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Activists — Land of the Free - x-vegan-x

Published: 2005-05-14 00:32:10 +0000 UTC; Views: 6721; Favourites: 73; Downloads: 158
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"I started this a while ago and thought I'd finish it off and post it up here.

This isn't an anti-America rant. This is an anti-capitalism rant, using the american flag to respresent what I'm trying to portray, as the majority of America is highly consumer-orientated. Had the British flag been so appropriately designed, I would've used that one to avoid the sharp lashings of those who hate american critique so apologies there...

I guess when I originally made this I wanted to show that democracy is not real. I'm talking about highly capitalised countries - the USA and UK. Using the American idea that the citizens live in freedom and have freedom of speech and the like, I want to challenge this view.

I don't believe democracy or freedom exist because of personal experience... I don't believe it exists because capitalism does not allow it.

The interests of capitalism are purely one thing; PROFIT. Nothing else matters; the environment, or the creatures that inhabit it. Capitalism goes hand-in-hand with our governments and thus, anything that challenges this giant monster will be squashed as soon as possible. The government is in complete control, and the idea that anyone has freedom to stand up for what they believe in is a complete facade.

I came to this conclusion after deciding to use my right to free speech, and test the democracy system here in the UK. We are apparently entitled to demonstrate our opinions about something we disagree with, yet whip out a banner for an entirely peaceful protest and the emergency services (999) are called, the police requested, and up they pop - battons, video cameras, riot vans and all. Uhm, I thought expressing our opinion in a form of democratic protest was legal? It's actually not, as the police will deliberately try and find something to arrest you for - graphic photos on a banner, noise pollution of a megaphone, trasspass of a company's property... techinically even standing near the premises is somehow a breach of this Great British Law.

Aside from the world of demonstrations, I also wanted to depict that even though people may believe they are "free", I think that under capitalism you are always a slave while you submit to its values; materialism, selfishness and money, money, and.. oh I nearly forgot - money. Because I personally don't see these as having any worth at the end of the day - being happy is more valuable than any amount of those little pieces of metal and paper with some persons' face stamped on it.
Companies need to sell products. But actually, we can be happy with what we need and should be content with the wonderful things we already have. But this doesn't generate money. Since we only have a limited number of needs, companies invent a product then market it as if you "need" it... I find this particularly dispicable. People want to subscribe to these ridiculously materialistic lifestyles as they think this is what they need to satisfy themselves and make them happy.. yet to do so they need stressful jobs with hugely long hours to pay for all of it. What's the point of spending all of your time working for these possessions when you're never around to 'enjoy' them anyway? How can anyone want to spend more time with their briefcase than their family? Thus my point is, the overworked nation are unhappy because of the system they are trapped in.. that's why 25% of all drugs prescribed on the NHS are anti-depressants (the government don't want anyone to look into the actual cause of their depression, they'd much rather drug everyone up with a quick cure to stop them questioning!)...

I could go on forever. This has turned into an essay and it really wasn't supposed to. I still feel I've left out half the picture here but I can't help thinking anyone reading this is now probably drooling into their keyboard with a digestive biscuit stuck to their forehead

I'l definitely shut up now, but I haven't written this for a debate or a flaming, although I'm sure I'll get both, I just wanted to express my stance on a few things."
- x-vegan-x
Related content
Comments: 26

shadowthepredator [2012-07-08 07:03:12 +0000 UTC]

The U.S. is not even a Democracy. We are a Republic.

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kappanaruto999 [2011-08-29 05:20:06 +0000 UTC]

Free to succsess and failure.

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Egnoramus [2010-06-12 18:33:33 +0000 UTC]

my thoughts exactlay!

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GilWarzecha [2010-02-12 20:22:52 +0000 UTC]

True !!!! This piece is posted in Social Commentary [link] . Let me know if you're interested in being a member!

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DoomOverlord [2010-01-06 15:15:58 +0000 UTC]

I'm from a country that is changing from socialism into capitalism. And I have to agree with you, capitalism doesn't value human lives. We are just numbers for them, but then, unfortunately, we haven't made up the system that actually values freedom.

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Kacen [2008-02-19 00:34:47 +0000 UTC]

Hate to say it, but Capitalism is freedom. Freedom from big government restricting how you do business.

That cannot be refuted.

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Activists In reply to Kacen [2008-02-19 01:47:19 +0000 UTC]

You're right, but we have to watch how we use the system. Obviously, a strict and firm hand doesn't do well. On the other hand, we can't have a completely free market without restrictions on the market. We have seen, even in today's market, that total freedom begets a loss in Human rights. Capitalism is about the bottom line, about the profit that you make. And in this era of excess Consumer consumption we sometimes need to enact rules to make sure economic laws aren't exploited at the cost of humanity.

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comradeKING [2008-01-21 21:22:24 +0000 UTC]

great piece!

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vandalhandle [2008-01-12 22:30:33 +0000 UTC]

great piece, simple and very effective

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meghans [2007-07-13 03:03:14 +0000 UTC]

I love how something so simple can say so much. Awesome.

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Pinocchiopiate [2007-07-05 00:19:59 +0000 UTC]

Yep... to the large corporations and the media, we're just capital goods. But hey, this is capitalism... what can you expect? That's the very definition of capitalism: profit over people.

But it's comforting to know that there are people out there who can clearly see the control the media assumes over us when they simply show us advertisements urging us to live the lives of mindless consumers; the lives that profit them.

You've earned my respect, sir/ma'am/eh. Whatever that's worth to you (no pun intended).

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Godheads-Lament [2007-03-24 18:31:17 +0000 UTC]

I love that picture, and the mini-essay .

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BlueBluebutterfly05 [2007-01-11 04:44:40 +0000 UTC]

Awesome!

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xacrox [2006-10-02 08:00:42 +0000 UTC]

sweet!!!

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astasia [2006-04-14 17:20:19 +0000 UTC]

this is awesome, I love it. Great work!

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Meepordie [2005-06-14 02:49:42 +0000 UTC]

very simplistic and to the point, caplist pigs
Awsome work.

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fre-lanz [2005-05-21 18:03:20 +0000 UTC]

SIC dev. Love the work here.

- Fre-Lanz

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lifelessrose [2005-05-17 16:28:48 +0000 UTC]

I really like this piece. and what you said in your description. interesting and definitly thought provoking. My friend posted a journal about all the different flags and what the could mean, but im not sure exactly who it was. ill try and find him again. i think it was $micahgoulart

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StareDecisis [2005-05-15 22:48:40 +0000 UTC]

Very neat. I have seen this done many times before but the concept never fails to inspire more political work. We have branded our own barcodes, we have heightened the prices

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x-vegan-x [2005-05-15 14:51:19 +0000 UTC]

Thank you everyone! ... I never realised I wrote so much for this piece. I don't normally rant after everything I make!!

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Alkemya [2005-05-15 12:12:39 +0000 UTC]

lolololol

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HousesOfApollo [2005-05-14 00:59:33 +0000 UTC]

Hell yea, that's just about right

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scart [2005-05-14 00:59:20 +0000 UTC]

Excellent piece of work, simply & effective

regards


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propagandhi [2005-05-14 00:50:14 +0000 UTC]

genius

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caNt-pLai-giTarZ [2005-05-14 00:37:39 +0000 UTC]

that is so true. 1

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PinkPanthress [2005-05-14 00:36:37 +0000 UTC]

That is really Good.

Very American...

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