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Polls consistently show that fewer than
half of Americans approve of the job that President Obama is
doing, and those ratings are far higher than Congress or either political party
receives. Unemployment remains stubbornly above 9 percent. There is plenty
of anger in America today: anger about joblessness across the nation, about
cutbacks in services in the states, about increased tuition at our
universities, about economic and political inequality that seems to be
increasing, and at a government that seems unable
to do anything about any of this. Where are the people taking to the streets?
The closest thing to a strong
social movement in the United States in recent years has been the tea party,
and it demands that government do less. Lately, we hear about the tea party
largely from members of Congress and candidates for office, who have drowned
out and replaced the activists at the grass roots. This is largely because
although movements carry anger, anger doesn’t make a movement — organizers do.
Anger helps, of course; it’s a resource that organizers can stoke, channel and
exploit.
Although saints and psychopaths
will take great risks in the service of their beliefs, most people are a little
more calculating. People protest when they believe that something is wrong,
that it could be otherwise, and that their efforts are both necessary and potentially
effective. SO WHY AREN’T AMERICANS
MOVING?
The closest thing to a strong social movement in recent years is the tea party? I beg to differ. The tea party continues to put pressure on the obama administration for one thing only...PR until the 2012 elections. Not one of their so called plans have been from a social stand point. Obama is not a magician he can't pull the largest economy in the world out of a crisis in 3 years from a previous administration that ran the country in the ground. He's really doing his best <3
ReplyDeleteDitto to the points that Daseekah presented here. Also, those most impacted by the economic crisis are too busy trying to keep a roof over their heads and food on their table to take to the streets. Yes, the Tea Party is receiving extensive media play; but, the coverage is working against them. It's showing the public precisely how stupid their ideas really are.
ReplyDeleteWell said.. I read this post earlier this morning and it really pissed me off but I didnt know what I wanted to write. I am one of those formerly middle class professionals waiting for the other shoe to drop-I worked two jobs to support a modest mortgage and an outrageous heating and electric bill thanks to Big Oil, lost one job due to the 'economy' and am about to lose the other. I sold my modest home at a huge loss,due to the Real Estate recession, moved in with my BF and as I said, I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. Loss of this job will mean loss of my medical insurance. I am a a 61 year old diabetic and take 5 different meds twice a day. I dont have the time or the energy to take to the streets because I am too busy trying to keep my shit together.
ReplyDeleteI dont blame Obama for my ills; I blame George Bush and his American Aristocrats, who let us all 'eat cake' while they raped and pillaged the world for their own gain while calling us 'people' UNPATRIOTIC when we didnt support it.
DASEEKAH: I HAPPY TO READ YOUR THOUGHTS, I HOPE YOU AND MANY OF YOUR FRIENDS DON'T LET THEM WIN COME 2012!
ReplyDeleteROGER: I HOPE AMERICA CAN SEE THROUGH THEIR SHIT!
ReplyDeleteTHE OTHER JEFF: YOU MAKE ME WISH I HAD AN ENDLESS WELL OF MONEY TO GIVE SO I CAN MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR MANY. ALL WE CAN DO IS HANG IN THERE AND WEATHER THE STORM.
ReplyDelete