If we lose the election: Here is what I'm going to do --

Note, this is not a Campaign Discussion. It's not about the Campaigns of Kerry or Bush. It is a philosophically/ideological post about what I have already made up my mind to do if Bush is re-elected.

I will allow myself one week to go through the stages of grief, and then I will get over it.

I will not flee my country, though I respect the decision of any who choose to do so. It's a hard call, but I want to stay and fight.

I will not throw up my hands in despair and proclaim the end of the world as we know it, though Bush is certainly capable of bringing that to pass in four more years, it is not a certainty: there is still hope.

I WILL figure out what I have to do to become more organized in the fight for freedom and truth.

I WILL commit myself financially to supporting the institutions I believe in regularly - hopefully monthly. I will sacrifice some of my other things so that I can commit to regular investiture into the organizations I believe do the most good.

I WILL commit myself to looking for ways to get the word out, to carefully document and report on all of this administrations actions and misdeeds, to not allow the truth to fall through the cracks.

I WILL move if needs be, into a locale and community where I can participate in responsible action for progressive principles and democracy for the people.

I WILL actively resist the tyranny of the minority in power - with civil disobedience if necessary, and on the streets. I will not sit silent while evil is done in the name of America.

In short, I will not allow my spirit to be broken, even if this administration manages to steal four more years of power. I won't allow a defeat this election to defeat me. I know that our problems are far bigger than who is in the white house. And I also know that there is a huge army of public masses who, if and when they are galvanized for change, will be unstoppable. I'm not willing to surrender the fight ever - no matter how bleak it looks.

Right now there is more rhetoric in my life than there is action, as I struggle to align my life in a way where I am capable to do everything I can do for the cause of justice and democracy. But I'm fighting hard to change that. I need to leave Idaho to really do that, I believe. That takes time and money. But I'm not giving up and I'm committed to one day devoting my life to working for an organization that I believe is committed to principles I believe in, that has as its mission the betterment of the human condition. And I will continue on in that work, regardless of who is in the white house.

Sel

I'm getting to old for this and I just can't stand to be ruled by a right-wing dictator. Unless of there seems to be others willing to stand up and fight; but it don't ever see that happening in modern America. It should have happened already when the last election was stolen.

I don't see anything happening if the election is stolen again. A few will try it and be rounded up, as an example to other dissenters. One does wonder what would happen if only Republicans lived in the states. How long before they turn on one another and destroy themselves?

well you will have pretty much sealed the death of capitalism and the final chapter of Reaganism putting the bulk of the profits in the hands of the few. I agree that by staying you do only feed into this sick system of consumption.

I have already called for putting on the brakes to this spending on Chinese goods and so forth as one of the best ways to combat the insanity. GROWTH....is the downfall of capitalism....when it becomes the end all in and of itself.

I fully support the breatheren who will and have to stay for various reasons and the fact that they will fight to the last breath. I appreciate this call but I also sense in this "pre-loss" ceremony a sign of hopelessness in the sense that it will take that much more of a monumental effort to get back what we've already lost. I do in fact share similar sentiments.

But for those of us that will decide to jump ship and/or are thinking about it....appreciate the rationale there too. I can't say that I'll go with the "fight at home" strategy or the leave it strategy but let me propose that the "leave it" strategy is not so hopeless or counter American when you think about it.

The essential beast that we fight in all of this is the theory of capitalistic GROWTH as being an end all in and of itself. This coupled with a decadent business atttitude which is completely anti Total Quality initiatives and true human resource management means the middle class will be eventually reduced to a point where they only have "purchasing power".....little to no assets....just the power to work and buy.

We Americans are continuing to contribute to the insanity through our relentless spending. If we were to adopt an attitude of conservative saving and much less spending, the brakes would be put on this insanity and Bush would have had nothing whatsoever to run on this fall. It would have been perfect timing and it would have been the perfect way to say...screw you to your mantra of growth.

For those of us that do have the resources to go to Canada and spend money and perhaps retire, there is really no better way to "stop the spending". I have already figure out that I can comfortably retire in Canada. I've already spent considerable time there...I love the people....and I can spend the 10s of thousands of dollars I would have spent here over there. That's something to really ponder on in terms of getting the most "bang for your buck".

he will be impeached. He is so much like Nixon, it's scary

During Watergate, we had a DEMOCRATIC Congress, and a free press.
Now the Congress and the White House AND the Supreme Court are
solidly controlled by the GOP, and the media is almost all owned
by right-wingers.

Nothing * does gets investigated. If they have to form a commission,
it is a whitewash.

The media is totally on-board with them.

They have already done a Watergate on the Democrats, and the media
just shrugged it off as if it were nothing.

* blatantly lied about why he took us to war, and the media still loves him.

I look at it this way....Nixon routed McGovern in 72 and it was a depressing time to be a Democrat. But that didn't save his miserable ass. Should Bush steal the election again...he still has to deal with the mess that he has created and we could well see an overwhelming backlash in the Congressional elections in 2006. In some ways, it would be quite fitting for him to reap the harvest of his 4 year War on America.

I will wait and see, but have considered Europe or Canada for an extended visit.

I love my country. But it will not eat my children

:D

I'd look good with a leaf on my chest.

that bush would love to sacrafice for profit. I don't know if I could stay or not. I do not want them relive the vietnam/draft experience that I went through. How do we resist ?

from the city out to a militia-style compound in the
country somewhere to ride out the coming storm.

If Bush gets another 4, America as we know it is over.

I've made some noises in the past about leaving, but this is my home, and I will not be driven from it.

Fortunately, I'm in CA (and in spite of Arnold), things are pretty progressive here.

Both my wife and I will become very active with Democratic causes should the worst occur.

Cheers -- :toast:

I feel very much the same as you. With the exception of moving to a different place. If I was in Idaho, I would also consider moving given the poltical climate being so intense. Although I'm sure it's a heartbreak to think of leaving such a beautiful place.

What's happened here in Colorado lately gives me hope. If not for this election, then for the future. I feel that this is the place to be to help build a balance.

At 57, and since we don't have kids, I feel too old to start over again or have the incentive to leave. I left NYC at 29 to live in the west. So I've built long term commitments to my adopted state. If the worst happens, I can begin to work hard for the next Congressional election cycle. And I can fight to try to keep this state from being raped by industry.

I don't think you're being negative but rather are preparing yourself for a possibility. It's never bad to plan for all situations. I feel that it provides balance to daily living. Meantime, we fight the fight where we are with what resources we have available.