In our nation today, religious ideology trumps sound judgment, domestic and foreign policy is executed by a handful of right-wing zealots and the majority of media outlets are owned by a select few. We vote by machines that produce no paper ballot, and that are not audited to verify the results.
Welcome to the end of Democracy in America. And say hello to our new fundamentalist theocracy.
I am not alone in the belief that our country is heading quickly towards a form of frightening religious fascism. Unfortunately, the debate about what went wrong and how to fix it is not our highest priority right now, though still vitally important. Our highest priority now is to create a strategic plan for how the millions of people who voted against Bush will organize to defend our rights and our values against a regime that no longer resembles democracy...
Now that the election is over--and many of us feel like we've suffered a collective punch to the stomach--it is time to assess the changes that are upon us, and how to respond.
We must face the fact that America has changed drastically.
In our nation today, religious ideology trumps sound judgment, domestic and foreign policy is executed by a handful of right-wing zealots and the majority of media outlets are owned by a select few. We vote by machines that produce no paper ballot, and that are not audited to verify the results.
Welcome to the end of Democracy in America. And say hello to our new fundamentalist theocracy.
I am not alone in the belief that our country is heading quickly towards a form of frightening religious fascism. Unfortunately, the debate about what went wrong and how to fix it is not our highest priority right now, though still vitally important. Our highest priority now is to create a strategic plan for how the millions of people who voted against Bush will organize to defend our rights and our values against a regime that no longer resembles democracy.
We must determine how the 57 million of us who voted against Bush will exert political power on a new political playing field. We must function as a tightly coordinated group while using the technology and resources that brought us together in record numbers for the election.
We must resist.
Here are a few ideas to stimulate this Resistance:
Hit Them Where It Hurts - Boycotts Work
Millions of people are connected unlike ever before on the internet. For the first time ever, we have the opportunity to apply massive economic power in the form of coordinated group boycotts. The boycott against Sinclair Corp was a good example. Perhaps now we should look at the companies that played a large role in Bush's re-election--companies such as the major advertisers on FOX News, leading military contractors and their subsidiaries, and so many others
Stop the Machines
Until we have voting machines that produce paper ballots, and the results are audited for tampering, we have little hope of saving our Democracy. Reports from numerous precincts from the 2004 election indicate that voting machines failed to accurately count the vote, and in most cases, the errors favored President Bush. I won't go into detail here, but suffice it to say that the evidence is plentiful and disturbing. The organization heading the legal effort to count the votes is Help America Audt at www.blackboxvoting.org. They need your help today.
Public Relations Wars
I have chosen to believe that most of the people who voted for Bush did so out of fear, and that not all of them are complete idiots. Clearly, the Republicans won the public relations war before the election. But, we can win it now.
Media Outreach: While corporations may own the media, most reporters have a great respect for free speech, and they all want to break a big story. Use These Reporters. Expose untruths, send out press releases, pitch story ideas, write letters to the editor, advertise your events and support those reporters who still seek the truth.
Freeway Blogging: Got an idea? Tell 20 or 30 thousand of your fellow citizens about it by posting a message on a freeway overpass. You don't have to own a TV network to reach the masses anymore. See http://www.freewayblogger.com. This is also a highly effective method for promoting a nationwide boycott.
Influence Policy and Donate to Local Races
More than 57 million people voted against President Bush. We must stay connected and lobby for progressive causes as a group. The Internet is our best weapon in this fight. We also need to funnel money into local races nationwide to increase our representation in local and federal government. If even a small percentage of those who voted against Bush remain active, we will be a force to contend with.
Choose the Right Messengers
Americans have many values, and while we may not win Republican's over on abortion and gay rights, we can earn their votes by being the party of greater moral integrity over time. Our candidates must stay true to our progressive platform while having a clear message for conservatives. I suggest that message be as follows:
The values Americans care most about are best represented by the policies Democrats champion--values such as providing for our families, serving our communities and ensuring a secure future for our children.
The Bush administration is filled with crooks and liars. Every time they make a blunder, we need to tie it back to the values discussion.
Aikido Voter Registration
That said, register as a Republican so you can influence your local primary elections by voting for less conservative candidates.
Remember the Good News
Bush may claim a mandate, but he doesn't have one:
* Bush won by less than 200,000 votes in Ohio
* More people voted against him than any President in history.
* Bush is a cocky idiot. He will implode.
Remember the Bad News
Are you prepared for the worst of the worst: stock market collapse, disease epidemic, natural disaster, biological attack or widespread violence? I'm not a doomsayer, I'm a realist, and in this day and age, any of these things can happen at any time.
Unless you want to be at the mercy of those who have important resources like food and water, you should be prepared. Get the following and you'll feel more secure in times of trouble: 6-8 weeks supply of food and water, gas and stove, flashlights and batteries, first aid kit, wind-up radio, generator, and lots of $1 bills. If ATM's go down or there is a run on the banks, you'll want a big stash of $1 bills. If no one has change, you'll end up paying for everything in increments of $5, $10, and $20.
Take Care of Yourself
Even if the apocalypse is right around the corner, it is important to relax and feel good in each moment. After all, they haven't taken away our ability to enjoy ourselves. Do the things you like, sleep a lot, listen to music and return to nature often. Laugh. And work for justice.