Why Are We Back In Iraq?

This applies to every American voter: whether Democrat, Republican, Third Party member or Independent.

Do you want to know what you can do to help bring about change?

Do you want to know what you can do to help find out if the "will of the people" is being acted upon?

Do you want to know what you can do to help preserve democracy in America?

It's pretty darn simple.

You won't have to spend any money. You won't have to put yourself at risk in any way. You won't have to march. You won't have to chant slogans. You won't have to write any letters. You won't have to go on strike. You won't have to synchronize colors. You won't have to step in front of any tanks.

All you gotta do is dial one telephone number. One toll-free number. That's it. Dial it once - at the very, very least - and you've done your duty as a United States citizen who believes in the Constitution and all that it stands for. Say your peace, give thanks and then hang up and hit re-dial. If you're a super patriot you should feel free to hit re-dial ninety-nine times and repeat the process.

Dial (877)762-8762 (or 1-866-877-4455 or - if you don't care about the phone bill - (202)224-3121) and you will reach the ears of a switchboard operator at the US Capital. Ask politely to be connected with the Senator of your choice. Pick a name at random from this list that can be found at http://www.senate.gov or ask for one of these ten that I've selected for various reasons: Patrick Leahy, Ted Kennedy, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, Frank Lautenberg, Russ Feingold, Jim Jeffords, Charles Hagel, Diane Feinstein or Barack Obama. And make sure you wish the hard-at-work operator a 'happy new year' just in case you decide to call back.

After being connected, kindly tell the selected representative of the people that you are pleased with all the attention, lately, that has been directed towards the legitimacy of international elections and the importance of protecting democracies, but that you have deep concerns about the state of our own election system. Specifically, you should inform each senator (of both parties...and that other dude) that the United States Constitution demands that they raise an objection on January 6th, when they meet to certify the 2004 presidential election results. Tell them that, at the very least, that a two-hour debate can do an awful lot for this country's reputation here, there and abroad.

Here are three potentials ways you can go about it (depending on how you feel about the issue and whatever party loyalties you may possess): that you question the presidential election results because of widespread allegations of fraud and undeniable proof of actions undertaken to suppress the vote; or that you don't necessarily question the results but you do question the fact that there is no sure way to verify them; or that you don't believe that there is anything wrong with the results but that you'd like this matter to be resolved for once and for all to prove that those liberals are out of their freaking minds. The latter tactic can be used by Republicans, the first is for the liberals, and the one in the middle befits the people that live somewhere in the middle (I'd guess the middle sector enjoys a plurality, if not a majority edge).

Whatever you do, don't let anyone tell you that you should restrict yourself to only contacting your state's senators. The 100 senators serve this country as a whole, as well as their individual states. That's the way our forefathers intended it to be.

I don't want to see just one senator objecting to certification without debate along with Representative John Conyers and others from the House. My dream is that all one hundred senators will realize the importance of this day. We can't sweep this under the rug anymore. It needs to be out in the open. It needs to be debated. It needs to be democratized.

And, yes, I perfectly understand what might happen if thousands upon thousands upon thousands of calls swarm into the Capital over the next few days. E-mails and letters will never have the same effect. Phone calls can do something. Phone calls can be utilized as a vital non-violent tactic to express dissatisfaction with the state. Nobody's going to get hurt and nobody's going to get into any trouble. But if the switchboard goes down, then, you know what, that qualifies as news. Think of these phone calls as "weapons of mass construction."

America doesn't balk. America talks. And we're damn good at it.

# posted by Ron Brynaert : 1/03/2005 07:07:00 AM