Think, ACT, Vote.

[eggwards]

I was thinking about a longer post, but I'll try to keep this short.

Tonight our national governing body decided to allow the president decide what is and isn't torture with only a few caveats.
They have added a clause that would allow American citizens to be labeled "enemy combatants" and be held indefinitely, just like those foreigners that we don't seem to care what happens to them.
The House has passed a bill that would allow the president and his agents to wiretap anyone without a warrant. It waits for Senate approval.

They have decided to forgo human rights for the idea of security and political gain. For a country founded on the ideals of liberty and equality, not only are we allowing our government to get away with horrible crimes, a large portion of the population seems to be for it, or at least uncaring.

When will it affect someone close to them, so they will wake up, and realize their own freedom could be taken so very easily?

I ask of all of you, please make sure you are registered to vote this year. Deadlines are fast approaching, and many of you, like myself, have moved in the past couple of years. At least allow yourself to be heard this year.

There needs to be a change this year before other things get passed. there has to be a break. When senators who have been tortured turn their backs and make political deals to allow them to run for the presidency in 2008, you wonder if anyone in Congress has any morals, any guts, or any sense.

I'm really ashamed of how we've gone in these last five years, and it's all been handed over so easily, so quickly by a populous who's motivated by the boogieman. Let it be known that yes, I think we should be aware, and should fight religious extremism (from all faiths - *looks at Tom Cruise*), but there's a right way to do it. If we're ever going to be a light for the world to see again, we need to step away from these dangerous policies, NOW.

What we're becoming now frightens me more than current terrorism. I wish it frightened others, too.

Comments

[teddyb.livejournal.com]

Thanks for posting that.

I wish more Americans were as aware of what is going on in their country as you are, and as concerned.

I just posted a comment to another journal entry in which I said I never contemplated a time when I'd be ashamed to be an American, and even when I became a Canadian citizen, I always figured I'd consider myself an American first.

I just cannot fathom what has happened to my homeland in the last 5 years.

I fervently hope there is a huge change in the political landscape of America after the November elections. I really think it is America's last chance.

[eggwards.livejournal.com]

Really, I'm scratching the surface...there's a lot more that I don't understand. Frankly, I'm rather guilty of glossing over somethings as well. Still, I'm not totally blinded by such bread and circuses as American Idol to not try to seek out the basics. It's easy here to look away, and that's sad.

There was a time where you could look to the US and a great purveyor of hope and justice, even to citizens of other countries, but we've managed to kill all of that in six simple years. It just amazes me. I guess in being one of this administrations targets in their quest for power, I came to the realization a little earlier than say, my parents, who I wish would start understanding that they've allowed these guys to get away with completely changing the way the country operates and is viewd by the world.

Some New American Century we've got here.

Still, I don't think this election will do enough to totally kick the status quo. There's a small number of people who actually show up to vote at a mid term election, and those who do are often motivated, but I don't see the Dems movtivating enough, inspiring enough. They just seem to be the other group, with few big ideas. The Republican right wing will show up because they see the poll numbers, and right now, nothings more important than staying in power. This should scare people, but most are happy to go on watching Dancing with the Stars.

Frustrating.

[dedos.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the reminder! I haven't registered since I moved from Miami. But I'm moving this weekend, so I would have had to do it again, anyway. =)

[quirkstreet.livejournal.com]

You know what? As cynical as I get, you ARE one of the people who stepped forward in the last few years to start adding your voice and your vote. I keep my fingers crossed that you're just part of the turnaround this country needs. Meanwhile, thank you for saying what you say.

Sadly, I think you are only too correct

[teddyb.livejournal.com]

I wish I could say I disagree with you, but I can't.

There are still far too many Americans who know what is happening is wrong, but won't make the effort to effect a change.

Just like there were millions of Germans who knew what was happening at the "relocation camps" was wrong, but figured it was being done by someone else, and anyway, it was necessary to preserve their security and way of life.

I refuse to give up, though. I may be cynical and angry and disappointed, but I have too much respect for the freedoms and the Constitution that the patriots of 1776 risked their lives, and in many cases, sacrificed their lives, for.

The Bush administration is a stinking mass of rotting filth, but that is not all of America.

