I am finished with establishment politics.

[F4lconF16]

(Quick note to jury: this will undoubtedly be alerted on. This is a respectful post on why I am no longer supporting our societal structure. I will not advocate for my position--I'll simply explain why I feel the way I do. It will be my last post on the subject. Please read before voting to hide. Also, I don't mention or attack any other posters here, so please don't hide for that reason either.)

I have tried my best to get along. I have listened to those who propose to change our current system without immediate and radical transformation. I have genuinely appreciated the arguments against what I generally support. In all honesty, I've been often convinced of both at one time or another as I hear new ideas and understand new perspectives. But every time I've rejected radical transformation, something like this article comes along (see the bottom of this post for why it was complete crap).

This is exactly what I have to expect when I work with the establishment. This is what happens, every damn time. Every year for centuries the people--the real, vast, multitudes of people, not the lies in our history books--have continued to be thrown bones and spat upon. We are worn down and fought in every aspect of our lives.

We talk of supreme court decisions and we are celebratory when they are on our side. It truly is a thing to celebrate, too, for the rights won have been hard-fought, and are yet another re-affirmation of our humanity. But we refuse to recognize that we live in a society where 9 nakedly partisan "judges", put into place for life by a collection of corrupt legislators explicitly influenced by the enormous amounts of wealth and power moving about, and basing their decisions on a document drawn by the extremely wealthy elite of the colonial era (pretending it has any relevance at all--seriously, any document with slavery encoded in it isn't worth toilet paper to me in 2015) determine who gets apportioned what rights, and when, and how. They can take things away just as easily as they give them. What a bunch of crap.

I decide. We decide. We seek to understand, and we love. What would people have said if Kennedy voted the other way? I am done with the whole thing. We shouldn't be "granting" people their rights. We should be living in a world that in every way emphasizes our humanity. And we don't. This isn't even going into everything else that's wrong with this world. It's upside-down, and it's hurting people. One hell of a lot of people, right fucking now. They can't wait. None of us can really wait. I've only got one life, one chance to experience the wonder that is my perspective in the universe. It's not bad yet, but it could be quite easily.

And it's headed that way. Our government is less than useless at protecting the people--indeed, the state is so thoroughly corrupt that it has always been against the people. But what can we expect from a system designed by the elites of the late 1700s? Our government didn't even let women vote. Even 190 years after this nation was founded, we're still destroying people: how many blacks are in our prisons right now? How many different laws are there to attack the poor? Our police departments are now shock troops that flashbang infants. Our environmental protections are non-existent (oh, and the leading establishment member just decided to open up the Arctic to drilling despite a likely and disastrous failure). Women's rights are being attacked constantly from all angles. Trans-people can't get the health care they need. Our mental health system is next to useless if you're lucky, and terrible if you're not. People are dying constantly because they don't have enough money to survive. We're bombing children in other countries and we literally don't know how many we kill. We spend trillions on our military, and I can't go to school because I can't afford a $10,000 a quarter tuition (even in-state tuition is too much for me, and I work full time with a $13 wage). Our education system is in shambles. Worker's rights are being not just eroded, but torched. Giant food conglomerates control everything we eat--we don't even know what's in it, most of the time. The people are under ceaseless assault from every angle of their lives. Is it any wonder that our world is so screwed up?

I'm done with all of that, and that includes the party that has has been championing the whole thing since the early 1800s. Sure, they've made some changes, some for the better, some for the worse, but by and large, they have endorsed and continue to endorse everything I've mentioned above, and more. I used to support it, but as my politics have changed, I have realized that they haven't and never will support the things that I do.

Things are relatively small right now. Ferguson was the beginning of another escalation, though. Cracks are beginning to show. People can take so many tiny humiliations, but so much theft of life and limb doesn't leave much to go on. Baltimore was kept quiet by the news. It's everywhere, though. In big, spray-painted graffiti art, too. Prominent places in rather large spaces.

We're not burning our cities down, yet. But Black Lives Matter (and many others) has raised questions about wealth and inequality that are not going away. We need a total change. One that recognizes the full equality of all people, in all respects. This means schools in minority neighborhoods, money in infrastructure, healthcare with full access to reproductive services, including gender-reassignment therapy, full mental health care and addiction care with the best modern techniques--every level of our society must be changed. Because right now, honestly, we live in a seriously fucked up world.

