Looking beyond the primaries-what we can do here and now

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

Now is the time to start looking towards winning the General Election. The way to start that process, imho, is to listen to friends, neighbors, and co-workers. What are they concerned about? What are their attitudes towards politicians in general and Democratic politicians in particular?

I've been doing this for about a month. I'm not talking about my candidates and issues-I'm listening to their concerns, and asking questions. If we can compile a listing of concerns and attitudes, we can then start plotting strategy we can use to convince folks to vote Democratic in the GE. And, to me, this is the key to any election--folks getting out there and talking one on one to friends and neighbors.

[bpeale]

1. it doesn't matter what they're concerned about

no one will do anything about it. they've been concerned about keeping their heads above water, being uninsured, being homeless, the iraq war, impeachment, holding government accountable. how loudly do they have to scream it for you to hear it?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. so you share the cynicism I've been running into

many many of the folks I'm listening to are saying the same thing. They also say I'm a fool for even voting in an election.

Maybe I am--but I still would like to see a Democrat in office. So I'm trying to listen and come up with ways to convince them that voting does matter.

As for my list--the economy is first, health care next, and Iraq a distant third. No one outside this board even talks about impeachment or holding government accountable (they don't see the point).

I guess from your post you are trying to convince me not to vote at all. Do you think the cynics are right? If so, then does that mean we are helpless and will continue to be oppressed?

[bpeale]

3. i think our votes are meaningless

the election system is broken irrevocably i'm afraid. and without a good, clean, functioning electoral system, what's the point? so they can point to it & say ... WE GAVE YOU A CHOICE. never mind that it was no choice at all. the election system is rigged in the same way that the corporate media rigs who you get to hear, who you get to see, what ideas you get to vote on. everything is under their control & we have no choice.

whether you vote or not is entirely up to you. this will be the first time in 40 years that i have ever felt that my vote doesn't count ... that it isn't counted ... and never will be counted.

cynical? i prefer to think of myself as, finally, REALISTIC. i'm tired to deluding myself into thinking it matters, or that i matter.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. then we just give up?

I don't think there are enough people disenchanted enough to foment a revolution.

[bpeale]

5. and i don't think people care enough to foment a revolution

they are so concerned with having a roof over their head, food on the table, healthcare, yada yada yada that they could care less about who's in charge of this country. and it's going to get worse not better. there will be the rich and the poor. the poor will be the serfs and the rich will lord it over them. in fact, the rich will be in charge of every facet of the poor's lives. we're already there. do you really think that obama or hillary care about any of us? obama is an arrogant asshole who thinks he's better than everybody else & hillary already has hers so why should she care about us? what would be in it for her? nothing. they don't care no matter what they say.

there's the haves ... and then there's the have-nots. guess which group WE (collectively) fall into?