National Strike! Red, White and Blue Flu.
Posted by bladerunner at 05:36, 28 Jul 2007September 10th and 11th. Red, White and Blue Flu, National Strike. Call in sick, take a vacation day. Maybe the car won't start? And nobody buy gas. Fill-up your car before hand, so you don't have too for those 2 days. Or take public transportation. The 10th and 11th of September. 2 days of slow downs and work stoppages. And no one buys gas! Its completely passive. We all seem to blog, and send messages to other people. So lets pass the note around the room.(But not at work) See what we can start. Sure beats signing another petition. Or calling your congressperson, begging them to do something. Here's our chance as American's to do something, by doing nothing!
And those of you around the world who would like to support this effort please don't buy any gas those 2 days!
P.S. Some "Progressive" site, like CommonDreams have started to remove posts for A National Strike. Seems their not that progressive! Portland Indy Media has a good set up. They even have a poster you can down load. Plus other info.
Thank You and spread the word!
http://www.portland.indymedia.org/en/200...
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Comments
22 November 2004
8 hours 54 min
It's always cool to have a few days off, in protest against a bad world. Heard that many times. Especially from people who can afford it.
But don't get upset if the local bartenders take the day off too. Better stock up on your favourite beverages, and some snacks.
After that, what do you do? What is your better world, and just as important, how do you get there?
Do you know ?
1 May 2004
3 weeks 6 days
Or slowdowns have worked before. And if people don't buy gas for 2 days someone will notice. Don't you think there is community created by these acts.
Hey just the messenger here. Just letting people know that this is a protest they can be involved in. Even if you end up working, you can still not buy gas. Its passive, yet it speaks. I've spread the word, so I invite others to forward the suggestion of The Red, White , and Blue Flu. In fact I think it would be a great idea if no one buys gas on the 11th of any month ever again.
22 November 2004
8 hours 54 min
I'm not saying that demonstrations of this sort, or of another sort, have not effect.
I am asking if you have an alternative to the bad way things are being run now.
I have had friendly conversations with many people in the past who advocated a general strike of some sort or another.
You would be the first one to have a plan for after the general strike.
You (bladeunner) say you are only the messenger. Ok, i believe you. Maybe tell the other side, those who ask you to send these messages:
- what is next, what is an improvement to the current system?
- is it another system, or perhaps adjustment to how things are done now?
- indeed, is there anything other than this kind of strike?
Please send this message, if you can. If there is any response, perhaps you (or those who use you as a messenger), can tell us.
Or maybe take a position yourself, instead of jsut passing messages. I have seen your posts, you have opinions of your own.
----
The question of whether a computer can think is no more interesting than the question of whether a submarine can swim.
(Edsger Dijkstra)
1 May 2004
3 weeks 6 days
Some things just need to be done, not evaluated. So once again. Everyone please forward this message on. Thank You:) We can do something, and we can do it together.
22 November 2004
8 hours 54 min
Well then forward my message to those who told you to forward your message, back up the chain.
Fair enough?
----
A good farmer is a man outstanding in his field.
30 April 2004
1 year 49 weeks
Bladerunner,
Why would anyone care if you bought your gas before the 10th and 11th of September or on the 10th and 11th of September?
Bill
1 May 2004
3 weeks 6 days
for those 2 days (9/10,9/11). If you need to; fill up beforehand. In fact buy nothing if you can. Remember Bush told us everything was alright and to go shopping. Don't be a good little consumer. Spend nothing.
22 November 2004
8 hours 54 min
Stock up on everything, on Friday, Sept 7. Then give everyone in the retail sector a 5 day weekend. It could be nice for them, not a bad idea.
Also, may I recommend:
Give the police and the fire department some slack.
Don't start fires, dont start fights, don't kill anyone from Sept 8 to Sept 12.
What do you say?
----
You can observe a lot, just by watching. (Yogi Berra)
30 April 2004
1 year 49 weeks
Hi BR,
Nobody buys gas for those 2 days (9/10,9/11). If you need to; fill up beforehand.
This is brilliant BR but you contradict yourself. Buying gas early is still buying gas. Buy the fuel early so that Exxon Mobil and Dutch Shell can deposit the money into their investments early. Having collected money early, this should bring the multi-national corporations to their knees by causing them to exceed their profit projections for the quarter. Go for it!
In fact buy nothing if you can. Remember Bush told us everything was alright and to go shopping.
