The Anti-Corporate Ideas Newsletter, Issue 6
THE A.C.I. NEWSLETTER
India's poor tackle e-waste (from the BBC).
Grade 7 is a year of radical change. You are all of a sudden on top after 7 years of being on the bottom. The bullies are gone. Girls magically sprout breasts and legs! And a bittersweet wave of self-realization washes over you. All of a sudden your hair is important; whom you hang out with; your clothes, and even what you have for lunch. I learned this with remarkable immediacy on September 6th 1990. I had a falling out a year before with my best friend Ian. He wanted to fight me but I refused. I was openly mocked and ostracized. I was so sad my mom even took me to the doctor! Luckily, he saw it as a common pre-adolescent misfortune, while today I would have been prescribed the newest SRRI. So instead I told my mom to take me to the mall. Nike was the answer. It was Nike or nothing. My mom desperately tried to steer me towards the Trax section, but I wouldn’t have it. $120!! My mother almost fainted! The best of the best. Air Jordans. I would work it off, I promised, and I eventually did. I nervously shuffled past my former friends and my former best friend. They noticed! ‘I was going to get those’, screamed one. ‘My mom wouldn’t get me Jordans!’ admitted another. Eureka! It worked. I was back in. But a week later, my former best friend bought the same ones! What a quandary! But these were consumer savvy pre-teens, and they saw a desperate attempt to emulate success. It was his turn to be shunned, and to my dismay, he never did make it back to the upper echelons of high school popularity. I felt guilty. The shoes fell apart after six months, but I was still in the ‘in’ crowd. I had purchased popularity. I was a con. A fake. But has anything changed? Are kids still pressured to get the best stuff? Are we indoctrinating our children with a class based hierarchy? Are adults any better? I see guys my age driving massive SUVs, wearing gold chains, toting cell phones, and donning all the trendy threads. I have abandoned all that now and I am happier than ever. I am a human being, not a consumer!
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(Print out the above on sticker paper and have a field day at your local mall)--------------------
Corporate Education
By John Henry
In past editions of our esteemed weekly I have discussed different views of that evil beast; Corporate Power. I have urged you to examine different ways of viewing corporations that exist secretly around us. This week is no different. This week, however, I challenge you to think of our education system as a corporation.
I have been thinking these past few days about that old adage, ‘Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.’ I have also thought about the road not taken. You are probably thinking,”Damn McDuff, what does that have to do with corporations?” I shall illustrate.
There was a time, when I was a young lad; I thought that nothing could be farther from the truth. See, I was part of this great experiment in which we children were grouped according to our IQ’s. The adults, who were in charge of steering our destiny, seemed to think that diluting the brainiacs, in a classroom environment, with the less gifted would impede progress. We were brainwashed into believing we were better than our peers. We were segregated from the kids we lived on the same block with, rode bikes with, and did kid things with. We were to be the movers and shakers of the future. We were being programmed to become the doctors, lawyers, politicians, and yes, captains of industry.
There were a few flaws in that McCarthy Era thinking though. Someone forgot to tell us we couldn’t be individuals, so I spent my time being one. They insisted we be right-handed, non sinistral. It seems to be a fact that 90% of the people in the world are right-handed, so it was enforced that we would be as well.
I am, as I always have been, left-handed.
Sadly, teachers couldn’t really teach lefties. They couldn’t put their trained thinking in a mirror that would enable them to show us how to write. That made me, Mr. Lefty, a troublemaker. One teacher even insisted my IQ test had been incorrectly scored, so I was retested. She was right. My original score was wrong. It was too low. It pissed her off, so I spent the winter sitting in the corner behind an easel. Funny thing was; it was the only warm place in that cold, drafty room. Who was the loser?
I am sure the idea seemed sound in the1950’s. Train the most capable, best thinkers to be the leaders and you will have a better world. But one of the most important things forgotten was human nature. Not everyone wants to wear suits and work in big crystal towers, some want to hunt, fish, swim and sail.
Not everyone wanted to chase after the almighty dollar.
I finally bought in to their crap, though, for one reason: I loved learning new things. Strangely enough, they actually taught in those days. They didn’t have metal detectors at the doors or police patrolling the halls either. They realized they had a valuable resource in all the students, and they developed a strategy. It may have been flawed, but it was a strategy none the less.
