A Revolution of Democracy

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The Essays of The Man From the North by Rivera Sun
Writer, Dandelion Salad
November 8, 2018

What do we do when we finally understand that the elections really are stolen? Or rigged? Or thrust out of our reach by the manipulations of rich and powerful people? Corrupted by corporations? How long does it take before we call the bluff? Another disappointing election cycle? Two? Three? How much more gerrymandering, corporate buying of elections, voter disenfranchisement, and outright fraud can we stand? When will we take seriously the necessity of change?

Beyond Voting by Howard Zinn + What Else You Can Do: 198 Methods of Nonviolent Action by David Swanson

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by Howard Zinn
Writer, Dandelion Salad
November 6, 2018

Gossip is the opium of the American public. We lie back, close our eyes and happily inhale the stories about Roosevelt’s and Kennedy’s affairs, Lyndon Johnson’s nude swims with unnamed partners and, now, Nixon’s pathetic “final days” in office.

Chris Hedges: American Psychosis + Hedges Says Vote for Howie Hawkins for Governor in NY

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Dandelion Salad

with Chris Hedges

Amanda Zackem on Oct. 23, 2018

Pulitzer-prize winning Journalist, Author and Activist Chris Hedges, discusses modern day consumerism, totalitarian corporate power and living in a culture dominated by pervasive illusion.

Elections and Politics are the Games of Elites

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The Essays of The Man From the North by Rivera Sun
Writer, Dandelion Salad
November 2, 2018

The Vote – the beloved, abused, scorned, corrupted, stolen, hijacked, pointless, profound, hopeful, depressing, hard-won, cherished vote – is not the only way to take action for meaningful change. Currently, the elections operate in our nation like a cattle chute, all too often forcing us back into the deadly, no-win tracks of the two-party duopoly that serves only the moneyed class. It becomes a handy device for siphoning off the demand for revolutionary change by giving false hope that elected officials will actually enact their campaign promises once in office.

The Biggest Political Delusion Of All Is In The U.S. Electoral Politics Itself by Paul Street + Nobody to Vote For by David Swanson + Politicians Robbing Us Blind

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by Paul Street
Writer, Dandelion Salad
The Official Website of Paul Street
October 22, 2018

The United States is full of personally decent and caring, often highly intelligent people mired in political ignorance and delusion.

Steve Bannon Declares “War Rooms” to Win European Elections – and That’s Not Meddling? by Finian Cunningham

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by Finian Cunningham
Writer, Dandelion Salad
East Africa
Crossposted from Strategic Culture Foundation
September 26, 2018

One trait of imperial decadence is untrammeled hubris. Given the increasingly arrant arrogance on display by United States’ officials, public figures and news media we can safely conclude that this empire is accelerating into decadence.

Chris Hedges and David Van Reybrouck: Democracy Only Can Survive If Innovation Occurs

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Dandelion Salad

with Chris Hedges

RT America on Sep 1, 2018

Historian, David Van Reybrouck, in his new book Against Elections, identifies modern day examples of Aristotle’s “drawing lots” underway in Iceland, Ireland and Australia marking innovation in democracies. He thinks democracy only can survive if innovation occurs.

Sorry, Bernie, We Need Radical Change by Paul Street

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by Paul Street
Writer, Dandelion Salad
The Official Website of Paul Street
August 12, 2018

One of the more darkly amusing narratives in current establishment Democratic Party positioning for the 2018 mid-term elections and the 2020 presidential contest is the claim that the Bernie Sanders tendency represents a radical “socialist” threat that will tip the races to the Republicans and Trump.

Chris Hedges: Would the American People be Better Served by a Movement for a People’s Party?

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Dandelion Salad

with Chris Hedges

RT America on Aug 11, 2018

Nick Brana, founder, executive director of Movement for a People’s Party talks with journalist Chris Hedges about the US’ two political party system, the need for third and fourth parties and his experience campaigning for Bernie Sanders in the 2016 presidential election.

Universal Voting VS Voter Suppression by Ralph Nader

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Dandelion Salad

by Ralph Nader
The Nader Page
July 12, 2018

When will the authoritarians and their political henchmen stop harassing American voters and let all citizens vote? No other Western country comes close to imposing so many obstructions for certain categories of people to keep them from the voting booth. In Canada, England, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, it is very easy to vote.

Jesse Freeston: The Never-Ending Coup in Honduras

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Dandelion Salad

with Jesse Freeston

TheRealNews on Jan 26, 2018

Special Report from the Hemisphere’s Most Controversial Inauguration.

How JFK Saved MLK’s Life And So Won The Presidency by Greg Palast

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by Greg Palast
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Greg Palast’s website
January 15, 2018

It was a Republican, Martin Luther King Sr., who made John Kennedy president of the United States — for JFK’s saving Daddy King’s son, Martin Jr., from lynching.

This harrowing and little known drama of terror and courage, confirmed for me by Martin Luther King III, changed American politics — and America — forever.

Leave Jill Stein Alone by David Swanson + Jill Stein Denounces Probe over ‘Collusion with Russians’

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Updated: Dec. 20, 2017

by David Swanson
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Let’s Try Democracy
December 19, 2017

I’ve known Jill Stein for years. I knew weeks ago that the Senate “Intelligence” Committee was coming after her. I set up this petition to put reasonable limits on Russiagate. But I’ve not heard from Jill, nor had any secret communication from my good friend Vladimir, nor any such nonsense. I criticize the Russian and U.S. governments as they deserve it. Nearly three years ago, Russia tried to secretly hire me to spread its propaganda, and I said no and blogged about it. Although this happened right on Capitol Hill, no Congressional Committee gave a rat’s rear about it. It wasn’t part of their agenda. When I go on Russian media I say the same thing as on U.S. media, though sometimes with a particular focus on criticizing Russia — a nation I’ve never been paid a dime by or worked for as a volunteer.

How Big Corporations Game Our Democracy Into Their Plutocracy by Ralph Nader

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Dandelion Salad

by Ralph Nader
The Nader Page
October 4, 2017

A major chapter in American history – rarely taught in our schools – is how ever larger corporations have moved to game, neutralize and undermine the people’s continual efforts to protect our touted democratic society. It is a fascinating story of the relentless exercise of power conceived or seized by corporations, with the strategic guidance of corporate lawyers.

Race v. Class? More Brilliant Bourgeois Bullshit from Ta-Nehesi Coates by Paul Street

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by Paul Street
Writer, Dandelion Salad
The Official Website of Paul Street, Sept. 21, 2017
Previously published at Counterpunch, Sept. 15, 2017
September 25, 2017

Numerous correspondents sent me the latest lengthy Atlantic essay by the brilliant and eloquent but bourgeois Black Identitarian Ta-Nehesi Coates and asked for my reflections. I reluctantly agreed to read and comment on Coates’ long treatise.