So, I'm still working as hard as I can to motivate people to:

- write cheques and get out their credit cards and put their money where their mouth is to support campaigns of progressive candidates,

- volunteer to be scrutineers at polling places to help prevent another massive theft of votes,

- give a few hours to local voter registration programs and make reminder calls to get the vote out on election day,

- join non-partisan groups dedicated to ensuring clean elections, like Common Cause, and to restore balance and diversity in media, like MediaMatters,

and just telling people, you have 30 days to make a difference in America. If you aren't doing something constructive to make that change happen on every one of those days, you aren't doing enough to save your country.

Somebody once said to me, "If you're not part of the solution, you must be part of the problem."

I think that really applies to the mess America is in today.

[atxchubbylimits.livejournal.com]

OK - I admit it. I am one of those people who isn't as clued in and doesn't know the issues that well. I really need to find viable news sources that aren't tainted. Any suggestions? It would be especially helpful if these were more geared toward folks who didn't have a lot of political background. You know, a layman like myself?

Any suggestions would be great. Thanks Michael for posting the info and oh yeah... nice LJ. My first visit here.
-acl

[eggwards.livejournal.com]

No problem. It's what I'm here for. Luckily in chicago, you get to vote for some good people (statewide, is the city still corrupt?) It's dumb and dumber down here.

[eggwards.livejournal.com]

Yeah...at times I think I've really changed my political views, but I think it's more that the political landscape changed around me and what was once called by one name has taken on the sheep's clothing of another. Now if there were just more people to become good, solid, smart opposition. Still, as they say, smart people stay out of politics.

I think my audience has shrunk quite a bit, though.

[eggwards.livejournal.com]

New sources are difficult...they all have their biases, some wear it on their sleeves more than others. Here's a big one, Local TV news is a vapid wasteland. Don't watch it. There's nothing but sensational stories about diets and local events that they were given a press pass to, and car crash chasing. Waste.

Cable news isn't too much better, especially since they do a lot of "magazine packaging" with shows with "celebrity" reporters and chat shows. CNN and MSNBC do a good job online of reporting news, though.

Blogs...I read Andrew Sullivan, who's probably the most like me, but I'll check in with Americablog, Wonkette and a few others now and again. Centerblue is good too. You know that these people are writing their opinion, so reporting and commentary get mixed up quite a bit. Give them a look.

Also, some LJ'er's are more political than others...check out Trapezebear, teddybtoronto and pauliebearsf.

Welcome to the crazy world here on LJ!

[atxchubbylimits.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the info. I will have to check out these sources.

I have been rehearsing for Rocky Horror Show (http://www.zachscott.com/stages/rocky.html) for 12 hours! You should come see it!

[davidtx.livejournal.com]

I've finally reached the point where I'm ashamed of our government.

I read this morning that Congress spent hundreds of hours worrying about how Bill Clinton used the Presidential Christmas Card List, and only has spent 12 hours in session worried about Immigration and Border Security Reforms. In the same article, the author noted that almost nothing was accomplished this past session (aside from *scads* of useless infighting), but there were records set for pork-barrel appropriations.

I was listening to a talk-radio host this week who was discussing how one of the congressional races had devolved into nothing more than a mudslinging contest about how one of the candidates may have used the "N" word *30 years ago*. And the issues: taxes, immigration, healthcare, the war? Nowhere to be found. You know what? I did things 30 years ago when I was an 11 y/o kid that I'm not proud of today, but it's because I was *11 years old*. People grow and change. Let's stick with the things that Politicians are being elected to deal with, not something that the media wants to turn into a scandal 30 years later.

I'm really at a loss as to what to do at this point. I vote, of course. I talk Politics to friends and family. But I just feel helpless to actually make a difference at this point.

bravo!

[tkn1114.livejournal.com]

Hi, i see you comment in Neil mrdreamjeans's blog but i've never been over here. I see I've missed out :) How wonderful to see texans speak up! In TX, sometimes people look at me like "What's your problem?" when I talk about these things. But I do anyway :0)

"... it's all been handed over so easily, so quickly by a populous who's motivated by the boogieman" - I used to think this, too: Fear. But after 5 years, I'm beginning to believe that fear was a pretense to thinly veil the real motive of America: Imperialism.

I've been gathering articles and data for a 2008 pamphlet. It's proving to be a humongous endeavor. I'll be posting about it in my blog soon. Hope you'll visit when I do and help out if and when possible.

Thanks for this and many more to come!
Thanh
Houston