"Voting and calling representatives won't do any good, we need a revolution! The whole system has to change!" I have said this myself in the past, and I have heard this from other people countless times.
"They would rather kill us all than change the system!" Said about the 1%.
I spent ten years in a revolutionary movement. I've never lived through a revolution, but I have talked to many people from Central and South America that have, and read about many revolutions in history.
Violent revolution is not a solution. It does change a lot of things in a seemingly "quick" fashion, but only because of years of work by a few individuals that were prepared for the moment of a mass uprising, and had a plan to take power. These people- for the most part- had their own agendas, and just ended up replacing the faces in power, and making cosmetic changes to the power structure. The masses of people have never been in power. There has never been a "people's government." (Iceland might be, but I haven't researched it enough yet. They did make a lot of changes without violence.)
And revolutions are wars, and wars are a nightmare. Everybody suffers. (A few psychopaths, like George H.W. Bush, prosper and thrive, and usually live to propagate more wars.)
There are 7 billion people on this planet, twice the population of all the civilizations before us, twice the population of the world in 1970, and we are running out of drinkable water on a global scale. Any mass death requires disposal of the dead, and treatment of wounded. We really don't have the resources for this. Our species can't afford to solve problems with violence anymore.
The American Revolution created a kind of Republic that is unique in the world. Freedom of and from religion, democratic mass voting (except for the President), the Constitution, all of these things were created after the revolution against the monarchy. People had to think up these new modes of government and bring them into existence. There was debate and disagreement, countless discussions.
None of the bloodshed and sacrifice of the revolution would have made a damn bit of difference without the work that came afterward.
For the first time in history, we could actually accomplish everything WITHOUT the violent uprising and war. We could create a whole new mode of government power, run by and for the people, without killing each other.
From roughly age 16 to age 26 I advocated armed revolution in the U.S. I sold newspapers and talked to people and went to demonstrations and organized conferences and rallies. I don't hold the same beliefs anymore but I learned a lot and talked to a lot of people about politics and things that really matter in their lives.
Back then (the 1980's) there was no internet and no cell phones. I remember trying to get information on the MOVE massacre in Philadelphia. I had to go to different libraries, look in card catalogs and at microfiche, track down people that had videotaped news segments. (Video machines were still very new then, and personal video cameras were cumbersome and heavy.) Then a leaflet had to be written and photocopied and distributed on the street in my spare time.
To talk to people I had to have all of the facts in my
head or on a piece of paper in front me. Most people don't really want
to know about things that are happening because it is disturbing. (Most
people in our country have the luxury of avoiding political interaction
with their government. This is very different than avoidance in poor countries
where leisure time of any kind is very limited, and simply questioning politicians can mean imprisonment and/or death.)
Even in areas that were responsive and sympathetic - in the MOVE example we went to South Central Los Angeles- we were encountering people when they were out shopping, or running errands. They could buy the paper or take a leaflet, but to find out more, they had to keep in touch with us, calling the bookstore to find out when an action might be, or we had to call them.
It was a lot easier for people in power to lie and cover up dishonest and deadly actions. And many people who didn't want to be disturbed by cold, hard evidence of their governments misdeeds were able to dismiss the few people like me that they might encounter.
Research that took months and even years in 1985, can be found on line in minutes. Tens of petitions can be signed on line in an hour. Hundreds of elected officials can be emailed instantly in the time it took to write one letter and mail it.
A lot of people that say "there has to be revolution" really mean "I am not going to do anything until it gets so bad that I can't ignore it anymore." But a lot of people really don't think that anything can be done unless we overthrow the existing power structure, with violence. Which means they have to wait around until enough other people will revolt with them.
Which means things have to get really, really bad.
This is the first time in 35 years that I have felt like a revolutionary uprising might occur in the U.S.A. The only other time was in Los Angeles after the police that beat Rodney King were acquitted in 1992.
