Time For the Left To Declare Bloody, Ugly War BACK

The right is at war with the left. We need to identify who our enemy is, determine their goals and targets, then begin long term planning for war against them-- target them, target their resources and set goals for conquest, what success looks like and what strategies to get there. They must be big, resolute, bold and courageous.

The right has been waging war on the left for decades. Bill Moyers talked about it in 2003 at the Take Back America conference, pointing out that they were warring against us, asking why we weren't fighting back.

The war against the left, against Democrats, against Unions, against minorities has been a long time in the planning and it is reaching a crescendo. We see it in the union busting in Wisconsin, Ohio and New York (by dems in M A) and the passage of onerous laws making it harder for minorities and the poor to vote. We see it in the Supreme Court's Citizen's United unleashing of hundreds of millions, soon to be billions in money used to buy compliant candidates.

With the passage of anti-union legislation in MA, it's clear that this is not a war of the Republicans against the Democrats.

It's an ugly, bloody war. People are dying every day-- from lack of health care, because they're in wars we should not be in, wars that profit the military-intelligence/medical industrial complex.

It's just about a given now that the people in congress, combined, will not help the middle class. They may put on a show to slow the slide into third world status, but let's face it, even when the Democrats had the house, the senate and the Whitehouse, they did very little to grab the opportunity and pass dozens or more of solid bills and changes. We see, with the Republicans holding control in Wisconsin and Ohio, the way solid majorities can be wielded by determined leaders with a mission and a plan.

That's the problem. We on the left don't have a mission and a plan. The Democrats and most of the progressive organizations put most of their energy into reacting, not into planning and setting long term goals.

As I said at the beginning, we need to identify who our enemy is, determine their goals and targets, then begin long term planning for war against them-- target them, target their resources and set goals for conquest, what success looks like and what strategies to get there.

Who is the Enemy?

Start with big greedy money-- the Koch brothers, multi-national corporations with no interest in the needs of America or the middle class, billionaires, millionaires. Sure, there are millionaires and billionaires who are on the left-- but, apparently, not many. We need to find the allies and declare the rest enemies. Not sad, unaware folks waiting to be awakened. These are people who are funding the attack ads, maxing out on campaign donations to haters and bigots and people who are comfortable allowing tens of thousands, even millions die for lack of health care, war, etc.

--give corporations more and more power-- corporate personhood, the right to insert huge amounts of money, anonymously, in elections. Support lobbying efforts, making lobbyists more effective, giving them more access, making them more powerful.

Who and what are the targets of the Enemy

Wars begin by attacking command, control and communications.

Leaders?

Not surprisingly, we on the left do not have clear leaders. Big problem. The potential leaders are often mocked and marginalized by the mainstream media. They've done it with Dennis Kucinich, Bernie Sanders, Mike Gravel.

Then, there is the circular shooting squad propensity of the left to shoot at each other. We should also consider that there are moles who foment discontent and criticism of potential leaders.

The Koch brothers targeted Russ Feingold, outspending him with millions. Next, it looks like Dennis Kucinich's district will be gerrymandered out of existence. We can expect more of the same. When money is no object, for multi-bilionaires, even safe politicians are at risk.

Command-- Operations, organizations

The right has literally scores of "think tanks" with ten, twenty, fifty million in funding annually that are not really think tanks. They're really policy promotion and war-on-the-left planning and enabling operations. The left has a lot of real think tanks that issue papers and op-eds on policy and analysis, but not much more. There are a handful of purportedly progressive operations that are supposed to operate like the policy promotion operations on the right. The great white hope was supposed to be Center for American Progress. Yes. They have an excellent newsletter, but when Tony Podesta was identified as its head, the DLC guy who was Bill Clinton's chief of staff, I knew it would be a neutered operation. When he became Obama's transition director, herding in bluedog after bankster after DLC sellout into the White House, it was further proof. We still need a kick-ass tough organization that is created to fight the right, the corporations, not document the death throes of the left.

Communications

The right has invested hundreds of millions in their echo chamber. The Rush Limbaugh show lost money for years before it became popular. Congress has passed legislation that has made it easier to decrease media diversity, easier for media conglomerates to form-- and only the right has taken advantage of these opportunities. In fact, the legislation was probably written by lobbyists for operations like Fox and Clear Channel.

Let's look at how the right has been attacking our communications resources. They've infiltrated PBS with a right wing director. The right controls, through Clear Channel's 1000 plus stations, for starters, the radio-sphere. The major networks are controlled by giant corporations. Print newspapers are on a fast track to extinction. As they die, they are being consolidated, held by big corporations that are rightwing or right leaning. The biggest newspapers, which the right pretends to villify, Washington Post and NY Times, have longed served the status quo, occasionally throwing in, usually far later than they should have, exposes.

Net Neutrality is under a full frontal attack, particularly supported by ATT and Comcast, to do away with NET Neutrality. End Net Neutrality and it will be even harder to access the last vestiges of an American free press.

Expect the war on the media to involve further deregulation of laws preventing big corporations from owning monopolistic media positions in locales. It's already a fait accomplis in some places. This is a long-term war strategy that has already paid off in spades.

The People and Organizations the Right Targets

Minorities, the poor, unions, Latinos, the weak and vulnerable-- those are who the right is at war against.

Activists, protesters, organizers, people who do voter registration, anti-war activists, environmental and animal rights advocates. The right wing's war on these people and groups has been so effective that there are now local Fusion centers where police, FBI and other spy operations can, with zero accountability, track innocent American activists. Animal rights and green activists are being treated as terrorists and jailed in the highest security prisons. Special laws and punishments have already been legislated to deal with animal rights and environmental activists, so some have been arrested for planning protests and put in the highest security prisons. Will Potter, author of Green Is The New Red has been chronicling this travesty of justice in service to corporations.

