What Joe Stack Did

As you've all heard, a couple weeks back a man named Joe Stack crashed his plan into an IRS building in hopes of starting a revolution. He left a suicide note explaining his actions. It seems his feeling are not due to Tea Party insanity that has started, but are based off what is really wrong with America. That is that the corporations have taken over our government. Our government has not been a government of the people since the end of WWII, and this man has been trying to deal with that for the last three decades. Obviously he failed.

While I agree with what he's saying, I don't agree with his actions. I do not believe that a bloody revolution will fix anything. I take the Buddhist stance that world is the way the world is. You cannot spend to much time dwelling on what a horrible place the world is, or it will consume you and make you horrible. Like it did to this man. This doesn't mean we shouldn't do anything. What people don't realize is that Capitalism, the ability to buy what you choose to buy, gives us power. What keeps this system working is money, and where you choose to spend it. The main hypocrisy I see today are individuals who bitch about how big businesses run the government and then go shop at Wal-mart, keep their money at Bank of America, and buy Nike. These are not the only three corporations that are problems, just examples. These corporations have become global entities, and are no longer controlled by national governments, i.e. they control the national governments of the world. But what they can't control is what you buy. They've made the easiest purchase theirs, of course, but you can buy something else.

Now you might say, where I live we have no options, Wal-Mart already killed the competition. The truth is, you always have options. Most communities have a Farmer's Market, you can start your own garden, look for local programs where you can get a share from a farmer, and research other ideas. And don't make stupid decisions like not eating McDonald's, but you will eat Sonic. That's just dumb and it doesn't make any sense. As for your money put it in, preferably, a credit union. If not that, a local bank. Buy only sweat shop free clothing, or reused clothes when you don't have the money. I'm sure these are only a few ways to help. And I'm not saying I do all of this all the time, but I can say I try to do all of this all of the time (I have a weakness for Steak n Shake, but I'm getting better). This is system is built upon the idea that we will buy from these corporations. If you don't like the system, don't buy into it.

Of course its not all you can do. Vote, it still kinda counts. Monkey wrenching, if your are hanging out with your friends one night and your bored, don't head to the bar to buy corporate booze. Take some moonshine and rewrite some billboards to make them tell the truth. Or visit the newest corporate construction site. Write your Senators and Representatives on a National level, and more importantly a State level. They kinda still listen as well. Also become involved with your local government. If you are blessed with living in a small town, try and keep the corporate invasion at bay, if possible. The battle is only over, if you decide its over. We can win this, but it will take some sacrifice.