No miracles or Knights in Shining Armor to save Democracy...

[Q]

Raining on your parade: there WON'T be a knight in shining armor to save our country from tyranny. It's up to us.

Now and then I see posts suggesting that the end to all our problems will come when someone like Kerry or Hillary or ANY Democrat is finally elected to high office. Others say that all we need in order to get our country back on track is to regain the house and senate.

But trends in American politics over the last two decades suggest something else entirely. No one person or party is in the position to stop this country's slide into fascism and the end of the great Democratic Republic experiment of representative government.

The Neoconservative / Republican plan has all along been to hold the majority for decades AND to change the very type of government that 'rules' America. They are already well on their way in establishing an oligarchy and will soon consolidate their power around nationalism and fascism. It's already apparent how they plan on keeping power: with aggressive 'righteous' wars, lying, cheating, bullying and intimidation of those who catch them at it. In other words: the tactics of Brownshirts.

Many of us thought that the Neocon, Fundie Right couldn't possibly pull off another 'win' (coup) in 2004 after being caught red-handed stealing the 2000 election. But they were able to do it again because the same fascist machinery set up in the 80s and 90s is now a permanent fixture of American politics. And there is no doubt it will be there to keep the far-right in power in 2008.

I know that some of you are thinking that it couldn't possibly happen yet again in 2008. You might be hoping that some person or group will rise up and finally put an end to this nightmare of one-party politics and a government owned media. But it can and will happen because nothing has been done to repair a badly broken and corrupt government.

Most disheartening of all is that we can't expect the Democratic party to help put an end to this nightmare because they have become part of the problem. There are just enough sellouts, enablers and collaborators in the party to give the impression of 'bipartisan' approval of many of Bush's horrible policies.

Don't be fooled into believing that the Democratic leadership is finally fighting the Bush Government because of their objections to changing the structure of Social Security. They have to fight for Social Security to keep up the facade that they're still Democrats and that a two-party system of government remains intact.

But the fact that they're still supporting and promoting Bush's 'national security state' and his concept of the war on terrorism shows that they have no intention of exposing the fraud and corruption within the very core of this government. Like the Neocons and the Fundie Right...Democrats are hiding behind the fog of war and holding themselves blameless for the unnecessary loss of life and liberty, war profiteer plundering of our treasury and the destruction of the social safety net. Democrats campaigning in 2008 will rightfully blame all of this on Bush...but they are as much to blame for not standing against him when they had so many opportunities to do so.

There will be no Knight in Shining Armor. No miracles or last minute changes in moral or ethics of either side. Our government is now operating from the fascist playbook with no real opposition and a free press that has become just another corporation looking to boost their bottom line.

The only remaining hope? The People. They must hold both parties accountable for their actions and inaction. They must think of themselves as Americans first...Democrats and Republicans second. It just might be time for the second American revolution in which we start fresh with demands for honesty, integrity and public servants honoring their oaths of office and the 'rule of law'.

[Al-CIAda]

1. Nominated

The Dem party fucking SUCKS.

[Q]

4. That's all relative...

...more important is that we must convince, no...demand...that our party FIGHT the Bush regime. No more compromises and concessions with criminals. No more illegal, unprovoked wars in the name of corporate profits and boosting political careers.

We must think as Americans...not as Democrats. We need to get rid of the 'winner takes all' mentality and do what's good for our country...not necessarily just our party.

Grassroots.

Democrats must become the party of the people again and defend them from the tyranny of this fascist government. It's our heritage and responsibility.

[madison2000]

7. great post

I think its up to all of us to do everything in our power to defend our country. If the Dems who have been elected to office refuse to stand up, they're part of the problem. We urgently need election reform and to elect progressive candidates in 2006.

[Q]

14. But...have you noticed the silence about this...

...even here on DU? Very few can admit...even to themselves...that it CAN happen here.

It's like the stages of dying...denial always in the way of accepting the truth.

And of course...no one likes to point fingers at themselves or to their party when it comes to accepting responsibillity. We certainly can't expect Republicans to do it. They've passed the stage of denial and have learned to accept that fraud and corruption is the only way they can stay in power.

[DemocracyInaction]

2. After 60 years I had to admit to myself that no one is going to

help us...no one. No one gets to that level of power because they care about the American people and want to help 'the people'. They get there because they are willing to help corporate America and help the rich. Do you really expect a Dem dominated government to stop the attack on middle class Americans??? They will just put different lipstick on the same old pig. It really is depressing.

[Q]

11. Dems can't stop the attack...

...because they have been compromised. They have given the Bushies too much power and now they don't know what to do with the monster THEY helped create. Some are trying to fight...but they're outnumbered and outgunned by the enablers that willingly sell out their party and country for a seat at Bush's table of power.

