Reply #150: HERE's what I question

[no name no slogan]

They complain about war and imperialism, and like to blame everybody but themselves, but they have done NOTHING to prevent imperialism in Iraq.

You posted this. You basically said that I did not prevent the war, and I replied I did WHAT I COULD AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN to prevent the war and US imperialism in Iraq. You seem to think that because my actions didn't prevent the war, that somehow me and others like me caused it.

As I stated, I did what I could, as a private citizen. One of my Senators (Wellstone) voted against the IWR, the other (Dayton) did not. My representative also voted against the war. I wrote letters, called my congressman, educated others, and did whatever I could, short of being a human shield, to prevent the invasion of Iraq.

I tried. It didn't work. But what you are saying is "don't bother trying, because it won't work". This is a very slippery slope you would have us go down-- one that poisons the very core of free speech and freedom to be involved in a democratic society.

What you are saying is "don't bother to influence policy, because it's out of your hands, and should be left to the hands of the pros"-- i.e., the "professional" politicians who trod the halls of Congress, and the ones who buy them off every election cycle.

This is exactly the same argument the right wing makes to discourage not only voting, but public discourse itself. Why do you think they like to discourage simple voter registration, and getting out the vote in poor areas? It's because they are AFRAID of DEMOCRACY. They are AFRAID of people taking an interest in the public discourse, because it may expose them as the thieves and crooks that they really are. They are AFRAID of people realizing that the emperor has no clothes, and that the people are no more wises than some benevolent politician up on a hill somewhere.

Your arguments fall right into their hands. Don't bother trying to change things, because you're not "equipped" to have an opinion of your own. Leave it to our "elected officials" who are obviously much wiser than you are, and know how these things work. Just shut up, check the box by the "D", and "support the party", no matter how wrong it may be. Repeat as necessary until your are an unquestioning obeying vote (and wallet) for "our candidate"-- who won't make your life any easier even if he wins.