What is missing to awaken the social conscious of the US?

[RadioRaheem84]

It seems like a lot of nations around the world have some sort of social conscious that has them admit to the poverty in their own country as a problem. Yet, the US is still very much in the dark about its own poverty problem. The only time they acknowledge any sort of poverty is when donations are needed or there is crime involved (and they mostly get angy at the poor).

Even in poor countries in South America there is an acknowledgement of povery in their rich literature, films and music. Yet, somehow the US is immune to this?

And povery in the US is unique to the advanced nations of the West. I know that there is poverty in Europe, Canada and Australia BUT I have never seen poverty in a developed country like I have seen in the US. The US is literally half third world and half first world. The gap between the haves and have nots is third world like. So with a problem this evident, why is it so much in denial?

[RadioRaheem84]

http://www.heritage.org/research/welfare/bg1713.cfm

There are whole studies dedicated to dismantling the notion that there is poverty in the US. Apparently, no matter how poor a household is, the fact that they can afford a TV or an Ipod makes them less poor than a man in Mexico. :laugh:

Why is it that we have a tendency here to compare our nation with an even poorer one to make outselves look better? Why dont we ever compare ourselves to the other nations that outrank us in plenty of ways?

[Scary Monster]

ive once seen a homeless man with an ipod before :laugh:
Im a U.S. citizen, ive never been outside of the country..yet (im 21). so i cant make any real comparisons BUT i can say, particular material possessions is NO freakin indication of one's economic standing (as one can tell from my statement about the homeless dude). The reason there is so much crime and poverty in my country is because citizens are deprived of many BASIC birth-right services that other developed countries have, such as socialized healthcare, and most importantly- affordable, mostly government-provided tuition for higher education, which is what countries in south america and most of europe have, correct? So if you werent born to a well-off family in the usa (the fortune of having two parents who arent divorced/seperated and who both make a high yearly income, which is exactly what most american working class people dont have), life is VERY difficult and a decent living just isnt possible without a college-level education, which is EXTREMELY expensive (About $40,000 a year to attend a university). Orrr making income off of a living that involves drugs or some other kind of contraband. Government-provided welfare in the US is extremely rationed. And as we all know, poverty brings crime. Thats an anthropological fact.
There never is a "conservatard" that can make an argument against this, since i speak from personal experience (daily life) and from numerous other people that i know personally, also from material that ive watched and read (going to the library sure is a liberating thing).

We need some kind of serious national commitee that can inform people of the problem and how its directly tied to this brutal system of capitalism.

From what ive gathered through experience with many kinds of people, most working class people have a distrust and dissent of our government and resent our current system, but they have no knowledge whatsoever beyond simple domestic politics and economics, let alone foreign policy. Hell, one time i mentioned communism to someone in their 40s, and they immediately thought its what Hitler was! :lol:
This is why i strongly believe that the working class of the usa being greatly informed is the first step toward any kind of awakening of the social conscious and revolution:)

[KarlMarx1989]

I don't think anything can be done. christian-America's culture is dying and, as we all know, a dying culture kills everything it touches. I think that the US will collapse before there is any real change.

[RadioRaheem84]

Well I am not looking forward to the US collapsing considering that I live in it so I hope that there is some outreach to the public on these issues. I really hate it when people deny that we have poverty because of material possessions.

[Charles Xavier]

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[KarlMarx1989]

I, too, live in christian-America. I am also "dirt-poor" as they say in the ruling class and I am well aware of it. I am not hoping for a collapse of the US because since I am so poor, I cannot move from the country. I am, however, being real about this. I really think that the country will collapse before there is any real change. Which is the same as saying "Nothing will ever change christian-America." christian-Americans saw World War II and now think that absolute violence is the answer. They really think that, and nothing will change that; no matter if it works anymore or not.

[Revy]

I think those in poverty realize they are in poverty. Maybe step into the real world and out of the suburbs, there are people hurting, the discussion on whether there is poverty or not is pointless.

Stop trolling, idiot.

[bailey_187]

beKause your all fat, drive $UV'$ and watch fre$h prince in Amerkkka

[bailey_187]

I am also "dirt-poor" as they say in the ruling class and I am well aware of it.

maybe this is why. because "dirt poor" people still have computers in America (unless you are in a library and i am sorry)

Im not a Third worldist btw, my above post was a joke. the MTW raise some good points though.

[RadioRaheem84]

There are too many people excusing poverty as actions on the part of lazy people. they believe that just because someone can afford a big screen tv and some nice digs that somehow they can afford healthcare, schooling, and the bare essentials.

[Pogue]

I don't think anything is missing that isn't missing anywhere anytime there is a period of low struggle. What the USA needs like everywhere else is good working class militants spreading the right ideas amongst the class and being listened too.