And he was right, that scoundrel. Following the attack on 9/11/2001 the economy should have plummeted as most predicted it would. However, since the attack, the US economy has grown for 22-quarters straight without a glitch, unemployment stands at 4.5 percent - lower than any average decade from the 1960s through the 1990s, the Dow just broke into the record by moving into uncharted 14,000+ territory, and US Treasury Secretary Hank Paulsen declared to Fortune Magazine that "this is by far and away the strongest global economy I have seen in my business lifetime." While no president can be given full blame or credit for economics, only a fool would ignore President Bush's contribution to the overwhelming economic recovery.
Personally, both my managed investments and the ones that I manage myself are doing quite well. I'm no financial genius by a long shot, but if you're not making money in this economy you need to pay more attention and change your investment plan. It's not difficult; one can learn how on the Internet. Or you can pay someone to do it for you. The trick is to hit a good run like this one with President Bush.
As far as your RWB-flu goes, I have tried to make it a habit to plan a big-ticket purchase on 9/11 since 2002. I've bought a new Dodge 2500, a rough-cut trail mower, lumber, a house, boots , a Mule UTV and other stuff on that anniversary. They weren't all big purchases but they were all made to remind OBL that our economy is alive and well despite his civilian-murdering scheme. I like stuff anyway.
Don't be a good little consumer. Spend nothing.
I'm not planning little consumptions. This 9/11 I'm shopping for a tractor with front loader, brush hog, 5-foot mower, a box blade, and an earth auger all in a nice 3-point hitch package. I need to shop and plan now so that that the purchase can transpire on 9/11, a Tuesday this year I believe. I shall also plan to take my wife to dinner and buy a few smaller tools. It's a good time to buy Xmas presents to put-up for people, as well. Oh yes, I'll buy gasoline, of course.
So buy your gas early or walk or stay home if you wish. I suppose you could not buy the same stfff and get even. Everybody has to do what they believe is best. What either you or I do has very little impact anyway. But don't blame me, I'm only the messenger.
Bill
1 May 2004
3 weeks 6 days
I really don't care for you much. I was done with you when you really, really, could not understand why sending radioactive waste on rockets to the sun wasn't a good idea. I tried to explain that one exploding rocket would spread radiation everywhere. And you still didn't understand.
What I don't understand is your type of material selfishness or blind faith in our government. I never have. I'm doing alright, good education, house, car, two cats in the yard. But I care about the direction this country has taken, I care about my community, I even care about you and your rights. So if you don't understand something, that does not mean you have to try to rip it apart.
13 April 2007
1 year 38 weeks
Good morning everyone,
I feel what we have here is good intentions with a little naivety meeting world-weary cynicism.
I remember well the 1970s in the UK, where protest was everywhere, almost bringing the 'system' to its knees. The result was a backlash, bringing in the very culture of big business the present protest is about.
I doubt it is the way today. As I've said many times, the answer is the encouragement of smaller businesses, with new, cheaper, technologies, again being answerable to the consumer. If such alternatives are seriously offered, the consumer will change the world himself.
Bill, tell me if I'm wrong, but I think you take the mickey quite a lot, and intentionally so. I intuit a Gnostic - and as every Gnostic knows, the material world is 'evil.'
...
I'm fanatical about moderation
Anthony North
22 November 2004
8 hours 54 min
When I said negative things about bladerunner's suggestion for this mini-strike, it was because it won't work. Specifically, it doesn't hurt the organizations that it is supposed to hurt.
So those organizations (big business, big government and their kind), won't be impressed. That kind of thing is pointless, you won't achieve anything.
No matter how noble the intentions are.
As for Anthony, what I want is more globalization, but on the individual level. Small business globalization is consistent with that.
----
You can observe a lot, just by watching. (Yogi Berra)
13 April 2007
1 year 38 weeks
Hi Earthling,
Yes, I'm not against 'globalisation' but how it is presently going. To me globalisation should be cooperation between lots of small entities - countries, organisations, businesses, etc - each expressing their diversity, yet aware of a global existence; rather than a system imposed by power and multi-nats which is degrading diversity and leading to a counter-evolutionary 'sameness.'
...
I'm fanatical about moderation
Anthony North
30 April 2004
1 year 49 weeks
Bill, tell me if I'm wrong, but I think you take the mickey quite a lot, and intentionally so. I intuit a Gnostic - and as every Gnostic knows, the material world is 'evil.'
Hi Anthony,
I guess that's a bit too British for me. I don't have a clue what a mickey is (except the mouse) or how one would take one. And no, I don't find the material world evil in the least. In fact, I enjoy it very much.
I'm not complex at all. I am one of the few here that does no aspire to be a writer. While you were in the RAF I was in the US Navy. The government paid my way to the university. I was an electrical engineer for a major corporation and I was offered a chance to retire at a younger age than is normal. I'm in Texas raising cows and playing cowboy. The wildlife here is my passion.
