I am heartened by the responses my tirade triggered. While I am happy to see so many teed off Texans, I must ask myself (and them) "OK, so you're Pi--ed! What do you intend to DO about it?" Talk is cheap. How many Texans are willing to go to Austin and hold the representatives and senators feet to the fire? How many will "occupy" the offices of the Secretary of State and the Attorneys General? One? Two? A dozen?
Folks, it is way past time for talk and rhetoric. It is a given that most Texans are ready for another San Jacinto or Alamo. The ONLY way to get a politician to do anything is to get in his or her face. Unless you threaten their power and prestige you are not even noticed. Confront them face to face (with the media if possible) and you get their undivided attention. Politicians and bureaucrats like the media, but only when they control the terms of exposure. Sound bites and slogans are the stuff of politics. In-depth coverage of a mass protest is a horse of a different color. Put 100,000 angry voters on the lawn of the capitol and see what happens. The guv can't call out the guard as they are mostly serving and dying in Afghanistan and Iraq (another blog for later). Let them know that their cushy jobs depend on them standing tall and defending the people and their values. Learn about interposition and nullification. Don't just toss around words to appear knowledgeable. Learn what they mean so you can argue from a position of knowledge and understanding. Start blogs. Read, watch and listen to the news. Most of it is revolting and makes you angry. Good! At least you have the ammo to form a learned opinion.
And finally, GET INVOLVED! I don't mean just arguing with the people at work. I mean writing, faxing and e-mailing your government at every chance. So what if they brand you a troublemaker? At least they are aware of you and your opinions. Sit silent and you don't exist. And write endless letters to the editors of your local newspapers. If only one article in a hundred actually gets published, it will get others to thinking. Start the revolution. Be a leader. There are planty of sheep ... we need RAMS with big ... uh ..... horns.
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