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Seriously. The Republicans already own the US Congress, 2/3rds of the Statehouses and County and City councils across the nation. The Party of the ClownCar is running the nation, folks, and unless we submit one hell of a lot of pink slips to the Republicans in those seats this year and next year - then things are just gonna go from bad to worse.
Remember 2009-2011 and how damned hard it was watching the Democratic Party, from President Obama on down the line, tell us all how utterly impossible even a Public Option was to consider...
"Every single criteria for reform that I put forward is in this bill," Obama said. "It is true that the Senate version does not have a public option, and that has become, I think, a source of ideological contention between the left and the right. But I didn't campaign on a public option. I think it is a good idea. But as I said in that speech on Sept. 9 (on health care), it is just one small element of a broader reform effort. And so we don't feel that the core elements to help the American people that I campaigned on and that we've been fighting for all year have been compromised in any significant way." Now, cast your eye out upon the vast number of organizations clamoring for "redress of grievances", from Black Lives Matter to Everytown Against Gun Violence to Campaign Zero to the Palestine Freedom Project and a whole host of others.Do you image the current Congress will move ONE INCH to further the goals of any of those organizations? I certainly don't. Hell, they're threatening to SHUT DOWN THE FEDERAL GOV'T again this fall, over of all things, Planned Parenthood.
Now some people here at DailyKos seem to think that those who support Bernie Sanders for president are just looking for a Knight on a White Steed to ride in and save us. But Sanders himself keeps telling his audiences that he can't do it alone. That even if he gets elected to the highest office in the land, he won't be able to effect any change unless We the People join a political revolution...
What does he mean by that? He sure doesn't mean to have another march or rally, those are garnering lots of people but barely any Media attention - which is the ONLY way activists can convert their efforts into VOTES, by getting the attention of the Lawmakers, which can then create the atmosphere where their goals can be legislated into Law.
What he means is he needs a lot of people like you and me (and I'm already on the job, fyi) to STOP TYPING and get out there and run for Office. From local Animal Control Board to State Representative to the US House. What Bernie is calling for is a return to Citizen Legislators.
People putting their own career aside for a couple of years to do The People's business, in the US Congress and in our Statehouses. Remember, even though they originally restricted the ability of women or minorities from running for Office, such restrictions no longer apply.
If you are 25 years old (or will be 25 by the day of the General Election) and are a US Citizen who has spent at least 7 of those years in the US, then you can run for the US House.
For the US Senate, it's 30 years old and have been a US Citizen at least 9 years and inhabit the State you are running from:
No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the age of thirty years, and been nine years a citizen of the United States and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state for which he shall be chosen. For State offices check with your Secretary Of State's Elections department for rules for your State. Likewise for County or City offices.There is a reason the nation has been trending conservative and Republican for decades now - the conservatives are eager to run for Office, up and down the line. Look at how many of them are willing to line up and join their ClownCar every four years!
So if you think things can get better by just Retweeting on Twitter or Sharing on Facebook? If you think that your Duty to Country ends with casting your ballot whenever there is an election? I'm here to tell you that is not nearly enough.
When your nation, your way of life is at risk, it behooves you to take a good, hard look around and see where your talents and skills could make a difference, and then take that first step towards Building a Better Community, a better County, a better Nation...
STOP TYPING, GET OUT THERE AND RUN FOR OFFICE
You never know, what if you win your election and become part of the Change you Seek in the World? Wouldn't that be something to tell your grandkids about?
I'm hoping that it's a story I'll be telling mine, starting next year.
By the way, for those interested, I'm starting a September "5K for $5" fundraiser today. I'm looking to raise $25,000 by the end of September, to hire myself a Field Organizer starting in October, and buy Yard signs and bumper stickers. You'll see campaign diaries from me each week (and probably two times a week) from here going forward, talking about it, throughout September. You can help by donating here www.Angie4Congress.com through my ActBlue page (which has a 5,000 donors graphic to track how many donate).
Yes, fundraising is an aspect of running for office at every level.
Perhaps if enough of US got elected, we could change the rules and convert to a 100% Publicly Funded Election system, so that anyone with the skills and desire could run for office and have a decent chance of winning if their ideas are good enough...
as always...
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