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But what many in power often fail to see is the number of people versus the easy number of dollars they can get in one night. We can play the same game the big companies do. I don't blame them for using their power to try and preserve their interests, that is afterall what we wish to do.
Some politicians are convinced that money is what wins elections (and they can be right many times) - it is up to us to show them that we as a mass are watching their actions and that they cannot buy our votes with slick ads and handouts. All that information (which usually does not say much of substance) they hand out can easily be trumped by an informed people who watch their actions and not their TV spots (et al).
We don't need reform in the way of laws, we need reform at the local grassroots level by people willing to get out a real message with real information who care less about party affiliation and more about job performance. Sometimes we can be as bad as those we chide - we cover for dems so that they won't look bad (something which we fear repubs will use against us to their advantage). So much is based on fear (like terrorism is) that we leave our values at the door and choose those which share some of our ideals, even if only one or two more that those on the opposite side.
To get true reform, we need people who are not vested in one party or the other completely. We need people who want to judge each person on their merit and job performance (and how it affects others) and not on the D/R after their name. We need to look at things from a broad perspective and analyze it fully, not spin it to fit our own needs.
Companies and money a big influence/problem? How much more so those that pimp out their values to win a marginal victory by not looking at things even remotely bi-partisan, not searching at all for the truth, and only using the most negative views they can find to influence others. When Clinton was in the right refused to see any good, and the left does the same with bush. No one wants to even give an inch because it might play well with the voters. Good news in iraq somewhere? Don't mention it or you are a freeper - you are not part of the cause, you will be shunned and excommunicated. The left salivates at times over bad news, it makes their day because they can use it to hammer bush. Who cares if something positive happens, brush it under the carpet because it may make bush and crew look positive a tad bit.
If Gore had been in on 9/11 and it all happened as it did that day, what would the tone of the left be? Would we be praising him or investigating and questioning every small detail we could find? We cannot stoop down and be like the right, we must be consistent (and not saying we not always are, I am generalizing here broadly) in our pursuit of justice, truth, and accountability. When we stop making it about right/left and start making it about what is best (and projecting that to the masses) people will be more open minded and trusting of the message, and not so quick to dismiss it as partisan. Big business and the right want us to be partisan, because that gives them a crutch to lean on. They want to define how we act by making us afraid, like they scare people with terrorist threats. We get afraid (like thinking Kerry won't win unless we play the game they made the rules for) and react to that fear, which allows them to frame and control things.
Screw em. I have the same goals as many here, I just feel we can vary on opinion on how to reach those goals. Don't even mention the swift boat vet people running their ads, spend our money on the issues and people will see where the real mud comes from. If asked about it, Kerry/we can say - how is that relevant to X legislation (which is what the government handles) and how it has/will affect you and why are you trying to deflect the debate? Most people already think all politicians lie anyways (or at least stretch the truth) so ignore it and hammer home the truth about things which really affect people.
If bush asks Kerry about the vietnam thing in a debate, reply with 'How does my tour in vietnam impact people compared to the patriot acts, specifically x/y/z sections?' (or insert other such legislation as needed to get point across). When people see real things which they can look up and did not know (like how X laws affect them) they will want to know more because those things really have an impact on their daily lives. We can define things, it will take time.
I don't have all the answers, just opinions and ideas. Not always right, but always willing to offer other ideas. Sorry for the lengthy rant, but I can't help but feel that we have let others take influence from us - now we must pull together and take it back. DU is a big step in that direction, and I thank you all for your hard work in that area. Step by step we can overcome the problems - if we work together.
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