I AM Part of the Resistance (by Thomas J. Gray)

UPDATE: I’ve received notification by Thomas J. Gray that he is the author of this piece.  By the time I had seen it on facebook, it had been added to – so I am updating this post to more accurately reflect the original wording.  I liked much of what had been added, and I understand that in the passion of those first horrible days, many felt similar feelings and simply added their own parts.   This phrase was added:

The survival of our democracy and our way of life demands that we stand and resist. So I will Resist. I AM part of the Resistance, and I AM proud of it.

Here is the original, by Thomas J. Gray:

Trump Now Needs An Attack On US Soil

Donald Trump, a man who lost the popular vote by nearly 3 MILLION voters and yet has been installed in the White House, is a very unpopular person, both in the United States and world-wide.  There are huge protests at his radical executive orders,  massive resistance to his fringe far-right ideology, and challenges to his lies and policies in the public and in the courts.  This man is desperate to “win” rather than govern.  And he needs something to help him “win”.

Donald Trump needs a distraction, a way to unite people behind him, and a way to consolidate his power.  Donald Trump and the GOP NEED a terrorist attack on the United States.

Increasingly, more people are echoing the fear that this administration will orchestrate ( or allow) some type of “terrorist attack”.  We all certainly hope one does not happen; innocent people should not pay the ultimate price in an authoritarian regime’s grab for power.   There are known steps usually taken by authoritarian and fascist regimes to maximize their control in  any “event.”  So before such an event happens, we need to communicate these to as many people as we can:

• Be ready for the administration to call for arrest or internment of  certain people.
• Be aware of manipulation. Don’t fall for their political theater and hyper-patriotic rhetoric.
• Do your best to think critically and rationally. They’ll be counting on people to be frightened and angry.
• We’re going to need to stand together in unity.  The administration will try to divide us and turn us against one another.  Don’t let them.  We’ll need to be skeptical, caring, and level headed… and #Resist the power grab that would follow such an attack.

What benefit would this administration get from an attack?

The History Behind the 2016 Coup

Sometimes it’s challenging to decide where to start with a Backstory.  History’s threads weave through a lot of current events.  But the coup of November 2016 has a somewhat clear place to start.  Let’s look at a bit of history for the backstory.

In 1933, wealthy right-wing  corporatists conspired to execute a coup and oust FDR, disliking his New Deal policies of helping the poor, ending child labor – and his decision to stop using the US Military to support oppressive corporations like United Fruit in the third world.

Their goal was to emulate the corporate fascism of Hitler and Mussolini that was happening in Europe at that time, instead of what was shaping up to become a liberal democracy.

General Smedley Butler

They approached Marine General Smedley Butler, the most highly respected Military officer in the US at the time,  for assistance — but they guessed wrong.  He remained loyal and gathered details, then, reported the treasonous conspirators.  The attempted coup, now often called The Wall Street Putsch,  failed.  There were some hearings, but, the House was reluctant to investigate such wealthy pillars of society.  In fact, being wealthy, the plotters were not held to account. (If you do a search for “FDR coup Gen Smedly Butler”online, you’ll find a large amount of information.) For the most factual read,  Here are transcripts of General Butler’s testimony and later interviews giving tons of detail.

Next time, a more subtle plot had to be devised.

Wealthy corporatists  came up with a devious plan, slowly building their control over government over several decades through electing conservative Republicans and “Blue Dog” Democrats.

Bernie says Hillary on worst day better than any GOP on best – The Supreme Court

Anyone who’s read this blog for any amount of time knows that I’m an enthusiastic Bernie supporter.

Bernie — plus a HUUUGE  turn-out for Progressives in the Senate and House  — could mean a GREAT change for the citizens of this country:

 

• Imagine an economy designed to actually serve the citizens instead of only the elite.
• Imagine FDR’s Second Bill of Rights becoming reality.
• Imagine getting money out of politics and having an actual democracy.
• Imagine the end of “too big to fail”, breaking up the big banks, and ending monopolies — especially that of our of our media institutions, so that the citizenry could have a chance to hear diverse opinions and values.
• Imagine single payer health care, freeing us all from the profiteering insurance, medical and pharmacy complexes.
• Imagine restoring our infrastructure, with the federal government creating good jobs as the CCC and other government programs that lifted our citizenry out of poverty in the 1930s.
• Imagine our country getting very serious about cleaning up our environment, tackling it like we did the race to land on the moon back in the 1960s.
• Imagine our taxes actually being spent on making ALL our lives better, creating more EQUALITY and SERVICES for ALL — instead of subsidizing multinational corporations, polluting corporations, Big-AG, and “defense” contractors.
• Imagine restoring the tax rate on the wealthy plutocrat/polluter class to what it was during Eisenhower, when the US economy created the biggest middle-class in history: with unions insuring good wages, good benefits, vacation and retirement for the workers who actually built this country.

