Not that it's all that important, but my early political education took place in the mid-to-late 1970’s; it was largely of the confrontational variety. Quite a few demonstrations and much hands-on activism. It often involved some not very pleasant interaction. Back then , I had the privilege of participating, at some level, in an activist community.
Later, after a period of “apathy” from about 1980-1984, I connected with a small group of politicos whose work centered around disseminating real News and Information. I had a kind of re-awakening that coincided with the Iran-Contra scandal’s fallout and 1987’s “Olliemania.” The idea around which our group revolved was that, if the American People had access to unfiltered information about real world events and issues, a critical mass of them might come around, might wake up. And they would petition the government – in whatever manner - for a redress of grievance. That’s how naïve we all were! Still, I’ve got no regrets about that period and our activities.
The people with whom I associated then with were particularly focused on using shortwave radio sources, which were pretty much free, in the public domain. Kind of a pre-internet-age WWW, if you will. Anyway, I’m still influenced by that failed approach, even after all the predictable disappointments I’ve experienced since. Though I’m not nearly so wet behind the ears as I was in the ‘80s. I’ve long ago realized that if one has any chance of appealing to the majority of Americans, one needs to emphasize that dependable (for purposes of politicization) old factor known as SELF-INTEREST. In a hyper-materialistic society like this, you need to keep hammering on ideas like: “A Three Trillion Dollar War is so intrinsically untenable that it will backfire against YOU and ME;” “The Deepwater Horizon Catastrophe is an ECONOMIC atom bomb aimed at all Americans…” “We can’t AFFORD to lock up such a large percentage of the population for non-violent offenses,” etc.
In short, I no longer believe that most people in the USA can be reached by means of altruistic entreaties. I don’t DISREGARD the suffering of the rest of the world, particularly the “underdeveloped” (overexploited) world. But if you ask me, most Yankees don’t really give a rat’s ass about the American Underclass, let alone the “Third World” and its sorrows. Most North Americans regard people who DO care as quaint, irrelevant throwbacks at best – maybe as hysterical do-gooders, if not worse. So I’ve firmly adopted the cynical strategy of appealing to their selfishness, self-centeredness and vanity. Try to convince them their PERSONAL survival is at stake, if they even care about THAT. Try to pass along some useful information, maybe shock them a bit, in the hope they might get agitated.
I'm not holding my breath, but is life livable with no hope at all? I suppose so… I guess so… but I’d rather NOT go on like that!
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Good post. What a coincidence. I also got a shortwave radio after Iran Contra. It happened to be a good experience for me personally - prior to 1987 I had no idea I was being systematically lied to or that alternative media and, in essence, and alternative history existed. I honestly believe different things motivate men and women - women because they are still deeply socialized to put their children and grandchildren first. In my experience, women with older children (age 45 - 65) are the backbone of thousands of local grassroots organizing efforts all over the world. They are mostly invisible - because you don't see them on the six o'clock newes - but they are there. The problem with infiltration of these groups by US intelligence (and as I just learned from Webster Tarpley's latest book pernicious so-called "liberal" foundations that seek to keep the US left on a tight leash) is a biggie. I write about my own close encounter with both in my recent memoir THE MOST REVOLUTIONARY ACT: MEMOIR OF AN AMERICAN REFUGEE (I currently live in exile in New Zealand).
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