We Have the Power

“We have power.  We have the power to become ungovernable.  We have the power to stop the system.  We have the power to undermine the legitimacy of the system.” So says Kevin Zeese, lawyer, political-activist and co-organizer of the Occupy Movement in an interview posted on truthdig! on March 7, 2017.  Chris Hedges interviews Mr. Zeese, who reflects on multiple topics, offering opinions about the current status of resistance to the current presidential administration, the media and the strengths of alternative conduits of information as well as other political issues. With controversial statements such as “Trump is building on Obama and the Democrats created the environment where Trump could flourish”, Mr. Zeese also talks about the need for a third party and the difficulties of circumventing the two-party system.

Kevin Zeese

Whatever change you seek “It always begins locally…its all about building power–to build power, to take office and to create a movement that cannot be ignored.”  ~ Kevin Zeese

Kevin Zeese is currently the co-director of Its Our Economy, which “is dedicated to changing the dynamic of the current economy designed for the wealthiest to an economy built on principles of equity, cooperation, and sustainability.”  He also hosts the Clearing the Fog radio show.

The original Occupy Movement has evolved into Popular Resistance, a resource and information clearinghouse for the growing culture of nonviolent direct action, resistance and civil disobedience.

A “Deep State” Coup?

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Some supporters of the current administration have accused the intelligence agencies of attempting to wage a deep state coup against the President. Meanwhile, some critics of this “Loser President” open embrace such activity.

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Glenn Greenwald of The Intercept explains what the deep state is and critiques the idea and implications of a deep state coup, warning that such a development signals the end of democracy.

Free Speech and Tolerance

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The “truth” or a “right” position is often not as cut and dried as we would like to believe.  What do you feel when you read something like this: “[Richard] Spencer has used his right to free speech to call for “peaceful ethnic cleansing” — presumably this entails scaring people into fleeing and/or using the legal system to forcibly purge all people of color and indigenous peoples from the United States”?  Do you—taking the position of a free speech purist or absolutist–believe this person (Spencer) has the right to speak such words in a public forum?  On the other hand, do you resonate more with a position like “Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them.” ~Mirah Curzer

Akin to a seekingGood posting regarding objectivity and neutrality, Julia Serano, author if Whipping Girl, presents a challenge to our ideas regarding free speech.

While Ms. Serano posted the original article a couple weeks ago, the response was so strong, on the 19th of Feb, she posted a follow-up.