From: Lee Corbin (lcorbin@tsoft.com)
Date: Sun Mar 02 2003 - 11:29:22 MST
Brett writes
> Samantha Atkins wrote:
>
> > What really needs to be stopped is the very idea, any legitimacy
> > granted at all to the idea that it is a reasonable function of
> > government, to wield any such broad powers... Chain it and quickly.
> > How? There's the rub.
>
> How do we be *effective* within democracies? Excellent question.
>
> We have just one vote each.
Nah. Voting is for sissies. If all you do is vote, then
you won't have any more power than any other citizen. As
we are wiser than they, mere voting is practically immoral.
> But far, far more importantly, we have in open societies
> the right to free speech, including free speech about
> government and free speech about policy.
Yes, right on. But still, just freely expressing your opinion,
writing articles in magazines, giving speeches, publishing
books or news pamphlets, joining on-line discussion groups,
posting a blog, meeting with friends, acquaintances, and
"action" groups---this is still pretty wimpy if you really
want to get something done.
How can we in good conscious merely restrain ourselves to
that, when people may die, and many developments unhealthy
for children and other living things are occurring?
> The right sort of knowledge can be power indeed when it is coupled
> with passion and a willingness to effect policy through the prudent
> exercise of the right to free speech.
Prudent? Prudent?? That's the problem. People are being
responsible and prudent.
To have more effect, (1) take to the streets whenever possible
to obtain the maximal media exposure (2) wage noisy and loud
campaigns to inconvenience as many citizens as possible; this
is what really gets your message out (4) use spam and telemarketing
(4) finally, as opposed to (1) and (2) and (3), have the most
impassioned, idealistic, and dedicated members of your organization
break laws, commit mayhem, sabotage competing groups through
disinformation and propaganda.
It is the responsibility of those who have superior moral
consciousness to raise the consciousness of everyone else.
It is up to the vanguard. Now, lots of other people might
think that *they* are right (or in the vanguard), but it's
really us who are. Therefore, instead of meekly following
the "prudent" and "responsible" course above, we must lead.
Lee
P.S. All of the foregoing is written in the tone of the
greatest possible sarcasm. A republic descends to mobocracy
the moment that a sufficient number of people begin to think
like the above.
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