Imposing force and then democracy on a previously sovereign nation has it's problems. Factions, elites and other underlying factors contribute to a whole array of problems and hazards. One in four active duty soldiers thinks we should withdraw from Iraq now. Of course their vote doesn't count.
Yours will. The average American probably agrees they got hoodwinked about WMD. Colin Powell at the UN ! He was at least in Vietnam right ? Hillary, she's the smartest Senator ever, right ? Unfortunately my opinion in 2002 was not sought by anybody. I liked Hans Blix. I didn't think the aluminum tubes were real. Scott Ritter seemed reasonable.
The tepid lackeys of power will always hedge and feint their positions. They walk a delicate line. That is why the Korean Conflict is technically on hold. It's why lawyers feel confident about flaying the Constitution and we go to war without declaring it.
When George Will starts to decry the current administration as Wilsonian in its ambition to promote democracy abroad, we know that even the conservatives aren't on board anymore.
What hope does democracy have abroad when we don't even have it here at home. Ballot access, restrictive practices and no choice from the lesser of two evils keeps us out of it. No lawyer wants to waste his/her intellectual energy on ballot issues. They pick their blue or red pony just after the monopoly says they get to exploit via license. Occasionally a noble soul steps up and bats for the people. With as much at risk in the modern world, you would hope that one of the six billion residents of the planet could come up with some way different to do things in the good 'ol USA. Send us your thoughts.
The Good, the Bad & the Ugly - May 7th 2006
The Green Papers is one of our favorite campaign resources. It gives a simple list by state of the candidates that they know about throughout the country. No hype or general attitude about the whole thing we deem or think is democracy. Just the candidates. It's how you find out about WL Swarts, the 'Progressive in the Woods'. As far as I can tell, ours may be the only Libertarian Congressional attempt in all of the Empire State. There is a Green running in one district. How is this possible ?
Recently they added the FEC filings that all or most campaigns need to submit. It was humbling to see that our effort has reached and now exceeded seven thousand dollars, 7K, wow thanks. Technically we are in third place if you consider how media covers the races. We did that in three weeks, not the full first quarter. Unlike some campaigns, we have desks, chairs, tables, computers, network printers, bulletin boards, file cabinets, phones and a broadband connection. Having just completed 10 years with an office on the street, so to speak, I'm not in a big hurry to run down to Valatie and get some cheap space. We could be persuaded with enough support.
We'd rather focus our resources on democracy. Watch for some interesting announcements in the next few weeks. For as little as $500 we can get commercials produced and then submit them to various sources throughout the district and the Internet. We've already started getting the March 16th Edition of 'Hardfire' out there. People are responding. A few more bucks has these things out on TV right now, not October or the last weekend of the campaign. It will help generate resources for the demographic contact that all campaigns need. Market penetration is necessary in this District.
I was honored at the LPNY convention when Jim Lesczynski gave me a donation. His guerilla Liberty tactics are legendary. His Serf City has put the message of Liberty on the Big Apple's streets. As we gear up and get ready to hit the district all summer. I hope to meet a thousand Lesczynski's who have a burning desire for Liberty in our time. Sometimes our answers are not popular and people don't want to hear about what we say about education or healthcare. It's hard to release the security blanket of government. Others could care less and rarely concern themselves about how we allow ourselves to be governed. More often then not, people are appreciative of our attempt and it's direct and simple message.
Unfortunately it doesn't look like the Weld thing is going to help out our petition effort. We need 3500 signatures within the district. Between July 11th and August 22nd we have to find any voter left in the district that time of year. We'll walk neighborhoods and get as many as we can. Hopefully an online strategy will aid an effort for Democracy. Prior to the 1890's an American could declare they were running and if enough people wrote their name in, off they went to represent the people. Now two parties purposely dispossess the people from Democracy.
More then money we need your help just to get a seat at the table. People have lives and other more important things to do then worry about an election in November. The bosses and the belligerents will insure that the only choice is red or blue. They like it that way. Help organize a petition drive someplace. Otherwise its perpetual war, spending and constant ridiculousness.
