The verdict for this episode is: nothing else will work.

In this episode, I discuss how our only shot at a government that works for us is through civil disobedience.

Rough Transcript

Hello, and welcome to Jonathan's Verdicts.
I'm Jonathan Simeone.

The title of this episode is:
It's Time for Civil Disobedience. The verdict for this episode is: nothing else will work.

I really hate to say this, but it's true.

I have been following politics since 1988.
Over the years, I have become increasingly concerned with the lack of representation, a lack of equity,
And, frankly, the lack of compassion for the people demonstrated by our elected officials. But now I feel more hopeless than I've ever felt about things

.

The lack of compassion is at an all time high.
The lack of empathy is at an all time high.
The lack of spirit and cooperation is at an all time high.
And, sadly, selfishness and greed, are at an all time high.

The truth is so many of the problems we face were avoidable.
Many of them, except for maybe climate change, can still largely be mitigated.
But we simply don't have enough people who care

.

That is especially true for the people we have elected to represent us. Neither party cares. No politician truly cares.
It is all about special interests.
It is all about money.
And it is entirely corrupt.

As I have said before, protests have been shown to be irrelevant. They simply don't work any longer.
In the aftermath of George Floyd's murder,
Democrats are now calling for more police.
In the aftermath of the withdrawal from Afghanistan, Democrats in the House, at least in the House Armed Services Committee, want to give the Pentagon $24 billion more than even Biden requested.

We are on an endless loop of war, savagery, discrimination, inequity, and oppression.

And if we don't engage in civil disobedience,
the kinds of civil disobedience that will really get their attention,
I don't think there is reason for optimism.
And I truly Hate--hate saying that.

So what kinds of civil disobedience should we engage in?
Honestly, I don't know right now. Civil disobedience, is a personal thing.
I think we have to be very strategic about what we as individuals and what we as a collective could do to engage in the appropriate amount of civil disobedience.
I don't know what my contribution to a future of civil disobedience will look like.
But I do know I'm ready.

Because I do care about other people.
I do care about the world.
I care about the animals.
I want our air and water to be clean.
I want all of the stuff that so many pay lip service to to actually matter

.

So, I'm ready.
I will engage in civil disobedience. Once I figure out how I can best do so.
I'm open to ideas. Please contact me.
And in your own lives, I hope many of you will look at how you can contribute.
Because this won't be fixed through voting.
It won't be fixed through protesting.
If we continue to do the things that they expect from us, if we continue to play within the rules that they have rigged,
we're doomed.

So with that,
good luck.
Because I think we're going to need it in the next few months.
And here's to a future of civil disobedience

.

Thank you for listening to this episode of Jonathan's Verdicts