At least 9 or 10 people I have met in the last 6 months, all fairly normal people, would be okay with a revolution. That's a pretty good chunk of the people I know. Not to mention the surprisingly large numbers of declared leftists, and get this--a recent poll sent to me by my conservative, democratic elite relative showed that almost half of Americans would elect a socialist. That's nuts. A conservatively biased Gallup poll, by the way.

Let's hope we can change this system fast, or instead of tumbling into the next stage of civilization, we will be crashing to a halt. The world is changing, fast. The faster we change, the less painful it will be.

I don't know what the solution is. But I refuse to give in to the fear that it could be worse than the hell so many are living right now. It's going to need to be a coalition of the left, a true commitment to a total overhaul of the way we build our society, a revolution in every part of our lives. It's going to be a mixture of a departure from capitalism and an opening in our hearts to all things and perspectives. I have no idea if it's even possible to do. I think it could be, though. The right time, the right place, the right technology, the right people. But it will never happen without the whole of us deciding to truly change our world, and enter a new era, and I am committing to that, now. I have been, and I will continue to be.

Never give up, never give in. Struggle until you've got nothing left. We can change this place, and we will.

-F4lconF16


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


That article is beyond insulting to the huge numbers of leftist activists out there. They live their lives with a fire that does not go out, and are some of the most compassionate people I know. Most have come to their views after years and years of study, learning, and action. That article is exactly what I have come to expect from the establishment, and a clear insight into their views. This piece pretends to be a thoughtful and humorous article. It seems to come from someone who's been fighting alongside us. But it's not. It's an all out attack on any and all leftists. It's fucking disgusting.

And worst? The author has the gall to say this:

Can you imagine how far the civil rights movement would have gotten, had it been run entirely by complainers for whom nothing was ever good enough?

That was EXACTLY what the civil rights movement was. A bunch of complainers who wouldn't shut up, who wouldn't accept a deal, wouldn't compromise, wouldn't accept anything less than the recognizance of their full humanity, who wouldn't SIT DOWN on the back of the bus one more time in the hopes things could be changed in the future. And MLK was a hard leftist, but I know history's hard for some.

I didn't like this much, either:

You don't have to participate in this system, but you do have to describe it and its complexities and contradictions accurately, and you do have to understand that when you choose not to participate, it better be for reasons more interesting than the cultivation of your own moral superiority, which is so often also the cultivation of recreational bitterness.

And why does the author think we don't? We're leftists cause that was the easy decision to make? You don't think we've all thought about this quite a bit? Funny, but you don't go leftwards when you stop thinking. What a bunch of crap.

This article is exactly the type of article that many religious people use to attack atheists (as I'm sure some of you realized): set up a straw man atheist (who won't listen to his "allies", who won't shut up when things aren't right), make them out to be unthinking, unlistening, overcritical, mean, terrible people, and then attack the hell out of it. Then yell "I didn't mean all atheists, just the bad ones!" and pretend you didn't mean all of them. No one writes with that much bile unless they mean what they said. If this author was sincere, she'd know why they might not support the establishment. She'd be open, empathetic, understanding--everything she accuses them of not being. But instead she's decided to attack them. It's pathetic.


----


One last note, to anyone who wants to know: I will not be participating in political threads any longer, but I do hope to stick around in the other forums. This is a great place; my politics just don't match up with those here any more.

Edits for some spelling/typo errors.

[cantbeserious]

1. One Suspects That More Agree With You Than Disagree

eom

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

14. "History has tried to teach us that we can't have good government under politicians.

"History has tried to teach us that we can't have good government under politicians. Now, to go and stick one at the very head of government couldn't be wise." Mark Twain

[LWolf]

2. Your politics

are not as poorly matched with some as you think. And I agree with you completely when it comes to the article.

If I don't see you in any of those other forums, it's been good.

[daleanime]

3. I understand....

but hope you will still feel free to raise your voice occasionally.

[Bigmack]

4. Thank you

for your thoughtful post. Ms. Bigmack

[Nuclear Unicorn]

5. Come on in. The water is fine.

Feel free to bring a friend or two.

[Le Taz Hot]

6. Take a break for awhile if you must,

but come back, join the Bernie team and FIGHT! We need all the feet on the ground we can muster if we're going to defeat both the Republicans and the Republican lites (read Centrist "Democrats).

[F4lconF16]

39. I think you may want to reread my post.

I'm not fighting the Republicans--I'm fighting the whole system. Whether that means supporting Sanders, I have yet to decide.

[Le Taz Hot]

41. I'm watching him in Wisconsin on a live stream as we speak.

When you get a chance, watch it and tell me what he's saying isn't revolutionary.

[F4lconF16]

62. Not explicitly.

And unfortunately, explicitly is what we need. We're almost out of time, if we haven't run out already.

Believe me, I want to support him. I get the strong feeling I will, because he has the chance to mobilize a huge number of people. He speaks my language, and he's addressing the real problems in our society. I have quite a few reservations about him, like the MIC, Israel-Palestine, the war on drugs, etc., but he is a huge step forward.

Bernie is one of a very few exceptions that I might make: he's been the activist, the socialist, that person his entire life. That's extremely rare. He is one of the few people I might trust to actually swing left.

Here's the thing, though: if I do support him, I expect him to swing left as soon as he is elected. He needs to explicitly advocate for change. He needs not to just suggest abandoning capitalism (and other changes), but to be fully advocating for it. He needs to begin the process of transformation, the establishment be damned. That is what a politician needs to do to garner my support. Anything less, and he will be forced back into the system almost immediately, like many leftwing Democrats have in the past.

I expect I will be sorely disappointed. I expect him to lose in the primaries (though don't get me wrong, I hope he wins!). I expect, if he is elected, that he will simply be a liberal Democrat. And I can't support that anymore. But I'm willing to take one last shot with him. I'm just not convinced yet. Too much history says otherwise.

American politics is not friendly to people like me.

[Le Taz Hot]

80. You have to make up your own mind, of course,

but I've been into politics since 1968 and, other than Bobby Kennedy, I've NEVER seen anyone as left as Sanders. You say you're worried about him turning to the Center as soon as he's elected but Bernie Sanders has always been a leftie and he didn't go Right when he was elected mayor, he didn't go Right when he was elected to Congress and he didn't go Right when he was elected to the Senate. Why in the world would he go Right if he's elected president?

I'm sorry you expect him to lose in the primaries but I have every hope that he will win BUT he'll have to have our help. The DNC juggernaut is coming and it's coming at him hard. I've seen what it can do, ala Dean. The power these guys have is unimaginable and right now they're running scared so they're going to double down to tactics we can't even begin to imagine. That's why we'll need such an overwhelming force in volunteers and feet on the ground. Hillary is supposed to report that she's raised $45 million in the first quarter. Bernie's raised $9 million, which is pretty impressive but can't compare to the Wall Street bucks that Hillary is raising. That's why we need everyone, EVERYONE, to get out and work for this campaign because this may be the last real shot we have to defeat the corporate Democrats and gain back our Democracy.

And if the Democrats are successful in defeating Bernie I'll be fighting right along side you because if Bernie loses there is no other choice than what you're talking about and I'll be right there with you.

Do me a favor, F4, and go into the Bernie group and check out the activism in there. I think you'll like what you see.

[glinda]

87. I get it. And yes...we are almost out of time.

That is why I have, with no reservation, thrown my hat into Bernie's ring and with that also the hope that an army of people will be assembled to throw out/vote out those in power that have made it impossible for change to happen now. For it to work...it has to all happen and as depressed as I get (about the environment-to tears-, Oligarchy control, etc.....) the only hope I see right now are the voices rising about this at events, online, etc....it makes my head spin how many people are working to this end right now. Especially the young people. I am amazed and for this reason it gives me hope.
It seems bigger than us and at times hopeless.....but I am giving donations like I have never before....I see a small thread of hope.

[Admiral Loinpresser]

57. I believe I understand your frustration.

There are times I have felt complete hopelessness about our chances of survival as a species over the next century or so. All I can say is that Bernie is really kindling my desire to fight. And now I have a place to go where a growing number of people are going. And I have a chance to influence this movement locally. I hope you will find a place to fight again for something, whenever you are ready. You and I are probably at a different place on the wheel right now. But you are not alone.

[F4lconF16]

64. Oh, I'm quite positive it's hopeless!

Climate change is going to hit us like a freight train, and I will be shocked if humanity makes it through that without mass die-offs.

All I can say is that Bernie is really kindling my desire to fight. And now I have a place to go where a growing number of people are going. And I have a chance to influence this movement locally.

