{"article":{"id":60260,"heading":"Four Days of Action Against Bechtel and the Corporate Invasion of Iraq: June 1 - June 5","author":"DASW","created":"2003-05-29 05:44:53","modified":"2003-06-06 17:30:36","last_modified":"Sat, 07 Jun 2003 00:30:36","article":"

BECHTEL MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, NOT MADE MORE PROFITABLE!

Stop Bechtel's war profiteering. Stop the Bush Administration from taking money from our schools and communities to subsidize Bechtel - leaving desperate human needs unmet in Iraq and the U.S. Lend your voice and activism to on-going community struggles against Bechtel.

Join us in San Francisco, Washington DC, or host action in your community! For more info and to organize Bechtel actions outside of the Bay Area, e-mail bechtel@riseup.net<\/a>

FOUR DAYS OF ACTION

Sunday, June 1: Day of Religious Outreach and Teach-In

Outreach at churches and other places of worship during the day and a teach-in in the evening to provide greater details on the issues outlined above. Gather at places of worship to distribute information on Bechtel's human rights abuses.

Tuesday, June 3: Day of Direct Education and Outreach

Using creative street theater, educational materials, listening actions, etc. we will spread out throughout the Bay Area (nationally and internationally as well) to share information on Bechtel and the issues described above.

Wednesday, June 4: Day of Direct Action at Congressional and Federal Offices

Demand legislation opposing the rebuilding contract process of the Bush Administration and proposing positive alternatives that provide for Iraqi self-determination and humanitarian needs and redirecting money to address the \"war at home.\" We imagine every form of peaceful activism including a national phone and fax day; visits to congressional offices; taking over congressional offices with sit-ins that may turn into on-the-spot teach-ins; protests at Federal Buildings and the White House and other forms of non-violent direct action.

Thursday, June 5: Day of Direct Action at Bechtel's World Headquarters, Offices and Sites

In San Francisco, we'll peacefully SHUTDOWN Bechtel's offices, around the nation and the world non-violent direct actions will take place at other Bechtel locations.

GOALS:

Each of these events will advance the following goals:

1. Expose Bechtel's record of human rights, environmental, health and safety and tax-payer abuses and links to the ongoing community campaigns against Bechtel;

2. Stop the Bush Administration's system of awarding contracts in Iraq that put the profits of U.S. corporations over the humanitarian needs and self-determination of the people of Iraq;

3. Explore and support positive alternative rebuilding proposals put forward by Iraqis, the United Nations and Members of Congress;

4. Stop the flow of billions of dollars from our schools and communities to subsidize the corporate invasion of Iraq, starting with the $680 million for Bechtel;

5. Stop the Bush Administration from using a military invasion to impose an economic globalization agenda on Iraq without the consent of the Iraqi people;

6. Stop the Bush Administration's Empire-Building agenda;

7. BUILD ON THE POWERFUL GLOBAL RESISTANCE TO THESE ABUSES AND SUPPORT THE POSTIIVE ALTERNATIVES THAT ALREADY EXIST!

BACKGROUND:

Two wars and over a decade of sanctions have crippled Iraq's infrastructure. It is imperative that the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people - particularly the right to self-determination - take precedence in the rebuilding effort.

Unfortunately, the Bush Administration is putting U.S. corporate profits over humanitarian needs, awarding a $680 million 18-month contract to the San Francisco-based Bechtel Corporation - a company with one of the worst human rights and environmental abuse records in the world, far more likely to line its own pockets than meet the needs of the Iraqi people, a company with intimate ties to the Bush Administration, and a company that helped bring us into the war in the first place and is now profiting from it. This type of crony capitalism underscores the need to remove the control of Iraq's resources and reconstruction from the Pentagon and the Bush Administration and put it into the hands of the Iraqi people, humanitarian relief organizations and the United Nations.



This Modern World Cartoon - Tom Tomorrow

Bechtel's contract includes rebuilding the drinking and wastewater systems in Iraq. A Bush Administration plan for \"a broad-based Mass Privatization Program\" of state-owned industries in Iraq may also include water ˆ raising the specter of Bechtel seizing Iraq's water to increase profits at the expense of the Iraqi people.

A few samples from Bechtel's record of putting profits over people provide reason for concern:

- Just over a year ago, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors canceled a contract with Bechtel for the management of the city's water systems upgrade. Bechtel was doing unnecessary and overpriced work and charged the city for tens of thousands of dollars worth of personal expenses. Many also feared that Bechtel had its eye on privatizing the city's water.

- After privatizing the water systems in Cochabamba, Bolivia, a Bechtel subsidiary made the price of water so expensive that many, particularly the poorest users, could no longer afford it. Bechtel then, at best, sat still while the Bolivian government met mass public protests with deadly force. In the end, the people of Cochabamba prevailed and the government canceled Bechtel‚s contract. In response, Bechtel is suing Bolivia for $25 million in lost profits.

- In the 1980's, with the help of then Middle East envoy Donald Rumsfeld, Bechtel aggressively lobbied the Iraqi government to allow Bechtel to build an oil pipeline from Iraq to Jordan, while Hussein was simultaneously bombarding his own people and the people of Iran with chemical weapons. Hussein called off the deal. Now Hussein is out and Bechtel is in - this time, pumping water instead of oil.

For more on Bechtel, including ongoing community struggles, see upcoming DASW fact sheets at http:\/\/www.actagainstwar.org<\/a>. The corporate take-over of Iraq must be stopped. The needs of the people of Iraq and the U.S. must be met. It is time to act. Please join us.

You don't have to wait until June. Keep the pressure on Bechtel NOW! Hold your own teach-ins (we'll help), create art and street theater, contact elected officials, hold press conferences, write letters to the editor, join local communities in struggles against Bechtel and the war at home, join the global peace movement and help us organize the week of action!

bechtel is in your town!

For more information: http:\/\/www.actagainstwar.org<\/a> (415) 820-9649 bechtel@riseup.net<\/a>

for more background info on bechtel, see:

http:\/\/www.corpwatch.org\/issues\/PID.jsp?articleid=6532<\/a>

<\/p>\n","contact":"bechtel@riseup.net","link":"www.actagainstwar.org","address":"","phone":"","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"text\/plain","summary":"Activists in San Francisco are organizing four days of action against war profiteer, Bechtel! Join us, flyer your community, inform your comrades! Flyers available at: http:\/\/www.actagainstwar.org\/article.php?id=222 and let us know!","numcomment":128,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/","filesize":null,"article_url":"\/news\/2003\/05\/60260.php"},"attachments":[],"comments":[{"id":60269,"heading":"hah!","article":""BUILD ON THE POWERFUL GLOBAL RESISTANCE TO THESE ABUSES AND SUPPORT THE POSTIIVE ALTERNATIVES THAT ALREADY EXIST! "\r\n\r\nPathetic.\r\nYou're already beaten.","author":"burma jones","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-29 07:27:13","modified":"2003-05-29 07:27:13","fileurl":""},{"id":60271,"heading":""Two wars...","article":"...and over a decade of sanctions have crippled Iraq's infrastructure."\r\n\r\nAnd Saddam was getting more than enough cash from the oil-for-food program to repair all of it. But no, he'd rather build palaces.\r\n\r\nWhy do you people insist on not blaming the real villain in these matters? Why are you defending and protecting an evil man?\r\n\r\nWhat is the matter with you?","author":"daveman","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-29 07:32:45","modified":"2003-05-29 07:32:45","fileurl":""},{"id":60277,"heading":"I think i remember seeing a picture","article":"Of a man named Rumsfeld who was working for the US just a few years after Saddam gassed the kurds.\r\nOh yeah, I remember...He was smiling and shaking hands with that "villian"\r\nps\r\nwhere are the WMD again?","author":"Sy$teMF@iLuRe","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-29 07:43:37","modified":"2003-05-29 07:43:37","fileurl":""},{"id":60286,"heading":"Fox News said that...","article":"...the WMDs are in Iraq, so it must be true.","author":"daveman","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-29 13:09:15","modified":"2003-05-29 13:09:15","fileurl":""},{"id":60636,"heading":"final solution","article":"a change for a better tomorrow.","author":"Sy$teMF@iLuRe","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","created":"2003-05-29 22:07:58","modified":"2005-08-15 01:31:12","fileurl":"\/usr\/local\/www-domains\/la.indymedia.org\/public\/uploads\/2003\/05\/support-anarchy.jpg","image":{"original":"\/usr\/local\/www-domains\/la.indymedia.org\/public\/uploads\/2003\/05\/support-anarchy.jpg"}},{"id":60637,"heading":"Hey utterfailure, you putz.","article":"That famed handshake between Rummy and that freak Hussein happened in 1983. Hussein dowsed the Kurds with VX nerve agents in 1988, you dumb fuck. Take your agitprop and stick it where the sun don't shine, fart-knocker.","author":"Eric","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-29 22:16:03","modified":"2003-05-29 22:16:03","fileurl":""},{"id":60650,"heading":"sissiefailure","article":"Ae you advocating the assasination of elected officials?\r\n\r\nAnybody got the FBI's email address?","author":"daveman","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-29 23:18:29","modified":"2003-05-29 23:18:29","fileurl":""},{"id":60651,"heading":"Never mind...","article":"I found it.\r\n\r\nhttps:\/\/tips.fbi.gov\/","author":"daveman","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-29 23:19:38","modified":"2003-05-29 23:19:38","fileurl":""},{"id":60654,"heading":"Neutralization","article":"This is how we make democracy work.\r\nAsk MLK, RFK, JFK, or Paul Welstone. And these are just the ones you may remember or have heard about. We do need\r\nto someone ask us, however.\r\nIt's what we DO.","author":"C.I.A.","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-29 23:28:01","modified":"2003-05-29 23:28:01","fileurl":""},{"id":60656,"heading":"Yeah, utterfailure. You scum.","article":"I wish you'd just try it, you chickenshit little worm. You and Andy Mickel could share a jail cell on death row, you little bitch.","author":"Eric","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-29 23:30:52","modified":"2003-05-29 23:30:52","fileurl":""},{"id":60660,"heading":"C.I.A.","article":"Careful; your tinfoil hat is crooked.","author":"daveman","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-29 23:38:29","modified":"2003-05-29 23:38:29","fileurl":""},{"id":60675,"heading":"protest","article":"Theres a Bectel in Fullerton anybody game for an action in that Area","author":"wavemaster","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-30 00:56:40","modified":"2003-05-30 00:56:40","fileurl":""},{"id":60710,"heading":"history of the US part 2","article":"When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.\r\n\r\nWe hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present ILLEGAL GOVERNMENT OF GEORGE BUSH II is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these States. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.\r\n","author":"your friend "Sy$teMF@iLuRe","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-30 08:13:48","modified":"2003-05-30 08:13:48","fileurl":""},{"id":60711,"heading":"ps davegirl","article":"i expected nothing less from a traitor to the constitution.","author":"Sy$teMF@iLuRe","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-30 08:17:05","modified":"2003-05-30 08:17:05","fileurl":""},{"id":60714,"heading":"sissie","article":"You are just too pathetic.\r\n\r\n"Traitor", indeed. \r\n\r\nThat's rich, coming from someone advocating armed insurrection.\r\n\r\nSpoiled child.","author":"daveman","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-30 08:21:33","modified":"2003-05-30 08:21:33","fileurl":""},{"id":60716,"heading":"typical","article":"From some bitch that has never served in a forward based combat unit.\r\nI thought you defended the constitution from traitors foriegn and domestic?\r\nor are they just meaningless words to you?\r\nThats what i thought traitor.","author":"Sy$teMF@iLuRe","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-30 08:25:15","modified":"2003-05-30 08:25:15","fileurl":""},{"id":60717,"heading":"kinda sucks when a military person","article":"defends the constitution\r\nbut dosent even recognize the preable to the declaration of independence.....\r\nfucking fascist scum.","author":"Sy$teMF@iLuRe","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-30 08:26:58","modified":"2003-05-30 08:26:58","fileurl":""},{"id":60719,"heading":"What makes you...","article":"...think I didn't recognize the Preamble?\r\n\r\nAhhh...the voices in your head.\r\n\r\nNo, my vow is not just word to me; I don't make vows to my God lightly. As a matter of fact, i'm going to reenlist for 6 more years in a couple of weeks.\r\n\r\nAnd you can spare me the typical front line grunt's comtempt for the guys in the rear....without whom the front line grunts would rapidly starve to death and run out of ammo.