I think we need to pick 535 well-educated people from the Tea Party Movement and vote them in.
I think we ought to administer an extensive test on knowledge of the Constitution, and use performance on that test as a way to find a couple thousand possibilities, and then have each of those couple of thousand make YouTube videos speaking of their vision, and have voting on YouTube to pick the 535.
Then we run them in popular elections over the next few years.
That's our new Congress.
I think we ought to administer an extensive test on knowledge of the Constitution, and use performance on that test as a way to find a couple thousand possibilities, and then have each of those couple of thousand make YouTube videos speaking of their vision, and have voting on YouTube to pick the 535.
Then we run them in popular elections over the next few years.
That's our new Congress.
Problem solved.
75 comments:
Man, that isn't a bad idea. Very out of the box. Hell I love this idea!
Pastorius,
I hate to make you feel bad,
but that is not a realistic solution. You shouldn't get your hopes up, few people in the Tea party movement have the skills necessary to get elected to congress. Do you know how I know? Because very few people have those skills, not to mention money.
But even if we could get them all elected, how do you really know that they would turn out to be that much better than any of our current crop? I don't. Many of them may have only joined the Tea party movement because of one or two issues, and its possible that even if you agreed with them on those issues, you disagree with them on just about everything else. What we really need to do is work hard and fight the congress and the president whenever they do something wrong. I know that won't be easy, but so what? When life gives you lemons, make lemon aid. I don't know who was first person to say that, but it is a wise statement.
Damien,
You said: few people in the Tea party movement have the skills necessary to get elected to congress.
I say: BULLSHIT!
You apparently don't know that Congress is just a service job. It's not supposed to be a fucking lifetime career. It's supposed to be farmers and workers serving their constituencies for a few months a year. That's it.
There's little expertise required. Lawyers have convinced us we don't know how to tie our shoes. You bought it.
I didn't.
You want to peddle some more bullshit.
You think I couldn't do a better job?
I'm in the Tea Party movement, right?
Damien,
You also made the point that these people might be just one or two issue people.
I think you didn't READ what I wrote.
They have to pass a test on the Constitution.
Granted I didn't say it would have to be an EXTENSIVE TEST, so I'll add that to my post.
What we need is people who love the Constitution so much that they know it by heart.
I expect much better out of you, Damien.
Your comment smacks of utter elitist bullshit.
Pastorius,
Okay, than. I know that you are angry, but I was telling you something that I think had to be said. I'm sorry if I upset you, but you must realize just how impractical your solution is. There has not be a successful third party since the time of Lincoln. I know you don't want to hear that, but it is the truth. Maybe one or two of the people involve with the tea parties could get election. But even if that happened, it would be far from replacing the entire congress, and if their think was truly radical different than the people in both parties, they would have to compromise a lot, in order to get anything.
As for making them pass a test on the constitution, who would give that test? Would you have time to test all of them? Even if you did, they'd have to either be accepted by one of the two main political parties or be part of a third party. It would be even more difficult to get them accepted by either political party if they were determined to strictly follow the constitution. So many of them would have to go with third parties or start a third party. Like I said early, there hasn't been a successful third party in a long time.
Now if a politician is really bad, do all that you can to get him voted out of office. That is perfectly reasonable. But do you, or anyone else on this blog have the resources for your idea to succeed?
Plus Pastorius, strictly following the constitution isn't that popular now a days. It would be better if it were, but it is not, and when it all comes down to it, few would be willing to give up government subsidies and entitlements. That's one of the biggest reason the republicans, had trouble reducing the size of government, when they were in power. Most people want to keep their government entitlements.
Pastorius,
I'm not being an elitist. I'm being a realist. I really wish that what I'm saying was not true.
Damien,
You sound like you are being reasonable, and I know you are convinced you are being reasonable.
What does it tell you that 1-2 million people showed up in Washington DC without any advertising, without any help from the MSM, without any slogans, without any central charismatic figure around whom to rally? That was the biggest political rally in the history of the Unites States.
And then, there's this:
http://ibloga.blogspot.com/2009/09/57-would-swap-out-all-incumbents-and.html
You bring up Lincoln.
Tell me when you think this country has ever been so divided as it is now, and when the will of the people was being subverted more than it is now?
