Do We Have a Choice?

[Avalux]

I feel depressed and powerless today; as if our choices are being made for us; we are being led to slaughter. When I was a kid, my parents did not vote. I would ask them why and they'd tell me because it didn't matter; the country is run by powerful men and voting makes no difference. I vowed when I grew up I would not be apathetic as they were.
Today though, I can understand why my parents felt that way they did. Do we really live in a democracy, or is it all a big sham?

[LuminousX]

1. There is a bit of sham to it

But through active participation, we bring politics back to where it should be, in the hands of the people.

[cthrumatrix]

24. it's called "the illusion of choice"...so the voters don't end up with

riots in the street.... it's bigger than this.

[quinnox]

2. Skull and bones has a wide reach

resistance is futile...

[Avalux]

4. Funny

but is there really some truth to that? I listent to both sides and on days like this I just don't know.

[Ninga]

3. Please hang in there. It is really

easy to fall in to the mind set of not having a representative voice in this country.

Sometimes I think we just have to learn the game, and somehow end up beating the establishement at that game. Because heaven only knows, that the party big boys are not going to allow any upsergent candiates to get off the porch.

And if we are going to run with the big dogs, we have to find a way to get off the porch.

[Jerseycoa]

5. We're being pushed into a belief

that the primaries are over when they have only just begun.

Let's put our heads down and do the work.

Here's a hug. :grouphug:

We seem to need more hugs than usual today, but we're only human and doubts go with the territory. Take some comfort in our just cause and work to make it true.

[Avalux]

13. Thanks

and here's a hug for you too :grouphug:

We can work to make a difference, I have to beleive that.

[MoonAndSun]

6. This is how the Dean people felt after Iowa....

it's okay to feel down and sad, but just get it out of your system and get ready to fight tomorrow. Don't give up on your candidate. I will not give up on Dean until he himself calls it quits, and I don't think he is ready to give up the fight.

Hang in there, you are supporting a good man who cares deeply about his country.

[TexasPatriot]

7. so long as the alternatives remain divided

there is no chance to shake up the race. outsiders always have trouble running against the system.

In a country where more iowans stayed home to watch american idol than go to the caucuses to vote - we deserve whatever we get, even if that's George Bush.

[artistaboard]

8. Do We Have a Chance, I'd say

Mighty discouraging, no matter who your candidate is. Here's Krugman in today's NYT:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/30/opinion/30KRUG.html
When the powerful Bush crowd can deceive, lie and cover up and get away with it, it sure seems fruitless to participate. But don't give up -- people and events roll on and you need to be ready when it's your turn.

[redqueen]

19. They only get away with it because the media

AND complicit 'democrats' help them.

[indigo32]

9. Hang in there

it's not over yet.

[DuctapeFatwa]

10. I'm not sure voters really want a choice. We have the illusion of choice

for those whose faith tradition includes a strong belief in the voting process, and who want/need that appearance of a choice.

Your parents were not wrong, but that does not mean that you have to agree with them. A great Protestant Christian theologian, Martin Buber, would tell you that all faith is an act of will.

[rogerashton]

15. Um, I believe

Buber was Jewish.

[DuctapeFatwa]

22. Protestant, Jewish, whatever, one of those ones that isn't Muslim or Hindu

anyway, he said it.

[CWebster]

11. They count on you giving up

It makes it so much easier for them.

[girl gone mad]

12. Don't be depressed.

Clark is fighting the good fight. He will emerge with his dignity intact, and a new major player in the Dem party no matter what happens.

I was utterly convinced that Gore was going to lose in 2000, based largely on the media coverage and the mood from within. But, he won.

[rogerashton]

14. Two things:

1) OK, some years it doesn't matter. maybe most years. But there is ENOUGH Democracy in this country that we can sometimes make bit steps forward through a popular uprising at the voting booth. This happens maybe once a generation. To give up on that possibility -- well, that leads me to 2)

2) There is an ethical issue. Ask youself, "What if everyone acted on that same rule -- would the results be better or worse?" Soem would say that you are (every human being is) under an ethical obligation to choose the better and not the worse rule. Specifically: what if everyone said "My vote doesn't make a difference, so I won't bother voting?" That would be a self-fulfilling prophesy -- nobody would vote and we would have a dictatorship of some nature. So act on the rule that would be best if everybody followed it: inform yourself and vote.

If you were REALLY CERTAIN that things would be no worse if nobody voted, then this reasoning would not apply. But how certain can you be? In Cromwell's words, "Consider, in the bowels of God, that you might be wrong."

[Avalux]

16. I'm not giving up

guess I got discouraged listening to NPR this morning. They all but said the race is over.

Thanks everyone, for your words of wisdom. I feel better now and will continue to fight.

:grouphug:

[redqueen]

17. Pretty much a big sham, yep

But there are glimmers of hope here and there... :)

[in_cog_ni_to]

18. It's all a sham and no,

we do not have a choice. The media will choose for us...it's that simple.

[genius]

20. Kerry's a good man but I want to see a brokered convention

If you want your candidate to win, fight for him and work hard. The nomination isn't over until someone gets the magic number.

[Meritaten1]

21. We can choose to be empowered

Because we do not need to allow anyone (including the mainstream media) to dictate what we perceive or believe.

Stay positive and re-frame negative media spin in light of the actual fact situation. The media's decision to omit coverage of certain candidates, or to cover them in a negative way, only has an impact if individual voters allow themselves to be disempowered.

Isn't "momentum" all about psychology, anyway?

A few primary states down the road and many pundits will be looking very, very foolish.

[faithfulcitizen]

23. I will go down fighting!!!!!!!!!

After months of hard work even without a candidate, I was never sure General Clark would accept our call. But he has, and we must remember that! He is in this because we asked him.... no, we begged him. He knew what this would do to his reputation and family, yet they still anwsered the call. And he's in this fighting for us and this country because he knows in his heart, he's got the best shot of taking this Bush Co. down and waking up the American people. In my heart, I believe he is the ONLY one that can do it.

So, while people can pick him a part over whether he is a republican, or whether he's slick enough for the media's liking, he is out there fighting the good fight. We must show the same courage that he has until fat lady sings. And until he's ready to retreat, I will keep fighting!!!

THANK YOU WES CLARK! :loveya: