Discussions at the Dinner Table...

[ScreamingMeemie]

My daughter is all of 16. She is a bright girl, does well at school and is quite involved...both socially and on a civic level. She attends a private Catholic High School, but her decisions as to religion are all her own. Until recently, she was a member of Civil Air Patrol-an auxiliary unit of the USAF. She enjoyed it and had made good friends while contributing to the community. While I was not 100% (not even 10...to be honest) behind her involvement, I let her explore the possibilities in life and this was one of them. She quit, after 3 years, in January. Participating became less of a joy and more of an agony with the war escalating. She began to view it as glamorization of the military, couldn't wrap her head around it and opted out. Again, this was her decision. I just wanted to give you her background.

Tonight, at the dinner table with the news on in the background (yes, we are horrid parents who have the T.V. on during dinner;sometimes it leads to interesting discussions) she turned to me and said,"I wish there weren't any parties." Being the lunkhead that I am (thinking she meant party Parties...of the teen-aged drinking sort) I missed her point and said,"Okay." She went on to explain what she really meant. "Why have parties anymore? Why can't we vote on the person, not the party? It's all just so stupid...really."

Perhaps this all really means nothing to you...or the dozen or so freepers who will later accuse me of "poisoning, brainwashing etc" my kid, but I've been thinking of it these last couple of hours. How simple that sounds. How many times have we been embroiled in the bitter battles of party position? How many times have I turned my computer off in disgust? How many angry emails...rants and rages will we endure? Why can't the chains of following party line be finally and FOREVER thrown off? For me, there are days when I don't recognize a Democratic stance in any of the words uttered in the Senate...days when I am stunned at the negative reaction someone receives for standing up for what they believe in, instead of sitting quietly. How many times have I, myself been afraid to speak out for fear of being shot down, labeled...or worse?

Thinking on Jim Jeffords...he did a wonderful thing the day he shook his "chains" off. It's just a pity that so many of his fellow congresspeople were unwilling to follow, just as it's a shame so many of us are willing to settle for "something less" just to see a Democrat elected again.

These are the things I was thinking tonight...Thank you my daughter...and I can't wait until we can stand together two years from now and cast our votes and, hopefully, our consciences too.

[jody]

1. Congrats to your daughter for her insight. Our two major parties only

serve to keep voters polarized while a few people increase their control of our government.

One percent of US citizens own about 50% of our financial wealth and control every major multinational corporation in the US. That’s the Corporate Party and they finance campaigns for Republicans and Democrats. That way they can hype bi-partisan support for laws that give them even more control of our government.

The Corporate Party goal can only be to establish a Corporate State just as they did in 1933 when they tried to use General Smedley Darlington Butler, a Republican who won two Medals of Honor, to lead a coup to oust FDR from the presidency.

Butler blew the whistle on the group including

Irenee Du Pont - Right-wing chemical industrialist and founder of the American Liberty League, the organization assigned to execute the plot.
Grayson Murphy - Director of Goodyear, Bethlehem Steel and a group of J.P. Morgan banks.
William Doyle - Former state commander of the American Legion and a central plotter of the coup.
John Davis - Former Democratic presidential candidate and a senior attorney for J.P. Morgan.
Al Smith - Roosevelt's bitter political foe from New York. Smith was a former governor of New York and a codirector of the American Liberty League.
John J. Raskob - A high-ranking Du Pont officer and a former chairman of the Democratic Party. In later decades, Raskob would become a "Knight of Malta," a Roman Catholic Religious Order with a high percentage of CIA spies, including CIA Directors William Casey, William Colby and John McCone.
Robert Clark - One of Wall Street's richest bankers and stockbrokers.
Gerald MacGuire - Bond salesman for Clark, and a former commander of the Connecticut American Legion. MacGuire was the key recruiter to General Butler.

If congress approves more laws reducing taxes on estates, capital gains, dividends, and corporations, then by 2050 that one percent will own more than 70% of our financial wealth and our so called democratic-republic will become a corporate state aka plutocracy.

