Are you ready for the Revolution?

[JailBush]

Many people have posted regarding the despair they feel. They note that the government is hopelessly corrupt, the American sheeple hopelessly apathetic and stupid. Is there any hope?

I felt the same hopelessness even before George Bush stole the White House, fighting both the Education Mafia and the Seattle Mafia, led by King County Democrats. The Republican hordes are just another obstacle.

Right now, everything appears to be one big question mark. There's no real relief in sight. But what if things suddenly change?

If the public does revolt two years from now - or five years, or ten years - will you be ready? Revolting's the easy part. The hard part is holding corrupt elements accountable, forming a new government and deciding on new laws and policies. A revolution would require grassroots support - and not just political campaigns and protests.

Are you doing what you can to learn about how our government functions? Do you have a special area of interest, such as public education or the environment? Are you creating a website that will let you share your knowledge and ideas with the masses?

Take it seriously; George W. Bush could steal the White House again, or we may get a Democratic President who refuses to abolish the Patriot Act and call off the Dogs of War. We need to be prepared for a long, tough battle.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

1. OK, but how the hell could you start it?

I doubt very much that it could ever be done. People are much too apathetic.

[Bush is a chimp]

6. we are in for

A long struggle as long as Bush is in office, but I still hold out hope that we can beat him this time no matter what! He cannot steal what we don't let him have am I right?

[Screaming Lord Byron]

13. That's by far the best option. Still, if he wins...all bets would be off.

[JailBush]

12. I'm talking about IF.

I'm well aware that the American sheeple couldn't fight their way out of a paper bag. And unless and until they change, we're doomed.

But if they DO change, and if they do revolt, will we be prepared? Simply saying "I hate Bush" and participating in a few protests doesn't cut it. Are people ready to spend a few hours a week studying the issues, working on websites, or whatever is needed to make a revolution work?

I spent more than 15 years working in the classroom here in Seattle, and I don't think I met more than a handful of teachers who had a clue about anything. If we were able to get rid of our corrupt union or give Big Business the boot, they'd be totally lost.

Democracy is only as strong as its basic building blocks - people. Thus, we'll never get our democracy back as long as we remain a nation of morons.

[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[wysimdnwyg]

2. Check my signature!

[Mairead]

22. Sorry, Dean doesn't represent anything revolutionary

I wish he did, but he doesn't. He is the status-quo candidate: take care of big war, big insurance, big prisons, and let the people fend for themselves.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. I see the revolution right now

1800 style, it is happening right now as we speak...

And yes freedom has a price, eternal vigilance

[onebigbadwulf]

4. If I'm still in America I will

but I am on my way out.

[arcane1]

5. you mean counter-revolution

because there has been a neo-con revolution going on right now, that we have been losing...

[waylon]

7. new to politics, kindof

You could easily spend 8 hours a day for 2 months just absorbing the national issues and political perspectives. Add on state and local politics and you have, a full time job! How does one keep up?

[laruemtt]

10. they're counting on us

to give up. we've gotta keep each other going. strength in numbers, plus the great spirit's on our side!

[JailBush]

14. Wow, that statement took the wind out of me!

OK, I'll confess - I've been working my butt off for more than five years, and I'm STILL overwhelmed. I started out studying the Seattle School District, and the trail of corruption led to the media, the Seattle Chamber of Commerce, thence local government. I was just beginning to get a handle on national government when George W. Bush fell out of the sky.

It is indeed hard to get a handle on everything. I think the best strategy is to make politics a lifestyle. Get in the habit of skimming the news and political chatboards daily and just try to keep up on the basic issues. If you have a special interest, try to focus on it, so you can share your expertise with others.

It's also important for those of us with websites to try and simplify things, especially through reference sections that are easy to navigate and use. I'm revising all my sites right now, and I'm hoping the revisions will me much more user friendly.

As we progress, we can continue networking with others, sharing and learning, getting critiques on our ideas and websites and (hopefully) rallying more people.

[Cleita]

8. Revolutions historically replace a corrupt government

with another corrupt government ususally with the same people in charge. Look at the history of Latin America in the last century. What we need to do is work within the system we have, closing step by step the opportunities for corruption in the future. Questioning our election system is a start. Passing laws that make graft very unattractive and other corrupt systems will also shake up the pols.

It will take a grass roots movement to let our elected officials know that we aren't going to accept this anymore.

[Cleita]

9. Sorry double post.

Please delete.

[rudeboy666]

11. well

or we could get the prez that the people really want(even if we think that the people are wrong).

But that's democracy for you!

Besides, once the masses are being refered to as 'sheeple', you know that we have already lost.

[JailBush]

15. You can't cure an alcoholic until he admits he has a problem.

In that spirit, the public needs to hear the truth.

[HereSince1628]

16. Revolution, no, "revolution" probably

I doubt that there will be a revolution in the sense of an open civil war. However, there is no doubt in my mind that there will be a strong reaction to the evil manifestations of this administation.

Big money and big corporations have abused their priviledged influence. Political action will be taken to prevent them from weilding similar influence as well as undoing the consequences of their treachery.

Economic reform that has as significant negative impacts as globalization has for US labor will beg redress, reversing the violations of civil rights now being witnessed will be the moral high ground around which the burdened will rally. Their chief complaint will likely be unfair rising taxation needed to pay for trillions of dollars in national debt and the retirement of the baby boom.

So, I expect a socialist reformation to be undertaken between 2008 and 2015, this probably will include tax structures that hit the wealthy very hard...because by then the wealthy will be the only ones with the money. Like Carnegie wisely said...if you don't share your wealth, the people will come and take it away.

[Wwagsthedog]

17. The first thing to do

would be to eliminate our current corrupt campaign financing and replacing it with some kind of public funding. I'm sick of seeing my vote going only to those who represent commercial interests and not the interests of the public.

[HereSince1628]

18. Please expand this...how would pub fin shift candidates interest?

My concern is that the real money isn't in getting elected. its in the payback during office (postions for family members as lobbiests) and afterward as either board members or special consultants.

[Mairead]

19. How laughable is it

for people to talk about 'revolution' who aren't even willing to vote for real change?

(my sincere apologies to anyone who does support one of the only 2 candidates for real change: Dennis Kucinich and Albert Sharpton)

[PSR40004]

20. a real one with shooting and death?

I'm afraid we'd be way out gunned, I'm not sure those types of revolutions work anymore, we need more revolutions at the ballot box...