Micro-radio stations are popping up to serve neighborhoods again. Podcasts and YouTube channels enable any of us to become stars. Blogs and ebooks enable any of us to launch literary careers. Facebook and Twitter are fabulous social tools. But as they grow dominant, we depend on them so much they can monitor and limit us. New platforms are constantly starting that break these boundaries, again. Whenever government seeks to limit internet freedom to stifle independence and dissent, hackers have taken revenge. Our media are liberating to the etent they inspire us to turn them off, turn to each other, and organize face-to-face. _______________________________________________
CONTROL OF
GOVERNMENT
Most think voting pointless.! Of 220 million Americans who could register to vote, only about 55% have done so.! Abstainers explain that their concerns are not raised by candidates, that they see candidates corrupted by power, and the real decisions make by bankers, so they're rather not bother.! Everybody knows that to run you have to be rich anyway, they say. At the national and state level, voters are permitted to vote for candidates who have been selected by the rich and their media. Hope is another word for Weak. Locally, there’s still room for an occasional honest candidate to win.
RUN FOR IT: You Can be a Winner in Local Elections
Anarchist mobs would rule the streets and bust into your house if we didn't have government, many believe.! Others wonder whether lawmakers do worse damage. The United States, its counties, cities, towns and villages, have governments to protect us from each other; and we have elections to protect us from government. Millions serve local governments daily on boards and commissions, and thousands are elected officers. Votes are a small part of democracy, cast once to thrice yearly. But election day can spotlight urgent changes, focus furious debate, announce a new era or pass as ritually as Presidents' Day or the Fourth of July.! The ballot is one tool of the American system; like the free press, courts, police power, rebellion and civil disobedience, it sometimes fits or fails the job. Local elections, however, give us all a chance to be lowbudget winners.! Small town votes weigh more-- there have been many won by one or two votes.! And votes get weightier when great issues rouse strong candidates. When major parties merely party, the stage is set and curtain opens for independent nominations.! Every registered voter can be a candidate, and everybody 18 years or older by election day can register. !!! Maybe you have a vision or gripe that the Republicans and Democracts don't talk about.! Start your own political party.! Here's how: Think up a party name (standards vary state-by-state) and symbol.! If you're enraged about loud music and wild parties, you might campaign as the QUIET party.! Taxpayers might revive the GREENBACK party.! The PEACE party could declare a nuclear-free zone.! The IVORY party would fluoridate, and the movement to prohibit shopping could call itself ENOUGH.! Strong campaigns have been made by parties called Villagers, Citizens, Pioneer, Equity, Common Good, Action, and Creative.
Make a website and print some flyers describing your ideas. !!! Get nominating petitions from the Board of Elections.! Follow their instructions carefully.! Find three friends to be named atop the petition as your party's committee. !!! You and anyone eligible to vote for you (registered in any party or independent) can collect signatures from anyone else eligible to vote for you.! Collect far more than you need, then give the petitions back to the Board of Elections by the deadline.! Then watch for challenges to signature validity from opponents.! If you have enough valid legible signatures, you're on the ballot. !!! Announce your candidacy and its website with a press release and/or visits to local radios, newspapers, cable, bloggers.! They're grateful when you have something novel to say.! Be as public or private as you choose.! Candidates who don't worry about winning have the most fun.! They refresh public debate by speaking freely.! Cautious politicians try to please more voters by saying less. !!! Knock on doors, say hello, kiss babies, voters and dogs, or just shake hands.! It's sort of like trick-or-treating for grownups. !!! Participate in whatever public forums you prefer.! Mail more press releases. !!! Someone may offer to host a tea party or benefit concert to pump your campaign.! Have fun. !!! * Report campaign expenses on the required dates. !!! * Remember to vote and remind your supporters. !!! * Time for another party. !!! Whether elected or rejected, congratulate your opponent.! Win or lose, you made news.! The world turns a little more your way.
CONTROL OF
POLICE
Even cops wil agree that some cops are pigs: brutes who love violence and hate our American freedom to demand justice. Such cops are especially quick to harrass, arrest or shoot African-Americans. They wear flags but are profoundly anti-American. They serve and protect the status quo. Many cops, though, are decent people who prefer to cmmunicate respectfully, who uphold American ideals. Their choice, to obey the Constitution or to obey anti-American orders to attack nonviolent Americans, will decide how their nation remembers them. Because carrying badges and guns risks abuse of power, many cities rely on Police Community Review Commissions, or Police Review Boards, or Civiliarn Complaint Review Boards, to check excessive behavior. Digital cameras enlist everyone to keep cops honest.
PICK YOUR FIGHT
When cops get away with murder or when they trample American freedom, our anger boils. Our anger is