I was feeling OVERWHELMED and intimidated before I had a major realization

[BigBearJohn]

thinking about the obstacles we face in getting true vote reform enacted.

I was focusing on the "rich and powerful" and how utterly powerless
and intimidated the "little people" can be when confronting the "rich
and powerful" -- I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me --
then it hit me -- DOH!

Just what is the REAL source of power behind the "rich and powerful of the world???" --

Answer: The citizenry -- the millions of "little people" spending their hard-earned money,
breaking their backs working 12-hour days, sometimes working two jobs to make the rich richer.
In other words ~~

The RICH have NO POWER of and by themselves -- other than that which WE, as citizens, give them.

We CAN make a HUGE difference here on DU. Organizing, networking, joining hands to get our voices heard across the nation -- and the world. AND WE ARE SLOWLY ACCOMPLISHING OUR GOALS!!!

I feel much better now.

"Truth is simple -- lies are complicated."

[BlueEyedSon]

1. No, their power lies in their access to money.

Unfortunately in acquiring power, that trumps populism.

[budkin]

2. Nice analysis...

The trouble is getting people to realize what horrors they are in fact, supporting. But it is entirely possible!

[mhr]

3. Exactly - The Little People Are 66% Of The US Gross Domestic Product

In other words we create the demand for goods and services that make the markets which make the economy.

Without us there is no economy.

Hence, the argument that wealthy people create value and jobs is rubbish.

They need us, we don't need them.

[Betsy Ross]

4. Was there any economic blip on Not One Damn Dime Day?

Was it measurable? This should have been a test of boycott power.

[BigBearJohn]

5. For me, the idea just knocked them off their unreachable pedestal

[NationalEnquirer]

6. Of course, and not just that...

but there are plenty of rich Democrats too!
You factor in the "little people" plus the rich Democrats, and WE HAVE POWER.

[BigBearJohn]

7. You know, I am REALLY starting to believe this

I am convinced that a lot of what happened with Conyers and Boxer was a direct result of our efforts.

[FreepFryer]

8. Good - because it was indeed! Now, let's not let up the pressure... (n/t)

[Catamount]

15. If only we could get 'the power' to the dems to filibuster Gonzales..

but I guess time's run out--or not?

[NationalEnquirer]

9. I have NO DOUBT.

Seriously.
If I hadn't joined DU, I would have never understood Boxers stance.
But now to me, its pretty obvious that DU, and other like minded internet places (I hate calling everything a BLOG) had a big hand in this, probably tipped the hand.

[ClassWarrior]

12. It's true. Mind-boggling but true.

I was thinking just last night how last summer we here at DU not only made sure F911 got wide distribution, but got onto a record number of opening night screens. That's power.

Never Give Up, my friend.

[Quakerfriend]

16. I felt this way too!

I could sometimes hear Conyers and Boxer say things that had come directly from DU! One morning about 2 wks ago, Seymore Hersch was being interviewed on CNN re: the secret service being in Iran and he said, "Sometimes you just have to drink the Koolaid" I almost died when I heard this!!

He said this with ref. to what some of his inside sources had told him about what it was like going to some of the meetings this WH has.

[OKJackson]

20. You are entirely correct

That was a result of our grass roots efforts, as well as the below.

We need to keep the fire on, the Repugniks are weak. This election in Iraq is the last trick up their sleeve, and they didn't want it. If the Shiite leadership calls for them to leave and they refuse, they are going to have a mack truck sized opening with which we can nail them all. They outed another Reporter being paid for propaganda (Gannon (which is also the name of an evil video game character, go figure ^_^) and are getting busted daily for their lies in the media.

We can do this, it won't take years, we stand a good chance of correcting this situation in a year, I think, if we press hard and give them absolutely no slack at all.

Think about that.

And realize it needs your committement, don't stop writing Boxer, Conyers, Sensenbrenner and others. Force them to move, we are the puppeteer, not the Straussian neo-cons.

Democrats will investigate Ohio vote
National party to spend up to $500K

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050202/NEWS01/502020378/1056

[fooj]

21. Yes, indeed! The TRUTH is our most powerful weapon!

They are fearless little pricks, however, there is one thing that rattles their cages...THE TRUTH! They are so busy spinning BS that the truth has been buried. Keeping up with lies is a full time job! It takes much effort to keep it all straight!

[Warpy]

10. Starve the real beast

Use it up
Wear it out
Make it do
Or do without

Go on a buying strike. Buy only what you absolutely can't do without. Buy as much as you can at thrift shops, yard sales, flea markets. Learn to cook. Learn to make your own clothing, even though WalMart clothing is cheaper. Remember, this is a skill that will come in handy down the line. When something breaks, go to the library and learn how to fix it instead of throwing it away for a newer, shinier version.