I'm glad for you. I'm not convinced I should support him yet, but I want to. I think there's a huge chance for leftist activists like myself to pull the new movement in a revolutionary direction. History just tells me that supporting the system through the Democratic Party is pretty much the surest way to kill any chance of a real revolution happening. I'm not positive Sanders is the exception yet. But there's a glimmer of hope for me there.

As for this:

I hope you will find a place to fight again for something, whenever you are ready.

There's always somewhere to fight! I'm not giving up in the slightest--fighting all that much harder is more like it. The world will never be short of issues we can all help out with.

[Locrian]

82. I think I know where you're coming from...

>>>Climate change is going to hit us like a freight train, and I will be shocked if humanity makes it through that without mass die-offs.

We have a miniscule chance in the best scenario. And the game of "same-old same-old" is going to delay any chance of actually starting to work together to mitigate the massive effects we are going to see.

I think the rubber band is stretching with more and more people getting fed up, and realizing we're in trouble. And the more energy stores up, the bigger the SNAP when all hell breaks. The good thing may be that it changes things for the better. But one things for sure - it's going to get a lot worse before it gets better. And do we have time to waste with "baby steps" before it's too late???

[Admiral Loinpresser]

93. Good on ya! n/t

[TBF]

7. Stop by the socilialist group

occasionally if you feel like it. I'm donating to Bernie because I think he is our last shot. If they push him out I'm done too. I think there are MANY people who already feel that they have been left behind. Take care of yourself.

[F4lconF16]

40. I have yet to decide if I will support him.

I would support him in a heartbeat had he decided to run as an independent. Running as a Democrat makes it a lot more interesting. Maybe I'll swing by and make a post about it there.

Thanks

[TBF]

86. Yup, I understand

as someone who is more revolutionary (and decidedly anti-capitalism at heart) I understand your view. Mostly I think of the people who completely depend on the government (disabled, elderly etc) when I go to vote - in the interest of them not being completely cut off at the knees. Usually it's democrats who are able to at least keep a shell of a safety net running. But your analysis is spot on and I'll respect your decision either way.

[Nite Owl]

55. I'm feeling that way too.

It's now or never. We're sitting right on the edge.

[pablo_marmol]

56. You've expressed my angst, as has the OP.

Warm regards for all.

[ismnotwasm]

8. I've often got the impression you were for a wide systemic change

One that can't be accomplished without revolution. Although I don't follow that path I wish you luck, I'm glad you are staying around, because to you are pretty smart, and have a life of activism ahead of you

[F4lconF16]

42. Thanks Ism.

Your words are appreciated You're one of the ones that got me started on all of this, anyways.

[BrotherIvan]

9. Righteous

You have the right to speak your ideas and thoughts just as anyone else here does. I really hope this is not hidden by a jury or parsed by the arbiters of "what is allowed on DU." Being for the vulnerable and oppressed may not be in fashion around here, but it damn well should be.

[PowerToThePeople]

10. Proud of you standing for what you believe in.

I wish your future well.

[jalan48]

11. This sentiment will become more pronounced if Hillary wins the primary.

For a lot of us Bernie supporters it will be difficult, and impossible for some, to go back to the "she's better than the alternative" rationale that we have had to put up with for decades. For example, the problems facing our environment can't be solved with this endless, lesser of two evils approach.

[F4lconF16]

44. I will be interested to see what happens, if and when it does come to pass.

I have a feeling there are more of us out there than most realize.

[Dont call me Shirley]

12. Peace. Love. Care. Community. Creativity. Inclusion. Justice. That's what the Left is.

Love your rant, F4lconF16

[F4lconF16]

45. Damn straight.

Thanks

[rwsanders]

13. Chris Hedges agrees

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/our_invisible_revolution_20131028

[JEB]

17. Excellent link. Thanks for sharing. eom

[F4lconF16]

46. That right there nails pretty much everything I believe in.

Bookmarked for future reference--thank you!

[JEB]

15. I hear ya. Stay cool.

[geek tragedy]

16. removing oneself from the political process is giving up and giving in

by themselves, the leftists in this country are just too few and far between to change anything

it requires reaching out to and working with people with whom they generally don't agree

it is not the case that if the left just stops accepting compromise and flawed institutions that the country will start changing for the better.

if people want to shrug their shoulders, that's fine, but that's not the path to victory, that's admitting defeat.

