[Peace-discuss] parties & opportunities

[Stuart Levy]

If -- since -- we as anti-war activists don't expect our government's
warmaking behavior to change much regardless of the party dominance
of next month's election, then why on earth have we on this list
been wasting all our time arguing over which *party* to oppose or support?

Surely this is a distraction.

If opposing Dems succeeds in returning Repubs to power,
we'll have just the same situation, only with even worse tax
and social-support and environmental policies.

I agree with Andy Thayer, who spoke at last weekend's rally,
and with Allison who wrote earlier this week.   Our path to opposing
war is *not* going to be primarily through the ballot box -- bottom up,
not top down.

And I liked Bob Naiman's recent comment about opportunities we have.

We have work to do.  Let's quit wasting time and energy and do some of it!

IVAW and allies are trying to raise awareness and recruit veterans.
At least two IVAW people, Jacob Crawford and Scott Kimball, will be
helping at/visiting our Farmer's Market table this weekend.
I think that's a real opportunity -- resistance within the military,
active-duty or veterans, can become a really important obstacle to war.
They're also aiming to talk with people and flyer elsewhere, e.g. the
Armory, at Parkland, and maybe at EIU, especially if they can find a good
location.   And they're interested in counter-recruitment in high schools.
And, they are already planning an early-December public event on suicide
in the military, along the lines Conrad had been suggesting.
It would be great if we work with them.  Their next meeting is Nov. 2nd.
Anyone interested?


There is some point in having individuals in Congress who are already inclined
to speak and draft and sponsor bills that put sand in the gears of warmaking
and other aspects of our imperial enterprise.   When the US population gets
sufficiently fed up to be loudly opposing the wars -- which we aren't, yet --
then their voices can be important.

I do like Russ Feingold.  And I've signed up to help get Wisconsinites
out to vote for him.  If anyone else wants to join me on a virtual phone bank
(you need a computer and a phone), please lemme know, or sign up at
http://feingold.org/  (see the Volunteer link).  They're happy to have
out-of-state help.
[I'm posting this from a non-University address to avoid running afoul
of ethics laws.]


If anyone wants to hear what local tea partiers are interested in,
or trying to recruit some, you have an opportunity for that, too.
This Sunday and next (10/24 and 10/31), at 1:30PM in the Urbana Civic Center,
the local Tea Party is having two candidates' forums:

    http://champaignteaparty.org/2401.html

Tim Johnson didn't send any rep. to the League of Women Voters/NAACP
candidates' forum this Wednesday, though David Gill did appear and speak.
But at this Sunday's Tea Party party, Gill will be there, and so will
Phil Bloomer
from Johnson's office.  Others appearing this Sunday 10/24 (1:30pm
Urbana Civic Center)
are Norman Davis (R), Chad Hays (R), Michael Puhr (D), Shane Cultra (R),
Vince LaMie (D), and Chapin Rose (R).   Three questions each -- not sure
whether the audience can submit questions or not.

     Stuart