Nov 05, 2008 (The News & Observer – McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) — A spoof newspaper resembling the USA Today and decrying capitalism was inserted into newspaper boxes in Chapel Hill, Raleigh and elsewhere early Wednesday. “Capitalism Wins at the Polls,” the lead headline blares above a photo of a bonfire. “Anarchy Brewing in the Streets.” The spoof paper’s lead story announced that “2008 marks the 56th consecutive victory in the presidential elections for capitalism, which has successfully weathered crises ranging from the abolition of slavery to the Great Depression and the Summer of Love over the course of its 219-year administration.” In e-mails to news outlets, an anarchist group said it distributed 30,000 copies in at least 10 cities. One of the e-mails the News & Observer received read…
Over 20 similar actions happened across the country. We anticipate (and hope!) that other groups will post their own press releases and action reportbacks. This cross-country, coordinated action was set for the day after election day, on the biggest news day of the year. In addition to confronting the media itself, and providing counter-information to the public, this action seems to have served as a kind of “experiment” in what can be done with the networks leftover from the conventions. Judging simply by the unprecedented numbers of cities participating, it seems to have been a success. Once again, we would encourage other groups to post their own logic behind participating.
“A Public Service Announcement”
Early this morning, many thousands of corporate newspapers in over 20 cities across the United States, including Chapel Hill and Carrboro, were given more accurate front pages. That one wealthy politician will replace another is not news worthy. Capitalism has always won at the polls, and it always will. McCain and Obama’s support for the financial bailout proved this, and ensured that any vote would be a vote for Wall St. The real stories worth telling are those of resistance and struggle, any instance where oppressed people attempt to realize dignity, autonomy, and equality in their daily lives.
We are getting organized. We will continue to ensure that the real stories get told.
Sincerely,
Unconventional Action – Journalism Department – [North Carolina]
Like many other people, I am delighted to see the Republicans collapsing into well-deserved ignominy, with the likelihood of the Democrats recapturing the presidency and increasing their majorities in Congress. Hopefully the latter will discontinue or at least mitigate some of the more insane policies of the current administration (some of which, such as climate change and ecological devastation, threaten to become irreversible).
Beyond that, I do not expect the Democratic politicians to accomplish anything very significant. Most of them are just as corrupt and compromised as the Republicans. Even if a few of them are honest and well-intentioned, they are all loyal servants of the ruling economic system, and they all ultimately function as cogwheels in the murderous political machine that serves to defend that system.
Hey Mr. DJ put a record on I
wanna dance with my baby
And when the music starts
I never wanna stop, it’s gonna drive me crazy
Guess what, anarchy isn’t brewing in the streets. Anarchists are and will remain irrelevant. I’m not arguing that anarchism is wrong, although I think it is, just that it’s stupid for extremists to pretend there’s some kind of silent majority that agrees with them.
BTW describing Obama as “one wealthy politician” replacing another sort of points to the stupidity of this kind of thing. Obama is wealthy primarily because a lot of people wanted to buy his books. Oh noes, markets.
“It’s stupid for extremists to pretend there’s some kind of silent majority that agrees with them.”
By ‘extremists’, I take it you mean ‘anarchists’ (in the US). Taken literally, I agree with you. That is, I don’t believe that it’s the case that a silent majority of the US population is ‘anarchist’. On the other hand, I don’t believe that the authors of the parody believe that either; to claim otherwise, as well as being incorrect, is to miss the point. The point being: “The real stories worth telling are those of resistance and struggle, any instance where oppressed people attempt to realize dignity, autonomy, and equality in their daily lives.” I think this statement is quite reasonable, and stands in obvious contrast to your assertion that “It’s stupid for extremists to pretend there’s some kind of silent majority that agrees with them”.
To understand this requires only a modicum of intelligence.
Inre Barack Obama’s wealth, in May 2007 (CNN):
“Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, reported assets of between $456,000 and $1.1 million, making it unclear if he is a millionaire. He and his wife had total income of $984,000 in 2006, including $567,000 in royalties for two books he has written. In 2005, Obama received a $1.9 million book advance.”
On this basis, and given subsequent events, it appears likely he is a millionaire. To place this in persspective, again according to CNN:
That is, Obama is one of approximately 9 million millionaires in the contemporary US. Given its current population of approximately just over 300 million, this places Obama in the top 3% of the total population. But again, I think this factoid is only partially relevant to the case being made in the anarchist parody of USA Today. That is, despite the election of a black millionaire to the Whitehouse, capitalism rolls on — and with it, the struggle against capitalism.
Oh noes.
You never told us what capitalism is – mmmkay. So what is capitalism, mmmkay?
Capitalism is a cold beer on a warm Summer day.
Capitalism is playing kick to kick with your kids in the park.
Capitalism is you, it’s me, it’s everybody. Everybody working together to make this country great.
Capitalism. Can ya taste it?
By ‘extremists’, I take it you mean ‘anarchists’ (in the US). Taken literally, I agree with you. That is, I don’t believe that it’s the case that a silent majority of the US population is ‘anarchist’. On the other hand, I don’t believe that the authors of the parody believe that either; to claim otherwise, as well as being incorrect, is to miss the point.
I don’t think they believe that “a silent majority of the US population is ‘anarchist’” either, but that’s basically what their headline implies. Or I guess it really implies that anarchy is some inchoate presence in America, obscure now, but inherently the philosophy most attuned to the people’s interests and thus poised to one day overthrow the existing order, maybe soon! That’s not true either. I mean, what do you think they meant by it?
The point being: “The real stories worth telling are those of resistance and struggle, any instance where oppressed people attempt to realize dignity, autonomy, and equality in their daily lives.” I think this statement is quite reasonable, and stands in obvious contrast to your assertion that “It’s stupid for extremists to pretend there’s some kind of silent majority that agrees with them”.
To understand this requires only a modicum of intelligence.
I don’t agree that it’s “quite reasonable.” Rather, I would argue that newspapers should report events that affect a lot of people’s lives and people care about, instead of relatively insignificant stories that are important to a small group of ideologues because those stories fit into their preferred ideological frame. What is USA Today supposed to report instead of US presidential elections? The latest Crimethinc. convergence?
I think in the newspaper industry putting “the point” in an email and something that’s not “the point” in a front page headline would be called “burying the lede.” Thank God anarchists don’t run newspapers.
mr mckay:
Capitalism is even more annoying than the dickhead who has been trolling my blog for two years and posts one inane comment after another using one handle after another: Full-wit Mick / ‘Tony’ / Mick / Timmy / WR / Mick Reyfield / Tony Whitemore / Michael J Reyfield / Exchron and more.
And it’s Mackey, not mckay, mmmkay?
As for what capitalism is: what Dr Cam said.
“Thank God anarchists don’t run newspapers.”
And Rupert Murdoch thanks !nataS for his assistance.
On mass media, see, for example: ‘The Political Economy of the Mass Media’, Edward S. Herman interviewed by Robert W. McChesney, Monthly Review, January, 1989.
USA Today reports what it considers ‘newsworthy’ (see above). A number of anarchists produced a parody. This appears to have upset you; I think it’s amusing.
“I mean, what do you think they meant by [‘Anarchy Brewing in the Streets’]?
This headline contrasts with another: ‘Capitalism Wins at the Polls’. That is, while US society remains a capitalist one — that is, Obama’s election does not imply any fundamental social transformation — opposition to capitalism continues, especially as it’s embodied in extra-parliamentary social movements. Anarchists form one part of these movements.
I love this.
Think of the people and the organization that had to come together in order for this to work. And how many people just threw the sleeve away, finding it annoying and trite, just slowing down their day. They have no idea, they don’t care, but it doesn’t matter. This wasn’t meant for the masses.
Love is a many-splendoured thing.
I like that video, but what’s that supposed to mean in the credits “Fuck you to any cop who takes his power too far”? What would be an example of a cop who didn’t take their power too far? One that had never sent somebody to a prison camp for a non-violent drug offense? One that, even when instructed to, didn’t brutalize non-violent protesters? One that, at the request of a wealthy landlord 500 miles away, didn’t evict a dozen squatters from a building that hadn’t otherwise been touched in 20 years onto the cold winter streets? One that didn’t arrest sex workers for trying to make money to eat and pay rent? That cop wouldn’t be a cop very long.