Bill
13 April 2007
1 year 38 weeks
Hi Bill,
Sorry for the Britishism. Taking the mickey is pulling a person's leg, having a bit of fun with them.
Are a lot of people on TDG aspiring to be writers? I damned well hope so.
...
I'm fanatical about moderation
Anthony North
30 April 2004
1 year 49 weeks
Sorry for the Britishism. Taking the mickey is pulling a person's leg, having a bit of fun with them.
No, I'm not really pulling anyone's leg. I don't always hit 9/11 on the nose; more like September. That's when new car models start to arrive and it's also my birthday.
Putting it into Americanism in response to your Britishism, I do push the right buttons and pull a few well-chosen chains when responding to some posts, all for my own amusement. Do you follow my drift?
Are a lot of people on TDG aspiring to be writers? I damned well hope so.
At least five of whom I am aware. AFAIK, only one makes any money at it. I have enjoyed several of your short stories. I've never read a Harry Potter book or seen more than 15-minutes of an HP movie, but I think you guys ought to be writing screenplays. Just change the setting to outer space, add a few details like witches, rewrite Oliver Twist, and make yourself rich. ;o)
Bill
1 May 2004
3 weeks 6 days
Well that explains a few things. Thanks for George Bush. And you may want to look into some of the laws, your boy's been putting in place. Since they do seem to have something to do with getting rid of the Bill of Rights.
30 April 2004
1 year 49 weeks
Well that explains a few things. Thanks for George Bush.
You said that you were doing well economically. As I said, you can't give complete credit or blame for the economy to any one president, but President Bush has certainly been a leading factor in the recovery. You can thank him yourself at http://www.whitehouse.gov/.
And you may want to look into some of the laws, your boy's been putting in place. Since they do seem to have something to do with getting rid of the Bill of Rights.
The president doesn’t put laws in place; the congress passes laws. The President signs or vetoes them. No President could destroy the Bill of Rights even if he wanted to do so. President Bush certainly has no desire to do so. But thanks for your concern.
BTW, I would like Tony Blair to come to the US and run for any office he might choose. While he couldn’t be elected President, he would be elected to anything else in a heartbeat here.
Bill
1 May 2004
3 weeks 6 days
Which circumvents the Legislative Branch. In some cases the Presidents Signing Statement, declare that the President, and others, are except or immune from these laws.
Sounds like a man-crush on Tony Blair, or are you doing a mickey?
13 April 2007
1 year 38 weeks
Hi Bladerunner,
That's TAKING the mickey - 'doing' a mickey sounds too erotic for Brit tastes.
Bill,
Blair. When do you want him? Take him, please!!!
...
The balanced adult retains an inner child
Anthony North
30 April 2004
1 year 49 weeks
Hi Bladerunner,
Bill,
Blair. When do you want him? Take him, please!!!
Would that we could. I would like to see a US Senate seat for him. But I think he's got even bigger fish to fry still in the service of England.
Bill
30 April 2004
1 year 49 weeks
The President Is Trying to Make His Signing Statements Law! Which circumvents the Legislative Branch. In some cases the Presidents Signing Statement, declare that the President, and others, are except or immune from these laws. ?
Because the president is also the Commander and Chief of the Armed Forces and now of Homeland Security he can sign directives that in-effect become law for those agencies without congressional concurrence. This is not new and has been true for better than 200-years and completely constitutional. The President and his staff have immunity from many things but not everything as Clinton found out (perjury). Don’t they teach this stuff in school any longer?
Sounds like a man-crush on Tony Blair, or are you doing a mickey?
No, just respect. But that was sort of cute. You may take a curtsey for cute.
Bill
30 April 2004
1 year 49 weeks
I really don't care for you much.
That is unfortunate. I find you quite entertaining at times.
I was done with you when you really, really, could not understand why sending radioactive waste on rockets to the sun wasn't a good idea. I tried to explain that one exploding rocket would spread radiation everywhere. And you still didn't understand.
I tend to give NASA more credibility than I do to your evaluations. With the payloads they anticipate exploding rockets wouldn't do much of anything. I explained that the less toxic waste could be launched into space, toward the sun. The advantage is that it is permanently removed from the planet and does not consume valuable storage vault space. Subsequent reading leads me to believe that Saturn or Jupiter would be more acceptable targets. More toxic waste is being made less toxic and fused into glass. They do not anticipate launching that into space. Read something on it; educate yourself.
What I don't understand is your type of material selfishness or blind faith in our government. I never have. I'm doing alright, good education, house, car, two cats in the yard. But I care about the direction this country has taken, I care about my community, I even care about you and your rights. So if you don't understand something, that does not mean you have to try to rip it apart.
Buying things is not material selfishness. Consuming gives people jobs. Whatever it is that you do, whatever service you provide has to be consumed by someone. I have faith in many things - the Constitution of the US among them. You claim to be happy - why all the fear and rage? If you make good money may I suggest that you give some of it to charity. That's what I do. Volunteer to help people. It helps you and them. Don't depend on the government to take care of everything and everyone for you. The government makes a poor manager for your soul. Loose some heart-ache.
Bill
13 April 2007
1 year 38 weeks
Hi Bill, again,
I applaud your trust in science. To me, science is good, but limited. And when they suggest a solution that could - just COULD - go wrong in a big way, I tend to say 'don't bother.'
It reminds of the time in Britain when most scientists scoffed at the idea of a species-jumping spongyform - just before the BSE crisis.
...
I'm fanatical about moderation
Anthony North
30 April 2004
1 year 49 weeks
I applaud your trust in science. To me, science is good, but limited.
It's an engineering problem. Engineers solve problems. That's why they make the big bucks. It's just one possible solution to dispose of low-level toxic waste like clothes, boots, and small tools. If the rocket did crash it would be no different than the stuff that France dumps into the ocean every day.
And when they suggest a solution that could - just COULD - go wrong in a big way, I tend to say 'don't bother.'
The problem is that one must 'bother'. It's not a problem where one can call Harry Potter and it will magicly go away. In the US we can keep burying it in Nevada, but other alternatives are desirable. What do you do with in the UK?
If you don't know, shouldn't you know, before declaring "don't bother"?
Bill
22 November 2004
8 hours 54 min
Pray tell anthonynorth, what is less limited than science? Do you have something better? If so, what is it?
----
You can observe a lot, just by watching. (Yogi Berra)
13 April 2007
1 year 38 weeks
Hi Earthling,
By 'limited' I mean it does not encapsulate the whole of life's experience. I'm simply saying there is more to life. Science cannot approach an understanding of everything.
Bill,
I didn't say we shouldn't find a solution for nuclear waste. What I meant was if a solution can be seen to have disastrous consequences if it went wrong, we shouldn't take the risk with that solution. Work on something else.
Lagrange points come to mind, but maybe I don't know enough about them. As I understand, they are points between 'bodies' where the gravity equalises, and what ends up there remains there.
As I say, this may be wrong.
...
Reality, like time, is relative to the observer
Anthony North
13 April 2007
1 year 38 weeks
Just realised I've said something very stupid in last few lines, above. Minor brain storm in progress. Normal service will resume shortly.
My God! I'm fallible ...
30 April 2004
1 year 49 weeks
Anthony North,
It is refreshing that we can disagree politically while still having common courtesy and mutual respect. These sorts of conversations often degenerate into personal attacks and name calling. Thanks for taking the high road. I usually return what I receive.
Bill
22 November 2004
8 hours 54 min
Ok, I want to diverge here if we can.
Generally I favour using nuclear power plants, if done correctly (i.e. not like the Soviets did it). The end-product waste disposal is not easy, but it's not impossible. Many people disagree with this view, but I have another point.
There should be a better way of getting electricity out of radiation, compared to what we use now.
Right now, we use the heat from the nuclear chain reactions to boil water, then we have steam turbines to make electricity. So only the first level heat source is any different from using coal, oil, gas, wood, household waste. The rest is the same.
Then, we have problems with the "byproduct" of the nuclear reaction and the decay products. But that "byproduct" is energy, which is what we used this stuff for in the first place. Gamma radiation and neutrons are the problems that we are afraid of. The rest is pretty harmless.
For those who haven't understood my point yet - I want to make electricity from gamma radiation and neutrons. Not just use the heat byproduct of the reaction. And while we are at it, if there is beta radiation (electrons) or alpha (Helium ions), I want to make electricity from charged particles. Crazy, to make electricity from charged particles, and from hard ionizing radiation?
----
You can observe a lot, just by watching. (Yogi Berra)
30 April 2004
1 year 49 weeks
Excellent idea. I would enjoy such a discussion. But why not open a new blog-thread so that we do not infringe on BR's strike blog.
Bill
1 May 2004
3 weeks 6 days
So much for progressive. More like lets reprint news articles and have fund raising drives! Glad I never gave them money.
7 February 2005
1 year 8 weeks
I don't work out outside the home. So.. I get a few days off from shopping for food for the brood? Sounds good to me.
wait...I run out of milk...
anyway.. interesting idea and I respect your motivations< I might even do it.. ;-)
keep thinking outside the box!!
hugs
marissa