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To the Founding Fathers,We come with no easy blueprint for tomorrow's constitution. We mistrust those who think theyalready have the answers when we are still trying to formulate the questions. But the time hascome for us to imagine completely novel alternatives, to discuss, dissent, debate, and design fromthe ground up the democratic architecture of tomorrow. Not in a spirit of anger or dogmatism, not in a sudden impulsive spasm, but through the widest consultation and peaceful public participation, we need to join together to reconstitute America. Alvin and Heidi Toffler - from thebook "Creating a New Civilization" 
 In theOpen Forumat MfD, the failure of our current two-party political system was brought up and thequestion of "how do we fix it" emerged from the discussion. A contributor stated that the dilemma weface today, in our current political arena, isn't really about "right" and "left" anymore. We now findourselves evolving beyond taking political sides and find ourselves searching more for what is "right"and "wrong" outside of our current polarizing political structure. They go on to say,
"This is about understanding that true democracy lies in the dignity of people and not in the rhetoric of politics." 
Inmy opinion, what is missing in our current form of democracy is, "The People"! Our democraticstructure has moved way beyond any form of participatory system into a highly repressive,representative system which by it's nature, excludes the input of the people in the decision making process. We get the scraps off the table after our masters have gorged themselves on the fruits of our labor. There was mention of the need for a third party and the possibility of massive numbers of peoplefalling in line in support of a party which would be based on issues pertinent to workers. A partywithout the now existing conservative/liberal labels. I agree, a third party seems like it would help balance the structure out, but a part of me thinks this is like an attempt to oil the existing machine inorder to make it perform better. This is a complicated issue for me and something in my brain's recesseskeeps telling me the existing machine just can't be fixed due to the amount of capital which the two parties have accumulated and their willingness to use it to their benefit. I'm thinking the machine isworn out, and is no longer economical in the emerging economical/political climate. A new part here,an oil change there, and we still have the same 20th century motor which still belches out noxiousconsumerist fumes. This machine is fueled by labor, and as such, the owners of the current machinewill always strive for cheaper fuel prices. The engine we have is not efficient and it burns labor like a1968 Chevy 427 burns petrol. "We" are the fuel for the current machine and even though we do take anactive role in the operation of it, I'm not particularly fond of the part the people play in the running of this machine. So by propping up the current system, and attempting to add on new parts, doesn't haveany effect as far as I'm concerned and the machine just keeps on chugging, coughing, sputtering, andkicking out poison into the environment and making it an unfit and unequal place for the inhabitants of the world. I just believe we will have to design a new, more efficient model which utilizes balance of all the parts and doesn't have any loose screws, nuts, or bolts laying around after it's assembled. I appreciate the futurists energy and their contributions. I have learned a great deal from these guys.While it's true they base a great deal of their predictions on current trends and rightly so, I believemaking predictions based on current trends has a tendency of keeping one on the fence. I think our timewould be better spent if we moved away from predicting our future and moved on to creating one.Reason tells us where we are going on the current path, now we have to turn into creationists in order to make the transition as humane as possible for not just the people within our nations, but the entire
 
