The sad thing is that the entire country

[Seansky]

is in a shell shock state and doesn't know what to do next. Our sense of helplessness combined with our extraordinary need to express our frustration and confusion is achieving very little. And add to all the difficult economic situation (getting worst by the minute) and the lack of strong leadership for us to follow, and what seems left for us to do is go to the streets in masses to pressure for changes...That is sad...That is what citizens of third world countries are forced to do, constantly, to get anything from their governments...

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. shh, here is a big secret,

you may very well be that leader you yearn for

Also some of us have been rather active, even if not in the streets

It will make you feel better by starting to write letters to your local paper and talking to neighbors... doing SOMETHING will make you feel better, and it gets addictive... after a while this becomes a way of life. Hell I ma known to call people and tell it like it is now regularly

Oh and welcome to DU

[Seansky]

5. nadinbrzezinski--Being there done that every week

I'm probably in every petition, every request to write letters, every phone call necessary for over three years now. I even volunteer to numerous organizatoins....Still, things keep getting worst...

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Yes we need to take to the streets

but it takes more than just the petitions, I have actually called congress critters, which gives me an insight on what is going there that it ain't nice... some have even gone off the record... Katrina has changed that though... so they will find their necessary voice and damn personal consequences,

But as I said you may be that leader.

[RageFist]

13. "hearts and minds" people, "hearts and minds"...

while being involved with the gov't is very important, what is important to me is calling people I know out on issues. I am constantly asking people what they think about issues (gay marriage, the war, Katrina, etc.). This accomplishes two things: one, They might present something that alters one's perception of reality a little bit. My former, and yes very, VERY shameful, racist views were altered by a Black manager I had at In-n-Out burger. The most lovable, engaging, fun-spirited man I have ever met in my life...knowing him changed ME. Second, debate presents the chance to perhaps alter somebody else's take on things. Again, government is important, but true change is grass-roots.

[RageFist]

2. That is what we need to LEARN from "third world" countries....

we dont' take it to the streets enough IMO...numbers speak for themselves.

P.S. Can't wait to see what the 24th holds for DC :)

[melody]

3. my elderly neighbor as a contradiction

I have an elderly neighbor who has never been political. She "usually" votes Democrat - well, before now. Now she is going to DC on the 24th at her own expense (this woman is in a wheelchair, mind you) and has become incredibly politically active over the last 10 days.

Like she said, anyone over 50 saw that old dead woman in the wheelchair at the Superdome and knew "there but for the grace of Hurricane Katrina..."

I think we're seeing a rebirth of an active political left...a real rebirth.

[Seansky]

11. Hope the attendance is huge...but

I wonder if it could bring changes without confrontation. I thought Cindy was going to get something within the three+ weeks at Crawford, and it is still going...Maybe 9/24 would turn out to be the catalictic point for the pressure to make a difference.

[blonndee]

15. Hmmm. What do you mean, confrontation? n/t

[NYC]

4. It's the only way.

If we don't take to the streets, they'll never listen to us.

[Xenotime]

6. Kerry is the only president I recognize...

* should resign and they should put Kerry in place.

[Terran]

7. I'm not in shell shock state.

I'm just extremely pissed off.

[Seansky]

9. Being pissed off for so long now

I am running out of anger and rage...I want real action with real results.

[Terran]

12. All we can do is keep the truth flowing to the public and

work our butts off on the 2006 mid-terms. Envision a Dem majority in the House and Senate once more...

[tjwash]

10. Just the freepers and die hard chimp supporters.

I know a lot of them, that have the cognitive dissonance starting to wear off, that are shocked that shrub is a friggin' sock puppet, and the rest of the administration are nothing more than a bunch of common thieves.

The rest of us have known for quite a while.

[applegrove]

14. Yes. Welcome to the DU. How do you know what we have been up to?