the next one gives them back. maybe not all. the next president takes 'rights' away, the next one gives some back. then one day you have no 'right's' and the next president likes it that way, and the one after...

the problem is, 'right's' in the power of a person to take or withhold are not rights, they are privileges.

it would pay you to think about putting your privileges beyond the reach of whatever politician currently occupies the oval office. it's not hard, it just needs a few (million) people to demand democracy.

if you do it, your privileges will become rights, and your children will be citizens. if you don't, the next closet nazi to get into the whitehouse could finish the transition from department of homeland security to ministry of love.

yup. civil contract, kids protected, further religious ceremony for those who feel the need. hard to believe anyone would oppose this plan.

way too sensible for americans- and not just the anti-gay nutters. if your religion says gays can't marry in church, find another church, or grow up. gays who insist in participating in religious ceremonies proscribed by the religious authorities are insane, or merely self-indulgent non-believers.

let the bible clutchers have their church, start your own if you must, but put your energy into getting a civil contract.

while democracy is near, reach out for it.

establish 'citizen initiative' now, and it won't matter much if some incompetent scrabbles up to the top of the party tree, because the electorate will have control of parties and politicians.

why not? too hard? need to act like a responsible citizen? hmm, yer right, let's just complain when some orc drives the nation into the ground. altogether now: "somebody oughta! i would but i'm too busy."

it's not dubya's fault.

it's not even the fault of the fools who voted for him.

it's the fault of the fools who didn't.

when you hand the keys of the nation to one person, saying "be back by 4 years from now", and he trashes the place, everybody who let him be president is responsible. and that's every voter.

you legitimized the notion that one person should have the power of a king. so george the 43rd, using powers very similar to those of george the 3rd, demonstrated that elective monarchy is no way to run a nation.

try democracy, californians can tell you how to do it.

politics is too important to be left in the hands of politicians.

the welfare of the nation, and all the people in it, can only be guarded by all the citizens. as long as some politician says "follow me", you can be sure his welfare will come first, simply because he can do nothing without power. they are always too blind, most often too selfish, to realize we can look after ourselves. they never think that our welfare is reduced by their power.

when genuine leaders say "let's get democracy, so we can all be citizens", then is the time to be hopeful, to be active, to join the struggle.

obama has said nothing about democracy. like every politician, he promises a fish to each supporter, but the fishing pole is going to stay in his hands, and you are going to be his supplicant.

they wrote a new constitution.

americans began (the second time, 1789) with elective monarchy, or elective oligarchy if you prefer, and have made no transfer of power from the political elite in congress or the white house. extending the franchise is valuable, but not different in kind. it remains an oligarchy with a king whose powers are quite similar to those held by george the third, save tenure. little wonder that george the forty-third was able to wreak destruction at home and abroad, holding so much power and unrestrained by the constitution because the other officers of state were submissive in the interests of party.

if obama says: "we should have citizen initiative", it will be the second american revolution, a genuine transfer of power from the elite to the people. the harbingers will be low-flying pigs in formations spelling out "aux armes mes citroyens, formez vos bataillons!"

many standard bearers of the greedy old parasites party will be re-born in the 'america party', very soon.

they will begin with public rallies, bonfire meetings, and consciousness raising sessions in the homes of unamerican figures like union leaders.

just insert a klan lynching story from the not so distant history of america, and moderate your contempt.

ignorant, religion-ridden, human societies often exhibit disgusting behavior, unlike the civilized people in [insert your home town here].

americans remain clueless.

but enjoy the 'in love' period. reality will be along soon enough.