The three aims of the tyrant are, one, the humiliation of his subjects; he knows that a mean-spirited man will not conspire against anybody; two, the creation of mistrust among them; for a tyrant is not to be overthrown until men begin to have confidence in one another -- and this is the reason why tyrants are at war with the good; they are under the idea that their power is endangered by them, not only because they will not be ruled despotically, but also because they are too loyal to one another and to other men, and do not inform against one another or against other men -- three, the tyrant desires that all his subjects shall be incapable of action, for no one attempts what is impossible and they will not attempt to overthrow a tyranny if they are powerless.
I have written about how I view OWS as just the start of the 99% realizing that they are being systematically controlled and turned into serfs for the ruling oligarchy - the concept of kleptocracy. Just as Aristotle said, the ruling elite will stop at nothing to keep serfs, the 99%, in line.Aristotle.
I have also commented about how the police kept the media far away during their crackdowns in Zuccotti Park (Liberty Park). It happened again last night, clearly to prevent the public from seeing images of their efforts to clear the square. There were reports at the time via the live feed of protesters being tear gassed and dragged away by their arms and legs, and later of the use of pepper spray and batons.
The video below was from this morning, when the police were keeping protesters out of the park.
The protesters show a copy of a court order that protesters be allowed in the park and are (predictably) denied access to the park. Then the police appear to punch a woman (at around 1:45); although, the footage does not show the actual blow - but you can pretty clearly infer from her suddenly being on the ground in obvious pain what happened.
If this is what you see, imagine what happened last night, with no cameras and videos to constrain police aggression.
As reported by http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/
The area around Zuccotti Park was subject last night to a 9/11 level lockdown over peaceful, lawful protests by a small number of people. No credible case has been made by the officialdom that the protestors had violated any laws. Martial law level restrictions were in place. Subways were shut down. Local residents were not allowed to leave their buildings. People were allowed into the area only if they showed ID with an address in the ‘hood. Media access was limited to those with official press credentials, which is almost certainly a small minority of those who wanted to cover the crackdown (the Times’ Media Decoder blog says that journalists are describing the tactics, as we did, as a media blackout). Moreover, reading the various news stories, it appears they were kept well away from the actual confrontation (for instance, the reported tear gassing of the Occupiers in what had been the kitchen, as well as separate accounts of the use of pepper spray and batons). News helicopters were forced to land. As of 10 AM, reader Wentworth reported that police helicopters were out in force buzzing lower Manhattan.Perhaps even more alarming and insidious in this episode is that there is a “police” officer videotaping protesters. Is there anyone out there who still doesn’t grasp the gravity of this?? This is suppose to be a free country, but with "police" taping protesters it makes one wonder what is next. It is standard procedure in police states world wide to video those opposed to the ruling kleptocracy. Next usually come the "visits" in the night.
That poor blond woman who got punched has paid her dues. She can proudly tell future generations: “I shed my blood for this country!”
The mere fact that those police did such a reprehensible act in full view of cameras tells the tale. They feel invincible and righteous. Classic authoritarian mind set.
It appears that Bloomberg is the bell wether for the rest of the State and Local Authorities. He is ‘pushing the envelope’ against the protesters. The more he gets away with, the more he will try to ‘accomplish.’ The sinister ties of the NYC police administration with the Feds suggests a stepping stone approach will be implemented nationwide. (Or already is so being engaged in.) Today we learned that the Mayors of at least 18 Cities had a joint conference call to discuss "tactics."
Although various right wing tea-party fascists seem to have appropriated this wonderful quotation, I think what we are seeing before us today in Liberty Plaza (and elsewhere around this country) is exactly what Thomas Jefferson was talking about when he wrote the following words:
The British ministry have so long hired their gazetteers to repeat and model into every form lies about our being in anarchy, that the world has at length believed them, the English nation has believed them, the ministers themselves have come to believe them, and what is more wonderful, we have believed them ourselves. Yet where does this anarchy exist? Where did it ever exist, except in the single instance of Massachusets? And can history produce an instance of a rebellion so honourably conducted? I say nothing of it’s motives. They were founded in ignorance, not wickedness. God forbid we should ever be 20 years without such a rebellion. The people can not be all, and always, well informed. The part which is wrong will be discontented in proportion to the importance of the facts they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions it is a lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty. We have had 13 states independant 11 years. There has been one rebellion. That comes to one rebellion in a century and a half for each state. What country ever existed a century and a half without a rebellion? And what country can preserve it’s liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is it’s natural manure.Ladies and Gentlemen, our rights to free speech and free assembly are being taken from us before our eyes (when the "police" can't stop the media and protesters from capturing images).
When we saw protesters in Egypt and elsewhere in the Middle East, the Government applauded and defended them. When OWS happens in the US, they are deemed thugs and criminals (as quoted by Aristotle, the first step is "the humiliation of his subjects").
All we are getting and will continue to see on network and cable “news” apparatus is misinformation; that the protests were “dangerous”, and “dirty”, a “public risk”, etc., etc., The police state must be shown up for what they are, (brutal, violent, illegal and undemocratic) and held up in plain view of the public. More peaceful and truthful confrontation is absolutely necessary. I will be there offering up my head to a police club. I just hope someone else gets the video up on youtube.
Remember Aristotle's words " three, the tyrant desires that all his subjects shall be incapable of action, for no one attempts what is impossible and they will not attempt to overthrow a tyranny if they are powerless."
Remember Aristotle's words " three, the tyrant desires that all his subjects shall be incapable of action, for no one attempts what is impossible and they will not attempt to overthrow a tyranny if they are powerless."
Great post. Everyone who reads this should send it/tweet it/ do whatever you can to get this message out!
