Why the blackout might just save us...

[bocadem]

I know this is a long shot, but try to follow my reasoning.

Tonight as I watched the evening news I paid close attention to the expressions and apparent moods of New Yorkers being caught on camera. Fully expecting to see people who were in 9/11 mode, terrified and fleeing. Instead I saw happy faces, people helping each other, waving at the camera. They were smiling - almost as if attending a big street party.

I know that for some, especially those caught in the subways, there might have been a few moments of panic, but as soon as they realized what was going on, the panic evaporated and they were filled with hope and relief.

I bet you this has a damning effect on the Bush Co. fear machine.

What could have been bad turned out to be nothing. It's kind of like fearing a trip to the dentist's office and then coming out of it okay - the next time you go you're never as scared.

Today's event empowered the people of New York and the United States. People like my mom, who called me at 5pm today to tell me about the "terrorist attack" are now rethinking their fears. Maybe these people will think twice when another code orange comes down the pike. Maybe they'll break the chains.

just a thought...

[Cha]

1. Yeah! Good Point! I was in New York City during a "code

orange" alert and no one was afraid! It was just a fake one so we couldn't get a marching permit for the Feb 15th Protest!

[NYC]

11. It's ALWAYS orange alert here.

It hasn't changed since 9/11. My battery is running low. No more running water & hot as hell. That's the update. Same as before. :hi:

[mandyky]

2. This is also a point where

our Dem 9 can point out the downsides of deregulation and privitization of necessary services.

[Yentatelaventa]

7. Are you suggesting government control of power utilities?

As if we are not paying enough for power as it is. That would not be a good idea.

[sandnsea]

8. My power company is not corporate

They ALL used to have government regulation, ALL of them.

My local co-op power is 7 cents for the first 300 KWH and 5 cents after. And I live in Oregon, mixed in with the whole California mess. My power went up a few cents, but it's still cheaper than deregulated people are paying.

It's a lie. Government regulation of essential services works.

[Brian Sweat]

9. Most munis have better rates than private utilities.

[CatWoman]

3. What an excellent post

:thumbsup:

Rock on, Bocadem.

Rock on.

[MasonJar]

4. Blackout

Did you see CBS? They were interviewing people who were really upbeat; one lady was out directing traffic; others joined in to help her. The reporter asked her if she had done traffic before and she responded that she was a teacher and had not done it before. People were thanking her fro helping. Also greatest of all Dan Rather was questioning whether Bush was going to cancel his fundraiser. The reporter said no tha Andrew Card was at the WH, handling things. The reporter had a very grim expression. Rather continued the probe, asking where was Cheney. It appears that the last time anyone knew where he was he was vacationing in Montana (or is it Wyoming?) Later when querying a different reporter, Rather began the whole Bush/Cheney inquiry over. I loved it. I do not believe Dan Rather admires our malaprop in office.

[Robbien]

5. New Yorkers. You rock!

Takes a beating and keeps on ticking. All right New York!

[bocadem]

6. I agree!

I love New York!

[sandnsea]

10. And it's good for the country!!!

If you guys are okay, then the rest of the country is okay too! This may well be the day when America decides its ready to live in strength instead of cowering in fear.

Too bad for Bushco.

[catzies]

12. LIVE IN STRENGTH INSTEAD OF COWERING IN FEAR

It's so good, it's worth saying twice.

[DagmarK]

13. Also - Bush's inability to even address the nation......

will be remembered.

This was a fire drill of sorts...and everyone, including Ted Koppel, absolutely expected Bush or Tom Ridge to say something and rather quickly.....not 5 hours later and via a reporter.

And Bloomberg.....just seemed really irritated and snippy about the whole thing. Remember Guiliani on 9/11? Talk about a guy who was under some PRESSURE......and he was a total servant to the people. Bloomberg? Just seemed irritated. I would hate to see him under some real pressure.

I think there are a lot of Americans sitting him saying...OKAY......so the feds didn't really have a response to this. When everyone everywhere was thinking, "geez, is this terra?".

I think this will buy more votes for the dems.....esp if the repukes want to run their campaign on national security preparedness.

[Ein]

14. I dunno

Something had to be up, 21 plants in 3 minutes. 10 nuclear plants included among those, from what I heard. The NiMo plant workers denied that a lightning bolt hit it and that one other said there wasnt a fire as reported, at least I read those here.

Something was all screwed up about it.

[Hippo_Tron]

15. That's horrible...

Okay, I admit that the color coded terror alert system is pretty stupid but constantly being on the watch for terrorists is not a bad thing. No I don't want people living their lives in fear but we do need to be careful.

[sandnsea]

17. No, it's not healthy

When you live in strength and confidence, you are prepared to handle terrorists or any other threat that comes your way. When you live in fear, your judgment and reason is skewed - thus the willingness to give up our freedoms unnecessarily as well as allowing our fellow citizens to be disappeared without a word from the populous as well as not being able to discern true threats from fanatical anxieties. A responsible government would want us to move forward and recover from the grief and fear of the terror attacks. Instead, they reinforce the grief and fear. Wonder why.

[PurityOfEssence]

16. Saaay...howzabout a little peek at those Energy Papers now...?

This the ENERGY administration, isn't it?