UPDATE! * Left and Right Against the Empire! *
Submitted by Liberty_Belle on Tue, 01/12/2010 - 08:54by David Spero~ Dissident Voice~
When President Obama made his first post-election visit to San Francisco, two groups of protesters met him in Union Square. About 500 activists (the “Left”) carried signs, sang songs and chanted for an end to the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, for environmental action and Medicare for all.
Sharing space with us were about 250 “tea-baggers” (the “Right”) carrying anti-Obama signs. Their main issues were lower taxes and opposition to “government intervention” in health care.
Despite sharp disagreement on health care and the “stimulus”, we agreed on much. Everyone I spoke to was against the wars (although they “supported the troops”) and against the corporate bailouts, and for civil liberties. Why must we see each other as opponents rather than potential allies? In a society run by corporate elites who trample the values of both progressives and traditional conservatives, couldn’t we align Left and Right against the national security state and bankster capitalism?
Scott Horton thinks we can and should. Horton is host of Antiwar Radio, a show heard on KAOS Radio in Austin, Texas and streaming on Antiwar.com . “The left-right political spectrum is the name of our dilemma,” he says. “To end the wars and restore our Bill of Rights we have to find common grounds, not get distracted and tear each other’s eyes out over less important cultural and economic differences.”
It seems clear the left-right divide is serving the rulers. In response to the question, “Where is all the protest,” a Common Dreams reader posted: “There are plenty of folks objecting. They are simply being dismissed by the left as “mobs” and “Nazi’s”, with the right dismissing the others as communists, socialists and liberals.”
Started by libertarians, Antiwar.com features news from around the world on foreign policy, with antiwar views from all political positions. “We’re making people realize that what’s most important is what we have in common,” says Horton. “Our troops should be brought home yesterday. Stop the torture; stop the empire.”
Horton is far from alone in this crusade. Progressive talk radio host Thom Hartmann approvingly quotes Ross Perot and Ron Paul. Paul and liberal Democrat Alan Grayson co-sponsored an amendment to audit the Federal Reserve. Socialist Senator Bernie Sanders and Republican Jim DeMint are spearheading a similar measure in the Senate. Firedog Lake’s Jane Hamsher and various rightists have co-authored several letters protesting insurance and bankster giveaways.
continued...
Please read in full and let's get involved in this conversation:
http://dissidentvoice.org/2010/01/left-and-right-against-the...
***UPDATE***
I want to include the 'We Agree' 4 Principles Agreement that Paul, Baldwin, McKinney and Nader agreed on as a platform for further expanding alliances!
*see this thread:
We Agree - Paul, Baldwin, McKinney, Nader Statement
http://www.dailypaul.com/node/61153
All Americans who value
All Americans who value liberty need to work together to opposed the totalitarian usurpation of power coming from our politicians, and especially from the Administration. Instead of pointing fingers and name calling, it's time to unite an oppose the efforts to impose a dictatorship on us all.
All Americans had better learn that the only thing that protects us from tyranny is LIMITED GOVERNMENT, and the only way to limit government is to force our politicians to obey the law! They need to follow the oath they took to the Constitution.
We have allowed presidents to wage wars for six decades without a Declaration of War by the Congress. We have allowed the Congress to shirk it responsibility to coin money and regulate its value - not create a private central bank to print worthless inflationary paper.
We have seen our rights destroyed allegedly to "fight terrorism" by the very people who created the terrorist threat. We have seen them work to disarm the American people. What will it take to wake everybody up?
Was reading that thread with the statement
Seemed everyone was adamant about the 4 principles being used as a basic litmus test for all seeking office. Such a commitment should still be pushed for today concerning 2010 candidates. How many people would have those 4 basic principles in their platform?
If you haven't read them in a while, read them again. It still reads as current. Remember that Presidential candidates from the Republican, Green, Independent, Constitutional, and Libertarian Parties ALL agreed to follow those 4 basic ideas. That is powerful and empowering!
www.youthforronpaul.com
www.yaliberty.org - Young Americans for Liberty
www.ivaw.org/operation-recovery - Stop Deploying Traumatized Troops
Excellent
I agree
Discover Costa Rica
Thanks Liberty B., for your grea OP and
Update. On the local level I sense a turning also. This morning I chatted with a musician who runs a part-time raingutter cleaning service.
Out of the blue he started complaining about all the regualtions and said the US is turning into a fascist state. I asked if he's a Ron Paul supporter. He said, "I've heard about him, I think he may be the man for me."
Needless to say he immediately heard a lot more about RP, and we agreed on nearly everything -- and this is in the People's Republic of Berkeley where I saw not a single non-Obama bumper sticker or sign in the last election but mine.
