Chris Hedges Event: Questions and Comments from Audience
On Friday April 29, 2011 at All Saints Church in Pasadena KPFK co-sponsored an event with author and activist Chris Hedges that attracted an overflow crowd.
So many questions and comments were written down for Chris Hedges at the event, that we promised the audience that we would post everything that was submitted on the KPFK website; as well as forward their words to Mr Hedges.
Here are the questions and comments that folks at All Saints Church wrote to Chris Hedges:
If the middle class were to unite in refusing to pay mortgages and student loans, the highly leveraged derivatives based on these assets would collapse, prostrating the big banks. This is potentially a source of power for ordinary people. Do you support the idea of a debt strike – a year of jubilee?
Br
Firefighters withdrawing hundreds of thousands of dollars out of a bank – this is what it will take. The bank had to close. I would appreciate it if you would say something about the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) being negotiated in Geneva. Does it have any relationship to the privatization of services in the United States?
Sheila
How do we earn a living in Hollywood and the Entertainment Industry without being morally and ethically compromised?
Eddie
What do you say to the disclosure at the April 21 finance committee meeting of WBAI Pacifica that the general manager has taken $10,000 from Merrill Lynch to underwrite program production? How do we save Pacifica and KPFK from selling out to corporate control and becoming another NPR? Please share your thoughts with the KPFK supporters here tonight. Thank You!
Alise
How can we stop the Middle East War and defund military? Are we due for a huge general strike?!
Lionel
There is likely that there will be an American Worker fight back (mobilizations) to the attacks on our standards of living. The “liberal” Democrats in congress will try to co-op this sentiment by talking left rhetoric and will try to hold workers in the Ranks of the Democratic Party. What would be your view as to what we workers should do in response to this?
Alvaro
How do you respond to those who have “taken you to the mat” for your use of the “Liberal Class” which your critics claim is NOT A CLASS?
Anita
What stage of capitalist development are we at? And what does that mean for the future?
Cloy
If we’re against Capitalism – What are we for? What principals for a new society do you stand on? We need specifics! I suggest : www.newsandletters.org.
Kei
What role do you think China will play in the future turmoil?
Julia
When asked about 9/11 you said you didn’t want to report on something you hadn’t fully researched yourself. But in “War is a force that gives us meaning” & in other articles, you’ve stated Al Qaeda was responsible. So, can we safely assume you’ve done the research & your firm opinion is that the U.S. was in no way involved in the planning, & that even though you yourself stated that Building 7 looked like a demolition, you believe foreign terrorists were solely responsible?
How to engage / Avoid – Legal / Political systems? In Small / Regional Communities.
Page
What would a system without our established system look like? – Or would we presently have a name for it?
Mike
Do you think that Lee Harvey Oswald was the lone assassin of JFK?
Do you think that the 9/22 twin towers came down as a result of airplane impact, or as a result of controlled demolition, or . . . ?
In LA our City Council is paid the most of any city council in the USA while teachers are being laid off. We lose millions a year in revenue due to killings by the LAPD. Any ideas on acts of resistance to these entities?
Corporate Money? Lobbyists in Washington?
How long will the Human Species last? USA’s society in denial! Is there a cure?
Sergio
Your generation – the baby boomers – brimmed with Liberal promise that was completely reversed in the 1980s. Why?
Nena
Do you support the bombing of Libya?
Jon
Executive order #1110 sought to abolish the Federal Reserve – Signed 10 days before JFK’s murder. – Is it still on the Books? How do we press forward?
Lorenzo
Speak about “Brand Obama” and why he has undermined “Hope.”
Libya – What do you think about sending troops to stop the killing of Civilians by the Middle East Dictators?
Please speak more of self sustaining communities : Are such communities forming?
Hunter
Ellen Meisking Wood says that we now live with “market imperative” meaning life outside of markets no longer exists. How can we create these sustainable communities when we need to make money just to survive (Sustain Communities).
Charles
Would not refusal to pay income taxes achieve the goal of moral rebellion?
Alison
I love your rabble rousing rebellion. But as I look around at this group of 400-500 people I am forced to recall an Anti-Vietnam War meeting I went to in college in the mid to late 60s. What I think is that your rage will go nowhere because there is no middle class draft and the press has been bought off. What is your response?
Denis
If the Gov’t shut down the internet then start it up again under their control filtering out independent free useful information that keep us all informed by the second, what other options must we have to keep our Global Community a touch away? The elite seeks and are now doing so, destabilizing Africa / The Middle East using Al Qaeda / The Muslim Brotherhood to bring it all under their control. Per Pastor Lindsey Williams who has the Voice of a few elite in his ear sharing what they are planning to do to the world population? What say you?