\r\n\r\nSissie.","author":"daveman","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-30 08:36:36","modified":"2003-05-30 08:36:36","fileurl":""},{"id":60722,"heading":"so how do you figure?","article":"Putting a bullet in someone is quite different from watching the mayhem from 50-100-10000miles away.\r\n\r\nThe chaos that ensues when all hell breaks loose because some pussy ass politician or neocon\r\n"support our troops" civilian believes somthing other than a reality that they can never fully comprehend without being there.\r\nKilling instead of talking?\r\nIs that the best course of action?\r\nYou are a fool that has never been in a CZ and never will be.\r\nThat is why you think war is cool or some shit that you saw on TV\r\nYou have never seen the carnage and hell on earth that ensues on the battlefield.\r\nMy friends who will never see thier family because the brainwashed masses thought freedom meant one thing\r\nwhen it really means another.\r\nThe dead, the wandering children looking for thier dead parents that were the unfortunate casualties of war.\r\nThe starving naitives looking into your eyes.\r\nThe things that i will always remember.\r\nThat i will never forget.\r\nAnd you laugh, and make BS comments.\r\nFuck you.","author":"Sy$teNF@iLuRe","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-30 08:57:20","modified":"2003-05-30 08:57:20","fileurl":""},{"id":60724,"heading":"Hey utterfailure","article":"There's a littl piece of the Constitution I think you forgot to read:\r\n\r\nArticle 1 Section 8 Clause 15:\r\n\r\nThe Congress shall have Power To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;\r\n\r\nSo go ahead and formulate your little coup d'etat. We'll just use your own Constitution against you, yet again.\r\n","author":"Eric","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-30 09:03:26","modified":"2003-05-30 09:03:26","fileurl":""},{"id":60725,"heading":""Putting a bullet in someone..."","article":"You volunteered for that duty. What exactly, does that say about you? Choose your rate, choose your fate.","author":"Bering","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-30 09:07:21","modified":"2003-05-30 09:07:21","fileurl":""},{"id":60726,"heading":"And I find it difficult to believe...","article":"That anyone that has ever been on a battlefield and "put a bullet in someone for his country" would be on the internet posting immature rants like "Sy$temf@ilure rulez" as if he's a twelve year old on the playground.\r\n\r\nYou have zero credibility.","author":"Eric","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-30 09:11:06","modified":"2003-05-30 09:11:06","fileurl":""},{"id":60728,"heading":"spare us","article":""The dead, the wandering children looking for thier dead parents that were the unfortunate casualties of war. \r\nThe starving naitives looking into your eyes. \r\nThe things that i will always remember. \r\nThat i will never forget. \r\nAnd you laugh, and make BS comments. \r\nFuck you."\r\n\r\nSpare us all the "thousand yard stare " bullshit you \r\nracist GI JOE wannabe.\r\nI, for one, don't beleieve any of your "CZ" bullshit.\r\nAnd the fact that you would lie about something like that to support inane nonsense about anarchism is despicable.\r\nStay in the Valley with your fatboy punk rock band and pal around with your buddies in the clan but quit it with all the war hero bullshit.","author":"fresca","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-30 09:15:22","modified":"2003-05-30 09:15:22","fileurl":""},{"id":60731,"heading":"personally i dont give a fuck if you losers believe me or not","article":"you busters dont know shit.\r\nand i dont care if you believe me.\r\ncoming from some losers that dont know shit about the constitution or anything else \r\ni have to laugh\r\nBut since i feel like kicking a little ass\r\ncheck my email and meet me somewhere and we; ll see whats up.\r\n\r\nto the other losers that are traitors to the constitution\r\n\r\nThat to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.","author":"Sy$teMF@iLuRe","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-30 09:33:25","modified":"2003-05-30 09:33:25","fileurl":""},{"id":60732,"heading":"SF","article":"what are ya waitin for?","author":"SF","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-30 09:34:26","modified":"2003-05-30 09:34:26","fileurl":""},{"id":60736,"heading":"nice hotmail account, utterfailure","article":"Hey toughguy, why don't you post your address on here. Let's see how brave you are!","author":"Eric","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-30 09:39:40","modified":"2003-05-30 09:39:40","fileurl":""},{"id":60737,"heading":"i would expect nothing less from a loser like you","article":"you were a SEAL eh?\r\nwhat unit again?\r\ndont take all day now.........","author":"SF","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-30 09:41:11","modified":"2003-05-30 09:41:11","fileurl":""},{"id":60740,"heading":"Chickenshit.","article":"What a chickenshit little pissant.\r\n\r\nHAR!","author":"Eric","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-30 09:43:46","modified":"2003-05-30 09:43:46","fileurl":""},{"id":60747,"heading":"I DIDNT SEE THE UNIT (AGAIN)","article":"looks like the only bullshit here \r\nis coming out of your computer\r\nsupport squadron\r\nwannabe.\r\nps\r\ni already got your info long ago\r\nyou still owe me those dinners............","author":"SF","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-30 10:03:55","modified":"2003-05-30 10:03:55","fileurl":""},{"id":60750,"heading":"Post my info, and I'll gladly pay up.","article":"Go ahead, toughguy.","author":"Eric","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-30 10:06:35","modified":"2003-05-30 10:06:35","fileurl":""},{"id":60751,"heading":"domestic","article":">I thought you defended the constitution from traitors foriegn and domestic? \r\n\r\nDefending the constitution from traitors foreign and domestic would include rounding up anarchists since their desire is the collapse of the US government. There's not enough of you to spit out now, and I doubt there ever will be since there's nothing appealing about your political movement, evidence being the lack of people standing in line begging to be a part of you. But should anarchists ever become a force, the military should immediately round them up and put them in front of the firing squad for being the traitors that they are. I would also apply that to any militant, conspiracy ridden libertarians who display distain for the constitution of the US.","author":"brigg","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-30 10:24:55","modified":"2003-05-30 10:24:55","fileurl":""},{"id":60758,"heading":"Eyes rolling...","article":""But since i feel like kicking a little ass \r\ncheck my email and meet me somewhere and we; ll see whats up. "\r\n\r\nUnbelievable.