This, Too, Shall Pass (Please read)

Things have been pretty hostile here lately. My ignore list jumped from a couple of people, possibly tombstoned already, to over twenty. One has to realize how I loathe Reagan. I despise everything he stood for. He was, in all but name, the precursor to Bush Jr. It was Reagan who set us on this path of rampant corporatism--not because he was the idea man behind it, but because he was the perfect muppet spokescreature for those soulless entities for whom the destruction of the planet is just another smear of black ink on their quarterly report.

I've been criticized over the past few weeks for daring to acknowledge that some of the things that came out of the Clinton camp were, in my opinion, racially insensitive. I did not call the Clinton's racist, but for some, it amounted to the same thing. In the past few days, I've been called "intellectually" dishonest, apparently for not realizing that referring to Reagan as an "agent of change" and the Republican Party as the "party of ideas" was not, in fact, a statement in support of either the changes OR the ideas.

Personally I think both camps have gone off the deep end a time or two in the past few weeks. Supporters of each potential candidate have said some pretty absurd things with no thought to how they'd strike the eyes or ears of other people.

It's been like a gang war here on DU. I'd like to claim innocence, but there have been a few occasions where I've chimed in, with what I'd hoped to be a voice of moderation, and ended up inflaming the dialog. It happens, intended or not.

I've said several times, maybe more than several, that I will quite cheerfully vote for whichever candidate wins the nomination. I will not turn away, or vote third party--no matter how disgusted I become at some of the supporters of any particular candidate, or at some of the things I've heard coming out of the mouths of the candidates themselves.

In truth, however, I hope I'm completely wrong about the two front runners--that they will, in the end, happily clamber on the corporate gravy train because, as anyone with two brain cells to rub together can see, that gravy train is heading full speed into the side of a cliff. The rampant corporatism is feeding wars across the world, engaging in full-scale destruction of the environment, leading inexorably to climate change, but also grinding thousands upon millions of ordinary people under the boot heels of oppression.

I think we're making a mistake not nominating a candidate who's firmly set against what's going on. I do not mind being on the wrong side of history, however, if my fears turn out to be incorrect. If the two leading candidates choose not to govern from the middle, giving the corporate bloodsuckers all they require and more, but instead see the way the wind is blowing and head the other direction as fast as their legs can carry them.

I hope Obama wants to generate a sea change to take us the other direction from Reagan. We desperately need it. I hope Clinton is more dedicated to we, the people, than certain historical events might suggest.

I hope John Edwards isn't our last hope. Because if five or ten years down the road, I find myself looking back and thinking, "fuck, I was right again," I'm going to be PISSED. Not just at the politicians, but also at every single person who was confronted with the historic choice and blew it.

All things considered, I'd much rather be wrong than right in this.

We'd better hope we're heading in a better direction from here. America and the world can't take much more.

I have allowed myself to get too personally involved in what should have been hypotheticals, and for that I'm sorry. In the interest of fairness, I will be taking everyone who has ended up in my "ignore" column off of it. But I will no longer discuss Reagan, or the racially insensitive comments from Bob Johnson and others, or weigh in on the McJerkin anti-gay incident with the Obama campaign. These things have hit my hot buttons and I cannot discuss them without becoming highly annoyed.

From here on out, my target will be the Republicans. I'm still rooting for Edwards, but I'll set aside my suspicions and dire misgivings, and throw my support behind any and all of the potential candidates. And hope, wishing I could actually pray, that we make the right choice in the end.


Saje

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edited because I forgot to do a spell check and REALLY needed to.

what has been on my mind. K&R

:kick:

Or better yet send yourself text messages and stay off the internet, you may run across opinions that are different than yours.

You probably can't read this anyway, but I had to say it.

kthnxbai.

And, as I said, I was taking everyone off of it.

It's not opinions that differ from mine that were the problem. It was the offensive condescension.

Some of which have since been tombstoned. But it's only a temporary defensive measure for the next couple of months. I waited and waited, then finally started ignoring the people who were beginning multiple threads about the same basic thing. I still get to read their responses to other threads. (except for 11 of them who I've blocked for replies as well). And if one of them hits the jackpot, their post still shows up on greatest threads. They can still PM me. So you shouldn't be attacking someone for their use of the ignore function. It doesn't prevent all communication, depending on the way people use it.

