Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Frightened and Demoralized

On Monday Tom and I watched Michael Moore's documentary, Sicko. It was quite interesting.

Here's a lengthy quote from Tony Benn who is a former Member of the British Parliament:

"I think democracy is the most revolutionary thing in the world. Far more revolutionary than socialist ideas, or anybody else's idea. Because if you have power, you use it to meet the needs of your community. And this idea of choice which capital talks about, 'you've got to have a choice,' choice depends on the freedom to choose. If you're shackled with debt, you don't have a freedom to choose.

People in debt become hopeless and hopeless people don't vote. They always say everyone should vote, but I think if the poor in Britain or the United States turned out and voted for people who represent their interests it would be a real democratic revolution. So they don't want it to happen....

See I think there are two ways in which people are controlled. First of all, frighten people, and secondly, demoralize them. An educated, healthy, and confident nation is harder to govern. and I think there's an element in the thinking of some people: 'We don't want people to be educated, healthy, and confident because they would get out of control.'

The top 1% of the worlds' population own 80% of the world's wealth. It's incredible that people put up with it, but they're poor, they're demoralized, they're frightened. And therefore, they think perhaps the safest thing to do is to take orders and hope for the best."

Hmm. How many of us feel this way?

I think Mr. Benn is a on to something. And I think we can learn from his wisdom.

Time to forget about doing the safest thing, and begin to do the best thing.

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For anyone interested, I posted my April 20th snow photos here.

4 comments:

Gardenia said...

I feel this way too. The thing is though, it takes a multi millionaire to be able to make it to the Presidential race with any impact - so that sort of divorces the whole process from the majority of the American people I think. In the U.S. I think Johnathan Edwards was the only candidate that might, I say, "might" empathize with the average citizen - but he was scooted out quickly.

Cherie said...

That whole needing to a be multi millionaire thing really puts the kibosh on the deal, you're right about that, Gardenia. Frustrating.

If only we could all get together behind a man or woman of the people. I mean, we have the voting power. We just are kept so self-absorbed that we don't realize the potential we have as an electorate.

Sigh...

cecily said...

We are living in a messed up world that's for sure. It really sucks. Power to the powerless I say... hey, didn't Jesus do something about that?! Thank goodness someone did!

Cherie said...

You are right, Cecily, that Jesus did something about that. If only he could run for President??!! Nah - that'd mess up everything. :D