I think Bloomberg's actions are reflective of the paranoia infecting the ruling class everywhere...

[marmar]

...... from New York to Oakland, from Cairo to Tripoli to Damascus, from Athens to Rome to London.

People are beginning to lose their fear. And once they lose the fear, they're harder to control. And that's the scariest thing in the world to megalomaniac control freaks like Bloomberg.

[PoliticAverse]

1. Because people greatly outnumber the police the government needs most people to police themselves.

[Skittles]

2. CORRECT

they loved obedient little masses but seemed oblivious to the pain and suffering and anger they were instilling

[polichick]

3. Absolutely! Fear keeps power structures in place - from Wall Street to the Vatican.

[Phlem]

4. I hope your correct.

It's the only way to take back our government from hostile interests. It can only happen when everyone starts to understand the slumber they've been in, after the cold painful smack of reality that has suddenly awakened them.

It's a beautiful thing to see.

-p

[provis99]

5. they're not paranoid or fearful. They're just sadistic.

The nobility likes to sic the dogs on the peasants from time to time, for the sheer enjoyment of it.

[izquierdista]

6. 'To Tell the Truth'?

"My name is Hosni Mubarak."

"My name is Hosni Mubarak."

"My name is Hosni Mubarak."

Don't worry Mikey-boy, soon it will be your turn to say "My name is Hosni Mubarak."

[starroute]

7. It's not just about fear -- it's about legitimacy

They could still make people too scared to resist them openly -- some dead protesters, some felony convictions, some grand juries forcing people to implicate one another.

But if they do that, they will have lost all legitimacy. They've been able to maintain the mantle of legitimate authority by pretending to follow the norms of democracy, more or less. But once they dispense with that, they've lost what the Chinese call the Mandate of Heaven.

And at that point, they're history -- even if it still takes a while for the reckoning to catch up with them.

[ProfessorPlum]

8. As Naomi Klein notes, "shock wears off"

[rhett o rick]

21. So we might beware of even greater "shocks". nm

[DeSwiss]

9. Exactly.

- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xbp6umQT58A">The Story Of Your Enslavement

K&R

"The revolution is not going to happen tomorrow -- it's never going to happen.

It's taking place right now.

It is an alternate universe that runs parallel to this one, waiting for you to switch sides."

http://zinelibrary.info/expect-resistance">EXPECT RESISTANCE

[gkhouston]

10. These past weeks, I keep thinking of a passage from Lord of the Rings.

Gandalf says, "A thing is about to happen that has not happened since the Elder Days. The Ents are going to wake up and find that they are strong."

I'm not sure it's paranoia. I think that for the first time, the 1% starting to realize they're outnumbered. I doubt they yet fear for their physical safety, but they're afraid of losing their stuff. For them, loss of their well-padded lifestyles must seem disastrous.

[starroute]

12. I was thinking about the Ents just the other day

It was occurring to me that their Entmoot, with its process of arriving at consensus, is very like an OWS General Assembly.

And yes, there is an enormous amount of power in decisions reached that way.

[Kaleko]

25. Horizontal decision-making, spread out like a web of roots underground...

that's the way of the future. Top-down hierarchical rulership creates too many underdogs. A docile underclass cannot exist in an informed population - at least not for long.

I love the connection to the LOTR Entmoot you made. Thanks, it's very illuminating.

[tex-wyo-dem]

11. The ruling class ARE very nervous...

Most of them aren't stupid...they know their history and what happens when wealth disparity goes beyond ridiculous levels...and it usually doesn't end well for them.

Problem is that their insatiable greed and ego overrides their common sense.

When the divides among the people that the ptb have worked so hard to create begin to break down, it will be their worst nightmare.

[Fumesucker]

18. If they really knew their history they wouldn't have let it get to this point..

:shrug:

[StarsInHerHair]

13. they are the 1%, they're NOT the "ruling class" they're the screw-up class

wrecking everything they touch

[piratefish08]

17. right now, and until he is stopped - Bloomberg IS the ruling class in NYC.

nobody in a position of authority has spoken out against his abuses.


silence is approval.

[StarsInHerHair]

23. I do not recognize them as my "betters", they rule by force they are the 1%

not fit to rule

[Quantess]

14. True. (no text)

[fasttense]

15. You said it.

I just listen to a 6 part Naomi Kline speech where she breaks down how Milton's "free" market system is forced, with torture, threats and guns on citizens. But she has a hopeful message at the end.

She says people can NOT stay in shock for long. They can NOT stay in a state of fear for long. They eventually come out of it. They eventually get use to the pain and then they fight back.

I think that is what is happening in the US today.

[piratefish08]

16. private NYC streets - access blocked by Bloomie's private security force - the NYPD

:wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf:

[barbtries]

19. vive le fearlessness

when the 99% loses their fear the 1% had better get some.

[progressoid]

20. I don't think they are afraid ... yet.

We are non-violent protesters. We're just a minor irritation with limited media coverage. They still control the government and the big media.

But when this escalates, then they will be afraid.

[rhett o rick]

22. Machiavelli said never leave you enemy with nothing left to lose or he will

revolt. Same applies of subjects.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

24. Nail - Head

Well met.