[jeff47]

22. Yes, with turnout in the 30-40% range they totally couldn't change anything.

Gotta stick with the centrist plan that brought us that turnout result. Damn lazy voters, don't they know they have to do what we want?

[geek tragedy]

23. I said "by themselves"

Voting is participating in the same political process the OP has declared worthless and not worthy of participation, i.e. voting, running for office, supporting candidates, etc.

Leftists can and do make a difference, but they do so by working with and seeking to persuade the heathen masses rather than just sticking to institutions and candidates that meet leftwing purity tests.

[F4lconF16]

47. I was going to respond to you, and address your questions.

But that was a really nasty little comment/picture you edited out there. Wish I had screenshotted it--I tried, but my phone failed. You're not worth playing this game with, and exactly why I'm really tiring of this site. Bye.

[geek tragedy]

52. Toodles! nt

[jeff47]

58. To see the edit history, click on the "permalink" link at the bottom of the post.

Then scroll all the way to the bottom. It'll show all the edits.

Here's the edit of geek_tragedy's post you were referring to:

Voting is participating in the same political process the OP has declared worthless and not worthy of participation, i.e. voting, running for office, supporting candidates, etc.

Leftists can and do make a difference, but they do so by working with and seeking to persuade the heathen masses rather than just sticking to institutions and candidates that meet leftwing purity tests.

The OP is essentially saying that these folks are part of the problem:



Because they are helping perpetuate the game, blah blah blah.

[F4lconF16]

61. Thanks. Yuck. nt

[Aerows]

78. That was an assholish thing to say.

We aren't even a quarter through the primaries and I'm already sick of several people I normally agree with.

[bigwillq]

18. That's fine. Just don't take this place too seriously.

If your politics don't match up anymore, I am sure there's other places for you to post.

But, stick around and try to enjoy your experience here. I've always enjoyed your posts.

[F4lconF16]

48. I never do.

I always tell people it's my facebook--good to chat with lots of people, and focused on the things I'm interested in, but there's a real world outside that's much more fun

Thanks

[leftstreet]

19. DURec

Please reconsider your decision to avoid political threads

Some of us have been here ages and ages but can rarely find conversations like this one. Consequently many of the people who agree with you don't check in often, or have just stopped coming at all

Excellent post

[F4lconF16]

49. I would like to post here.

But what I have to say unfortunately may get me banned at this point, and I'd like to stick around on this site.

Thank you, though.

[NRaleighLiberal]

20. FWIW...I completely agree with you.

[Fuddnik]

21. That article was worse than you said.

Complete bullshit.

[RiverNoord]

24. You are quite right - and quite wrong.

Almost everything you said is quite right. The statement 'my politics just don't match up with those here any more' is where you're wrong. It may be, however, that we/they are not so vocal as those more comfortable with playing along with the game that the 'establishment' has set up.

[hay rick]

25. Is "establishment politics" code for the Democratic Party?

If working within and for the Party is something you're leaving behind, what is your vehicle for creating change? As it stands, your post reads like a call for inaction.

[F4lconF16]

65. This is again something I said I wouldn't do in the OP.

I'll explain my views, but I won't advocate for them. If you'd like, I'd be happy to explain via PM.

I can tell you the one thing I am NOT doing is calling for inaction--rather, I'm calling for action on a level the US has simply never seen before, though we've come damn close at times.

[Unknown Beatle]

26. You just wrote the words about

how I've been feeling lately, although I will stick it out a while longer.

Great prose, F4lconF16.

[F4lconF16]

66. Thanks.

Means something to hear that.

[Punx]

27. Don't give up

Those who care and speak with integrity will be the ones people look to in the future.

[F4lconF16]

67. Did I write the post badly? (a distinct possibility, I only did a quick typo edit after writing)

Some people seem to think I'm giving up. I'm doing the opposite--I'm committing to fighting harder, just in a different direction. I do agree, though.

[Punx]

84. No

I mean't something different, Just what happens when I try to write something in 30 seconds. I'll get back to you on Friday.

[zeemike]

28. I hear ya

And I think there are more like you than you know...in fact they may well be the majority of Americans.

And sometimes I think it is deliberate...to discourage and divide us up. Because the fewer that participate the easier it is to control.

[F4lconF16]

68. It is absolutely deliberate.

Many of the major capitalists/financiers/political elite have put it quite bluntly and honestly--they're secure in their power, and really don't care who knows at this point.