Think.
Could that answer be, um, perhaps the time of the founding of the Republican Party?
I can't wait to hear your answer.
The reason I am angry is because I think your comment was elitist. I'm very surprised at that.
You know, you know need a lawyer to tell you how to wipe your butt. You know that, right?
What do you think the government is for? What is all this complicated stuff they are supposed to be doing?
Hmmm?
I also think you perhaps have not studied the intentions of the Founding Fathers.
What's all the complicated stuff the government is supposed to be doing Damien?
They're supposed to protect us and build roads and keep open interstate commerce.
What else?
What's unrealistic is the way we are allowing the government to convince us that we need them so badly.
Pastorius,
I know what their intentions were, but things never turn out as they were intended. Originally they intended there to be no political parties at all, but there were political parties soon after the constitution was ratified, non the less. Originally the articles of confederation, (which was America's constitution before the Constitution) didn't allow the federal government to tax people at all. Instead it had to ask for voluntary donations, and look how that turned out.
If we are to succeed, we will need a viable solution. None of which I like, personally. I like yours by the way, but I just don't think we can pull it off.
By the way, I noticed some minor errors in my previous posts. I'm sorry, I should have fixed them before I posted them. Sorry, its a bad habit of mine.
"I think we need to pick 535 well-educated people from the Tea Party movement and vote them in."
I agree. I vote for the Boob Czar.
FREAKIN' BRILLIANT!
Ro
Damien -- The Founders never intended for Congress to be a career for someone. it was to be, at best, a part time job done in conjunction with their real work -- merchant, distiller, farmer, whatever. And (I don't think) it was originally a paid position, or at best a small stipend. Cover their expenses sort of thing. Completely public service.
They intended common people to represent them, people liek themselves, not some political hack who is better at raising money than someone else, but someone who had the same stake in the issues as they did.
Virtually none of our current crop fit this description.
As for knowing the Constituiton you must agree few of them seem to, or at least few seem to care.
And that's a very serious problem. Because, at the Federal Level, the government is supposed to have only the powers and abilities givien it BY the Constituion (you lready know this) and everything else is contrary to what was intended.
You state that strictly following the Constitution isn't popular right ow (though you wish it were).
That doesn't matter one whit. IT IS THE LAW OF THE LAND and, more correctly, the law of the Federal government.
So strictly following the law isn't popular right now?
You and I both know how wrong that sounds.
So we need to make them follow the law. Or put people in there who can and will.
Too hard, not feasible, not possible in this day and age. Government is too big to change in this day and age.
That's what George thought, too.
But Msrs. Jefferson and Washington and Hamilton and Revere and Franklin and those pesky Adams boys certainly showed him otherwise.
That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
Throw every last one of the sonsabitches out and put in people who want to serve, not get paid to legislate.
The pure purpose of any government is to defend the nation.
That's it and that's all.
Midnight Rider,
You wrote,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Founders never intended for Congress to be a career for someone. it was to be, at best, a part time job done in conjunction with their real work -- merchant, distiller, farmer, whatever. And (I don't think) it was originally a paid position, or at best a small stipend. Cover their expenses sort of thing. Completely public service.
They intended common people to represent them, people liek themselves, not some political hack who is better at raising money than someone else, but someone who had the same stake in the issues as they did.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
I know that, but do we have the money and other resources to replace everyone or even most of people in congress and the senate with people who have never run for office in their lives?
Money is no object when there is a will.
And the lesson of the demonstration on 912 is that there is HUGE will.
Besides, with that kind of support, how much money do you need?
I don't think you appreciate that history is staring you in the face.
That is a big, big story, Damien. THE LARGEST POLITICAL RALLY IN THE HISTORY OF THE US.
No publicity, no ads, no slogans, etc.
And, by the way, here's the crux of the elitism inherent in your response:
You are essentially telling me we can't find 535 people out of 2 million that would be fit to serve us in Congress.
Midnight Rider,
You wrote,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Virtually none of our current crop fit this description.
As for knowing the Constituiton you must agree few of them seem to, or at least few seem to care.
And that's a very serious problem. Because, at the Federal Level, the government is supposed to have only the powers and abilities givien it BY the Constituion (you lready know this) and everything else is contrary to what was intended.
