has caused a great deal of misery to many Americans. This is a perfect example of how every American's lives are affected when private enterprise has too much power and wealth, as well as almost total control of our government.