Chuck,

When does the People's Revolution begin?

People's revolution? Y'all ain't armed worth spit, the others in Chuck Mann's group are scared of guns and are a far cry from being Ghandi.

The only way there is going to be government change is via the voting booth.

Y'all try again in 06'.

It does amaze me how so many are complacent, unconcerned, and happy with the status quo.

"Y'all try again in 06'"

It also amazes me how our national interest have been "simplified" into a sport - my team beats the crap out of your team.

I'm clearly naive, thinking the idea was to work for the common good, to unite against tyranny both abroad and at home. Silly me.

As long as the people of the USA stay divided (that's working really well these days) we can accomplish nothing. We will continue to have presidental choices which come down to "dumb and dumber"

We must not judge the state of things by our own situation (I have a good job, I can afford the price of gas, my child is not in Iraq, I have health insurance, my house is warm, I don't need or want an abortion, I'm not hungry, I'm not homeless, I'm not on welfare, I have a good education, my parents wanted and loved me, I'm not gay, I'm not on death row, I don't live on the Gulf Coast, so things are great!!!) We have to care about our fellow man and try to put ourselves in their situation.

I pray that there will be a candidate and a party who will not sell their soul for the next election, Democrat or Republican, since that will be our only choice.

Gee golly James, How else do you change a democratic republic except through elections?

Insurrection and sedition?

Carol, wonderful words that were beautifully written (spoken).

JDR, I agree wtih you as well. What happened to the common good (Just as Carol elaborated)?

When will the nightmare end?

Shalom

"How else do you change a democratic republic except through elections?"

We have multiple options available to us:

1. The soap box
2. The ballot box
3. The jury box
4. The bullet box

"Sedition and insurrection" are perfectly acceptable alternatives to turn to, if and when all others have been exhausted. This, the Founding Fathers understood very well (Thomas Jefferson immortalized the concept in the Declaration of Independence). If government comes to the point where it is no longer answerable to its people, after the people have done everything else to bring it to its senses, the people then have the morally correct option to put the policeman, the city councilman, the congressman, the president - or whoever else is abusing their authority - in the sights of a rifle.

Like it or not, its free-willed individuals with guns who provide the final word on the liberty of a country. Not "government" at all.

Isn't that exactly what it boils down to, "my team beat yours"? The majority of the country (both numerically and electorally) didn't want the most liberal senator in the United States as their President. Next time, try to nominate someone who hasn't bashed his own country and his own country's soldiers (which he did again several weeks ago). Bush was primed for a defeat in '04, and all the Democratic Party could come up with was John Kerry (I voted for it before I voted against it).

Don't whine about it now, change it at the ballot box. To do that, you'd better nominate someone much better next time.

Hugh:

I'm all about the Ballot Box - but I am furious.

- we have given full control to the "R"'s and the "D"'s, even though both organizations have proven themselves slimey and incompetant.

- we sit idle and let gerrymandering help this happen

- we allow big money interests to purchase political favors

We have lost control of out own country and when you try to discuss these points in an honest and purposeful way and all you get is "Bush Won, Get Over It", or "Bush Lied" or "Clinton Lied" or Swift Boat Ads or Move-On.org or some other tired rhetoric.

Look at the posts here - we all know what another blogger will say on any given topic. I swear if O-Reilly were proved a ped'file, Neo would bail him out, if Hannity was gay, Dan would still remind us how nice he was when he shook Dan's hand. If a nuc' went off in Chicago, Darryl would tell us killing is not the answer, or Yvonne ... it goes on.

The point being - if Ted Kennedy managed to get on the "R" ticket, Hugh, Dan and maybe even Neo would vote him into office. If Tom Delay got on the "D" ticket, Darryl and Yvonne would vote him into office.

(Not really picking on ya guys, just trying to make a point).

I do find it fascinating that when a semi-outsider comes into the field - Perot was one, Eugene McCarthy another, as almost was McCain - the "R" and "D" parties circle up and keep 'em out, because the LAST thing they want is an alternative.

Let Rove be the slimiest of all, and stand behind Delay and Frist and Kennedy and Dean - they're all a bunch of self-centered bastards - but I'm gonna speak out against them.

Ezekiel posted while I was writing - but he proves my point.

IT'S NOT "nominate someone better" - (edit-curse-words) for saying that.

IT IS how about helping find the best path forward for America, and few in DC fit that mold.

The Democrats are unfocused and not organized, and therefore a worthless near-joke.

The Republicans are highly organized, but they are not focused on anything besides your vote and their power, and therefore a true danger to America.

JDR, you are so wrong about Fat Teddy. It's not the label it's the man. I'd prefer to vote for Joe Lieberman for my state Senator rather than that Bozo carpetbagging Liddy Dole.

Your rage is good. I felt a lot like that between 1992-2000, only I didn't give in to the dark side of the Force. (A little bone tossed at C Knight :-) .

I don't want to see anyone *hurt*, hugh. Just for them to be in fear a little. To understand who it is that they answer to. If even a fraction of the American people today had the same spirit that the Founders had, this would be a radically different government. It would hold itself accountable to the Constitution, for one thing.

I've an idea: let's start taxing the Democrat and Republican parties. We tax corporations, and that's all that the parties have really become: the most powerful corporations in America. It's time they start contributing their fair share of money back into the country they've been stealing from. The dough can get earmarked for a special election fund that gives money out to third-party and independent candidates, just like how "the big boys" get federal contributing funds.

It is my sincere hope that when we discuss all these issues, we do so as concerned American Citizens. I'm not saying this is a simplistic manner. We have to stop thinking Right, Left, Democratic, Republican or whatever. I don't care who is in office or rather what political party is in office, we are in real trouble as a nation. We have got to look at the issues, don't expect that we will have 100% agreement, and stay away from name calling. I'm on a fixed income, am trying to send my kid to school, am fearful of the world that we are bequething to our youth and all the unethical things going on up top etc.etc. Let's unite, we have enough common ground.

I just got off the phone with my Sister - who's been to China twice this year (and a whole bunch in the past - I think she did Taiwan in 1988).

She said "don't believe there will be a back-lash from the Chinese people - they're having some issues but they LOVE what is happening there - the government is very well run."

In a few words: We're Screwed as a manufacturing country.

SO as JOEJOE says:

Unite. We are in real trouble as a nation. American Citizens should be legitimately concerned and need common ground solutions.

Knightshift, corporations don't pay taxes, the costs are just shifted to consumers. Here is a good read:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060875410/qid=1134604644/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-2873614-2168631?n=507846&s=books&v=glance

This book is not partisan, it just offers a new idea for paying taxes. Just finished reading it. I'm not an accountant and can't vouch for the numbers, but the idea has been extensively researched.

I agree with you, how do you suggest we get rid of TAX HIKE MIKE????