The most pressing issues...

[More Fire for the People]

In your opinion, what are the most pressing issues of Marxism and the anti-capitalist left?
Has theory neglected something?
Or are whole sections of anti-capitalist theory 'incorrect'?
Do we have organizational problems?

In my opinion, the anti-capitalist left is, first and foremost, lacking in agitation and organization. If you ask the average worker, 'Is life treating you bad?' the answer will probalby be 'No shit.' If you ask why, they'll probably say 'I don't know' or 'It's the President's fault'. The proletariat naturally sees capitalist life a shitty but because of the system most people don't attribute their problems to alienation and immeseration. I think we've failed as a movement to reach out and empower and organize the masses.

[Matty_UK]

Main problem is the left has a tendency to form into intellectual cliques that are segregated from the masses.

[Rawthentic]

yeah that, and because capitalism hasnt reached the point of social consciousness yet, we'll just have to wait for a capitalist crises

[Sugar Hill Kevis]

Originally posted by [email protected] 18 2006, 12:17 AM
yeah that, and because capitalism hasnt reached the point of social consciousness yet, we'll just have to wait for a capitalist crises
to quote Che
The revolution is not an apple that falls when it is ripe. You have to make it fall.

[elmo sez]

Lack of unity is a major problem that must be overcome if the left is ever to succeed in destroying capitalism, because without it we are going no were the left is far too fractured in my opion, so we need to come up with an idea that will allow the destruction of capitalism, while preventing the various different groups on the left from blowing each others heads off afterwards.

Personnally i think that the solution lies in the introduction of democracy into the work place and a new goverment system, which will be dismantled as the people see fit, through democratic elections, where people from all sides of the left can argue their various points and then the people can choose what they wish to do. The various groups weither anarcist marxist or whatever must repect the decision of the people and not attempt to impose their own agenda upon them . Maybe then we will avoid killing each other afterwards, and maybe well get the best parts of all the political economic and social ideologies, something that nobody had ever forseen.

So lets start to find similarity with one another instead of trying to identify the differences because at the end of the day that gets us nowhere. As the old saying goes " together we stand divided we fall"

[ComradeOm]

Originally posted by [email protected] 18 2006, 10:42 AM
to quote Che
The revolution is not an apple that falls when it is ripe. You have to make it fall.
Che was an idealist. Without the correct material conditions there's nothing anyone can do.

[More Fire for the People]

Che was not so much an idealist as he believed that you could alter material conditions to favour revolution.

[Comrade-Z]

The principle of leadership. (http://www.revolutionaryleft.com/index.php?showtopic=50589)

[Zero]

A revolution that we don't win public support in is a revolution I refuse to see.

[emma_goldman]

I understand completely. People are disgruntled in their lives but they fail to see the true cause. It's not Bush or Clinton or Reagan ad nauseum, it's capitalism in general. We have distrust of the government but we don't see the moving force behind the government.... :(

[Rawthentic]

Originally posted by Kevis+Jun 18 2006, 02:42 AM--> (Kevis @ Jun 18 2006, 02:42 AM)
[email protected] 18 2006, 12:17 AM
yeah that, and because capitalism hasnt reached the point of social consciousness yet, we'll just have to wait for a capitalist crises
to quote Che
The revolution is not an apple that falls when it is ripe. You have to make it fall.[/b]
Yeah ok, look I love Che, but thats not how revolution works. Che made "that apple fall" not because the material conditins for socialism were there, but because the Batista regime was a corrupt government. Now, it is an authoritarian dictatorship, the product of Leninism, and what happens when you "make the apple fall" :(

[Jesus Christ!]

Originally posted by [email protected] 18 2006, 12:17 AM
yeah that, and because capitalism hasnt reached the point of social consciousness yet, we'll just have to wait for a capitalist crises
Then should we be reformists until capitalism falls apart? should we support capitalism until it falls apart? or should we continue doing nothing and posting on a message board?

[bolshevik butcher]

To say that we can do nothing is a ridiculous ultraleftist opinion. Of course material conditions affect a revolutionary situation dramatically but to radicalise the class conscious elements, and create class consciousness is something that we can do, even if it is only in ones and twos. Also we need to demonstrate that socialism is possible and rally round places where revolutions are happening. If the wider working class sees that socialism is a real force in Latin America and that another system is possible then we might see the begginings of a bigger movment in the west.

