Does what we do really matter?

Crick - since no one has answered your question, I'll take a stab at it. I think it matters when, 4 years from now, someone might be complaining about the past 4 years and the decisions the president and our government have made. Because if you think it didn't matter enough not to cast your ballot, then you have no reason to complain. I will cast my vote for the candidate I think is best qualified to run this country. And then, 4 years from now, if my candidate didn't win the election, I have a good enough reason to be complaining.

Thanks Jos:) I just don't know that it's enough to just vote anymore. I think if we don't start making changes on the local level, districts, state etc., then none of it really matters who is in the White House.

COMPLETELY AGREE! But, then, our ancestors (AA and women) fought so hard for the vote. I just cannot let myself believe that it doesn't make a difference. The time is needed for some real change. Did you ever see the movie "The Power of One"??

I haven't seen that, no. I'll have to look it up on the IMDB site. I just look around my area lately and am just disgusted, and yet there is a bit of a "hopeless" attitude on my part too. (which is my own doing and that certainly isn't going to help change the things I have issues with! lol!) Sometimes I think change was easier in some ways for our ancestors because life was based on change. Meaning, life back then directly affected in more ways by NOT having change and for some it was a matter of survival that these changes get made. Nowadays...we don't have that same need, and yet change is still important and even dire in some areas.

Crick, I think we've become such a greedy society. Maybe it's somehow a good thing (??) that we now learn to cut back on fuel and other energy consumption. I also get very disgusted by what I see, mostly in terms of waste and greed by those in charge of big business, etc. And then the middle class is expected to pick up the slack. There are also those who are too lazy to work, too lazy to parent their own children, consider foster-care some kind of temporary babysitter (I've seen this first-hand), and that is yet another area where change is needed. There are those like you and I who are willing to work hard, to parent when it isn't easy, to support each other. There are also those who turn a blind eye to what is happening, as long as somehow it benefits them. I think there's much we can do, I'm just not sure I know where to start because, currently, I'm working 2 part-time jobs in order to make things better here financially and still be able to stay at home with my children. I'm, frankly, exhausted! Hugs.

I think voting makes a difference but we need to do more. I think part of the hopelessness people feel about it is that instead of choosing a great candidate, many of us feel like we are just trying to determine which one will do less damage. I use to belong to a church that is currently doing and interesting message series on generosity. The were going to do their normal appeal for money and decided in wake of the economic crisis in America, it wasn't the right thing to do. Instead, they want to empower their congregation to be self supporting and self sufficient. They intend not only to teach finanacial classes but to literally aid their congregation-people helping each other-to get out from under their consumer debt. It's a neat concept(google north heartland community church and click on messages-first one is the dream if you want more info) I am fascinated with this idea and looking for ways to use it in my own community. I honestly think revamping the school systems would help emmensely. Elementary students need solid basics in reading, math, money, English and roots of Governtment. Older students need way more in the area of real life-how does government work and what can people do to make change-this isn't taught well. How does money work and what is investing-this isn't taught well. What is ethical and moral behavior and why does it matter-this isn't taught well. I could keep going. I think change starts at home(I'm a big Dave Ramsey person for the money part).

Have you guys read the book "Me to We". Here is the website: [url=http://www.metowe.com/main/]Me to We[/url] I think that we, as private citizens, hold immense power. There are examples all over the world of one person who made an ENORMOUS difference in the world: Nelson Mandela, Che Guevera, Ghandi, etc etc. I think the problem is that in this age of information we are bombarded by all the problems in the world, and it leaves us feeling helpless. That helpless feeling can lead to inertia, where we just don't do anything. In fact, the private sector has done more to reform so many issues than most governments, because they aren't tied to a "party line". I think it is really important to pick one issue that you hold close to your heart (environment, AIDS in Africa, political reform - whatever it is) and then do whatever you can to change/help with that one thing. You know one saying I keep in mind when I am overwhelmed by the worlds problems (I study International development so this happens often!): if you wonder if one person can make a difference, just try and get some sleep in a tent with ONE mosquito buzzing around. I guess that is why these elections have me so fired up - I really do see Obama as one of those special people who has the capacity to transform - like Nelson Mandela. I imagine the pople of South Africa didn't have much reason to hope until he came into office, and while SA still has a long way to go - it has come so far in 20 years. And please - I am not trying to debate McCain vs Obama - or Republican vs. Conservative - I am just saying that is where my passion comes from on this particular election. And Josie - I agree with you on the greedy society thing. We can't do anything without asking "what's in it for me?". People don't stop to wonder what effects their actions have on the world around them. And that's lead to alot of problems...

First off, I am an elected official and I have worked for elected officials. It take three people, three real people to write their state or local elected official to create a crisis. Three actual human beings. The federal level I have not worked at but I can say for sure, three people. Elected officials do care because their jobs depend on it. The thing is though, that there are at least two real legitimate sides to any good issue, sometimes more. You may fervently believe in one but there is probably very likely someone equally as fervent on the other side. So just because you believe something should be a certain way, doesn't mean that it will end up that way. I can also say that it does matter a lot who gets elected. But also, every one of those persons is trapped in the same system. They all have to beg for money for their campaigns. They all have to pander to the organizations that can deliver the big blocks of votes. So to some degree, the same number of limited choices are faced by whoever you elect. Sometimes the best changes are systemic ones because they change the structure of the system. I'm in favor, for example of making some amendments to the Constitution that would change how Congress functions to get better outcomes. So it really is a combination of the person and the system.

I believe in the concept of Democracy - the RULE OF THE PEOPLE. That said, if I had been asked to design my utopian democratic system... I would not have selected the current model. I am less a fan of the representative system, and more a fan of the participatory system, like the Vermont Town Meetings. And I certainly would not have selected the electoral system. But hey... nobody asked me. :evilgrin: So I work with the system we have. I research the issues. I vote. And then I follow the actions of my representatives, in the NY City Council, the State Legislature, the Senate, the House, and the White House. And I keep in touch with my representatives at all levels of government, expressing my pleasure and displeasure with their actions and their decisions. I contact key committee members when an issue of importance to me is in committee. I follow the City, State, and Federal budget closely, and sometimes, when there is a comment period on the implementation of legislation, I submit written comments. I also testify at public hearings. Yeah. I think that little peon citizens can make a difference.

Well put Quesita. What we truly need is a democracy and not the republic that has built the federal government into the bloated thing that it is today. At all levels of government, I believe in knowing a candidates stance on issues as well as how they have voted in the past. So many voters get tied up on sound bites rather than examination of the issues. A knowledgeable peon can make much more of an impact than a mass of lemmings. As to Cricks original post. We have 2 political parties that only care about getting and maintaining power to further along their agenda. Although the presidency is the ultimate feather in the cap, the house and senate are the main places where change can be effected. The unfortunate part is that people will not vote out incumbents in congress even though they have the lowest approval ratings ever. We disapprove of congress, but we don't find fault with our own senators or representatives. It just keeps perpetuating. Combine that with voter fraud, voting machine inconsistencies, court challenges, etc... we end up with disenfranchised voters like myself. I will still vote, but it won't matter because machines will goof up and the Mickey Mouse registrations that have gotten through the system will in all likelihood negate my vote several times over.