Summer prep for Introduction to International Relations.
…I think this could be an album cover (based on #s) but if Google don’t know, I don’t know ;-)
*TELL ME*
Posts tagged 99%
I’m a cantankerous old person, and I don’t like what the world has become
Okay. Now, hush my little babies. It’s time to learn. Now, can anyone tell me what the Internet was, and how it almost destroyed mankind in the year two-thousand and seven?
Several submissions brought to you today, with new sponsors ‘atheism’ and ‘anarchy’. Game over, man, game over:
- PBS posted a story link yesterday called Thailand Grapples with Deadly Tensions Between Muslims, Buddhists. Up until this week, I was buddhist for 10 years; knowing buddhists to be non-violent people, I read the article. What the article is actually about is a formerly sovereign Muslin nation, now part of Thailand’s southern providences, killing, road-side bombing, and attacking southern Thai citizens in a country that is 85% buddhist, who are believed to be aiding the not-so-reputable Thai government. So the story isn’t so much about a deadly conflict between Muslims and Buddhists; the story is about a previously sovereign people, who are Muslim, colonised by the Thai government, attacking Thai people (85% buddhist) …now that’s an entirely different story.
- This is fun, and a great way to start out a couple of links on digital, global reality. The layar browser, app available on almost any smart phone, allows your reality to be infused with digital, internet reality. Scroll over a flyer for an upcoming concert, and the app redirects you to a screen for purchasing tickets and other info. So they can sell you stuff better. Much like the google goggle, but without the terrible name. HOORAY - now finally, a legit excuse to stop reading. An app can do that…
- Quit facebook. Still happy with that choice. And here’s another reason why. Your credit score can now be tied to your social media. Future lenders will be able to determine your creditworthiness based on their perception of your risk factor with the aid of your facebook account! Wait wait, it gets better. Here’s some direct text from a future lender on your repayment contract:
As long as you don’t fall behind on any Lenddo loan installments, you have complete control over your privacy settings and your information will only be shared with your permission. IF YOU FAIL TO REPAY, Lenddo MAINTAINS THE RIGHT TO NOTIFY YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY. [boldface caps in original]
Hooray, just what you’ve always wanted. More involuntary loss of privacy, due to your contractual obligations. Here’s a good to time to say, my estate agency enterred my flat yesterday unannounced while I was doing a bit of naked cooking with headphones on.
- Finally, a bit of news on the Greek bailout. And this one, folks, is a winner! Nah, I can’t spoil it with my commentary; you read for yourself.
Salary cutbacks (called “unified payroll”) for contract workers at the public sector set to be finalized today. Cuts to be valid retroactively since november 2011. Expected result: Up to 64.000 people will work without salary this month, or even be asked to return money. Amongst them 21.000 teachers, 13.000 municipal employees and 30.000 civil servants.
So if you’re a young person (or you’re just not that clever), let me save you some reading and years of effort.
There are some very rich people around the world who want to keep all of what they have, away from us - be it freedom, equality, or property. And they will; the best part is they’ll make up the rules to do it through legal avenues. That way there’s no way you can escape it. The best thing you can do, is find some people who are like-minded and move to the sticks. …and watch out for bears/snakes.
Game over.
In my observation of this movement of the American people, I have begun recently to hear/read suggestions that a revolt might be brewing. I understand why people are saying these things, but I think we can all agree that it would be best to avoid such an outcome. So, I have a proposition, a vision…
Currently, the media mocks us, the police beat and arrest us, the business people laugh at us, and every politician in the United States of America is wondering how to sway the full support of the movement in their favor. Each of these groups understands the true power of the 99%. They see us as votes, wasted potential, criminals and a story to keep the viewers at home watching through commercial breaks.
We need to be honest with ourselves: given the current viable options (Republican/Democrat), we cannot vote our way out of this mess that our government and the financial institutions created. It’s as simple as that. Furthermore, any actions taken by the governing body will be meant to placate the masses.
If you cast a vote for a Democrat, you cast a vote for the status quo. If you cast a vote for a Republican, you cast a vote for the status quo. I don’t care if you are a libertarian, anarchist, communist, leftist, right-winger or a completely disillusioned non-voter; you must recognize that this nation’s current political structure is not equipped to fix the problems this nation is facing. If our politicians refuse to work together in the interests of the people, the two party system cannot carry us safely or securely into the future.
And so, we face possibly the most challenging moment in this nation’s history, since the Civil War. We need ideas to avoid a revolution and ways to reign in the policy makers of this country. Our elected officials need to work for us, not against us. So, I offer this path to a better, more accountable nation.
I propose a new political party, one that will always work in the interests of the 99%.
I’m sure we all understand the concept of a republic, but if some need to be reminded, I believe this quote from wikipedia should be sufficient:
“A republic is a country with a specific type of form of government, in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government, at least in theory, and where offices of state are not granted primarily based upon family, military, or business connections.”
Unfortunately, republics are extremely difficult to maintain. It’s impossible to educate oneself on every issue which requires a vote. It’s difficult for people to find the time to vote.
It would obviously be difficult to establish a pure republic in the United States of America. However, we could have a party that is bound to the will of the people.
Let’s assume we can communicate the votes of the individual to an elected representative of this theoretical party. Given its feasibility, it would look something like this:
1. Each person of voting age in a district that is represented by a member of this theoretical party is entitled to one ‘vote.’ Remember, this is not a legitimate federal vote. It is merely a ‘speaking up’ of the entirety of a representative’s constituency. The people’s votes are then tallied, and the representative, being bound to the will of the people, will vote as directed.
2. Each person of voting age in these districts may choose to actively vote, passively vote or not vote.
- An active vote is a Yes or No vote chosen by the individual.
- A passive vote is a vote as the Democratic majority votes or vote as the Republican majority votes.
- A choice not to vote on a particular issue is a forfeiture of the right to to vote on that particular issue.
3. Each person of voting age has the right to open a petition for a vote.
A system similar to the one outlined above could drastically alter the course of this nation without a revolution. Given enough popular support, people across the nation could petition their representatives for a vote on a certain issue.
We are the 99%. This proposed party can become a reality. Change is possible. So, when our nation’s politicians look at you and say, “We can’t…” respond, “…But we can!”
Keep it peaceful.