[RaiseYourVoice]

The most troubling thing i find about the "we can do nothing until..." attitude is, that the people i know who say that completly integrate in the capitalist system and I seriously dont see them affecting the world any different than the average capitalist is. It is often (but not always) a handy excuse for not acting.

I think many leftist fail to see that support will not just jump on us when theres the possibility for revolution. In germany the right wing scene is growing, they do family festivals with "german culture", help people with their social aid etc. They are well organised and gain much support in rural areas. They even suceeded in opening "no go" zones for foreigners, homosexualsm or leftists. Point being, they gain support. Now what gives us the security that the masses turn for us if they don't know us and we suddenly appear with the right material conditions? Lets face it not every worker is going to read himself into marxist theory (and / or understand all of it). We have to show the people that we are a force to help their condotions, revolution has always to be the finnal goal, but why should it be the only method.

We should be there if a local hosbital is going to be closed, we should be there if right wingers start preeching in our towns, we support people who fight against injustice in whatever form.

If the left establishes themselves as a reliable force for the oppressed (no matter if they are enough to start a revolution) i think we have a good foundation to attack capitalism when it shows its biggest flaws.

[bolshevik butcher]

Raise ya voice is exactly right about local things. This is how everyday working class people are won onboard, through events and cmapaigns that affect them. There are numerous exmaples of this including the pay no poll tax campaign that was very successful in Britain in the early 90s and late 80s.

[SmokingMan]

I have my doubts... why socialism ?? capitalism isn't good, but socialism neither is it. You want to know what is the socialism ?? then you must live in a country that tries to be. Why socialist colapsed the Berlin Wall ??? Why cubans emigrate ???

[More Fire for the People]

@RaiseYaVoice: Then we should do the same but with the message of leftism. In fact, that's what the Black Panthers did and they gained huge support.

[Karl Marx's Camel]

In your opinion, what are the most pressing issues of Marxism and the anti-capitalist left?


* Lack of support in the Western world.

* How to become an organized, powerful, and not the least, a respect movement once again.

* Thirdly, our stance on muslims. I have a bad feeling they will be prosecuted in somewhat similar fashion like the Jews in the 30's and 40's.

[YSR]

We allow ourselves to be painted as outdated and out of touch in the media and public opinion. We need more organizing in the trenches, which means leaving our revolutionary cliques and talking to people, not just pamphletting and protesting.

[Free Left]

Our main problem is that there are so many different branches of anti-capitilism i.e Anarchism, Marxism, etc.
What we need to do is unite in a comman cause and stop argueing over minor details, we are all fighting against capitalism and facism aren't we?

[Comrade-Z]

What we need to do is unite in a comman cause and stop argueing over minor details

Not gonna happen (http://www.redstar2000papers.com/theory.php?subaction=showfull&id=1082988280&archive=&cnshow=headlines&start_from=&ucat=&).

Edit:

I think the only way political action could be unified is if theory is first unified. And that's going to take plenty of arguing over minor details and time.

For example, I see autonomist marxism as a possible example of anarchist and marxist theory being unified. I think this is a good development.

[OkaCrisis]

Alright guys, after reviewing this thread, here are some ideas on raising class consciouness, and "the vanguard" that I thought were worth sharing. Please note that I am well aware of my embarassing level of idealism. Anyway, this is all in the spirit of the workers of the world uniting :), so here it goes...


Quote Free Left:

Our main problem is that there are so many different branches of anti-capitilism i.e Anarchism, Marxism, etc.
What we need to do is unite in a comman cause and stop argueing over minor details, we are all fighting against capitalism and facism aren't we?

Personally, I don't think the "problem" with "the movement" is that it's 'divided over details', as many would suggest. But the sheer size of it (being small and necessarily scattered) is a bigger obstacle to the 'rise of the left'. I just don't think enough people are paying enough attention, and even if they are, they aren't aware that alternatives might exist because they have been propagated and mis-educated since birth.

Quote NWOG:

* How to become an organized, powerful, and not the least, a respect movement once again.

Quote Young Stupid Radical:

We need more organizing in the trenches, which means leaving our revolutionary cliques and talking to people, not just pamphletting and protesting.

