Occupy Your Mind

[Bill Floyd]

Imagine if all those kids just chucked their cell phones and iPads instead.  Imagine them realizing an eternal drum circle isn't going to do the trick.

Imagine if the cops had treated the Tea Party gatherings the same way they treated these kneeling, defenseless youths.

Imagine the epiphany of one single day trader who comes to grips with the fact that his innovative numbers games are corrosive and destructive, and that he's already got enough money to last him five lifetimes.  Imagine the "job creators" actually doing so, instead of orchestrating an endless devolution of mergers and downsizings and restructurings that costs jobs and dilutes the quality of goods and services so they can skim just a little more off the top, imagine them not depending on crass marketing gimmicks to make up the difference, imagine the American consumer not falling for it every single fucking time.

You say you want a revolution.

   

[Brenda Kelsch]

Yes....imagine!  Thank you!

[Kristine_ES]

thank you for saying what you did, when you did, Bill.  right on, every word.

while packing and moving our facility, we came across plastic American flags we set on the lunch tables for different holidays: Fourth of July, Memorial Day, particularly.  would someone please tell me why we let our little plastic American flags say "made in china"? 

i don't know why some humans are more in touch with their deadly sins... but all I know is... when I read the article about strangers paying for people's layaways at KMart, I felt relieved to be a human being, for a little while.

[Gita]

The "job creators" have moved all their factories to China and Malaysia. The only way to put America back to work is to bring the jobs home. It is frikking immoral to make toys and clothes and purses and baby formula over there while the people over here can't afford to keep roofs over their heads. Google Slab City. See what joblessness has done. Loved this and faved it.

[Angela]

The seven deadly sins - pride, greed, envy, lust, anger, gluttony, and sloth - drive it all, and no one wants to give them up until the bottom drops out (myself included).  I say yes to a revolution, while hoping for one that starts within us.  Well written and thought provoking, Bill.  Your images were well chosen.

[Robert Crisman]

This was a well-written piece. But what you did in the first five sentences is ask us to imagine what it would be like if these various symptoms of the deep capitalist malaise were to disappear. Anyone who wants a revolution is going to have to realize to begin with that none of these things are going to disappear of their own accord. Just the idea of cops, day traders et al., renouncing their powers and privileges--well, as the old saying goes, no devil ever cut off its claws this side of gunpoint...

I'm interested, given all this, to know what you might propose to get rid of the symptoms and the disease. As old Karl said, "Hitherto, philosophers have merely interpreted the world. The point is to change it."

[Ron. Lavalette]

John would love this.  Karl would love this.  I love this.  Imagine.

Also Faved it.

[Teresa]

YES!!!  YES!!!  Not twenty minutes ago I was opening a piece of junk mail from the bank, a lure to open another credit account.  I noticed that the gray envelope felt like but wasn't velvet.  They went to a lot of trouble to think of and execute that idea.  They sat around tables trying to figure out how to tip ambivalence, sucker us in.  I stood in my kitchen fondling that envelope for probably two minutes because it really did feel good, then I ripped it up and tossed it in a hefty.  Poor tree.  FAVED.

[bolton carley]

i love a mash-up.  great words.  so strong in your conviction.  i always appreciate that!

[Mike Handley]

Line two ... yes. Same song, different singers.

[Brittany]

If it was being sung like this more people would listen.