[Grovenet] Dependent or Independent? (WAS: A Different Christmas Poem)

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

I find interesting candidates in both parties. My frustration is with the
party machines, not necessarily the candidates. 

President Bush is simply the latest manifestation of their extremists
controlling the Republican Party. I have a hard time taking seriously *any*
candidate that party puts forward, no matter how personally attractive,
because I know that he will be controlled by the same party mob.

But I feel that both parties are out of control: they are simply too
powerful. For many years, anyone who seriously expects to be elected to the
Presidency has to join one or the other of the two parties, yet that person
is only a figurehead, controlled and directed by a hidden power structure
that we did not choose, pursuing goals they do not care to publicize. 

The very publicity that convinces the public that the lies you cited are
truth has disenfranchised the voters as fast as they received their ballots.
The power centers do that using the parties as the their 'front', enticing
the public with cleverly-crafted emotional appeals the hide the truth. 

One of the great fictions of our day is that it takes a rare, extraordinary
person to be a successful President. Nonsense! If President Bush hasn't
proven that wrong, everyone's blind. Indeed, they may well be blind! 

This country was founded on the idea that any educated American is capable
of handling state or national office, aided by highly-qualified experts of
their choosing. It's true that the number of well educated Americans is
diminishing at an alarming rate, but we still have literally millions of
well qualified people for the Presidency and every other elected office in
our land. The day that's no longer true, we no longer have a republic! 

I'm not saying that those who are running for office with either party
aren't intelligent, educated and qualified to serve. I am saying that every
one of those who are running on the national tickets have a huge machine
attached to them with its own agenda who we will put in power if we choose
them. That's exactly what happened when President Bush took office. I
believe that it's also true with almost every other President in my
lifetime. 

It's time for a revolution, not against the government established by our
founding fathers, but against the corrupt, ineffective system by which we
choose the candidates who we get to vote on to run the government. 

One simple, effective way to revolt is to stop offering our names to the
political parties to use as they see fit. No matter who we may choose to
vote for on election day, why allow their party to crow that we are among
their dedicated, unquestioning supporters by virtue of being a member? 

Why not register as an independent, saying "show me and I'll think about it"
when a party puts forth a candidate?

Isn't independence what America is all about? 

As an independent, no one will suggest that you should be true to someone
else's ideals. 

All you have to do is be true to yourself. 

Ron D'Eau Claire  


-----Original Message-----
From: grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com [mailto:grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com] On
Behalf Of David Morelli
Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2007 10:57 PM
To: Forest Grove local interests list
Subject: Re: [Grovenet] A Different Christmas Poem


Unfortunately the Democratic National Committee isn't providing much  
in the way of positive direction.  Even their opposition to the  
President fails to show how their policies were better.

Karl Rove is telling America that the Democratic controlled Congress  
pushed the US into Iraq before the Administration was ready.  The DNC  
fails to tell America that the Iraq War Powers Act required the  
President to exhaust all alternatives before going to war.  If Bush  
knew of anything left untried, then he violated the act by going to  
war when he chose to invade Iraq.

George Bush is telling America that we have to stay in Iraq until his  
project of "Nation Building" is complete and that Congress has no  
authority to pull the plug on his war.  The DNC fails to tell America  
that the President was only authorized to invade Iraq for two  
reasons, to enforce the UN resolutions and to protect the US from  
Iraq.  Neither of those reasons remain, therefore, Bush is in  
violation of the Iraq War Powers Act now, and he has been conducting  
an unauthorized war since the day that it was determined that Iraq  
had no program of WMD's.

Bush talks about fighting a "war on terrorism".  The DNC fails to  
point out that the war against the terrorists in Afghanistan was  
pushed into the back seat, so that Bush could conduct his "invasion  
of Iraq".

The Republicans talk with pride about removing the ruthless dictator  
of Iraq.  The DNC should remind America that Republicans financed and  
supported Saddam under Reagan and Bush I.

The Republican party is the party of fiscal conservatism.  The DNC  
has failed to tell America that the "no fly zone" enforced by Clinton  
was far less expensive than the Bush invasion.

The Republican party wants to control illegal aliens with a wall.   
The DNC has failed to point out that functioning unions, like the  
farm workers union, worked to keep illegal aliens from taking jobs  
from American workers without Government effort.

George Bush inherited a world where Russia was disarming, North  
Korea's nuclear program was under UN inspection, and Iran was ruled  
by a moderate Islamic faction.  The DNC has failed to point out that  
Russia is responding to Bush's rearmament by going back to their old  
ways.  North Korea responded to his tough talk by resuming their  
program and building a nuclear weapon.  Iraq responded to his  
rhetoric by electing the radical Islamic faction.

For six years the Administration has been telling America that we  
don't have global warming.  The DNC fails to tell America that the  
advisors to the Democratic Party are more accurate than the advisors  
to the Republican party.

The dollar is falling and gasoline prices are rising.  The DNC fails  
to remind America that this economic adjustment has been expected for  
years and the Republicans have done nothing to prepare for it or  
soften the blow.

This last item is pretty serious.  If we don't get a good transition,  
the total economy could tank.  If we do get a good transition, we  
should have reduced imports and higher petroleum import prices, which  
translates into better economies for alternative energy sources, more  
exports and more American jobs, better economies for recycling, more  
security for American workers, reduced incentive for single person  
vehicle traffic, and less pollution from China.  It also means less  
total consumption by Americans, which will create some real problems  
for many of us.  Good planning could reduce the severity, but the  
Republicans have ignored this pretty completely.  Efforts at  
recycling, energy efficiency, mass transit, smart planning, local  
content, etc. should benefit us.

David


On Dec 13, 2007, at 7:51 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:

> I agree, Geri, with everything but the "stolen election".
>
> Yes, it's possible the first election should have been decided 
> differently, but: ...
> Frankly, I'm completely fed up with both parties. They have good  
> symbols: blue stubborn jackasses and red obese self-centered red  
> pachyderms. It's amazing how many people identify with one or the  
> other.
>
> Ron (who is proud to be an independent) D'Eau Claire
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