Structural Adjustment on the Home Front

Challenging the Corporatization of the US Political System

As VP of Heart to Heart Media, publishers of the California Sun, the largest independent health, science, environment and political newspaper in California and producer/co-host of the Shoong & Chappell (radio) Show on KTMS in Santa Barbara, I applaud your truthfulness! Without accurate information no one will be able to decide their destiny. Misinformation is all main stream media really promotes. And why not? They are owned by the corporations with a financial vested interest in releasing their one-sided misinformation.

I believe we could have many more independent newspapers and radio programs if only "the people" would financially support them. However, "the people" have been so dumbed down and brainwashed, it makes it difficult for independents to stay the course. But stay the course we at Heart to Heart Media will! And we will be there in LA........... "We are the public to protect and serve.

We are the people. This is what Democracy looks like!" Dr. James Chappell

A. Mittal's comments were quite intresting inasmuch as she points out the real lack of democracy in the US. Yet it is not only here and in the "Third World" that neoliberalism (structural adjustment) policies have been applied, but inthe whole world. Likewise, Seattle and these current demonstrations are not unique, but part of a world movemnt of resistance, the first manifestation of which began in Delhi India I believe, and has since appeared in places such as London, Brussels, Davos, Swizerland, Brussels (against the collection of Third World debt) and no doubt many other places. These are urban phenomena. Meanwhile, in less urbanized zones, you have movements of rural people--in Latin America for example, from Chiapas, Mexico to Bolivia indigenous people are fighting back against the practices of structural adjustment and neoliberalism, aand in western Europe against GM foods. It would take too long to list them here. Clearly there is a widesperead resistnce tho the policies of the last twenty years which the mainline press ignores. What is equally important however, is the role of the State (govrnments) in allowing and promoting policies of structural adjustment. Capitalists could not do what they do--create environmental disaster and social "dislocations" without the connivance of the State. My view is that while since the late nineteenth century, there had been a very reluctant and partial agreement with the idea that governments should represent the interests of the masses of people as opposed to only those of elites, the policies of neoliberalism signified a shift backto an older paradigm--that the State exists to foster the interests of elites--and only those of elites.

I have read Daniel Quinn's books, and his comments on human future, and how we should find a solution to uncontrolled population now sound too simple to me. In the past I found his argument interesting, controll food, control births, control population, but now I find them bordering on cruel. I think, if he were to read the stories of protest, and see the way corporate america has grown so gluttenous and cold, he would change "B's" (the main character) argument. There are too many issues of human injustice to even worry about population control. It almost seems, that in some cruel twist of fate, some corporate commanding minds have read his text, and mis-aligned his purpose. (they read the same books we do).

Secondly, I think (possibly a result of over-infusion of lifeless/souless commercial propaganda) I and many americans have become untrusting of any movement they see. I.E. The protest, and such. I know, in my heart, that we are witnessing true heroism, but, I realize a feeling of mistrust. I think that this movement, must use all the tools available in order to reassure, and communicate its true intents. Because the media is trying to control this.

Peaceful Revolution, e-style

David Walen (Shadoan)