So I was talking to a retired fisherman at my local starbucks

[nadinbrzezinski]

and we were talking of the whole mess... and how kids don't care no more (yes we know there are exceptions and some of you even post here, but you ARE the exception) and I got to test my theory about draft and getting attention. We were talking about the whole mess, Reagan, Clinton, history, stolen elections, our booming :sarcasm: economy, and how this country was once a great country (his words not mine)

So on the table near by are some kids playing a game on the laptop over the wireless and having a blast. And I said, there is no longer a civic minded culture in this country and the only thing that will wake them kids is a draft. One of them came over, nobody invited her, and said, why do you want ME to go die for YOUR war?

So I calmly looked the kid in the eye and asked, "first are you registered to vote?"

"No, why should I?'

There you go, why a draft MIGHT JUST WAKE YOU UP. It is your life, it is your country, and I am almost betting you VOTED in the last American Idol.

So that matters.

No kid, what matters is school, your ability to get health insurance, your ability to go to college, your ability not to fall into abject provery. American Idol is very cool, but it is bread and circus, not reality. It is meant to keep you distracted from the things that matter.

So what's to you?

I looked at the computer, I don't even think you paid cash for that.

Nobody can afford to do that!

Yes I can, but I don't live check to check as hard as that is. I also do not consume more than what I need to... for instance I don't OWN an I-POD and trust me, they are cool. The PSP I own, we have some games, but its primary use is WORK... not play... and I realize that it is MY DUTY to register to vote and god damn it vote. So yes, the only thing that got your attention was me advocating a draft, well damn it, you just proved my point. That is the ONLY THING that will wake you up and make you realize that American Idol does not matter, but your life does.

She turned to go back to her friends, stunned... I don't know if I convinced her, we went back to our coffee and talk (I should have been generating characters for the demo this summer and plotting an adventure, oh well... not too often you meet somebody who used to fish tuna off the West Coast of the US... and trust me, having gone down to Ensenada, the smell of Tuna from the wharf is one you can never forget... and one that San Diego hasn't had in over thirty years. And I had a good time, a very good time... and I learned from him, and he learned from me. He used to be a reagan democrat, but god he hates republicans these days.

[Rainscents]

1. Even as much as I hate draft... By having one is only thing young

one's going to wake up and we badly need for them to wake up and walk with us!

[AndyTiedye]

9. You'll Make them Run Away From Us if DEMS Propose the Draft

If you want to make anyone walk WITH us,
DON'T propose drafting them or their kids!

What makes you think that Dems can propose a draft and make the Repubs take the blame for it???
The other way around is far more likely, because they own the news.

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. Well when they tell me you don't know what

you are talking about and you would never go, I bring out the mickey mouse card and point out been there done that... and reality is... like it or not, I have tested this theory twice already... by the way, the fact that these three kids DO NOT vote, for American Idol matters far more and somehow is real, means that they will NOT register to vote, or go to the polls. Insofar as the politicos are concerned, THEY DO NOT MATTER. Oh and yes they are old enough to vote... I suggested they go to the SOS website and download the form and then go fill it up and SEND IT IN...

They don't care... at all... so how exactly will this talk make them run away?

By the way, anybody knows who the hell won American Idol? Apparently THAT MATTERS.

[AndyTiedye]

15. So Their First Awareness of Politics is DEMOCRATS Trying to DRAFT Them

You think this is going to get them to work FOR us?!:wtf:

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. I am not a democrat, I am an INDEPENDENT

and if they ask that is what I tell them....

That said, UNTIL WE HAVE A DRAFT NONE OF THESE KIDS WILL EVEN CARE ABOUT REGISTERING TO VOTE. THIS SOCIETY NEEDS A NATIONAL SHOCK TO GET PEOPLE TO WAKE UP DON'T CARE WHAT AGE THEY ARE. Is this clear enough for you?

We can talk until we are blue in the face about dirty elections. UNTIL PEOPLE SEE VOTING AS A DUTY we are just spinning our damn fucking wheels!

[AndyTiedye]

18. We Had The Biggest Voter Registration Drive in History in '04

Unfortunately, the Republicans have the biggest vote supression and theft operation in history.

[dysfunctional press]

2. things can't be all that bad...

if so many people can afford to go to starbucks.

when i start seeing boarded up starbucks everywhere- THEN i might start to believe that things are going bad in the economy.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Bear in mind WHERE starbucks opens stores

you will NOT see one in South East San Diego. This is the closest to a working class neightborhood I have seen, mostly by military housing.

By the way, I can afford it, but that is becuase I choose to go there to do some work since my AC ain't working...

[dysfunctional press]

8. in chicago, they're opening in once crappy neighborhoods-

now hot hot hot with gentrification. earlier this week there was a big article in the tribune bemoaning the loss of the less affluent puerto rican area because the area was being overun with...gasp...yuppies...

but like i said- things can't be doing too bad if a luxury place like starbucks is thriving...

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. Well one of the local places

is locally owned, and he INSISTS that all his employees take health care... no he is not offering it, he is insisting on it. He works 70-90 hour weeks... and he tries his best.

I also no longer consider it a luxury, but to each his own

I also go to the very LOCAL coffee shop that is going head to head with another starbucks.

[dysfunctional press]

14. when people pay more for a cup of coffee than for a gallon of gas...

it's a luxury.

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. Actually the latte you ahve a point

normal coffee at that place is not that more expensive than the local dennys or the hot cake place.

[zeemike]

3. Interesting read

Perhaps we don't talk among ourselves enough.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. We don't

I try and I have two that I like, more or less. the one by Henry's an the one by my local grocery store... I go, do work and then buy what I need before going home

[BrklynLiberal]

4. I am with Charlie Rangel... Bring back the draft!!!!

Even tho I know this Congress will never do it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. I also agree with Charlie on this one

only thing that will get the kids on the streets

[AndyTiedye]

11. We're Already There

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. hate to say it, but that crowd looks like the

demos I have gone to, some kids are present, but mostly it is midle age and above.

[BrklynLiberal]

19. Great pics!!! But not enough college campuses are being involved.

[Name removed]

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