What I wish would happen

[Popol Vuh]

I simply wish that the whole of the working poor and middle class would just collectively say enough is enough and just refuse to go to work until we took back our country from the corporate fascists. Fuck it, we'll manage to find a way to support ourselves until the criminals running this country are brought to their knees.

And that's exactly what would happen too, it would bring this country's culture of corruption to its knees REAL QUICK! Only problem though, the vast majority of Americans (not DU'ers) are unfortunately brain-dead when it comes to wealth generation and distribution or the loss of their freedoms and liberties or their being exploited and taken advantage of to kill and die for other people's greed.

Oh well, that's my rant.. :)

[fasttense]

1. If the middle class en mass refused to go to work,

CEOs would just hire illegals and increase the number of guest worker visas. It wouldn't affect the US of the super rich one little bit.

[Popol Vuh]

4. I respectfully disagree.

I would think an action such as a nation wide mass general strike would be a checkmate move. Anything the rich and powerful do to go against a move such as that would ultimately either be self defeating or inevitably result in instigating a revolution.

Millions of working poor and middle class citizens (who's sons and daughters make up the military) I don't think would tolerate hiring illegals to replace that many Americans. I think that would spark great civil unrest if you know what I mean.

IMHO A nation wide general strike of this size could only result in the rich and powerful grovelling to the people. We are the ones who truly have all the power, we're just not organized good enough to use it properly.

United We Stand, Divided We Fall -- Aesop

:rant: :)

[NMMNG]

2. "If there is hope, it lies in the proles.

If they could become conscious of their own strength, they would have no need to conspire."

'Winston Smith', 1984

[democrank]

3. Very powerful quote.

their own strength....

[NMMNG]

6. Indeed

But so many people feel they have no power or voice, particularly after the past two elections. Now is the time we have to gather together and fight even harder. We need to reach out and show people that they do have strength, and help them to use it. Otherwise we are all doomed in the face of the Fourth Reich.

[WCGreen]

5. It drives me absolutely crazy that the

poor and disenfranchised do not vote...

I strongly feel that if we put a lot of effort into getting out the vote in the working class and poor neighborhoods, we make a big difference....

But of course, the consultants tell us to fight with the Soccer Mom's or the NASCAR dad's....

The main reason? It's easy...

That's right... It's easier to make commercials than it is too actually put together a GOTV campaign...

And you get on TV if you are a consultant cause the TV wants your business...

Voter registration drives, driving people to the polls, making sure voting laws are enforced, absentee programs.... All these take time instead of money... It's easier to deal with the money guys cause what they want is right out in front of them...

With the poor and disenfranchised, you have to forget tax cuts, forget Welfare cuts...

You have to instill hope.... And that, my Friends, is what has been missing since JFK....

[NMMNG]

7. Bingo

We need to stop catering to the suburbanites so much, and instead look toward those who actually need our help. The elderly, the poor, the disabled, the minorities, etc. They are the ones who need outreach programs to assist them in understanding the issues, interpreters/translation as needed, assistance in registering to vote, help getting absentee ballots, rides to polling places, advocacy to uphold their rights and the like.

Easy isn't going to win this game. Dedication is.

[WCGreen]

8. It takes time.....

And and effort and dedication and commitment...

It's so easy to write a check and forget about it...

It's a lot harder to actually go into the trenches and meet people and listen to their problems...

I ran into Dennis Kucinich tonight at a ward club meeting...

He is that kind of guy...

Dedicated to his constituents....

[NMMNG]

9. I like politicians like that

The ones who aren't just in it for the money and power. I still think they shouldn't get so much money and perks, because that would weed out those who are only in it for money and power, leaving behind those who genuinely want to serve the public.



I'd like to volunteer or work on a campaign. Just get out there and help people learn about their voting rights, the candidate, help make sure they can get to the poll and so on. If I ever get a better work schedule maybe I can one day.

[WCGreen]

10. I was up to my eyeballs n politics from 1992 all the way

to about 2001...

Then I got sick and developed my condition....

So this night was like a homecoming for me....

I went to three different ward clubs and saw elected officials, candidates, ward leaders and just plane old democrats gathering together....

It was like I hadn't been away...

We collected over 100 signatures for my guy who is running for the Supreme Court...

The urgency, the rumors, the plotting and the hand shakes were all there tonight...

I am back in the game...

[NMMNG]

11. Good for you

I had no real interest in politics (outside of voting in Presidential elections) until Dumbya stole the White House and began ruining the US. (Not to mention the fundie-whackjobs trying to turn us into a Christo-fascist theocracy.) Then I realized I had to get interested and start taking action or things were going to keep going downhill.

[WCGreen]

12. There is so much out there at the local level

that effects every day life....

It isn't the grand scope of constituional crisis...

But it is rewarding and a great place to meet people who think the same as you....

[eridani]

13. Sounds like quite a bit of local political action in Cleveland

Very, very puzzling that the voter turnout in 2004 was only 52%.