Any successful business becomes such; not by accident; but by Design. I am not fond of large corporations by any measure. Their money buys lobbies in every state capitol as well as in D.C. Their personal interests are at stake, not ours. It is the bottom line that matters in the board rooms. Profit at any cost is the battle cry. Check Exxon’s bottom line after the Exxon Valdez accident. They posted a huge profit at the expense of us; the little guy.
Who says money can’t buy happiness?
Wake up America! Smell the aroma being covered up by your double latte. It is the rotten stench of our education system as it is dying. We have allowed it nationwide to fall into such disarray, that teachers can’t teach any more. In Texas they mostly teach ‘The Test”. In order for a public school to keep accreditation, the students must pass “The Test”. I believe it is still called The TASS.
The public school educators I am acquainted with used to come over to my house on Friday afternoons with this thousand-yard stare I formerly saw only in Combat Vets. I would let them vent, have maybe a drink or two, (NEVER, NEVER TO THE POINT OF INTOXICATION!), then send them on their way. It was my way of fighting road rage and domestic violence.
These people, the teachers, are probably the most important tool we have for mining and developing our most important resource, our young people. Important, yet grossly underpaid, many need to have second jobs just to pay the bills. Many go back to what put them through school – waiting tables and bartending.
What to do? What to do?
There are several different options presently available, and I am sure more could be created if we would get off our hind ends and do something about it. I would like to start the ball rolling by listing some choices in place, and one of my own.
1. Public Schools – We already know what is wrong here.
a. Small systems in sparsely populated areas must consolidate in order to function. Extracurricular activities and sports are minimal. Scholarships are few. Students often spend hours per day being bussed over sometimes dangerous mountain roads. Student per teacher ratio is often large.
b. Large systems in metropolitan areas may have schools every few blocks, but the student to teacher ratio is still large. Extracurricular activities are plentiful. Scholarship availability is more abundant. So is crime.
2. Private Schools – Manageable class size. Expensive.
3. Home Schooling – Often turns out a high quality education, yet no interaction with peer’s handicaps emotional growth. It also has no sports opportunities, and little chance for scholarships.
4. Church Schools. – I have seen some excellent Church school programs, and they may be OK so long as you believe in their God, and no other.
Options must be developed if we are to improve the education system. We can ask for parents to participate until the cows come home and we can tax ourselves until we break under the strain. That will not help.
We can privatize. Then schools will be operated on a for-profit basis, which will usher in large corporation’s involvement, but is that what we want? I don’t think so.
I have toyed around with an idea for some years. I offer it now for your perusal.
Public schools must remain public. Schools must be made safe. Students must have a learning environment, study labs and other resources. Students must be taught learning skills. These are a must. Class size must be manageable. There also must be social interaction for healthy emotional growth.
Given these prerequisites; here is my theory:
Let’s say a class has twenty-four students. On Monday the teacher deals with six. Tuesday six more. Wednesday and Thursday are the same. Friday all twenty four are together. They are quizzed on their group-of –six days and tested on Fridays according to where their group has advanced. This will enable teachers to provide more one-on-one time while not bogging them down.
What do the students do on their off days? This is a tough one. Many parents cannot afford the extra day care. Why not use people on public assistance and state disability to supplement supervision? For middle and high scholars, Make the classes longer, but less in number per day.
Pay the teachers a wage that keeps them from defecting.
I’m not trying to espouse the belief m y ideas are the answer. I do know when one builds a structure, there is a 1. An idea 2. A Plan 3. A framework. Then everything else is added and some changes made, until there is a finished product. I only offer an Idea.
If we are to overcome the Corporate Juggernaut and restore Middle America, then we must have people who can spell. We need people who can read. We need people who can write. We need to have people who know how to think. Or we can let them become Wal-Mart greeters
I have been thinking these past few days about that old adage, ‘Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.’ I have also thought about the road not taken. You are probably thinking,”Damn McDuff, what does that have to do with corporations?” I shall illustrate.