global population. Injustice doesn't discriminate and it's effect reaches all corners of our globe. It's not aunique problem and it's cancerous blight has done great harm to all people of our planet. People acrossthe globe are communicating and discussing issues outside the walls and fences constructed by the political nationalists whose double speak has kept our collective minds locked away for so long. It's myopinion the people and their power of reason will one day be fully realized and the barriers, bothmental and physical, which have been constructed by an elite few, in an attempt to hold on to power,will tumble and dissolve. This probably sounds like a nightmare to some, especially the isolationist paleoconservativessuch as Pat Buchanan. But I have to give credit to Buchanan, as he is against the Patriot Act and he doesn't agree with the war and the "new empire's" agendas. He's the so-called "true conservative" it's been said. But unlike him, I believe the connections of communities around the world is what will save us and isolation will onlymake the shift into the new paradigm that much more difficult and help create more pooling of power in the hands of an elite few. Yeah, I'm a dreamer, but our realities are built on such dreams! Just as an example of how boundaries are disappearing, let me share this with you. Right beforeChristmas, Cindy Sheehan began a European tour meeting not only with the foreign ministers, presidents, and other elite, but she has been visiting with the families of other children who have losttheir lives in the War on Terror. Language barriers are being overcome in what Sheehan calls,
"A Language of the Heart" 
. 
 No matter if we all speak differently accented English, Spanish, or the heavy Glaswegian accent of my Scottish sister in sorrow, Rose Gentle - whose gentle-giant son, Gordon, was killed by Blair and Bush in Iraq in July of 2004 - our hearts all speak the same idiom of pain, and we sing the same lament of futile loss.
 Yes, pain and suffering are common grounds on which the people can meet. Not the ideal of meeting places for sure, but out of this shared grief and suffering, fertile ground is emerging and new life issprouting. A language of the heart is not hard to imagine at all. It's the place where we see things for what they really are. It's something we all share. Read this e-mail Sheehan received from a mother of an Iraqi insurgent who was killed in the same battle Sheehan's son was killed. In conclusion, this is an excerpt of an email I received from a mother in Iraq whose son ZaydounMamoun Fadhil Al-Samarai, a Shi'a insurgent, was involved in the same battle in which Casey waskilled. Zaydoun was later killed. 
We, my friend, in the march of pain could work together, each from where she is, toward putting an end to the blood shed and toward peace and love to prevail, instead of war.
 
We could, my lady, work together toward peace and toward putting an end to the blood shed and  give all mothers a hope for happiness because we experience pain when we lost our sons. Because, he who did not experience pain cannot understand happiness.
 
 
 I will be very happy when the war ends so we can celebrate in my town, Samara, which witnessed the birth of my oldest son, Zaydoun, who I thought would mourn me when I die, but, unfortunately, I mourned him one month before his wedding. I am conveying his fiancé's greeting, who is still mourning him.
 
 At the end, please accept my deepest sympathies, from a mother who lost her son to another mother who lost her son. I hope to be able to meet with you on the march for peace and love.
 Yes, I believe dreamers will help design a better place, but what can be done, or what is being donehere in our little world to make the transition from one world into the next? I've always heard you needto clean up your own yard before you criticize what your neighbors yard looks like! So where do westart? There have been many groups which have grown out of the availability of the Internet and the flow of information which ensued. Some lean towards existing parties, others are bi-partisan, and some havetheir base in the believe of an entirely new design. But the important thing is these people have seen theshift and through communication are attempting to make the inevitable much better, easier, and more participatory. I believe we can gain usable knowledge from any and perhaps all of these groups.Perhaps there is a need for new terminology? Instead of "politics", maybe we could call it"citizenology" or something of the sort? The word citizenship, according to Wikipedia, <i>often alsoimplies working towards the betterment of one's community through participation, volunteer work, andefforts to improve life for all citizens.</i> So I suppose citizenology would be the study of how people,through participation, can work to improve life for all people. People deal with their differences bycreating alliances, discussing, negotiating, and engaging people on issues which involve the self-interest of like-minded people. We need less stratification due to vertically structured parties, and moreaccordance through horizontal citizen engagement. TheUSCCR offers extensive links of on-lineresource groups and partnerships pertaining to civic education and democracy within communities. Take this quote from America Speakswebsite which is part of the conservative based Pew Charitable Trust. The quote portrays the growing bi-partisan concern of our current structures. 
Most Americans today would agree that there is something deeply wrong with how our democracyis working: citizens have largely lost their rightful role in public decision making. The American public deserves more than the vote, they deserve a voice in what happens – an impact on decisionsthat impact their lives, and a government responsive to their needs. However, the dramatic growthand power of special interest groups have both constrained leaders and squeezed ordinarycitizens out of the process. As a result, many citizens feel alienated, and decision makers have lost touch with their constituents’ true concerns.
 The vote has evolved into merely a control of the masses through illusionary democratic principles and
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