Ladies and Gentlemen: All Is Not Lost. Truly.

[MineralMan]

Here is the bottom line of our Constitutional Republic:

Within six years from any date, we can completely replace our government. Every two years, we can completely replace our House of Representatives. Every four years, we can replace our President. It takes six years to replace the entire Senate. The same is true in our states, counties and cities. We can replace the entire government if we choose to do so, simply by making our will known in the ballot boxes of this country.

Right now, we face what appears to be a crisis in our federal government. That crisis exists because we did not decide in enough numbers to elect a President and enough Senators to gain a majority in that body. We screwed up. However, we'll have another chance. We'll have several chances. We need to work on correcting our mistake, but we also need to look farther down the road.

In 2018, we can retake both houses of Congress if that is our will. In 2020, we can elect a Democrat as President, if we choose to do so. In our individual states, we will have the opportunity to elect new legislators and Governors.

We are the final check and balance system in our government. We can, if we choose to, replace everyone in every office within six years. That, of course, does not solve our immediate problem, but it is the solution we have for the longer term.

I suggest that we work to rid ourselves of our current toxic President by convincing Congress to follow the Constitutional procedures to remove him. Then, I suggest that we come together to choose new people to serve us in the legislatures, both state and federal and to elect new executive leadership in our states and federal government at the first opportunity.

Within six years, we can have an entirely new government in place. Shall we do that? I think we should.

[herding cats]

1. I agree. We have the power, we just need to focus and use it.

We can vote them out, and then repair the damage they've done. Yes, it's going to be a long two years, but we have a lot of work to do to help keep us busy.

[NRaleighLiberal]

2. Gerrymandering makes it a big challenge.

[MineralMan]

4. Not really. Really, only a minority of eligible voters

turns out and actually votes. All we have to do is get everyone to the polls to vote, out of frustration and anger and how things are going, and we can replace them all. It's simple, really. But, really, we only have to replace enough to have solid majorities. So, even if gerrymandering is successful in making some districts impossible, it doesn't make them all impossible.

If we really have the people behind it, we can do it easily. The trick is to get all those people behind the idea and getting them to the polls. We could do it, if we had the will to do it. Will we? I don't know.

Let's try, OK?

[politicat]

13. Just on the demographic law of averages, you know three eligible voters who didn't.

Your job for the next 18 months is to get those three registered, educated and enthusiastic.

Even the reddest gerrymandered districts are around 45% blue -- those districts go red because of turnout. Our policies consistently poll higher and people are consistently happier, wealthier and healthier under blue leadership. We have a lot of tools for deploying self-interest in the service of the greater social contract. We just have to use them.

[eleny]

3. Surrmounting Cross Check is our challenge

Gerrymandering was bad enough. Cross Check is voter suppression on steroids. We'll need to roll up our sleeves and get to work like never before in the modern era.

[MineralMan]

5. Hmm...Well, that isn't in place in all states.

It's not in my state. Maybe it is in yours. I don't know.

It also isn't enough if we can activate all those people who are eligible to vote but who don't vote. In the end, we only need to elect solid majorities in our legislatures. If we do that, we can remove those barriers in a single term of the legislatures.

It's easy to say, "No, we cant, because...." If we don't do that, but say, "Dammit, yes, we can..." then we can.

It's up to us, really. It has always been up to us. I suggest we just go right ahead and do it. What do you say?

[eleny]

8. I never said, "No we can't..." I said that we need to roll up our sleeves and work like never before

Kris Kobach has the ear of the administration on voter suppression and immigration. Imo, that's enough reason to face facts and then get to work.

[Initech]

6. Yes! We can't keep fighting with each other. Time to get to work!

[MineralMan]

7. Yes, indeed!

We have almost two years before the first step in the process. Let's start by taking back the House, and maybe even the Senate. Let's begin the process in 2018.

Take back the country!

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. You can't replace the judicial branch like that, though

On the plus side, that means much of it dates from before any toxic period.

[MineralMan]

10. You're right, of course.

The Judicial Branch has some special privilege, since it must rule on constitutional issues. It can only be replaced through attrition or impeachment in Congress.

[Alpeduez21]

11. Drag your butt to the polls and take three people with you.

[MineralMan]

12. Yes. Exactly.