Systemic change cannot be brought about by reform or liberalism. Like the revolutionary process of a farmer tilling the earth, so it is that new soil must be brought to the surface and different seeds planted and nurtured. 

Systemic change is the absolute and fundamental discarding of this greedy, profit based political / economic system, to which the Republicrats (i.e. the Democrat and Republican Parties) are profoundly and inextricably beholden. “Without systemic change there is only chump change” which is actually no change at all.

Systemic change does not lend itself to propping up the same political, financial / economic, and so-called educational institutions. To the contrary, systemic change demands that such institutions be relegated to the dust bin of history as real (versus fake) fundamental /structural changes are brought into being.

As sure as the proverbial leopard cannot change its spots, it is illogical and absurd to expect that those who were politically shaped and formed by this system, and who owe their allegiance to it, will bring about systemic change. For them to even attempt to seriously do so would be laying the foundation for their own demise.

Neither the Obamatron liberals nor the right wing racists are in any real sense desirous of serious systemic change that serves the interests of the vast majority of people. Yet, such systemic change is precisely what the masses of Black, Brown, White, Red, and Yellow peoples both deserve and must have.

An example of systemic change would be instituting universal single payer health care for everyone in this nation, and cutting out the profiteering insurance companies once and for all; not pushing the fake rhetoric of so-called “affordable health care” which does nothing but continue the parasitic capabilities of the aforementioned insurance corporations to financially blood suck the people.

Another example of real systemic change would be instituting a system whereby corporations and/or lobbyists were totally prohibited by law from financially contributing in any manner whatsoever to (i.e. buying) the persons running for public / political office, combined with a requirement that all monies for political candidates come solely from public monies to ensure a level political playing field for all candidates. Thus, political candidates would find themselves in the dubious position of actually having to come up with and present concrete political / economic programs prior to elections, rather than misleading—feel good rhetoric, the corporate media, the wealthy, and de facto corporate sponsors setting the electoral / political tone and invariably trumping the will and needs of the majority of Black, Brown, White, Red, and Yellow peoples in this nation.

As the U.S. wars rage horribly on in Iraq and Afghanistan, the former so-called peace (or was it piece?) candidate--now U.S. President--and his cabinet give the everyday people endless rhetoric, which ultimately facilitates the continuation of U.S. Empire, but no systemic change. As racism, joblessness, and homelessness exponentially increase throughout this nation we are told by this current administration / regime and its corporate media allies to in essence, “Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.” Yet, this is exactly what must be done. We must pay attention! Indeed, the curtain of subterfuge, obfuscation, hypocrisy and deceit must be ripped down and torn to shreds.

Onward then brothers and sisters. In the words of Joe Hill, “Don’t mourn, ORGANIZE!”

There are no short cuts……    

BlackCommentator.com Editorial Board Member, Larry Pinkney, is a veteran of the Black Panther Party, the former Minister of Interior of the Republic of New Africa, a former political prisoner and the only American to have successfully self-authored his civil/political rights case to the United Nations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. In connection with his political organizing activities in opposition to voter suppression, etc., Pinkney was interviewed in 1988 on the nationally televised PBS NewsHour, formerly known as The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour. For more about Larry Pinkney see the book, Saying No to Power: Autobiography of a 20th Century Activist and Thinker, by William Mandel [Introduction by Howard Zinn]. (Click here to read excerpts from the book). Click here to contact Mr. Pinkney.