Time to give them a good shaking, ya think?

[BlueJazz]

29. Most people do the best with what they think they have. You can't blame a caged animal for...

...trying to make it's life better inside the cage.

[F4lconF16]

69. I feel the same about religion.

I have no problem with the religious, but I have a major issue with religion. I advocate for atheism, just as I advocate for socialism/transformation, but I don't expect people to suddenly change. I just want my voice, and the voices of others like me, to be heard. Maybe even listened to. I've changed a few people's religious beliefs, and I've done the same for politics.

So no, I don't blame them. But I do think they're wrong. Either way, it's unrelated to this post, which is simply an explanation of my feelings on the matter.

[BlueJazz]

85. Oh..I think your post is wonderful. I didn't mean to imply that you blame people for what they "see"

What you posted just reminds me of the way people experience the world on a perception level. (My thing is Physics)
I mean, we only see and feel a tiny portion of the magnetic spectrum which is a lot like your post in the idea that a lot of people only see life on/in a limited basis. If a person is not aware that there is a whole new world out there in regard to what their eyes are experiencing, then your post on what their brain experiences regarding life/politics is fitting right in with the physics thing.

[Thespian2]

30. "Is it any wonder that our world is so screwed up?"

No. I would be very surprised if anyone thought otherwise. Thanks to many corrupt people, we have been handed a world that kills the innocent and rewards the Greedy Bastards...I don't know if America can become even more screwed up, but I'm sure the TPP will help kill even more than the innocent...

[LovingA2andMI]

31. Don't Give Up Quite Yet....

A Voice Like Yours Is Needed and Necessary....

After reading your essay, it appears your age range might be between 20-27 years old or as its called the Millennial Generation. If this is correct, you should be quite proud at your young age, you recognize "The Game" for what it is. Personally, it took myself in Generation X decades my head wrapped around EVERYTHING stated in this piece.

You're on track and correct about what's written. Believe that if nothing else.

However, if you silence your emerging voice, that is EXACTLY what the "establishment" wants. Don't let that happen to you - Free Advice!

Check your PM before leaving please --- and thank you for penning this lovely essay.

[F4lconF16]

70. Ooh, just barely made it.

I only turned 20 a month ago

And yeah, don't worry: as my friends and family like to remind me, I never shut up

[malokvale77]

32. I've always enjoyed your posts.

Please see post #19. There are many of us here who fit that description.

Whatever you decide to do, know there are many like-minded thinkers out here. Including myself, my children and my grandchildren.

[F4lconF16]

71. It's good to hear that.

The response to this was a pleasant surprise, and heartening.

I'd be happy to keep writing here, but I have a feeling I wouldn't be around long if I did. Not going to lie about how I feel on the internet--what point is there to that?

Considering starting a blog soon, though--I think I'll clean up this post, and that'll be my first post on it

Thanks, too

[malokvale77]

97. PM me...

I would love to subscribe your blog.

[leveymg]

33. Your rant is righteous. You're among friends.

[GliderGuider]

34. 100% agreement here!

[AngryAmish]

35. The US, as currently put together, will more or less be over by 2055

We had a really good run as a republic. But fir all their strengths republics die.

The us will become a series of smaller countries plus a few city-states. Virginia south to Florida, west to Louisiana. Texas OK. Appalachia. And so on. New York, San Fran as city states, with doges.

[F4lconF16]

72. I'm curious as to how you come to that conclusion.

Any particular reasoning?

[AngryAmish]

81. Different mores in different areas.

For example, as illustrated with the flag controversy, the northeast cannot stand the south and likes to humiliate her. How many calls in these pages stating Reconstruction was not cruel enough?

Republics depend on civic virtue and a rather homgeneous population. The US is very short on civic virtue and we become more diverse every day.

Nothing lasts forever and we have had our day on the sun. I just hope the nukes get secured.

[nilesobek]

36. Its a slow revolution

against the 1% working within what is known as Democracy and the realization, by the people, that the game is rigged for those with money and influence.

I really like that you're not giving up, just changing tactics. Determination and willpower have gotten me through times when my intelligence and strength were weak and my arms felt like rubber and I was forgetting things.

[Aerows]

37. This is an outstanding post.

As I said in the other thread, you smacked it out of the park.

I sincerely hope you don't stop posting here - your ideas and sentiments are what keep *MANY* of us posting here - we care more about people than party.

