"It was not by accident or coincidence that the rights to freedom in speech and press were coupled in a single guaranty with the rights of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition for redress of grievances. All these, though not identical, are inseparable. They are cognate rights, and therefore are united in the first Article’s assurance." - Judge Wiley B. Rutledge

"Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness of the people; and not for profit, honor, or private interest of any one man, family, or class of men; therefore, the people alone have an incontestable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to institute government; and to reform, alter, or totally change the same, when their protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness require it."

-John Adams, Thoughts on Government, 1776



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EXIT STRATEGY: General Strike USA

idea of Union. As well as, of course, idea of the workers of the lower and middle class uniting was the real victory. Corporate America's greatest historical victory was destroying theof Union. As well as, of course, destroying actual unions along the way, wherever possible, and with relish. Many individual unions are still around, obviously. Some are trying to make a comeback and regain relevance. But destroying theof the workers of the lower and middle classwas the real victory.

Because it largely destroyed the idea of Solidarity, as well. The idea of the non-ruling classes banding together to protest and work against the excesses of the ruling class. And the very real idea that we, if we choose to, can shut the whole thing down.

If someone were to suggest, for example, that we begin a general strike ... for the sole purpose of removing this regime from power, how readily and with what well-practiced assurance would you find yourself producing the words "It won't do any good"? Plausible and even courageous in the mouth of a patient who knows he's going to die, the sentiment fits equally well in the heart of a citizen-ry that believes it is already dead.



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Individually we find that we are powerless against corporate media or Big Oil or Washington . Our choices are limited. Our effectiveness diminished. This is not by accident. Unions , social gatherings, clubs that all flourished before the 1960s have all been destroyed by those who find you & me to be a threat.

Without direct action, republican democracy is truly disempowering: our only means of influence are to beg the Very Serious And Important Intermediary - the congressman, the governor, the president, etc. - to do something on our behalf.

We all know how well that has worked out.

The Establishment wants us to focus all of our energy on elections because elections are the controlled space whereby popular ferment can be contained by rules, regulations, etc. But there are many different methods of direct action - ie. taking matters into our own hands - that can wield a tremendous amount of power.