Economic Protest

[P.O.U.M]

Tomorrow is George Bush's Inaguration. So in protest to Bush's presidency, tomorrow is a day of economic protest. Nothing is to be bought, especially from places such as Wal-Mart, Kmart, Supermarkets, fast food, and the like.

Im rather eager to hear the results. I just heard about this so I dont know how widely this idea was spread.

[P.O.U.M]

Just found the official website.

http://www.notonedamndime.com/boycott/

[Daymare17]

My guess is it won't make any impression at all, even if a sizable number of people join up which is very unlikely. Now if there was a political general strike instead, the ruling class would be scrambling around like ants and Bush would be toppled in a day.

[P.O.U.M]

I dont think America has ever had a general strike? Does anyone know?

I seriously cant think of one instance.

[Daymare17]

Nope, never has.

[P.O.U.M]

40 million dollars for the inaguration.:eek:

For someone who barely one thats alittle extravagant. Not to mention the colossal waste of money.

I also heard that the ball held after for a few thousand military troops were being shipped off to Iraq soon after the ball. But the tropps were not told this. Any have any information on this?

[klynn44]

Originally posted by P.O.U.M
40 million dollars for the inaguration.:eek:

For someone who barely one thats alittle extravagant. Not to mention the colossal waste of money.
 

And that forty million doesn't include security, which adds another couple million to the price.
Many, many protestors- in fact, private parties ran buses from Minneapolis to D.C. just to protest at inauguration.
I'm sure it was common in other cities to find transportation to D.C. for the sole purpose of demonstrating.
The next four years will certainly cost America more than $40 million, though.

Katherine

[petrel]

More anti inauguration protests at http://dearkitty.modblog.com/?show=blogview&blog_id=427928

[ACE]

When it comes to the situation with Iraq, the war in Iraq it really boils down to the value of life under a capitalist system.  You see over 1400 americans are dead and more the 10,000 have lost limbs arms legs or other serious injuries, you know the old saying at these prices they make you pay an arm and a leg, well if you're in the U.S. Millitary that saying can be taken LITERALLY! Yes Thousands of Kids are dieing or being mangled beyond recognition, for oil company profits.  

But because the only God capitalist worship is the gold of the "ALMIGHTY DOLLAR" their sacrifices aren't seen as being in vein when Oil Execs count all that money right?  That's why Class warfare is essential, For the most part those 1400 dead and 10,000 disfigured are of the poorest and most underprivildged families of americans.  So let's say for a change they were the 1400 richest americans and another 10,000 million ares with arms and legs blown off?  What would be the state of affairs then?  Well I suppose that would be a WHOLE other ball game right?  I for one say it would be fitting recompense for their crimes, lives for lives.  Without question if for ever american soldier to die in Iraq an american millionare were to follow them to the grave without a question this war would end PRESENTLY!

Or perhaps they'd want to fight on.... Afterall They can certainly afford the strongest police protection money can buy isn't that right?  All the high tech security systems gaurd dogs high fences bullet proof cars money could buy right?  Mercenaries and paid security personells, private armies, all these precausion would serve to improve the position of the prolitariate rather then disadvantage it, as this would then present a target rich enviroment.  Yes this would serve to gather together all counter revolutionary forces to then be CRUSHED!  

One can be certain that there would be a desire to hide the motive of such assaults, as should the millitary get wind of the notion that they are the lives such rebels were fighting to save and all good soldiers being sent to slaughter for bad causes they too might join the call for class warfare.  Every greiving mother and father, ever sweetheart of those slaughtered sacrificed to the God of the Capitalist the all mighty dollar they too will join that call, the call for REVENGE!

[caesarscook]

I dont think America has ever had a general strike? Does anyone know?

I seriously cant think of one instance.

Nope, never has.

This is not true.  1877 was a huge general strike.  San Fransisco had to declare a state of marshal law and St. Louis (where I'm writing from) drove out the capitalists and established a workers assembly of 200,000 before being smashed by counterrevolutionaries.  Also, we need to remember the Seattle general strike of 1919.  But the 1877 general strike was national, stretching from the east coast to the west.  In a country the size of the US, particularly with communication being what it was in 1877, we need to remember this and be proud of it.  Sorry, I'm posting this so long after this thread is obviously dead, but this is an important point.

[Volkov]

I dont think America has ever had a general strike? Does anyone know?

I seriously cant think of one instance.

Nope, never has.

This is not true.  1877 was a huge general strike.  San Fransisco had to declare a state of marshal law and St. Louis (where I'm writing from) drove out the capitalists and established a workers assembly of 200,000 before being smashed by counterrevolutionaries.  Also, we need to remember the Seattle general strike of 1919.  But the 1877 general strike was national, stretching from the east coast to the west.  In a country the size of the US, particularly with communication being what it was in 1877, we need to remember this and be proud of it.  Sorry, I'm posting this so long after this thread is obviously dead, but this is an important point.

I should get a book about this event.  There is one by Philip S. Foner.  Has anyone read it?

[caesarscook]

I should get a book about this event.  There is one by Philip S. Foner.  Has anyone read it?

No I have not, but I would recommend the book Reign of the Rabble by David Burbank about the St. Louis embryonic soviet in 1877.  As he says in the book, "Only around St. Louis did the original strike on the railroads expand into such a systematically organized and complete shut-down of all industry that the term general strike is fully justified. And only there did the socialists assume undisputed leadership… no American city has come so close to being ruled by a workers' soviet, as we would now call it, as St. Louis, Missouri, in the year 1877."  Led by the International Workingmen's Association btw!