How 'Bout A Little Inspiration ???

[WillyT]

“The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses - behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.”

- Muhammad Ali

[zipplewrath]

1. We don't get to know there is a fight

Unfortunately, in American politics, by the time the lights come up and the bell rings, the fight has been decided. It's more akin to the WWF than a sporting event. The decisions are made "far away from witnesses". Progressives are left with a choice between right leaning, and far right.

[sabrina 1]

2. The people are not involved in this democracy. Everything is decided before the 'fight', including

the outcome. The voters are merely 'extras' at the final stage of whatever is being decided, to give an air of legitimacy to the claim that we are still a representative Democracy.

Ali is a wise man. I guess none of this is news to him.

[F4lconF16]

3. Though everything may be decided elsewhere

As a youth, I don't really think I have any other options than to fight now, and to fight hard. It may be a losing battle, but I don't really care. I'll take to the streets if I have to to bring down our current overlords.

[sabrina 1]

4. I agree that there has to be a real fight now. We were NOT fighting, we are participating the

'plan', at first unwittingly, then we were more or less caught in a trap. Which boiled down to voting for someone calling themselves a Dem or voting for someone even worse.

The 'lesser evil' has often been the choice.

Even now, we are being told that Hillary, eg, is 'inevitable' because 'there is no one else and she is better than the alternative'. And we have people TELLING those who plan all this, 'well, I'm not crazy about her policies, but if she is the nominee, I will vote for her'.

That is what they are hoping for.

My opinion is that NOW is the time to tell them, 'we will NOT vote for someone whose policies do not represent our interests'. Iow, they have been using scare tactics to push their choice of candidate, mostly Corporate friendly, on the people. How about WE scare THEM by telling them 'no' for a change? Because the alternative is to continue to allow Corporatists to run things THEIR way which as we know, has not worked for millions of people.

So I agree with you, we have to start fighting. But we need to have a goal. What will we be fighting for?

In this election eg, there WERE victories for the people, maybe not so much for politicians. The people voted on Ballot Issues, Progressive issues and won. Because locally people still have more influence.

So I am for pushing for local Ballot Issues across the country to begin with. And for choosing local candidates who are FOR those issues and willing to fight for them, even if it's just on school boards. It will take a lot of time, but we know we hear nothing but excuses on many of these issues on a National level. Locally it is far more possible, as we saw in this last election.

[jwirr]

5. It seems to me that is already happened. 2016 and no one goes to vote. I wonder if any of our

legislators have learned anything? Definitely not the woman in Louisiana. She wants us to pass Keystone in order to get her reelected. And many of her fellow Democrats want to help her. The only thing good they have done that I see so far is promote Elizabeth Warren. Now we will see what she does with her power.

[jeepers]

7. Not everything.

What I noticed in this last election beside the general consensus that the young stayed away from national and executive races and showed up for the issues was that voting on the issues was largely due to referendum and initiatives petitions, a direct democratic vote.

Maybe it was only the young but while the voter doesn't show any confidence in this plutocratic opera of ours to represent them they trust that their vote in a direct democracy does matter.

After Obamas now you see it now you don't campaign and presidency, even if you could sell a progressive plank to the Democratic party and get lip service from them, I doubt that an intelligent electorate will fall for a sales pitch coming from a corporate workhorse such as Hillary.

[sabrina 1]

8. Very good post, I agree completely. The young did come out to vote for the issues that

are important to them. That shows how smart they are imo. They have figured out that their voices are more likely to be heard, locally.

I don't think that was accidental, or random either. All over the country and on college campuses, and anywhere OWS is operating, this topic has been discussed, 'what is the best way for us to take control of our own future'. Start rebuilding the party from the bottom up, as the Right did decades ago.

But my point is, the party leadership knows all of this, it is not because they haven't been told. But they have a different agenda to that of the voters, and have become arrogant about ignoring them, positive THEY know what is best for US.

[Eleanors38]

6. Ali was asked Is there anyone out there who can beat you?

"Yes, but I haven't fought him yet."

[EEO]

9. We need to send enough progressives to the polls to overwhelm the defenses...

constructed against what most Americans want, against allowing democracy to play its course. The Republicans have only remained relevant due to trickery and taking advantage of low-information American voters. The only way to break the back of the Republicans is to mobilize in every city in this country and educate. Educate by clearly communicating what we stand for and put the GOP on the defensive to force them to explain why the Republicans are against things like social programs, business regulations, and healthcare for all (some Democrats will need to account of their own records, as well).

I firmly believe this must be done under the banner of the Democratic Party, but as a new faction within the party dubbed the Roosevelt Party. We need to expose conservatism for its fear mongering and socially selfish ways, and remove Republicans in Democratic Party clothing from the party. No third way, no third party.

[demwing]

10. Kicked & Rec'd /nt