Not thrilled with the election results? Don’t worry. It’s not the end of the world. It’s not even the end of the battle.
Traipsing off to the polls every few years does not exhuast our duty as Americans. In addition to voting, we have to keep learning, stay informed about what’s happening in our government. We must also provide constant feedback, writing to newspapers and websites, or speaking out on your favorite talk radio program.
Citizenship means going further, too, joining with groups already fighting for accountability, or tackling problems ourselves by organizing friends, neighbors and co-workers. We can overcome abusive government policies and protect the right of citizens to speak out, to petition their government.
The national media may obsess with whatever is going on — or not going on — in Washington, but we don’t have to. We can look to the state and local arenas, where citizens are better able to reassert control over out-of-control government.
As early as next year this time voters can be deciding new statewide ballot measures in Ohio and Washington. Such measures crop up even sooner at the local level … but only if concerned citizens get together to do the hard work of petitioning reforms onto the ballot.
Politics can be more than a spectator sport. In fact, it must be much more than that if we aim to leave freedom and prosperity to our children and grandchildren, rather than bondage and debt.
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
5 replies on “The Day After”
Good thoughts. It is time to regroup and find ways to help educate others. Learn, ourselves. It is more difficult to articulate the conservative position than it is to promise everything to everyone. We must learn to do that ourselves and choose only candidates who can rationally present the conservative case. And, maybe we need to focus on basic responsibilities of government as outlined in our constitution, rather than focusing on social issues.
Au contraire, I DO think it’s the end of the world. The Obama ascension is not a traditional Presidency, it is the rise to power of an American version of Hitler — the “solver of all problems” who knows that with enough control (and a private army of Brownshirts to assert it) he can reshape the world as he wishes. We didn’t need a “President for Life”, but I think we just got one. This time it’s different.
I don’t know who subscribed me to this bullshit but you better unsubscribe me right now. Put me on your do not mail list!
We Did IT!!!
Hope Rules!
Never again will we let cold war attitudes ruin our lives.
Pay Attention!…
Do you want to know how to reverse the damage that has been done in this election and which WILL be done in the next four years (God forbid he gets re-elected)? It’s simple. Pay attention to politics. It is those who proudly say they don’t, but who.….