On 2011-08-03, at 5:22 PM, Shane Mage wrote:
>
> On Aug 3, 2011, at 3:30 PM, Wojtek S wrote:
>
>> Can you name a single government in the developed world that stood
>> against the neoliberal agenda of banks and corporations during the
>> past decade or so? Whether socialist or conservative, they all lined
>> up hats in hand to get the finance capital stamp of approval. You
>> need a revolution to change that. Do not expect the POTUS or, for
>> that matter, any other head of state to start one for you.
>
> ...The point is to expose mercilessly all their lies, not offer half-assed, people-blaming apologetics for their behavior.
Right. The other point being that if you don't persuade people the system can be changed, they won't act.
Also, no need for Wojtek to remind us that heads of state don't want revolutions. But there are plenty of examples of ruling class politicians, both in opposition and in power, who mobilized their supporters in pursuit of systemic reforms which they deemed necessary - in some cases, watching helplessly as the masses, emboldened by the collective experience of struggle, pushed further in pursuit of their independent interests than their sponsors intended.