Over the last year, I've been writing columns that aim to create an evolutionary path forward that brings the higher expression of both ends of our political spectrum together in a more sacred whole. Now, with 11 days to the midterm elections, I find myself at a crossroads: the time is now for specific, short-term recommendations for how to engage politics in a more conscious way in the following days, but I'm still unclear on what to recommend.
The simple answer is to rally for Democratic candidates: taking one or both Houses back from the Republicans can reinstall the checks and balances that are at the foundation of our democracy. Scandal after scandal has racked Capitol Hill. Our political situation has degraded to such an extent that last week's Rolling Stone's headline declared it the "Worst Congress Ever," and showcased ten of the worst offenders who are shamelessly lining their pockets, their family's pockets, and those of lobbyist friends. And many may well be reelected.
While the "take back Congress" refrain may be invigorating, from what I've seen documented of the scale of voter disenfranchisement and computer manipulation in 2000 and on an even grander scale in 2004, I suspect that the amount of vote manipulation in this election will only grow. Democrats have rolled over and accepted this disenfranchisement with barely a whimper. If it happens again this cycle, the hundreds of millions sunk into winning elections may well prove to be a bad investment, like betting on a shell game in which the ball has long since vanished from the table.
If elections are not fundamentally clean, all of the electoral fanfare will be for naught. We will sit on election eve watching results come in with the same surreal feeling of the last election, with a gullible media declaring their surprise as contested state after contested state miraculously rolls over to the red column.
One of my most politically-savvy mentors has said the only thing worth spending effort on in this election is to radically reform our corrupted election process. Without voting integrity, we do not have a democracy. To maintain the charade serves no one. Unfortunately, the awareness and safeguarding of our voting process has not reached a critical mass yet such that we can feel confident in the results of Nov. 7th. Will we reach that critical mass in 11 days? Likely not.
If we understand the depth of corruption of our voting process, we may choose to focus less on candidates and more on the voting process itself, making whatever progress is possible in the next 11 days. The trouble with this approach is that it tends to take the wind out of people's sails – we like to feel optimistic, enthused, and excited by the prospect of advancement. Focusing mainly on vote suppression, theft, and manipulation tends to reduce our passion for politics and our hope for the future. Many begin to write it off as a dirty game that soils us when we play it.
When I assess strategies for this election, what I see is that the first strategy of merely rallying for Democrat victory may prove to be naïve. And the second strategy of focusing mainly on voting manipulation may reduce our passion and vision.
As I reflect more deeply on what would be an enlightened approach to this election, what comes to me is to encourage people to vote sincerely with heart and conscience, to truly express their highest aspirations for America and the world. Voting in this way is an affirmation of goodness, a compact between us and the universe regarding what we would like to see in the world. In this way, our votes are logged in our minds and hearts, no matter what happens in the polling places. Sitting out the election does nothing but undermine hope.
While making the positive affirmation of voting for what we want to see, though, I believe it is imperative that we not shield our eyes from shadowy truths. We need to understand the depth of corruption now happening in our government and in our election process or we become unwitting accomplices. As we cultivate visionary optimism then, we must also cross-train with a dose of more sobering truths. For example, after studying the measures on a ballot and choosing those we feel will truly help us evolve, we might spend fifteen minutes reading Robert F. Kennedy's brilliant Rolling Stone expose of the last election's voting fraud.
As another example, we might first make a donation to the DCCC to ensure that Democratic messages are not drowned out by Republican attack ads, but then we could make a parallel "donation" to expose more shadowy truths in the form of buying Mark Crispin Miller's brilliant 2004 expose Fooled Again for ten of our friends. When we keep a foot in both camps, we balance our optimism with realism while also retaining enough hope to move forward.
Election day is not the final goal but another step in the process of waking up from a long cultural trance in which we've become a corrupted democracy. The real imperative is to reclaim our right to be fairly represented in our government, just as our Founding Fathers once had to do. Even a landslide victory for Democrats would result in only one step towards that goal, while another rigged election could prove an equally valuable step if we approach it in the right spirit.
Keeping the long-haul perspective better prepares us to take the next steps if the election results turn out to not be truthful or desirable. Will we follow the lead of the Mexicans and Ukrainians when it seemed their elections were tainted? A lot depends on the balance between our optimism and our realism. Without optimism, our realism can turn into apathy and cynicism. And without a dose of realism, our optimism may naively undermine our actual goals.
So let us all fully engage the political process in the coming days, optimistically voting our conscience while realistically watching with a skeptical eye.