Our two-party system keeps voters distracted while the corporate party slowly increase their control.

[Coyote_Bandit]

2. I have often thought that

we would be far better off to have many, many political parties. Things don't come in just black and white. There are many, many shades of grey. And matters of state ultimately are inherently practical. One thing multiple political parties would accomplish is coalition building - and with it a focus on results instead of idealogy.

[cally]

3. It sounds like you have a thoughtful, interesting daughter

who is thinking for herself. I agree that too often being a member of the Dem party means being part of something I often disagree with. I don't like the party much most of the time.

But, we have parties to get people elected. We can't know enough about each person we vote for so we have parties help us screen candidates and raise money. I'm fairly well informed about candidates but I vote for some local candidates without knowing very much about them.

I'm working for a candidate at the local level. Even for small races, you need access to mailing lists, donors, consultants, precinct lists, and volunteers.

Once elected, the parties help analyze bills. It's impossible for one politician to be an expert on each piece of legislation passed so they rely on each other. You join together with those you trust and rely on their advice. The whole process doesn't work all that well, but I think we'd be even more beholden to corporate interests without parties.

My two cents.

[ScreamingMeemie]

5. I think for her, as a young woman, too often she is seeing her future

being thrown aside for a vote. I have also worked for candidates at a local level, but I find it the candidate's job to get their ideals out there. It can be done; far too few want to put the time and effort into it anymore. I always vote based on research. It's hard to do with the way the system is set up these days, but we have the internet now, which makes it a bit easier.

Thank you for the compliment. She is an interesting and engaging young person...but I'm biased. ;)

[merh]

4. Your daughter gives me hope

I've been so worried that the young don't care, but your daughter has given me hope for the future of our nation.

:patriot:

Thank you MrsG, for sharing her insights and her wisdom and the hope. :hug:

Thank you for doing right by her and in so doing, right by the rest of the world.

:grouphug: :loveya:

[ScreamingMeemie]

6. She went out of the house tonight draped in Mardi Gras beads...

You should see the smile you put on her face. And James has added the postcard to his collection. :)

She is counting the months until she turns 18...so she can register to vote. I am very proud of her. Thanks so much, merh! :loveya:

[merh]

7. I'm so glad she likes the beads.

I'm glad they brought smiles to both of your faces. :)

I can't remember, which post card did I send you?

:loveya:

[ScreamingMeemie]

9. Beauvoir...Which is interesting because MrG was just telling him

a little bit about his family history and how his granddad was named after a Confederate Soldier. This is also his first postcard from Missippi so he was really happy. :) :hug:

[merh]

10. Check out the images at this link

http://www.sunherald.com/multimedia/sunherald/archive/baflash/beauvoir.html

That is a definite collectors item for James. I'm glad everyone liked the happies. :hug:




http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/special_packages/renewal/before_after/

[ScreamingMeemie]

11. Thank you merh! Everyone surely did.

Even MrG was smiling as I told him about you. :hug:

[Solly Mack]

8. Hope

It's been said already but it's true....your daughter is hope.

Thank you, MrsGrumpy, for giving the world hope.

[ScreamingMeemie]

12. Thank you Solly. I have great confidence in the children of this

country.

[KoKo]

13. I understand what you say...have thought about it myself...and

your daughter is maybe wondering what all of us are...so GOOD for HER...Maybe those of us who are sick of this will have help from the young to look for "Good Folks" (meaning candidates who have principles and are aware of the grassroots issues with a little "book learnin'" and "life experience" thrown in before they ask for our vote.

But, then....the way it's become is that the candidates don't "ask for our vote" the Party and the Lobbyists pick who will do the most for them. "WE, the People" are often the last to know who we voted for...when they get there. They sure don't seem to be voting with "us" these days.

:shrug:

[ScreamingMeemie]

15. She's in. She actually can't wait to find a candidate worthy enough

to campaign for. She's taking an active interest in the midterms too. There is hope ahead. And you are right. They are not doing so hot in representing "We". :(

[Minnesota Libra]

14. Very wise Child obviously because of good parents!! nt