Did the election season leave you cold? Are you yearning to find people you can talk seriously with about the big problems that the major political parties all seem to avoid? If so, you’re not alone. Yesterday, in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, one the worst natural disasters ever to hit the U.S., people went out to cast their vote and many of them felt resigned to the fact that their vote wouldn’t make the world better — that they were just choosing the “lesser” of two evils. And many refused to do that.
In talking among ourselves at our last Chicago World Can’t Wait meeting, we were struck by all the critical issues that didn’t get talked about at the debates and the things that Romney praised Obama for during those same debates. What was brought into sharp focus for people of conscience is the fact that these elections do not reflect the interests of the majority of humanity…much of it seems to be about getting the people of this country to go along with the crimes of our government. In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, government officials are talking about how to adapt to climate change. They’re not talking about how to stop it! On the World Can’t Wait national conference call last week, we were reminded of the line from the original Call to Drive Out the Bush Regime: “That which you do not resist and mobilize to stop, you will learn or be forced to accept.”
So here are some images to remind us of what did NOT get discussed and what is even being praised and/or normalized:
Climate Crisis: They didn’t talk about the environment or climate change.
Human Rights: They didn’t say a word about indefinite detention or torture or NDAA.
Drone Killings: Obama based his claims to national security prowess on execution-by-drones….and Romney praised him for it.
Attacking Iran: Both Obama and Romney talked about how to “deal with” (i.e. obliterate) Iran.
In the wake of Election Tuesday, we’d like to hear from you, people of conscience. What important issues did you think were left out of the campaigns? What is your thinking about what is needed to stop the crimes of our government, no matter who the President is? How do you see yourself taking a role in all this…sustaining, supporting by spreading the word about our work, or volunteering as an activist/organizer? We will be making phone calls to all you who we can reach on the afternoon of Saturday, November 10th. What you have to say and how you are seeing things is very important to us. Please send us an email to share your thoughts. We don’t have to feel hopeless or alone. Together, we can build this movement to stop the crimes of our government.