The Bishop and the Butterfly: Murder, Politics, and the End of the Jazz Age
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    Everyone’s afraid of us! - An interview with Ted Rall

    By cmaukonen on Thu, 11/25/2010 - 11:34pm |

    ted Rall

    I rather like Ted Rall. He has a perspective that is refreshingly honest. You may not agree with him, but he does not pull any punches. Here is an interview I came across.  He has a new book out that I think I may buy. I don't buy many books but this one looks interesting. It's call The Anti-American Manifesto.

    In arguably the most radical book published in decades, cartoonist/columnist Ted Rall has produced the book he was always meant to write: a new manifesto for an America heading toward economic and political collapse. While others mourn the damage to the postmodern American capitalist system created by the recent global economic collapse, Rall sees an opportunity. As millions of people lose their jobs and their homes, they and millions more are opening their minds to the possibility of creating a radically different form of government and economic infrastructure.

    But there are dangers. As in Russia in 1991, criminals and right-wing extremists are best prepared to fill the power vacuum from a collapsing United States. The best way to stop them, Rall argues, is not collapse—but revolution. Not by other people, but by us. Not in the future, but now. While it’s still possible.

    He has some good animations as well on his site.  


     

    Comments


    by cmaukonen on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 12:15am

    Ted did a couple of interviews (which he has on his site of course) and one of the things that was brought up was the anti war protest of the late 60s and early 70s and that after Kent State even those became restrained. And that it is sad fact the people in this country won't make their voices heard, at least thos on the supposed left, unless they own sorry asses are on the line. Like being foced to go and get them blown off in a war.

    It's is very much like what Phil Ochs has said.

    In every political community there are varying shades of political opinion. One of the shadiest of these is the liberals. An outspoken group on many subjects. Ten degrees to the left of center in good times. Ten degrees to the right of center if it affects them personally.

     

    Love Me, I'm a Liberal
    By Phil Ochs
    updates by Greg Artzner & Terry Leonino

    I cried when they shot Medgar Evers
    The tears ran down my spine
    And I cried when they shot Mr. Kennedy
    As though I'd lost a father of mine
    But Malcolm X got what was coming
    He got what he asked for that time
    So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

    I went to civil rights rallies
    And I put down the old D.A.R.
    I love Oprah and Michael and Tiger
    I hope every black kid becomes a star
    But don't talk about revolution
    That's going a little bit too far
    So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

    I cheered when Obama was chosen
    My faith in the system restored
    And I'm glad that they caught Bernie Madoff
    He certainly got his reward
    And I love Pakistanis and Arabs
    As long as they don't move next door
    So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

    Those crazies who joined the tea parties
    Should all hang their heads in shame
    Now I can't understand how their minds work
    Way too much Glenn Beck on the brain
    But if you want socialized health care
    You must be terminally insane
    So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal


    I read MoveOn.org and Progressive
    I've learned to take every view
    I watch Bill Maher and Jon Stewart
    And I laugh all the way to the loo
    But when it comes to the war on terror
    There's no one more red, white and blue
    So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

    I vote for the Democratic Party
    Though I’m sure that Kucinich is wrong
    I attend all the Pete Seeger concerts
    He still gets me singing those songs
    And I'll send all my money to Haiti
    But don't ask me to come on along
    So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

    Once I was young and impulsive
    I wore every conceivable pin
    Now it’s causes on Facebook and Twitter
    Virtual marches and sit-ins
    Ah, but I've grown older and wiser
    And that's why I'm turning you in (to the department of homeland security)
    So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

    http://newpolitics.mayfirst.org/node/293


    by cmaukonen on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 1:30am

    The cartoons in the papers of old were remarkable; such an artform.

    It is good to see that cartoonists and good cartoonists will always be with us.


    by Richard Day on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 2:50am

    I haven't looked at RT for a few months, but they do have some interesting articles and interviews one would never see in the US MSM. Everytime I read something there I get the impression they take to heart our 1st Amendment right...freedom of the press...quite seriously. With the GOP collapsing after Bu$h, the tea-baggers are scurrying in to fill the void, scavangers they be, to feast on the corpse. If the rest of the public isn't careful, they'll wrestle control away from what little remains of sanity in Congress and we'll all be sliding down the chute into their underworld. I hope his book is as interesting as the interview.


    by Beetlejuice on Fri, 11/26/2010 - 9:37am