[KarlMarx1989]

maybe this is why. because "dirt poor" people still have computers in America (unless you are in a library and i am sorry)

Im not a Third worldist btw, my above post was a joke. I use my friend's computer for internet. I actually do have a computer, but it is a very old one and has no internet. I get a lot of the things I need at the Our Father's House (which is run by then presbytarian church, the only church that actually teaches christianity the way it is supposed to be), which is a store that sells things for cheaper than Goodwill and even gives things for free; things like food and clothes. Luckily I am smart enough to know how to survive on little or no money. However, I will say that my life would be; and always would have been, better if the government was a socialist one. However x2, the media and the millions of christians who misuse christianity have made it impossible for christian-America to change. I strongly believe that it is impossible, as well as improbable, for christian-America to change for any better; no matter who our president it, no matter who is in our congress, the judiciary, whatever. christian-America cannot change.

...by the way, nobody really likes Fresh Prince, here, except drug addicts / dealers, lazy people, and retired people.:D

[Scary Monster]

...by the way, nobody really likes Fresh Prince, here, except drug addicts / dealers, lazy people, and retired people.:D

Whaaa!!? Where do u YOU live man? i dont know anyone who doesnt love that show! its funny as hell. i grew up watchin that show.

and to "charles xavier", you couldnt be more mistaken. i live in Los Angeles, not with all the yuppies in west LA, like beverly hills or hollywood, but south LA. thats a farcry from the suburbs. and you apparently didnt read any of my post and made dumb assumptions. no wonder why youre banned :rolleyes:. i was explaining exactly what is goin on to people who dont live in the US.

[Uncle Hank]

no wonder why youre banned Somewhat unfortunately he is not banned, though it may be just a matter of time. :)

[willdw79]

Well I am not looking forward to the US collapsing considering that I live in it so I hope that there is some outreach to the public on these issues. I really hate it when people deny that we have poverty because of material possessions.


Don't fear revolution. Nobody wants to suffer, but we are already hurtin. We can't run from the bully forever. After we organize more, we gotta punch the bully in the face.

[Scary Monster]

Don't fear revolution. Nobody wants to suffer, but we are already hurtin. We can't run from the bully forever. After we organize more, we gotta punch the bully in the face.

i agree. wow my fellow us citizens are freakin pessimistic haha. western society will collapse before any kind of revolution? ppssshh. like i said, we gotta help the people who are suffering by helpin them identify the "bully" and help them see we are unstoppable, since the "suffering" make up the majority of the population

[RedSonRising]

Exposure and education through media is the key to reaching the masses, and is what is lacking most. Dominant forms of the media are obviously not open to us and have historically worked against us, but alternative forms of media and massive propaganda campaigns separate from the conventional constraints of picketing and shouting outside of buildings are necessary for exposure first, and then afterward education. Once the masses have a conception of an established movement without having to go out of their way, then momentum builds until exposure and organization/activism fuel each other. Getting the message out there and hooking potential revolutionaries interested in the concept is key, as well as allowing for the general population to become aware of the movement and legitimize it through conversational presence. Eventually the mainstream media will have to acknowledge us, and despite all the dangers it would pose to us, careful strategy would allow us to utilize it as much as we can.

Of course, a unified and cohesive movement to promote in the first place would be nice. Unification is necessary in my opinion before coordination like that materializes.

[Bloody Armalite]

A Bloody Armalite:D

[Tzadikim]

Exposure and education through media is the key to reaching the masses, and is what is lacking most. Dominant forms of the media are obviously not open to us and have historically worked against us, but alternative forms of media and massive propaganda campaigns separate from the conventional constraints of picketing and shouting outside of buildings are necessary for exposure first, and then afterward education. Once the masses have a conception of an established movement without having to go out of their way, then momentum builds until exposure and organization/activism fuel each other. Getting the message out there and hooking potential revolutionaries interested in the concept is key, as well as allowing for the general population to become aware of the movement and legitimize it through conversational presence. Eventually the mainstream media will have to acknowledge us, and despite all the dangers it would pose to us, careful strategy would allow us to utilize it as much as we can.

Of course, a unified and cohesive movement to promote in the first place would be nice. Unification is necessary in my opinion before coordination like that materializes.

This is exactly right. Exactly right.

I long for the day that socialists and anarchists, Stalinists and Trotskyists and Maoists and every other stripe of socialist can put aside their differences. We know that we broadly share the same goal: a classless, stateless society. We also, more-or-less, accept the same means to achieve it. And how are the bourgeoisie Parties so successful in electoral politics? They build coalitions, putting aside ideological differences in favor of pragmatic action towards specific aims. We must learn to do the same.