We must stand. If needs be I will stand my old ass in front of the 'kids'....haven't we tried to do this?! The time is now...sorry to sound so 'revolutionary'...lol...

Let's hear it for the old hippies who still believe and are so invigorated by what we see coming behind us. They are not fooled.

It is frightening..both invigorating and sad. We work in real life doing what we can and somehow it sustains us, even in the face of complete failure and environmental destruction. We will not stop.

I have been in tears for at least a decade...but I will not give up.

This is reality, eyes wide open.

I have spent the morning listening to Chris, and noting the many authors he recommends.

I have to agree with him: we MUST do something now, or we can look forward to being crushed further beneath the massive machine we call capitalism.

(BTW, I am laying in bed, in my fifth week of enforced bed rest due to severe sciatica. I have had no income for over a month, and will be unable to survive January without significant help. I am scared, and I am damned tired of this pain, AND being in bed.

But, I think about how this incident would be entirely different if I was in England or Canada or New Zealand. How can the US rank so low in terms of providing for our Hoi Polloi?

And, if I don't get the help I need, will I be homeless? Will I be a further drag on our fragile, imploding economy? Will I have to exercise my Kevorkian solution? I think many millions of us are already so marginalized that our continued survival is in extreme doubt, and we have to consider radical solutions!

Ironically, I wish that I could invite a Syrian family to live in my walkout basement. MILLIONS of refugees are struggling just to stay alive, and the majority of US citizens are spending money on tchotchkes they neither need nor can afford. It's terribly demoralizing.)

You are not alone. My son was laid off again over 6 weeks ago...he isn't rehired because he has not passed a security check...due to a relationship where his identity was stolen. We sink or swim together...if things get really bad please be sure to post here about it.

Pain is difficult to deal with...hard to smile or have a good attitude when you hurt...at least that's true for me. I hope you feel better soon.

Yes we need real honest to goodness health care in this country...this has to happen. Obama care sucks!

I hear you...contact me if you need or want to talk...I'm here.

You are most welcome!

I have established a GoFundMe page, and I remain hopeful. I find it astonishing still that so many people I've never met are so willing to help. It does give me great hope. If I can make it through January, I should be fine.

I am determined to remain positive. I am just feeling a bit of ennui after listening to over two hours of Chris' pontificating about the continued disintegration of our democracy. I can no longer practice activism like I used to--marching on Washington, taking supplies to Cindy Sheehan, participating in meetings and protests. But, I can WRITE. I had better get all the resources Chris recommends. Who knows, maybe my words will strike a chord.

Again, thanks for responding. I feel much more connected and relevant when people interact with me.

I was so close to death not very long ago...it helps to know you are not alone...

Even if we can't be out there we still can impact what is happening. Keep speaking out, we are in this together. Chris takes us where it is uncomfortable, but necessary. Stay the course...we can do this!

Keep speaking out, your voice is important...report...be honest and it will matter.



I have a question about your use of " pontificating"... How is he pontificating?

I have lots of younglings responding to my posts and asking relevant questions. This gives me hope.

On pontificating--I was being rather facetious, and thinking about how the myriad peoples whose minds are closed would perceive Chris' presentations. He's having to hit the same points over and over, in hope (I think) that it will somehow get inside the thick skulls of those who continue to support capitalism, buying pricey tchotchkes they neither need nor can afford.

I'm glad you made it through your crisis, and I thank you sincerely for your words of encouragement as I slog my way through my recovery. I have much less pain, until I start to use my leg. But the pain IS significantly less than before.

Also, I have started a "GoFundMe" page, and have a few donations already! I remain hopeful that I'll recover enough to work the latter part of this month, and that the help I receive will get me through this period of no income. I so hope I won't need surgery!

Thanks again for your kind and supportive response!

I thought that's what you intended but I had to check.

I'm glad you're on the mend. I had to suffer until I was accepted for SSDI and was able to afford to get the medical treatments I needed. I was never able to return to work and I still have pain but still have hope and it is not anywhere as bad as it was. I continue to improve and enjoy my life, thanks.

The best of luck to you and I'm happy to hear you're improving and may not have to have surgery. Surgery is no fun but if you need it your quality of life is improved.

Thanks for your reply.

We also kicking this...

eom

I looked at unnope's page and came to that conclusion.

which it is. If that's your example of supposedly decent writing & evidence, then no wonder you're a Hedges acolyte.

I actually read it all--the piece tries to slam Harper's magazine, the first to notice Hedges' plagiarism. Harper's was the thoughtful, intelligent, responsible progressive magazine that helped me survive the Bush years.

Read the list of articles by the author of the opednews piece--conspiracy theory, anti-Obama, pro-fascist Russia.

Ridiculous. You should be embarrassed.

I'm also not taken in by real spin. For instance...Nader caused the democratic loss of 2001 or Dr West is just a jealous asshole. No, I stand by Hedges and his excellent reporting.

Thanks for your concern.

noted.