I am sitting here by the woodstove, catching myself up on some of the news around the world and thinking, and just feel the need to, ya know... post a blog, i guess. On Black Friday aka Buy-Nothing Day, we saw the death of a temporary Wal-Mart employee trampled by crazed shoppers. Then a week later, a factory is occupied by workers in Chicago who refuse to leave until they are paid what they are owed by the company after Bank of America corporation cut off the company's line of credit. Then on Saturday a 16 year-old anarchist boy is shot dead by police in Greece sparking riots in the streets of athens, global outrage and solidarity events across Europe.
I am trying to figure out why these events are so woven together in my head. Clearly, they are not causally linked, but I can't help but feel that there is some kind of thread here.
CONSUMERISM, CORPORATIONS, POLICE
The death of the walmart worker was a crime of the consumers and symbolized the brutality of consumerism. It sheds important light on just how ridiculous the collective American buying habit has become. ... The occupation of Republic window factory was sparked by a move by a giant Corporation that represents how corporations control us all. The workers' response was to stand up strong (or sit down), and there has been an outpouring of solidarity, to the point of Obama coming down on their side and divestment in BOA until the credit line is reinstated. Then, not a couples days later, anarchists across Europe are rising up against the authority of the State sparked by the death of an innocent teen by the gun of police.
Part of me knows that all of these things will resolve themselves and fade into recent history, registering as important in the minds of some, and going entirely unnoticed by many. Another part of me, wants to draw some kind of inarticulable conclusion here.
I want the implosion of consumerism. I want worker-run factories. I want revolts against the policestate. What is going to happen? Will anything change? What am I supposed to do about it? I feel so useless as i hit 'submit' or 'join' such and such a group. I feel hopeful today that we the people can take back some control over our lives.
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