In my new song, "Election Time," I wrote, "Election time around the corner what you gonna fight for." How about fighting for candidates and politicians to tell us where their money is coming from, so we know who's paying their bills? How about fighting for getting our voices heard? How about fighting for politicians who want to keep moving this country forward, not back, in the midst of the worst recession we've seen in most of our lifetimes?
It's hard to understand, living in this country, just how lucky U.S. citizens are to be able to vote, to have the right and the privilege of making such important choices for their own future, the future of their families and the future of their nation. My brothers and sisters in Haiti are living and dying in poverty, the government there so wrapped up in funneling money and influence to the rich and the elite that even with decades of financial aid from all over the planet, those in power can't do right by the people who need them.
Think of the Haitians now, suffering beyond imagination since the January earthquake, and now falling by the hundreds from a cholera epidemic (and pray, as I do everyday, that the outbreak has been brought under control). So, truly, in the United States, voting is the least everyone 18 and older can do to express gratitude for all this country affords them. I'm talking to everyone qualified to vote here: You all need to get yourselves registered and need to get to the polls in just a few days, on Nov. 2. Voting is a privilege -- and it's also the duty of every U.S. citizen who loves this country.
I know from all my work in Haiti that the youth of a nation can make a real difference, and I know that they can here in my adopted country, too. And in fact, they have -- as recently as two years ago. The election of 2008 was a shining moment for the youth of this great land. They spoke louder, and with more care for their fellow citizens, than they have since the Civil Rights era. They rallied around Barack Obama, a charismatic, intelligent leader who captured the imaginations of so many and embodied a youthful hope and desire to take this country down a better path. In that election, no one could call the youth apathetic -- throw that stereotype out the door
The Nov. 2 midterm elections are another chance for the youth of America to speak and be heard. Don't forget that Obama inherited a failed administration. The path to recovery is a long and hard one, especially considering where we were when we started this one. None of us could have expected President Obama to turn the country around in two years, could we? Or even four -- I've always thought he'll need eight years to even remotely make a dent in all the areas that need improving, not to mention some that need complete repair.
And I never figured the U.S. people were in this for the short haul -- everyone who voted for change and hope two years ago needs to show that they're all in this for the long haul. Everyone needs to get out and vote again and make sure to support candidates who are looking to the future, not ones who want to turn back the clock, saying crazy things about eliminating social security, or changing parts of the Civil Rights Act or forcing victims of rape to see the pregnancy to term.
In "Election Time" (which you can hear on a new website, TheyWinULose), I say "Health care, welfare, seems like nobody cares." I am asking you all to prove me wrong on that. Show the world you care enough to fight the good fight. And this is the easiest fight you'll ever be asked to fight; all you have to do is vote -- just vote, man. Be a patriot at the polls. Be a shining example for the citizens of the world who don't have it as good as you do. That is fighting the good fight.
Soledad O'Brien: Soledad O'Brien On Haiti, New Orleans And 'The Next Big Story'
You are wasting good words. If things aren't fixed in less than 30 minutes, everyone loses interest, says it sucks, and moves on. They expect instant everything, and have to be amused while it is taking place.
No one has anything near the intention of being into anything for the long haul. In fact, over half of Americans haven't he foggiest idea what in hell one means when they say "being into it for the long haul" or "having a long-range plan that isn't going to take place before you can finish your first beer".
The future of this nation, under the Democrats and or the Republicans is dismal. Yes, they can have a great two months or five months run to get you involved but the reality is both parties like the problems America is now stuck with. They created these problems, and will do what ever they can to keep you thinking they are working for a solution when in fact they only want to keep themselves in power.
Leadership is looking at what is, not what you say, but what you have done and being willing to say to the young, old and middle Americas that they have had their country stolen by two parties.
Tomorrow vote in another ice cream election, starting in 2011 you might want to look beyond the sweetness and great taste of the covering of your choice and taste the rotten core that is in fact running your country.
In 2011 you may even have the strength to look at where you want this nation to go and be in twenty years, poorer, 30% unemployment, no manufacturing, cities failing in water sewer and schools, or choose to change that. The American party is rebuild, retool and reeducate America. Pro worker and mainstreet. Change free trade to equal trade and again going into space not Iran.
The takeaway: in george bush I's "new world order", the wealthy elite get whatever they want, the people be damned, and no one is immune, anywhere.
With that being said, there are still 2 distinct options. It's depressing that we are stuck voting for the lesser of two ev.ils, but now is not the time to be apathetic. If you aren't campaigning all year round for the true progressive candidates, then you have no right to complain that you only have 2 corportists to chose from come election time. However, I will take my Democratic corporatists over the Republican Corporatists any day of the week, because I remember what the Repbulicans truly stand for:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/10/28/914684/-I-Remember
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/09/gop-pledge-closing-argument-voters/
And no matter how much the media wants to magnify this administration's failures, there have been many successes that have gone unnoticed by most:
http://obamaachievements.org/list#top
http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/rulings/promise-kept/
Voting doesn’t matter a jot if someone else makes the choice of who you have to vote for and that’s what you have, have had and will have in the future. You can vote for the happy dolphin or the sad angry dolphin but either way they’ll be behaving in a dolphin like manner and catching fish not looking after your interests.
Don’t vote for any of them, all it does is encourages and validates them.
If you think all that are running for office(s) are the same, put up someone else. Do something.
Interesting idea re the candidate but as turkeys don’t tend to vote for Christmas any candidate I backed wouldn’t drew the required millions from the corporate paymasters to have their voice heard.
I prefer to work towards the dismantling of the entire system.
It must have been that "failed administration" that upset everyone by ramming the most liberal agenda since Carter down peoples throats while putting jobs on the back-burner during the worst recession since the 30's.
Thank you for the reminder.
The banks were bailed out and then refused to extend credit to small companies are the ones who put people out of work and closed the doors to businesses.
"Raising corporate taxes" is just an incorrect way to describe the truth - which is an intent to no longer give tax breaks to companies who move parts of businesses over seas because it's cheaper to employ in a foreign country than keep your neighbor employed.
Those are all republican theories and practices and the Dems don't need to demonize those practices. Anyone with the ability to use common sense and simple analytical skills can determine quite easily who is looking out for who.
Unless you're a person making over $250k/year, voting for a Republican is the exact same at voting against yourself.
"This is an election against Obama, period" Correct
"Can't wait untill the social security checks fail to arrive in the mail." Hyperbole
Change is coming......again.