I cannot begin to express how sick at heart I am. (not candidate specific!)

[Pacifist Patriot]

On edit: Okay, maybe I can. I didn't think I would have this much to say. Sorry!

Wouldn't we have a more honest process if the powers that be in the DNC simply gathered in a smoke-filled back room and decided whom they were going to place on the ballot with a D by their name? The deck is so totally stacked against anyone who honestly wants to make a huge difference for America and the world. Twas ever thus I suppose.

Anyone paying attention can see how complicit the media is. Though I confess I'm having a hard time figuring out who is leading whom by the nose. What a tangled web we weave.

I still believe every single Democratic candidate is preferable to every single Republican candidate, but the concept of change blowing through Washington is beyond laughable. I cannot imagine how it will not essentially be business as usual, and the use of the word business should evoke images of corporatism.

I feel horribly condescended to with the manipulation of language. Florida voters made a horrendous decision yesterday regarding their property taxes with most not beginning to comprehend the consequences of their vote. I am continuously amazed and dismayed by the number of people I encounter who honestly do not associate lower taxes with lower public services. They assume "fat will be cut" not recognizing that fat is their children's education, library services, road improvements, emergency response services, etc.

I find it absurd that America continues to attempt to export democracy when we haven't even figured it out at home yet.

I am rattled by the story of a group of black women at a university convening to determine whether they should vote for a woman candidate or a black candidate. Should they not vote for a candidate whose record they admire and platform presents a vision they can embrace for their future?

I am overwhelmed by the illusion of participatory privilege when in fact I am the object of oppressive heirarchical power. I fear for my children's future because they are not in possession of the oil and water that determine who holds that power.

I am weary from maintaing the hope and expending the energy to affect positive change in the face of such massive greed and indifference to the interconnected web of existence.

Should anyone choose to add comments to my post I urge you to refrain from attacking any of the individuals running for public office. I really don't think I can stomach any more of the shrill vitriol that has characterized this race.

Thank you.

[Apollo11]

1. Looks to me like you already begun to express it.

I think the primary process is a fun way to choose the nominee.

I'm not saying it's completely fair. And this year's calendar is a mess.

I am also sorry that the issues with Florida and Michigan were not solved in advance.

[Pacifist Patriot]

2. Cathartic exercise. I really didn't think I was going to have much to say...

when I wrote the headline.

To each his own, but I really cannot fathom how this can be considered fun. Then again, I've never understood WWF either. ;)

[Systematic Chaos]

3. Of the candidates I personally supported with any feeling,

one never ran, one just dropped out, and the last one is being marginalized.

I go to the Environment/Energy forum several times a day, and get all the news that matters there.

What slays me is that so many people here will NEVER understand that all this infighting means exactly zilch in the face of peak energy, disappearing ice and rising shores and temperatures.

I might be coming at it from a little different angle, but I completely understand and empathize with your frustration. Hang in there and try to find some high ground with decent soil for you and yours. In the end that's all that will matter.

[Pacifist Patriot]

4. I've been ribbing my husband that we should invest in some land...

in the Blue Ridge Archipelago.

I think you've hit on one of the reasons this is bothering me so much. To see such intense focus on a silly handshake when issues like peak oil and climate change are at stake is mindboggling.

[Labors of Hercules]

5. This is what people do as a whole...

Waste time and energy wrapping themselves in sensationalist entertainment instead of dealing with their problems. If it's true for individuals, it's true for society as well.

[Pacifist Patriot]

6. I'm going to be flamed from here to Sunday for saying this, but...

I yearn for a society with no professional sports (I'm a fan of sports in general, just not the uber-distracting business of professional sports) and where actors and musicians earn a fair living wage. Hmmm....perhaps I yearn for the 19th century with racial, religious and gender equality. Oh for a resurrgence of the lyceum as a form of entertainment.

[Systematic Chaos]

7. I couldn't agree with you more.

I think that grade school athletics should be forced to take a back seat to school plays and music recitals. Every single student in our public schools should have access to a minimum of one hour of art, drama or music education per day, every day, from grade K through 12.

