Our cause is not lost...refreshing story

[Horse with no Name]

I went to a friend's house last night to help her 20 year old daughter write her essay and fill out her applications for nursing school.
My friend wasn't home and it was only her daughter, her other daughters 22 year old boyfriend and myself.
Somehow, the talk turned to politics (I swear I didn't start it,lol).
Her parents are basically sheeples and just vote Bush cause thats the thing to do. Her daughter said that her mother and dad just don't know the issues so they vote blindly.
The boyfriend astounded me (these are NOT politically active kids you understand) but he said that he felt 911 was the action of the government to further their plans for Iraq so they could get the oil.
We then went on to discuss other issues of interest and the kids see what is happening to Social Security, they see what is happening to social programs, etc. and they aren't buying it.
The 20-year old had a baby while she was in high school and her statement was "No matter how much money I earn for the rest of my life, I can never repay what has been given to me. My baby has been sick and I would have never been able to afford the medicine and if it weren't for Medicaid, my baby would have died." That is the truth--the baby did almost die (She isn't on food stamps or TANF and gets no child support. She only uses Medicaid for the baby. She works full time and attends school full time. She lives at home and her mom watches the her 3-year old). She went on to say that it doesn't matter for her tax dollars if 2 out of 3 people who were utilizing these programs were fraudulent, that you cannot cut these out because there is still 1 that is being helped and you cannot take that away from them.
It made my day to realize that we do have hope in deeply red Texas.
These kids who do not actively participate in politics do get it!
This is our future and it looks good!

[HuckleB]

1. Thanks for the story.

Hope is needed.

Salud.

[villager]

2. the next steps:

1) they start voting differently
2) they start talking to their friends
3) they get active in whatever way(s) they can...


thanks for the story...!

[emlev]

5. "They get active in whatever way they can."

Can you imagine ways it would work for them to get active? Can you help them find those ways, or create those ways with them? Can you make those strategies available to others?

This could be really key.

[villager]

6. first, start with what they have control over: what they buy

*buying less (less debt. etc.)
*buying from companies that aren't screwing over working people like them (to whatever degree possible)
*writing letters/calling congressfolk (if they haven't done this before, it can be a big step)
*a couple hours once a month "volunteering" somewhere -- serving soup, helping the homeless, etc. it doesn't have to be political, but it will be eye-opening...

these are good starters...

[satya]

3. Thanks for posting that!

And good for her for making the best out of difficult circumstances, and still somehow finding the time to stay informed--that's more than I can say for a lot of older, economically-advantanged people I know.

[Darknyte7]

4. That's a "feel good" story...

Thanks for sharing!

[spooked911]

7. thanks-- gave me goosebumps!