No one person is going to save us...

[kentuck]

We will have to save ourselves. There is no savior out there that will make everything right. The changes that we want must come from the people themselves. In our system of government, all of us cannot fit under the roof of the nation's Capitol. That is why we send people to Washington to represent our interests. That is why we have a Congress.

Those that put their faith in any one person is foolish. We would be better served to put our faith in the people and those that are sent to represent the people. Our power is in the Congress - not in the Presidency. We overthrew royalty to get the government we wanted. There are no kings or queens in our country.

When we vote for a President, we are voting for a person that will be the Commander in Chief, in event of war. Because it is out of necessity that we have one person that is in charge during war or a crisis. Otherwise, our Founders may have left the office of the President out of the Constitution altogether. The President was never meant to have authority over the will of the people.

When we wave our pom-poms and cheerlead for one candidate or another, it would be wise to keep in mind that it is we, the people, that have the power ordained by the Constitution - not any one person we might call the President. If we surrender that authority of the people, we are no longer the government set up by the Founders.

[Hydra]

1. Since we do have a king

and Congress is comprised of nobles, what do you suggest we do?

[kentuck]

2. We have to send people to Washington that think like we do...

that serve the interests of people, the common good. Otherwise, we must rebuild from the bottom up with Representatives that understand their role in this government.

[Hydra]

4. Well, since money plays such a huge role in politics

it's unlikely you'll every get anyone who cares what we think, as look as they can be assured that they can buy their way in to the gravy train.

[kentuck]

6. But they can be assured...

that they won't get our vote in the next election. That is the power that you hold.

[gateley]

3. ""The President was never meant to have authority over the will of the people. "

Maybe not, but that is exactly what has happened.

ANd we have the power, on paper, but what have we accomplished in real life?

[kentuck]

5. Our Representatives are not representing we, the people...

They are representing something or someone else. That is where the change has to be. One person is not going to change the system.

[gateley]

7. We tried -- and we should keep trying. We need to put more Dems in Washington.

But that takes time - I'm not sure we have that luxury.

[kentuck]

8. "We need to put more Dems in Washington."

yes, that should be our focus and we should vote for the presidential candidate that will help us do that. But, we need to put more Dems in Washington that understand they are there for the people, rather than any special interests or their own financial well-being.

[gateley]

9. Agree. But there's still that pesky time thing. nt

[kentuck]

11. Time is irrelevant if the people want the change they say...

There is no clock or agenda that will stop the people's wishes once they decide what they want.

[gateley]

34. I just feel as though time is running out! Everything is coming to a crescendo.

We need to do something FAST.

[kentuck]

35. There is a feeling of urgency..

I understand.

[never_get_over_it]

44. No we need to send more progressives to Washington

Nancy Pelosi is a Dem - lot of good that did us.... we need about 100 Russ Feingolds in the Senate and 435 Dennis Kuciniches in the House....

AND we really need to get rid of the Rahm Emanuels and the Chuck Shumers who are forever impeding the progressives who are trying to run....and don't even get me started on Harry Reid

[nightrider767]

10. A Total System collapse,,,,

will eventually allow us to rebuild.

[kentuck]

12. There is no guarantee...

that we can rebuild if the system totally collapses. We want to prevent a collapse if possible.

[nightrider767]

28. Our system is unsustainable...

Once it's pillaged, looted and destroyed, the profiteers will simply move their wealth and influence into more fertile hunting grounds in the new international economy.

But first AMerica must be broken.

I mean sure, I'd love to see Obama or Edwards get elected, go into office, rally the Dem's and the few sane Repug's in COngress, get rid of corporate influence, put this country on a new course with a sustainable balanced economy, that includes jobs and industry for the middle class, address environmental issues, and develop a new electric car for us all to drive.

But I just don't see that happening.

Once a tree becomes so rotten and pest infested, it's only course is to fall.

[kentuck]

30. You may be right.

I hope not. I hope we still have enough strength and intellect to pull ourselves out of this hole.

[nightrider767]

38. Let's hope my wife is right, yet again!

She's saids I'm wrong about everything. Hee, hee.

But I want to be wrong on this one. I see some "correction" coming upon us.

Hopefully it won't be too bad.

Cheers.

[sandnsea]

13. And we need a leader who knows that

Someone who organized in the neighborhoods to help people take control of their own destiny, lobby the government, fight the special interests. Obama is calling on people to stand up and be heard, to stop being cynical and take their place in the wheels of democracy.

[kentuck]

15. I agree that we need that type of leader...

But I'm not yet sure that Obama is that leader. The establishment-types that have jumped on Obama's bandwagon concern me.

[sandnsea]

17. Well that would be the entirety of DC

by your definition, wouldn't it?

[kentuck]

20. Then we would have to ask...

Why?

[sandnsea]

21. How else do you fight the Clintons?

And who hasn't taken politicians' endorsements when they're offered?

[kentuck]

23. But what do they do with those endorsements..?

For example, Robert Rubin was appointed Secretary of the Treasury. At present, I believe he is in charge of Citigroup or some large Wall Street entity, which just happens to be one of the biggest players in the sub-prime scandal.

[sandnsea]

25. The endorsements mobilize ground games

Janet Napolitano is good for her presence and influence, but she's more important for her contacts and people she can put to work getting out the vote.

Kerry is good because he has clout and can try to keep the Clintons at least somewhere near an honest playing field.

That's what they do with endorsements.

I don't know what Rubin has to do with anything. Clinton crook as far as I'm concerned.

[kentuck]

27. Some endorsements may help..

and some, such as Ben Nelson, may not help? Some endorsements are made in hopes that their special interest will be protected - not because they think it might be best for the country. All endorsements are not equal.

