Do you feel Powerless?

[sdod]

If so, why do you think that is?

[no_hypocrisy]

1. No, 'cause I'm not dead yet.

[EFerrari]

11. Ha!

:toast:

[bullimiami]

2. lack of representation.

[billyoc]

3. Of course not, I'm a union member. n/t

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

4. No. And, here's one reason why.

http://kiva.org/app.php?gclid=CIner8b6hI8CFRFBhgodpEEDuQ

We, my wife and I, now have 16 loans out. We make new loans when paid back, or when we have an extra $25 bucks to spare.

Try it. Won't change the whole world but it will actually DO something for real people.

[Rhythm and Blue]

21. Wow, that's a fantastic site.

Thank you so much for posting that.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

24. An e-mail we just received.

Dear Michael & Mary Ann ****,

The business you have loaned to, Cattle breeding, has made a repayment of $125.00. The total amount repaid up to now is $1,125.00. The payment was collected and deposited by Komak Credit Union. This repayment will be divided amongst all the lenders who helped to fund this business, depending upon the percentage each lender contributed. Note that you cannot actually withdraw or reloan these funds until after the loan term is complete. Comment: scheduled_repayment

The guy this loan was made to had a few sheep and needed money to buy some more. He and his family are in Azerbaijan. We also have loans to people in Kenya, Tanzania, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico.

It takes so little to do so much.

[CT_Progressive]

5. As individuals, we are. As a group, we are NOT AT ALL.

This meme has to stop. We are NOT powerless. The power rests in our hands, and nothing will change unless we ACT. Lack of action will change nothing.

[H2O Man]

6. No.

Not at all. Do you?

[Az]

7. Because the means of communication with the system have been cut off

The purpose of the freepress was to establish lines of communication from We The People to the government and systems of power that served at OUR pleasure. But the MSM as it stands now no longer serves as our voice and instead functions as the voice of Corporate interests. Thus we are rendered mute and placed in a system where the dialog is one way.

[sdod]

12. interesting observation

So, if the medium between We the People and the Government/Systems of Power is controlled by Corporate Interests, as you suggest, then who do you think will benefit from the messages communicated by this medium? Further, when you say "freepress," who do you think is included in that definition?

[Az]

15. The original idea of the free-press

Was a much more localized affair. Literally the press referred to the machine which pressed the papers and imprinted them that were then distributed as fliers, newspapers, and other periodicals. The press would be owned by a local individual and he would make money by allowing others to commission time on his press to post their messages and ideas to the immediate community.

Modern technology and economy has changed things. Now the press is a broadcast tower, satellite, or cable network. No longer is it representative of local communities. In fact the idea of community service is only offered as a stipend to fulfill legacy notions of the free-press. Instead the media now serves profit motives of corporate interests alone. And elimination of localized competition means that we no longer truly have a free-press as the founding fathers envisioned it. We no longer have a conduit of communication that audibly speaks to power.

As to who benefits the Corporations do of course. By controlling the medium they control what we see and hear. The medium has become part of our community and in many cases has replaced it. The TV occupies many people's primary social time. And it is a poor substitute as the models of behavior offered by the medium are far more in line with their thinking than social thinking. Competition rather than cooperation is emphasized. Crime shows dominate the networks boosting fear of others and promoting further dependence on the medium for stimulation.

[sdod]

16. Have you ever heard of the term, Hollywoodism?

[Az]

17. Nope

Care to illuminate.

[sdod]

22. Check out...

the CBC documentary "Hollywood: An Empire of Their Own" (1998), as I think you will find it interesting and relevant, given your interest and acumen for media.

http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/161693/Hollywood-An-Empire-of-Their-Own/overview

In part, old-time producers talk about the role that Hollywood played/plays in delivering culture to the masses.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

23. So, back to Hollywood. The corporate news conglomerate has nothing to do with it.

Whew, boy. Mixing apples (entertainment) with bananas (news media) has become the,...well,...

Here's an idea!!! :think: Let's bring back the "Fairness Doctrine". It worked quite well until the RW disassembled all the positive impact it had on providing 'the people' a balance of facts against bullshit.

[Dora]

8. No. I don't. nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. Anomie, look it up

and then do something to fight it

That is your remedy to powerlesness

[mmonk]

10. Yes, because my head hurts from banging it against

a wall when I look for justice and request it from my reps and others.

[sdod]

13. If your Reps....

...won't "give" you justice when you request it, as I think you are stating, then what are your options in this current system?

[mmonk]

14. There are none currently.

Attempts with media exposure fail as well.

[mmonk]

20. But don't take it as I'll give up.

When I was just an activist for the learning disabled, there was always dialog. When there weren't victories, there were promises and requests to revisit. Today there is silence.

[porphyrian]

18. In some cases, but not universally.

Sometimes I feel powerless because I actually am, other times it's just doubt or misperception.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

19. In what context?

I can't MAKE this administration end its indulgences. However, I CAN protest those indulgences every damn day.

I can't MAKE the congress bend to my will. However, I CAN join with others to influence congress' choices.

What's the difference between being "powerful" and being "powerless" other than an attitude about either?
:shrug: