Gotta love Larry Flynt

Anyone who does not remember Larry Flynt or thinks he's a washed up hustled has been, should have another look.

Though I never read Hustler, I always admired Flynt's courage to dance with the demonic puppetteers who pull the strings on the political stage. In case you missed it, here is a reprint of his last article from the Huffington Post. Be sure to read the original article, Common sense

His clarity is brilliant - his plan is feasible - his respect for the People humbling. Hope you enjoy reading them and they provide some inspiration in these difficult times.

Does Anybody Really

Know What Time it Is?

Source

The time is now. America is waking up. Resistance is the order of the day. I could feel it with growing certainty as I read the numerous and gratifying responses to my call for a national strike here on HuffPost. So many smart people offering so many good ideas. Even my detractors acknowledged the underlying issues I put forth.

This notion was reaffirmed on August 28 when Bill Maher interviewed Bill Moyers on a special edition of HBO's "Real Time". "The Democratic Party has become like the Republican Party, deeply influenced by corporate money," Moyers said. A short while later he added: "You really have two corporate parties who in their own way and their own time are serving the interests of basically a narrow set of economic interests in the country." In other words, it's the people versus the corporate state.

You hear it more and more, sometimes spoken in code, sometimes spelled out as clearly as a neon sign. We have reached the tipping point. The enemy has been identified. It's not left versus right it's democracy versus greed. This realization sits there like an unexploded bomb. We stare at it, waiting only for someone to light the match.

That was the essence of the debate here on HuffPost. Who will set a strike date? What date shall it be? Some called for me to set it. I demur. It's not up to me. There are enough millionaires telling you what to do. And I'm not at risk. I say, let the people decide.

That's what was so exciting about the discussion my essay evoked; it was all so egalitarian, so organic. Some who responded said they could not afford to stay home from their jobs; they were too vulnerable. Others suggested letting each participate in the way that is best for them. If you can't yell strike, or claim a sick day, then go to work but don't shop.

That makes sense to me. Like it or not, we are a consumer-driven society. Each and every purchase we make is a political action. That's called the power of the consumer. We must learn to wield this power effectively.

When it came to picking a date for the strike, some said September 11, others preferred October 1, and yet others favored November 5. I like all those dates. Why should there be just one? Or just three? We'll need a series of strikes. We'll need to build a movement. This isn't going to succeed overnight.

Whatever date is chosen, or however many, I'll throw in my support. It will be a slow build, but we can win this battle if we remain focused on the prize: meaningful campaign finance reform and serious restrictions on lobbying activity. It's time to take back our government. Let the average person have an equal voice with the wealthy.

For now, remember: The corporations do not control our government; they are our government.

Compassionate existentialism: don't fuck with us

Well I am not going to post an informative article or even a distraction from the chaos in which we are living. I am only going to say that I am totally disgusted with the situation in which we find ourselves today.

First, I would love to blame someone - where the feck is a scape goat when you need one? There are plenty of candidates:

First, the elite 'masters of the universe' including bankers, multi-national corporations, and the entire capitalistic structure that participates in creating much for the few and little for the many. There is no sophisticated philosophical justification for this: the powerful do what they do, because they can. The goal of power is power, getting it, keeping it and defending it. It's not rocket science. And might makes right.

Second I would like to blame the common people who make all this possible with their stampeding mentality right over the cliff - into consumer zombie land. Me Me Me, More More More, Now Now Now. One has to admire the effectiveness of corporate marketing in its ability to turn human beings into little profit units. They are to be congratulated because they have succeeded in replacing human creativity with material acquisition.

Many argue that the media has taken over managing the populace to such an extent, that it is not the people's fault. Proganda is all we ever get via the main media..our perceptions of the world are entirely created by an electronic box. Lies to manipulate the public, in this way or that way, the elite media cowboys round up the herd in the direction of the market where profits are the highest.

Who is responsible for a lie? Is the liar or the believer of a lie more culpable? Suppose someone lied about you...and someone else believed it,resulting in bad things happening? Certainly the person who told the lie would be guilty; but, what about the person who believed the lie swallowing it whole?
Don't we have a responsibility to evaluate what we hear? I always thought there was something called intellectual intregity in giving fair consideration to opposing premises; by which we determine the survival of ourselves and others. People who want freedom cannot expect it if too lazy to develop a healthy crtical faculty in determining the 'truth'.

When I think of all the years I was duped into being the kind of person advertising told me I should be, from Ozzie and Harriett to Mary Tyler Moore and Posh, it's difficult to hold others in contempt of being duped by commercial culture after having fallen victim to its allure myself.

Feck it. Both are guilty...that is to say responsible.
What to do? What to do?

I prefer to take the existentialist way out; maybe its a cop out, but no more or less so, than anyone else's method. The universe is a chaotic mess with no reason to chose one 'truth' over another (since humans like to think that all truth must be reason-based; and since reason is naught but a high class whore).

So I am trapped into deciding my own truth, not necessarily reason based. How nice - I have a choice. After giving this a great deal of thought and attention, I have found the winner: something I can commit myself to whether it makes sense or not.

Compassion. It is the only quality that if it did not exist, there would be no reason for human beings to exist, for me anyway. Compassion seems to be what has been drained out of us to be good little competitive zombies. Everyone knows the webs of rational argument that are spun from a 'ME first, and feck YOU' attitude about others in society and, indeed, on every intimate level.

Compassion is the bedrock of love. And I can't live in a world without one or the other.

I can hear the realist whines already: Try using compassion to stop someone bombing women and children! Try using compasssion to reason with your boss that you need your job! Try using compassion to stop a bullet passing through your body!

Ok ok. I said I am committed to compassion: I did not say I am a delusional wimp. As hard as I try, I cannot turn the other cheek to the intentional cruelty and horrow inflicted on the innocent by brutes of the elite. Those who use others mercilessly for the advancement of their own agendas by virtue of might, must be found with might. Because they have not consciences. Because they have not compassion.

Might must be met with might. One does not reason to compassion - the compassion challenged have little incentive to change unless their agendas are interrupted. And this takes power. Power of united action, or even single acts of great courage must stay the agendas of the 'masters of the universe', who consign the fate of humans to the utilitarian profitibility serving their strategies. Yes, power must stop power.

Bloodshed though is not the appropriate response to power mongers oppression and lies....I do not believe in violence. Violence begets violence. Instead I find the concept of non-compliance, Ghandhi-esque, quite attractive. Even a few million elite masters of banking, war and international trade.....cannot control billions if the the billions do not agreed to be controlled.

I propose general strikes...shut down governments, multi-nationals, communications, and trade. Stay home - and do nothing. If only 30% of the population of any country employed this strategy, the people would scare the big dogs shiteless and regain power over a world where most feel totally impotent to chart a better course for the planet and species.

There are not enough jails or personnel drag 30% of a population from their homes and imprison them for doing nothing!! No bloodshed, no violence, no protesting....just non-compliance.

Compassionate existentialists can be extremely dangerous. Big dogs better take note: or we will just organise everyone to do nothing! And then who will do the labour in your big capitalist machine?