[sandnsea]

32. Every state has a primary

Isn't that right?

[bonito]

14. Starting with the counting of the votes.

By the people.

[kentuck]

16. That would be a good start.

Since votes are counted by precincts, there is no reason that every vote cannot be counted. There are not millions of votes to be counted at one time. I could count them by myself in most precincts of America.

[bobbolink]

18. WHile I agree that it's up to US, I disagree strongly that a president is only for war....

Do you remember FDR?

Do you REALLY think he didn't turn the country around?

Pleeeez, let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater!

[kentuck]

19. But FDR did not have a Republican Congress that was able to block...

his proposals. In the end, he got the support of Congress, the representatives of the people.

[bobbolink]

22. I'm not going to buy that there is NO difference between sHillary, 'Bama, and Edwards.

There is some stuff up with which I will not put.

As I said, I agree that we can't elect a person, then forget about it and go back to zoning out in front of the tube. In one big way, saving the country is UP TO US, and so far we haven't done a very good job at it.

But to say that there is no difference..... nope, won't buy it.

The citizenry will have to work a HELL of a lot harder if sHIll or 'Bama is in the Oval (assuming they could even pull it off!) because they are PART of the forces bringing down the country, and haven't said anything to the citizenry that they are going to have to WORK to restore the nation. Edwards has said just that, and means it. He's put us on notice that this is our fight too.

edited to say.... you actually said that the president is only for war, but then, when I took issue with that, you said the problem is a Congress with too much RW power (and, actually, it's also a problem that the Dems won't stand up to them! The RW stood up to the Dems when the situation was reversed!)

So, what is it.... a wimpy Congress, or a president only there for war?

[kentuck]

24. Who said there was "no difference"??

I said that no one person is going to save us.

[bobbolink]

26. That is the upshot of your words.

I agreed with you that we have responsibility, then you do that think about the Congress and the war president thing.

If you're saying you're feeling down, and scared of what's happening to this country, and discouraged with an apathetic citizenry, then I've already said I agree with that, and it's up to us to start and build fires.

I"m already doing that, in myriad ways, and it would be nice if I had support and encouragement from DU. But, that doesn't seem to be the way it works. Too many people seem to come here to tear each other down, while "Rome burns", as the saying goes.

If you're wanting encouragement, or support, that I'm happy to offer. I'd also appreciate it if you'd do the same for me.

But I WON"T BUY that a president is only for war, and that there's no way to overcome the Congress, or that there's no difference in candidates.

[kentuck]

29. I'm not offering encouraging or discouraging remarks...

At least, that is not my intent. I'm saying there is no savior out there that is going to lay his hands on your ailing body and make it well. It is up to us, the People, to decide what kind of government we want, and that government will be in the Congress of the United States. The President can be a leader or a hindrance to that effort. There is no progress without confrontation in the present political world. We are not going to "compromise" our way out of the present condition we find ourselves.

[bobbolink]

31. Fine, you don't want my good wishes, then I won't offer it.

I'm still not buying that it doesn't matter who's in the Oval.

End of discussion. This is going nowhere. Typical of DU.

Too bad.

[kentuck]

33. Nobody is saying that it doesn't matter..

I'm saying to stop the hero worship and stop fainting as if in the presence of God himself. We must be the change that we want.

[Triana]

36. We have a president and gov't that has wiped its collective asses on the constitution...

...on BOTH sides of the aisle. We have a government run OF, BY AND FOR corporations (Halliburton, Exxon-Mobil, Wal-Mart, Bank of American, Cigna, Pfizer, et al) NOT by and for the people.

WE DIDN'T GIVE UP OUR POWER - they STOLE it along with our money.

WE NEED TO TAKE IT BACK and we can't do that by electing government "representatives" who are bought and paid for by the above-mentioned corporations and others.


WE DO NOT have the power ordained by the Constitution. It has been taken from us by the bu$H admin and the corporate cronies he supports.


HOW WE GET IT BACK is the question.

"People in Washington" DO NOT represent OUR interests and they HAVE NOT for a very loooooooooong time.

What country DO you live in?

Did you copy your post out of a history or government studies book? It is surprisingly sterile, pollyanna-like, and oblivious.

[kentuck]

45. What would you suggest we do?

Just curious?

[Triana]

48. http://www.johnedwards.com (n/t)

[bobbolink]

37. Stand Up, America!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x83582

[hunter]

39. We can crash hard or we can crash soft. But we are going to crash.

This plane isn't going to stay in the air no matter who the pilot is.

A Republican crew and their first class passengers will abandon the plane on their golden parachutes. A capable Democratic administration might be able to bring the plane down softly

[bemildred]

40. You are still a dirty old pessimist I see.

I don't think we have a snowballs chance in Hell, the pilots are all fighting over one of the stewardesses in the 1st class cabin.

:hi:

[hunter]

42. 2008 will have more in common with 1928 than it will with 2018.

Change is accelerating, some of it good, a lot of it bad.

The petroleum based economic expansion of the twentieth century is over.

[bemildred]

43. Yep. Going to be a lot of fighting over the scraps and leftovers. nt

[H2O Man]

41. Nominated.

True. Very true, indeed.

[The2ndWheel]

46. "In our system of government, all of us cannot fit under the roof of the nation's Capitol"

Well then if you want the changes to come from the people themselves, you might want to change such a distant form of government. How can we the people do anything if we send people to represent our interests, to a place where all of our represented interests cannot fit under the roof of the nation's Capitol?

[kentuck]

47. The solution is to send Representatives that are not tied...

to the special interests and have the interests of the people and the common good as their primary concern. It starts at the local level. Send good people to Washington.