In terms of raising consciousness, I agree that "the movement" (by "movement", I mean any individual who claims an affiliation with the "left") must start actively talking to the people around them -not about how 'communism is good', but about how bad this world really is. Point out every scam and scandal that you're aware of, and convince people that they really are being fucked over by governments (and usually in cahoots with the supercorporations that fund their campaigns.)

When people around me complain about gas prices, I tell them why they're so high and what we should all do about it. When someone makes a sexist/racist/classist/ableist/homophobic or otherwise degrading comment, I call them on it and ask them why they think it's okay to make such derogatory remarks. When people I know complain about working too much/not having any money/not enough rest/no job security, I tell them how those things all exist to make capitalists rich. And how that's exactly why it's been allowed to go on despite the existence of "states" and "laws" that are said to "exist to serve (and protect) "the people".

"Raising consciousness" should be about getting people to see past their western/North American veils of consumerism and lives of relative luxury! The reason most people dont have a revolutionary consciousness is because they are fed, clothed, and live in warm homes (the basic human necessities (at least) are met). What you have to tell them is that all people, absolutely regardless of: the country/hemisphere they were born in, their race, nationality, sex, sexuality, or level of ability, are entitled to these things, and yet billions of people around the globe suffer from the conditions of poverty (famine, disease, homelessness) meanwhile the heads of States, Industries and Economies flourish.

Then, you have to point out that even if people seem to be 'getting by' or 'getting ahead', it's probably (and by probably, I mean statistically) because they're lucky as hell to have had access to the kinds of opportunities they have had (from their gender to their skintones, to the place on this earth that they were born in) that others simply haven't. You also have to point out that despite their apparent/relative 'success', due to the fragility of the system and the market, their (relatively) comfortable position remains precarious at best. Hell, even if they manage to get/stay rich for life, what kind of war-torn, desertified, gated-communities and plastic-trees-world, will they be living in?

Ask them why is it that 50% of the world's population has never made nor recieved a phone call. Ask them why visible minorities and aboriginals are overrepresented in prisons and underrespresented in politics and business (and then fight and refute the ignorant racist explanantions that they come up with.). Ask them why the #1 cause of injury for women over 65 is spousal abuse. Ask them why women (in Canada) still make 71 cents to the dollar that a man makes. Ask them why we're fighting a war in Iraq. Ask them if they are truly free, or truly happy.

Questions like those make them feel unsure about a world and a system that they have way too much faith in. Che was right about the apple. We have to shake relentlessly at the foundation- these beliefs that the world is an "okay place"- until the facade finally crumbles and people see that maybe "the movement" is on to something with this 'communism thing'...

But first you have to make them realise that this doesn't work... And even if it works for them, that doesn't mean it works for everyone else.

"The people" don't need a "vanguard" that represents any party, idea, or any particular ideology.

"The vanguard" should be about people teaching people to think critically about the world that they live in, and it needs to be made up of you and I.

Basically, if you think you have a better idea than this (capitalism), then tell everyone you know. Some of them might listen, and that's better than none.



(I know this probably sounds preachy and idealist. But I think it's true. If we ever want anything to happen in this world, then we are the ones who have to convice other people to help us. If we want the support of the masses, we better start talking to them.

They are our sisters, brothers, parents, co-workers, friends. If we can convince them, they will go on to convince everyone else. All we (leftists) have to do is give people the tools to reach their own conclusions. Adovocate, Educate, Liberate)

[socialistpunk]

I think the left needs to be more united. There seems to be alot of bickering and infighting in the separate leftist groups. We need to be united to fight capitilism and facism if the left wants to survive it needs to unite under one banner. Not trying to be a nationalist but really do need to unite to solve the leftist problem of support. We need more public support if we want to help the masses if not we fail them.

[Karl Marx's Camel]

I have my doubts... why socialism ?? capitalism isn't good, but socialism neither is it. You want to know what is the socialism ?? then you must live in a country that tries to be. Why socialist colapsed the Berlin Wall ??? Why cubans emigrate ???

Personally, I do not think Cuba is socialist. If Cuba was, you would be able to speak freely without fear of violence. All Cubans would decide what would happen in society.

However, a lot of people talk about poverty in Cuba. Here is how "real life" in the United States is for many people.

"real life in the U.S." (click here) (http://www.american-pictures.com/roots/chapter-53.htm) You get to see this if you move away from the major cities.