The revolt that is brewing is another sign of a new world. It's not the usual suspects this time. It's the Good Ole Boys that are taking over government buildings and hoarding guns and ammo. As someone said to me at a Ferguson protest "Equality feels like privilege or special treatment to the oppressed, and it feels like discrimination to the oppressor."
In Ferguson it was the mostly white Peacekeepers walking around with guns, not the Black Panthers. The paranoid delusions of the Dylan Roof's and the Donald Drumpf's are not completely paranoid or delusional. They are losing their privilege. America is not "Great" for racists anymore. The status quo no longer serves them first, because the rest of us demanded a more equitable and fair society.
The Armchair Revolution and Phoning It In are more effective now than an armed uprising. For the first time in history, we can make revolutionary change without making revolution. We can, literally, "call them on their bullshit." Make them answer to you and work for you.
Make this country great. Not "again", but for the first time. Your mind, your time, and your phone (or computer), are the only weapons you need.
OPTINSTL
OCCUPY! PUBLIC TRANSIT Image by Eric Drooker for Occupy Wall Street, click on image for Drooker's website
Showing posts with label politicians. Show all posts
Showing posts with label politicians. Show all posts
Saturday, March 12, 2016
THE OLD WAYS OF PROTESTING ARE NOT EFFECTIVE IN MODERN TIMES
In the Political Activist's Guide To St. Louis ( pag2stl.blogspot.com) I say that violent revolution won't work in a world of 7 billion people and the kinds of weapons that police and the military have now. We live in a world now where if we are going to survive and thrive, we need people to begin actively running their governments. Mao once said "all power comes from the barrel of a gun". That has to change. Violence just changes the faces in power, not the power itself.
Protests and counter protests, in the past, served to bring large groups of like minded people together, to raise energy, and to spread messages through the media coverage. That's the plus side, and those things are still effective.
But large protests and counter protests often end up as screaming matches, the arrests only benefit the police and courts, and the real work of educating the general public and making material changes still falls to a few dedicated people who do the solitary work of calls, petitions, education, etc, for weeks, months, years, after the protests are over and most of the people have returned to business as usual.
(The upcoming RNC counter protest in Cleveland bought the police a bunch of fancy riot gear and big budget for the summer: http://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/uncucumbered/cleveland_prepares_for_republican_convention_riots?recruiter_id=17 )
Instead of counter-protesting when Drumpf or the KKK is having their rally, do it the day or night before, and go to the people that aren't in the KKK. You will reach more people about your concerns, and likely get the same or more media attention. And little chance of getting arrested and creating revenue for the cops through arrest fees and fines. (If you do get arrested PLEASE don't just take the plea and pay the fine, GO TO COURT and challenge everything you can. Even if you lose you will do the First Amendment a great favour.)
Instead of clumping together and focusing on the idiots that aren't going to change their minds no matter what you say, not too mention making it easier for the police to arrest you, stretch out side by side on the sidewalks, single file. You will still be protesting, but you will reach more people, and will have time to talk to them because you aren't shouting at the idiots.
I am NOT criticizing people that demonstrate, or shout at the cops or counter protesters (during Ferguson the police were the counter protesters). It's just that it is not effective anymore. We saw very clearly in Ferguson that they just send in the tear gas and jack up all the fines.
To change things means we need to protest every day, or every week, or every month, to the people in power. We have to educate the people that aren't paying attention to the issues on how the issues effect them.
For example, if all of the people that counter protested at the Drumpf rally yesterday had held the counter protest Thursday night at rush hour, on the sidewalk, single file, and then the next day during the rally called the Drumpf campaign headquarters here in St Louis, nationally, and also called local representatives and media, and told them why they think Drumpf is dangerous, it would have had greater impact. It wouldn't have made the same thrilling headline news of bloodied protesters and Drumpf drones screaming "fuck you whore" at counter protesters, but it would have had greater impact on the people who are on the fence or who aren't involved in politics at all.
And in Drumpf's case, it would have been a bummer for him and his supporters. They WANT a fight. We already know that. That's all he talks about. And they love being vilified. Being met with "crickets" would have been a let-down for Drumpf and his drones.
As someone who has worked for many years as a receptionist, switchboard operator, desk clerk, etc, I can tell you that the phone is one of the most effective tools of disruption to "business as usual". And it is invisible to anyone outside of the office. An overload of phone calls puts massive stress on any government or business entity. There is no nightly show that is going to run footage of Drumpf's office staff answering angry calls (unless it shuts the phone lines down).
No heroism to bask in on the nightly news, no vilification to uphold, no cross for the martyr to bear publicly.
For example, 35 people were arrested yesterday. A phone "demonstration" by 35 people for 6 hours, taking in to account breaks for the bathroom, etc, time waiting on hold, etc, could still have made approximately 20 calls each an hour, which totals 4200 phone calls. This would have taken extra time to prepare 120 short "scripts"- one for each call, or compiling 120 places to call with one script.
So- a list of 120 - the Mayor, the Governor, state and national congress members, Republican party hq's, Drumpf's headquarters, the board members of Peabody Opera House, the local and national media, etc- with the same message "I oppose Donald Trump, do you stand with me? etc". Which means 120 places getting 35 phone calls each. Or 120 places for each caller- Drumpf's business entities, elected officials, etc- with a tailored message for each place. 35 extra calls over a 6 hour period is a pain in the ass. Even if you are paid employee, and a lot of the people at the Drumpf offices are volunteers. Even the most hard-core believer would get worn out if this happened every time Drumpf spoke somewhere. Especially if the calls asked a lot of questions and requested detailed answers in a calm way.
Getting Drumpf's staff to quit is more effective than yelling at his followers. Convincing his fellow Republicans to come out publicly against him is almost too easy these days. And making Peaody Opera House sorry they booked the event would be a cakewalk. And you don't end up in jail and paying out money to the courts.
"Hi I am a registered voter and I was wondering if you could detail for me what era in American History your candidate is referring to when he says 'again?' When was America great in your candidate's opinion, and why was it great then? What specifically does he have planned to return our land to -this time in the past considered great-?"
(I took at look at the Drumpf supporters in St. Louis and I assure you that during Reagan's presidency these people were saying the same things they say now- replace "Muslim" with "Iranian". Remember the Moral Majority? Phyllis Schlafley hasn't written a new speech in 40 years. Even from a Drumpf drones' point of view there is no "great" to go back to. And it is not that hard to manipulate a conversation to get them to admit it. These people are the ultimate haters. And most lack the critical thinking skills that their candidate lacks as well. Try it sometime, it is fun. Ask leading questions, but frame them in their rhetoric.)
"Can you explain how your candidate's First Amendment rights were violated? I would like to see the First Amendment get a more thorough discussion in his speeches. What will he do to protect Freedom of Speech?" (Yes, really. Drumpf said his First Amendment rights were violated in Chicago last night: http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2016/03/12/3759418/no-one-is-violating-trump-free-speech/)
"What is your candidate's stance on the TPP? Can you explain the TPP to me and how it will effect our economy for the better?"
"Your candidate says he is millionaire, but his tax returns say differently. He isn't evading his taxes or lying about his income is he? Can you explain the discrepeacy?"
"What does your candidate have to say about the Monroe Doctrine?"
"Many African slaves were Muslims, is your candidate going to deport anyone who has a Muslim ancestor?"
These people don't know shit about history or politics. Make them research the answers. Make them think.
I decided not to go to the Drumpf protest, but I was very proud of St. Louis to see that many people did, even though I am sorry that many were arrested. I am suggesting though, that courageous, motivated activists channel their energy differently. MAKE HEADACHES FOR DRUMPF, NOT HEADLINES.
Protests and counter protests, in the past, served to bring large groups of like minded people together, to raise energy, and to spread messages through the media coverage. That's the plus side, and those things are still effective.
But large protests and counter protests often end up as screaming matches, the arrests only benefit the police and courts, and the real work of educating the general public and making material changes still falls to a few dedicated people who do the solitary work of calls, petitions, education, etc, for weeks, months, years, after the protests are over and most of the people have returned to business as usual.