There was a time, when I was a young lad; I thought that nothing could be farther from the truth. See, I was part of this great experiment in which we children were grouped according to our IQ’s. The adults, who were in charge of steering our destiny, seemed to think that diluting the brainiacs, in a classroom environment, with the less gifted would impede progress. We were brainwashed into believing we were better than our peers. We were segregated from the kids we lived on the same block with, rode bikes with, and did kid things with. We were to be the movers and shakers of the future. We were being programmed to become the doctors, lawyers, politicians, and yes, captains of industry.
There were a few flaws in that McCarthy Era thinking though. Someone forgot to tell us we couldn’t be individuals, so I spent my time being one. They insisted we be right-handed, non sinistral. It seems to be a fact that 90% of the people in the world are right-handed, so it was enforced that we would be as well.
I am, as I always have been, left-handed.
Sadly, teachers couldn’t really teach lefties. They couldn’t put their trained thinking in a mirror that would enable them to show us how to write. That made me, Mr. Lefty, a troublemaker. One teacher even insisted my IQ test had been incorrectly scored, so I was retested. She was right. My original score was wrong. It was too low. It pissed her off, so I spent the winter sitting in the corner behind an easel. Funny thing was; it was the only warm place in that cold, drafty room. Who was the loser?
I am sure the idea seemed sound in the1950’s. Train the most capable, best thinkers to be the leaders and you will have a better world. But one of the most important things forgotten was human nature. Not everyone wants to wear suits and work in big crystal towers, some want to hunt, fish, swim and sail.
Not everyone wanted to chase after the almighty dollar.
I finally bought in to their crap, though, for one reason: I loved learning new things. Strangely enough, they actually taught in those days. They didn’t have metal detectors at the doors or police patrolling the halls either. They realized they had a valuable resource in all the students, and they developed a strategy. It may have been flawed, but it was a strategy none the less.
Any successful business becomes such; not by accident; but by Design. I am not fond of large corporations by any measure. Their money buys lobbies in every state capitol as well as in D.C. Their personal interests are at stake, not ours. It is the bottom line that matters in the board rooms. Profit at any cost is the battle cry. Check Exxon’s bottom line after the Exxon Valdez accident. They posted a huge profit at the expense of us; the little guy.
Who says money can’t buy happiness?
Wake up America! Smell the aroma being covered up by your double latte. It is the rotten stench of our education system as it is dying. We have allowed it nationwide to fall into such disarray, that teachers can’t teach any more. In Texas they mostly teach ‘The Test”. In order for a public school to keep accreditation, the students must pass “The Test”. I believe it is still called The TASS.
The public school educators I am acquainted with used to come over to my house on Friday afternoons with this thousand-yard stare I formerly saw only in Combat Vets. I would let them vent, have maybe a drink or two, (NEVER, NEVER TO THE POINT OF INTOXICATION!), then send them on their way. It was my way of fighting road rage and domestic violence.
These people, the teachers, are probably the most important tool we have for mining and developing our most important resource, our young people. Important, yet grossly underpaid, many need to have second jobs just to pay the bills. Many go back to what put them through school – waiting tables and bartending.
What to do? What to do?
There are several different options presently available, and I am sure more could be created if we would get off our hind ends and do something about it. I would like to start the ball rolling by listing some choices in place, and one of my own.
1. Public Schools – We already know what is wrong here.
a. Small systems in sparsely populated areas must consolidate in order to function. Extracurricular activities and sports are minimal. Scholarships are few. Students often spend hours per day being bussed over sometimes dangerous mountain roads. Student per teacher ratio is often large.
b. Large systems in metropolitan areas may have schools every few blocks, but the student to teacher ratio is still large. Extracurricular activities are plentiful. Scholarship availability is more abundant. So is crime.
2. Private Schools – Manageable class size. Expensive.
3. Home Schooling – Often turns out a high quality education, yet no interaction with peer’s handicaps emotional growth. It also has no sports opportunities, and little chance for scholarships.
4. Church Schools. – I have seen some excellent Church school programs, and they may be OK so long as you believe in their God, and no other.
Options must be developed if we are to improve the education system. We can ask for parents to participate until the cows come home and we can tax ourselves until we break under the strain. That will not help.
We can privatize. Then schools will be operated on a for-profit basis, which will usher in large corporation’s involvement, but is that what we want? I don’t think so.
