munk said:
Danny,
It's very easy to disagree with Ice without using harsh language.
Though one can generalize that power and money control all, the public will is very important too. Noam Chomsky had a great model in manufactured consent, what he is unwilling to understand is that consent can be manufactured by a variety of ideologies, not just the Right/industrial complex, as he sees it.
Consider too that being proactive with the political process makes for a healthier individual as well as society. Unless of course, one become filled with too much rancor and bitterness. Trying helps.
munk
Green Ice; your opinion is valued and now you've let off some steam I trust this is the end of rhetoric between you and Danny.
We know change is an uphill battle. Everyone knows the odds against change are always stacked by power and money.
Funny thing is if you change public opinion, power and money must listen. - Munk
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YES, AN EMPHATIC YES! I often engage in the political process, as much as I can, on a regular basis. - iBear
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However, it does little good to call your representatives. They basically do what they want or what their party tells them to do. Even the good ones cannot personally read the thousands of pages of laws that they are asked to sign into being. At best our reps depend on staffers to give them a rough idea about what they are about to sign. The respective political party basically dictates the way they vote. - Green Ice
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In my experience, this political process is very difficult and to change an issue, very hard... but, not impossible. Working together makes it a fun thing to do! So, I also agree with Danny and Green Ice at the same time! Now, how to make this political process effective..... that is another story and a different issue entirely. Much of my free time has been spent doing what Danny recommends. It is a worthwhile pursuit and not really a lost cause. The secret is unity of numbers, together everyone achieves more. Working together with other like minded people, will really impinge where an individual won't accomplish as much on his own. Like most things their are secrets of the trade. Ways to get things done. The second secret is that, with publicity you will save many hundreds of hours of effort. Last is that persistance of purpose is king!
Anyway, I agree with all of you. I'm not really a diplomat at this. It is just that I think that Danny is right.... you can change things. Learning how to do this process is an art and I do not claim to know much, except, I know to always tell the truth or just don't mention it at all! Many people know much more than I will ever realize.... and to those people I bow. Danny and Green Ice are more in agreement then they realize. This is a difficult process! Concentrate on the desired outcome, not the negative aspects of the process! Anyway, that is how I see it, more or less.
Thanks,
iBear