blue staters need to step up.

[ellenfl]

i visited my boyfriend's family in mass., vermont and ri this past weekend and i think i know how we can get our country back. of the family members i spoke to, more than half don't even vote! blue staters appear to be complacent! i made my pitch but it mostly fell on deaf ears.

i DID talk to one young man and may have made some points . . . to him and my bf's niece. he made the comment that * had done some good things and some bad. of course, i immediately jumped on the 'good things'. i asked him what those good things were and he said going after those who attacked us. i jumped right on that. i immediately advised him that we were not attacked by iraq and went on to advise him that most of the hijackers were saudis, that al qaeda was not in iraq before the invasion, etc. anyway, i think i managed to open two people's eyes. whether they will vote or not is still in question.

anyway, as i said, i did not make much headway but maybe the blue states should not be taken for granted. i will keep trying but would appreciate some help in preparing an argument to try to change some minds. most of my bf's family members who do not vote are like him . . . they don't see voting as doing any good.

thanks for any suggestions. i will probably still get totally blown off but i will keep trying. i hope that duers in those states are working on the non-voters.

ellen fl

[CrazyOrangeCat]

1. Hmmm. . .

Well, you planted some seeds, and that's good.

But that is disturbing news. I've visited RI, liked it, would consider retiring there . . . But one would hope that the bluest of blue states would be on the ball.

Complacency is rampant everywhere, I suppose.

[rwenos]

2. Blue-State Blues

I understand your frustration. I live in a Congressional district represented by a Democrat, in a state (California) with two Democratic Senators. Every election since 1994, when control of Congress passed to the Pub's, the California Congressional delegation has gained Democratic members -- in 2000 I think we replaced five Repub's with Democrats in Congress.

Yet the Democrats are losing ground in Fly-Over Country. It's hard to understand. It basically makes me sick. I feel like we've done our part here in Cali -- what the hell is wrong with the middle of the country?

[CrazyOrangeCat]

4. God how I love the term "Fly-Over Country" . . .

NOT.

[rwenos]

6. It's an Obnoxious Term, But . . .

Looking east from my house, about a mile and a half from the Pacific Ocean, it seems like a great mass of mountains, wheat, stock yards and Klan meetings stand between me and the Hudson River.

Those same rednecks mostly used to be Democrats. "Fly-Over Country" was mostly Democratic.

How do we get it back?

[CrazyOrangeCat]

7. We get it back by activism.

You used that term again, BTW. ;) Here's the reason that it is not welcome in Middle America: It implies that nothing around here is worth a damn. See?

I've driven through 48 states. It's mostly all good. People can change. We can help by trying to see things from their angle and then talking with them. Nudging them with the truth.

Are there places that are too backward and scary to go into? Yes. Is this place as stunningly beautiful as California or Rhode Island? No. But still beautiful, still worth the drive, still worth talking to people.

[acmejack]

3. We have been telling you that red states are barely red!

Even Red old Texas just isn't all that red. It is more like 40-60, 45-55? We do the same thing here each and every day. Thats how you change minds and win over people, one at a time.

[PuraVidaDreamin]

5. So you made a good impression did you?

Excellent on you!

Massachusetts here- I'm active beyond all belief- perhaps overly so

Still- too many in my view, in this state are apathetic and ignorant too.

I'll be better able to gauge things on Sunday. For the last year I have
been standing on the side of the road with Impeach Bush signs. Mostly by
myself, but a few times with some good peeps. I've been advertising March 19th
for a few months and many, many people know where I'll be, and have promised
to join me. I'm expecting a good turnout, hope I'm not disapointed. Sunday
will be a tell tale sign for me, and I'll let you know if the masses
are truly awakening.

[ellenfl]

8. the good news is that my bf has been listening to

me rant (how can he not since i do it all the time now?!). i still have not persuaded him to register but he is becoming more aware. unfortunately, one of his cousins, who used to work for the government, also will not vote and backed up my bf. the system is not perfect but right now it is so far from it that we really need all the help we can get. if we overwhelm the system with votes against this admin and its followers, they will be hard put to steal it without being seen.

keep up the good work, all (especially vida whose pics of her activism i have seen here on the forum).

ellen fl

[mdmc]

9. we need to inspire non voters!

What has been inspiring lately?