[piet11111]

where i live there is some class awareness that its us workers against the bosses but the situation is not pressing enough to try and change things.

that is the biggest problem of the left but the fact that the left is scattered and hardly heard is a close second.

the left needs to raise their voice or we will be buried in the noise of the rightwingers.

[Rawthentic]

The reason we are scattered is because of the lack of unity. Only as a unified voice can we make a statement. And I strongly advocate community work under a revolutionary banner, but definitely not as vanguard or any Party.

[Rawthentic]

The reason we are scattered is because of the lack of unity. Only as a unified voice can we make a statement. And I strongly advocate community work under a revolutionary banner, but definitely not as vanguard or any Party.

[Rawthentic]

The reason we are scattered is because of the lack of unity. Only as a unified voice can we make a statement. And I strongly advocate community work under a revolutionary banner, but definitely not as vanguard or any Party.

[piet11111]

i dont think the lack of unity is the problem its more the lack of numbers.

unity may appear like a good thing but i prefer choice myself.

[piet11111]

i dont think the lack of unity is the problem its more the lack of numbers.

unity may appear like a good thing but i prefer choice myself.

[piet11111]

i dont think the lack of unity is the problem its more the lack of numbers.

unity may appear like a good thing but i prefer choice myself.

[More Fire for the People]

I don't think unity neccesarily means ideological unity. For instance, the POUM and the CNT-FAI were able to work togethor during the Spanish Civil War in their efforts to fight fascism and fight for the revolution.

[More Fire for the People]

I don't think unity neccesarily means ideological unity. For instance, the POUM and the CNT-FAI were able to work togethor during the Spanish Civil War in their efforts to fight fascism and fight for the revolution.

[More Fire for the People]

I don't think unity neccesarily means ideological unity. For instance, the POUM and the CNT-FAI were able to work togethor during the Spanish Civil War in their efforts to fight fascism and fight for the revolution.

[Comrade-Z]

Originally posted by Hopscotch [email protected] 22 2006, 02:32 AM
I don't think unity neccesarily means ideological unity. For instance, the POUM and the CNT-FAI were able to work togethor during the Spanish Civil War in their efforts to fight fascism and fight for the revolution.
But that only occured as a temporary historical accident after being faced with a common enemy (Stalinism). Before that, the two camps had been quite hostile to each other, even if they were comparatively closer to each other than most communist and anarchist groups had been elsewhere.

If the CNT and the POUM had defeated both fascism and Stalinism, then I think you would have seem disputes blossom once again in the aftermath, unfortunately.

[Comrade-Z]

Originally posted by Hopscotch [email protected] 22 2006, 02:32 AM
I don't think unity neccesarily means ideological unity. For instance, the POUM and the CNT-FAI were able to work togethor during the Spanish Civil War in their efforts to fight fascism and fight for the revolution.
But that only occured as a temporary historical accident after being faced with a common enemy (Stalinism). Before that, the two camps had been quite hostile to each other, even if they were comparatively closer to each other than most communist and anarchist groups had been elsewhere.

If the CNT and the POUM had defeated both fascism and Stalinism, then I think you would have seem disputes blossom once again in the aftermath, unfortunately.

[Comrade-Z]

Originally posted by Hopscotch [email protected] 22 2006, 02:32 AM
I don't think unity neccesarily means ideological unity. For instance, the POUM and the CNT-FAI were able to work togethor during the Spanish Civil War in their efforts to fight fascism and fight for the revolution.
But that only occured as a temporary historical accident after being faced with a common enemy (Stalinism). Before that, the two camps had been quite hostile to each other, even if they were comparatively closer to each other than most communist and anarchist groups had been elsewhere.

If the CNT and the POUM had defeated both fascism and Stalinism, then I think you would have seem disputes blossom once again in the aftermath, unfortunately.

[PRC-UTE]

Originally posted by Comrade-Z+Jun 22 2006, 02:51 AM--> (Comrade-Z @ Jun 22 2006, 02:51 AM)
Hopscotch [email protected] 22 2006, 02:32 AM
I don't think unity neccesarily means ideological unity. For instance, the POUM and the CNT-FAI were able to work togethor during the Spanish Civil War in their efforts to fight fascism and fight for the revolution.
But that only occured as a temporary historical accident after being faced with a common enemy (Stalinism). Before that, the two camps had been quite hostile to each other, even if they were comparatively closer to each other than most communist and anarchist groups had been elsewhere.

