The idea of being an American citizen, one who has a say in the functioning of the government, one who is fairly paid for their labor, one who can afford health care, one who can pay their mortgage and eat, and one who knows their personal worth to the country is what most citizens believe they have.
But, Mosley argues that vast numbers of Americans are not citizens but denizens. Merely inhabitants of the country, the working cogs in a system with minimal rewards. And due to being denied true citizenry, the denizens abuse substances and are in need of psychotherapy. The denizens are victims of Capitalism and the profit seeking heartless “Joes” that run the system. “Recognizing our unconscious sorrow, the system of wealth has offered to sell us addictive products, both physical and psychological, to console us on the long nights of isolation and, for the most, unrecognized rage” (5).
Mosley argues, convincingly, that the majority of Americans have been negatively acted upon by Capitalism, and placed outside of any decision making powers that affect the whole country; thereby, stripping them of the inheritance due from their forefather’s labor. Believing that the contributions of a citizen’s forefather should earn one some political muscle, Mosley reports that those accounts have been nullified by Capitalism and the rich “Joes” who control the systems.
Mosley, “In truth, capitalism is closer to totalitarianism and fascism than it is to the democratic process; that’s why unions appeared and why Congress once led a campaign against monopolies and cartels. Democracy has nothing to do with the decision-making process in the organization of capital. The wealthy would like us to think it does. That’s why they build monuments to themselves, name foundations after their families rather than after the people they set out to help. The only affinity that the wealthy have with democracy is their money and their control of the media. They tell us the news, dress up the candidate, set the value of our dollars and our labor until the poorest among us join the army to slaughter other poor people in the name of freedom while the wealthy are safe and richer each day” (51).
The work suggests that Americans will not move from denizens to citizens until they see the truth of their situations and start speaking the truth to each other and themselves. Honest communication among the masses begins with understandable communication. Americans must move past the divisions of dialects, religious teachings, education, age, and gender differences that have worked to separate them in the past to become a cohesive unit to truly affect the decision making process of the country. The well being of denizens who wish to become citizens cannot be left in the hands of politicians directed by Capitalism and profit.
To truly become a citizen, to be paid fairly for one’s labor, to understand one’s worth to the country, one must bring about change; and this change is depended upon a revelation in the thinking of the denizens. A revelation brought on by thinking outside of the media influence of Capitalism. What Walter Mosley does in this work is lay out a step by step plan in accomplishing this new thought. He makes valid suggestions that he hopes well improve America for all its citizens, not just the wealthy.
Twelve Steps Toward Political Revelation is an informative read that at times is a bit brutal for those who are unaware of their denizen status, but the information is much needed.
Tony Lindsay is an award-winning author and adjunct professor at Chicago State University. His book ONE DEAD DOCTOR was chosen by Conversations Book Club as one of its Top 100 Books of 2012. Lindsay was named Conversations Author of the Year 2012-2013. His new book EMOTIONAL DRIPPINGS is available now on Amazon.com. He can be reached at tonylinsay7045@sbcglobal.net or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/tony.linssay2.
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