How to fight Back

The first step is to recognize that we have been under attack, been in a war. Most Democrats don't see it that way. They see it as simple politics. It's not.

The next step is to decide to fight back.

The next step is to cross the threshold and become a warrior-- even retired housewives can do that and get involved.

The next step is to find allies, build a team and develop resources.

Then, we need a big picture-- who are the enemies, what are our targets to attack?

Here's a small starter list:

The greedy wealthy people, organizations and corporations-- how to attack them:

Get legislation passed that regulates industries-- regulations that protect people and the environment, not business.

Fund research on developing new business models that reward small and punish big, that find ways to take advantage of economies of scale without shrinking industries' diversity. Make it a law for a company to have more than 20% of an industries business.

Develop tools and systems (smart phone apps) to help millions on the left to boycott companies like the Koch brothers industries and companies that support Fox news, that lobby for bad, anti-human laws, that are members of the US Chamber of Commerce.

We desperately need solidly funded progressive policy promotion organizations that are actually progressive.

We do have some solid progressive leaders. We need to empower them.

We need to fund thousands of investigative journalists to expose the corruption on the right-- among Republicans and blue-dog sellout Democrats.

There are over 1000 billionaires-- most are the enemy. We must eliminate the billionaires, literally take away their money and the power it gives them. They are a danger to democracy.

There are millions of millionaires. Most are the enemy of the middle class and of democracy as America has known it for the past 200 plus years. We must shrink the size of these millionaires.

Tax them. Tax 95% of any money individuals HAVE over $20 million, 100% of money over $25 million. Nobody needs more than than. Feel no pity for the gold faucet and yacht manufacturers who will lose their business.

Tax 95% of all inheritances over $10 million and 100% over $25 million. People don't need more than that. Descendants don't deserve any more than that.

WAR WAR f*cking WAR

War is not pretty. It is not nice. Political correctness doesn't cut it. Putting up with right wing bullshit doesn't cut it. Putting up with undercutting, weak liberal calls for tolerance and patience doesn't cut it. Think Neville Chamberlain.

We are in a war. We may not have chosen to be in one, but we are. The sides have already been chosen. There are many useful idiot fools being used by the right. Are you one of them? Keep on telling us to be patient.

(Note from Tim King, Founder of Salem-News.com in Oregon; I always commend Rob Kall who has been at it for years, just as we have, publishing extremely important content from writers who you probably won't find in any of the mainstream media arenas. You can visit Op-Ed News and support them, leave a donation; help them survive. We of course are in the same spot financially, but never hesitate to suggest our readers support other valuable causes. This is one. Thanks for your courage Rob and for being the one to take the first step in this direction.)

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Vic May 2, 2011 1:11 pm (Pacific time)

I agree with Colli...it isnt a right or left thing..look what the "left" has done..It is a two headed snake..the "left" is shamefully silent when it comes to their guy´s war crimes and attacks on Americans...

Douglas Benson May 2, 2011 11:14 am (Pacific time)

Our #1 goal should be NO MORE VOTING FOR DEMS OR REP.! Lets be real about this ,if its popular it becomes campaign rhetoric. Take a look at the tea party.People start screaming about the wealthy not paying their fair share and gee they start talking about getting rid of loopholes . Obama talked a good game too but we got screwed . Flat out they are not to be trusted . The added advantage to a split is the tail can wag the dog. If they want the votes they will have to give concessions ,to more progressive ideas. Once again look at the tea party .The Rs thought they would fall right in line [and some have ] but just a small portion is causing quite a few problems . #2 We need an offensive with teeth. I have written before about the need for lawyers willing to buck the system. Lets take the TSA as an example. Instead of challenging the law on its own how about bringing mandamus proceedings against the individuals for deprivation of rights. If its unconstitutional there is no force of law and no immunity ,anyone or any agency that enters into a conspiracy to do so is party to the crime . This would apply to many other criminal actions as well but the powers that be have no interest in bringing them to justice .They politely refuse to prosecute leaving the door open for the individuals to do so but they never do or should I say the lawyers never do. That would screw them out of the deal game. If we want them brought to justice we cant leave it to their co-conspirators . #3 State Banks How many billions of dollars do we let get siphoned out of our states and country by depositing our money into the big banks ? Not to mention they work on fractional banking . Every deposit would multiply giving the state much needed capitol for local investment not some international company etc. Last but not least we need people of conviction to RUN FOR OFFICE that depend on votes more than campaign contributions. Since the president isnt really elected by the people one main target should be our state reps who make up the electoral college .Im out .Peace

Colli May 2, 2011 6:33 am (Pacific time)

In my opinion, there is a great deal of truth in this piece. However, I believe it is a mistake to think that greed exists only on the right or only on the left . . . only to Republicans or only to Democrats. I believe that labels like Right, Left, Republican, or Democrat are simply shields meant to broaden the target and disperse counter-attacks to make them less effective. What is needed is a more pinpointed offense targeting specific entities, finding facts, exposing facts, and organizing against those entities once the facts are found and exposed.

osama bin laden May 1, 2011 8:13 pm (Pacific time)

The US has killed me.
Find another hero.

Chew on that you pig f%ckers at Sa'alem-news.com

BAWAHWHAHAHWHAHWHAAAAAA

Editor: You can't cuss here dumbass!

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