They won the election, but we're winning hearts and minds.
Fantastic!
Imo, except for outlawing hackable voting machines, joining forces is the MOST IMPORTANT thing all of us, (left, right, middle, undecided) can do...
United We Stand!
Ron Paul 2012 - The People's Choice
rEVOLution SuperPAC: http://www.revolutionpac.com/
WTP Federal Lawsuit to BAN ALL ELECTRONIC VOTING
Appeal filed 2/13/12: http://www.wethepeoplefoundation.org/PROJECTS/NCEL/PACER2012...
Habit ..read the update
we could add to the 4 principles other areas of agreement..such as outlawing the hackable voting machines!!
"I think we are living in a world of lies: lies that don't even know they are lies, because they are the children and grandchildren of lies." ~ Chris Floyd
LOL
I was stumped for awhile, thinking to myself, "Update? What update?" I guess I haven't adjusted too well yet to the New Daily Paul. I finally found the update, highlighted in a little box, at the bottom of the thread.
Anyway, adhering to those 4 principles, plus outlawing those despicable voting machines, would be great!
Ron Paul 2012 - The People's Choice
rEVOLution SuperPAC: http://www.revolutionpac.com/
WTP Federal Lawsuit to BAN ALL ELECTRONIC VOTING
Appeal filed 2/13/12: http://www.wethepeoplefoundation.org/PROJECTS/NCEL/PACER2012...
I have noticed the same
Just today I got an email from a friend of mine who is the secretary for the Socialist party here in Ct. It was all about finance and war and how they are tied together. Surprised to say that all his links were to End the Fed sites, Ron Paul's book End the Fed, Videos by Judge Napolitano, Creature from Jeckyl Island and so on. I guess it just took some longer to come around. It's nice to see the forces joining.
"I have found that being rich is not about having the most but about needing the least"
they can only hold us down
by dividing us.
when we embrace each other -...the universe will help too!
Website:
http://www.libertypoet.com/
Twitter:
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“The most important element of a free society, where individual rights are held in the highest esteem, is the rejection of the initiation of violence.” Dr. Ron Paul
Agreed,
legalize...
Ron Paul 2012 - The People's Choice
rEVOLution SuperPAC: http://www.revolutionpac.com/
WTP Federal Lawsuit to BAN ALL ELECTRONIC VOTING
Appeal filed 2/13/12: http://www.wethepeoplefoundation.org/PROJECTS/NCEL/PACER2012...
special song for you my friend
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEVIeErWcnU&feature=related
big hugs*))
Website:
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Twitter:
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“The most important element of a free society, where individual rights are held in the highest esteem, is the rejection of the initiation of violence.” Dr. Ron Paul
Yesterday I had a good
Yesterday I had a good conversation with my (Dem./Black) husband on Ron Paul.
After he met a young (Mexican born) activist who told him to watch those films:
"The Obama Deception"
"Fall of the Republic"
Usually there is this wall of cynicism, because Paul is a Republican.
We are winning!
People start to see through the divide and conquer trickery.
The coporate/banker elite is the enemy to all of us.
War Mongers in both parties are the enemy.
No matter if You think Obama is deceiving the public intentionally or You think he is just overwhelmed and has good intentions.
Key question is: Why did he not reverse the Patriot Act? Why did he not end the wars?
His voters are waking up too.
Great Belle
I was just getting ready to write an article myself about this...
And this can be the platform!!
The 4 principles agreement that was signed by Paul, Nader, McKinney and Baldwin!
http://www.dailypaul.com/node/61153
( thanks latins4paul for posting it below!-scroll down or click on above link )
"I think we are living in a world of lies: lies that don't even know they are lies, because they are the children and grandchildren of lies." ~ Chris Floyd
absolutely! I als think YAL
absolutely! I also think YAL and CFL should join as many coalitions as possible...
I agree, it's a vital part of education
outreach. Those people open to a coalition on both sides have minds open to new thinking.
I used to have that in my signature line
look*))
http://www.votenader.org/weagree/
peace*))
Website:
http://www.libertypoet.com/
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/LibertyPoet
“The most important element of a free society, where individual rights are held in the highest esteem, is the rejection of the initiation of violence.” Dr. Ron Paul
perhaps the best post on this day
This article is so uplifting - Thank you so much for posting it.
peace*))
Website:
http://www.libertypoet.com/
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/LibertyPoet
“The most important element of a free society, where individual rights are held in the highest esteem, is the rejection of the initiation of violence.” Dr. Ron Paul
Americans who voice there
Americans who voice there opinion should be celebrated and encouraged. Instead anyone with a different opinion, instead of giving an argument simply resort to name calling because they have no argument or simply can’t put two thoughts together.
