i have been thinking quite a bit about the whole political scene and what a mess it is. being an organization freak- this whole messy business has understandably put me off kilter. so, i have been thinking- because really there is only so much bitching and venting one can do before it is time to you-know-what or get off of the potty. what can we do to clean up a mess that obviously the folks in charge cannot or do not want to? now, i am not to be confused with the folks who want an instant panacea or instant gratification- no folks- we are in this for the long haul and indeed it will take sacrifice on our parts to make anything happen. committment and sacrifice- and are we willing to do that? crisis breeds opportunity- are we going to take advantage to set things right? or is it going to be business as usual with a different party at the head?
we have to think long term and we have to think prioritizing. social reforms are badly needed- but there are matters more pressing- notably cleaning up congress. i am not focusing too much on the executive branch at this time- but if we can take back 'we the people's' house- we have a voice. what struck me most about congress is- they aren't representing anyone. think about it- they completely disregard about half of the population right off the bat- as they are currently repub and we know how they feel about dems. this current crop of congresspeople aren't representing another 25-30% moderates in their own party. that is roughly 70-80% of the entire population of america without representation period. add that to the rest of the base of theirs- who feel that they aren't getting what they paid for- and you see what i mean. so- here are some thoughts of mine- we the people need to decide if this is what we really want- or are we too busy to care? seriously, that's really what it boils down to isn't it? do we care enough about where we live to think big picture? it takes less than 10 minutes to fill out paperwork to register to vote. it takes about that length of time to actually vote. what takes the time is becoming an informed person. how many hours do we devote to our hobbies? tv? computer? how long does it actually take to remain in the know?
anyway, i have to think some more before i lay out my 'plan' to save america and where i think we should start. not that it makes any difference in the grander scheme of things- but at least i know the path i am going to take.
11 comments:
I think you are right... people divided putting out too many fires; needing a soapbox big enough for everyone.
It is interesting: I am less active than I once was, because I am more hopeless. My students say they are amazed that I can even imagine not feeling hopeless and helpless, because they cannot. But I think you hit on something key in this post: the amount of time and actual research it takes, these days, to actually be informed.
Your let's-do-something attitude is inspiring and this is a good point: the great majority of the country (not just a malcontent 15% lefty fringe) has no representation.
we are in this for the long haul and indeed it will take sacrifice on our parts to make anything happen.
And that is precisly why we are in deep doo doo. Nobody wants to sacrifice. Even an hour out of their day once every two years to vote!! In a Democracy, 50.0001% rules. But that great idea can, and has been, hijacked by those who then remove the tenets of Democracy.
Yep, Betmo, you're one of the few, the proud, the "want to be informed." Bless your heart. There needs to be more of you in the world...
I have already voted. I vote absentee so I can work the election - get out and round up people to the polling places. I feel like I'm herding cats sometimes.
I like the way you think. I wish more people thought that way.
Unfortunately, gullibility, complacency and the worst- apathy are the most descriptive words of the masses these days.
If you've ever seen the Tonight Show segment called "jaywalking" or that game show that I can't remember the name of offhand, you'll know what I'm talking about.
Go to your nearest college or Main Street and ask ten random people if they know who the Speaker of the House is...
So I guess what I'm saying is that first you'd have to become an educator. Even to do that you have to find people willing to learn".
You don't know how much I hate being the negative person...
Betmo, you're right when you speak of the time it takes to stay informed. I don't know about the rest of the country, but our CA voter's guide is 188 pgs. long.
Running for office sounds like a good idea (of course, for something small like alderman).
I honestly think if the die-hard "pacifists" of the left found a way to work harmoniously with the direct-action types, things would roll along a little quicker. Of course, THIS would be the point at which *sacrifice* would become a serious decision.
Just a thought...
Confucius say, "The Odes are three hundred in number. They can be summed up in one phrase,
Swerving not from the right path."
Well, betmo. I like your appetite for change.
In the words of John Lennon, "They say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one." Someone sang that to me recently.
For some reason, I believe change happens in an instant. Poof!
I have to side-track these issues, like dogs attacking legally, leaders being pushed around because of fear, innocents being stolen, lives being forgotten.
I prefer to remain crazy, crazy enough to believe enough people will change - poof - and life will begin again, will begin again, and we will forget how to hate, how to live in constant fear.
Silly, I suppose.
-ann
Maybe people are overwhelmed with the amount of information that is out there: how to separate good from bad.
The least we can learn is a candidates voting record on issues...proof of how they really behave.
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