Isn't it horrible to look back at 1980...The Beginning of the End...and realize how right you were and how so many refused to listen? It was so much easier for folks to listen to the fear and hatred...now one no longer has to be tolerant or display sympathy for their fellow Americans? And of course the Media enforced those feelings/actions with shows like Jerry Springer where only the basest of emotions are aired...(just one example of many...that topic is worthy of a book).

I am afraid you are going to be really PISSED. I hope I am wrong. I, too, like John's message. In fact, I have waited my entire life to hear that Anti-Corporate Greed message. It is truly music to my ears. Maybe younger people don't realize how evil these corporations have become? Or they see them as the only way to make a living? I don't know. Here is a man who is not taking the Big Corp. $$ and We, The People are ignoring him...I thought this is what we have been waiting for. Has America been so dumbed down that we no longer know what is good for the regular working folks of this country?

I, too, will vote for whoever is the Dem nominee.

You know something....the financial state of America is about to see a huge collapse. This could in fact rally folks to Edwards. The Universe has strange ways of teaching people lessons. And man is America about to be taught a BIG one....and right where it hurts...in its pocketbook! I just hope people will be able to handle it.

'highly annoyed....' lol...I'm always saying I'm annoyed or aggravated...now I will add 'highly' to that. Thx.

"You know something....the financial state of America is about to see a huge collapse. This could in fact rally folks to Edwards. The Universe has strange ways of teaching people lessons. And man is America about to be taught a BIG one....and right where it hurts...in its pocketbook! I just hope people will be able to handle it."

Not that this is something to wish for, or that makes me feel particularly hopeful. But you're right that this IS what's coming straight at us. Like you, I hope that it doesn't hurt people more than they can handle, but I also hope that it hurts just enough to make people WAKE UP and pay attention. If there's a silver lining in that black cloud coming, this could be it. Something HAS to shake people up somehow. Too many are just sleep-walking through their lives, it seems.

And consuming crap IMHO. They have moved away from the spiritual...be that happiness, love, nature, art, whatever....but something more than THINGS.

And people seem to just keep chatting and shopping chatting and shopping....oh and working. It's as if they are afraid of quiet solitude....because then they would have to THINK. And the Wealthy Elites do not want us to THINK. Thinking is dangerous.

Its shocking that people seem so blase about corporate greed and the corporate stranglehold on power. Except for Kucinch and Edwards supporters dems seem to be living in LaLa Land.

I never had an ignore list and at this point what truely troubles me is that even the Dem front runners have gone along with the corporate medias game plan by ignoreing Kucinich and Edwards . I would have hoped in all fairness if they truely want the best candidate to win for the sake of the people then they would have stood up and said something in defense of this shut out . I realize this is being idealistic however I am a believer in fairness and equality .

The people deserve nothing less .

But I have to hope for the best out of this whole mess. The alternative is too horrible to contemplate.

Not that I haven't. Contemplated it, that is. I just don't WANT to.

Sudden shock as if coming out of an nightmare that you find is reality after all . You almost have to hope for the best but prepare for the worst and I don't want to think this way .

in my life. And yeah, after a while, it tends to just make you PISSED that no one listens. Like you, I hope we're wrong about this, but if not, I'll be standing with you as one very PISSED OFF American. Again.

There is no joy, only sadness, in being right about what may become the immediate future of this nation: a failed democratic state.

I've taken care to avoid the interparty war threads and try to stay focused on the crimes being committed against this country.

Then we can direct all the bile and hatred we've got leaking all over the place to the most deserving targets - the Republicans.

Just think. After Super Duper Tuesday, that will be the day to unleash our dark side. Release your anger. Let the hate flow through you. But pick the correct targets!

Demonize the GOP. Dehumanize Bush. Find a productive outlet for our anger.

I've been vilified, and I know for damn sure that I'm on peoples iggy list

but that doesn't bother me...I think my frustration comes from people

being completely mislead by others and are refusing to see the truth

with all the evidence available to us.

Majority of us on this forum knew from day one that this administration

have been lying, and misleading the American people.

So, the feeling is that you want that special candidate that will instill

that belief and hope once again, not the same ol 'I'm mr and mrs wonderful,

you should elect me because I'm good at convincing you the voter'

People are just sick and tired, especially when you know the truth.




:(