We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Saturday, July 6, 2013

When Will Americans Resist?

Click here to access article by Mickey Z. from World News Trust.

Of course, individual Americans are increasingly resisting as we've seen with Edward Snowden, Bradley Manning, and many others. But still there is that vast majority who are remaining silent and passive. I've puzzled over this question throughout much of my long life. I can't say that I have ever arrived at a convincing answer. 

I think that the many decades of brainwashing by corporate media, educational institutions, and entertainment industries, where ruling class directors are all strategically located, have so dumbed-down Americans that they have little understanding of what is occurring all around them and throughout the world.

Decade after decade I've thought that it was only a matter of time: things only needed to get worse before they could get better. Well, I have been waiting for nearly 50 years during which time things have steadily gotten worse, and still no significant resistance. My only explanation is that this is simply because there is not widespread political awareness. Corporate America still owns the minds of the vast majority like they own everything else of value in the US.