Thinking about redirecting my energies...

[Jackpine Radical]

In view of the Americans United decision, as well as some other recent events like the health care bill betrayal and the refusal to mount even an honest attempt to regulate the banks and Wall Street, I have been thinking a lot about the whole notion of voting. If we are offered no really meaningful choices at the polls--if, as is likely in the near future (and arguably already in the present), all viable candidates are merely nicely packaged corporate merchandise--then it's like voting for your favorite breakfast cereal.

"Buy Honey Nut Hillarys;"

"No, no, Obama-O's are much better."

In this environment, your vote doesn't count for much in terms of its deciding power. However, it still does have some signal value. I am going to cast my votes in the future based on two principles:

1) Vote for any non-corporate-sponsored candidates who make it onto the ballot.
2) Vote for the furthest-left alternative.

And, beyond that, I intend to focus any spare energies on local affairs. Not just local politics, but on doing something more to form more and deeper bonds and relationships with my neighbors.

[datasuspect]

1. yep

[eleny]

2. Your last paragraph is quite moving

We look so far down the road and so hard at the big picture that sometimes we forget how important it is to do just what you propose. Working locally - yes. But living locally with those most nearby to us is so very important.

K&R

[asdjrocky]

3. I've gone completely local.

I haven't decided if I'm going to vote again, but as far as my energies go, they go local.

I had to think long and hard about it, but in retrospect, I don't think a politician has ever really kept a campaign promise.

I'm in the slow long hard process of learning not to bang my head against the wall.

[glitch]

4. That's exactly where I am.

It's the only way to keep a positive attitude and maybe actually effect real change, IMO.

[spanone]

5. k&r and this supreme court has only just begun.

[bvar22]

6. Kudos.

Those very same reasons motivated my wife & I to move to The Woods in 2006 and planted a BIG garden.

We live and eat well on a low "taxable" income.
We grow a good percentage of our own food, and keep chickens and honeybees.
We buy almost nothing NEW.
What we can't make ourselves, we buy or barter 2nd Hand or salvage, and make it work...
or do without.

Our focus has become local Humanitarian Issues, Rural co-operative Community issues, and developing new ways to deny funding to Corporate America and their bought politicians.

We are happier and healthier.

Good Luck.

[Jackpine Radical]

7. We also live in the country & garden.

We have 12 acres of land, a lot of which I'm letting grow back into mixed pine & northern deciduous (birch, hard maple, etc.) woods. We garden & pick our wild blackberries, elderberries, etc. We don't eat a lot of meat, but most of it is from local free-range farmers.

[scarletwoman]

8. Similar to my own plan, although I conceived mine months ago.

I call mine: "The Quiet Russian Peasant Surviving in the Soviet Union Plan". Keep my head down, grow my cabbages, play my balalaika & sing & dance with the neighbors, drink my vodka, and pay no attention to those assholes in the Kremlin.

sw

[mzmolly]

9. Keep in mind that Bush appointed those on the SCOTUS

who moved the court to the right. I'm going to vote as I have in the past.

[Jackpine Radical]

10. Yes, I know the history of SC appointments.

I certainly also respect your decision; I was describing my conclusions, not prescribing actions for others. My conclusions are based on 1) the consequences of the SC action, not the antecedents and 2) my observations of the actions of politicians for whom I voted.

[mzmolly]

12. Well this decision could certainly change the scope of politics.

I do hope to elect someone who can essentially change the court and rectify it.

Peace JR. :hi:

[Atticus]

13. Also live in the country and garden and I also would like to be able to vote FOR somone.

But, I will venture out to my polling place as often as there is an election and vote AGAINST the fascists who have bought our country.

It may not help short term, but it may encourage others and it can't hurt.

As for my neighbors, my bumper stickers really piss them off and that alone is reason enough to stay involved.

Peace, JR.

[NoSheep]

11. I'm with you. We have to vote for the lesser of two evils. We don't have to buy their BS

hook, line and sinker but my concept that somehow I was doing the right thing by not voting went out with my idealism mid Reagan era.
The low impact, "local" lifestyle spoken of in this thread has always been my lifestyle. That doesn't mean I shouldn't go to the polls and vote for the best on the ballot.

[mzmolly]

14. Exactly!

We as voters must "filibuster" Republicans at the polls. :hi: