Why aren't we marching on Washington?

[pnutchuck]

Watching the events in Kiev, I'm both inspired by their belief in democracy and disheartened in ours. Why are we allowing the lawyers and beaurocrats to handle what is our inherit right as American citizens? If we really believe that Bush stole this election, as he did in 2000, why aren't we traveling by the droves to protest in front of the White House? The people of Kiev truly believe that there was fraud and, armed with only a couple of video tapes, have taken it upon themselves to tell the government that they will not tolerate fraud of any kind. Can't we be so bold? I am not represented by this government, and neither are millions of Americans.

I read earlier that NBC changed it's exit polling numbers of the number of Hispanics that voted for Bush from 61% to something like 31%. Doesn't that constitute a great fraud by the government and the mass media? I just don't understand how we have become so complacent, how we have become such sheep to the system. Are we so afraid of the Bush machine that we too, can only bitch and moan on the internet and to our all too tired of hearing about it friends, during the commercial breaks of Surviver and Swan? Are our schedules so busy that we no longer care enough about our government being corrupt that we can't fight fraud on our own?

Sorry for the rant, but it's really been bugging me to see another country, who has modeled itself on the American system of democracy make more of an effort than we do.

Just tell me when, and I promise I'll be there. I'll even make signs for those of you who can't find the time.

[il_lilac]

1. I too wonder

I've been looking all around for a way to protest. I'm trying to drum up interest in the 51statecapital march 12/12- can't seem to find anyone going?? I might show up in Springfield, Il, just myself and my family. We should be pouring in the streets, but we keep waiting for a leader to convince us we're not tinfoil hatters. I'll go to DC, I'll go to Springfield, I'll be in Downtown Chicago- but the inauguration is too late.

[pnutchuck]

3. Nixon was president and he got outed

It's never too late to make a stand against a fraudulent govt. There's not one protest in San Diego, practically the entire place is Republican with all of the military bases. But I don't think we'll get very far with small, dispersable crowds throughout the country. We need a real march, straight to the White House. Put Dick Head on notice!!!

[politicat]

2. Geography, apathy, absence of memory.

Ukraine really does have three things going for it that we don't: they're smaller, so people can get to Kiev quicker and easier than we can get to Washington (Ukraine is about the size of Texas); they're not fighting years of apathy because in Ukraine, everyone votes and politics is a participation sport instead of a spectator sport; and we don't have the visceral memory of what it means to have no say in our governance the way they do. They know what living under a dictatorial system is like. We haven't had one of those for a couple hundred years.

I think the first two are really critical. Geography is a big deal, especially when so many of us are fighting to meet the bills. I can't drop everything and drive to Washington or hop on a plane or a bus; we pretty much blew our savings/vacation time/discretionary income working for the Democrats before the election. We took the blue pill and put everything we could into getting Kerry elected. Now, we're stuck. (It costs me a minimum of $200 to even set foot on a plane to get to Washington; $175 to take a train or bus or drive; none of these include food, lodging, etc.) And Ukraine's train systems may be crumbling, but they're still functional and people still use them. They have long distance public transit. I can't imagine how people on the West Coast could get to Washington for a protest; I'm 1500 miles closer, and I can't do it.

And think about it - only 59% of the eligible citizens did. Yeah, it was an increase from 2000, but it means that 40% of the citizens of this country sat on their bums and watched Baywatch. Less than 1/3 of the country actually WANTED either candidate. That's the apathy we're battling, be it because the candidates are wretched or because we're complacent, or we've made the process so daunting as to be impossible for some to navigate, I don't know, but we need to fix something. (My preference, dividing the country up into 8 zones in preparation for separation, and making regional governments, is not popular.) I don't know how to fix apathy.

And I'll admit, I've had a bit of grief-motivated withdrawal myself. I don't want to deal with politics right now because I'm hurt and afraid and angry. Unfortunately, my anger is getting burned out. It takes more and more will to summon the anger to fight. It's emotional exhaustion.

Pcat

[pnutchuck]

5. Kerry has a surplus of campaign funds

Can't we petition for organized tranportation? They did it for the million man march. I just can't believe that there are no organizations willing to help those who can't afford to travel to Washington. Celebrities, with there millions of dollars, could contribute. Hell, Nader would be perfect to get this started. And even if those on the West Coast couldn't get to Washington, there are still millions on the East coast that could do it. It's only been a little more than 30 years since disheartened people marched on Washington to end the war in Vietnam. I'm sure there are still people around who remember that, who participated and who know how to get it started.

[Hekate]

10. Very well put, Pcat

You've articulated my thoughts... Paradoxically I've actually felt envious of the Ukrainians, because so many of them actually care enough about democracy to do something about it.

In these past few weeks every time I've glanced at a headline that said "vote fraud" or "Supreme Court to rule on election" or "hundred thousand people march on capital" my heart would lurch, and for a brief moment I would think it was about America. And in that moment I would be so glad that our people and our courts and our media were finally waking up.

Then as quickly as the moment came it would vanish and I would be left with the sick realization that our democracy is being stolen from under our very noses, and that most Americans are so complacent that they neither know nor, seemingly, care.

Damn. Now I'm crying, and I have not done much of that since November 2. It's that grief-withdrawal and exhaustion from anger you mentioned.

You're right about the size of the US and the cost of travel, especially for those of us from the more far-flung states. I do have one friend who is planning to go to DC to protest the Inauguration, and at first she was going to drive from here in California, but lately she was offered a seat on a small private plane.

I am so torn about going myself (on a commercial airline). Money's not abundant, there's the time away, I'm cowardly about Bush's Republican Guard, I hate cold weather, and my husband worries when I'm gone. Man, I have every excuse in the book, don't I? But if I did make it there I would have two potential places to stay, which is two more than most people would.....

Hekate

~~~ Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever does. ~ Margaret Mead ~~~

[Aunt Anti-bush]

4. There's a march scheduled on December 12th in every capital!

visit:

http://www.51capitalmarch.com/

[pnutchuck]

6. Thanks, I'm sending this to everyone I know

We need more of these, and one giant one on Washington.

[Aunt Anti-bush]

7. Yes, I think it's great they are planning it in every city.

The media can't ignore what is everywhere!

(Actually, I suppose they've been doing just that for a long time now, but I can dream, right?)

[oscar111]

8. Sick-Out every Fri, till inaugration and longer if need be

See thread , this forum, for details.
The Title of the thread is:
===============
"WHEN'S THE DAMNED SICK-OUT?!!???"

Democratic Underground Forums - When's the damned sick-out?!?!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=106&topic_id=13521

=================
The thread said, the sickout is for a
NEW ELECTION

{not just a recount}
======================
---another thread is somewhere, forget where.

Idea is that the sooner, the better for rallies. Its never too late, true, but the later on, the less chance of getting the real prize:

NEW ELECTION.

Recount will never gather up all the suppressed vote, as those in FL who met up with cop cars roadblocking access to two black polling places.
Or count up the ballots trucked off to who knows where.... burned i bet...in a pickup, said a Kos blogger... Major DAn or Tom?
Or vanished inside a Diebold hard drive, .. as planned?

The sickout thread said to start dec 3, and another thread said to do it every fri as long as needed.

We should have been rallying since Nov. 3rd.

Link repeated:
Democratic Underground Forums - When's the damned sick-out?!?!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=106&topic_id=13521

[Aunt Anti-bush]

9. If you can find a link to the info,

I'd appreciate it! I'm working on a project to get us all organized and on the same page so that we can all work on the same projects and that is an excellent idea!