You state that strictly following the Constitution isn't popular right ow (though you wish it were).
That doesn't matter one whit. IT IS THE LAW OF THE LAND and, more correctly, the law of the Federal government.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
I know that. I wish they would follow the constitution more strictly for that reason. But if strictly following the constitution is a good thing, which it is, we still need a majority to support it. If no one respects the right of another person to speak his mind, than we can not expect our politicians or our courts to do so. That's one area where I'm in agreement with Culturist John.
Pastorius,
And how are all these people going to get elected without, "No publicity, no ads, no slogans, etc."
No one is going to get elected if no one even knows who they are.
Also there were publicity, ads and slogans for this rally. Otherwise it wouldn't have been "THE LARGEST POLITICAL RALLY IN THE HISTORY OF THE US."
One of the little-recognized facts today about our Constitution is that it was intended to be read and understood by the common people.
Indeed, the Constitution was not written to be read and carried out by experts. Rather, it was to be read and carried out by citizens.
In my view, one problem with our government today is that we've got too many lawyers in positions of powers. Lawyers are called "scum-sucking bottom feeders" for a reason. They deliberately gum up the works with their legalese and arrogance. A real power trip.
The idea that we need experts to govern smacks of oligarchy, a system our Founders consciously rejected.
The idea that we need experts to govern has led to bills so long that nobody read them. All that damned micromanagement included. Sheesh.
Furthermore, our Founders didn't see politics as a career but rather as a service -- a service one performed, with the servants then returning to private life and living according to the legislation enacted.
In the early days of our republic and even later, elected public servants came from all walks of life.
We need some people on Capitol Hill with some sense, for God's sake.
Our Constitution doesn't lay out a lot of requirements for those who seek public office -- including that a Supreme Court justice doesn't have to be a lawyer or a former judge (See Article III).
Much of what people associate with the process of governing is the bureaucracy, which is indeed a complicated system. That bureaucracy, actually not included in our Constitution, descended upon America beginning with the FDR administration. That bureaucracy and its many agencies and regulation can be repealed without a Constitutional amendment -- and should be, IMO.
Here's what I wish that ALL Americans would do: Read the Constitution. Sit down and read the whole thing. It is not complicated! It was written not to be complicated or difficult to understand! High school students can read and understand it!
I'd also recommend this book: The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Constitution.
As for the claim that there were no publicity or ads, for the 9/12 rally, remember this?
Just Who Is A Terrorist?
Its a video that I first told you guys about, before the rally, if its not an ad for the 9/12 rally, I don't know what would be.
Always On Watch,
I Share many of your sentiments, but I am a realist.
I know that experts don't govern, in fact many of politicians are idiots, but I that's to be expected.
I think our best bet is to support lobbying groups that share our desires, as well as supporting candidates who we really like. But they will have to be one's that stand a chance of winning.
Damien said...
Pastorius,
And how are all these people going to get elected without, "No publicity, no ads, no slogans, etc."
No one is going to get elected if no one even knows who they are.
Pastorius says: no slogans, no ads, etc. was about THE TEA PARTY RALLY.
2 million people just showed up. No central idea, no slogans, no ads, no charismatic figure around whom to rally. They just showed up.
That shows there is tremendous will for change. Tremendous will.
When I said you don't seem to see history staring you in the face, what I mean is you don't understand the magnitude of what happened on Saturday.
That's a story almost like MLK or the Berlin Wall, or at least it looks like the beginning of such a story.
Several things to consider here, especially about the money.
First, we wipe out their salaries. This is for people who want to serve. Pay their living expenses and limited portion of wages lost while in D.C. but otherwise this is a non-paid non-profit position. And no more damn junkets. Or lifetime pensions for serving one term (or any for that matter). Think of the money just saved and it will help insure only people who really want to help will run.
Secondly,as for the testing, it does not need ot be, and probably shoudn't be, administered at the federal level.
Have a federal standard test set up for across the board but then let it be given and scored at a congressional district or state locale. Just like a Civil Service test.
I mean for Pity's sake you have to past a goddamn Federal test to deliver the mail but no test at all to run the damn country? What the hell kind of sense does that make???