Unblock Blocked Sites
This is one of the reasons I have criticized DAILY PAUL comments
critical of Ralph Nader, Naomi Wolf, Rachel Maddow, Cynthia McKinney, etc. We may not share economic theory, but we stand for economic liberty and personal integrity.
I generally agree
Good folks must unite with others on core issues, even if they do not agree on every issue.
_________________________________
Freedom - Peace - Prosperity
Agreed! Focus on the positive!
I'm tired of the divisive, exclusive mindset and find it a much more positive and healthy approach to focus on what we AGREE on instead of what we DISAGREE on!
"I think we are living in a world of lies: lies that don't even know they are lies, because they are the children and grandchildren of lies." ~ Chris Floyd
bump
Our empire needs to end. We should get back to a Constitutional level. We do not need to be in in many wars and bombing, occupying and killing other people. That makes people hate us and it must stop now. The sooner we stop the sooner our economy will recover.
Bump
The "left" and the "right" have been fully brainwashed into thinking it is better to fight one another than to unite and fight our true oppressors.
'Always be yourself. Everyone else is taken.' - Oscar Wilde
A peace and freedom party/movement!
*I have been all for this alliance and am heartened to see much more discussion on it lately! I also think this is what the PTB fear the most!!*
I still see a lot of misconceptions/ assumptions from the left..many do not realize there are anti-war conservatives on the right! The author did correct himself in the comments: "I used the term “honest conservatives” to differentiate you from Fox News and the Corporate Right. They, IMO, are definitely not honest. I probably should have used the term “grassroots conservatives,” as I did elsewhere in the piece, I think.
I didn’t realize the term “tea-baggers” was offensive. I apologize for the insensitivity.
**********
“Instead of liberals vs. conservatives, wouldn’t it be better to have it be torturers, imperialists and liars vs. the peace and freedom party?”- Scott Horton
If we’re willing to reach out to conservatives and ally with libertarians, they are not hard to find. If we focus on the issues that unite us, maybe we can build a movement against the empire.
"I think we are living in a world of lies: lies that don't even know they are lies, because they are the children and grandchildren of lies." ~ Chris Floyd
Sounds Great...
If Paul and Baldwin did it with Nader and McKinney, than why can't we?
"The Republican/Democrat duopoly has, for far too long, ignored the most important issues facing our nation. However, alternate candidates Chuck Baldwin, Cynthia McKinney, and Ralph Nader agree with Ron Paul on four key principles central to the health of our nation. These principles should be key in the considerations of every voter this November and in every election."
We Agree
Foreign Policy: The Iraq War must end as quickly as possible with removal of all our soldiers from the region. We must initiate the return of our soldiers from around the world, including Korea, Japan, Europe and the entire Middle East. We must cease the war propaganda, threats of a blockade and plans for attacks on Iran, nor should we re-ignite the cold war with Russia over Georgia. We must be willing to talk to all countries and offer friendship and trade and travel to all who are willing. We must take off the table the threat of a nuclear first strike against all nations.
Privacy: We must protect the privacy and civil liberties of all persons under US jurisdiction. We must repeal or radically change the Patriot Act, the Military Commissions Act, and the FISA legislation. We must reject the notion and practice of torture, eliminations of habeas corpus, secret tribunals, and secret prisons. We must deny immunity for corporations that spy willingly on the people for the benefit of the government. We must reject the unitary presidency, the illegal use of signing statements and excessive use of executive orders.
The National Debt: We believe that there should be no increase in the national debt. The burden of debt placed on the next generation is unjust and already threatening our economy and the value of our dollar. We must pay our bills as we go along and not unfairly place this burden on a future generation.
The Federal Reserve: We seek a thorough investigation, evaluation and audit of the Federal Reserve System and its cozy relationships with the banking, corporate, and other financial institutions. The arbitrary power to create money and credit out of thin air behind closed doors for the benefit of commercial interests must be ended. There should be no taxpayer bailouts of corporations and no corporate subsidies. Corporations should be aggressively prosecuted for their crimes and frauds.
http://www.dailypaul.com/node/61153
Ron Paul 2012 for Peace
Thanks! This can be the basic platform
to expand and grow the alliance! Thank you for posting it again!
"I think we are living in a world of lies: lies that don't even know they are lies, because they are the children and grandchildren of lies." ~ Chris Floyd
Sorry about that Liberty Belle...
Excellent article from the left. We must unite to stop these wars. I feel the more the Left hears how Dr. Paul's liberty movement is against the wars, against the corporate bailouts, and for civil liberties, the more they will listen and join our movement.
Remember, the Left and Right must UNITE to end the Wars.
Ron Paul 2012 for Peace