\r\nI'm actually embarrassed.","author":"fresca","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-30 14:02:50","modified":"2003-05-30 14:02:50","fileurl":""},{"id":60840,"heading":"Fresca the Peacemaker","article":"Fresca don't act all inocent rolling your eyes. You are just as bad as anyone on this board. ","author":"Wavemaster","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-30 21:43:53","modified":"2003-05-30 21:43:53","fileurl":""},{"id":60844,"heading":"wtf?","article":"Just because I like golden showers does not make me "bad."","author":"fresca","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-30 21:48:43","modified":"2003-05-30 21:48:43","fileurl":""},{"id":60862,"heading":"sissie","article":"So, your whole point is: war is bad.\r\n\r\nNo kidding, bright boy.\r\n\r\nBut you're a fool if you don't believe that it's sometimes necessary. ","author":"daveman","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-31 00:26:54","modified":"2003-05-31 00:26:54","fileurl":""},{"id":60886,"heading":"war is neccesary","article":"Of course it is to keep the people oppressed in the name of global capitalism. ","author":"wavemster","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-31 09:31:58","modified":"2003-05-31 09:31:58","fileurl":""},{"id":60890,"heading":"Perm War Inc.","article":"A justification for the destruction of surplus labor\r\nand production together with the suppression of personal\r\nfreedoms and a police state. If you haven't read it yet\r\nplease read 1984. Our commissars will protect us from the evil others, we all love Bush, our protector.","author":"Sheepdog","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-31 09:51:07","modified":"2003-05-31 09:51:07","fileurl":""},{"id":60891,"heading":"Help! Help! I'm being oppressed!!","article":"1984 was a novel about what life would be like under a socialist regime, you idiot!","author":"Dirk McGirk","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-31 09:57:29","modified":"2003-05-31 09:57:29","fileurl":""},{"id":60892,"heading":"Obviously you have never read it.","article":"Socialist? I noticed that in the novel, that everyone had health care and education which was financed by the unfair\r\ntaxation of the upper class. Right, you illiterate idiot.","author":"Sheepdog","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-31 10:05:49","modified":"2003-05-31 10:05:49","fileurl":""},{"id":60893,"heading":"I've done more than simply "read" the book, you clod. I've comprehended it.","article":"The major facts about Orwell and the origins of 1984 lay as enshrouded in mystery as when his London publisher, Secker and Warburg, first brought out the book in 1949. In the beginning, he is supposed to have been a committed socialist, a close observer of the founders of the socialist Fabian Society, Sidney and Beatrice Webb, and of the famous socialist futurist H.G. Wells. Taking as a theme the strategy of the Roman general Quintus Fabius Cunctator, who famously delayed battle with the Carthaginians while exhausting them with endless harassments, the Fabians argued that the grand aim of socialism could be achieved bit by bit, through moderate increments, making small changes in society so as not to alarm the defenders of individual responsibility.\r\n\r\nThe Fabian Society was founded in 1884, according to its Website, and continues to play a prominent role through the Socialist International in developing the policies of the Labour Party in Britain, of which Orwell once was an active member, and of allied Clintonian liberals in the United States.\r\n\r\nBut when Orwell wrote 1984, it was more than a show of dislike for the Fabian socialists; it was humorous, biting, Swiftian satire against the socialist and liberal intellectuals. The leftist elites, then as now, praised the book for the wrong reasons. They applauded Orwell's resistance to the loss of civil liberties but refused, and continue to refuse, to see the book as a mirror held up to the totalitarian face of the left-wing intelligentsia. They tiptoe away from such questions as: Why choose the year 1984 as the title? Is it really just a science-fiction fantasy or is it political satire; and, if so, against whom is it directed? Finally, what are the likely sources of Orwell's dystopia?\r\n\r\n","author":"Dirk McGirk","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-31 10:32:05","modified":"2003-05-31 10:32:05","fileurl":""},{"id":60894,"heading":"colorful spin","article":"Oh and now you are a critic ( of course) and continue\r\nto pursue the 'socialist' spin. The original title was going to be 1948 as Orwell, being a british intelligence agent, saw the path the oligarchs were taking the world after WW 2.\r\nYou still have produced no examples of socialism from the work. He was describing the model fascist state of the future. Provide a rational to explain the view, held by yourself, that this novel was about socialism rather than\r\nfascism, if you will.","author":"Sheepdog","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-31 10:48:23","modified":"2003-05-31 10:48:23","fileurl":""},{"id":60896,"heading":""Examples" you say?","article":"The critics try to explain away the hot spots. The title, 1984, is said to be simply the reversal of the final two digits in 1948, the year he was writing the book. Some critics say it is not even a serious book but just derivative science fiction on par with Soviet writer Yevgeny Zamyatin's We, a book Orwell had read in translation and reviewed for literary journals.\r\n\r\nSo did the title 1984 have any special meaning in Orwell's mind, or did he do something so unimaginative as simply reversing the last two digits of 1948, the year he wrote the book? One theory, put forth by William Steinhoff, an American professor, in his book George Orwell and the Origins of 1984, points the finger at Orwell's fascination with London's de-scription of a fascist state that achieves full flower in calendar year 1984.\r\n\r\nInteresting. But it makes more sense to look to socialism rather than fascism as the butt of Orwell's satire, especially after Animal Farm, his 1945 satire of socialist revolution. Then, in the microfilm files of The Times of London for 1947 (when Orwell was working on his first drafts of 1984), this reporter turned up an account of the progressive-socialist Fabian Society belatedly celebrating that year as its 75th anniversary, three years late because of the war.\r\n\r\nWhen asked about the world he had described in 1984, Orwell responded that he was not saying such a future would occur, but that a future something like it could happen because that was the direction in which the world was going.