I have toyed around with an idea for some years. I offer it now for your perusal.
Public schools must remain public. Schools must be made safe. Students must have a learning environment, study labs and other resources. Students must be taught learning skills. These are a must. Class size must be manageable. There also must be social interaction for healthy emotional growth.
Given these prerequisites; here is my theory:
Let’s say a class has twenty-four students. On Monday the teacher deals with six. Tuesday six more. Wednesday and Thursday are the same. Friday all twenty four are together. They are quizzed on their group-of –six days and tested on Fridays according to where their group has advanced. This will enable teachers to provide more one-on-one time while not bogging them down.
What do the students do on their off days? This is a tough one. Many parents cannot afford the extra day care. Why not use people on public assistance and state disability to supplement supervision? For middle and high scholars, Make the classes longer, but less in number per day.
Pay the teachers a wage that keeps them from defecting.
I’m not trying to espouse the belief m y ideas are the answer. I do know when one builds a structure, there is a 1. An idea 2. A Plan 3. A framework. Then everything else is added and some changes made, until there is a finished product. I only offer an Idea.
If we are to overcome the Corporate Juggernaut and restore Middle America, then we must have people who can spell. We need people who can read. We need people who can write. We need to have people who know how to think. Or we can let them become Wal-Mart greeters
I’m a builder. What are you?
--------------------
Random fact: It will take a woman in Vietnam sewing Nike sneakers over three decades to earn what Chairman Phillip Knight "earns" in one hour.
--------------------
Where's your life at? by Zoe
--------------------
McGarbage by Just One Activist
Don’t you remember when you were a little kid waiting in the drive-through waiting impatiently for you kids meal? Ill bet the first thing you went for were those fries… Well now you’re all grown up, hunting down those golden arches for your ¼ pounder fix. I'd even bet that you still go for the fries first. Who remembers good ol' Ronald? That loveable clown you could sit with on the bench and enjoy those fries with. You can thank Mr. Kroc for him. He wrote in his biography about how it was such a great idea to market to children to get the grand parents to come in and order, who would then tell the parents and the parents would come also to satisfy their children.
Now the children are all grown up and put there kids in the car to go to Mc Donalds and the cycle continues. The addiction is harmful, the results are real. High fat diets give our nation a surging childhood obesity rate. Heart attacks are now outpatient medicine they're so common. Imagine 50 years ago being told that the country's average kid was too fat.
Now the children are all grown up and put there kids in the car to go to Mc Donalds and the cycle continues. The addiction is harmful, the results are real. High fat diets give our nation a surging childhood obesity rate. Heart attacks are now outpatient medicine they're so common. Imagine 50 years ago being told that the country's average kid was too fat.
Maybe its about time we change things around.
--------------------
--------------------
(untitled) by Em
facism is there kids
its the perfect marriage
of the corporation
to our republic state
so know that you're forsaken
for the money they can make
your in the prison system
reverse the vision get them
locked up for their treasonous
acts that are reason-less
stacks of ruined lives left behinid in their wake
--------------------
MUSIC
Interview done by Just One Activist
--------------------
--------------------
(untitled) by Em
facism is there kids
its the perfect marriage
of the corporation
to our republic state
so know that you're forsaken
for the money they can make
your in the prison system
reverse the vision get them
locked up for their treasonous
acts that are reason-less
stacks of ruined lives left behinid in their wake
--------------------
MUSIC
Interview done by Just One Activist
To start, take a look at the profile pic of Mc Juswrite. Hold off on his music for a moment, let's just discuss his picture. The first time I saw it I knew this would be an interesting, and worthwhile experience. An image so simplistic yet capable of saying so many things is not an easy task. Juswrite was able to do so, and then some. It shows how materialism plays such a large role in today's society. It captures America's infatuation with purchases, which tends to jail the soul. And it shocks me to think that there are people out there so oblivious to this, when they themselves are guiltier than they could begin to imagine of this despairing greed. It is mind boggling just how many thoughts this image alone is capable of provoking.
The music that followed this image was just as stimulating. The lyrics are no less unreserved, and seemed to incapacitate me at the truth and the openness it reveals as it ripped through my ears. Never once did I tune away from the music, or have a second to think of anything but the tenaciousness behind these musical exertions.