Pay off those credit cards and then get rid of them. Consider very carefully whether or not you require news media that you already know are lying to you. Deprive bad media's advertisers of an audience.

Don't worry about those folks out there who are still charging up their credit cards for vacations to tourist traps in the tropics. You'll be ahead come foreclosure time.

Little people exercise their power one at a time. The time to start is now.

[sagesnow]

11. Is anyone here doing the BuyBlue.org thing?

Their new campaign is "Shop in the Name of Love" with listings of Democratic supporting companies to buy Valentines Day gifts. I have totally changed the way I shop and check at BuyBlue before I get the card out. I have changed my phone company to Working Assets and am transferring my credit card to them as well. They donate a portion of their proceeds to liberal/ progressive causes. Check 'em out:
http://www.buyblue.org/current_campaign.php

[ClassWarrior]

13. I'm considering Working Assets cellular service.

I used to have WA long-distance, and they always did right by me. Plus their prices are competitive!

NGU.

[ms.smiler]

18. I very much agree.

I downgraded my cable to basic service and I don't miss the disinfotainment in the least. I discontinued my newspaper subscription and was surprised when they called recently to offer me the entire week for the cost of the Sunday paper. I told them "no thank you, it would just be more paper that I would have to recycle."

A "buying strike" is a good name for my lack of spending on anything unnecessary. I've been buying US made for years and try to shop with small retailers but I am much more careful about buying blue for necessary purchases.

I now refuse to own stocks or bonds and I withdrew my savings from the bank. I saw no reason why bankers should have the use of my declining dollars when they could be turned into something that will hold its value.

I know how many dollars I deny my bank and I know how many dollars our family business denies Staples every month. I know how many dollars I now deny the cable company, etc... and I am just one person. On a cumulative basis this has to make an impact. This broken system of ours will likely only respond to a loss of dollars so, more than ever, I am careful to cast each dollar like a vote.

[Bill Bored]

14. Teresa Heinz-Kerry knows the deal!

During the campaign, she spoke about having lived under fascism if you recall. When I heard that, I thought to myself that Bush isn't the only one who knows how to speak (but just barely) in code!

There are Dems with money who know what's going on. They may not all be the most progressive types, but they are a far cry from the neoCons.

But if we are going to boycott anything, it would have to be a sustained effort. Not just a one day thing.

For example, I wanted to boycott the failed state of Florida, but I have family members crying to go on vacation there! It's hard to change that without a major domestic dispute and you know how important Family Values are.

But there are other things we could boycott. Fossil fuels should probably be at the top of the list, as much as possible. And please don't fall for any scams about hydrogen made from fossil fuel, or by using energy from fossil fuel! I think this will be the next big Bush scam. It's only a matter of time. We should all become experts in energy conservation and use this knowledge to pull the economic rug out from under these war mongers.

[BigBearJohn]

17. We have a tool no other generation has had

the internet. Can you imagine what other generations would
have been able to accomplish if they had use of the internet
for gathering people together with common causes?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

19. Hey BBJ !! Try this -- Another BUY BLUE site !

http://www.choosetheblue.com/main.php

website shows which products are owned by blue-leaning companies !!!

Good News - Starbucks OK !!!

[chalky]

23. Wait, wait...are they KIDDING me with this?

Fox gives 61% to the DEMOCRATIC PARTY? WTF?

http://www.choosetheblue.com/main.php
(Choose The Blue > Entertainment and News > Television Networks)

[dmac]

24. You aren't kidding!

I found most of the television networks surprising, as most of them give by far more to the Dems - what is that about?

[texpatriot2004]

22. kick it for BigBearJohn n/t

[earth mom]

25. If it wasn't for posts like this I would have been lost in a sea

of despair. It's tough maintaining any bit of equilibrium when every day feels like a war zone. What's helped is that the folks here on DU have done a lot to keep me going on a daily basis. Thanks everybody! (that is, except the freepers!-lol!)

Even though I'm not religious per se-more spiritual actually-I often say a little prayer of thanks that DU is here and that we're all in it together and fighting the good fight. My hope is that we have enough time to spread the word about the * installations' evil deeds and their (borrowed this line from another DUers post with thanks) "continued rape of the lower and middle class of our money, dignity, freedom and democracy" before they are able to move on their vile agenda and take every thing we hold dear away and leave us with nothing but chaos as we continue to foot the bill for their despicable crimes against humanity.

[NationalEnquirer]

26. I need threads like this myself.

My moods swing pretty wildly on this.
I think the bottom line is that our representatives are people too, and if enough of us make a RATIONAL case (and I do mean rational, we can't come across like kooks, even if we are :) , then they'll open their eyes a bit.

Problem with washington is that there is a group-think mentallity that needs to be broken through.
I definately think we have our foot in the door!

[BigBearJohn]

27. I'm with you!!!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: