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If Obama Doesn't Want to Lead the Revolution - Young People Will
Thom Hartman
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This is what the Occupy Wall Street protests are all about - an economically and politically lost generation of Americans who - faced with unemployment and debt - have chosen to change the game rather than accept the status quo - to dismantle Reagan's revolution rather than find jobs within it. After all - what other choices do they have?
These young men and women - most of whom were born during the Reagan presidecy - and have no recollection of him and his policies - were unable to protest the tax cuts he pushed for the rich that created the massive wealth inequality we see today. They were unable to protest the deregulation on Wall Street he and his counter-revolutionaries supported, which set the stage for the market collapse three years ago - and the crime of the century known as the Bush Bailout. They were unable to fight against the free trade policies that led to the outsourcing of good American jobs. They weren't of age to have a say in the direction of this nation 30 years ago or even 15 years ago - but they are today. And as the effects of all these disastrous policies are plaguing the first generation of American born in Reagan's United States - the long overdue protests have begun.
This is the revolution that they - and even older Americans - hoped for when Barack Obama pledged to "fundamentally change the United States and the world" when he was elected President in 2008. But so far - this pledge has been unfulfilled. Turns out - Barack Obama was not that much of a revolutionary. But ultimately - it was never about him - it was about us - and in particular it was about the young people - because all revolutions - even Reagan's - don't originate from one man - they originate from the people - from the bottom up. From Jefferson to Lincoln - and from FDR to Reagan - these men who presided over great changes in America didn't create revolutions - they simply seized control of a nation pregnant with revolution and oversaw the transformation - and in some cases guided it. If President Obama discovers his inner revolutionary and steps forward with that voice and message and behavior, he'll get re-elected - and then he will have to carry forward with a revolution.
It's already started...
Author's Website: http://www.thomhartmann.com
Author's Bio: Thom Hartmann is a Project Censored Award-winning New York Times best-selling author, and host of a nationally syndicated daily progressive talk program on the Air America Radio Network, live noon-3 PM ET. www.thomhartmann.com His most recent books are "The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight," "Unequal Protection: The Rise of Corporate Dominance and the Theft of Human Rights," "We The People," "What Would Jefferson Do?," "Screwed: The Undeclared War Against the Middle Class," and "Cracking The Code: How to Win Hearts, Change Minds, and Restore America�s Original Vision."
And here are 80 more older articles by Thom Hartmann.
Sept. 28, 2011
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