Hope

/ Tracy Abell

I’ve been feeling down lately about the present and future of this country.  The damage done in the past seven years will take many, many years to undo and we need strong, brave leaders who understand that desperate times require bold solutions.  I believe Edwards is the best candidate to get this country back on track but his populist, progressive message is a threat to our corporate media and the DLC which are doing their best to marginalize him.  I don’t believe Edwards can get the nomination and I’ll just say that I’m less than thrilled with the two other leading candidates.

So why am I feeling hope?

Hope Reason Number One:  I found out tonight that a woman and writer I very much admire is going to run for public office.  You gotta love that kind of grassroots spunk and determination!

Hope Reason Number Two:  Last Friday night when I was at the caucus training for the upcoming Colorado caucuses (Feb 5) our party secretary told us that in 2004, a total of 2100 people in our county participated in caucuses but that as of Friday, the party phone line had already received 2700 inquiries about caucus locations!  More people are getting involved which means more ideas and more passion and maybe, just maybe, more progressive solutions to the many problems!

Hope Reason Number Three:  Tonight I helped with the weekly spaghetti dinner for the homeless and working poor.  And guess what?  Folks were talking about caucusing!  In 2004 I registered many of those people to vote, some for the first time in a long time and some for the first time ever, but I didn’t really push to get them to caucuses because the interest didn’t seem to be there.  But now they want to be involved right from the start which means more people involved which means more ideas and more passion and, well, you know. 

Have you ever noticed how Hope makes you feel just a tiny bit lighter?

               

15 thoughts on “Hope”

  1. I like hope and optimism.
    I’ll need to look into Edwards. We are kind of out of loop on hearing much about the candidates. There isn’t one I really like so far. (And I know that one of my faith is a top candidate, but I have a few big issues with some of his views.) Our state is one of the last I believe–and our mail is soooo slow(3-4 weeks) that I’m not sure we’ll get our ballots in time.
    I think there are going to be larger problems in 10-20 years if there is not real change. A minor issue now, compared to some is the housing crisis. I’m wondering about all the middle class people who struggle to pay for housing (rent or own) and what will happen when they retire. I anticipate huge problems.
    There are larger issues that need to be faced now–such as poverty, homelessness, low wages. The gap is growing between the haves and have-nots. Hm. Can you tell I’m again big business….My husband worked for many corporations–and the stories I could tell you make me angry. Why can’t people care about others instead of the almighty dollar?
    But there is always hope–as long as some people care and want to make the world better.

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    • Here is where you can get the 80 page booklet that details Edwards’ stances on all the issues. Even if you don’t have the time to read the whole thing, it is worth scanning to get a good idea. Good luck!

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        • I would say because he isn’t the rock star candidate (Obama) or the establishment candidate (Hillary). On top of that, poverty is a loser issue to campaign on. Everyone wants to turn their head and pretend that the poor don’t exist. We’re morally bankrupt for the most part.

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  2. I like hope and optimism.

    I’ll need to look into Edwards. We are kind of out of loop on hearing much about the candidates. There isn’t one I really like so far. (And I know that one of my faith is a top candidate, but I have a few big issues with some of his views.) Our state is one of the last I believe–and our mail is soooo slow(3-4 weeks) that I’m not sure we’ll get our ballots in time.

    I think there are going to be larger problems in 10-20 years if there is not real change. A minor issue now, compared to some is the housing crisis. I’m wondering about all the middle class people who struggle to pay for housing (rent or own) and what will happen when they retire. I anticipate huge problems.

    There are larger issues that need to be faced now–such as poverty, homelessness, low wages. The gap is growing between the haves and have-nots. Hm. Can you tell I’m again big business….My husband worked for many corporations–and the stories I could tell you make me angry. Why can’t people care about others instead of the almighty dollar?

    But there is always hope–as long as some people care and want to make the world better.

    Like

  3. Here is where you can get the 80 page booklet that details Edwards’ stances on all the issues. Even if you don’t have the time to read the whole thing, it is worth scanning to get a good idea. Good luck!

    Like

  4. yep, there’s a move afoot. This will go on longer after John Edwards is gone. It seems to me that the RFK torch has been rekindled, and it isn’t because of a guy named Obama.
    I think the Edwards campaign has an online phonebanking tool for Colorado that you can use from your home. Registeration here.

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  5. yep, there’s a move afoot. This will go on longer after John Edwards is gone. It seems to me that the RFK torch has been rekindled, and it isn’t because of a guy named Obama.

    I think the Edwards campaign has an online phonebanking tool for Colorado that you can use from your home. Registeration here.

    Like

  7. Thanks for spreading the hopefulness, Tracy!I definitely still believe war (and poverty, hatred, etc) is over if we want it. Sometimes I just have a hard time believing that the will is really there. But I so want to be proven wrong and hearing stuff like this helps a lot! How fantastic that people you registered to vote now want to get so involved. I do feel lighter. 🙂

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