I think some folks forget that and get caught up in a hamster wheel of working for the party and forgetting why they joined it in the first place.

[TampaAnimusVortex]

38. Just now figuring out its pointless?

[F4lconF16]

73. Hey man, I'm 20.

I only discovered politics four years ago

Love Carlin, by the way!

[niyad]

43. k and r and bookmarking

[KingCharlemagne]

50. How would you describe your core principles? For example, two of my core principles are

1) one person, one vote

2) workers of the world unite. You have nothing to lose but your chains; you have a world to gain.

I assume in rejecting 'establishment politics' you are not renouncing your core principles.

[F4lconF16]

74. That...is a much harder question than expected.

I don't really have a core principle other than "Live life the best you can". It's different for every person.

As an atheist, all I really know is that I've got a brief time where the awareness and perspective that is me is around. I don't think that should be wasted. I may not have a point--the universe is nigh on infinite, as far as I'm concerned. But at least I can make it easier for other consciousnesses to experience the wonder of the world, and that, to be honest, makes me more happy than anything.

I'd like to believe that the rest of what I advocate for stems from that.

If you're talking political core principles, I'd have to think about it a bit more. My politics are constantly changing as I understand new ideas, and I can't say I've really settled on any yet. I've only been doing this a few years.

[raouldukelives]

88. I think Tom Paine got it right.

"The World is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion."

[KingCharlemagne]

89. Pre-figuring Eugene Debs by 125 years, eh? Thanks for the quote. Made my day, it did. - nt

[haikugal]

51. I'm with YOU!

Let's do this!!

[bravenak]

53. I'm pretty much same as you politically.

I know what you mean. I think we need to start from scratch.

[brooklynite]

54. Ciao!

I'll continue to work within the existing political system where real politicians run for office and real people vote.

[jeff47]

59. So only around 30%-ish of voters are real people? (nt)

[U4ikLefty]

63. You'll "continue to work within the existing political system" which serves the 1%.

what a surprise

[F4lconF16]

75. Cool story--you can be a socialist, and still vote!

Brooklynite:

What????? You don't say! Explain, please.

Happily!

See, there's this thing called a movement of the people. What if, every year during election time, we all decided to vote for a socialist, or ran socialist candidates? What if the 60% of people that don't vote decided to vote for a revolutionary third-party?

I'd betcha we'd have a revolution pretty quickly, and a whole lot more easily than the way we're headed, which is a violent crackdown by the state as people resist in huge numbers, but without intense purpose and coordination. I'd much prefer to work within the system to totally dismantle it. It's easier to come together as one people behind a united front when you do so. Non-violence is always preferred. Much more likely to succeed, too.

Unfortunately, people like you don't really like when we rock the boat a bit. Was this post a splash of water you just felt? Whoops!

[ChisolmTrailDem]

91. And the 1% buys candidates like they do salon tickets. nt

[brooklynite]

95. ...although my friends and I don't usually have a problem getting candidates to accept our price...

Progressive taxation, campaign finance reform, reproductive rights, criminal justice reform, infrastructure reinvestment...

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

98. Is "salon" some douchey rich people word for party or something? nt

[LostOne4Ever]

60. I think you are a great poster and I fully understand where you are coming from

I hope we continue to have positive exchanges with one and another in the other forums on this site.

Keep fighting the good fight, keep fighting for what you believe in. This country has made the progress it has because of people doing just that!

Good luck!

[F4lconF16]

76. Thanks.

Means a lot, coming from you. You're one of my favorite people here--I'm always impressed by your perspective, insight, and compassion.

[JDPriestly]

77. My understanding of your OP is that you are seeking national spiritual change

and not just economic change. Economic change would be the result if we could change people's awareness that we are all in our life together, that each of us matters to the other. Unfortunately, this understanding of our oneness, the oneness that is given to us by nature itself if lacking in most people.

But you are understanding that political discussion does not lead you to that sense of oneness.

Am I misunderstanding your post?

By spiritual, I am not necessarily speaking of religious. I am speaking more of a sense of place in the world that is not limited just to my egotistical view of things. By spiritual, I mean being able to go beyond my own interests to an awareness of what is beyond the confines of my body and experience, the ability to unite in compassion with others. It is transcending my own limits.

This sounds goofy, but many spiritual movements seek this sense of oneness with others and that is what I call spiritual. It is in Christian terms a sense of fellowship in prayer.