If the CNT and the POUM had defeated both fascism and Stalinism, then I think you would have seem disputes blossom once again in the aftermath, unfortunately. [/b]
Which is such a good example of why sectarianism is self-defeating.

I hope that type of mindless sectarianism doensn't occur again. The task of all communists is to convince our fellow workers to revolt with us against the capitalist system, not to fight other factions.
_________

To address the original question, I think the most pressing issue for the working class left is to organise community support organisations such as mutual aid organisations, breakfast programmes, educational classes and so on to assist our class. We have to make left wing politics actually relevent and not just something on paper.

[PRC-UTE]

Originally posted by Comrade-Z+Jun 22 2006, 02:51 AM--> (Comrade-Z @ Jun 22 2006, 02:51 AM)
Hopscotch [email protected] 22 2006, 02:32 AM
I don't think unity neccesarily means ideological unity. For instance, the POUM and the CNT-FAI were able to work togethor during the Spanish Civil War in their efforts to fight fascism and fight for the revolution.
But that only occured as a temporary historical accident after being faced with a common enemy (Stalinism). Before that, the two camps had been quite hostile to each other, even if they were comparatively closer to each other than most communist and anarchist groups had been elsewhere.

If the CNT and the POUM had defeated both fascism and Stalinism, then I think you would have seem disputes blossom once again in the aftermath, unfortunately. [/b]
Which is such a good example of why sectarianism is self-defeating.

I hope that type of mindless sectarianism doensn't occur again. The task of all communists is to convince our fellow workers to revolt with us against the capitalist system, not to fight other factions.
_________

To address the original question, I think the most pressing issue for the working class left is to organise community support organisations such as mutual aid organisations, breakfast programmes, educational classes and so on to assist our class. We have to make left wing politics actually relevent and not just something on paper.

[PRC-UTE]

Originally posted by Comrade-Z+Jun 22 2006, 02:51 AM--> (Comrade-Z @ Jun 22 2006, 02:51 AM)
Hopscotch [email protected] 22 2006, 02:32 AM
I don't think unity neccesarily means ideological unity. For instance, the POUM and the CNT-FAI were able to work togethor during the Spanish Civil War in their efforts to fight fascism and fight for the revolution.
But that only occured as a temporary historical accident after being faced with a common enemy (Stalinism). Before that, the two camps had been quite hostile to each other, even if they were comparatively closer to each other than most communist and anarchist groups had been elsewhere.

If the CNT and the POUM had defeated both fascism and Stalinism, then I think you would have seem disputes blossom once again in the aftermath, unfortunately. [/b]
Which is such a good example of why sectarianism is self-defeating.

I hope that type of mindless sectarianism doensn't occur again. The task of all communists is to convince our fellow workers to revolt with us against the capitalist system, not to fight other factions.
_________

To address the original question, I think the most pressing issue for the working class left is to organise community support organisations such as mutual aid organisations, breakfast programmes, educational classes and so on to assist our class. We have to make left wing politics actually relevent and not just something on paper.

[Ultra-Violence]

I think the only way political action could be unified is if theory is first unified. And that's going to take plenty of arguing over minor details and time.

For example, I see autonomist marxism as a possible example of anarchist and marxist theory being unified. I think this is a good development.


I like were this thread is going you have the right idea we have to argue and learn and discus theory and come up with a unifying theory. thats why i love this forum we learn from each others ideologys and come up with a unique one wich i think most of th people on this board know what im talking about wich is a marriage of marxim and anarchsim its great and happening before our very eyes

as for the most pressing isseus for lefties right now is OUR NAMES commies and anarchist have bad raps also we are the minoritys and like a commrade siad earlier is that we form our own cliques and seperate our selves from the working class we need to be with them educating them and bring about class concioseness

[Ultra-Violence]

I think the only way political action could be unified is if theory is first unified. And that's going to take plenty of arguing over minor details and time.

For example, I see autonomist marxism as a possible example of anarchist and marxist theory being unified. I think this is a good development.


I like were this thread is going you have the right idea we have to argue and learn and discus theory and come up with a unifying theory. thats why i love this forum we learn from each others ideologys and come up with a unique one wich i think most of th people on this board know what im talking about wich is a marriage of marxim and anarchsim its great and happening before our very eyes

as for the most pressing isseus for lefties right now is OUR NAMES commies and anarchist have bad raps also we are the minoritys and like a commrade siad earlier is that we form our own cliques and seperate our selves from the working class we need to be with them educating them and bring about class concioseness

[Ultra-Violence]

I think the only way political action could be unified is if theory is first unified. And that's going to take plenty of arguing over minor details and time.