By the way, AoW, I agree. I keep a copy of the Declaration of Independence on my cublice wall and a book version of the Constitution on my desk.
Or I did when I was still gainfully employed. . .
(grr. . .sonsabitches. . .)
Damien said...
As for the claim that there were no publicity or ads, for the 9/12 rally, remember this?
Just Who Is A Terrorist?
Its a video that I first told you guys about, before the rally, if its not an ad for the 9/12 rally, I don't know what would be.
Pastorius says: Where did that ad run, Damien? On a few blogs?
You aren't getting it.
ABC runs an hourlong informercial for Obamacare. CNN, MSNBC, NBC, CBS, ABC are all 24 hour a day commercials for Obama's ideas.
The Million Man March was extensively covered in the press for months prior to the event.
Every major political rally in history has been heavily promoted, with the exception of rallies which were epoch-making, like the rallies in Poland in the leadup to the fall of the Soviet Union. Those were organized, but not promoted. They were just people fed up.
And, that is what you are seeing here.
Do you agree that that is historic?
Pastorius,
midnight rider,
Always On Watch,
I know how you guys feel, and in many ways, I feel the same way. But I don't think that you are being realistic.
Damien said...
Also there were publicity, ads and slogans for this rally. Otherwise it wouldn't have been "THE LARGEST POLITICAL RALLY IN THE HISTORY OF THE US."
Pastorius says: Are you joking?
Do you know who came up with the phrase "THE LARGEST POLITICAL RALLY IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES"?
Me.
That's it. Just me. No one else is using those words.
You are certainly not hearing it on the MSM news.
Do you know why it was the largest political rally in history? Do you know how I proved it? Did you read my post?
Do you know what the second largest is?
No one else knows this stuff, because only I wrote it.
If you read what I wrote, you'd know.
Pastorius,
Do I think this is historic? It may well be, but what who has the time and resources to be able to do what you want to do here?
The word has not actually gotten out yet that it was the largest political rally in the history of the US.
Only 1500-2000 people read this blog a day. I also write for AB. It has about the same circ as this one.
So maybe 4000 people read what I write.
No one knows ... yet.
It'll get out eventually. Because it's the truth.
Pastorius,
I read what you wrote, so what?
I'm not trying to be a downer, but you shouldn't let this go to your head.
I am coming to the conclusion that Damien is joking. He's gotta be.
Either that, or he wouldn't understand history if the Berlin Wall fell on his head.
Damien -- ya gotta think big to get big things accomplished.
Every movement starts small. Some grow, some not.
But what if Sam Adams had been told not to let it go to his head? What if Hancock had been told to stick to smuggling?
Pastorius,
Midnight Rider,
I am not joking and I know what happened with the Berlin wall. I know about how people were risking there lives to get over it, and when they had the chance, the made the East German government collapse.
I know that every major movement starts small. The founding fathers had the means to accomplish there goals. They had money, and resources and obviously they had the time. But we have to start somewhere that is practical. Do you really think we have the resources to overthrow both the entire congress and the president?
By the way, I'm also aware of the role Ronald Reagan and others played in the fall of that barrier imprisoning the people of East Germany.
FREAKIN' BRILLIANT!!
Sorry - I just had to say it again.
What a fan-freaking-tabulous idea.
Organic, just like the Tea Parties. And just as refreshing as a nice tall glass of iced tea!
Ro
PS - Pasto, I think the problem is just youth.
Where do resources come from, Damien?
What is our most valuable resource?
Apparently, you think the two million people who showed up represent just two million people. Just two million hotheads out there complaining. Doesn't represent much of anything.
Of course, it has never happened before in the history of the United States, but hey, that's no big deal.
Damien says: Two million? (sniff)
Ro,
I think you're right.
I remember being the same way when the demonstrations happened in Poland. I knew something was going on, but I was, like, "Hey, let's go out tonight."
And, I was driving to work when I heard the Berlin Wall fell, and I thought, "Oh, that's pretty cool."
I was 26 when the Berlin Wall fell.
Basically, it did fall on my head, and I said, "Wow, look at that."
