lets talk about civil disobedience

So RooRshack, i wouldn't fill out my census form, even for representation, because the representatives don't really do a good job representing the majority of people including me.

 

Well if you have no interest in politics or help from the government, it makes no difference to you, and I see nothing wrong with not filling one out, if you'd prefer not to. I was simply making an example of how this contemporary and popular act of disobediance undermines the people who are doing it in the name of laws they don't like. It's quite ironic, really.

*edit* I was wrong, his neg rep actully said "silly sheep cant see the forrest from the trees" Lookin edumicated there budday

 

We should not pay for services not rendered. The government is NOT working for the PEOPLE, they are working to line their OWN self-serving pockets.

Any other situation - they would be FIRED. Why does this not apply to this situation? It worked for our ancestors... so.... maybe we shall revisit the history of our great nation and follow what worked and avoid what did not.

 

Yes! We need to organize massive boycotts. There are a number of disparate groups and websites (this one is the first that comes to mind http://www.ethicalconsumer.org/Boycotts.asp) that target corporations for social and environmental abuses. The problem is, they are disparate - and this minimizes the impact.

The only solution that I can see to this is to declare open warfare on one corporation and make known all of it's subsidiaries and literally make it taboo to use purchase any services or products from this corporation.

Here in my little neck of the woods, no one I associate with shops at Wal-Mart. Now, I dare say that there are more worthy adversaries than Wal-Mart/Sam's Club, but the reason Wal-Mart is so obvious is because you can appeal to liberals and conservatives on this one.

Liberals hate the notorious human rights practices of Wal-Mart with regard to their Chinese and South East Asian sweat shop factories and conservatives can be appealed to by highlighting the fact that Wal-Mart has deliberately and almost single-handedly destroyed small main street retailers leaving downtown storefronts empty all over the country by continuing the practice of predatory pricing (Wal-Mart will willingly take a loss during the first few years of operation on many products just to drive it's competitors out of business).

Corporate boycotts need to become culturally engrained - they must become so widespread and long term that they have a real effect. If you could convince half a nation to completely stop supporting an industry or corporation for a year - you'll have brought that industry or corporation to its knees. It's the only the power you have left - as the OP said, you're vote is meaningless (but you should still cast it, no matter what, because your legislators need to be reminded that you're still paying attention and holding them accountable for their actions).

What power would Shell Corp have in Washington if the citizens of the United States simply stopped using supporting them with their income? It's true that you'd make other oil companies very happy, but I guarantee you that they'd take notice. And you're legislators might start noticing you again too

The fact of the matter is, not enough people are conscious of this yet, but that consciousness is growing and if you're tired of being subjected to the privatization of the world you live in, if you're tired of being living and laboring as a debt serf in this system of mercantile feudalism, then make a conscious effort to spread your awareness, convince people of the truth - it's not hard, because the evidence is all around you and it's on your side. Stop shopping at Wal-Mart for a start.

Make an effort to become as independent as you can. Get out of debt and avoid debt as you would slavery - haven't you paid enough interest to the banks and their credit cards? You've supported them with outrageous and arguably illegal (certainly unethical) fees and interest rates, and you paid them again with the bailouts (not that you had any say in the matter). How much is enough? I can assure you that it's never enough for them - they'd own you if they could - maybe they already do. You need to talk about this, and then talk about it more. Make your feelings known and smack the asses of those who still have their heads buried in the sand. If any of this matters to you, if your freedom matters to you, then you need to adopt this as a lifestyle and regard it as the most important thing you can do with your life.

 

This post (I think) assumes that one's "representative" gives a damn about his/her constituents in the first place. With precious few exceptions your representatives are corporate lackeys - especially if they've managed to achieve any kind of influence within the State or Federal Government. The bribery begins with campaign finance - even at the lowest levels If your congressman was forced to live on what the tax payer actually paid them, then you might actually find yourself living in a representative republic - the United States government is a representative republic in name only - in practice, it is nothing more than a public relations department for Big Banks, Big Pharma, Big Energy and the military-industrial complex - I suspect that the same is true for Canada and the UK.