(The upcoming RNC counter protest in Cleveland bought the police a bunch of fancy riot gear and big budget for the summer: http://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/uncucumbered/cleveland_prepares_for_republican_convention_riots?recruiter_id=17 )
Instead of counter-protesting when Drumpf or the KKK is having their rally, do it the day or night before, and go to the people that aren't in the KKK. You will reach more people about your concerns, and likely get the same or more media attention. And little chance of getting arrested and creating revenue for the cops through arrest fees and fines. (If you do get arrested PLEASE don't just take the plea and pay the fine, GO TO COURT and challenge everything you can. Even if you lose you will do the First Amendment a great favour.)
Instead of clumping together and focusing on the idiots that aren't going to change their minds no matter what you say, not too mention making it easier for the police to arrest you, stretch out side by side on the sidewalks, single file. You will still be protesting, but you will reach more people, and will have time to talk to them because you aren't shouting at the idiots.
I am NOT criticizing people that demonstrate, or shout at the cops or counter protesters (during Ferguson the police were the counter protesters). It's just that it is not effective anymore. We saw very clearly in Ferguson that they just send in the tear gas and jack up all the fines.
To change things means we need to protest every day, or every week, or every month, to the people in power. We have to educate the people that aren't paying attention to the issues on how the issues effect them.
For example, if all of the people that counter protested at the Drumpf rally yesterday had held the counter protest Thursday night at rush hour, on the sidewalk, single file, and then the next day during the rally called the Drumpf campaign headquarters here in St Louis, nationally, and also called local representatives and media, and told them why they think Drumpf is dangerous, it would have had greater impact. It wouldn't have made the same thrilling headline news of bloodied protesters and Drumpf drones screaming "fuck you whore" at counter protesters, but it would have had greater impact on the people who are on the fence or who aren't involved in politics at all.
And in Drumpf's case, it would have been a bummer for him and his supporters. They WANT a fight. We already know that. That's all he talks about. And they love being vilified. Being met with "crickets" would have been a let-down for Drumpf and his drones.
As someone who has worked for many years as a receptionist, switchboard operator, desk clerk, etc, I can tell you that the phone is one of the most effective tools of disruption to "business as usual". And it is invisible to anyone outside of the office. An overload of phone calls puts massive stress on any government or business entity. There is no nightly show that is going to run footage of Drumpf's office staff answering angry calls (unless it shuts the phone lines down).
No heroism to bask in on the nightly news, no vilification to uphold, no cross for the martyr to bear publicly.
For example, 35 people were arrested yesterday. A phone "demonstration" by 35 people for 6 hours, taking in to account breaks for the bathroom, etc, time waiting on hold, etc, could still have made approximately 20 calls each an hour, which totals 4200 phone calls. This would have taken extra time to prepare 120 short "scripts"- one for each call, or compiling 120 places to call with one script.
So- a list of 120 - the Mayor, the Governor, state and national congress members, Republican party hq's, Drumpf's headquarters, the board members of Peabody Opera House, the local and national media, etc- with the same message "I oppose Donald Trump, do you stand with me? etc". Which means 120 places getting 35 phone calls each. Or 120 places for each caller- Drumpf's business entities, elected officials, etc- with a tailored message for each place. 35 extra calls over a 6 hour period is a pain in the ass. Even if you are paid employee, and a lot of the people at the Drumpf offices are volunteers. Even the most hard-core believer would get worn out if this happened every time Drumpf spoke somewhere. Especially if the calls asked a lot of questions and requested detailed answers in a calm way.
Getting Drumpf's staff to quit is more effective than yelling at his followers. Convincing his fellow Republicans to come out publicly against him is almost too easy these days. And making Peaody Opera House sorry they booked the event would be a cakewalk. And you don't end up in jail and paying out money to the courts.
