"I Have a Dream" is a 17-minute public speech by Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered on August 28, 1963, in which he called for racial equality and an end to discrimination. The speech, from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, was a defining moment of the American Civil Rights Movement. Delivered to over 200,000 civil rights supporters.

Protestors are often viewed as "fringe elements" these days or even "crazies."..Here in the USA we seem to take pride in being a civilized and supposedly sophisticated country...People who take to the streets to protest something or stand-up for their "cause" are immediately "suspect."...Visions of the mobs and protestors in 3rd world countries comes into mind. And it's often a vision of uneducated heathens...I grew-up in the 60's and I was involved in many protests and demonstrations. (War protests..Demonstrations to push for "lemon laws" to protect new car-buyers..Demonstrations to push for fair custody rights for fathers after a divorce.)...We joined together and "fought" for many different "causes." But things started to change shortly after Reagan took office. Protestors got tagged as "dirty hippies" who had nothing better to do than "take to the streets." ...Everyone was suppose to cut their hair and "suit-up" and go to work for corporations to demonstrate (and show the world) that they had finally "grown-up" and become "responsible members" of society. (And not "hoodlums" or "bums" or part of some suspicious "fringe element.")...The "Tea Party" managed to gain a "foothold" recently and even sponsored candidates who got elected...People wanted to unite and "speak out." But I'm not sure how much clout (or power) the "Tea Party" has left today... Who is leading the "pack?" Who is behind the scenes? And what is the "hidden agenda?" (This what I ask myself when it comes to any group or "cause" today.)

First of all the five million would not be taking over the government. They would be addressing a grievance as allowed in the constitution. They would be armed as allowed in the constitution. They would be demanding that existing laws be addressed properly as defined in the constitution. They would be putting fear into the US government as was intended by the US constitution.

The government was designed to fear the wrath of the citizen, not the other way around. The people of the US are expected to "rise up" if needed and apparently it is needed now because the US government is not functioning as intended.

I am constantly surprised by those who do no know what actions created this nation and what steps were taken to allow the citizens to take those steps again if need be.

It's called a "Bill of Rights".

I hear what you are saying Green. I personally think great change means great sacrifice. Some people speak alot but sacrifice little, and others sacrfice quite alot without ever saying a word.

I think money is what talks. I think if people did more boycotting of products and services, we would see turnarounds toute suite,,,


but we are very addicted to our rather gluttonous and greedy culture, we have become brainwashed into viewing human worth with a dollar sign, and we dont want to lose our own 'value' defending someone elses or giving up some of those high esteem purchases and services just to stand up for someone elses value of life....


money talks, and unfortunately, those with the most money/power are often too content to do much talking on anyone elses behalf...

we need to fight terrorism at home

you say what does this have to do with terrorism

the republican and democratic parties have done more to destroy our constitution and take away our freedom than any other two groups on the planet

if we could combine the best of both and call it the demican party that would be a good thing

doubt if that could happen would end up with repubicats the worst of the two

vote third party and don't be fooled into wasting your vote voting for less of two evils and wasting your vote

send the two terrrorist groups a message vote third party

your candidate may not win, but if enough start doing this maybe we can get some demicans sooner than later


but hey what do i know

Great post...I agree with you about greed and the culture revolving around money. And the need for sacrifice and "caring" for the welfare of others in society too.

Watts, St Louis, Il., Chicago, etc. all have ghettos where they need someone to go in there and teach them how to be caring and sharing.

BTW;
When you go, don't wear gold or bring cash.

I think it's easy to become self-righteous and even arrogant when it comes to our views and beliefs...We consider ourselves "right" and others "wrong." (Or even "stupid" for having opposing views and beliefs.)...Basically we all walk in different "shoes." And we have different wants and needs and preferences...And this can leads to conflicts...People don't always take the time to listen to each other. Everyone is walking around claiming to be "right." And try to "push" their beliefs and agenda down other peoples' throats...If I was a multi-millionare I'm sure that my priorities would be different than someone who just got laid-off from a longtime job. (With few options.)...We're all in different "places." And we all have our own "take" on how to fix the problems...It's great that we're not a nation of "clones." (Or "carbon-copies" of each other in all respects.)...Can we move out of the "attack" and "blame" and "ridicule mode" and look for at least a little "common ground?"

All the "trash-talk" and negative political bantering that goes on today seems like "soap opera stuff" to me...Who is going to come out with the latest "scoop" or "dirt" or gossip?...A steady diet of this kind of "stuff" (and negativity) just doesn't seem healthy to me...Guess I'm just "old-school." I believe that everything I say and the "way" I say things "reflects back" on me. How do you feel about it? Thanks.

That is one reason why I stopped being a registered member of any political party. Not one of them is righteous, no not one.

I'm not a registered member of either party. Not anymore!

<------ is independent in thought and politics

There are "pros and cons" in any opinion or idea.

Many I wouldn't consider negative, rather informative. There are of course "assumptions" in a lot of posts or comments, but you covered that pretty well above.

If I post an opinion piece I usually label it, and most always include a link for what I post or the reasons for my views.

If nobody ever pointed out a flaw in the physical or the character of a thing, we would have no need for quality testing or regulation, courts or laws. That may be a bit of a stretch, but gov't and its members are good at stretching, so my point would be....."where would it stop?"

Last election I wrote in Ron Paul.

Around here, if you don't sign in Dumbocracked, you get angry stares.

Or!

Quite a few of my friends voted for Obama in 2008 and I did too...A little while after he took office I had a few "grievances" with him..One of my friends was shocked and angry with me for daring to "find fault" with Obama. She obviously viewed me as a "traitor."...I told her that I've always felt free to criticize someone that I help put in office. My friend got so angry with me she ended our relationship for awhile. She took my criticism of Obama "personally."...I think some people wrap their identity and their sense of worth around the candidates they support. (And their chosen political party.)..So it becomes "all or nothing" to them with no "middle-ground."..."You are either with me or against me!" (There is no room for questions or critical thinking when it comes to being a member of the "team!")...My friend has been a lifelong and diehard Democrat all her life. But I declared my independence from political parties years ago. I've voted "both ways." (And I've voted for sideline candidates at times even when I knew they didn't stand much of a chance.)...Right now I don't have much faith in either party. And the "gridlock" and partisanship has turned into a "nightmare" that never seems to end. Sad!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Switzerland

most likely need to rethink the system from the ground up,especially where it concerns the participation of more Parties at the Federal level.
Would need to happen from the Ground up,because otherwise you will wait for that Change until you're blue in the face!

I think most people just "skate-along" in their comfort zone and accept "what is!"...Someone may agree that it would be better to have more than 2 political parties. But they don't give any further thought to it and go on with their everyday lives accepting "what is."...When I was growing-up in the 60's and the 70's there was a sense that we had the power to change society...But this sense of power seemed to die-off starting in the 80's. My son was amazed when I talked about all the revolutions I saw (or participated in) earlier in my life...He asked me: "What happened? Why did everyone give-up and turn into duds?"...The culture changed drastically and everyone just "settled-in" and put in their 40 hours of work each week...Nobody wanted to do too much "thinking" during their "free time" or "off-hours."...It seems even worse today! I feel lucky that I have a few friends who still have "active" and "awake" and "alive brains!" ..They want to talk about "more" than just "Dancing with the Stars" or the latest reality show. And "more" than what they just bought at the store or their kids and grandkids or their coming vacation plans etc.

I accidentally made a duplicate post so I'll write something else here...I wonder what voter turn-out will be like this year. Republicans who are dead-set on getting rid of Obama will line-up to vote. And Democrats who fear letting Romney and the GOP take over will come out to vote.