I am definatly concerned about the future of our country...

[WCGreen]

Mainly because of the callowness of most of the legislators and the posturing and preening that goes on all the time now that everything in this society is out front, in your face and over the top.

This economic crisis is nothing as compared with the various crisis that I have seen in my life time.

Having no gas available because of a threat in the middle east. Think about what would have happening in this country if that happened now with all the news outlets scurrying around to get the loudest mouth on air so that people would watch.

I mentioned in another thread a while back that I was as almost concerned now as I was in 1973 when Kissinger was playing blink with the Russians over the flair up of tensions that exploded, briefly, into war in the middle east.

What do you think would happen now if this crop of politicians and media whores were in the middle of all that...

I hated what Kissinger stood for and more so about Nixon, but they were adult about how they approached a crisis.

they were both brought down by sober contemplation and the purposeful investigation of congress.

Even the much maligned presidency of Carter handled crisis much better than any of the people now on or reporting about the national and international stage.

Way back in the 50's, we had comething like this when McCarthy went wild and the media responded. But eventually, that ended when the media looked at what they had done.

But it all really changed when Newt came along and put everything, EVERYTHING in a confrontational mode and the media responded and the country really started to tank because it was suddenly considered wimpish to give in a little, to put the best interests of the country over the party, to treat your adversary with respect, at least in public.

We are here now because of the type of politicians that thrive in this hyper-emotional media political world we live in now.

Anyway, how did we get here?

But perhaps more importantly, how do we claw our way back from the abyss?

[MineralMan]

1. I'm definitely worried about a lot of things.

I try to do something to alleviate that worry.

[WCGreen]

2. And what would that be....

Please enlighten me.

[MineralMan]

3. As I have always done, I work to nominate and elect

legislators who share my goals. Nationally, that would be Al Franken and Betty McCollum. In 2012, we'll be figuring out what to do with Amy Klobuchar.

On the state level, I've helped Tim Mahoney and John Harrington get elected to the state legislature and Senate.

All are solid progressives, who are working to achieve goals I share with them.

I also support other progressive candidates as my funds and time permit, but my focus is in my own district and precinct, where I take a very active approach at campaigning and GOTV efforts. You can learn more at my precinct web page in my signature line. Local activism is my method. It's the only one I've found to be effective and that makes the best use of my time and energy.

Thanks for asking.

[WCGreen]

5. Since my rep is DK and Sherrod Brown is my Senator....

Anyway, I have been active in progressive politics since I was a page for the Ohio House all the way back on 1977.

I know perfectly well that all politics is local and that you do what you can at that level.

It's the way I have led my professional political life.

But I am getting old and infirm and don't have much energy left after dealing with keeping myself well anymore.

But I am also a realist and so after 45 years or so of battling against what seems almost intractable odds, I am reduced to this, adding my two cents to the good fight here on DU.

Keep up the good fight!

[freshwest]

7. Me too.

[Imagevision]

12. Yep! I think there's something to this "New World Order" - get on board or not...

[MadMaddie]

4. I am concerned too

However; love him or hate him President Obama has done something that no one is acknowledging

The very prescence of President Obama (who happens to be black) has pushed the Right Wing to the brink of chaos. What do I mean by this?

1. The Right Wing playbook has been outed to the public
My view: The Koch brothers were always supposed to stay in the background, holding their secret meetings dictating State Policy and National policy with their blood money. The Koch brothers have also been behind the outsourcing legislation, destroying Unions etc.

What happened: Scott Walker and other Repug Governers were too ignorant to pull it off. Those Brave Democratic Congress people in Wisconsin left the state and brought nation wide attention to what Walker was doing and that was busting Unions.

Corporations are in a fix because they supported the deregulation uneducated Teabaggers in WA. The debt ceiling fight has brought even more attention to the idiocy of these nutters as the Brits say. Public opinion is behind the Democratic Congress and the President.

The key to all of this is to bring Murdoch and his Right Wing empire down. Break up mega corporations so we can have competitive markets. Bring back truth in advertising.

Most important of all VOTE for downstream Democratic candidates from your school boards to your local city and state government.

[WCGreen]

6. For sure the Koch's didn't want to be "exposed"...

but I don't think president Obama had much to do with that. I think it was the good people in Wisconson who outed the creeps...

[MadMaddie]

9. I suppose what I am saying is the Environment that we live in

has allowed these things to happen. Their hatred for President Obama has over ridden their plans and they over reacted.

[Bluenorthwest]

10. That is correct!

nt

[freshwest]

8. +1,000

[Imagevision]

11. After Bush and now Obama it's time to not take life so serious (I think?)

All we can expect is more of the Obama leadership which I believe is scripted by those that anointed Bush. They've got everything covered. "The New World order" even Bill Clinton mentioned this, trust me there is truth to it.

[AndyTiedye]

13. It All Changed When the Right Wing Bought Up All the Media & Reagan Ditched the Fairness Doctrine