post-election dysfunction

michael moore and the folks at moveon.org keep filling up my box. "good work!" they say. "now we can take back our democracy!" they cry out. all i can think of is "this is democracy???"

i wasn't sure how i would feel after all was said and done. even though at this moment virginia hasn't been officially announced, the democrat is leading by a good 1000 votes, so it looks as though the democrats will be ruling the walls of congress for the remainder of the bush presidency. despite knowing this is a better scenario than another 2 years of absolute republican control, i still have this sense of sadness mixed in with some apathy, sprinkled with a shot of salty anger. i'll be happy when the things that must be done actually get done........those things that aren't spoken of.......ideas that will get me labeled all sorts of nasty, ugly names and labels.....ideas such as:

~replacing the minimum wage with a living wage.

~affordable housing for all.

~ending the war on drugs and reallocating the money on treatment and understanding the emotional, mental and physical basis for addiction.

~redistributing the wealth. study after study has shown that in countries where the wealth is distributed in a more equatible manner, the citizens are much healthier.

~health care for all.

~increasing the rights of workers.

~ensuring those who are out of work/unemployed or underemployed receive financial assistance that will pay for all necessary/living expenses until such time as they are gainfully employed, making a living wage.

the democratic party supports the free market and capitalist system every bit as much as do the republicans. the democratic party wants to make sure the wealthy are happy, every bit as much as do the republicans. these "values" continue to come at great sacrifice for the middle and lower income persons. it's wrong. simply wrong. we can do different. we can do better. we must do better.

in the meantime, i'll be contemplating my ideas, thinking of ways in which to share them with the public (without running for political office). and as i do so, i will be singing the "post-election dysfunction" ballad........

it's finally over
and how do you feel?
the blue ones
now have the wheel.

people are dancing
joyfully in the street.
while some can do nothing more
than weep.

and yet here i stand
with my eyes open wide.
distrusting this latest
turn of the tide.

for i see the struggle
of the ones left behind.
unable to keep up
with the daily american grind.

if only we could see one another
for who we really are.
embracing this ideal,
we could really go far.

and yet those in charge
still refuse to see
beyond the scope of power
and into the insanity.

'tis why i'm drowning
in post election dysfunction.

nina