"Hi I am a registered voter and I was wondering if you could detail for me what era in American History your candidate is referring to when he says 'again?' When was America great in your candidate's opinion, and why was it great then? What specifically does he have planned to return our land to -this time in the past considered great-?"
(I took at look at the Drumpf supporters in St. Louis and I assure you that during Reagan's presidency these people were saying the same things they say now- replace "Muslim" with "Iranian". Remember the Moral Majority? Phyllis Schlafley hasn't written a new speech in 40 years. Even from a Drumpf drones' point of view there is no "great" to go back to. And it is not that hard to manipulate a conversation to get them to admit it. These people are the ultimate haters. And most lack the critical thinking skills that their candidate lacks as well. Try it sometime, it is fun. Ask leading questions, but frame them in their rhetoric.)
"Can you explain how your candidate's First Amendment rights were violated? I would like to see the First Amendment get a more thorough discussion in his speeches. What will he do to protect Freedom of Speech?" (Yes, really. Drumpf said his First Amendment rights were violated in Chicago last night: http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2016/03/12/3759418/no-one-is-violating-trump-free-speech/)
"What is your candidate's stance on the TPP? Can you explain the TPP to me and how it will effect our economy for the better?"
"Your candidate says he is millionaire, but his tax returns say differently. He isn't evading his taxes or lying about his income is he? Can you explain the discrepeacy?"
"What does your candidate have to say about the Monroe Doctrine?"
"Many African slaves were Muslims, is your candidate going to deport anyone who has a Muslim ancestor?"
These people don't know shit about history or politics. Make them research the answers. Make them think.
I decided not to go to the Drumpf protest, but I was very proud of St. Louis to see that many people did, even though I am sorry that many were arrested. I am suggesting though, that courageous, motivated activists channel their energy differently. MAKE HEADACHES FOR DRUMPF, NOT HEADLINES.
Friday, September 12, 2014
UNION PROTESTS METRO CEO: OPTINSTL SAYS "FIRE JOHN NATIONS, GET METRO SEPARATED FROM BI-STATE"
In this news story, Nations actually says Bi-State has 50% African Americans. He's wrong. METRO has 50% African Americans. Bi-state is DBA Metro, but there is a division between the business development of Bi-State-- the Arch trams and parking lot, the St Louis airport in Cahokia, Illinois.
http://fox2now.com/2014/09/12/racial-elements-fuel-dispute-between-metro-and-transit-union/
Without Metro and the $350 million a year in public funding (local, state, and federal funds and rider fares) Bi-State would be nothing. The only part of their enterprise that makes a profit is the parking garage.
Without Metro, Nations would not be able to give $5 million a year in "contributions to outside entities" or groom his own run for senator or governor (depending on who you talk to).
And he makes racist remarks all the time. I hope people start recording him. I hope Anonymous hacks his home computer and finds all his racist memes (and his porn stash).
Nations is a good example of everything that is wrong with St. Louis. I hope he gets fired.
http://fox2now.com/2014/09/12/racial-elements-fuel-dispute-between-metro-and-transit-union/
Without Metro and the $350 million a year in public funding (local, state, and federal funds and rider fares) Bi-State would be nothing. The only part of their enterprise that makes a profit is the parking garage.
Without Metro, Nations would not be able to give $5 million a year in "contributions to outside entities" or groom his own run for senator or governor (depending on who you talk to).
And he makes racist remarks all the time. I hope people start recording him. I hope Anonymous hacks his home computer and finds all his racist memes (and his porn stash).
Nations is a good example of everything that is wrong with St. Louis. I hope he gets fired.
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
AMENDMENT 7 SHOWDOWN
I can't seem to shut up about Amendment 7. It is not just an outrage and highway robbery, but also a very clear example of the kind of widespread insolvency our governments are facing nationally. (It might seem that it started in 2008, but our current corporate plutocracy and income inequality actually go back to 1981 and Reagan.)
