Few concepts better define the Romaticism of 'ultra-politics' (Left or Right) than the notion of justified violence. But count the bodies of US workers slaughtered to achieve their cause and compare it to the number of bodies of the bosses who met their demise in pursuit of their greed. While we may be seeing online, beyond the 'lone assassin' scenario, something approaching what we witness in truly repressive societies, I think we should be clear about the context. Just as we need to distinguish material destruction from bodily harm, we have to be clear that terrorism is most often a project of the State and not the act of rebellion Authority condemns.
I'm in the UK where the rage is bubbling but not quite so visible. I worry about what the tipping point looks like. With the normalisation of political violence comes the acceleration of authoritarian crackdowns, the further erosion of trust, and the growth of splintering movements. We're already seeing that happening in our UK politics. It may or may not be needed. But it feels like the West is on the cusp of fracturing and that's hard to envision without a lot of pain.
I wouldn’t call it rage though for the UK. It’s more of a feeling of dystopia and of resentful fatigue. 1984 mixed with Brave New World. A fragile illusion of a functional society, also because of how dysfunctional the US is in comparison. You reminded me of something I’ve been thinking about for a while now: we Brits (and British media) pay too much attention to the US. We’re distracted. We’d rather turn up to a Tesla dealership and protest Elon Musk than protest the fact that water companies are jacking up our bills while dumping sewage into our rivers, lakes and coasts
Ha! Yes, maybe resentful fatigue with a side of rage against the machine. You're right, us Brits love to mock a foreign circus rather than protest the horrors happening on our own doorstep.
Back in the '70s there was significant anti state and anti CEO violence. The current levels of inequality and injustice will make amerika violent again but the massive increase in surveillance and police power will make it much more difficult. They are burning the planet and all our futures. What choice is there?
The seething anger is a sign of the helplessness of a lifetime of talk while remaining cocooned in comfort. With no responsibility to others or the planet and with an air of righteous superiority. No?
Fascinating! On one hand, an act of horrifying terrorism might be exactly what the government would welcome to justify further suspensions of law. On the other hand, as someone else noted, it takes cargo ships approx 30 days to cross Pacific from China to America. They stopped sending new ships on April 10, so in two weeks from now - around mid of May - we will see first gaps in America's supply line. That may accelerate the shift in people's approval of the government. What happens next?
It does really feel like we're in a time of acceleration.
The fury and desparation is growing each day.
Few concepts better define the Romaticism of 'ultra-politics' (Left or Right) than the notion of justified violence. But count the bodies of US workers slaughtered to achieve their cause and compare it to the number of bodies of the bosses who met their demise in pursuit of their greed. While we may be seeing online, beyond the 'lone assassin' scenario, something approaching what we witness in truly repressive societies, I think we should be clear about the context. Just as we need to distinguish material destruction from bodily harm, we have to be clear that terrorism is most often a project of the State and not the act of rebellion Authority condemns.
Stop calling self defense violence. It is NOT.
The oppressors are the violent ones. They're currently bombing and strip mining the planet. Can't get much more violent than that.
I'm in the UK where the rage is bubbling but not quite so visible. I worry about what the tipping point looks like. With the normalisation of political violence comes the acceleration of authoritarian crackdowns, the further erosion of trust, and the growth of splintering movements. We're already seeing that happening in our UK politics. It may or may not be needed. But it feels like the West is on the cusp of fracturing and that's hard to envision without a lot of pain.
I wouldn’t call it rage though for the UK. It’s more of a feeling of dystopia and of resentful fatigue. 1984 mixed with Brave New World. A fragile illusion of a functional society, also because of how dysfunctional the US is in comparison. You reminded me of something I’ve been thinking about for a while now: we Brits (and British media) pay too much attention to the US. We’re distracted. We’d rather turn up to a Tesla dealership and protest Elon Musk than protest the fact that water companies are jacking up our bills while dumping sewage into our rivers, lakes and coasts
Ha! Yes, maybe resentful fatigue with a side of rage against the machine. You're right, us Brits love to mock a foreign circus rather than protest the horrors happening on our own doorstep.
The inequality is itself an act of violence. So, naturally...
Let Us Unite In Great Initiatives
Back in the '70s there was significant anti state and anti CEO violence. The current levels of inequality and injustice will make amerika violent again but the massive increase in surveillance and police power will make it much more difficult. They are burning the planet and all our futures. What choice is there?
So, where can I buy a set of these cards? Thanks!
The seething anger is a sign of the helplessness of a lifetime of talk while remaining cocooned in comfort. With no responsibility to others or the planet and with an air of righteous superiority. No?
Fascinating! On one hand, an act of horrifying terrorism might be exactly what the government would welcome to justify further suspensions of law. On the other hand, as someone else noted, it takes cargo ships approx 30 days to cross Pacific from China to America. They stopped sending new ships on April 10, so in two weeks from now - around mid of May - we will see first gaps in America's supply line. That may accelerate the shift in people's approval of the government. What happens next?