Repost: [pf] Disenfranchisement?

by Kaleopono

19 December 2000 23:48 UTC

----- Original Message -----
From: "Kaleopono" <ssa@ilhawaii.net>
To: <positive-futures@igc.topica.com>
Sent: Thursday, December 07, 2000 6:12 PM
Subject: Re: [pf] Disenfranchisement?


> Diane, I think I have an idea of what you are feeling.  Good self
knowledge
> can come out of tracing these feelings to their source.  I think many
> besides you are realizing our democratic voting system is full of holes
and
> completely excludes certain options that really would be worth
considering.
>
> I think what's happened in Florida is par for the course and probably --
> with local variations -- is the way the political system works in
virtually
> every state and county of the United States.  Since it's the way the
system
> does appear to me to work, I'm not surprised, disillusioned or emotionally
> riled up when it is so blatantly exposed as has occurred this election in
> Florida.  I hope that one or more skilled investigative journalists are
> carefully researching and documenting all of the relevant facts to create
a
> "case study" and that a book and/or website setting forth and interpreting
> these facts will appear in due course.
>
> The task of correction is a HUGE project that depends on many other
cultural
> and social and economic changes...the kind of changes that we frequently
> discuss on this list.  It will take time.  And grace.  Each of us ought to
> do what he or she is able to achieve in our local communities.  Keep
> remembering that there are probably a few million U.S. citizens who are
> noticing for the first time.  They will begin examining their assumptions
> and rethinking their lives.
>
> Industrial society and culture as we have known them are in their death
> throes.  The corrupted heart and soul of the old system is expressed in
more
> extreme efforts to keep possession of power and control.  If these
> increasingly extreme manifestations are all we gaze upon, things will look
> pretty grim, indeed!
>
> But now there are more and more people who are plain fed up!  When a
person
> reaches this point of understanding the ground shifts with the realization
> that the world is upside down!  With this changed perspective on things,
> novel choices appear possible and even preferable.  Society and culture
> begin to shift as more and more people make different choices than they
> would have, before.  Think of molecules and atoms.  Billions or trillions
or
> gazzilions of these new choices will have to be made before the effect
> becomes noticeable to mainstream institutions perceiving with old eyes.
> This transformation won't be reported blow by blow in the mainstream news
> media..
>
> To avoid frustration and despair, we need to note where our attention is
> focused.  It is a figure-ground perception matter.  By adjusting our focus
> of attention away from the signs of disintegration all around us, these
> frightening things shift from vivid and overwhelming foreground position,
to
> a subdued background location in our perception.  This shift allows the
new
> and positive things that are happening all around each one of us every day
> to come to the fore in our awareness.  We can support these.
>
> Like a chained, vicious dog whose yard we must pass every day and whose
> lunging might break the tether, we cannot forget the disintegrating
elements
> because if one should suddenly get free and charge, great harm might come
as
> a consequence.  Keep alert for dangers.  But don't obsess about them.  It
is
> quite possible to be relaxed, calm, enjoying life even while working hard
to
> establish a preferred, positive future.
>
> Kaleopono
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Fitzsimmons, Diane" <dcfitzsimmons@ou.edu>
> To: <positive-futures@igc.topica.com>
> Sent: Thursday, December 07, 2000 5:07 AM
> Subject: [pf] Disenfranchisement?
>
>
> > Dear Pf'ers:
> >
> > Is anybody else as upset as I about the comedy of errors (at best)
and/or
> > disenfranchisement conspiracy going on in Florida?  Regardless of whom I
> > supported, I am appalled at the series of actions to complicate what
> should
> > be a simple process.  Especially of concern for me is the (1) Seminole
> > County election board official's overt favoritism for the Republicans
and
> > (2) bureaucratic and mechanical obstacles thrown disproportionately in
> front
> > of minority voters.
> >
> > I really feel as if the person who won the election will not be
President.
> > All that aside, our greatly touted deomcratic voting system has been
> exposed
> > as full of holes.
> >
> > Diane Fitzsimmons
> > Norman, Okla.
> >