I just read a couple of posts that made me skip ahead and post/react. If they are covered in the intervening posts, I apologize.

A couple of folks talked about the "way to EFF up socialism" was to put the government in charge, or something to that effect. Another person piped in with how they could "screw up a one car funeral". I am not attacking those folks for saying this, as this is emblematic of the knee jerk response mechanism that I believe gets us in trouble. Folks divided into camps based on cliche driven sound bites, and looking for answers that fit their own prejudices. As a social/political/union/community organizer this makes me crazy. As a lover of people, and vibrant democracy (whether with a Socialist bent, or whatever) let me tell you that people get the government they deserve. If it is screwing things up, it is because we have an intellectually lazy electorate that is not holding their lawmakers feet to the fire. It is what I fear for Obama. It is clear he values debate and vibrancy, and expects the electorate to be involved. I fear that far too many will sit on the sidelines, and congratulate themselves for electing a nice, black man and wait for change to happen. But the most important job in a democracy is NOT leading. It is following, contributing, and challenging. There must be an active, engaged electorate that is operating from a place of involvement.

Think "government" (do you see what a generalization that is?) is screwed up? Then agitate, and advocate. Patriotism is about embracing your democracy. It is about challenging what is presented to you, and it is about changing what does not work, instead of talking about "them" or "government".

rant off,

All the best,

Mick