Pssst, GOP, Go Back to Cooking the Frog
by lizard
Incrementalism can be thought of as a process of using tiny steps versus big leaps. When applied to the decades long domestic war by Big Money against the New Deal, the anecdote of the boiling frog comes to mind:
The boiling frog story is a widespread anecdote describing a frog slowly being boiled alive. The premise is that if a frog is placed in boiling water, it will jump out, but if it is placed in cold water that is slowly heated, it will not perceive the danger and will be cooked to death. The story is often used as a metaphor for the inability of people to react to significant changes that occur gradually
As a political strategy, incrementalism has worked pretty darn well for the predators of finance and those soulless, bottom-line thinking sociopaths known in their personhood as corporations. But their greed appears to be trumping their carefully measured assault. Maybe that’s because they have accumulated so much influence over our political system, they’ve decided to abandon the slow burn that cooks us while our national ADD keeps us preoccupied, and decided to go balls out against their sworn enemies, unions, and the rights workers have fought and died for.
But it’s bad timing for the GOP to shift into high gear. After the predominantly peaceful protesters in Egypt dethroned their authoritarian autocrat, the seed of people power has been planted around the globe, and as spring approaches, what will grow will depend on the direct actions of people, not the ethereal hopes that our elected officials are capable of withstanding the corrupting influence of corporate power on their own.
I may not have a lot of hope for the national, two-party political system we’ve got, which is broken, but I do have hope that on smaller stages, there is a populism capable of transcending seemingly insurmountable divides.
By going all or nothing; by trying to make Wisconsin the vanguard for the state by state GOP assault on public workers, Governor Walker has brought cops and firefighters into the fight, in solidarity with their union brothers and sisters. Big mistake.
One of the speakers at the 100,000 person rally this weekend was Jeff Skiles, a co-pilot on the no-fatality plane crash that became known as the miracle on the Hudson. Watch snips of his speech and others at Democracy Now.
In our bleak political environment, the resistance bubbling up gives me hope. Cops acting in solidarity with protestors is a beautiful thing. And it scares the hell out of the predators who won’t stop until they have everything.
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February 28, 2011 at 10:34 pm
i don’t think it is the workers who are being slowly boiled alive here lizard….. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/01/us/01poll.html
in fact, at even medium heat, i figure the GOP tea party revolt should be in about 212 degrees of hot water by november 2012.
February 28, 2011 at 10:42 pm
i’m talkin’ about the long-view strategy: incrementalism has been successful.
the tea party is just a blip. behind it is the corporate push to roll back the gains made in the last century of labor organizing. and that’s been going on for awhile.
February 28, 2011 at 10:56 pm
for a while?
centuries…..millenia even…. i am sure that the first homo sapiens who picked up a sharp weapon figured out pretty quickly how to get others to work for him for free about 175,000 years ago. the struggle for justice never ends.
but i think the oppressed are waking up. like i have said many times, if you back the middle class too far into a corner, it can turn on you like the hulk. messing around with the brotherhood of police and fire departments is not too smart of the GOP.
March 1, 2011 at 7:29 am
It’s time to march on Wal-Mart. Offense.
March 1, 2011 at 1:33 pm
Lizard, your wishful thinking is showing again.
This is the perfect time for the GOP to try to get something done.
They won a big mandate 4 months ago from the voters, we have a lame-duck Governor, and thanks to Onbama/Reid/Pelosi, and the inability of the Dems to change their ways, the Dems are still in decline.
In 2012, the Dems, not learning anything, are going to put up the same liberal-type candidates, with The Messiah on the top of the ticket, promising more spending, and victim status (read Special Rights) to anybody who wants it, and campaing on lib social issues, and their numbers are going to drop some more.
That’s pretty much a given.
But go ahead and keep hoping lizard -
March 1, 2011 at 1:51 pm
that may be true state-wise. hard to tell since there is no poll.
the ultra-consvervative tea party agenda however is losing ground nationally, eric. over-reaching on the part of scott walker has awakened the middle class to the absurd injustice of asking the middle class to suffer all the cuts while ceo’s and the wealthy benefit with more tax cuts
plus, independent reporting which has proven quid pro quo on the part of the tea party with koch bros and other wealthy special interests is beginning to sink in.
i don’t know about montana eric, but you can kiss most of the gains made by the tea party in formerly blue states good bye in 2012.
be sure and tell your party to keep kicking the middle class eric. and see what happens.
March 1, 2011 at 1:55 pm
Nice frogs legs in your avatar there, Coobs. Your arms look a little well done, though. Maybe because you’ve typed way too much wistful-thinking drivel lately?
Oh, and the governor isn’t a lame duck. He won’t be until after the next governor is elected, and until he/she sworn in.
Then again, don’t let the minutiae get in the way of a good fantasy, alright dingdong (my favorite brand of cupcake for moments like this, though Coobs probably fancies himself more a Little Debbie or a Twinkie, definitely not a HoHo)?
March 1, 2011 at 3:38 pm
coobs, that junk you try to pass off as thinking is barely worth responding to, but i’m feeling charitable, so here it goes:
Obama is doing his best to placate his corporate funders while trying to maintain the illusion that he is a “liberal”. he is not. the noise coming from your side about socialism and spending is ridiculous, and i only take it seriously because so many of your ilk have been brainwashed into believing all kinds of garbage.
you don’t bring anything serious to this conversation, coobs, just regurgitated talking points. you don’t have a clue what’s really going on.
March 2, 2011 at 10:06 am
regurgitated talking points ?
Please put up a link, to anybody but me, who’s been charitable enough to let the Dems know that the situation they’re in is their own fault –
They elected The Great Leader, and after they watched him crash & burn they still put up another batch of dyed-in-the-wool libs as candidates and got their asses handed to them.
And who else is predicting that they’ll do the same thing in 2012 ?
I know the Dems, and I know how they operate.
So keep up the wishful thinking lizard – maybe you should try ‘The Glad Game’ (apologies to Pollyanna)
March 2, 2011 at 11:00 am
Eric – I think the problem that people might have with you is the emptiness of your writing. You are fixated on personalities, and of course Blue/Red D/R. Take the statement right above to which I attach this comment, there is no substance, no meaning. The Great Leader crashed and burned? Dyed-in-the-wool libs? Those are empty words. No meaning! You’re likable and stuff but you do frustrate people.
We may agree that the Democrats suffer due to their own shortcomings but I don’t see anything from you but vague generalities. People here, by and large, have a good grasp of issues, and discuss them in detail. Along you come and make wild aspersions due to the letter behind politicians’ names. It doesn’t test market here very well.
March 2, 2011 at 11:01 am
so you know the Dems, and how they operate, huh? let me guess, it’s all about socialism, and spending, and big government.
the reason i don’t have time for your partisan crap is because your side behaves very similarly.
you hypocrites say you want smaller government, but then Bush Jr. enacts one of the largest expansions of federal bureaucracy with the department of Homeland Security, and where was the criticsm from the right?
yeah, you hypocrites say you’re concerned about the deficit, but don’t seem to care about defecit exploding tax cuts for the rich. you hypocrites don’t want government telling YOU what to do, but have no problem supporting religious zealots who want to force people into counseling for divorces, force ultrasounds onto women, force your noses into private bedrooms, etc.
do you see the common theme here, coobs? you and your ilk are a bunch of raging hypocrites who have ZERO credibility. quit obsessing over “liberals” and start looking at the crap coming from your side of the political spectrum.
oh, and if you read my posts with any regularity, you should realize i don’t engage in much wishful thinking when it comes to the national Democrat party, but that’s for reasons you won’t be able to wrap your head around, because you’re too invested in the fox-washing.
March 3, 2011 at 12:37 am
To be hypocrites they have to admit they’re committing acts they are against. But Orwell pegged the American political game years ago when he painted the bleak future of Britain.
We have always been at war with Eurasia.
March 3, 2011 at 6:32 am
i still think it’s worth pointing out their hypocrisy, even if they aren’t capable of seeing it themselves. coobs can try to deny it, but then he’ll look like an even bigger ass.
