From: altheimm@nextnet.csus.edu (Murray Altheim)
Subject: Re: Bailing Out (rant) (was: Re: Freedom of Religion as well as ever
Keywords: Civil Rights, Pagan
Organization: California State University Sacramento
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1992 23:28:20 GMT

In article <Di60PB2w165w@brewich.hou.tx.us> (Liam) writes:
[a minor flamefest about intelligent rats leaving a sinking ship...]
>> 
>> If this country does become a fascist theocracy, it will be because those
>> people who might have made a difference chose to follow their own narrow
>> self-interest instead.
>> 
>        Thank you!!! You have succeded in saying the whole of my  meaning 
>in all of my previous posts on this subject. We can run if we wish, but 
>we can only run so far before it catches up with us. If this country 
>falls into the state of facist intolerance what will stop it from 
>forcing these policies on the rest of the world?...

I dunno if you've noticed, but we've been forcing our economic and foreign
policy decisions around the world at least as long as I remember. Iraq?
Brazil? Nicaragua? Mexico? Canada? Most of the third world?

>extremes.  If anything has been learned from the Haulocost, It is that 
>these kind of facist dictatorships should be stopped in the beginning of 
>thier rise to power.  To sit idly by and let it happen or to flee to 
>another country to watch the show is to spit in the faces of those who 
>survived this tragedy and onthe graves of those who have died for thier 
>beliefs, no matter where or when.
>                                thank you,
>                                        Blessed Be,
>                                                 Liam

Again, I don't know if you've noticed the last twelve years (or even longer
if you ignore Carter), but the power elite in this country are ALREADY in
charge. The label of "conspiracy theory" only hides the fact that there IS
a military-industrial complex that, if not operating in an organized (read:
conspiratorial) manner, at least operates as a functioning organization. And
they don't have any people-based effective opposition, unless you actually
believe that there are millions of electric automobiles and a sensible 
balance of military/domestic federal expenditures.

As such, it has quashed all domestic and international competition whenever
possible, and has been gearing up ferociously in the Reagan-Bush era for an
all-out class war. And who is going to lose? Those with the least power. I
used to like to think people power could overcome anything, but I now agree
with one thing:

There are only two ways this system will fall.
1) Internal collapse: so overburdened by its own greed and corruption, the
system fails of its own accord.
2) External collapse: so overburdened by its own greed and corruption, the
system fails of its own accord.

My point is that there is really little difference between domestic and
international markets, as most large corporations with the power to influence
policy decisions are multi-national and have little if any nationalistic
allegiance. You can fight these corporations, but in the end they will still
survive. If they are to fail, it will happen not because you fought them,
but because of #1 or #2 above. And you can't ignore them or their influence.

The only way to overcome a force is to have a force larger, unless you can
make the opposing force cause its own collapse using its own energy against
itself. The economic and military might of the current military-industrial
complex is currently much stronger than people power. 

So, if you want to stay and "fight", go ahead. If you believe what you've
already said, then you should consider leaving as well. The power elite is
not only in power, they have been for a very long time, and they won't 
give it up without a fight. Are your weapons bigger than theirs? Are the
weapons of ten thousand, a hundred thousand citizens enough? Look at history
and then make your own judgement. And are you literally willing to FIGHT?
Then go out and buy a gun, organize, and overthrow the government. Only an
idiot would think that would work. Those trying to conquer social ills are
attacking each problem on a single front, never organizing to counter the
larger problem. And in not addressing the larger problem, the smaller ones
never are solved. Have you noticed?

I choose to remain among those who class themselves as willing and ready to
leave should this country start mass segregation/discrimination/extermination
of my friends and family. For some people (like the 23 million who don't eat
a meal a day), they are already included in the disinfranchised and can't 
leave. I hope to leave before I find myself unable to.

I could choose to stay and "fight" but to what effect? As long as I'm here,
I will continue to be politically and socially active, but when I judge
that it's no longer a viable and healthy environment, I'll leave.

I don't like feeling the way I do about our sociopolitical system;
I don't like hearing about the 23 million starving in this country;
I don't like being bitchy and depressed and pessimistic about our future;
But when I look out and see what's happening in the world, I find it 
increasingly difficult to be optimistic, especially for our children.

<REQUEST TO THE GODS AND GODDESSES: >
I wish someone could cheer me up sometimes about this. The only way I can
be happy about the future is when I ignore the knowledge I have about the 
past and present, and that isn't acceptable to me. Yes, ignorance is bliss,
and I'm not too blissful these days.

Now that I've totally brought myself down...  :G

Blessings and hopes for a brighter future,

The Somewhat More Melancholy Murray

-- 
Murray M. Altheim      "Ils ont l'orteil de Bouc, & d'un Chevreil l'oreille,
Instructional Consultant    La corne d'un Chamois, & la face vermeille
CSU, Sacramento          Comme un rouge Croissant: & dancent toute nuict
altheimm@csus.edu       Dedans un carrefour, ou pres d'une eau qui bruict."
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