++ [ originally posted by River
] ++
Ah the legal way. In my experiences it never works. Waste of time if you ask me
How old or you? Please don't take offense at the question. I ask because I've had probably had very much the same ideas as you before.
There's a certain tendency that comes with age where the younger you are, the more you think you know the better "shortcuts" toward change -- that the usual processes take to long (and when you're younger, a generation seems like an eternity). In reality, change really happens in the middle -- and it's all about swaying that part of the process. Whether that's the middle of the voting public, middle-aged people, to the middle of the voting block, etc.
I know of so many people who have talked about leaving the U.S. over its policies, etc. We're not like South Africa and apartheid (yet), where I know people who left the country with very good political reasons. But I've come to learn that it's a cop-out, and completely ineffective (and good only for short-term egos) to believe you can instigate change more from outside the system than from the inside.
What are they going to use all the money for? Stage a protest or something? All they do is annoy people who are being blocked.
Elections cost $$$ in this country. Lots of $$$$. It's little surprise that you can't find a successful political candidate who has developed pretty deep pockets to begin with. Otherwise, it's the Bloombergs, the Schwarzeneggers, etc. In fact, Schwarzenegger wouldn't have even been governor here if it wasn't for a political figure in California who personally bankrolled a multi-million-dollar recall campaign that got it rolling.
It's sad to say in a democracy, but it's a fact. Money is the fuel for political campaigns. That feeds awareness, positioning, campaigning, etc. If Kerry were on equal financial ground as Bush, you could argue that they should be able to duke it out on other merits. But that kind of a resource gap will ensure you cannot make public rebuttals to claims made in commercial smear campaigns in swing states, etc.
It's not as sexy as, say, a protest. But it's necessary. But I totally agree with you that protests can often backfire more than they help. The problem you get is the radicals basically color things in an extreme way, chasing all the moderates over to the opposition. Middle-of-the-road people don't like to be annoyed, and they'll vote that way.
I recommend going with culture jamming. Spend that money on posters with a catchy slogan and tag them everywhere.
You forget that not a single penny has touched my hands in this process! So I couldn't use the money even if I wanted to.
A poster that will make people think. What I usually do is get smaller posters with something negative written on it and then put that poster on every single campaign poster (in your case bush) you can find. Thus turning their own campaign posters against them
Im from the UK though, I dont know what way things go down over there. But here this works, and usually ends up being reported in newspapers etc also.
Actually, I really like this idea. Maybe I can convince some people for it. Beats a bumper sticker.
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