March 1, 2011 at 1:48 pm
I dont belong to union. I love my job and pay my taxes. I contribute many $$$ to my own Retirement plan, and my own Health Care plan. With my take home pay, I suppose I would be consider as below average income earner at the best. Thats ok. I really dont mind. I work hard for everything I have and feel very happy about my life.
NOW THAT SAID.
I get very affended when a good part of my taxes go to State employees Medical and Pension plans, when they are consideres above average income earners.
Goodness sakes people…
March 1, 2011 at 2:03 pm
just me, unions won 40 hour work weeks. time and a half for overtime. vacations with pay. pensions. health insurance benefits for all workers.
without the collective bargaining power of unions, we would be slaving 12 hour days for thirty cents an hour like they do in china. if you take collective bargaining away from unions what is to stop the greedy from taking everything away from workers whether union or not?
unions set the precedent upon which all are hired. if we degrade their ability to maintain decent levels of pay then all wages will come down and you can kiss vacation with pay goodbye too. the wealthy and the corporations will not stop until they have reduced all of us to peons in this country and basically removed the middle class from america. then who will buy the new cars? houses? electronics? that fuels our economy?
the 5% of americans that are wealthy cannot sustain this economy. ask any car dealer how many rich people buy cars? or any rv dealer how many rich people come in to buy boats and trailers? most of the purchases are made using credit for people who earn enough to make payments.
if you cave on unions then you might as well just close up all the car dealers, rv dealers, electronics shops, furniture stores and basically just turn off the switch of all main street america.
the middle class supports america. the rich support europe.
March 1, 2011 at 2:15 pm
I agree.
Unions, at one time were a good help to the American workers. They were needed.
BUT..No need for them in infiltrate and push their ways-views into Goverment Policies.
Private sector (FINE)
Goverment (NO)
March 1, 2011 at 2:21 pm
NO need? The what do you propose to offset escalating corporate influence in “Government Policies” in the post Citizen’s United era, where unlimited corporate money can buy the government personel of their choice?
Or haven’t you been paying attention in Wisconsin, where the Koch Brothers have purchased a governor that is willing to sell government (the people’s) assets to them in a no-bid process?
March 1, 2011 at 2:22 pm
unions are even more essential now than they ever were, just me. after 30 years of the private sector gutting the unions, the public sector unions like nurses, police and fire departments are the last line of defense left for unions. if they lose the right to bargain collectively, then there will essentially be no unions left in this country and the wealthy can have their way with all of us workers.
the fight in wisconsin is simply koch bros industrialists, wealthy ceos trying to take away the right of workers to join in collective bargaining so they can do whatever they want to all workers.
that is why 60% of americans support the union members. most of us are not union members but we know without that front line of union workers in front of us we are all powerless to stop the wealthy from turning all of us into their slaves. they will be able to say work for this or you are fired. – the same situation in china and india.
that is what they are after.
March 1, 2011 at 2:30 pm
Just which employees do you consider “above average income earners” when compared to similar occupations in the private sector?
If’n you’re going to make claims like this, either back it up with some solid numbers, or we’ll just hear your claims for what they are: tumbleweeds in the breeze.
And why are you offended that public employees get the same thing you do? I don’t know what you do for a living, but your job supplies you with enough income to have health insurance and a retirement plan. And your money comes from the private sector, which comes from… me buying goods and services. So I am contributing to your health insurance and retirement.
There is no difference between public employees getting health and retirement benefits and private employees getting the same. It all comes out of all our pockets, whether through a purchase of a good or service, or through paying taxes and/or fees to the state.
This movement to demote public employees to a lesser form of workforce is really disgusting in my book. They are our family members, our neighbors, our teachers, cops and firefighters. They deserve the same things in life that everybody else who works hard deserves.
And if you don’t like it, then maybe it’s time for the rest of us to start lobbying to remove your tax breaks (which we all pay for in addition to contributing directly to your benefits in the wages you earn from selling your labor in the market) for your retirement plan and health insurance and medical expenses. It’s only right that if one class of workers gets tax breaks, that the rest of us have the opportunity to share at the same slop trough. But if you’re going to play Scrooge, then it’s open season.
March 1, 2011 at 2:32 pm
So whats new.
Now. Union Bosses and Union money are now picking our politicians and influencing “Government Policies”
So shall we Punt?
March 1, 2011 at 2:36 pm
You’d rather that corporations pick our politicians and influence government policies?
Unions are the only counterbalance left in our corporate-financing-run-amok political system. And that is why the GOP is hell-bent on union busting right now. It is nothing more than an attempt to solidify political power for the GOP and the corporations that finance them.
March 1, 2011 at 7:01 pm
So shall we Punt?
no we should fight for democracy. this is a war on the working class being waged by the wealthy of this country and the multinational corporations who want cheaper labor so they can make better profits. the battle is joined. if you believe in freedom then join the fight.
but if you want to put your head in the ground and hope for the best, that is your choice.
Wisconsin is a pivotal battle in a 30 year war on the working man and woman in this country………
if you work for a living in this country and you want to continue to be able to feed your familiy and pay your bills pay attention…….
http://www.thenation.com/video/158916/michael-moore-war-against-middle-class-wisconsin
March 2, 2011 at 7:57 am
“Incrementalism” is an illusion, like progress itself. Steven Weinberg, the Nobel astrophysicist, noted that in 1600, on a horse or in a carriage, it took a several hours to cross Manhattan island. Today, with cars and buses, it still takes several hours.
Democrats use incrementalism as a magicians trick, saying “Look, we’re making progress, just not as fast as you want!” Remove the magician and the beautiful woman who distracts our eyes, and we see that not only is there no incremental progress, but that there is actually movement in the same direction as we go when the other party is in power.
Real incremental change is going on in Wisconsin, as people are waking up. They are fighting back. Herb Kohl, Wisconsin’s Democratic senator, is of course nowhere to be found.
March 2, 2011 at 8:42 pm
““Incrementalism” is an illusion, like progress itself. Steven Weinberg, the Nobel astrophysicist, noted that in 1600, on a horse or in a carriage, it took a several hours to cross Manhattan island. Today, with cars and buses, it still takes several hours.”
But the people living there now live twice as long. That, I call progress.
March 3, 2011 at 8:56 am
Fair point. I am muddying the waters by confusing technological improvements with the commonly held notion that history unfolds as progress, that we do things differently or better than before.
Weinberg was talking about the illusion that travel on a small island was improved by introduction of the automobile. It wasn’t. That’s a fair point. In Montana, however, it’s not quite the same.
And by the way, people lived as long in the 1600′s as now – the statistics you refer to are skewed by infant mortality. If people made it to age one, their prospects were good for a long healthy life.
Technological “progress” is undeniable. My electric toothbrush does a better job than a manual one. (But my electric razor does a crappy job.) In 1964 we were scammed by Tonkin into supporting an invasion of Vietnam. In far more technologically advanced 2003, we were scammed into supporting an invasion of Iraq by WMD’s. Our media was equally complicit in both scams. I do not see “progress” unfolding in history. We haven’t changed an iota.
March 3, 2011 at 5:36 pm
“In 1964 we were scammed by Tonkin into supporting an invasion of Vietnam. In far more technologically advanced 2003, we were scammed into supporting an invasion of Iraq by WMD’s. Our media was equally complicit in both scams. I do not see “progress” unfolding in history. We haven’t changed an iota.”
I remember reading about the Spanish American War in history class in high school. They blamed the ‘sensationalist’ media at the time for spreading panic and leading the charge into war. As if it couldn’t happen these days.
But I don’t think that means that all social progress is an illusion. The elimination of slavery, the implementation of environmental regulations, etc. have all been certain definite steps forward socially. But it is nonetheless not a universally forward motion.
March 2, 2011 at 8:43 pm
““Incrementalism” is an illusion, like progress itself. Steven Weinberg, the Nobel astrophysicist, noted that in 1600, on a horse or in a carriage, it took a several hours to cross Manhattan island. Today, with cars and buses, it still takes several hours.”
But the people living there now live twice as long. That, I call progress. Sadly, that progress has indeed slowed substantially.
March 2, 2011 at 9:34 pm
Rehberg Dennygrates Groundhog Day‘s Bill Murray while blowing smoke up Montana’s assets.
March 3, 2011 at 4:36 pm
Choteau reader not fooled by Rehberg’s Denigma.