When are we ever, as a people, going to start to _try_ to make this country less miserable

[llmart]

136. I think you make the best point yet.

Most people who are inclined to vote or follow a political process only do so in the "big one"; i.e., presidential races. Then the rest of the time they ignore the little, local community or even state contests thinking it's too small to create any significant change. I maintain that it is even more important to follow what's going on in your local communities and races and then your statehouse.

I have been so disheartened by the vitriol on DU of Bernie vs. Hillary. If either one were to become the President, we have seen in the past that they can have the best of intentions of making dramatic changes in our culture, but the President is not a supreme ruler. There's the Congress and a legislative process that is in place and their desires and promises can be squashed in a heartbeat and never come to fruition.

I came of age in the '60's - quintessential baby boomer - and most of the radical changes that took place in that decade were the result of grass roots involvement driven by real, everyday people, not the President. The powers that be only got on board when it looked like the majority of people were going to demand the changes and that their re-election chances would be slim to none if they didn't get on board.

Bernie speaks for an awful lot of people, but if he doesn't get the nomination it doesn't mean that the passion of his followers can't be continued on in other ways. If he loses, are all of the Bernie supporters just going to throw up their hands and go away sulking? If you truly believe in his principles then continue on.