Time To Get Off Our Asses and Do Something

Posted on February 6, 2007
| buzz-it! | Huff it!

donkey I’m talking to me and I’m talking to you. Some folks are doing everything they can. This is for the rest of us. I sit in my comfy dining room or home office and tap away posting blog entries. It’s great for venting bile and preaching to the choir. Most of my hits in the last few days have been from buzzflash.com, definitely the choir, and digg.com, again, a very sympathetic audience. While I hope to provide useful arguments, focus attention, sharpen a point or two, or even help some liberal allies feel like they’re not alone, I have to acknowledge that I’m not doing all that I can, nor all that is required of me if I’m to walk the walk.

Today Republicans in the senate managed to muster, with Joe Lieberman’s help, enough votes to cut off debate on the non-binding resolution against escalation in Iraq. It’s pretty messed up. Reports are that there are enough republican votes to actually pass the weakened resolution if too many Dems don’t defect because of its lack of teeth. One can only conclude that some of those who would vote both ways were only looking for political cover. These guys and gals must be put on record regarding their current support for the war. In 2008 a third of the Senate is up for reelection. The majority of Americans are against the war. Let’s hold their feet to the fire.

Last week, many of us learned that the administration is consolidating power by hobbling federal agencies, including EPA and OSHA, by requiring all their output to pass through the scrutiny of hand-picked political appointees. Anything the administration doesn’t like, no matter how vital to the public good, will not see the light of day.

The week before, we began hearing how U.S. Attorneys were being fired all over the country and being replaced with folks more in goose-step with the administration’s distorted views.

I’ve been blogging for about 45 days and the effort can be consuming. Tonight I’m worried that I’m ignoring the most effective paths available to me to effect change. One of those is the direct route, that of calling, emailing, and writing letters to my senators and representatives. It can be hard to cut through the noise these days; I should do all three. We all must get involved. We still, at least for now, have national elections available to us every two years. We shouldn’t have to wait. Congressional leaders must be required to lead and to provide oversight and sanctions where needed.

I’ve never supported impeachment; I’m less certain now. What I desire most is to stop the destruction of our nation with the constant erosions of civil liberties, government accountability, the environment, and international standing. If the damage can’t be stopped any other way or if others believe it is the only way to achieve justice, I would hardly speak against it. The toughest thing about impeachment is that we’d have to go for a two-fer, which is unprecedented. I guess Cheney could be indicted and forced to resign.

My call to action is just that: a call to action. Advocate for peace, for environment, for accountability, or for justice. Advocate for impeachment or for reform. We all have to make our own choices. Just get off your ass and do something, and I’ll promise to do the same.