EVERYBODY needs to write to their local paper

I am writing a letter to the editor of my local paper. I think ALL!! of you should do the same. I don't care what you say, just express outrage - but do it intelligently. Write something to make people think. You all speak (write) so well and intelligently in here. The problem is that for the most part WE in DU are all upset and outraged and agree about the generalities and how stupid people are for voting for *. Use those qualities and speak up for us, around the country, outside of DU.
I feel that I am only one person and I can't do much - but I can do this. I am certain that I can get at least 1 or 2 people to question their values and their motives, and that is better than sitting here doing nothing and whining about it.
My dad said that it would sound like I am a sore loser. Well, maybe I am and that's ok. I have every right to be a sore loser and express that outrage because my future is now in question. I don't care whose feelings I hurt; I don't care if I am hated. I am tired of sitting back and shrugging my shoulders. You should be too. Be pro-active.
I will post my editorial later this afternoon, because I have it home and I am at school. But I can at least give you the first paragraph. Keep in mind, these are rhetorical questions, and that I am speaking on behalf of people like me, like us. Oh and I am talking about Ellis County Kansas.:

I guess Americans don't want jobs. Or freedom. Or tolerance of any kind. I am at a complete loss of what to say. This country is going to fall apart thanks to the actions (or inactions) and ignorance of those who voted. I looked on CNN.com and it showed in Ellis County that Bush won: 7,683 to 3,938; or in percentages: 65% to 33%. I want to know why you didn't vote. I want to know why you didn't vote for John Kerry. When I have my financial aid taken away because of Bush's policies, are you going to pay for me to finish college? When my husband gets drafted can I point my finger and blame you? How about when when my grandparents suffer because they can't afford to live or to buy prescriptions, are you going to help them then? Or suppose my husband and I find out that we will have a baby, but with severe genetic birth defects that will leave it with no quality of life: after you take away my reproductive rights, will you be there to adopt it and to pay for the lifelong medical expenses?

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FIGHT! Take this country back one town and state at a time!
http://www.geocities.com/greenpartyvoter/electionreform.htm

Look. I have great success getting Bush supporters to "think." My secret is to accurately assess early in the converstaion what is important to them. You do this by listening.

I begin by injecting a seed of doubt into there Con talking points. I can't do this unless they respect me and see me as a friend. You have to have facts on your side. You also have to pick something, one thing, that is simple but effective. Reams of statistics will get you nowhere. Most importantly, you have to be honest and not just regurgitate conventional wisdom.

I will give you an example. I spoke with my hard core Republican neighbor the other day. I know he is a retired small business owner whose main concerns are economic. When he went off about what a liar Kerry was I ignored it. But I asked him if he felt uncomfortable about giving up our economic security to countires like China who are funding our huge trade inbalance.

He admitted he was worried about that. He started going off about the federal deficit and how it had him worried. He didn't leave as a Kerry convert, but a chink in *'s armour had been made.

Today, the dollar hit a new low against the Euro. I guarantee you that this piece of news reinforces the seeds of doubt that I planted. The next time I see him, he will bring this point up with me, not the reverse.

Change takes time. We must be smart, not angry if we wish to affect the hearts and minds. It is not going to be easy, but we must do this if we are to avoid the coming onslaught that a generation of Con government will bring.