[F4lconF16]

79. I think you nailed it.

This is exactly what my post was about. Exactly. I'm not sure what to add--you said it better than I did.

And I always define spiritual as that which I can't express through language. Things like my psychedelic experiences, for instance. I consider myself a very spiritual person, despite being an anti-theist.

[ms liberty]

83. An excellent post, and I agree with you. .

I'm hoping you don't leave and you continue to post here. I have been reading your posts and comments since you joined; your thoughts have resonated for me, so often. We need voices like yours, but during the primary wars, DU becomes a cesspool full of quicksand...so write carefully!

[Bluenorthwest]

90. Personally this is about the best political week of my life, marriage equality, legal cannabis

these are two lifelong objectives of mine. I'm thrilled and your own raging smugness and apathy will not alter that. You dismiss and devalue the progress made and I personally think that sucks rotten eggs.

[raouldukelives]

92. If any time were the time to fight, that time is now.

I hope after a short hiatus you will return to political threads. I always appreciate hearing your viewpoints but that is generally easy because I mostly agree with them.

I, personally, haven't felt this excited about a politician, about candidate Sanders, since candidate Obama. I'm pretty confident you would be well accepted and more than welcome in the Bernie group if you aren't already.

I've been listening to Bernie speak truth to power for decades. I know how you feel. I am sure you have heard him as well.

If you haven't, please do. If you have, I expect to see you back, very soon.

Honestly, I'd like him to win just for the support and care I know our veterans would finally receive. Nothing can change overnight, but it certainly can change, and the more pushing the boulder up the hill, the lighter the load on us all.

[NightOwwl]

94. A political system that thrives on hate and discord is not my political system.

I no longer support a government that can only stay in power by dividing the country. If politicians can't respect all the people, the hell with them.

Fact: I have one life.
Fact: It is my life, and I get to choose how to live.
Fact: NO ONE is required to experience the world through the divisive eyes of our government.
Fact: No one is required to experience life through the narrow world we are shown by the American media.
Fact: We validate government corruption with our participation.
Fact: We settle for the corruption because we think the other party is worse.
Fact: There is no difference between the two parties. Don't believe me? Play the market for awhile. ALL 'news' is for manipulation purposes only.
Fact: The American people are being played - big time. Wall Street elects our President.
Fact: This country runs on emotional hysterics, not wisdom
Fact: YOU DON'T HAVE TO PLAY THEIR GAME - YOU ARE NOT OWNED BY THE GOVERNMENT - YOU ARE NOT A SLAVE TO THE GOVERNMENT.

If we buy into the whole 'it's my responsibility to shoulder all the evils of the world', we put our own issues and those of the people we care about on the back burner. Maybe time would be better spent helping organizations we personally support and concerning ourselves with those close to us - instead of wasting time and energy trying to control the uncontrollable and voting for politicians who care NOTHING about the people they claim to support.

We shouldn't be "granting" people their rights. We should be living in a world that in every way emphasizes our humanity. And we don't. This isn't even going into everything else that's wrong with this world. It's upside-down, and it's hurting people. One hell of a lot of people, right fucking now. They can't wait. None of us can really wait. I've only got one life, one chance to experience the wonder that is my perspective in the universe. It's not bad yet, but it could be quite easily.

RIGHT ON! Don't let anyone dissuade you from those thoughts - you are going sane. I feel just as you do. How the hell did we come to allow 'authority figures' to regulate sex for god's sake. To MAKE LAWS stifling our natural sex drive.
You want to know why people are suffering? They are living like caged animals, and don't even know it. And when animals are caged, the results are never pretty.

[JEB]

96. Came across this. You might like it.

http://thenextsystem.org/

[davidpdx]

99. I read your post very carefully and tried my best to skim through the article you referred to

so that I could understand the context of your post. Honestly it was hard to read without tearing my eyeballs out.

In terms of your post, I agree with you that more needs to be done outside of establishment politics because inside they are not getting enough done. With racism, income-equality, lack of access to a higher education, homelessness, violence (especially with guns), etc. Most of it feels like it is at a complete and solid standstill and I agree that is frustrating.

As someone else pointed out you are smart and young and have already figured this out. The trick is to figure out how to harness your own energy to make things better. You have a lot to give and a lifetime ahead of you. The question is how?

That's going to be one you'll have to answer for yourself.