Sadly, my own son no longer believes in this country's potential as a democracy.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

He figures the American people not only resist change (from the "powers that be") but are also awefully vulnerable to manipulation.

He exercised his first vote in the primaries. I was so proud! He convinced me to vote for Obama rather than Edwards!!! *lol*

He wants to enlist in a branch of the military for both economic and personal reasons but WON'T if another Republican is elected. He is far more "worldly" than I give him credit. He said, "
I want to serve this nation, not the interests of those who do not give a damn about our people let alone the health of this nation."

Sadly, he doesn't believe we live in a "democracy" or a system of "justice". He sees a system favoring the powerful rather than acknowledging or addressing the powerless. He told me, "I thought a democracy focuses on protecting the weakest among us and rejected assertion of power by the privileged."

:shrug:

I told him, "The greediest in this nation have convinced people that, caring for others or a nation is socialism or communism. What they don't tell people is how much money and power is gained by treating democracy as an EVIL,...an evil THEY define as socialism or communism while they behave as purist capitalists/fascists."

I also told my son that, until the "radicals" in our own country aren't subject to consequences, be prepared to attack them,...in like-kind. Those fuckers waged the war on our democracy and it's way past time THEY PAY THE CONSEQUENCES!!!!

[Breeze54]

1. After 30 yrs of Rethug control, who can blame him but tell him he's wrong!

And if he wants to serve his country, there are other ways besides soldiering.

Tell him to hang in and hang on.... a reckoning is coming in November!

[LaurenG]

2. I've been feeling really negative myself

I think many of us are on "overwhelm" right now.

Thanks for posting. :hi:

[Auggie]

3. Same here

And I don't see it changing anytime soon.

[Breeze54]

5. Then get your ass in gear!

You'll never find a 'perfect candidate'... ever unless you look in the mirror!

This is election is about YOU and ME and a lot more than just Obama.

We need a Dem in the WH ASAP!!! Get busy!!

[Breeze54]

4. You'll feel a lot better when we take our country back in Nov! Don't give up now!!!

We're very close!!

Start calling and getting people registered to vote for THEMSELVES in November!

Volunteer!

[MikeNearMcChord]

6. Thom Hartman said it best

Democracy begins with you, TAG YOU'RE IT!! I will say get involved, don't sit on your tush and wait for change, go for it.

[ColbertWatcher]

7. A democracy is about participation.

If you look at everything the GOP has been doing it has been to prevent people from participating.

They've blocked people from voting, they've blocked people from getting factual information and they'ves made it so the federal government does not listen to us. The Congress and multitude of government agencies which are charged with doing the work for the people have been defunded and hidden behind a maze of roadblocks to prevent us from finding out how they are spending our money and protecting our interests.

But, worst of all, the primary function of everything the GOP has done for the last 30-40 years has been to prevent people from wanting to participate, people like your son.

The GOP has created an atmosphere of corruption and deceit that has turned away more and more people each generation from the very apparatus of democracy: information, community and the infrastructure of the government that we own.

His opportunities for participation at this time are not limited to the military and voting.

You can help him find other ways to be the democracy that he wants America to be from what you've seen on DU until a more democratic government is elected.

Good luck; we're all going to need it.

[Breeze54]

8. Bravo!!!

:applause: :applause:

Thank You! ;)

[aquart]

9. Damn straight.

What I tell kids like that is to get off their asses and stop looking at the enormous task. It's too big for anyone. That's what they want you to see. Stay local. Clean up a park. Take a bunch of limping old ladies to Costco. Carry their packages. Join a community patrol. Gather signatures to get a good guy on the ballot.

Sanctimonious preachers say the poor will always be with us. No, they die young and we have to go get more. The rich are the ones we can't get rid of. There will ALWAYS be entitled rich people. What we have to do is make sure that there is flexibility and enough freedom so that some of us can get there but it will never be all of us.

So we have to do our damndest to make life better for the unrich unentitled. And there are a million billion ways to do that. From smiling at strangers to dedicating your life to reading every line of complex legislation to make sure no one slips in a fast one.

Every bitter child needs to ask himself what he did today to make life better or easier for one living creature.

[KamaAina]

10. He himself is part of the reason we still have potential as a democracy

despite it all.