"The wealthy, not only by private fraud but also by common laws, do every day pluck and snatch away from the people some part of their daily living. Therefore, when I consider and weigh in my mind these commonwealths which nowadays do flourish, I perceive nothing but a certain conspiracy of rich men in procuring their own commodities under the name and authority of the commonwealth.

They invent and devise all means and crafts, first how to keep safely without fear of losing that which they have unjustly gathered together, and next how to hire and abuse the work and labor of the people for as little money and effort as possible."

Thomas More, Utopia

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

So much forgotten

[T]he point of attack in the political struggle lies, not in the legislative bodies, but in the people. Political rights do not originate in parliaments, they are, rather, forced upon parliaments from without. And even their enactment into law has for a long time been no guarantee of their security.

Just as the employers always try to nullify every concession they had made to labour as soon as opportunity offered, as soon as any signs of weakness were observable in the workers' organizations, so governments also are always inclined to restrict or to abrogate completely rights and freedoms that have been achieved if they imagine that the people will put up no resistance. Even in those countries where such things as freedom of the press, right of assembly, right of combination, and the like, have long existed governments are constantly trying to restrict those rights or to reinterpret them by judicial hair-splitting.

Political rights do not exist because they have been legally set down on a piece of paper, but only when they have become the ingrown habit of a people, and when any attempt to impair them will meet with the violent resistance of the populace. Where this is not the case, there is no help in any parliamentary Opposition or any Platonic appeals to the constitution. One compels respect from others when he knows how to defend his dignity as a human being. This is not only true in private life, it has always been the same in political life as well.
-Rudolph Rocker


Amen.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Right on!!

No matter the political philosophy those in charge try to control the people and help the rich. We even see this now.

"leftisthebest"

Coldtype said...

As the crisis deepens this becomes ever more apparent to the masses in general.

Anonymous said...

I hope the masses see it, Coldie, but I suspect not. The Kool Aid-drinking Obama supporters for one. Plus, I find it funny the Bush supporters who lash out at Obama for the same things done by their guy. And he did it first!!!

"leftisthebest"

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
I hope the masses see it, Coldie, but I suspect not. The Kool Aid-drinking Obama supporters for one.

"leftisthebest"

3:50 PM

And who did you two sodomites vote for??You guys love the radiator hose so much you should be gay porn stars.

Coldtype said...

Nader if you must know.

Anonymous said...

Since Glori laRiva, of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, was not on the Illinois ballot we supported Nader.

"Sodomite?" Sorry, i am not a Protestant.

"leftisthebest"

Anonymous said...

"Sodomite?" Sorry, i am not a Protestant.

"leftisthebest"

5:23 PM

Catholic Protestant,whats the difference??The bible,any version,the GREATEST fiction book ever written.

Anonymous said...

Hey Coldie,

the rightists are rising up in anger over at Rue-y's site. The election of of Obama is the best thing that ever happened to them. They can promote their hatred in the interests of patriotism.

"leftisthebest"

Coldtype said...

Let me hop on over there then.

Anonymous said...

If you two Socialists really want to represent the working class man,join a real party.National Socialist.

Anonymous said...

To 8:54 P.M.:

National Socialism preaches hatred. TRUE Socialism preaches equality for all.

"leftisthebest"

Anonymous said...

Coldie and Lefty go for a walk....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qam9JBk5Oig&feature=PlayList&p=007B320DF1F3D785&index=13

Anonymous said...

To 8:58 a.m.:

Thank you, I enjoyed much that video. Although I think perhaps Winnie and Piglet are capitalists who take from the worker (Rabbit) until there is no more and leave.

"leftisthebest"