Title: Message
Well, I am unsure that the system can be reformed from within. But, two initiatives come to mind:
1) Attempting to constrain the hegemonic American system from without through popular initiatives (perhaps coordinated through the World Social Forum) to boycott the products of any country that was not a signatory to the treaty forming the International Criminal Court; and, 2) Reforming the system from within by reducing corporate influence over the political process.  The second would be difficult because the system would resist an change that threatens currently-vested interests.  So, it will take focused, coordinated public pressure.  Probably a range of measures would be necessary, such as, restricting corporate contributions, making the lobbying process more transparent, etc.
 
Peter Hollings
 
-----Original Message-----
From: PEN-L list [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Dan Scanlan
Sent: Friday, February 20, 2004 1:30 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: [PEN-L] dems, etc

Do we need to keep huge pressure on the Dems? Hell yes.

The best way to do that is to push from the left and don't vote for them.

Bush has a long way to go before he kills as many people in Iraq as Clinton did, estimated at more than 1 million (compared to current estimates of tens of thousands in this war segment).

Getting rid of Bush doesn't get rid of Bushism (a euphemism for black-hearted corporate control of government). None of the Democratic candidates, including Kucinich, is attacking the poison in his own party. What we are experiencing today is the result of the dismal failure of the Democrats to act Democratically when they controlled all three houses. They're as corporate as Republicans. They're just not as up front (i.e., transparent) as Bush. Notice they don't even try to appeal to (and thereby expand) the 10 percent of Republican voters who say they are embarrassed by Bush.

I don't have a solution. Just pondering. I would, however, work to elect Kucinich if he chastised the Democratic Party and introduced articles of impeachment in the House. Perhaps he's too wrapped up in the run for the presidency to use this Constitutional tool to start a national discussion more significant than the present made-for-teevee situation comedy posing as a people governing itself, in which he is given a mere walk-on role.

(Impossible? I reckon, since most of the members of the House of Representatives are complicit in the treason, notably passing the Patriot Act. But we do need a new national conversation, one based on what we set out to do as a nation. You know: general welfare, domestic tranquillity, life, liberty, pursuit of happiness -- that stuff.)

Dan



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