Sacred America Series #31 If you'd like to read these weekly articles exploring a sacred vision for America, you can visit www.stephendinan.com or sign up on the distribution list by sending an email to stephendinan-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
www.stephendinan.com
Stephen Dinan is the author of Radical Spirit and the founder of the Radical Spirit community, as well as the Director of Membership and Marketing for the Institute of Noetic Sciences. He graduated from Stanford University with a degree in human biology and holds a master's in East-West psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies. Stephen directed and helped to create the Esalen Institute's Center for Theory & Research, a think tank for leading scholars, researchers, and teachers to explore human potential frontiers. Stephen has several books in process, including a companion volume to Radical Spirit entitled Radical Spirit in Action, a memoir set in India called In Kali's Garden, and a collection of poetry called Angelfire.
This really caught my eye in your article: "One of my most politically-savvy mentors has said the only thing worth spending effort on in this election is to radically reform our corrupted election process. Without voting integrity, we do not have a democracy. To maintain the charade serves no one."
Still, you argue for participating. What troubles me, besides the things you said, is the incredible lack of details from the Dems about their specific policy and political changes they will deliver to the public, including many needed electoral reforms, and getting corrupting money out of campaigning, as through a federal Clean Money/Clean Elections law. I suggest that should the Dems do worse than now predicted it will be because voters are pushed by Bush hatred, not pulled positively by a Dem agenda.
by
Joel S. Hirschhorn (126 articles, 31 quicklinks, 58 diaries, 508 comments)
on Saturday, October 28, 2006 at 8:51:41 AM
"The other day someone mentioned to me that all elections are bullshit everywhere and if the people in power actually thought elections would change things, they would eliminate them!"-Jeff Halper, American Israeli, Founder and Coordinator of ICAHD/Israeli Committee on House Demolitions and a Noble Peace Prize Nominee for 2006, to me on March 2006
Today democracy is owned by those with the most money to buy it!
I have no faith in the democrats saving us from corporate interests-for there are 64 lobbyists PER congressional rep.
It's a delusion to think we the people are being represented by the current two-party system which has morphed into one party: for it is corporations that are now WRITING legislation in the 21st century!
We the People must save ourselves and CLEAN ELECTIONS is The Way to go.
CLEAN MONEY and CLEAN ELECTIONS will ensure a level playing field for 'insurgents' to be able to compete with the big money that buys today's politicians.
We the People can right now demand our congressional reps support:
Senate Bill No. 124 and House Bill No. 4251
Both will help cut the ties between politicians and the big-money special interests and lobbyists who currently fund political campaigns.
Expect a battle for CLEAN MONEY and CLEAN ELECTIONS is a revolutionary idea.
The most revolutionary minded of all the founding fathers was the radical writer, Tom Paine. With flaming hopes, a vision of a new world and compelled by the spirit and determination of its people to resist British occupation, Paine devoted himself to the American cause.
He began with a forty page pamphlet, "Common Sense" which emboldened the settlers to become compatriots and rise up in rebellion.
His words formed a nation where democracy is still being defined.
"Soon after I had published the pamphlet "Common Sense" [on Feb. 14, 1776] in America, I saw the exceeding probability that a revolution in the system of government would be followed by a revolution in the system of religion... The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion."-Tom Paine
"We have it in our power to begin the world again"-TP
It can begin with: Senate Bill No. 124 and House Bill No. 4251
by
Eileen Fleming (146 articles, 51 quicklinks, 266 diaries, 579 comments)
on Saturday, October 28, 2006 at 10:11:55 AM
There was another site that I presently can't find, which had emergency numbers to call if you witnessed voting irregularities. Has anyone else seen that?
I figure I'll hang out for a couple of hours with camcorder in pocket, and hopefully not have a need to use it. Participating in the project linked above sounds a lot better than moping around...
by
Daniel Geery (26 articles, 58 quicklinks, 121 diaries, 690 comments)
on Saturday, October 28, 2006 at 11:42:10 AM
Chapter 44. Cheezey: Chairman of the (Water) Board
== Chapter 44. Cheezey: Chairman of the (Water) Board ==
By Larry W. Bryant
[Author's Note: Upon learning that Herr Cheezey recently told -- to a conservative radio talk-show host in the Midwest -- how much he appreciated the proven-useful "tool" of "water-boarding," I sent the following FOIA request, on Oct. 27, 2006, to the U. S. Central Intelligence Agency: "This letter, my latest freedom-of-information request to your agency, seeks from you a copy of all CIA-housed records pertaining to U. S. Vice President Richard B. Cheney's Oct. 25, 2006, public admission/endorsement that certain CIA-managed al-Quaida-suspect detainees have been subjected to the torturous interrogation technique called 'water-boarding.' In particular, your fulfillment of this request should include furnishing me a copy of all such records as faxed correspondence, field-intelligence reports/assessments, interrogation reports, detention-policy statements, standing operating procedures, briefing papers, minutes of meetings, audio-tape and videotape recordings of all water-boarding incidents, text of each water-boarded detainee's confession statement, e-mail messages, memoranda for record, and habeas-corpus-petition papers. Since I make this request as an independent writer focusing on national-security affairs, and in particular as a 'representative of the news media' as regards my book-length work-in-progress titled 'The Bu$ch-Cheezey Impeachment Chronicles' (as now being serialized upon the web site of http://www.bushbusiness.com/Bryant_OP.htm ), I hereby request that you waive all records-search/review fees incident to your fulfilling this request. By snail-mail, I'm sending to you a signed printout of this e-formatted letter. -- LARRY W. BRYANT. Copies furnished to: Jerry Pippin ( http://www.jerrypippin.com ); Jonathan L. Katz, Esq.; John Conyers, Jr."]
