[MD] Contents of Moq_Discuss Digest, Vol 21, Issue 8

[MarshaV]

Ryan,

I have no answers.  I just don't know.  There are good arguments made 
by both parties.  But their words often ring hollow when it comes to 
action.  And even if a person with principles did win, the system is 
so murky I'm not sure she/he's principles would survive.  I don't 
believe this country is the best country that ever existed, and I 
certainly don't want this country to be the most powerful country.  I 
would like to see this country become a 'good' country.  Right now it 
seems we've strayed far off that mark.

Education and transparency in government would seem an answer.  Not a 
job related education, but a classical education that would promote 
thoughts of quality instead of consumerism.  I am sick to death of 
evaluating the world through a lens of economics.  And if there is to 
be government participation, the citizens need to be able to know 
what it's representatives are doing.  I don't care a mouse's bottom 
about a government official's personal life, but I do care what 
decisions there enacting and why.  If they're cross-dressers I don't 
care.  If they are representing drug companies rather then the good 
of the country, I do care.  If they are undermining the Constitution, 
I want to know about it.

I try to stay informed, and write, call and email my Senators and 
Representative.   The last subjects I wrote about were earmarks and 
lobbying reform (transparency), ending the war in Iraq, and 
impeachment.  I think the Dems are improving the access to education, 
but much, much more needs to be done.  Education is much more 
important than "things".  Personally I am still working on my own 
education, and staying close to a group of people who are trying to 
promote a worldview that puts quality first.  But there is another 
side of my thinking that knows 'things are as they are', and the flow 
of the river is never wrong, so I also just paint.

Well, for what they're worth, there are some thoughts.

Are you thinking about entering politics?  If so, I hope you will 
promote the MOQ.

Marsha








At 08:26 PM 8/4/2007, you wrote:
>Oh Wellstone is one of my idols. I live in minnesota and whenever i see an
>old car
>with a "Wellstone!" bumper sticker on it i remember that there have been
>good politicians
>in my lifetime. On the note of civics class, my history teacher did an
>amazing job of stressing our
>civic duties as the next generation. This last year we held a mock election
>for the Minnesota Senate,
>letting each student vote for someone who was running in the race. This is a
>pretty normal exercize
>in highschools now, but my teacher replaced the names with #'s, and removed
>the political parties, and
>gave us all a sheet with the canidates stances on current issues. I ended up
>voting for someone from the
>constitutional party. Theres a meaning in there somewhere...a
>moral...something that says we should step back
>and take a deeper look. Thoughts?
>
>Ryan
>
>I like Kucinich too.  In 2000 I was hoping for Senator Paul
> > Wellstone.  And I agree with the importance of education.  When I
> > went to high school, a Civics class was mandatory.  I was taught it's
> > each citizens responsibility to participate in our form of
> > democracy.  I've always taken that responsibility very
> > seriously.  And even if neither Dennis Kucinich or Ron Paul become
> > candidates, their participation, in spite of the odds, brings the
> > level of discourse up a few notches.  And just maybe if the voting
> > public gets angry enough, as they are getting today, something new
> > and positive starts to happen.
> >
> > Marsha
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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