[Village Idiot]

3. The BANRUPTCY bill...

showed me how far you could trust EITHER party in the USA. As long as someone lines their pockets well enough, enough Dems will cross the line and vote with the corporatist GOP...

Until they show some freakin' BACKBONE, I will remain DISGUSTED with ALL of them - regardless of affiliation.

[Q]

9. And with a corporate-owned campaign/voting/election system...

...these same politicians are depending less and less on the participation of the people in the democratic process.

Campaigns for high office now cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Where do they get all of this money? It comes from corporate 'special interests' that expect something in return.

The people are no longer the special interests that politicians have to depend upon to get elected and stay in office.

The depth of the corruption is astounding. Yet the American people are silent.

[Q]

5. And please...no more of this...'you must want GOPers to win'...

...rhetoric. I want the American people to win...for a change.

Why in the hell do just a few individuals and corporations own OUR media? And why in the hell is our opposition allowed to own the VOTING MACHINES?

Why are we so silent as OUR government needlessly attacks and occupies countries like Iraq in OUR name? The war on terrorism is not being fought for our benefit or safety...but for Halliburton and to make the 'war president' look like a hero.

Democrats need to just TELL THE TRUTH about the state of the union and let the chips fall where they may.

[Al-CIAda]

18. Kick for America!

[deutsey]

6. Same as it ever was...

We really have become spoiled by our successes...women's suffrage, The New Deal, civil rights, you name it.

What we've forgotten is that most if not all of these successes happened only after long, difficult, even bloody struggles led by "ordinary people". Not politicians and government agencies and programs and policies. Certainly not the damn media. It was organizing and agitation over many years, even decades, by people in grassroots movements that finally won over those in the political establishment.

As long as we keep sitting around waiting for Godot to come and make things better for us, we're going to remain ineffective and in despair. We have to assume that Godot just ain't coming and start the movement ourselves for a just and democratic society. If our political Godots ever do bother showing up, they're going to have to follow the lead of those of us who have already been doing the hard work in their absence.

[Q]

8. Well said and true...

It has ALWAYS been The People that have kept democracy alive and government from attaining power outside of the Constitution.

Democracy is not self-correcting. There must be a constant vigil to keep it alive and working as intended: a government of, by and for the people. But we've strayed so far from this ideal.

Some would suggest that I should be attacking Republicans instead of Democrats. Well..what good does it do to attack the opposition when the leadership isn't doing the same.

Taking on the Social Security issue is NOT the type of fight I'm talking about. I want to see the Democratic party expose and prosecute the most corrupt, arrogant government in the history of this country. And if they can't do that...we can only assume that they're complicit and part of the problem.

[acmejack]

12. Hear, hear!

Q, this is one of the most thoughtful pieces I have seen. Well said, I couldn't agree more.

[deutsey]

16. Armed only with our sense of degradation as human beings,

we came together and organized, and changed the condition of our lives.

Wobblie Jack Miller (quoted by Utah Phillips)

http://www.jeddy.org/moi/utah2.txt

[deutsey]

21. Another Utah Phillips quote

Mark Twain said, "Those of you who are inclined to worry have the widest
selection in history." Why complain? Try to do something about it - you know,
it's goin' on nine months now, since I decided that I was gonna declare
that I am a candidate for the presidency of the United States. Oh yes, I'm
going to run.

Shopped around for a party. Well, I looked at the Republicans. Decided
talking to a conservative is like talking to your refridgerator. You know, the
light goes on, the light goes off, it's not gonna do anything that isn't built
into it. But I'm not gonna talk to a conservative any more than I talk to my damn
refridgerator. Working for the Democratic party, now, that's kind of like
rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

So I created my own party: it's called the Sloth and Indolence Party. I'm
running as an anarchist candidate in the best sense of that word. I've studied
the presidency carefully. I have seen that our best presidents were the do-
nothing presidents: Millard Fillmore, Warren G. Harding. When you have a
president who does things we are all in serious trouble. If he does anything
at all: if he gets up at night to go to the bathroom, somehow, mystically,
trouble will ensue.

I guarantee that if I am elected, I will take over the White House, hang out,
shoot pool, scratch my ass, and not do a damn thing.

Which is to say: if you want something done, don't come to me do it for you,
you gotta get together and figure out how to do it yourselves. Is that a deal?

:headbang:

[Selatius]

19. Now here is something I can agree with

It is not the leaders of the Democratic Party but the people out in the street that have fought for something better.

It is the people who are ultimately responsible for their own freedom, not the politricksters.