A friend of mine, who had a keener sense of history and lived in Amsterdam actually went out and chipped of piece of the Berlin Wall for me, and brought it to me the next time I saw him.
It had graffitti on it.
I lost it.
Shows you what my mindset was when I was 26.
"Far better it is to dare mighty things, than to take rank with those poor timid spirits who know neither victory nor defeat"
Theodore Roosevelt
Damien is, of course, light years ahead of where I was at 26, or he wouldn't even bother reading blogs at all.
Pastorius -- I was 27 or 28. My dad called me told me to turn on the tv. I sat glued to the set for hours.
Midnight Rider,
I like that quote, but the thing is, we have already seen the manifestation of a mighty thing.
That's a huge political will. Someone just has to harness it. And work towards a goal.
MR,
You were light years ahead of me too. I was a leftie. I was fixated on Iran/Contra at the time.
And, my hot actress girlfriend, and the LA Dodgers.
Oh yea, and my rock band and recording an album.
A little O/T, but do you think we or our kids will ever have the luxury of just baseball, rock and roll and romance again?
I suspect not. But I could be wrong.
Ro
We lived charmed lives, those of us who grew up 1975-2000
Pastorius,
You wrote,
--------------------------------------------------------------
Apparently, you think the two million people who showed up represent just two million people. Just two million hotheads out there complaining. Doesn't represent much of anything.
Of course, it has never happened before in the history of the United States, but hey, that's no big deal.
Damien says: Two million? (sniff)
--------------------------------------------------------------
It may be a big deal, and yes, I think we can safely assume that there were other people who thought like them, but either didn't want to or couldn't show up for some reason. But the long range consequences of putting someone into office that you know little about could be catastrophic, far more catastrophic than just going to a political rally demanding change.
Would you vote for any of the people at the 9/12 rally, that you do not know, if you the only thing you knew about them was that they showed up for that rally?
To launch a successful political campaign, you need money and you need lots of money. That means that unless you are fabulously wealthy, you will have to rely on contributors. Any candidate has to run ads, just so people will know about them, and have an idea as to what their policies would be. Also about that constitutional test that you recommend that all these people take. Some one would let people know about it, and have to alert people as to which people running for office took the test and past. Also at least one person out there would be bound to attack the test as inaccurate, and even if he knew nothing about the constitution, he could make it sound like he did to the ignorant. If these were all third party, or no party candidates, people from both major political parties might attack the legitimacy of the constitutional test. So someone would have to spend time and money supporting the candidates campaigns and also defending this test you came up with.
Getting people to attend a rally and put their support behind a candidate are two different things. Plus the 9.12 candidates would have to convince a majority of Americas that they were trust worth and that the websites supporting them and their movement was trust worthy. Otherwise, why not just take your chances with one of the two major political parties since everyone has at least a good idea what they stand for?
Damien,
You said: the long range consequences of putting someone into office that you know little about could be catastrophic, far more catastrophic than just going to a political rally demanding change.
I say: More catastrophic than what is already happening?
Van Jones!
If some of the people we vote into Congress and the Senate are bad apples, then, of course, we vote them out.
You asked: Would you vote for any of the people at the 9/12 rally, that you do not know, if you the only thing you knew about them was that they showed up for that rally?
I say: No, and that is CERTAINLY NOT what I suggested.
You said: To launch a successful political campaign, you need money and you need lots of money.
I say: That is true, as things stand now. It is certainly not the way things were planned. And, it is certainly not good for our Republic.
And, once again, you have not answered the questions I have posed to you?
2 million people represents money, and they represent just a shadow of the people who feel the same way.
And, here's a question, what is our greatest natural resource in America? Please answer the question this time, Damien.
As for all the rest of what you are saying, it is practical stuff, but I think you are missing the bigger picture, and that is that you are witnessing the manifestation of something that is unprecedented in the history of the US.
Do you understand how powerful people become powerful, Damien?
They understand how to harness the power of the will of the people.
Many do it through manipulation.
This crowd is showing they are done with manipulation. They are demanding their will be done.
If Candidates will listen to them (represent them - after all they are supposed to be the Representatives of the people), then they will have the means to win.
You think I am being impractical.
I think you can't see the forest through the trees.
Let's just agree to disagree and be done with it.
