As we helplessly watch our country continue to slide on its conservative butt down into a new Dark Age abyss, what do we do now?
b!X is in the processof launching a new site as a way to stimulate interest in reinventing the Democratic Party into what it’s supposed to be so that there’s some chance of eventually reversing directions. That’s what he’s doing.
My therapist/healer friend is leading a spiritual pilgrimage to Greece, and this is what he writes in response to being asked if he’s afraid to travel:
So what am I afraid of? Terrorism and dying? Yes, but not much. That is
just a symptom of our times. I am afraid of being terrorized by anybody
taking away my freedoms. Taking away freedom is the root cause of all
terror. I am afraid of any authority draining all there is of attention,
time, energy, tax money, our children’s future, in the pursuit of
imagined gigantic horrors we now live to eradicate. I am afraid of
anyone trying to make me believe that all the world is not mine, that I
am not safe elsewhere on the planet, that I am a targeted citizen of
America. I am not. I am not even a citizen of this soul-sick America
creeping like a diseased empire around the planet. I am a free citizen
of the world. It is my planet. I just happen to live in occupied
territory right now — once free territory occupied and controlled by a
political-corporate empire. That is why it is right for me to go —
because we are free. And because it is our world, all of ours. As
Sokrates taught us, doing what is right is good for my soul.
And me? I don’t know what to do. In truth, my life isn’t going to change much; it never does in response to political ebbs and flows. Suspended in the middle of the middle class, I’m not much affected by the stock market or interest rates or even taxes. But this is still my country, my planet, my human community. I want to do what’s right. I can only try. I have to try because I am a free citizen of the world. It is my planet. I just happen to live in occupied territory right now — once free territory occupied and controlled by a political-corporate empire.
If nothing else, I can keep reminding everyone that that is indeed the case. Let’s not fool ourselves.

Well, I voted for a regime change in New York State, but I have little hope of that really happening. We have a superbly qualified black man running against a totally white encumbent for Governor. Miracles do happen, I suppose.
We definitely need reforms in the electoral process, and I send you over to The One True b!X – November 05, 2002 – Olbermann’s Modest Proposals for some excellent suggestions.

This is why lots of ordinary people get so frustrated with the stuff that techies breeze through:
I decided I’d upgrade my McAfee anti-virus program with the new 7.0, which has a firewall as well. Except I couldn’t download the new version until I uninstalled my old one. Except it wouldn’t do a quick uninstall because there were little files stuck in weird places. So I got onto the McAfee site, which was not user friendly in getting help, but I did get to their tech chat person, who finally sent me a six page set of instructions on how to get rid of each file separately (and some might be in as many as 20 times in various places).
Well, being a non-techie 62 year old who gets an Excedrin headache when I have to program a tv or vcr and still haven’t figured out all of the settings on my digital camera, I asked for a refund and went and downloaded Norton with perfect ease.
This is why ordinary people get to hate technology. If I weren’t addicted to blogging, I probably would too.

I love Halloween. I have a box of costumes that I’ve made over the years — a unicorn, Betty Boop, a box of candy, an alien star ship captain, a Hogwart’s faculty member, a Christmas elf…. A few years ago, I really wanted to be Xena, but, being twice her age, I figured it was wise to let that one go. This year I was Medusa, with pipe-cleaner snakes bobby-pinned onto my head (and one hanging over my ear) and a witchy outfit. Two dance places that I go to had costume parties, so not only did I get to dress up, I got to dance.

Tomorrow, on All Saints Day, I get to take my mom to mass; and then again on All Souls Day, of course, so she can pray for all of the dear (or not so dear) departed. While she gets into the Catholic thing, I sit there and meditate, breathe, relax, space out. Before I know it, it’s over; she’s done her duty and I’ve lowered my blood pressure.
Medusa does Mass. Heh.

Reminds me of the Everly Brothers.
Jeneane is dreaming and telling and has other bloggers joining in

The names of many of the individuals for whom I’m planning on voting will appear on the ballot under political parties OTHER than the two major ones. For example, in New York State, we have a Working Families Party that reflects my values and that lists many of my favored Democratic candidates in their Row. So, rather than voting for them under the Democratic Row B, I will flip the stwitches under for them in WFP’s Row H. It’s one way of voicing my dissapointment and dissatisfaction with the major political parties.
Sometimes the people I want to vote for don’t all appear under the Working Families Party, so I’ll search out my favorite candidates under the Green Party or the Liberal Party — and sometimes even the Libertarian Party, just so I don’t support the mainstream power brokers.
That I’m using my one vote to voice two opinions.

As I was rallying some of the blog troops to help me weave some empowering wishes for b!X

Thirty

According to b!X:
For what it’s worth, I will (as previously stated) be in San Francisco for the anti-war march this Saturday. I arrive via Greyhound bus at 9:30 AM and will promptly be heading to Mad Dog in the Fog to partake of the Greedy Bastard for breakfast. I have not had this meal in over five years, and despite the crunched schedule (the first rally begins at 11:00 AM), I simply refuse to miss out on the opportunity.
So, stop by for breakfast. Or email me for my cellphone number if you’re going to be at the march. I’ll be in SF until 8:00 PM Saturday night, when I board the return bus to Portland.

Go here to download a free copy of this poster and then display it where it will get the most visibility.
If everyone who’s worried about Bush’s plans votes on November 5, we can engage in a little “regime change” of our own. The good news is that a majority of the people in this country are concerned. But that doesn’t matter unless they voice that concern at the polls.
If enough of us download these, print ’em up, and stick them on our car or in our windows, we can begin to create a culture of engagement and patriotic dissent. We’ll amplify our voices. We’ll help to elect the candidates who can help us out of this mess. And we’ll help to fire the ones that are on board for Bush’s endless war.