Frank
You have called for civic disobedience, George Lacoff talks about framing the debate. The right has built a powerful propaganda infrastructure (Heritage, AEI, CATO, etc). Do you have ideas on how we can start to frame a liberal narrative – As existed long ago?
Dan
Can we start a confederation – Be made of Credit Unions and small local banks, and create their (our) own script (monet) … And “circumvent the Fed” (Federal Reserve)? Presidents have been assassinated, and world wars started to keep control of the currency.
Philip
Please talk about organized efforts / groups for ‘resistance’ – needs to be active and not only online activism – who is organizing towards resistance in the Los Angeles area? – Petitioning will not create change that challenges the system. Thank you!
Debra
Have you seen the Documentary “Secret of Oz” and could you comment on it?
Bruce
Please – How does one person start to fight back? How have you not been arrested?
In what ways can America’s next generation of people (for example, those currently in high school) do to move America into a better direction? Thank you
Mr. Hedges, This philosophy of rebellion seems not only to disregard any hpe for victor, but require it. The appeal of your speech tonight is a perfect example of Freud’s death wish. It is sexy in the same way. What if, by some fluke, you/we win?
Jared
It is trye that open rebellion is necessary but in doing so, those of us with less will be deprived of the little we have. We must be able to support ourselves to maintain a living. I have battled against the evil owners & lose my job or am removed from Host Boards. I don’t say to give up but one must have the basics. Comment on this if possible.
Randy
So, when is the general strike?
Can you comment on agitation being the solution?
How does anyone make changes without money? Corporations are the ones with money. Ex. Monsanto vs Small Farmers out / Manning vs US Government.
What can you do locally to get people organized to rebel against the abusive government repression?
Murray
Tea Party?
I have often wondered – aren’t the Tea Party people also angry, rebels, etc. Aren’t they common people like us? Why do they not feel the pain we do? Yes, instead of being education by Hedges & Chomsky, they get educated by Glen Beck & Sarah Palin! But why do you think they do not feel our pain?
Omar
Why isn’t there a far left uprising (like the Tea Party) who could take over the govt – make real changes? If the rebel goes against the Capitalist order and lands themselves in jail, aren’t they going to lose all power? If one is eaten up by the machine – there will be no power left. (ie—how is there power behind bars)
In this critique, would you discuss the current “War on Women” – How that fits with the critique of Capitalism and the Democrats. Are women the new gays?
Hannah
Is it true that Strontium is a safer substitute than Uranium? As 48.6% of our economies is into military – and military is now in charge of the CIA – How do we rebel against it?? Can a Third party have a chance??
Ron
Would you agree with John Deney on the premise that Democracy can’t flourish without education? How much control one takes suppose to have in order to give us more freedom of action and keep the stability if the government? As you know, power corrupts. If we are given more power as well by going against the govt, who are we to say we won’t be corrupt as well? How much power and control are each sides supposed to have?
Robert
Last May, USC confirmed over 350 PhDs – only 1 in philosophy – Thoughts?
Jim
What do we find to be the most effective forms of resistance?
What is your statement on how you see people against the state unfolding in the current decade?
Fred
What exactly is “Race to the top?” and “Win the future?” And how do we know we’re there?
Dange
You have made the case for revolt. Would you say something about how, about the available methods of options for that revolt?
S.F.
Representative democracy seems to represent rich campaign contributors effectively, but not working people. Does direct democracy solve this problem anywhere in the world, such as Switzerland?
John
Do third parties have any role? – In organizing with movements & resistance? With rebellion? Is democratic socialism a goal to be worked toward? What form of government and economic system should we aim for?
Charles
Your prognosis is crucial & revelatory, but your analysis is incomplete. The corporate state is a tool of transnational criminal oligarchy that create and use specific monetary system to control wealth while artificing sarcity. The media system is an outgrowth of a scientific and technocratic mind control system based largely on divide & conquer divisional & mass trauma events such as terrorism and assassination. The War on Terror is part of a continuity of Agenda . . . of progressive media covers up that uses staged events, generated crisis and perpetual fraudulent threat . . . Please respond.
Jeremy
Lessons from the 30s and 60s? General strike?
N
How, or when do we get 2-5 million people who, non-violently invade Washington D.C. for 45-60 days.
Bob
It sems to me that to confuse paying taxes, Fed & State is to be a participant in crime, and thus, moral people are called on to refuse to continue paying taxes. Comment.
Paul