I don't even need to point out that it is no coincidence that this comes during the "fight" to pass the highway transportation bill.
http://www.rollcall.com/news/holden_pass_the_highway_transportation_bill-222461-1.html?pg=2&dczone=opinion
The Laborers International Union of North America have joined the construction cartels and made themselves into panhandlers for the proposed statewide sales tax increase.
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/money-flowing-to-missouri-transportation-tax-group/article_5905897d-aa61-55da-814a-fa1faf4c8a6a.html
Theatrical panhandlers with a scare tactic. They are traveling around with a bus that has a bridge (foam sculpture) crashing down on top of it.
http://kplr11.com/2014/07/14/local-group-to-use-bus-wreck-to-support-transportation-tax-hike/
I don't blame these guys for working it to get some work. And I support the unions. But this sales tax increase is panhandling. These workers are just some of the recipients of the beggar's cup, even though they know they, too, will pay for it.
Government officials want to do everything BUT raise taxes on the wealthy and increase effective tax rates on the corporate oligarchs. None of our great leaders is the least bit interested in doing what is right for the people. All they want is their nice fat campaign contributions and lobbyist gifts to keep coming.
As I-- and many others-- have said before, Metro is not about public transit. Public Transit is just the excuse for Bi-State Development Agency to funnel government funds for business development and political networking.
The Government is not about Government services, including transportation infrastructure. Government services are just the excuse for extracting more tax money.
If the government and big business wants more of our (coin) change, they need to create some real change!
Amendment 7 is a good opportunity for we, the people, to demand real change!
These threats of infrastructure collapse and bus crashes, these are scare tactics. They need to be afraid of us!
“People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people.” -V For Vendetta
OPTINSTL'S previous posts on Amendment 7:
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/07/why-you-should-vote-no-on-proposed.html
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/07/more-on-amendment-7-highway-robbery.html
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/06/vote-no-on-amendment-7-proposed.html
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/05/sales-tax-is-new-cash-cow.html
I don't even need to point out that it is no coincidence that this comes during the "fight" to pass the highway transportation bill.
http://www.rollcall.com/news/holden_pass_the_highway_transportation_bill-222461-1.html?pg=2&dczone=opinion
The Laborers International Union of North America have joined the construction cartels and made themselves into panhandlers for the proposed statewide sales tax increase.
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/money-flowing-to-missouri-transportation-tax-group/article_5905897d-aa61-55da-814a-fa1faf4c8a6a.html
Theatrical panhandlers with a scare tactic. They are traveling around with a bus that has a bridge (foam sculpture) crashing down on top of it.
http://kplr11.com/2014/07/14/local-group-to-use-bus-wreck-to-support-transportation-tax-hike/
I don't blame these guys for working it to get some work. And I support the unions. But this sales tax increase is panhandling. These workers are just some of the recipients of the beggar's cup, even though they know they, too, will pay for it.
Government officials want to do everything BUT raise taxes on the wealthy and increase effective tax rates on the corporate oligarchs. None of our great leaders is the least bit interested in doing what is right for the people. All they want is their nice fat campaign contributions and lobbyist gifts to keep coming.
As I-- and many others-- have said before, Metro is not about public transit. Public Transit is just the excuse for Bi-State Development Agency to funnel government funds for business development and political networking.
The Government is not about Government services, including transportation infrastructure. Government services are just the excuse for extracting more tax money.
If the government and big business wants more of our (coin) change, they need to create some real change!
Amendment 7 is a good opportunity for we, the people, to demand real change!
These threats of infrastructure collapse and bus crashes, these are scare tactics. They need to be afraid of us!
“When the people fear the government there is tyranny, when the government fears the people there is liberty.” -John Basil Barnill
OPTINSTL'S previous posts on Amendment 7:
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/07/why-you-should-vote-no-on-proposed.html
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/07/more-on-amendment-7-highway-robbery.html
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/06/vote-no-on-amendment-7-proposed.html
http://optinstl.blogspot.com/2014/05/sales-tax-is-new-cash-cow.html
Monday, April 7, 2014
THE BI IN BI-STATE DEVELOPMENT: LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT "METRO EAST" REALLY IS
East Saint Louis and its surrounding towns are the local Sin City. Everyone that lives here knows that.