For example, I see autonomist marxism as a possible example of anarchist and marxist theory being unified. I think this is a good development.


I like were this thread is going you have the right idea we have to argue and learn and discus theory and come up with a unifying theory. thats why i love this forum we learn from each others ideologys and come up with a unique one wich i think most of th people on this board know what im talking about wich is a marriage of marxim and anarchsim its great and happening before our very eyes

as for the most pressing isseus for lefties right now is OUR NAMES commies and anarchist have bad raps also we are the minoritys and like a commrade siad earlier is that we form our own cliques and seperate our selves from the working class we need to be with them educating them and bring about class concioseness

[OneBrickOneVoice]

Originally posted by [email protected] 21 2006, 10:31 PM
The reason we are scattered is because of the lack of unity. Only as a unified voice can we make a statement. And I strongly advocate community work under a revolutionary banner, but definitely not as vanguard or any Party.
LOL WTF?! "Let's organize. Just not organize." A vanguard is just an organization of workers which elects representitives to organize the workers when it becomes that there are many from different places.

Contrary to anarchism, leninism has a plan. Leninists don't just cross their fingers and hope that everyone unites magically and that the army switches sides and everyone becomes one big happy family.

[OneBrickOneVoice]

Originally posted by [email protected] 21 2006, 10:31 PM
The reason we are scattered is because of the lack of unity. Only as a unified voice can we make a statement. And I strongly advocate community work under a revolutionary banner, but definitely not as vanguard or any Party.
LOL WTF?! "Let's organize. Just not organize." A vanguard is just an organization of workers which elects representitives to organize the workers when it becomes that there are many from different places.

Contrary to anarchism, leninism has a plan. Leninists don't just cross their fingers and hope that everyone unites magically and that the army switches sides and everyone becomes one big happy family.

[OneBrickOneVoice]

Originally posted by [email protected] 21 2006, 10:31 PM
The reason we are scattered is because of the lack of unity. Only as a unified voice can we make a statement. And I strongly advocate community work under a revolutionary banner, but definitely not as vanguard or any Party.
LOL WTF?! "Let's organize. Just not organize." A vanguard is just an organization of workers which elects representitives to organize the workers when it becomes that there are many from different places.

Contrary to anarchism, leninism has a plan. Leninists don't just cross their fingers and hope that everyone unites magically and that the army switches sides and everyone becomes one big happy family.

[BurnTheOliveTree]

Originally posted by [email protected] 18 2006, 12:17 AM
yeah that, and because capitalism hasnt reached the point of social consciousness yet, we'll just have to wait for a capitalist crises
Not to be rude, but there are surely many things you could point to as evidence of capitalism being generally shite? Enron, for example. The WTO is a constant reminder of how utterly insane the system is. I think the problem is that we are losing the awareness battle. When Enron was exposed, BAM! Economists all over the American media, reassuring everyone that they were just bad apples, when in fact we know that the whole tree is rotten to it's core.

-Alex

[BurnTheOliveTree]

Originally posted by [email protected] 18 2006, 12:17 AM
yeah that, and because capitalism hasnt reached the point of social consciousness yet, we'll just have to wait for a capitalist crises
Not to be rude, but there are surely many things you could point to as evidence of capitalism being generally shite? Enron, for example. The WTO is a constant reminder of how utterly insane the system is. I think the problem is that we are losing the awareness battle. When Enron was exposed, BAM! Economists all over the American media, reassuring everyone that they were just bad apples, when in fact we know that the whole tree is rotten to it's core.

-Alex

[BurnTheOliveTree]

Originally posted by [email protected] 18 2006, 12:17 AM
yeah that, and because capitalism hasnt reached the point of social consciousness yet, we'll just have to wait for a capitalist crises
Not to be rude, but there are surely many things you could point to as evidence of capitalism being generally shite? Enron, for example. The WTO is a constant reminder of how utterly insane the system is. I think the problem is that we are losing the awareness battle. When Enron was exposed, BAM! Economists all over the American media, reassuring everyone that they were just bad apples, when in fact we know that the whole tree is rotten to it's core.

-Alex