\r\n\r\nThe deepest twist of Orwell's satire is that Sidney Webb, cherubic-faced as he was, large-headed, always intellectual, is the physical model for Emmanuel Goldstein, who wrote "The Book" within the story line of 1984. Goldstein is the primal traitor against Big Brother. As a member of Parliament, Sidney was disparaged for being Jewish, though he was not. Again there are some interesting parallels. In 1984, Orwell refers to brainwashed and fuzzy-headed intellectuals, such as Webb, conversing in a private language called "duck speak" — bringing to mind webbed feet. \r\n\r\nAnother parallel ap-pears in the experience of Sidney Webb as Lord Passmoor in Parliament. When he rose to speak in his annoying monotone, back benchers (in the rude fashion of English parliamentary tradition) arose at times to bleat like sheep or goats. Indeed with his pince-nez spectacles balanced precariously on his prominent nose, Webb did resemble a billy goat — at least to certain members of Parliament. In 1984, when the traitorous Goldstein appears on the telescreen, party members hiss and toss books at his image. Then, amid the riotous chaos, comes the baaing sound of a herd of sheep that grows and grows, filling the screen. A wolf in a sheepskin is part of the shield of the Fabian Society. \r\n\r\nAll of which suggests that Orwell's 1984 was written as a forecast scenario, but titled 1984 to bring to mind the centenary of the Fabian Society. Orwell's satirical approach assumes that the leaders of future governments would be Fabian successors of Beatrice and Sidney Webb, whom H.G. Wells with arcane foresight referred to as the global "New Machiavellians." ","author":"Dirk McGirk","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-31 11:03:27","modified":"2003-05-31 11:03:27","fileurl":""},{"id":60898,"heading":"furthermore...","article":"I believe the novel Brave New World was a work of\r\nsocialism gone insane. 1984 seems to be a warning of the\r\nfuture of perm war to keep the justification of grinding poverty\r\nand constant surveillance using terror as the ever-present\r\nwhip to put the boot of oppression firmly upon the neck of the population while keeping them in enforced ignorance.","author":"Sheepdog","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-31 11:10:23","modified":"2003-05-31 11:10:23","fileurl":""},{"id":60899,"heading":"Sheepdog, who is keeping us ignorant?","article":"That's what I want to know. How are we being kept ignorant. We all have access to the same resources of information, should we so choose to review them. What exactly are YOU privy to that the rest of us are not?","author":"Eric","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-31 11:19:57","modified":"2003-05-31 11:19:57","fileurl":""},{"id":60900,"heading":"who is keeping us ignorant?","article":"Where to begin?\r\nThe school system, the media or simply the reluctance of\r\nof most people to question the policies of power?\r\nRather than waste my time pointing out particulars, I \r\nwould say ignorance IS strength to the ruling class and the self censorship of a highly paid propaganda platform serves the rulers very well.\r\n","author":"Sheepdog","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-31 11:29:47","modified":"2003-05-31 11:29:47","fileurl":""},{"id":60904,"heading":"So essentially...","article":"what you are saying is that people choose to remain ignorant. Correct?\r\n\r\nBut you fail to make discussion on what, exactly, we are ignorant of.\r\n\r\nBut I suppose, if you knew that, you'd not be ignorant. Eh?\r\n\r\nJust the same as you claim the powers that be utilize the threat of "perpetual war" to keep the masses in check, the leftists employ the leverage of "perpetual ignorance" to break the inertia of their stagnation.","author":"Eric","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-31 11:37:41","modified":"2003-05-31 11:37:41","fileurl":""},{"id":60912,"heading":"Oh, and on 1984 and Socialism","article":"I think N. Korea is a perfect example of what happens to an isolated state when it is subjected to Socialist rule. You get the elite rulers, a big fat military, and starving masses. Now you wanna tell me how 1984 is about The USA and not about N. Korea?","author":"Eric","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-31 13:18:08","modified":"2003-05-31 13:18:08","fileurl":""},{"id":60918,"heading":"Eric","article":"North Korea is a COMMUNIST state, you dolt.","author":"anti-moron","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-31 14:13:13","modified":"2003-05-31 14:13:13","fileurl":""},{"id":60928,"heading":"Tomato, tomatoe.","article":"Whatever. Six of one, half dozen of the other.\r\n\r\n","author":"Eric","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-31 14:23:23","modified":"2003-05-31 14:23:23","fileurl":""},{"id":60943,"heading":"Eric","article":"Way to go, Eric. Whenever we conservatives get caught in a lie, we can always just sit there and talk about tomatoes. Great job!","author":"Bush Admirer","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-31 14:39:51","modified":"2003-05-31 14:39:51","fileurl":""},{"id":61021,"heading":"KOBE","article":"If you hate Muslims and niggers as much as we do, visit our website.\r\n","author":"KOBE SBM","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-05-31 16:14:27","modified":"2003-05-31 16:14:27","fileurl":""},{"id":61137,"heading":"Eric...","article":"What the hell are you saying?\r\n-Just the same as you claim the powers that be utilize the threat of "perpetual\r\n war" to keep the masses in check, the leftists employ the leverage of "perpetual\r\n ignorance" to break the inertia of their stagnation-\r\nThis one is a bit murky and I could appreciate what you mean by:\r\n"the leftists employ the leverage of "perpetual\r\n ignorance" to break the inertia of their stagnation" because frankly, it doesn't make any sense.\r\nPlease enlighten me, if you will be so kind. Help me out of\r\nmy perpetual ignorance, assuming that your label of me as a\r\n'leftist' applies. I'm more conservative than you are because I just want to conserve the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and the spirit of the Declaration of Independence.","author":"Sheepdog","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-06-01 01:47:31","modified":"2003-06-01 01:47:31","fileurl":""},{"id":61141,"heading":"The emporer plays with his toys","article":"Excuse me Eric but don't even talk about who has the fat military. None of the great empires of the past could even dream of the firepower that the US empire currently has. Oh but even though we are the only superpower I believe our protector when he says that we need it to protect our liberties and freedom! Yea right you and i both know what the military is used for. \r\n But tell me this now you have the NRA teaming up \r\nwith the left against all this police state patriot act bullshit and corporate media consolidation. And you have the general today addmitting that the intellegence about Iraq's WMD's was also bullshit. I quote" hell weve been from Bagdad to Nassaria and aint found so much as a drop of chemicals. Its gona take Houdini to spin your way out of this bullshit. \r\nAnd Bush stuck his foot in his mouth today. Man I swear it is so painfull to listen to this guy try and articulate a couple of sentances together. He out right lied by claiming that the two trailors found could have been Bio weapons Labs and that proves the need for the war. ","author":"Wavemaster","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","created":"2003-06-01 02:41:24","modified":"2005-08-15 01:31:13","fileurl":"\/usr\/local\/www-domains\/la.indymedia.org\/public\/uploads\/2003\/05\/capt.1054221404.france_g8_summit_par103.jpg","image":{"original":"\/usr\/local\/www-domains\/la.indymedia.org\/public\/uploads\/2003\/05\/capt.1054221404.france_g8_summit_par103.jpg"}},{"id":61171,"heading":"Wavemaster","article":"Yes, the US is the only country in history that has the power to take over the world...