Why Does The US Vote on The 2nd Tuesday of November? – backstory

Why does the United States vote on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November?  Seems somewhat convoluted, doesn’t it.  And, really, it does it make sense?  Many people simply can’t get to the polls on weekdays.  Why not switch voting to a weekend?

Actually, many people have pushed for a change to weekend voting, but the change has always been opposed, especially by those who feel they benefit by low voter turnout.

Even though America’s voter turnout is among the lowest in mature democracies and more than a quarter of people who do not vote claim they are too busy, efforts to move elections to weekends have failed.

The Tuesday after the first Monday in November was set as presidential election day in 1845. -BBC

Did you ever wonder why voting day is always on a Tuesday…or why we vote in November?

Vote-Vote-Vote..It’s Vital!

In two months we Americans will go to the polls once again to decide who the president will be for the next four years. We will not be allowed to vote on those who wield the true power in this country. On November 6th we will not vote for the chairman of ExxonMobil or JPMorgan Chase or Citibank or the Premier of China. That day will come, but not this year.

This is the opening paragraph of an article by Michael Moore entitled, “President Romney” — Why Those Two Words Should Scare You into Action This Election .  It’s  well worth reading.  So YES, we KNOW that the political parties do not actually control economic or military policy…YES, we KNOW that the wealthy elite are the true rulers behind the curtain — YES, we know that greed and corruption are not limited by party affiliation — but this does not mean that it is wise — or even ethical — to disengage.

I love the Green Party, and I wish Jill Stein had a chance at becoming President.  But since the corporatocracy has silenced third party voices,  do I make a “protest vote”?  Or am I to choose  between Dem and GOP?  OK, It’s not a fair choice, because at least the Dems are relatively sane, while the GOP has been taken over by far-reich extremists.  And, I’ll go with Dems –  because we KNOW from experience that life under the GOP thumb is far worse than being governed by the Democratic party.  For the children, for the elderly, for the unemployed, the poor, students, the middle class, women, gays, minorities… life is just better with Democratic policies.

And yes, this applies even to those of us who are cynical, disappointed, or otherwise half-hearted about this election. 

Just look at who doesn’t want you to vote:

What YOU Can Do NOW About GOP Voter Suppression Laws

Empower yourself and your neighbors.  Don’t be a victim!

You’ve heard the saying, “If voting changed anything, it’d be illegal.”  I’ve believed it myself.  Well it turns out that now, if you’re young, poor, a minority, a woman, elderly, or live in a democratic precinct located in important “swing” states — voting almost IS illegal.  So could it be that voting could actually change something this time?  (Hint:It probably has to do with the fact that the next President could appoint several new Supreme Court Justices.)

Right now,  your right to vote is being threatened.  As conscious individuals during this time of intense change,it is our responsibility to be aware of what is happening around us, and this includes the ego-based game of politics.  The wealthy elite want to place their handpicked representatives of the GOP. back into the White House, Senate and House — and they’re willing to do anything to make that happen.  Even though the Dems are no strangers to the lure of money, the rise of the far-reich wing of the GOP has made the party platform as heartless as they are corrupt.  Watch and share the Three Point Plan:

Before we go into the details of how and why the elite don’t want YOU to vote, lets get right to some SOLUTIONS for those in affected states:

1.  Find out how the newly implemented voter suppression laws impact you and those who live in your state – Download the new free Election Protection Smartphone Application here.

Lee Camp Describes Tea-publicans Perfectly

My favorite living political comedian does it again.  Lee describes the republican hoarde of wanna-be presidents.  Hilarious, but if you’re allergic to profanity, watch out.

Thanks, Lee.  I miss George Carlin a little bit less when I hear your hilarious rants.