You Say You Want a Revolution?

ratbastage · 06-03-2008, 02:10 PM

Operation Spartacus

I don't like my government. I like my country even though it has lost sight of what it's supposed to stand for, and I like the people even though they're being misled, but I definitely do not like my government. And although this proposal is being delivered in American terms I'm certain it will prove effective in every modern country that wants to enhance democracy's role in life.

Now, we all have our causes. They're everywhere, a worldwide epidemic because of the challenges we face. Yet as much as we may believe in them, I fear very few of our causes will ever amount to anything for as long as our governments ignore us out of the belief that we're too stupid to put aside our differences and build a consensus of opinion. At least that's the impression they've given me with all of their condescending lies. So I'm thinking we should do something about it.

Why not fire our government? It is ours, after all, so we can do anything with it we want.

Seriously - firing our government can be done quickly, peacefully, and without breaking any laws whatsoever. All we need to do is demand one little addition to an existing constitutional amendment, the one that imposes term limits on the administrative branch but not the legislative or judicial branches of our government, and make our requests known without coming together in groups larger than twenty people. That way there won't be any excuses to disperse protesters with violence. Or non-lethal violence, as seems to have become their primary means of suppression (we're not looking to get anyone shot, not with rubber or any other kinds of bullets).

Peaceful, fast and simple - that's the point. And despite the fact that we live in a republic and not a democracy, we don't even have to wait for the issue to be put onto a ballot (although we CAN use the upcoming national elections to emphasize our point by strengthening our protest up until then, and longer if necessary). That's why I'm suggesting that we get our government's undivided attention before the end of the year.

Here are a few simple steps to make that happen...

1.) DRINK WATER MONDAYS. This isn't being done to hurt anyone, especially not the few remaining mom and pop shops that are out there, but to let the restaurant industry know we're aware that a majority of their profits come from selling sodas, so the primary focus should be fast food restaurants.

2.) SLEEP OVER TUESDAYS. Take your family over to a friend's house for the night, turn your electricity down to a minimum, do the same with the heat or air conditioning, and let the utilities know that we very well may need them right now, but only about half as much as they think we do.

3.) GAS-FREE WEDNESDAYS. Buy gas the day before or the day after. Hell, buy it in advance the weekend before so the oil industry doesn't reach into your pocket for an extra nickel a gallon in the meantime. Just don't go to gas stations on Wednesdays.

4.) NO BULLSHIT THURSDAYS. Ignore the media. Don't buy a paper, or cancel your subscription. Don't go to the movies, don't buy any magazines or music, and don't watch any television. Let 'the message' float freely through space like the piece of crap that it is.

5,) MAKE GOOD FRIDAYS. Relax, you've done well. Yet there's a chance we might not be taken seriously. So this is the perfect time to threaten to boycott the advertising campaign that Christmas has devolved into. Don't buy any presents no matter how tempting the sale might be because this protest will probably take some time and we'll need some leverage on the Friday after Thanksgiving, because that's when the retail industry makes its projections of whether they'll make money or at least break even during the holiday season.

I know it is going to work. And when we're finished we'll have greater input into and control over our individual and collective destinies.

This is democracy in action, improving itself through its own free will. Come be a part of it, won't you?

My name is Sean and I'll answer any questions you might have - personally, right here - so don't hold back on anything.

7960 · 06-03-2008, 02:40 PM

Originally Posted by ratbastage

All we need to do is demand one little addition to an existing constitutional amendment, the one that imposes term limits on the administrative branch but not the legislative or judicial branches of our government,

why not the legislative or judicial branches?

Here are a few simple steps to make that happen...

1.) DRINK WATER MONDAYS. This isn't being done to hurt anyone, especially not the few remaining mom and pop shops that are out there, but to let the restaurant industry know we're aware that a majority of their profits come from selling sodas, so the primary focus should be fast food restaurants.

this won't affect the govt

2.) SLEEP OVER TUESDAYS. Take your family over to a friend's house for the night, turn your electricity down to a minimum, do the same with the heat or air conditioning, and let the utilities know that we very well may need them right now, but only about half as much as they think we do.

I don't know about you but when I go to sleep the electricity is turned down a minimum and heat/ac are adjusted because we're sleeping and don't need it as much. Sleeping somewhere else isn't going to reduce anything.

3.) GAS-FREE WEDNESDAYS. Buy gas the day before or the day after. Hell, buy it in advance the weekend before so the oil industry doesn't reach into your pocket for an extra nickel a gallon in the meantime. Just don't go to gas stations on Wednesdays.

So they make Wednesday's profit on tuesday or thursday......what does this prove?

4.) NO BULLSHIT THURSDAYS. Ignore the media. Don't buy a paper, or cancel your subscription. Don't go to the movies, don't buy any magazines or music, and don't watch any television. Let 'the message' float freely through space like the piece of crap that it is.

papers get their money from advertising, not subscriptions - won't do anything
movies......it's thursday, who goes to movies on thursday?
magazines/music.....they might feel it but if all you're doing is moving a purchase to a different day you're not accomplishing anything
tv.......they don't know if you watch tv or not, again, accomplishes nothing

5,) MAKE GOOD FRIDAYS. .......

huh?

