Letters to the Editor
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saintzak
Of all these responses, I think saintzak hit the nail on the head. I mean, think about it. Why on earth would Republicans have anymore "spine" that Democrats? It's certainly not true with the voting populace, so why would it be true with the representatives?
This is all about the fact that, as saintzak pointed out, the Democrats and Republicans are all feeding from the same trough and asking for money from the same people.
I had a conversation recently with a guy who manages campaigns for rural candidates in Texas. The ratio of his clients is 80% Dem/20% Rep. He told me the thing they all have in common is that "it's all about business." About raising funds and doing what you have to do to keep raising funds. There are realitvely few willing big money donors out there.
So why isn't there comprehensive campaign finance reform? Because the big money donors want to maintain their influence. The candidates know it would take several laps around the track to get reform passed. And they can't go several laps around the track without money from those donors who don't want reform. Consequently, it doesn't happen.
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Sickened
I'm just so sick and disheartened by all of this that it's all I can do to not just say "fuck it" and give up. I'm a lifelong Democrat, but I'm really starting to feel like LeftWright is correct (more or less) about what's really going on, except for his/her final note about "the second American revolution" coming: as I see it, it seems like the first one never ended, it just took a while for the monarchists to finally quell the forces of democracy and restore the natural order of the strong subjugating the weak, and to fill that need in a large portion of the population to have a "strong leader" in control of the country since they lack the courage, imagination or even interest to take responsibility for it themselves. And as for the truth setting you free, LeftWright, the truth is that the truth usually just annoys the people around you who don't want to know or think about it. It's Bread and Circuses--Americans are fed and entertained, and that's enough for them, so much so that even torture is okay as long as they can keep watching "American Idol" and NASCAR with a bowl of chips in their fat pudgy hands. The only thing that might get them interested in the torture of terror suspects is if they could watch it on Pay-per-view and get to call in to vote for their favorite method.
I'll still vote for those fucking spineless Democrats for now, hoping for better, but I suspect that I do it partially because pointlessly beating your head against a wall can sometimes feel like you're still doing something.--TV
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Hard To Fight When People Are Against You
The American people support Bush on allowing torture, wire taps and bombing everything under the sun. That makes it hard for Democrats to fight and not look like they 'weak on terrorism.' The real thing the Democrats need to do is change the debate to Social Security, alernative energy and other domestic issues. Iraq might be a drag for Bush but the Democrats can't offer a plan about it becuase nothing will change the situation over there. The only option available is to pull out and Americans are not willing to let this disaster go just yet. Bush got a bump out of 9-11 and the falling gas prices will continue to fall as we get closer to the election and this is going to be a tough election for Dems to win now, but its not because they are not standing up to Bush on torture, that's a losing issue for them. A good chunk of Americans would enjoy it if we committed a holocaust on the arab world. We are still at 'war' and that makes it difficult for the Dems.
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The Power of the Human Spirit
The human spirit is the most powerful force on earth.
Witness the peaceful revolutions in eastern Europe which precipitated the collapse of the Soviet Union and continue today; and the ongoing political revolt now in Mexico. This human dynamic, once in motion, is impossible to contain or completely stop (although it can be partially co-opted and slowed down in certain cases). Revolution is an evolutionary process and ours has been subverted by the plutocracy, slowly bringing us back to where we are at this moment.
The U.S. is a young country, a teenager, and we are on the threshold of adulthood.
Revolutions usually arise when the educated, middle class of a society realize that its very existence is being threatened. Recent polls show that 42% of Americans do not accept the official government account of the events surrounding September 11, 2001; 36% believe the Bush regime is at least covering something up and 16% believe the twin towers and WTC 7 were brought down by controlled demolition.
Our unsustainable and ecologically disastrous, debt-fueled, hyper-consuming, multi-layered bubble economy is poised to burst. It is only one oil or currency shock away from collapse.
The vast majority of 295 million Americans know that something is deeply wrong in our country; they may not be able to name it, but they feel it in their gut.
We are rapidly approaching a tipping point in this country.
When the revolution comes, what will happen?
Will the already overtaxed military and national guard stand with the plutocracy and suppress their mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, grandparents and friends?
Will the taxpayer-funded American mercenaries (e.g. Blackwater)be strong or committed enough to keep their paymasters in power?
No, when millions of ordinary citizens peacefully take to the streets, occupy Washington and our state capitols and demand the government our Constitution guarantees us, we will have ended the absolutely corrupt and morally bankrupt plutocracy's hold on our country.
We must then begin again by restoring integrity (including a verifiable paper trail) to our electoral process, passing sweeping sunshine laws and removing the corrupting influence of money from our political system, forever.
The truth shall set you free. Love is the only way forward.