News Does America Need A Civil Revolution?

[cherryblossom]

Oh, FYI...I am a proud AMERICAN.

I don't think this discussion should be taken personally. I'm proud to be English (most of the time, lol), but that doesn't mean that I agree with everything the country by it's politicians, decide to do. Some aspects are downright shameful - how 'we' treat the elderly population is just one example that is close to my heart, and has been in the news recently. But frankly, I see the majority of our population being apathetic about politics, and world issues in general (and in lots of cases about life, work ethics, and morals in general.

). Unless the people (the majority population of any country) gets interested in world, country and local affairs, the politicians all over the world will continue to reek havoc.

The bottom 80% of american people only have 7% of the money in america. The top 1% of americas wealthy have almost 50% of americas money in their pockets.

Food for thought.... I'd be really interested to hear how these figures relate to other major counties in the world, if anyone has the figures?

 

[becvan]

This is from an article from 2003 and the numbers are from 1999 so take it with a grain of salt:
The wealthiest 10 percent of family units in Canada held 53 percent of the
personal wealth, and the top 50 percent controlled an almost unbelievable
94.4 percent of the wealth. That left only 5.6 percent to be shared among
the bottom 50 percent.
In the last two years we have only heard that it has gotten much much worse and our middle income families are almost non-existent. However I couldn't find any numbers on it anywhere. Hopefully another Canadian can pipe up and give better numbers from somewhere.

The states isn't the only place that needs a civil revolution let me tell you.

bec

 

[anthony]

Very interesting point about the elderly aspect CB... I would say that is an area lacking in most countries it seems, Australia included. I was reading abuse statistics for that demographics when in aged care, and its pretty high.

Areas all countries can improve... but when the country collapses, that is where the world is at right now with the US, which is affecting us all. Maybe the world should even revolt against the US to force them at the political level to react and change.

 

[track108]

And you have just proven my point, If you have never met a crazy liberal well that says something, it must be all the republicans fault is crazy thinking. Its our government on both sides of the fence. Our gov't has gotten to powerful over the people, with every program and policy they put in place they gain more power over us. The united states was made to defend our states thats it. Today its different with the global economy but well there is no point in trying to argue a point with a democrat or a republican. They think they are right and will refuse to see points made by the other side. WE ARE NO LONGER A FREE NATION. Open up your eyes obama doesnt give a damn about you,
CHANGE, ha change is whats in our pockets jingle jingle jingle. We can sit here and argue about which political party is crazy and say funny things like "i want my semiauto rifles and 150 rounds of cop-killers so i can shoot at them damn mexicans yee haw" but the point is our gov't doesnt give two stinking piles of horse manure about the little guy all they care about is power over the people.

 

[Vee Lagrome]

Areas all countries can improve... but when the country collapses, that is where the world is at right now with the US, which is affecting us all. Maybe the world should even revolt against the US to force them at the political level to react and change.

I think we would benefit from more international pressure, for sure. I have a hard time telling if the US is just ignoring what other countries are saying or if other countries are just sort of staying quiet and shaking their heads. All of the criticism (which I use lightly in this case) I read like on BBC of American politics and policies never seems as critical as it should be, but I must admit that I don't know what other countries think about what we're doing (and not doing).

What do non-US people think/hear?

 

[anthony]

Non US people think the US is pretty ridiculous for the most part when it comes to politics. The US is kind off like a joke actually in other countries.

 

[Vee Lagrome]

Non US people think the US is pretty ridiculous for the most part when it comes to politics. The US is kind off like a joke actually in other countries.

LOL Why am I not surprised!

 

[anni]

Well, in the midst of the funding cuts unsurprisingly we find NPR- which tends to carry BBC programs along with unbiased programming and political reports across the board. Hardly a comforting turn of events if one is attempting to rid ones head of the conspiratoral aspects in the government.

Certainly there are extremists on the further reaches of both political parties, but to have that fact allow the term 'Liberal' become the veritable swear word it seems to be in the US today allows one of them to win, and creates a sort of 3rd extremist party all by itself.

It would be more than wonderful if the world's nations were to come together to pressure the US to behave. The UN certainly has failed in this mission ( if they ever had that particular one ) among other things. It would come up against countries with their own self-interests, however with huger wealth than we could hope to have. These countries literally bank on the US's oil consumption ( without which this country quite literally and terrifyingly stops and they know it ) and tend to be less than reasonable when it comes to things like sharing anyone else's viewpoint about our planet. It would probably be these countries first, rather than the US such a cooalition would have to gather into the fold before change could be achieved. I'm still not saying the US doesn't have to be bullied into playing nicely-it does. We're just like the really annoying noisy nephew living off the trust fund- you have to go talk to the family lawyers writing the checks every month.

Obama does care. He was the center for what could have been, and would be-possibly still could be Civil Revolution, hence all this hate mongering done by the other side. What he stands for scares the bejeesis out of them because it worked-people listened and believed. The fact that they have managed to cause so many to now disbelieve him means they might win this time and is what scares the bejeesis out of me.

 

[track108]

i never believed him or any other politician, they all lie and still people believe them.

 

[intothelight]

All that is needed for evil to prevail is for good people to do nothing.

This is the problem and the solution stated in a nutshell. I think that we are all looking for a top-down solution, when the most effective strategy for change is the "grass routes" , bottom-up solution. All the hype, focus and energy goes to national elections, when actually the political machine is almost impossible to stop at that level.

In all honesty, how many people really take the time to "know" their local political representation? Sadly, how many people actually vote? To facilitate a change it starts with each individual person, to actually look outside themselves, become educated on the the realities of things within this country and the world; and to not be dependent upon the distorted view fed to the public by mass media. Learn what the problems are, learn about possible solutions, find a venue in which to facilitate change, support people that share your viewpoint, but don't just sit and do nothing.

I think that sometimes we look around for someone else to "take care of it", when actually it starts with us. Don't underestimate the "power of one". I think there is a silent majority out there, who will eventually find their voice and direction, when they find someone to lead or when things just get bad enough.

 

[justwannabeme]

Unions are now nearly completely out of industry here, and industry has never functioned better

Wow, that is really interesting. Coming from a coal mining background being a coal miners daughter, coal miners ex and ex was a coal miner union organizer where unemployment is rampant, I would love to be a fly on the wall for some of the comments. I love a good banter, and I think that would be a good one!

I do agree with you though, good and bad for unions. I myself have never been in one and wonder if I have been, if I wouldn't be on job #35 at 51 with no pension, and a lot of chemical exposure issues.

Pipeup from this Canadian- I love living here, but the poverty line is getting closer and closer to my back door, and I work so hard to keep it away. I have worked three jobs at once and was on assistance. Not allowed to quit or get fired! Well didn't the boss man think he could do what he wanted to this single mom. We have lots of room for improvement here.

 

[justwannabeme]

This isn't mine, but I just can't resist.
Not trying to offend anyone.
How can you tell an American from a Canadian when you are in England?
The American will look boths way a hundred times before crossing, and the Canadian will just cross.
Why you ask, well Canadian's have health care.
Now what is sad about this, is it's a health care issue, American's don't have it. I can't understand why, it's health care, but they don't. And Canadians have it, but most take it for granted. Our ER's are so over crowded and they are not all there due to emergencies. If they had to pay, they would think twice about running to the ER for every cough or cold, it's a cold, stay home, go to bed leave time and money for the real traumas that ER's are designed for. Just saying...