I know it is going to work.

how is it going to work if all you're doing is moving purchases to another day? you're not STOPPING anything. nothing you're proposing is going to get anyone's attention.

WickedLou9 · 06-03-2008, 03:01 PM

7960 took more time saying it, but all of that is bupkis.

1) How about you just don't go out to eat? It's a waste of money.
2.) SLEEP OVER TUESDAYS - I'm not sure what the goal of this is. Use less energy? Ok that's a noble goal, but you don't have to sleep over someone elses house to do it. Replace incandescent bulbs with CFL bulbs. Get a programmable thermostat, insulate and seal up your house. try
setting the A/C at 74 instead of 72 in the summer. etc.

3) gas Free? yeah people will buy the day before or the day after. The only way this would work would be if people didn't drive at all on wednesday, and for those of us who work, well we don't have a choice. How about starting up a car-pool with some co-wokers? That will make a real difference.
4) Yeah sure. Stay willfully uninformed about what is happening in the world. That will teach the man who is boss!

5) yeah I don't really know what you are talking about. Christmas is bad! don't buy things! poop.

thewise1 · 06-03-2008, 03:08 PM

So you hurt business to get the government's attention?

Brilliant, maybe they can fire you since they can no longer afford you.

Ardentfrost · 06-03-2008, 03:09 PM

The first few paragraphs are about changing the government.

All the "steps" are about consumerism.

Not sure what those two things have to do with each other in a non-communist state

Ardentfrost · 06-03-2008, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by thewise1

So you hurt business to get the government's attention?

Brilliant, maybe they can fire you since they can no longer afford you.

Dang, beat me by a minute. I gotta type faster

WickedLou9 · 06-03-2008, 03:12 PM

kinggovernor · 06-03-2008, 03:13 PM

how many boards are you going to copy/paste this on?

7960 · 06-03-2008, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by kinggovernor

how many boards are you going to copy/paste this on?

my first reaction was to google a few sentences but it didn't turn anything up.

where else is this?

kinggovernor · 06-03-2008, 03:25 PM

Originally Posted by 7960

my first reaction was to google a few sentences but it didn't turn anything up.

where else is this?

You Say You Want a Revolution? - Democracy Forums

http://www.politicalforum.com/politi...evolution.html

thewise1 · 06-03-2008, 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by kinggovernor

You Say You Want a Revolution? - Democracy Forums

http://www.politicalforum.com/politi...evolution.html

7960 · 06-03-2008, 03:43 PM

Originally Posted by kinggovernor

You Say You Want a Revolution? - Democracy Forums

http://www.politicalforum.com/politi...evolution.html

so do we have this conversation again here or just go there and read the non-answers to the questions?

Scrum · 06-03-2008, 03:46 PM

This list is just silly. It won't affect the government at all.

kinggovernor · 06-03-2008, 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by 7960

so do we have this conversation again here or just go there and read the non-answers to the questions?

lettuce just enjoy the moment

YouTube Video

7960 · 06-03-2008, 03:53 PM

I especially like when he's asked "how will this fire the govt?" and he answers (paraphrased) "because it will fire them."

ratbastage · 06-06-2008, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by WickedLou9

7960 took more time saying it, but all of that is bupkis.

1) How about you just don't go out to eat? It's a waste of money.
2.) SLEEP OVER TUESDAYS - I'm not sure what the goal of this is. Use less energy? Ok that's a noble goal, but you don't have to sleep over someone elses house to do it. Replace incandescent bulbs with CFL bulbs. Get a programmable thermostat, insulate and seal up your house. try
setting the A/C at 74 instead of 72 in the summer. etc.

3) gas Free? yeah people will buy the day before or the day after. The only way this would work would be if people didn't drive at all on wednesday, and for those of us who work, well we don't have a choice. How about starting up a car-pool with some co-wokers? That will make a real difference.
4) Yeah sure. Stay willfully uninformed about what is happening in the world. That will teach the man who is boss!

5) yeah I don't really know what you are talking about. Christmas is bad! don't buy things! poop.

You're right, you don't, but you've posted here how many times to disprove your ignorance.

You're apparently interested, if only to use me as a foil.

Happy trails!

ratbastage · 06-06-2008, 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by thewise1

So you hurt business to get the government's attention?

Brilliant, maybe they can fire you since they can no longer afford you.

The point is not to hurt business, or the economy. The point is to get the government's attention so we can tell them what we want for a change. Instead of lobbyists and other creatures of habit buying their votes or changing their minds with money.

ratbastage · 06-06-2008, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

The first few paragraphs are about changing the government.

All the "steps" are about consumerism.

Not sure what those two things have to do with each other in a non-communist state

The only real vote people have is with our dollars, so this amounts to a show of unity to prove we aren't as incapable of insight and self-determination as our reputed leaders are.

ratbastage · 06-06-2008, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by WickedLou9

Brilliant. If a picture is worth a thousand words, this one still says nothing. Anything informative to offer? Anything at all?

ratbastage · 06-06-2008, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by kinggovernor

how many boards are you going to copy/paste this on?

Four. Does that mean I'm not showing enough initiative, or that I've somehow offended you by exposing you to the same information I've shared with others and not given you the proper respect of delivering it to you first?

How is this relevant? Seriously?