We've been turned into a country of Whiners. Duer's No exception

Like many of you here, I came to this site still stunned by the coup of 2000. I remember the time distinctly because reality had suddenly seemed to become illusion. Here a blatant electoral theft was being carried out with the connivance of our corporate media while we all sat meekly glued to our televisions, mute and dumbfounded. Well not all. Some sprang into action. Marchers organized, Civil rights lawyers gathered in Chicago; evidence in hand they met with our titular leaders, geared to make a robust defense of the party of Gore and the principles of liberty, but instead of rage were met with a sigh. "Please, no impolitic confrontations... they'll only hurt the cause". Now you know who got hurt.

If it was not clear then it certainly should be now that simply showing up to vote is not going to reform a corrupted government. This is not a partisan issue. This is a national dysfunction that began in the 70's when the Democrats brought in big business and gave them a seat at the head of our political table. Clinton's telecommunications Act hastened the silence outside of the Washington echo chamber and only more patient, labored struggle will restore the people's missing voice.

Work diligently for the party as we must but PLEASE stop the whining. The public is just as fed up with our feckless leaders in BOTH our parties. If something matters to you LEAD, take the bull by the horns like Susan B and Emma and Eleanor and Fannie Lou and Rosa and Bella and Shirley and Martin and Stokely and Nelson. Get involved. Take that anger and MAKE CHANGE. Don't make a fetish of your shattered expectations. You'll only end up feeling helpless. That's what they want.

Yes, we're a nation of whiners.

whinger.

unnecessarily judgemental....:sarcasm:

If you are unaware that many people on this board are obsessed with every utterance of the corporate media then you are not a very astute observer. Make sure your recognize your true enemies.

of being do-nothing whiners.

They know nothing about how many of us work very hard as volunteer party activists, anti-war organizers, election reform advocates, and on and on.

If you knew how hard people are already working you wouldn't preach at them to get out and do something. For many people, this discussion board is a place to decompress, learn and share. It is wrong to assume that is all we do.

scolding all the rest of us... :sarcasm:

Perhaps if they spent more time DOING and less time POINTING FINGERS....?

...they'll have to make the people more progressive first. That's the way things operate in a democracy. Unfortunately for a lot of people here, that would require work. I do think there's a correlation between lack of real activism and time spent on the Internet, so this isn't a representative sample, but I do think that there's a huge amount of untapped potential here.

And I have to say, I am surprised to find myself agreeing with everything I read from you of late.

:toast:

party leadership. There is a vast amount of discontent on the street and Duers and like-minded progressives should be tapping that energy. Be aware- many potential voters are disillusioned with the Democratic party. Dean's door to door campaign is a good approach. This post was not meant to imply that Duers are complacent, far from it. Merely to say that expecting those who are invested in the current status quo to lead the charge can be self-defeating.

with a 16% turnout of registered voters :banghead:

Soooo, according to my figures, 84% in my community lost their "whining" privileges.

Hope that made sense :D

the sense of helplessness and alienation is rife! I try explaining what's possible, it just doesn't sink in.