SCHMOE: Good morning, gentlemen. Welcome back to Amerika's political proving ground. Let's first review our battle scars -- starting with you, Dick.
CHEEZEY [checking his pulse rate, and thinking out loud: "Hummm . . . 79"]: Well, I see you came to my rescue -- again -- yesterday, Tony, when you disabused the news media of their notion that I condone any form of torture. Without your P. R. wizardry, we'd all be sitting somewhere in a Europe-based war-crimes prison. [Reaching into his coat pocket] -- Here, have this fine Cuban cigar as a token of my enduring gratitude.
SCHMOE [waving off the offer]: Speak for yourself, Dick, about the "war crimes" rap. They'll never be able to pin a damned thing on me -- that's why I'm in this job and you're not.
DUMSFELD: It all just goes to show how some things still are gonna come to the boiling point before the election's over.
BU$CH: And, uh, out there in Voterville-USA, there's more trouble brewin'. For instance, some academic types are leading' a call for the Santa Barbara, Calif., city council to adopt an impeachment resolution. They call themselves the Santa Barbara Impeachment Coalition -- and are operatin' a web site at http://www.justiceforbush.com . When we get our martial law plans finalized, those traitors will learn pretty quick what "justice" is all about!
TROVE [pulling a hair from his left nostril]: There's also a new movement to have active-duty servicemembers challenge us directly on policy matters. It's a sign-on project called . . ..
CHEEZEY [interrupting]: Uh-huh. It's called "An Appeal for Redress from the War in Iraq." Lynn told me about it when she came home from her book tour. Their web site is http://www.appealforredress.org . Their game is to garner signatures of anti-Iraqnam malcontents for collective, electronic presentation to Kongress.
BU$CH: Hell, guys, ain't that just flat-out illegal?
DUMSFELD: Well, in time of peace, a soldier is permitted to communicate with his congressman without having to deal with official retaliation. But I'm not so sure this cuttin'-some-slack applies in wartime. I've got my legal staff working on turning this negative situation around ASAP. If hundreds of these guys start signing the "redress" declaration, then maybe we can at least block others' access to the project's web site. I'll also see if we can issue a "riot act" memo forbidding any signer from discussing his related views with reporters.
CHEEZEY [fondling the Cuban cigar]: Good enough, Ronnie. Keep us posted. Now, that covers the active-duty scene. What else do you have to report, Tony?
SCHMOE: Just got word from Al Walbomb that Muskogee's Jerry Pippin has applied for entry into the county's annual Veterans Day parade, set for Nov. 4th. He and his fellow signature-gatherers for their "petition for grand-jury impanelment" want to stroll along the parade route while gathering signatures from onlookers. Al said he's gonna call the sponsoring local veterans group to see if they can bar Pippin from participating (even though Pip himself happens to be a veteran). Traitors come in all forms, ya know.
TROVE: What's the story on the number of signatures collected so far?
SCHMOE [shrugging his shoulders and checking his watch]: They're still at the half-way point. At the rate they're going now, they won't reach the full count of 2,500 until well after the election. And, if those Liebold voting machines do the job right for us by assuring Repub control of the House, then ol' Pipsqueak might just as well start using that petition for toilet paper.
DUMSFELD: Hah-hah! And the same goes for that upstart newspaper -- the Phoenix -- down in Muskogee, Okla. They've been far too cordial toward that Pippin bunch's press releases and letters-to-editor. Speaking of which: what's this about Bryant's plan to mount a pro-impeachment ad campaign in the Phoenix?
SCHMOE: Yes, here again Walbomb tells me there's been some e-mail traffic on that subject between Pippin and Bryant, who wants to place an ad announcing an essay contest geared to high-schoolers.
BU$CH: What's the topic?
SCHMOE: "My Top Three Reasons Why Bu$ch and Cheezey Should be Impeached." But wait; it gets worse: Bryant also wants to place an ad soliciting prospective whistleblowers to emerge from the CIA with verifiable accounts of detainee-torture cases. If he acts on that proposal, and if the paper accepts that seditious ad, then it would be opportune for us to invoke the aiding-and-abetting-the-enemy provisions of our Military Commissions Act -- against both him and the Phoenix. So, let's just see how fast that ad campaign fizzles out.
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