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Political Solution? - 3/24/2006 10:29:54 AM

Mercnbeth

Posts: 11766
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I re-read my post on the first page of the "Here's My Challenge" thread. It seems that that thread has gone on a different path, now we're in the name calling, he said/she said, and hindsight accuracy mode. Also, Jim & Ann don't seem to be up to the challenge they set because they've never been back. No matter. I'm critical of MY post in the thread.

The problem that I have with my post was that it was contrary to my philosophy of if you are going to be critical and condemn you must pay for that right with an alternative. Well, my post was not only critical but down right depressing. Although I've obtained that magic number and now have to concede the fact that I'm a half century old, I'm NOT ready to willingly surrender to an "inevitable" mentality and take a rocking chair on my front deck and observe my Country self destruct.

I challenged myself to come up with a solution that would work AND most important, be reasonable and, perhaps, acceptable to both sides. I won't take credit for the concept. The inspiration came from a college professor who befriended me. (I think his was the first hookah I came in contact.) He, was from Egypt and taught a course called "Arabia Without Sultans". The course was a very interesting and different perspective for 1975. Anyway, during one of those "intellectual" discussions, perhaps inspired by the substance in the hookah, he said that in reality Democracy only provided a person with one decision to make, yes or no. If you liked what was occurring you voted for the party and person in power, if you didn't you voted against them. I wish I could remember his name, but that brain cell didn't make it out of New Jersey.

My proposed "solution" is this; a grassroots movement based on this yes/no concept. Forget all party and 'special interest' issues. Swallow hard and regardless of party affiliation make the basic and fundamental issue become - we don't like what is going on and we blame EVERYBODY who, as an elected official, had the ability to change the path of the Country.

If you go back to the "Challenge" thread, there is a common denominator - nobody really feels good about either political party. Many commented that there is really no distinction between the parties. It's also conceded that under the current rules, a third party is not viable. I agree 100%! What we should do is at every opportunity - primary elections, as well as general. Vote "NO" for the incumbents. NO to every incumbent; from the most inconsequential school board election, local/City officials, Mayor, State Representatives. Everyone in office is responsible for the condition we find ourselves. Everyone has "earned" the consequence. This solution would give those claiming no reason to vote, a reason and one vote - NO!

This should be acceptable for the President Bush/Republican haters because if it works both the Presidential office, and Congress would be Democratically controlled. In our circle of friends, even the staunched right wing conservatives aren't in support of the growing government spending, religious influence in the Republican party, and the lack of vision by the current party leaders. If as a consequence we had a Democratic President and Congress elected because of this movement, I wouldn't be concerned about that result. I've already decided this will be how I'll base my vote. We wouldn't be voting to elect on one issue. It would show the power brokers that there is a way to get rid of ineffectual government. It would discount all the special interests from the "save the spotted owl" to the "NRA".

Would everyone be willing to discount all personal hot button issues? How much would you sacrifice to affect a change in course? I wouldn't consider it a breach of integrity by voting for someone who issues are in opposition to mine because of my overall believe that the penultimate objective is the betterment of the United States. I'll leave it to those inclined to critique to determine if it's a rationalization. I just don't want to surrender! I don't want to fell as helpless for myself or my progeny as I do now. As much as I joke about it, I really don't want to watch the view from my house as Los Angeles is consumed by some event generated by foreign or domestic forces.

Anyway, I don't feel the hypocrite by criticizing and complaining without offering an alternative. Simplistic? Naive? "What about MY "great" Congressman who's bringing back Millions of "pork" from Washington?" Well, I pose a "challenge" to people thinking those thoughts to provide an alternative solution.

Of course we'll need a catchy name for the movement. Being from the East Coast, Italian, and the fact that this would be an "underdog" movement, I thought of "Rocky" and came up with "Y.O.!" It stands for "YOU'RE OUT!" It would make a great chant at rallies, and a easy rallying cry signifying what we would be trying to accomplish. If I could think up appropriate words for the letters - "NEXT" would also work. But naming rights can come later. For now...

What do you think?????