So for those who dont know you, why dont you introduce yourself.
I currently reside in Valdosta,Georgia, a medium/small sized city. Move'n to Los Angeles to get a degree in audio technology. actually was a poet before the whole Mc thing..so I'd say I've been writing for 10 years.
I grew up around music my whole life. my father is a die hard Republican and a gospel singer. imagine that? my father used to break all my tapes.
People around me told me I had a certain ability to speak and have people listen. I'm kind of a quiet person, so when I speak it was always of substance. Growing up with very strict parents,rebeling against them and just growing up they way I did in general.. I had an immediate problem with authority. So there it was, my message: "Fuck Authority"
Find the flaws in it, speak upon them, use my talents to show people the deception and lies they are being controlled by.
who are you musical and political heroes?
Abbie Hoffman, Malcom X, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Che Guevara....anyone who is so dedicated to the cause they believe in enough that they are willing to die for it.
Are you willing to die for what you belive in?
Absolutely.
What has inspired you the most?
What Abbie hoffman did with his life. He took counter-culture to this mainstream level and invested the money he was make'n back into fighting the system. People started to look at him in a different light and many turned their back on him because of his "fame" but he contributed to the fight against the system until the day he died. I definitely reccomend anyone who doesnt know about Hoffman to read "steal this book" (and even for the lazy motherfuckers...watch "steal this movie") it is truely some motivational shit.
I want to hear a mc juswrite qoute.
America is a die'n nation, its only a matter of time before the superpower modern day Babylon crumbles. Only you can save yourself, just be prepared. Some kinda "doomsday" for America is right around the corner, shit will make 9-11 look like childsplay. be aware.
hows the progress musicaly?
i have no promotion except myself now, I was doing a lot of shows but I got fucked by promoters and a record label so as of now i have nothing lined up. I've just released the album Life of Sinn. if you see it anywhere, local to this area and wanna support me DON'T BUY IT! I dont have any rights to it, got fucked over and wont get a dime for it.
Wow, i've seen it happen before and that situation really sucks for the hardworking artists. So your doing all your new work solo?
yup!
What got you into the cause? what made you revolt?
I guess just being conscious at a young age. hip hop had a lot do to with it NWA was screaming "Fuck the police", and 2live crew was gettin "Banned in the USA". Oppression was obvious.
what do you think it would take overall to fix this country?
it would have to be a destroy n rebuild process. We as people would have to stand together, regardless of race,sexual preference, or religious beliefs.
What would people need to do as people?
Unify and organize. As people we need to realize that the new world order is use'n our differences to pit us against one another. they use race and religion as a tool. as I've stated. people need to learn to overlook our differences. Stop fighting with each other. That is what they want. They want us to kill each other off. We could have uncle sam shittin' his pants if we werent all falling into their snares and traps planted to keep us divided.
Well thank you for your time, we hope to hear more from you in the future.
Thank you.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
Very informative. and that's what I like! I love the comic strips too. Keep up the good work guys in fighting the evil that lies in power!
- Damaged at Best
------------------------
I think if you guys want to reach new people you have to put a link in your bulletins. No one that isnt already interested in this subject matter is going to go from your bulletin to your Myspace blog to your other blog, then come back to your Myspace blog and comment on it. People are lazy. Keep up the good work though...
- { john }
NOTES:
- Thank you so much to the 120 people who have hit subscribe. Last week we only had 83. The word is getting out.
- Know of a myspace group we should know about? E-mail us a link!
- We have a banner! Copy and paste the html listed in our myspace blog to post it!
Thanks to the group Peace and Politics and Lorri, the two I know of so far that have posted it, along with our music editor.
- If you don't see your submission DON'T THINK WE'RE NEVER GOING TO USE IT! We had a massive amount of creative material sent to us and we had to pick and choose based on length and the tone that one work would give to the one before and after it. We will try to use EVERYTHING that is sent to us at some point, so keep us bookmarked!
Thanks again all,
Clay for the ACI Newsletter
The music that followed this image was just as stimulating. The lyrics are no less unreserved, and seemed to incapacitate me at the truth and the openness it reveals as it ripped through my ears. Never once did I tune away from the music, or have a second to think of anything but the tenaciousness behind these musical exertions.
