Comments on: Land of Plenty http://newjerutalmud.wordpress.com/2009/04/13/land-of-plenty/ Just another WordPress.com weblog Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:46:58 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Mike Vincenti http://newjerutalmud.wordpress.com/2009/04/13/land-of-plenty/#comment-52 Mike Vincenti Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:02:04 +0000 http://newjerutalmud.wordpress.com/?p=52#comment-52 The best way to revolt here in America is to revolt against the Federal Reserve System- not our politicians unless the spineless leaches hide behind the all mighty dollar- err.. I mean, the almighty lobbyists of the Finance Industry! That bastard birth of a national bank has hijacked American politics and is slowly killing the American spirit among its own citizens. If we all refuse to submit to the demands of the IRS, they can't send us ALL to jail, can they? I'm hosting a Tea Party. Who wants to come!?!?!? The best way to revolt here in America is to revolt against the Federal Reserve System- not our politicians unless the spineless leaches hide behind the all mighty dollar- err.. I mean, the almighty lobbyists of the Finance Industry! That bastard birth of a national bank has hijacked American politics and is slowly killing the American spirit among its own citizens. If we all refuse to submit to the demands of the IRS, they can’t send us ALL to jail, can they?
I’m hosting a Tea Party. Who wants to come!?!?!?

]]> By: matjew http://newjerutalmud.wordpress.com/2009/04/13/land-of-plenty/#comment-51 matjew Tue, 14 Apr 2009 23:28:03 +0000 http://newjerutalmud.wordpress.com/?p=52#comment-51 Yes I think American identity IS something real-- it is about freedom to be renewed, reinvented, to pursue 'happiness' and an infinite number of interests and hobbies and careers, without barriers to entry based on color or ethnicity or religion. The willingness to embrace that constant renewal makes one an American, I think. But that's hand in hand, as you say, with revolution, you hit the nail on the head Mike. Some of the founders, especially Jefferson, envisaged revolutions once a generation! That was part of the rationale for the right to bear arms... that in order for the 'republic', for citizenship, for American freedom to continue to mean something, it had to literally be re-revolutionized, that everyone should feel the thrill the founding fathers felt when they broke away from the British. The first big event after the constitution was the Whiskey Rebellion! And even the Civil War amounted to a revolution, by southern conservatives... some say there WOULDA been more revolutions in the 20th century but they got derailed by the World Wars, which made America way more totalitarian (not necessarily evil like fascism and communism, but massively empowered the state.) The 60s also was a near miss, an almost-revolution, and I was around the 1999-2000 protests which amounted to a stillborn revolution. American freedom, without which American identity is hollow, MUST be renewed by radicalism. But you're right that the current power structure is too strong... as the TAZ points out http://www.hermetic.com/bey/taz_cont.html our revolutionary acts need to be inventive, new, we can't attack it head on. But I don't have the answers... and I've partly removed myself from the game, by moving to another revolutionary polity in Israel... Yes I think American identity IS something real– it is about freedom to be renewed, reinvented, to pursue ‘happiness’ and an infinite number of interests and hobbies and careers, without barriers to entry based on color or ethnicity or religion. The willingness to embrace that constant renewal makes one an American, I think.

But that’s hand in hand, as you say, with revolution, you hit the nail on the head Mike. Some of the founders, especially Jefferson, envisaged revolutions once a generation! That was part of the rationale for the right to bear arms… that in order for the ‘republic’, for citizenship, for American freedom to continue to mean something, it had to literally be re-revolutionized, that everyone should feel the thrill the founding fathers felt when they broke away from the British. The first big event after the constitution was the Whiskey Rebellion!

And even the Civil War amounted to a revolution, by southern conservatives… some say there WOULDA been more revolutions in the 20th century but they got derailed by the World Wars, which made America way more totalitarian (not necessarily evil like fascism and communism, but massively empowered the state.) The 60s also was a near miss, an almost-revolution, and I was around the 1999-2000 protests which amounted to a stillborn revolution. American freedom, without which American identity is hollow, MUST be renewed by radicalism. But you’re right that the current power structure is too strong… as the TAZ points out http://www.hermetic.com/bey/taz_cont.html our revolutionary acts need to be inventive, new, we can’t attack it head on.

But I don’t have the answers… and I’ve partly removed myself from the game, by moving to another revolutionary polity in Israel…

]]> By: mushroom http://newjerutalmud.wordpress.com/2009/04/13/land-of-plenty/#comment-50 mushroom Tue, 14 Apr 2009 21:23:18 +0000 http://newjerutalmud.wordpress.com/?p=52#comment-50 That's good analysis. I'll have to think about it awhile. Thanks. That’s good analysis. I’ll have to think about it awhile. Thanks.

]]> By: Mike Vincenti http://newjerutalmud.wordpress.com/2009/04/13/land-of-plenty/#comment-49 Mike Vincenti Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:37:06 +0000 http://newjerutalmud.wordpress.com/?p=52#comment-49 America, in my opinion, is still stifled by English tradition. Freedom of mind and spirit as it is championed in the "American Dream" is a rather expensive endeavor. Capitalism strives on consumerism and in a land where green paper is as renewable as the credit line you claim it is (which it is not), idealism is traded like a commodity for the goods and services available. This, of and within itself, is not bad- it is a luxury. The price paid for such goods and services are all part of the financial architecture of American culture (read English culture). The real price paid is a total lack of true American identity. This was the most interesting part of your post. And it is what encouraged me to engage in dialogue. I agree with most of what you say. I only have a different take on the matter... I am mostly Italian with a little German in me while living in America under English tradition while under the influence of Christian thought and dogma but at the same time live in a uniquely large Jewish population during which I find myself more and more atheist and antiestablishment. So what am I? Who am I? I am a computer tech and I am a rock and roll drummer. Tradition has served me no purpose and so long as we learn from history, tradition, like religion, serves to temper and mould the spirit and mind. A livelihood void of tradition and religion is like putting a blank canvas before an artist. Therefore, if America is as you say it is and is unique in that it is "founded on an ideal" (which I whole-heartedly believe is true), we as "REAL" Americans ought to justify our being not by the traditions and religions of empires past- but through revolution, let us claim our own essence and be tied not to tradition or religion but bound by our own principles that are free from previous coercion (whether it be political or religious). Americanism is the passion of the artist, of the philosopher, of the musician and of the poet. So long as the current power structure that extends beyond the political boundaries of America does not interfere with the endeavors of its citizens, America will be a great place to live. America, in my opinion, is still stifled by English tradition. Freedom of mind and spirit as it is championed in the “American Dream” is a rather expensive endeavor. Capitalism strives on consumerism and in a land where green paper is as renewable as the credit line you claim it is (which it is not), idealism is traded like a commodity for the goods and services available. This, of and within itself, is not bad- it is a luxury. The price paid for such goods and services are all part of the financial architecture of American culture (read English culture). The real price paid is a total lack of true American identity. This was the most interesting part of your post. And it is what encouraged me to engage in dialogue. I agree with most of what you say. I only have a different take on the matter…
I am mostly Italian with a little German in me while living in America under English tradition while under the influence of Christian thought and dogma but at the same time live in a uniquely large Jewish population during which I find myself more and more atheist and antiestablishment. So what am I? Who am I?
I am a computer tech and I am a rock and roll drummer. Tradition has served me no purpose and so long as we learn from history, tradition, like religion, serves to temper and mould the spirit and mind. A livelihood void of tradition and religion is like putting a blank canvas before an artist. Therefore, if America is as you say it is and is unique in that it is “founded on an ideal” (which I whole-heartedly believe is true), we as “REAL” Americans ought to justify our being not by the traditions and religions of empires past- but through revolution, let us claim our own essence and be tied not to tradition or religion but bound by our own principles that are free from previous coercion (whether it be political or religious). Americanism is the passion of the artist, of the philosopher, of the musician and of the poet.
So long as the current power structure that extends beyond the political boundaries of America does not interfere with the endeavors of its citizens, America will be a great place to live.

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