Reply #27: Don't be disappointed in Barney [View All]

this is a dialog that is just beginning. What you are reading is just what many here have been expressing - frustration, depressions and disbelief in our situation. This is the first of many dialogs we will have I am sure. With encouragement from us (the people) he will continue to be a voice for us and if we all work together we just might be able to brainstorm some way around this thing. Always remember, BFEE and their ilk are everywhere in Washington. Admitting that he shares our feelings and questions and is asking questions of those on the ground as well as this fellow Reps is more than I have seen from others in his position.

If we keep the pressure on them, the ones that are there to be our voice and have more clout than we do at this point and support them in their efforts, we might just get somewhere.

Where ARE the people demanding transparency? Not out in the streets making our displeasure known. Not demanding that we get answers in a way that can't be denied.

We need to learn the lesson from Kerry himself. We must be visible, determined and patient. We are not going to change things in a day, a week or a month. We must do all the things that have been suggested by his fight in the 60's. We must band together and present our case to the public (and maybe it's the public of the world where our best support is right now) with facts and with conviction that this is the most important thing we have ever done or will ever do in our lifetimes.

We must be willing to be that fated student at Kent State to effect change. We must be willing not to accept the status quo nor go along to get along anymore.

The biggest problem I see is, we are in an economic box. We are tied to lives that involve responsibilities (children, homes with bills, cars, retirement funds, etc.) that have to be weighed against what we will lose if we remain silent. What we will lose is a way of life for our children and their children is we don't "bet the farm" and work our asses off now.

We must come together and share the burden of saving our nation and we must do it soon.

So, allow Barney the time to grieve as well, then tell him to get off his ass and get moving because we depend on his voice bringing others to our table too.