Does It seem we are in a phase of being shock doctrined?

[mmonk]

It feels like the draconian budget cut stage. We've already been hit with massive income tax cuts and privatization efforts have been ongoing. Privatization of entitlements has been already pushed in some areas though meeting some resistance in the social security area. May not be but sure feels like it.

[defendandprotect]

1. All the time ... !!!

[tekisui]

2. Yep. It's approaching the end game.

[CoffeeCat]

5. What is the end game...

...that's what I want to know.

These people who are marching us toward some sick goal...exactly what is this goal that they desire? What will
it look like for us, and in general?

I'm invisioning something from V for Vendetta--but hell if I know.

[Mojorabbit]

21. I feel the same way.

It is a very uncomfortable feeling.

[neverforget]

25. when the wealthy own all of it.

[Autumn]

3. The water is getting rather warm

at this point.

[ThomCat]

12. If you mean that we're the frogs in the pot

and the water is approaching boiling point, yes, you're right. Do you think people notice?

I always liked that metaphor. It seems so appropriate so very often.

[Raksha]

4. Definitely - I'm reading the book now,

and Obama's budget proposals certainly seem to be following the script.

[slackmaster]

6. Bring it.

:nuke:

[xxqqqzme]

7. If you are standing on a rug,

I'd move. It is about to be jerked out from under you - hard! You can break your fall w/ a bog pile of money though.

[damntexdem]

8. When have we been out of the phase?

The Repukes spout lies and Obama caves. What's new?

[CoffeeCat]

9. And what makes me the most upset...

...is that Obama is doing nothing to stop it--and seems to be joyfully marching us toward the end game.

I just haven't figured out if he's willingly in on it--or if he's pretty much powerless to stop it.

Many argue that we aren't marching toward anything--that all is well. I'm beyond that denial. I'm
stuck at how Obama could continue this sickness. Corporate interests and power are further entrenched
in our government (and in control of our lives) now more than ever. Bush did a lot of damage, but so
is Obama. He handed the health-insurance magnates their ultimate dreams by keeping their profit-centric
model intact. Banks are loving Obama and so are businesses that want no regulations.

I'm still angry that Obama promised to restore Habeas Corpus, and when he had the chance--totally
fought against doing it. Why would a candidate make a point to address Habeas--when most people
are unaware of what it is? It seemed important to Obama.

I wish I knew what the hell was going on.

[CrossChris]

10. America is being run by people who hate America.

Thanks to Citizens United.

Even people who were born in America are calling themselves "Internationalists", if they're in the top 1%.

[ThomCat]

15. No, they just hate American People.

They seem to love America itself for all the money they can extract, and the opportunity to buy influence so easily, and the ease of creating or overturning laws to suit their personal needs and whims.

It is only all of us little people they dislike because we keep demanding a share of all those resources, and a chance to live life with the same rights as those rich people. How Dare We!

[CrossChris]

22. I agree, but I also think they hate infrastructure, too.

I don't think they limit their hatred to sentient beings. I even think many of them hate our national parks. It's just pure greed for greed's sake, and their selfishness is reinforced way more than it's ever punished.

[xchrom]

11. check out this thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x412865

[mmonk]

14. Thanks.

[NutmegYankee]

13. It sure does feel like it. nt

[cascadiance]

16. Makes me wonder if this is why Amazon is only selling a PAL version of the "Shock Doctrine" movie!

http://www.amazon.com/Doctrine-Doutrina-Choque-NON-USA-FORMAT/dp/B0043CI6L6/

It seems they don't even have a Canadian version yet. You'd think they'd sell a Canadian release for Naomi Klein's home country! Maybe that's why those protestors in the UK "get it" and are out on the streets when they are being "shock doctrined" by their new government!

[laundry_queen]

26. I didn't know there was a movie

I'm reading the book right now. I'm in Canada and yeah, you would think we would get a copy. Crazy.

[snagglepuss]

17. Yes and it's happening everywhere. Cuts in UK are draconian.

Klein was right on the mark about what was about to happened. It is like watching the 'Shock and Awe' mission in Iraq. :mad:

[mmonk]

19. Yes, I've noticed and you are right.

[jwirr]

18. Maybe it is all just a way to prepare us for the coming life under the

climate changes and oil depletion - slowly lower their lifestyle and maybe they will not notice? :sarcasm:

[Hannah Bell]

20. yes

[donheld]

23. For a long time

[JackRiddler]

24. You mean in an uninterrupted sequence since 1979 and "America Held Hostage"? Yes.

[Starry Messenger]

27. Crisis.

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/the-enigma-of-capital-and-the-crises-of-capitalism-by-david-harvey-1958010.html

Andrew Mellon, the US Treasury Secretary during the Great Crash of 1929 and one of America's richest men, observed that in a crisis assets return to their rightful owners. Nothing much has changed. As the present crisis has mutated from a banking crisis to a fiscal crisis and a sovereign debt crisis, bonuses continue to be paid, while the people of Greece and Iceland suffer huge cuts in jobs and services.

As the head of Citibank helpfully pointed out, "Countries cannot disappear. You always know where to find them." Once the bubbles are burst, expectations about asset values are dashed, optimism gives way to despair, and wealth is ruthlessly redistributed. Capitalism survives by purging itself of debt and loading the costs of adjustment on the weak and the poor.

For David Harvey, this is the latest of the great structural crises which have punctuated the development of capitalism and which signify that major limits have been reached to further growth. Crises on this view are inherent in capitalism itself, and the means by which it renews itself. Only a periodic clear-out of debt and unproductive activities creates the basis for a further leap forward.

[Raksha]

31. Wait a minute...wasn't the concept of the Jubilee Year intended to PREVENT such a crisis?

Re "Andrew Mellon, the US Treasury Secretary during the Great Crash of 1929 and one of America's richest men, observed that in a crisis assets return to their rightful owners. Nothing much has changed. As the present crisis has mutated from a banking crisis to a fiscal crisis and a sovereign debt crisis, bonuses continue to be paid, while the people of Greece and Iceland suffer huge cuts in jobs and services."

Our ancestors (my ancestors anyway) had more wisdom and compassion than the robber barons now running America and the world. Big surprise, huh? Embodied in Jewish law is the concept of the Jubilee Year. Every 50 years, all debts were cancelled and the ownership of land reverted to the original owners or their descendants. This was not a reaction to crisis, but a proactive measure intended to prevent just such a crisis. The idea was to prevent or correct excessive concentration of wealth, and to give everyone a fresh start via universal debt forgiveness. Obviously the idea of making the poor and vulnerable bear the burden for a fiscal crisis was anathema to the elders and prophets of Israel and something they would have done everything to avoid.

I'm no expert on the subject by a long way. I don't know the details of how the Jubilee Year was carried out in practice. But it seems like an idea whose time may very well have come back--it's long overdue, actually.

[Patiod]

28. Dammit mmonk - now I have to drag that off the shelf

It's been sitting there, all silvery, just flashing "read me" but I've managed to ignore it and read murder mysteries.

Okay, Naomi, I'm coming.....

[socialist_n_TN]

29. Oh, you won't regret it. It reads like a novel..........

A scary, scary novel.

[mmonk]

32. Sorry about that but Naomi appreciates it.

[Raksha]

33. Yeah, I did the same thing.

I had the book just sitting there on the shelf for a whole year before I began reading it a couple of weeks ago. I checked out Naomi Klein's blog last night and I notice she posts whole chapters from it. She's obviously determined to get the word out to as many people as possible.

[socialist_n_TN]

30. Yep. More and more every day.........

That book should be required reading for EVERY American.