alternative reader no. 134

Hunger - A Mighty Powerful Political Motivator

By Cathy Garger
Axis of logic
Posted by Bulatlat

“We need a Nuremberg to put on trial the economic order that they have imposed on us, that every three years kills more men, women and children by hunger and preventable or curable diseases than the death toll in six years of the second world war.”    - President Fidel Castro

Leave it to the Brits to tell Americans the truth. I just read a sobering article in The Guardian called "US inflation and rate rise worries cause worldwide shares sell-off"  that has given me reason to change my plans for the day.

Rather than do my regular daily routine of research and writing, I'll instead be going to the store on a mega shopping trip to stock up on rice and beans, canned goods, and powdered milk for the pantry. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that the US economy's on the down swing and that things may soon be getting pretty darn lean for my family and the vast majority of the rest of America, too.
 
And as unfortunate as this may sound? The American public's awareness of the collapse of the US economy may be just the very *thing* that could wake 'n' shake people into action.
 
Hunger is, after all, quite the powerful political motivator.
 
Hunger, economic instability, and vast inequities between the "haves" and the "have nots" have often been catalysts for radical social movements throughout history. One recent example is the movement of the landless peasants of Brazil, the Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra, or MST, where difficult struggles against hunger and poverty have been fought by 1.5 million members organized in 23 states across Brazil.  For inspiration we can also look back to the Iranian Revolution of 1979 when 3 million downtrodden, urban poor, and middle class citizens took to the streets in protest and claimed power over the Shah in government. 
 
When parents can no longer feed their children, when their homes and land are taken out from under them, or when their very existence is threatened such as in the case of a military draft? People are far more likely to stand up and resist.
 
With the economic reports coming in today that the economy is slowing and inflation is picking up?  It appears likely that America's own days of resistance could soon be upon us.
 
Now of course I don't wish a poor economy on any nation. I am merely stating that if it should happen and things get any worse in the United States (and many economists are predicting that they soon will) it might bring forth - out into the open - those who are now silent who will soon demand that which is rightfully ours: a representative government that stands for truth, social justice, and peace.
 
And while we're at it, let's modify government staffing such that those in power are only allowed to act as *our* civil servants if they actually give half a rat's rear end about the citizens, shall we?
 
People are likely to become far more angry than they currently are when they become enlightened to the fact that Uncle Sam is broke and flat out of money. Maybe the reality of a bankrupt economy will one day soon force Americans to realize that we can not keep funding wars without end?
 
When Congress keeps approving bills such as Tuesday's vote in the House to the tune of $66 Billion and an additional $50 Billion to begin on October 1? It is high time that our political leaders begin to listen to the anti-war rhetoric of members of Congress such as Rep. David Obey of Wisconsin who stated, "In 18 separate actions, we will now have spent $450 billion on this adventure. This is a huge expenditure for a misguided war."  
 
Bravo, Rep. Obey! How can Congress continue to spend colossal sums of money it does not possess in order to ruthlessly bomb innocent people in the Middle East when our own citizens are unable to find work, afford to eat, receive necessary medical care, and remain in their homes?
 
Even the threat of a weakened economy now made public is likely to result in widespread concern about our children becoming hungry and homeless. Many are predicting that this may be just the thing that will begin to prompt a stronger motivation for the sluggish, apathetic United States to take action against a corrupt, psychopathic government-gone-mad. In other words, the recent news stories of the worsening US economy may be just what is needed to get people off their couches and out into the streets.
 
In the words of Sam Webb, "The unfolding economic crisis" will bring enormous economic hardship to tens of millions and especially working-class and minority women, racially and nationally oppressed people and immigrant workers.
 
Making matters worse, many forms of relief have been eliminated during the last decade. Consequently, the grimmest features of a capitalist economic crisis - homelessness, hunger, dire poverty, family crises - will reappear on a much broader scale. Elementary survival will be a daily concern of millions of people.
 
What kind of White House and Congress allows tens of millions of people to go to bed hungry at night? No person, and especially no child, should be ill fed, ill housed, ill clothed, ill schooled and ill cared for medically. Do you agree?
 
Clearly, we can't wait for the crisis to worsen before we act. We must respond now, take initiatives now, join with others now and struggle now.
 
While we watch our national economy sink lower still, it is therefore imperative that we now organize and work hard to prepare to one day govern ourselves in a true, participatory democracy. After all, what other choice do we really have? - with editorial comment by Les Blough

Jun 16, 2006 

Posted by Bulatlat

BACK TO TOP ■  COMMENT

© 2006 Bulatlat ■  Alipato Media Center

Permission is granted to reprint or redistribute this article, provided its author/s and Bulatlat are properly credited and notified.