Damien,
You said: Plus the 9.12 candidates would have to convince a majority of Americas ...
I say: http://ibloga.blogspot.com/2009/09/57-would-swap-out-all-incumbents-and.html
Again, you are not responding to the questions I put to you. Nor are you responding to the evidence I am giving you.
Pastorius,
People maybe the greatest resource but only if you can convince large numbers of them to do something and that is often easier said than done.
I'm aware that what is going on now maybe historic. Its wonderful that we have all those people marching against the status quo. But what you want would be even more so. Its not easy to make history turn on a dime and it almost never happens. Remember that Obama lost despite the work of the Infidel Bloggers Alliance, and about a dozen other anti Obama web sites and despite the fact that McCain spent a huge amount of money on his campaign. It was not enough to keep Obama out of the white house
I'm sorry, if you don't like what I have to say, this is the way I see it, and you have failed to provide anything that convinces me otherwise.
We may have to agree to disagree on this. I just hope not supporting a viable alternative isn't one of the factors leading to four more years of Obama and a democratic congress. If you think they are bad now, they might be even worse if most of them get reelected and the democratic majority actually increases in one or both houses of congress. Than they will really be emboldened. Keep in mind that although the November 2010 elections are only a little more than a year awhile, a lot can happen between now and then. We won't know which party has a majority of seats in the post 2010 election congress, until after the election.
You said: Obama lost despite the work of the Infidel Bloggers Alliance, and about a dozen other anti Obama web sites and despite the fact that McCain spent a huge amount of money on his campaign. It was not enough to keep Obama out of the white house ...
I say: Yeah, that's because we web sites are nothing compared to what you saw in Washington DC this weekend.
But, that's where you and I disagree.
You seem to think someone told those people to show up.
I say it was a spontaneous meeting of the minds. A historic synchronicity.
Tens of millions of people are watching what is happening and saying this is not America.
When a Congressman receives an email, he knows that represents a certain amount of votes.
When he receives a letter, it represents even more votes.
When 2 million people drive and fly and take buses and trains across the country to protest in the streets of Washington DC, that represents even more votes.
Pastorius,
Well I would love it if you were proven right and I was proven wrong, here, and we end up with a bunch of really good constitution respecting congressmen for a change.
But I wouldn't get my hopes up.
Most of the people at the rally, I know nothing about, other than the fact that they appeared at that rally. So you can see why I might be a bit worried about supporting any of them. Plus I'm the only one in my immediate family that spends any time on this site. Also as far as I know non of my other relatives spend on time here. I don't even think I have any friends who read the Infidel Bloggers alliance although I have tried to convince a few of them to.
Damien -- it wouldn't necessarily be someone we didn't know. Pastorius suggests grabbing people from the Tea PArty, but I think his larger point is getting people who care and give a shit and by supporting the Tea Party idea -- whether they could attend or not -- they are demonstrating a basic understanding of American History and civics. THESE are the kind of people we need in office. Whether they marched on Saturday or not.
So we pull them still from Congressional Districts so they still represent those they live and work with. But they need to show they understand what they are getting into.
Not that someone from Ca. would represent someone from Pa. simply because Ca. was in D.C. and Pa. was not. But they need to show they care more about the people they serve than in serving themselves.
Pastorius is right. 1.5 - 2 million people cannot be ignored no matter how the media tries. Tehy'll go home and tell two friends who'll tell two friends etc.
And don't kid yourself. The MSM may be spewing their spin but Congress was there, the President saw it as well. They saw the truth with their own lying eyes. If you think this hasn't gien them a moment pause you're mistaken.
2010 is only 4 months away.
Ro -- re: o/t
Sadly, you're correct.
That died 9/11/01.
People like you and I and Pastorius are the end of the boomers. Our kids are the 9/11 generation.
Midnight Rider,
Believe me, I never said that all those people should be ignored, but what you guys are suggesting would be extremely hard none the less, and that's to say the very least.
Damien -- See, to me, hard is your dad breathing his death rattle in your ear and forever living with those dreams. Hard is watching your oldest daughter drive off to move 5,000 miles away to live in some Alaskan backwater and not letting her see how much it hurts. Hard is fighting this counter jihad, looking at and reading about what we do every day.
