The regulars at DU know me to constantly link the issues of the day that are posted here to getting the money out of our political system. By far that has been my primary focus. I am quick to respond to one other type of post, and that is climate change. In fact my urgency is fueled by my worry over climate change and the environment.

I am very encouraged on both fronts right now as there seems to be a fast growing awareness and willingness to push these issues by both politicians and the rest of us. I know that both of these movements still have a long way to go, but they are picking up speed!

If we could make a stand before this election in November to DEMAND that the money be taken out. Demand the Constitutional Amendment to get rid of Citizens United, money = speech, and require Publicly Funded Elections for Federal, State, and Local elections, we can make the serious moves necessary to save ourselves.

As Sheldon Whitehouse says, "The oceans don't lie." They are in very poor condition already and rapidly getting worse. If the phytoplankton in the oceans start to die we all suffocate. 2/3 of our oxygen comes from these organisms. We are messing with things we haven't begun to understand and will already pay a heavy price for our hubris.

Sheldon is also right when he talks about how the rest of the world views our country, even if they don't always like our politics. If we make the serious commitment to the environment, the rest of the countries (the ones not already way ahead of us on renewable energy) will follow our lead!

Whitehouse for the Whitehouse!!!

That's what it sounded like to me…. "The power of our example" -v- the "example of our power" spoke volumes to a hungry group of progressives.

God, I hope he does run.

eom

Yep, like Mr. Whitehouse, I was also the son of a diplomat, and I know personally the positive power of our good example in the world. For example, when I lived in Bucharest Romania under the Clinton administration, the US embassy was a warm and friendly place, and the USIS library was open and inviting. Then George W. Bush came in, and overnight the US embassy was barricaded and was like a war zone - and that speaks volumes to the locals. If only the friggin' neocons could get it through their thick skulls that the constructive value of projecting a positive and uplifting national self image out into the world is much more powerful, and tons cheaper, than all the bombs, bullets and bluster that they can muster, the world would change overnight! The best diplomatic and national defense strategy that we can have is to be a dynamic force for positive, progressive change in the world! Hope, not bombs! On-boarding, not waterboarding!

I'm signing on for the write-in campaign as well: Whitehouse4Whitehouse!