Respectfully, Allen, you might be missin

Allen, I understand what you’re saying. I’m not so naive that I don’t see the death grip big corporations, the military industrial complex, etc., have (and have had for some time) on our government. And yes, it frightens me that so many Americans are apathetic to the assault on our civil rights and our Constitution. Too many are unaware that maintaining a Democracy takes effort and vigilance. 
 
The Patriot Act came out of the last eight nightmarish years of the current administration. The Patriot Act--and much else destructive to our nation and the world. Think back to the 2000 election. Ralph Nader and many others said it didn’t matter who won—Gore or Bush. He indicated it wouldn’t make one bit of difference which party was in power. Well, he couldn’t have been more wrong. 
 
When Bush stole the election from Gore, we were set on a path of destruction controlled by the shadow government of Dick Cheney and Karl Rove. Al Gore, had he rightfully claimed the Presidency, would not have invaded Iraq. Hundreds of thousands of people (perhaps a million or more) who are now dead would still be alive. 
 
I don’t tend to think of these fatalities (not to mention all casualties including wounded) as just numbers. I picture each death as the very personal, horrifying event it actually is. Early in the war, after one of our bombing raids, I saw a picture of a young Iraqi child with most of her head blown off. I ask people to imagine, for just a moment, what if that was your child or grandchild? I can see a young American soldier, mortally wounded, watching his life’s blood draining out into the sands of Iraq, crying out to God to not let him die, but die he does. 
 
From the moment Bush, rather than Gore, took over the helm of our country, that young soldier became a dead man walking. So yes, it does make a difference who is elected. If McCain/Palin win, Cheney and Rove will continue at the controls behind the scenes.  
 
I understand true change does not come overnight. I am only one person. But I’ll be damned if I’m going to sit back and forfeit the few rights I have left by not actively participating in and voting in the upcoming election. That would be playing right into the hands of the powers that be. All candidates should be asked the hard questions. The public has a right to know their answers. A “Punch and Judy” show, perhaps. But I’m still playing the game because the game still has life or death consequences. 
 
It cannot be repeated too often: nothing is more fertile in wondrous effects than the art of being free but nothing is harder than freedom's apprenticeship." 
-Alexis de Tocqueville

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