Re: This is getting out of hand (was: Congress' reaction to AIG bonuses ...)

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: "lynn" <lynn () ecgincc com>
Date: March 22, 2009 3:45:42 PM EDT
To: "David Farber" <dave () farber net>
Cc: "Lauren Weinstein" <lauren () vortex com>
Subject: Re: [IP] Re:   This is getting out of hand (was: Congress'   
reaction to AIG bonuses ...)

> > From: "lynn" <lynn () ecgincc com>
> > Date: March 22, 2009 1:02:28 PM EDT
> > To: dave () farber net
> > Subject: Re: [IP] This is getting out of hand (was: Congress'  
> > reaction
> > to  AIG bonuses ...)
> ...
> > Look at the stark contrast. And you think we the people should not  
> > show
> > our anger? Often in our history showing our anger and other feelings
> > change the course of this country. Th last election is an example.
> > Chicago 1968 is another along with the entire movement.
> ...
>
> Interesting that Lynn mentions Chicago 1968.  That's a pretty good
> example of my concern.  A lot of angry people upset about a terrible
> situation, taking a dramatic and emotional stance.  And what did it
> get us?  Richard Nixon.  The antithesis of what the demonstrators
> presumably wanted in terms of policies.

It also got LBJ out of office which finally ended US participation in  
Viet
Nam.

I also mentioned the last election, which afaik was peaceful.


> It's OK to be upset, even angry.  I have no love for AIG execs.  My
> resources and lifestyle are pretty much as far away from those heights
> as it's possible to get.  But anger is not an excuse for not thinking
> clearly, or for taking actions that make a bad situation worse.

Anger is just the emotion befire clear thinking.

As to making a bad situation worse, I think the execs at AIG and the  
rest
of the finalcial institutions already did that.


> As long as we're in 1968, there's a saying from around then that
> seems pertinent -- "Keep your eyes on the prize" -- meaning, don't
> let distractions of the moment divert you from the real goal.

Unfortunately for many, the goal is food and housing, clothes for their
kids. have you seen the cost of a pair of kids sneakers these day?

People are wiped out financially. Seniors in retirement are trying to go
back to work. Thet are moving in with their children. They cannot afford
to live decently. On top of that the critters on the Hill want to raid
social security and medicare.

> Many of those fanning the flames of populist retribution against
> monies already paid are doing so purely since political winds are
> blowing in that direction right now.

The political winds are blowing because people cannt live. There is a  
huge
tent city of homeless outside of Sacromento that is going to be broken  
up.
Where will all these homeless people live?


If they can score political
> points even if it means pulling the economy down as a result -- well,
> that's the way the cookie crumbles, eh?  The same can be said of Lou
> Dobbs and his ilk -- just substitute rating points for political
> points.
>
> These guys play the masses -- that's us -- like a violin.

I think it's the opposite. Journalists are writing about what is going  
on
and people feelings about it.


> The time to step back and think especially clearly isn't when trying
> to deal with people you like, but specifically when attempting to
> determine what to do about people that you despise.

It is not a matter of liking or despising. It's a matter of survival for
too many. It's anger over a lifetime of savings lost to greed. It's a
metter  of betrayal of We the People by the politicians, bankers, etc.  
All
who had a finger or entire hand in creating this mess.

In the NYT by Frank Rich today:

Unless and until Barack Obama addresses the full depth of Americans’  
anger
with his full arsenal of policy smarts and political gifts, his  
presidency
and, worse, our economy will be paralyzed. It would be foolish to  
dismiss
as hyperbole the stark warning delivered by Paulette Altmaier of
Cupertino, Calif., in a letter to the editor published by The Times last
week: “President Obama may not realize it yet, but his Katrina moment  
has
arrived.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/22/opinion/22rich.html

> --Lauren--
> Lauren Weinstein
> lauren () vortex com
> Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800
> http://www.pfir.org/lauren
> Co-Founder, PFIR
>   - People For Internet Responsibility - http://www.pfir.org
> Co-Founder, NNSquad
>   - Network Neutrality Squad - http://www.nnsquad.org
> Founder, GCTIP - Global Coalition
>   for Transparent Internet Performance - http://www.gctip.org
> Founder, PRIVACY Forum - http://www.vortex.com
> Member, ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
> Lauren's Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com






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