\r\n\r\n...but refuses to do so.","author":"daveman","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-06-01 11:44:43","modified":"2003-06-01 11:44:43","fileurl":""},{"id":61194,"heading":"Black is White ( it's just a little darker)","article":"Why are so many of our countrymen on foreign soil?\r\nIt must be in order to teach our military other languages.\r\n'How much do you charge?'\r\n\r\n","author":"Snowball","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-06-01 15:25:51","modified":"2003-06-01 15:25:51","fileurl":""},{"id":61196,"heading":"Oh jess....!","article":"Bring back my 'Big Red One'; my bills are getting out of hand. I need the work!!","author":"Ft. Benning Chipey","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-06-01 15:35:08","modified":"2003-06-01 15:35:08","fileurl":""},{"id":61205,"heading":"Snowball","article":"Our troops are on foreign soil to protect our interests and the interests of our allies.\r\n\r\nIf you're trying to insinuate we're building an empire, we're doing a pretty poor job of it. \r\n\r\nBelieve me...if the US were interested in empire, there'd be no doubt about it. ","author":"daveman","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-06-01 16:35:15","modified":"2003-06-01 16:35:15","fileurl":""},{"id":61308,"heading":"davemoron","article":"Have you ever been interested in using your brain for once?","author":"anti-moron","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-06-02 15:28:46","modified":"2003-06-02 15:28:46","fileurl":""},{"id":61451,"heading":"wHeLL","article":"THe united STates miliTary now ProudLy sits oN\r\n131 DifferEnt countries acrOss the GLobe.\r\nKinDa saD.....eh?\r\nHa H@ ha\r\nHA hA hA\r\nSIeg Heil for THe new AMerIcan MasTeR Ace.\r\nWhat A sHamE\/\r\nWhAt a ShAm.......\r\nAnd You aLL BouGht iT......\r\nFucK yoU Eric.....YouR TimE is NeaR\r\n","author":"Craig Vauhn (closer now)","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-06-03 09:16:23","modified":"2003-06-03 09:16:23","fileurl":""},{"id":61455,"heading":"Ha Ha Ha.","article":"Fuck you too, utterfailure.\r\n\r\n"THe united STates miliTary now ProudLy sits oN \r\n131 DifferEnt countries acrOss the GLobe."\r\n\r\nSad? Nah. I think it's great that a freedom loving nation projects such global might and forceful world presence. It commands respect.\r\n\r\nI suppose that's why no nation rose up to stop us when our troops marched into Bahgdad. I suppose that's why the U.N. didn't resolve to saction us for doing so.\r\n\r\nThere are a lot of mouthy little bitch ass nations (and people, such as utterfailure) in the world. But none ar bold enough to take any real action against us.\r\n\r\nEither they're afraid of us or they don't believe enough in their own mantras enough to fight for them. Either way, we win, they lose.\r\n\r\nAnd I will continue to support my country and it's government as long as I feel that it is representing the best interests of the American people.\r\n","author":"Eric","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-06-03 09:42:23","modified":"2003-06-03 09:42:23","fileurl":""},{"id":61456,"heading":"and what did we win craig?","article":"Really?\r\nWhat did we win for our hard earned taxpayers dollars?\r\nThe WMD?\r\nDemocracy in Iraq?\r\nFreedom from terrorism for the American people?\r\nps\r\nthat wasnt very nice trying to H@cK my email account.\r\n","author":"Syt$teMF@iLuRe","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","created":"2003-06-03 09:47:56","modified":"2005-08-15 01:31:13","fileurl":"\/usr\/local\/www-domains\/la.indymedia.org\/public\/uploads\/2003\/06\/unreal.jpg","image":{"original":"\/usr\/local\/www-domains\/la.indymedia.org\/public\/uploads\/2003\/06\/unreal.jpg"}},{"id":61458,"heading":"Sheepdog:","article":"It was cumbersome sentence structure that I used that probably contributed to your confusion.\r\n\r\n"Just the same as you claim the powers that be utilize the threat of "perpetual \r\nwar" to keep the masses in check, the leftists employ the leverage of "perpetual \r\nignorance" to break the inertia of their stagnation-"\r\n\r\nYou claim the government uses the threat of perpetual war to maintain the support of the masses. By telling the people that they are under attack, the citizenry continue to support the government.\r\n\r\nBut the marginalized anti-establisment leftists tell the people that they are ignorant, uniformed, and that their government operates secretly against them, keeping them in the dark, with sinister machinations for a deceptive agenda.\r\n\r\nWhy do these leftists do this? To garner support and momentum for their marginalized, insignificant, stale, and unmoving political agenda of destablizing and undermining the existing government.\r\n\r\nThe funny thing is that we live in the most advanced and informed civilization in history. People are becoming more aware and enlightened all the time. And while that sort of fifth columnist tactic was useful in getting the French to storm the Bastile, it is only serving to further marginalize the leftists of our day.\r\n\r\n\r\n","author":"Eric","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-06-03 09:58:29","modified":"2003-06-03 09:58:29","fileurl":""},{"id":61459,"heading":"Morons abound","article":"Anyone can set up a hotmail account, moron. Yahoo is my service of choice!\r\n\r\n","author":"Craig Vihn","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-06-03 10:00:15","modified":"2003-06-03 10:00:15","fileurl":""},{"id":61460,"heading":"Just wanted you to know that I still love you.","article":"What did we win?\r\n\r\nWe let the world know that we won't sit idly by as our enemies attempt to extinguish our existence.\r\n\r\nLet some other little bitch ass country attempt to piss on us. ","author":"Eric","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-06-03 10:05:07","modified":"2003-06-03 10:05:07","fileurl":""},{"id":61462,"heading":"Eric","article":"Just who are you trying to convince, Eric? We don\u2019t have an informed citizenry, You know this very well. It\u2019s how we have been led into war\r\nafter war due to ignorance resulting from a media with vested interests\r\nin weapons contracts. Are you unaware of General Electric, owners of\r\nNBC, for instance, that produces the engines and main gun on the A-10\r\nallows scant, if indeed any existent voices against military adventurism?\r\nTheir bottom line depends upon the suppression of information.\r\nConflict of interests abound between corporate media and the military\r\nindustrial confluence. We pay the price as our society is bled white to support the ever growing 'defence industry'.","author":"Sheepdog","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-06-03 10:49:26","modified":"2013-11-11 00:22:51","fileurl":""},{"id":61468,"heading":"To live in your world...","article":"must be a nightmare, Sheepdog.\r\n\r\nTo go through each and every day in fear, that somewhere, sinister forces are somehow plotting against you, that must be terrible.