It's the place where you can find all the "respectable" businessmen and politicians and law-enforcement on their off-hours, watching the naked ladies do their thing in the strip clubs.
It's the city close enough to the "real city" (the white, middle class city) so that none of those "pious" men, those leaders of industry and everything that is good and right in the world (sarcasm alert), have to worry about bumping into their wives, families, co-workers and employees, or fellow church goers... Except for the other pious men also going to the strip club, buying crack and heroin, and soliciting prostitutes.
Did hubby say he was going to catch up on work at the office after church? Going golfing? Nah. He's over at PT'S, spending the money he said he didn't have when his workers asked for a raise, or for benefits. But you will never know, good suburban wifey, because you never set foot on the East Side.
Even in poor, urban areas of Saint Louis, the respectable man may have to risk someone seeing his car parked at Patricia's or Hustler in Pagedale, or the Gentlemen's Club on North Broadway.
But no one goes to the East side unless they are doing something they know would get them flack. It's too poor, too desperate. Too black.
And no one in power currently is ever going to do anything about making East St. Louis less dangerous and more habitable, because that is their playground! No one needs a "crack ho' " more than a suburban businessman.
And that is not to say that every woman in East St Louis is smoking crack and doing whatever she can to get rock. But the level of poverty and desperation there is very intense. East St. Louis is modern apartheid. It is an African American reservation. The only money that comes in is from the party after hours crowd and the sex tourists.
What does this have to do with the bus and Metrolink? (Neither goes to Sauget, although PT's Sauget is a short walk from the Metrolink. But no "respectable" businessman-- at least not a local-- would be taking the train and walking the mile to PT''s. If I am wrong let me know.)
Metro is about "attracting talented young professionals" to the region. And you can't attract those men if they can't get access to a Sin City. This is not to say that Metro is responsible for the lack of business or community development on the East side, but Metro is cornerstone of the local power structure.
If the talented young professionals ever run out of surplus workers in north St. Louis that will take any wage and any condition and four hours on public transit every day to and from those crap jobs, the fat cats can just head over to Metro East and find more desperate people.
Don't take my word for it. Check it out yourself. Or ask any exotic dancer or call girl how many businessmen, politicians, and cops she knows. Oh, and priests, ministers, and regular working stiffs... pun intended.
Or just start taking photos of license plates and drivers headed to the strip clubs. I'd bet money the highest repeat offenders are St. Louis "finest"-- law enforcement, lawyers and judges, and then all those Shriners and upstanding businessmen of St. Louis proper.
OCCUPY EAST ST. LOUIS!
For the record: I think all strip clubs should be dancer owned, and I think prostitution should be legal. The current set up works for these pious upstanding men. The judge gets "services" on Saturday night and sentences the working girls in his courtroom on Monday. All the money from these clubs goes back into the hands of these men- through taxes on legitimate businesses or legal fees on illegitimate operations. All the shame is given to the women, and only their patrons deserve it.
I am for the kind of structure available in places like Amsterdam. The world's oldest profession should pay taxes, have healthcare, and be able to screen their clients like anyone else. Keeping it illegal is just a way to protect the anonymity of the men that solicit these services, unless they are caught in a rare sting operation. And according the FBI 74% of all men have engaged a prostitute at least once. It should be obvious that the problem is NOT from wanton, perverted women luring respectable men to sex-- I mean, WHAT exactly was Mr. Businessman doing driving around in East St Louis or down on St. Louis "Stroll"? The world's oldest profession is not going away anytime soon.
Dance clubs steal tips from their dancers by calling them "contractors" and making them pay out to the club, but even the IRS doesn't agree that they are contractors. The clubs decide the dancers shifts and make the same demands on them that regular employees have, but the clubs don't even offer minimum wage or any benefits. The clubs are mostly owned by men, and they keep all the profits from the bar. It's just nicer pimping. Dancer owned clubs would mean the women kept the profits for themselves and had more control over their work environment.