The Mc Juswrite interview
So for those who dont know you, why dont you introduce yourself.
I currently reside in Valdosta,Georgia, a medium/small sized city. Move'n to Los Angeles to get a degree in audio technology. actually was a poet before the whole Mc thing..so I'd say I've been writing for 10 years.
I grew up around music my whole life. my father is a die hard Republican and a gospel singer. imagine that? my father used to break all my tapes.
People around me told me I had a certain ability to speak and have people listen. I'm kind of a quiet person, so when I speak it was always of substance. Growing up with very strict parents,rebeling against them and just growing up they way I did in general.. I had an immediate problem with authority. So there it was, my message: "Fuck Authority"
Find the flaws in it, speak upon them, use my talents to show people the deception and lies they are being controlled by.
who are you musical and political heroes?
Abbie Hoffman, Malcom X, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Che Guevara....anyone who is so dedicated to the cause they believe in enough that they are willing to die for it.
Are you willing to die for what you belive in?
Absolutely.
What has inspired you the most?
What Abbie hoffman did with his life. He took counter-culture to this mainstream level and invested the money he was make'n back into fighting the system. People started to look at him in a different light and many turned their back on him because of his "fame" but he contributed to the fight against the system until the day he died. I definitely reccomend anyone who doesnt know about Hoffman to read "steal this book" (and even for the lazy motherfuckers...watch "steal this movie") it is truely some motivational shit.
I want to hear a mc juswrite qoute.
America is a die'n nation, its only a matter of time before the superpower modern day Babylon crumbles. Only you can save yourself, just be prepared. Some kinda "doomsday" for America is right around the corner, shit will make 9-11 look like childsplay. be aware.
hows the progress musicaly?
i have no promotion except myself now, I was doing a lot of shows but I got fucked by promoters and a record label so as of now i have nothing lined up. I've just released the album Life of Sinn. if you see it anywhere, local to this area and wanna support me DON'T BUY IT! I dont have any rights to it, got fucked over and wont get a dime for it.
Wow, i've seen it happen before and that situation really sucks for the hardworking artists. So your doing all your new work solo?
yup!
What got you into the cause? what made you revolt?
I guess just being conscious at a young age. hip hop had a lot do to with it NWA was screaming "Fuck the police", and 2live crew was gettin "Banned in the USA". Oppression was obvious.
what do you think it would take overall to fix this country?
it would have to be a destroy n rebuild process. We as people would have to stand together, regardless of race,sexual preference, or religious beliefs.
What would people need to do as people?
Unify and organize. As people we need to realize that the new world order is use'n our differences to pit us against one another. they use race and religion as a tool. as I've stated. people need to learn to overlook our differences. Stop fighting with each other. That is what they want. They want us to kill each other off. We could have uncle sam shittin' his pants if we werent all falling into their snares and traps planted to keep us divided.
Well thank you for your time, we hope to hear more from you in the future.
Thank you.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
Very informative. and that's what I like! I love the comic strips too. Keep up the good work guys in fighting the evil that lies in power!
- Damaged at Best
------------------------
This was awesome, its just too bad most of it will fall on def ears.
but "word" man, "word"
- Trendsetter!
I think if you guys want to reach new people you have to put a link in your bulletins. No one that isnt already interested in this subject matter is going to go from your bulletin to your Myspace blog to your other blog, then come back to your Myspace blog and comment on it. People are lazy. Keep up the good work though...
- { john }
NOTES:
- Thank you so much to the 120 people who have hit subscribe. Last week we only had 83. The word is getting out.
- Know of a myspace group we should know about? E-mail us a link!
- We have a banner! Copy and paste the html listed in our myspace blog to post it!
Thanks to the group Peace and Politics and Lorri, the two I know of so far that have posted it, along with our music editor.
- If you don't see your submission DON'T THINK WE'RE NEVER GOING TO USE IT! We had a massive amount of creative material sent to us and we had to pick and choose based on length and the tone that one work would give to the one before and after it. We will try to use EVERYTHING that is sent to us at some point, so keep us bookmarked!
Thanks again all,
Clay for the ACI Newsletter
posted by Anti-Corporate Ideas @ 10:56 AM
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