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March 26, 2003
action
I know that many of my friends and family members read this journal, and they differ from me greatly in their political views. I have no way to calculate the philisophical perspectives of the many hundreds of other people who will read these words, but I am confident that we all share some basic ideals. Namely those expressed in the preamble and memorized by every child who has ever watched Schoolhouse Rock: We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. Regardless of whether you are left or right, conservative or liberal, middle of the road, Republican or Democrat or Independent, Libertarian or Green, you must understand and believe that your voice is urgently needed at this specific moment in history. This is a democracy and the only way we can assure change is through participation. I've heard lots of people say that their voice doesn't count, that the electoral college makes voting redundant, that the system is too corrupt to bother. I think that all of those opinions are totally without value and represent flawed logical reasoning. The only way to effect change is through deliberate action, hard work, and persistence. The next congressional recess is scheduled for the week of April 14-25. This means that your elected representative will be home and available to meet with consituents. If you have an opinion, you need to make your position clear. Write letters. Call. Fax. Send email. Make an appointment and go in person. Coordinate with friends and family to go as a group. Take your kids. Help your kids write letters - they need to feel that their voices are heard. If you do not support the war, you need to actively, deliberately make that clear to the people who represent your interests. Even if you support the war effort, there is an imminent crisis looming. We need to get the following messages to our elected officials: -Allocate sufficient funds to pay for this war. Our economy, our country, cannot afford to write a blank check. -Hold our leaders and military accountable to international law and the treaties we have signed. -Support our troops in a substantial, realistic way. Put back the money taken out of the military budget that would have improved quality of life for the armed forces. Raise their wages. Raise the benefits to their families. -Create a consistent, clear plan to identify and treat the medical problems our soldiers will have after this conflict. Recognize that there will be many decades of incapacity for a large number of people who serve. -Take care of our veterans. Put back the money taken away from the Veterans Administration. Make good on all the promises made; give our veterans the honor they deserve by funding their medical care, counseling, and elder services. Improve and expand all services to veterans who are on permanent disability. -Oppose any and all efforts to limit our constitutional rights. To contact your elected officials:
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