[Discord]

10. Will nominate this as well.

I think that you are right on the money. Which is why until I joined the ABB movement, I was a staunch Independant. I agreed with the ideals of Democrats but time and time again they always seemed to fail to deliver on thier promises. They would blame the Repugs, the Repugs would blame the Dems... lots of blame and finger pointing and name calling going on... but the bottom line... nothing was getting done to make life for the people of this country better. The Repukes consistently cut social programs, and cut around the edges of our rights and freedoms. The Dems would consistently spend spend spend on social programs that would candy-coat they real issues, but doing little of any substance to fix it. Then again, the finger pointing and name calling would begin, as both sides blame the other for the their shortcomings. That sad truth is that NO ONE in government give a shit about any of the poor or working class. The Repukes keep their power thru religion, division, and prohibition. Sowing the seeds of hate and intolerance by demonizing anyone who opposes them. The Dems keep thier power thru hope, tolerance, and compromise. Promising a better life for all, but falling very short of the mark.
The problem isn't the Repukes, or Dems. Its politicians. Its politics. Its the very government itself. Sadly, our country is all about money. Money = Power. Power = Control. Control = Elitism. Elitism = FUCK YOU ALL!

The poster is absolutely right that there will be no savior who will come along and make everything all better. Yes, some are worse than others, but esentially, when you wade through all the bullshit, they will still be politicians, driven by money, power, and catering to the elite of this country at the expense of you and me.

I can't deny that a big part of me yearns to see a revolution in this country, to wipe the slate clean and start anew. I doubt I will ever see this, for a revolution in this country would also slap our asses back a century or so, and people just don't want to give up thier comfy couch, thier all-in-one remote, and thier blissful ignorance of the suffering of others right outside thier doors.

I can't honestly give you a solution, because I don't know what that would be. Everything I can think of that would amount to any real change has major drawbacks as well that would be unavoidable. Sadly, this is the reality that we all are faced with. I will gladly walk arm and arm with all of my fellow Americans to the end of times in the fight for our rights and freedoms. I would give my own life if it meant that life would be better for everyone else. I'm sure many of you would as well.

[Q]

13. You're right...there won't be a revolution...

...at least not before the Neocons and Religious Right consolidate their power in a corporate/church/military/state and enough rank and file Democrats finally realize that they no longer belong to a party that even pretends to represent traditional Dem values and principles.

There is a reason why corporations are making record profits while the middle class is disappearing and the poor are neglected. The reason is that our two-party system has devolved into a one-party state.

I'm not sure just how it happened...but the Democratic party has been 'infiltrated' by 'conservatives' who want to change the party in the same fashion the Neocons changed the GOP. The people have been taken out of the equation and simply relegated to the role of cheerleaders for their parties.

[Q]

15. Here's a good one:

The Democrats are doing nothing because they're 'giving Bush enough rope to hang himself'. Manoman...this is a knee slapper.

No wonder the Dem leadership doesn't think they have to oppose this corrupt administration. They have literally thousands of rank and file Dems that will excuse their every enabling move.

And now the Dem 'leadership' has the grassroots movement right where they want them: without a voice and Dean delegated to shutting the hell up and raising money to put more corporate-sponsored Dems in office.

And so it goes...

[Al-CIAda]

17. Meanwhile labor is being sacrificed at the alter of

NAFTA, GAT, etc...open borders, and illegal immigration run amok.

[rniel]

27. Great post

We need to pull together and become more tightly knit as a group. I'm not talking about republicans or democrats but simply americans who want to have our country back. Right now so many feel like they are alone and outnumbered, but we are not.

I don't know how to put it as eloquently as you have, but if we can't band together then it's a big slide downhill from there.

I feel about 0% confidence in the Republican party and 35% confidence in Democratic party right now. And what other choice do I have. NONE. It's a 2 party system.

[welshTerrier2]

20. great post ... a "Second American revolution"

that's exactly the message i've been preaching around here ... it's not a "left wing" agenda ... it's a common sense approach to renewing our democracy ...

something like 50 or 60 MILLION Americans no longer vote at all ... ever ... that is a clear sign that our democratic institutions are not speaking to them ... and each year, more and more Americans drop out ...

to truly bring about a tidal wave the Democrats can ride into the beach, the Democratic Party needs to adopt bold initiatives ... we've become a pathetic little party of "wee wonkie willies" ... that has to stop ... if we want the country to change, we have to offer a strong vision for change ... doing so involves taking risks ... new ideas are not always well received when they are first proposed ... it takes time to lay the groundwork for change ... job one is education ...

Americans all the way back to the American revolution have warned about the dangers of too much power in the hands of corporations ... these included Jefferson, Madison, and subsequently Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt and Eisenhower to name a few ... hardly a collection of contemporary socialists ...

you're right to say the struggle for democracy is the duty of every citizen and that we can't wait for heros to save us ... this, however, in no way absolves elected Democrats from their obligation to support us ... elected Democrats would be an invaluable resource for a new democratic revolution ... our struggle will be much harder and take much longer without their help ... they have a role to play if only they would see the rightness of our cause ... either they themselves have been poisoned by the cool aid, they are too fearful of taking political risks, or they are truly blind to the erosion of our democracy ...

