By Timothy V. Gatto
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
liberalpro.blogspot.com
February 17, 2010
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I was going to stop writing about political things and concentrate on fiction. Fiction is an easier venue because most of the time it doesn’t get you wrapped around the proverbial axle and make you want to blow your head off. It is infuriating to write a political piece based on recognized facts and the knowledge you impart completely ignored by the majority of Americans that refuse to read anything outside of the mainstream media and would rather live their life in the surreal world of corporate and political pabulum so they can live their lives more “comfortably”.
Lately however, just as I was about to give up on the American people, I see something germinating that should have happened years ago. I see Americans no longer content to hear platitudes and axioms from their elected representatives. I believe that as in the “Wizard of Oz”, the curtain is being pulled back and people are finally seeing that the all knowing Oz isn’t all he has been hyped up to be. Americans are finally admitting that they have been being lied to on a constant daily basis for the advancement of the few that actually run this country.
This is defiantly NOT the time to get out of politics. Some people feel threatened by the Tea Party movement. While I don’t subscribe to many of their viewpoints, I welcome them to the political fray. Their movement is probably the best thing to happen in politics since the Vietnam Vets against the War staged a million person demonstration in West Potomac Park in March of 1973. The Tea Partiers have a right to be angry, we all do. The politicians in Washington are either obstructionists (The Republicans) or gutless (The Democrats). They have no interest in the well-being of the average American, they only think of consolidating their “base”.
I blame the so-called “Progressives” for letting Obama get away with negotiating away the best parts of a health care plan that would enrich the lives of all Americans. I also blame them for listening to the Democratic-led Congress that claims that a 40 seat minority ties their hands. We all know that a good health care plan could have been passed if most of the politicians in the Senate didn’t have their hands tied by their corporate sponsors.
Evan Bayh recently said that he would not run for another term in the Senate. Good riddance. We all know that his father Birch Bayh was the reason he had that job. Senate patronages should be outlawed. I for one am really tired of political families in Congress. I’m also tired of people that vote either Republican or Democrat because they believe that in some way these political parties represent their values. Folk, these parties have no values. Almost every Senator and Congressman is a multi-millionaire. Most of these people who weren’t millionaires when they got their seat in Congress are millionaires now. How do you think they manage to do that? Do you think they got rich looking after your interests?
The reality of the situation is that most Americans are finally realizing that Washington is looking after their own interests and the interests of the corporations that put them in power. We saw that when the bankers threatened to bring this country down by gambling with derivatives based on nothing and they got caught with their pants down running that Ponzi scheme, instead of putting them in jail, the government rewarded them with trillions of dollars! Now Obama says that it left a bad taste in his mouth. It left a bad taste in all of our mouths. The thing is they are still at it!
So now the mid-term elections of 2010 are on the way. The talking heads of the mainstream corporate-owned media say that Republicans are going to win big. Tell me, why should Republicans win big? Didn’t this entire mess start on their watch? Why vote for a party that tries to block every piece of legislation for the last two years? They say they want Obama to fail. Correct me if I’m wrong, but if Obama fails, so does the country! Nice people, those Republicans.
The Democrats aren’t any better. These are not the Democrats your parents voted for. They are just as corrupt as the Republicans. The few honest voices in Congress aren’t recognized when they speak truth to power. Pelosi and Reid should be tarred and feathered.
Try doing yourself a favor and quit the two corporately owned political parties that are selling us all down the river. Vote Green, or whatever party floats your boat. The best course would be to send independents to Congress. Wow, what a revolutionary idea. Political parties have had their heyday. It’s time to retire them and their millions of dollars and see if they can work for a living and not as lobbyists. It’s your choice. Choose wisely or quit complaining. You get what you pay for.
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Read Tim Gatto’s new book Complicity to Contempt and watch for his new novel Kimchee Days coming out soon.
see
It’s an Honor to be Part of the ‘Loony’ Left in Amerika by Sean Fenley
Dandelion Salad 
Support labor organizations such as SEIU 775nw (Home Care Workers and Nursing Home Workers). They are under attack from the Washington State Legislature. This legislature has already put in action cuts that have damaged client care and workers wages and benefits. See their website (seiu local 775nw) for further info. This Local fights for social justice. This includes quality care for the disabled and the elderly. Join the Universal Single Payer movement for example. Vote for Green Party Candidates and others that are anti Imperialist and for socal justice and don’t take coporate money. Join the Peace Movement. Support those that are fighting back. Love you.
I quit the Democratic Party years ago, but I feel left out in the cold. My Independent candidate wasn’t even allowed to participate in the presidential debate.
I sit upstairs in my office and I read most of the Columns written by the many gifted and giving columnists like you. I want you to know how much I appreciate this opportunity.
But I wonder what good does it do me to know how badly America is being managed when there is nothing that I can do. Oh yes, I write letters to the editor now and then, and make a phone call to the White House. I always get a busy signal. Yes, I, too, feel like blowing my head off.
Please, no violence against yourself, Bev, politics is not worth it. The best thing we can do is work locally.
It’s really too late now, but still, better late than never: we have to stop least-worsting and ONLY support progressives and anti-imperialists. It’s time for the progressive movement to grow up and move out of the basement, into its own house.
Haha, good one, phil.