Welcome to The Cahokian... A thousand years ago Cahokia — across the Mississippi from what is now St. Louis — was one of the biggest cities in the world. Now it's an empty green spot next to the highway. I'm a middle-aged gay man living in New York City, center of the world, future footnote on somebody's future map. Welcome to the new world.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Tahrir Square... Wisconsin
This inspiring footage is from a protest in Wisconsin's state capital of Madison, where the efforts of a new teabagger governor and Republican legislature to quite literally roll back all the gains of the labor movement have met amazing and inspiring resistance. The teabaggers are showing their true nature again and again. Their fake campaign against "big government" is just a coverup for social conservatism and old-fashioned anti-working class pro-big business policies. It's hard not to notice the similarities to Egypt. And Tunisia. And now Bahrain and Yemen and Libya. Is the class struggle returning?
Some great details and analysis over at Lenin's Tomb.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
It's a bit like "Nimby" - not in my back yard - they want less government unless it's a government program they are proposing, then government is OK.
ReplyDeleteReminds me of some people out in Orange County, CA that lived high on a hill with an ocean view, until someone wanted to clear the land and build next door - oops, sorry just want to save the environment now that I have my own cozy spot.
We live in interesting times. I wonder how many people who voted Gov. Scott Walker in are now regretting their votes. That's sort of the flipside of NIMBY...
ReplyDeleteA lot of people at the protests have signs up that say they voted for Walker, but now feel spat upon... Here's hoping that a good percentage of Walker voters are now feeling more than a bit of buyer's remorse...
ReplyDeleteIn my 32 years of life I have never seen collective political action at this scale before. And it is middle, working class people of all stripes who are protesting. Regular families, young and old, little kids holding up signs saying "stop the bullying." I've spent more than 20 hours in the Capitol since Monday, including an overnight on the cold marble floor under the rotunda. Every few hours I find myself overcome with emotion and tears welling up - the feeling of solidarity is just amazing. I don't think I've ever felt prouder to be American than this week. If there's any downside to what's been happening here this week, it's that it's a shame that this much passion, fervor and energy is being expended just to keep the center the center. But the bright side is that undoubtedly a new movement is being forged and galvanized out of this. I know I will continue to fight the good fight for days, weeks, months, years to come.
ReplyDeleteThanks for those comments Jason! If you'd like to submit an account or a photo or an analysis of what you've seen I'd love to post it here.
ReplyDeletePlease do Jason, it would be wonderful to get your birds-eye view.
ReplyDeleteShe's back: "The union-led school closures and demonstrations in Madison have left most ordinary Americans shaking their heads in disbelief. Months ago, I penned a message to my fellow union brothers and sisters when I found myself on the receiving end of union boss Richard Trumka’s wrath. Yesterday’s demonstrations reminded me of the full-page ads taken out against me when I put my foot down in dealing with union demands while I served as governor." [Full text can be found at http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150093967618435]
ReplyDeleteSo I guess SP is still a card carrying member of the Union? Maybe the Speaker's Union or Reality Show Union or Badly Written Books Union. Brothers and Sisters this woman and her play for fame and fortune could sustain several of you and your families for a year from just one of her 'speaking' engagement fees.
Still waiting to hear the Republican Party put their foot down on her.
She smiles and throws open her arms in a hug, whilst wielding a knife to be plunged in your back, brothers and sisters are you listening?