This ain't hard. It's a challenge. A challenge to make America better than what the lazyass self serving career politicians have allowed it to become. It's a challenge, and could be a real hoot, to watch the sonsabitches squirm.
Yep, I'm with Midnight Rider on this.
We have some hope here.
This is a challenge. We are beginning to see some light.
I just thought of another problem Damien might have with this Tea Party Rally, and I wouldn't blame him for this. If I am not mistaken, Damien is part-Jewish, as I am (my maternal Grandmother is Jewish).
Jews do not have a good historical reason to trust crowds.
Midnight Rider,
I understand. I'm not going to argue with you, that you don't work hard fighting the jihad. You probably work much harder than I do.
I trust American crowds, however. I feel safe, even in cowboy crowds, Latino crowds, black crowds, whatever.
Even that crowd Sasha Baron Cohen drew in Arizona, singing "Throw the Jew Down the Well", they knew it was a fucking joke.
The mistake foreigners make is they do not understand American humor.
We take almost nothing seriously.
That's because, as Americans, we believe we the people are above everything.
So, whether or not that is one of Damien's objections to trusting that this crowd represents tens of millions of Americans, or not, I think it does, and I think it is a good thing.
I'm sorry, let me correct that, my Paternal Grandmother is Jewish.
That means, technically speaking, I am not a Jew.
And, I was raised Lutheran.
And, I was baptised in a Protestant Baptist-oriented Church, just to be clear.
Pastorius,
Actually its my step grandfather who is Jewish. But that means that I still have experience with a Jewish relative, except he's not very religious, he doesn't even follow the dietary laws. Although he's Jewish enough that he would have had to flee Germany if he were there when the Nazis came to power.
Ironically I'm also part German and part Italian, now all I have to do is marry a Japanese woman and our kids will have the axis powers!
- : )
I feel bad about making all these mistakes and having to correct them. I've got to get rid of this bad habit. I think its largely because I'm often in a hurry when I post here.
Damien -
What mistakes ?
:)
Damien,
I understand what you mean about being realistic.
I say: It's time to change the reality.
That's been done before in America. I fail to see why reality can't be changed again -- back to something more in line with our founding principles.
Now, getting the word out of a new reality remains a conundrum. However, I say: That's been done before, too.
An uphill slog? Sure. But not impossible.
Hell, if it IS impossible, we should be getting ready to kiss America goodbye.
2010
Just focus
Let's go back to the state houses selecting the Senators for the state and randomly draw names to serve for two yrs in the House. No lawyers allowed. We have the "best and brightest" up there now and look where its gotten us. Exactly how much worse could it be? If you know right from wrong and understand the Constitution (which isn't rocket surgery), running the US isn't that difficult. It'll pretty much run on 'auto' if left alone.
"best and brightest"
No you don't ..you have the people with the best aptitude to raise money for the next election for themselves and others they agree with (or others who will help them)
Epa,
You said: you have the people with the best aptitude to raise money for the next election for themselves and others they agree with
I say: You are right about this, and of course this is much of Damien's point.
My answer is
1) 2 million people at a march says there is tremendous human political will which is, at the moment, unharnessed
2) where there is tremendous human political will, there is money
3) we live in a time where money is becoming less and less an important part of mass-communication - kids are making their own movies, kids are producing their own music, all with the benefit of just a thousand or two bucks invested in cameras, equipment, and software.
To say something new can't be done in communications in this age is like telling the Wright bros. they'd never fly.
midnight rider,
Thanks for getting rid of my mistakes!
Pasto ..to quote Cher Horowitz ..
"as if" ..
Whatever we raise they will raise more.
It is not the people who march and contribute who will determine, it is the people at home who can be convinced.
That can be viral videos all right.
And it can be door to door, with videos of putzes like Mark Lloyd saying the 1st amendment is not as important as localism and diversity .. in 30 second bites.
'Hi my name xxxx, I am here supporting the 1st amendment, do you believe in the first amendment and freedom of speech and religion Mr network tv watcher?'
'You do, that wonderful, did you know there are people in govt who don't?'
PLAYS VIDEO
There you go, that is a piece of constructive criticism/commentary.
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