That's just one thing that floats around in my own head. And I hate pro sports too, with the exceptions of the Olympics, golf, bowling, and stuff like that.

[Pacifist Patriot]

8. In my humble opinion...

grade school should be a time of dodge ball, freeze tag, capture the flag, kickaboodle, etc. The lack of the arts in primary education is nothing beyond appalling. And don't get me started on high school students not being exposed to philosophy, logic and argumentation.

[Systematic Chaos]

10. And NOW the news that Edwards is gone.

It's official. I don't give a flying f**k about this election any more. People here can think what they want of me but all I know is that I just want to cry. Goddamn it.

[Pacifist Patriot]

11. *sigh* That would be you and me both.

I was really hoping he would see it through Super Tuesday. I suspect you and I may have had similar experiences with this primary season.

[Labors of Hercules]

16. I don't know what's happened...

Got a call here in Chapel Hill last night saying some weird shit was happening. Got up this morning and *BOOM*. I still can't think straight.

:cry:

[Pacifist Patriot]

18. What's up? An intriguing post to be sure.

[Labors of Hercules]

20. We don't know.

And what sucks is, we're the people who SHOULD know. :grr:

[Labors of Hercules]

9. Flames of agreement?

We were born in the wrong century.

[Pacifist Patriot]

12. I'm of no illusion that other periods of time were not without their own...

problems, but boy do we seem to be taking it to entirely new heights. Our technology has outstripped our emotional development as a species and created an incongruity that is chasmic in scope. I just cannot shake the feeling today that most of us are nothing more than means to an end and utterly expendable if our usefulness is no longer appreciated. Existential angst? LOL! And if one person suggests I am PMSing I will really let fly. :)

[Systematic Chaos]

14. They can say I'm PMSing all they want.

I'll just laugh at them 'cause I'm like, a dude, and stuff. :evilgrin:

Let's introduce a bill to allocate funds (taken from the Iraq war coffers, naturally) to buy everyone their own game console of their choice and a deluxe package of the game Rock Band and an internet connection if they don't already have it. Then everyone will have access to something musical! And we'll also send them some seed packets and gardening supplies to grow some fresh veggies. If they live in inner-city high rises, we'll send Guido and Vito over to the landlord's pad to gently convince him or her that a garden on the roof would be a great thing. Lastly, we'll send every school-age kid free copies of five random books from the banned literature list.

A paltry few tens of billions would cover this with plenty left over!

I know, I'm kind of being silly now, but this is about the only way I can cope. Today is really starting off bad.

[Pacifist Patriot]

17. Hey, I'd support those coping mechanisms.

I'm all for government supplied bicycles too.

[Pacifist Patriot]

13. UPDATE: Kick a girl when she's down....

I ranked all of the democratic candidates in late December and the two who fell at the bottom of my list have come out on top. I will not be reading articles, watching debates or working for any campaigns. No point. I'll vote for the Democrat in November because the alternative is worse, but I will do so with no enthusiasm.

I will focus my attention on the House race. The one bright spot in all of this is that my Hon. Rep. Pinhead is retiring and the Democrats have a real shot at recapturing the FL-15.

I cannot recall ever feeling this deflated about a Democratic candidate in my life. Kerry I could muster some feeling for. This time? Nada. And I tried. I really tried.

[Systematic Chaos]

15. Well at least you have local races to be excited about.

I'm stuck in a place I hate, with no resources to get out, knowing full well that either peak oil or water scarcity will render the place a ghost town full of pretty neon sooner rather than later.

Guess I'm gonna just be stewing in it for a while. :(

[femrap]

21. I feel the same...

but I can't even get excited about the Congressional races.

All I want is a state to secede from the Union, like Vermont, so I can go there and start a progressive country. I heard the Lakotas were seceding...now that might be a good place to go, too.

I guess today is another one of those 'The Day the Music Died' days.

[Pacifist Patriot]

22. I keep waiting for Canada to annex the Turks and Caicos

What is taking them so long?

[redqueen]

19. ...

:pals: