The Guns of Brixton

"When they kick down your front door
How are you gonna come?
With your hands on your head
Or on the trigger of your gun?"
- "The Guns of Brixton" - The Clash

So here we are again, about to watch the same movie again. It's all about fear baby, cause that's all this administration has to work with. So my question is this - at what point do the American people stop cowering behind their couch and decide to fight back? Better yet, at what point do the Democrats fight back and stand up for their fellow Americans? The Republicans are planning once again to make the 2006 elections about fear. It's no coincidence that there were almost monthly terror alerts leading up to the 2004 election and there have been 0 so far. But I guarantee they are about to come.

So here's my question to the Democrats - are you willing to surrender or are you willing to fight? Because you guys are getting dangerously close to becoming irrelevant (some might argue you're already there). And it's people like me who you are most likely to lose if you don't stand up for yourselves. We can only take so much before we support a 3rd party (realizing it's basically futile) or withdraw from the democratic system entirely.

See, we don't necessary identify ourselves as Democrats. Many of us have even voted for Republicans in our lifetime. In the end, we probably agree with the Democratic position more times than the Republican. But it's a lot closer than you assume. However, the last 5+ years of incompetence, corruption, consolidation of power in the executive, and skewed priorities have turned us away from the Republican party for the foreseeable future. But it doesn't mean we're just going to give you our vote. To assume that would be foolish.

While pundits will like to make the 2006 election a referendum on something (Bush, Republicans, Iraq War, values, etc), for me it's a referendum on Democrats. Are you the party willing to fight for your beliefs or are you the party waving the white flag? For I've been with you on the front lines, just like in 2004. I've donated to campaigns, to your party, volunteered for candidates I liked a lot and to be honest so another candidate does not win. But there's only so much one can take. And I don't really think I'm alone here. You have a groundswell and the momentum - the majority of Americans are just looking for a reason to vote for you. And the majority of Americans believe in many of the same things you believe in. It's not that difficult - articulate your beliefs. And when you get attacked by the Republicans, fight back. No one is saying it's going to be easy, but it's the only way. And if you don't, you may lose me along with the rest of this country.

Tags: * politics * president * george bush * republican * democrat * conservative * liberal * congress * 2006 elections * 3rd party * democracy * incompetence * corruption * Iraq War * values * Dubya * The Clash * The Guns of Brixton * fight * white flag * surrender