[Q]

26. Speaking of the Second American Revolution...

...it's also the name of a book by Gore Vidal.

Vidal saw this coming long ago when he wrote about the 'BanksParty' and both sides pandering to the same corporate 'special interests'.

The People have no role in this New America other than to show up at the polls once every few years to pretend that Democracy still exists.

[welshTerrier2]

28. the "pretense of democracy"

perhaps a very simplistic view of democracy is a system where the citizens are able to inform themselves on the great issues of the day and can then cast a vote for candidates who support their best interests, candidates who support the best interests of the country and candidates who most closely adhere to their beliefs ... and after the election, those candidates then continue to represent the interest of the citizens by honoring their pre-election commitments ...

the "old view" held by America's corporate elite was that dictators were most easily co-opted to the corporate agenda and most stable in power ... corporate types don't care about big stuff like freedom and democracy ... they seek low risk ... investing in regimes that were subject to be voted out of office was not considered low risk ... but that's "old think" in neo-con world ...

here come the PNAC'ers ... and what a plan they have ... first of all, what better justifies the spread of US expansionism than a call for freedom and democracy ... here come the good guys to save the world from tyranny ... so, we're off to the Middle East to help the peasants throw their tea into the harbor ... but it gets better ... next, they actually call for elections ... this is "new think" in neo-con world ... new think believes that they can have their cake and eat it too ... not only can we be seen as the triumphant defenders of freedom, but we get to install a puppet while convincing everyone that our "little friend" has been duly elected in a fair and open competition for power ... in actuality, a democratically elected "puppet" is much easier to dispose of than a well-entrenched dictator ... the basic deal says: "do what we ask for or you'll be voted out in no time" ... dictators are a little more secure in their jobs ... so, "new think" argues that the weaker the foreign leader, the easier he is to exploit ...

and there you have it ... "new think" thrives on the pretense of democracy ... we have little candidates ... we have little campaign signs ... we may even pass out little colorful buttons ... how hard do you think it is to control an election when your military has substantial control of the country? there was no debate ... there were no media ... there was no informed electorate ... that's not democracy; that's voting ... the Iraqi elections were total bullshit ... nothing was resolved except to give bush a major propaganda victory ... democracy can never thrive under the thumb of US colonialism ... and that's exactly what's been planned for Iraq ...

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

22. Politicians are, well, ...politicians. They follow the votes, not ethics

Their first duty is to themselves. Expecting them to "lead" us is like trusting car-salesmen when they (also) say that they have our best interests at heart.

Anybody who believes it when a politician says, "I don't follow the polls" probably has a deed to the Brooklyn Bridge and a closet full of Vegematics.

[Dr Fate]

23. The excuse making DEMS are waiting for Bush to "Fall on his sword."

Many DEMS are not even hoping for a White Knight to slay the dragon- they are content with the excuse that it will somehow slay itself.

Bushwill never fall on his sword- he will have to be "stabbed" by an agressive opposition.

One can dream.

[Al-CIAda]

24. Good of you to join in Mr. Fate.

:thumbsup:

[Q]

30. As you've pointed out...

...there will never be an aggressive opposition. This is because that 'some' Democrats actually agree with and support Bush policies such as aggressive wars and corporate welfare. Some of them may 'say' they're against it and feign anger...but then vote for it anyway.

The current Democratic Leadership will NEVER make the kind of changes that most Democrats want to see in their party. Kerry and Hillary are good examples of (d)emocrats that offer lukewarm solutions for major problems as they work to please their corporate sponsors.

There IS no sword for Bush to fall upon. No one in this government is going to make him or his administration accountable for their actions. The few remaining Dems that want to see justice done have been silenced and marginalized by the RWing of the party.

[rman]

25. like someone said: "*We* are the people we've been waiting for"

-

[Q]

29. But unlike the corporate state...

....'we' are extremely unorganized. Consider this: all 'we' have left is the internet. That is...every other means of mass communication has been taken over by the corporate state. They have the means to spread effective propaganda and misinformation and distract the people from the whole trurh. If 'they' don't like what they see on the internet...it's simply dismissed as 'conspiracy theories' if it conflicts with the official storyline.

The other battle facing us is that the Democratic party HAS become more 'conservative'. Not because the rank and file want it that way...but because the leadership of the party has been usurped by politicians that would feel just as comfortable in the GOP. They are helping the Bushie Right stay in power by supporting and voting for their RWing agenda.

So 'we the people' face many obstacles in retoring sanity in the Dem party and our country. Among the first things that must be done is to stop (d)emocrats from supporting and voting for Bush policies. If we can't convince them that it's wrong for party and country...then they must be voted out of office at the next opportunity.