It's the place where you can find all the "respectable" businessmen and politicians and law-enforcement on their off-hours, watching the naked ladies do their thing in the strip clubs.
It's the city close enough to the "real city" (the white, middle class city) so that none of those "pious" men, those leaders of industry and everything that is good and right in the world (sarcasm alert), have to worry about bumping into their wives, families, co-workers and employees, or fellow church goers... Except for the other pious men also going to the strip club, buying crack and heroin, and soliciting prostitutes.
Did hubby say he was going to catch up on work at the office after church? Going golfing? Nah. He's over at PT'S, spending the money he said he didn't have when his workers asked for a raise, or for benefits. But you will never know, good suburban wifey, because you never set foot on the East Side.
Even in poor, urban areas of Saint Louis, the respectable man may have to risk someone seeing his car parked at Patricia's or Hustler in Pagedale, or the Gentlemen's Club on North Broadway.
But no one goes to the East side unless they are doing something they know would get them flack. It's too poor, too desperate. Too black.
And no one in power currently is ever going to do anything about making East St. Louis less dangerous and more habitable, because that is their playground! No one needs a "crack ho' " more than a suburban businessman.
And that is not to say that every woman in East St Louis is smoking crack and doing whatever she can to get rock. But the level of poverty and desperation there is very intense. East St. Louis is modern apartheid. It is an African American reservation. The only money that comes in is from the party after hours crowd and the sex tourists.
What does this have to do with the bus and Metrolink? (Neither goes to Sauget, although PT's Sauget is a short walk from the Metrolink. But no "respectable" businessman-- at least not a local-- would be taking the train and walking the mile to PT''s. If I am wrong let me know.)
Metro is about "attracting talented young professionals" to the region. And you can't attract those men if they can't get access to a Sin City. This is not to say that Metro is responsible for the lack of business or community development on the East side, but Metro is cornerstone of the local power structure.
If the talented young professionals ever run out of surplus workers in north St. Louis that will take any wage and any condition and four hours on public transit every day to and from those crap jobs, the fat cats can just head over to Metro East and find more desperate people.
Don't take my word for it. Check it out yourself. Or ask any exotic dancer or call girl how many businessmen, politicians, and cops she knows. Oh, and priests, ministers, and regular working stiffs... pun intended.
Or just start taking photos of license plates and drivers headed to the strip clubs. I'd bet money the highest repeat offenders are St. Louis "finest"-- law enforcement, lawyers and judges, and then all those Shriners and upstanding businessmen of St. Louis proper.
OCCUPY EAST ST. LOUIS!
For the record: I think all strip clubs should be dancer owned, and I think prostitution should be legal. The current set up works for these pious upstanding men. The judge gets "services" on Saturday night and sentences the working girls in his courtroom on Monday. All the money from these clubs goes back into the hands of these men- through taxes on legitimate businesses or legal fees on illegitimate operations. All the shame is given to the women, and only their patrons deserve it.
I am for the kind of structure available in places like Amsterdam. The world's oldest profession should pay taxes, have healthcare, and be able to screen their clients like anyone else. Keeping it illegal is just a way to protect the anonymity of the men that solicit these services, unless they are caught in a rare sting operation. And according the FBI 74% of all men have engaged a prostitute at least once. It should be obvious that the problem is NOT from wanton, perverted women luring respectable men to sex-- I mean, WHAT exactly was Mr. Businessman doing driving around in East St Louis or down on St. Louis "Stroll"? The world's oldest profession is not going away anytime soon.
Dance clubs steal tips from their dancers by calling them "contractors" and making them pay out to the club, but even the IRS doesn't agree that they are contractors. The clubs decide the dancers shifts and make the same demands on them that regular employees have, but the clubs don't even offer minimum wage or any benefits. The clubs are mostly owned by men, and they keep all the profits from the bar. It's just nicer pimping. Dancer owned clubs would mean the women kept the profits for themselves and had more control over their work environment.
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