NOW WHAT?
By Mary Starrett
November 19, 2008
NewsWithViews.com
There is no sugarcoating the results of this election.
Obama’s been elected, and short of a victory in the court challenge of his citizenship status, we will see this man sworn in as president in a few short months.
If you’re like me, you’ve vacillated from disbelief to despair to anger to ennui.
Much like the four stages of grief- denial (he couldn’t possibly wind up winning this election) bargaining for time (the current lawsuits over his eligibility) anger (how could the American people be so blind?) finally, acceptance (ok, he won, now what?)
Now that we face the unthinkable, we have to do just that. Stop and think about what to do next.
First, we acknowledge Providence in all this and turn our country’s fate over to the hand of God, as the colonists did when the British were quartered in their homes and their very lives were at stake.
Second, we work methodically to get the word out so we can get enough people to wake up between now and 2012.
Third, we find ways to turn chicken manure into chicken salad.
Can we do that?
Despite the bad news and the vote tallies showing more Americans (including Evangelicals, Catholics, “Conservatives” and “Republicans”) voted for Obama, we know that the GOP is DOA. The Republican Party, in an effort to be all things to all people wound up being a mirror image of the Democrats. On every issue from immigration to gun rights to taxation, to “bailouts” to government intervention, to bigger, more bloated and intrusive government the Republicans ignored their base and will join the Whig Party in the substrata of political party fossil beds.
Although many voters who consider themselves “conservative” have demonstrated their willingness to vote for uber liberal candidates simply because they attach an “R” to their names, the game is over and they will heretofore be faced with a pressing decision: Continue to vote for the lesser evil or dig out of the two party quicksand and move on.
Recent political commentaries have predicted by 2012, we will be living with food shortages, tax revolts, homelessness and general chaos.
Before things disintegrate to that level, let us make a pact to get busy at the local level to work for third party ballot access, election reform and holding those who have been elected accountable for every vote they cast on our behalf.
Take comfort that selfless men and women from third parties who run for office are challenging the powerful duopoly in state and federal government. One Constitution Party candidate cost a Republican incumbent U.S. Senator his job because he ran as the only true conservative.
That sent a message to the GOP that voters are tiring of Republicans in drag.
Constitution Party presidential candidate Chuck Baldwin was denied a forum in debates, ignored by media and lacked the $650 million Barack Obama raised (albeit largely illegally) to buy his new job. Still, 180,000 Americans looked at what he stood for and cast their precious vote for the principles he embodied.
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Others voted for Barr, Nader, McKinney and a host of other third party candidates because they put principle over party.
This is no time to break weak. During the next four years, we can do some amazing things if we have the guts to defy the odds.
� 2008 Mary Starrett - All Rights Reserved