\r\n\r\nSo what you're saying is, that the citizenry are uninformed of the facts that the Government, under the thumb of major corporations, forces our nation into perpetual war, through media manipulation and elaborate plots (such as 9-11), ruthlessly killing millions and millions, all so a select few can make a big pile of money with weapons contracts and oil pipelines??\r\n\r\nYou mean that's it? That's all there is? It's no deeper than that? C'mon man, this isn't a grade B Hollywood production we're talking about! Certainly, those sneaky bastards could find a way to stultify us, better than that?\r\n\r\nSheepdog, if I lived in your world, I could see no reason at all to continue on. I believe I'd simply kill myself. A world of misery and control is no world at all.","author":"Eric","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-06-03 11:14:15","modified":"2003-06-03 11:14:15","fileurl":""},{"id":61471,"heading":"Then you are weak","article":"If you're going to let a bit of reality dive you to\r\nsuicide. Sorry.","author":"Sheepdog","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-06-03 11:36:14","modified":"2003-06-03 11:36:14","fileurl":""},{"id":61472,"heading":"I agree.","article":"It's not worth suicide. \r\n\r\nHomocide would be preferable. It's more likely that I'd become an Eric Robert Rudolph or an Andrew Mickel.\r\n\r\nThose poor schleps must certainly have gone through similar stages of dementia that erode your thought now.\r\n\r\nRemember, before you take to the guns Sheepdog, help is just a phonecall away.\r\n\r\nhttp:\/\/suicidehotlines.com\/\r\n","author":"Eric","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-06-03 11:50:07","modified":"2003-06-03 11:50:07","fileurl":""},{"id":61480,"heading":"nah....I'm good.","article":"If I'm going to call anyone it would be for pizza.\r\nNice to see that your response didn't dispute my\r\nevaluation of media\/military conflict of interests.\r\nOf course I'm insane, but at least I know it.\r\nWhat's your excuse?","author":"Sheepdog","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-06-03 12:43:12","modified":"2003-06-03 12:43:12","fileurl":""},{"id":61483,"heading":"I haven't got any.","article":"Can't dispute truth. There ARE media\/military conflicts of interest. No doubt about it. Companies thriving off the misery of others. For sure. \r\n\r\nCorporations providing the tools for humankind to satiate it's desire to pound each other into oblivion. \r\n\r\nAnd getting paid for their services by those doing the shooting.\r\n\r\nSo shall we treat the symptoms, or shall we treat the disease?","author":"Eric","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-06-03 13:00:36","modified":"2003-06-03 13:00:36","fileurl":""},{"id":61484,"heading":"Oh, Eric","article":"Living in the real world is much more invigorating and empowering than you seem to think.\r\n\r\nThe unfortunate reality is that we have some very not nice people holding the reigns of power. Pretending that all is well and that they really mean "the best for us" when all the evidence points toward their petty venality and irrational self-interestest does not one damn thing to make this world a better place to live.\r\n\r\nCriminality in high office is nothing new. To think that we in the United States have by some form of Divine intervention managed to avoid cabals and cliques is to simply try to live a fantasy that never was and is not now. This is not intended as an insult that is just the way it is.\r\n\r\nTo what degree such cabals, conspiracies if you will, influence world affairs is a matter of debate. That such exists is not. The evidence for such activity abounds. One must simply be willing to look at and evaluate the evidence for what it is not what we would rather it be.\r\n\r\nThe first step to solving any problem is correctly identifying the problem. Much of the PR industry and PsyOps crowd exist to prevent correct identification of the problem. After all criminals do not like being caught and they are not terribly fond of hemp or Brick Walls or an 8 by 12 room with bars on the window.\r\n\r\nAs for me make mine Pepperoni, Black Olives, Mushrooms. and EXTRA Cheese.","author":"Diogenes","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-06-03 13:01:41","modified":"2003-06-03 13:01:41","fileurl":""},{"id":61488,"heading":"While we're order fantasy land pizza...","article":"Make mine a double pepperoni, anchove with extra shoe polish and Goodyear Mitchelin Uniroyal with aqua maroon dinasour meat...\r\n\r\nIt’s not the cabals, nor the secret alliances that concern me, or that should be your focus. They certainly exist now, and they shall forever in the future. Such leverage is merely a means to an end. And isn’t in and of itself, a bad thing. You leftist have your clicks just the same. You're just jealous your elites don't have the same pull as theirs.\r\n\r\nWhat concerns me are the overt actions that undermine the freedoms, health, and safety of Americans; those of whom are my family, friends, and neighbors. Actions committed like 9-11, and actions of those such as Democrats who desire to undermine term limits, are the ones we should be collectively battling. \r\n\r\nThese perpetrators are our true enemies. Yours and mine. They truely exist only to destroy us. Not some fictitious cabal, but a veridical one performing tangible actions to undermine our very existences.\r\n\r\nAnd this is “the real world” in which we live.\r\n","author":"Eric","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-06-03 13:23:30","modified":"2003-06-03 13:23:30","fileurl":""},{"id":61534,"heading":"maybe...I'm not that sure.","article":"Defining the enemy as democrats is very narrow and incomplete. As to a fictitious cabal, I tend to believe\r\nCol. Proudy who should have known about these things.\r\nDecisions made in secret by the powerful are just that. Another shadow\r\nbeyond the reach of public view that pull the strings of both heads (democrat\/republician) of the\r\nsame interests. It\u2019s a puppet show to distract us from the true functions of\r\nthe evil that serves only their own benefit.\r\nWithout information, the people are reduced to blind and deaf farm stock\r\nready for slaughter. An informed population is a powerful\r\nforce and this is the fear these roach droppings martial their control to prevent. Follow the money. ","author":"Sheepdog","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-06-03 16:26:13","modified":"2013-11-11 00:22:51","fileurl":""},{"id":61554,"heading":"Agreed.","article":"But I’ve never exclusively defined the democrats to be the sole enemy. I referred to a specific tier of democrats. In the previous statement, it was those democrats that would do away with term limits that I expressed concern. In my experience it has, more times than not, been those on the extreme political left that have caused me most of the strife and turmoil and fear that I feel regarding the erosions of liberties and freedoms in America. \r\n\r\nHowever I’m not so narrow-minded as to believe they are the causes of all that is evil.\r\n\r\nOn the contrary, they are a necessary evil. Without them, America truly would be a fascist state. But their very existence suggests otherwise.\r\n\r\nI agree with you on the media thing. I just haven’t seen solid evidence that there’s a conspiracy to keep the people ignorant. In my opinion, people keep themselves ignorant. Ignorance is bliss and safe. People choose to be there, in bliss, because what matters to them is hardly farther in front of them than the noses on their faces. Sad, but true. Little we can do to change it.\r\n\r\nIgnorance, like democrats, like politics, and governments, like cabals and shadowy schemes, are all necessary evils. We cannot rid the world of these things. It is futile to try. It is better to manipulate them for our own ends, to learn to play the game, and make the outcome what it should be, just so long as we are sure our motives are righteous.\r\n\r\nIt is those whose motives are not righteous that are the enemy. The necessary enemy, for the world will never suffer a famine of these folks. \r\n","author":"Eric","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-06-03 17:46:23","modified":"2003-06-03 17:46:23","fileurl":""},{"id":61571,"heading":"more thoughts","article":"Well, Eric you should know more about the particulars than I do, having \r\nbeen involved in such operations, but I fail to see the necessity of these\r\nentities. Sure, there will always be the unsane who by their mindset seek\r\nto exploit others but that doesn\u2019t mean it should be a natural course of\r\nevents and that they should be allowed to act like petty gods.\r\nWhat is needed is a counter force of public awareness about the true\r\nnature of the enemy. You say that people are unconcerned. They are\r\nbecause they are unaware how the personal ambitions unfettered by \r\ncommon humanity of these individuals who ride inside the shadows, are ripping off their futures as a free people. This phenomenon of unconcern\r\nhas been crafted by design. Personally I think these issues are far more entertaining than sports and I fairly sure that so would most folk if they weren\u2019t so deliberately lied to or kept in ignorance of. I don\u2019t believe we should have to depend upon shadow warriors when we have all this\r\npotential people power if it was used. Call me an idealist.\r\nWho are we or anybody else to decide what the direction or destination\r\nof these policies should be?\r\nWe are not deities to decide to manipulate other humans as if we were.\r\nThat\u2019s not wisdom, it\u2019s hubris in the extreme.\r\nWho decides what is righteous? I can't decide for you and\r\nof course I don't want you to decide for me. The scales need to be balanced or evil will always triumph as the\r\npower corrupts hidden by veils of deceit.","author":"Sheepdog","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-06-03 19:28:54","modified":"2013-11-11 00:22:51","fileurl":""},{"id":61576,"heading":"You're an idealist.","article":"I'd prefer to call you an utopianist, but you said it, not me.\r\n\r\nTo understand the necessity of all these aforementioned evils, one must reduce human instinct to the lowest common denominator. Factor it completely down to the fundamental element. The primal instinct is of survival, and it is upon that foundation that all other characteristics of humankind are set. \r\n\r\nTry as we might control this urge, we cannot deviate far from the beaten path. It is genetic.\r\n\r\nExploitation can only have a willing victim. It is like hypnosis. Reminds me of that song, "Sweet Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac, however Marilyn Manson did a much better cover of it than the original, and his video for it was kick ass.\r\n\r\nBut the true nature of the enemy is open to interpretation. You see the beast with completely different eyes than do I. You feel the proverbial wool has been pulled over all of our eyes, crafted by design of the powers that be. I feel we pull it over our own heads, like scared children in our beds late at night, when the shadows are stirring. \r\n\r\nSo there's little chance that the public awareness police are going to salvage us from ourselves. Humanity has been reduced to that Soccer team, stranded in the Andes and forced to eat our dead. But we do this to ourselves.\r\n\r\nUltimately, we are merely animals. We just happen to be at the top of species table because of that opposable thumb and brain-to-body mass ratio. We're at the top because we wrote the list. No other reason. \r\n\r\nBut ultimately we're beasts. And the nature of the beast isn't pretty. Darwin wrote all about it, only in elegant terms. Sort of, he prettied it up for us. Some of those beasts like to eat the others. Some even like to eat their own young. There will always be that roughly 10%, that will seek to undo us, no matter what. \r\n\r\nWhat do you propose we do about them? Ignore them? Hope they go away?\r\n\r\nAfter all, Who are we or anybody else to decide what the direction or destination of these policies should be? \r\n","author":"Eric","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-06-03 20:51:10","modified":"2003-06-03 20:51:10","fileurl":""},{"id":61577,"heading":"You know I love ya like a brother...","article":"..but "Sweet Dreams" was a Eurythmics song.","author":"fresca","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-06-03 21:07:16","modified":"2003-06-03 21:07:16","fileurl":""},{"id":61578,"heading":"your anaology","article":"is sad.\r\nIt also reminds me of the approach of the slave owners who\r\nregarded their slaves as children and kept them from learning to read in order to preserve this status.\r\nAs thinking beings we try to reach for the stars through\r\nthe bars of the cage while the keepers tell us we could never live outside the protection of our prison.\r\nWe can be more than mindless beasts, given a chance.\r\nBut that's only my opinion...","author":"Sheepdog","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-06-03 21:07:42","modified":"2003-06-03 21:07:42","fileurl":""},{"id":61634,"heading":"My bad, fresca.","article":"But Marilyn Manson still did it better.","author":"Eric","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-06-04 09:04:07","modified":"2003-06-04 09:04:07","fileurl":""},{"id":61907,"heading":"Eric","article":"How did my cum taste last night?","author":"Marilyn Manson","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-06-04 17:50:14","modified":"2003-06-04 17:50:14","fileurl":""},{"id":61990,"heading":"Reconstruction project","article":"Eric, your anaology applies to animals, not people\r\nslaves not freemen.","author":"Spackel","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-06-04 22:46:21","modified":"2003-06-04 22:46:21","fileurl":""},{"id":62066,"heading":"Sorry","article":"I'm much too simpleminded to understand that. I'm a conservative.","author":"Eric","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-06-05 11:50:37","modified":"2003-06-05 11:50:37","fileurl":""},{"id":62643,"heading":"Help me","article":"I'm mentally unstable.","author":"Eric","parent_id":60260,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-06-06 16:25:29","modified":"2003-06-06 16:25:29","fileurl":""}]}