ReplyDeleteI agree, this is about more than just Occupy Wall Street. Our Democracy is being stolen.
ReplyDeleteNYPD Releases Journalists Amid Criticism Over Arrests
ReplyDeleteMichael Oreskes, the Associated Press' senior managing editor for U.S. news, responded Tuesday night to the NYPD's arrests of several journalists in the morning raid, including AP reporter Karen Matthews and photographer Seth Wenig.
"Journalists should not be restricted from access to news events or detained for attempting to do their jobs," Oreskes said. "We were unhappy that two of our staff members were swept up in the police operation, but we appreciate the NYPD’s decision to release them."
The Society of Professional Journalists condemned the NYPD’s raid, which not only barred but led to several reported incidents of violence against members of the media.
"We know that as protests escalate it may be difficult for police to distinguish bystanders from participants, but it is clear now that many journalists have been erroneously arrested without cause," SPJ President John Ensslin said. "These errors must be rectified immediately."
The NYPD has also released Daily News reporter Matthew Lysiak without any charges, according to a spokesperson for the newspaper (which ironically cheered the eviction).
Well said!
ReplyDeleteYes, there’s a kleptocracy under way, but I submit – shockingly – that it’s a kleptocracy of the ruling left! Bloomberg and his ilk own New York, Obama is either the Manchurian candidate (Judith Anderson played by George Soros) or they’re a cabal of world class power brokers, left funded and perhaps even Muslim controlled.
ReplyDeleteIf this were a right wing event, the press would be screaming from the pinnacles of Rockefeller Center; the UN would be involved; Ward What ever his name was from Colorado would be shrieking about Indian rights. Instead, academics, like that little Berkeley fart, Robert Reich, are holding a teach in. Give me a break.
Notice the emergence of anti semitic remarks from time to time – the Administration seems to have almost convinced the American Jewish committee that they’re not Muslim supporters, they’ve soothed Hollywood, the dupes.--- D.C. Bel Air, CA
Hegemonic ideologists working hard to keep the masses in line. USA is as scary as many other nations even under dictatorship. People think they live in a democracy but there is so much they don't know. Yeah, we can vote but that is such a small piece of the pie. Hopeless in Houston.
ReplyDeleteI ... place economy among the first and most important of republican virtues, and public debt as the greatest of dangers to be feared... And to preserve (our) independence, we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. We must make our election between economy and liberty, or profusion and servitude. - Thomas Jefferson, from a letter to Governor Plumer, July 21, 1816.
ReplyDeleteThe genius of our ruling class is that it has kept a majority of the people from ever questioning the inequity of a system where most people drudge along, paying heavy taxes for which they get nothing in return. - Gore Vidal
ReplyDeleteIf the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their money, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them, will deprive the people of their property until their children will wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. - Thomas Jefferson
ReplyDeleteThe modern banking system manufactures money out of nothing. The process is perhaps the most astounding piece of sleight of hand that was ever invented. Banking was conceived in inequity and born in sin... Bankers own the earth. Take it away from them but leave them the power to create money, and, with a flick of a pen, they will create enough money to buy it back again... Take this great power away from them, or if you want to continue to be the slaves of bankers and pay the cost of your own slavery, then let bankers continue to create money and control credit.
ReplyDeleteDemonstrations can effect positive solutions, stimulate directions to benefit society, true, yet there’s an interesting opportunity which I’ve yet to hear be mentioned in this spate of Occupy The City. When people feel disempowered, when they feel that their prospects are limited, that the quality of their lives will not be improved, kindling for rebellion is set. When there is optimism, clear water flows.
ReplyDeleteTo take this to the industry in which I’ve spent my life, aviation is the key. Governments of depressed societies recognize that their power rests on the satisfaction of their populations and improvement of living conditions is the key to that. As we speak, China, whose agenda and goals are contemplated in generations, rather than in decades, is in process of moving polluting industry inland ( and they are the world’s greatest air polluters due to coal mining ) thus clearing the skies above their cities. (As an aside and in demonstration of the goals of Chinese to live well, the largest selling car in China is BUICK!) At the same time they are planning and building ten new cities to accommodate 100,000,000 people each, each centered with a major, internationally capable airport. Korea is building New Songdo, a city and airport of similar scope. England is contemplating an airport in the Thames Estuary, major in scope to restore aviation supremacy to Great Britain.
At the same time, Los Angeles politicians, pandering to PC hope to limit LAX, LAX the premiere destination for Asians, those for whom these largest airplanes and huge new cities are being built and planned. They fail to see that the greatest immediate stimulus to increase the incomes of the minority population relates to business from LAX, expansion of LAX and funds the airport stimulates – it is already the second largest revenue generator in the County, the “business” being the greatest. As great as is the opportunity from the airport itself, as a destination for cargo and people, is the manufacture of airplanes and everything that goes into an airplane. The financial implication is enormous, beyond codifying for me, but easily within the reach of those who study such figures.
My postulation is that, faced with the myriad of problems brought to light by the Occupy movement, the government must announce a program to create wealth for all by the building of huge new airport hubs to stimulate growth as FedEx has done in Memphis and UPS has done in Louisville. These companies provide around 50% (!) of the income of those areas and have reversed the moribund depression of those areas, replaced it with optimism.
Optimism is the key, it vanquishes depression. Blame paralyzes; lets move on. Donald C.
I agree with most of the above comment. I'm ALL for money and jobs towards infrastructure. I also believe federal and state money should be poured into making America great!
ReplyDeleteHowever, I feel OWS protestors have strong points when it comes to corporate greed etc. The bonuses for the wealthy in companies that were bailed out by government, compared to unemployment benefits being cut to those hard working Americans who have lost their jobs... is sinful. - Mary Ann