As one of the early supporters of Mr Hope and Change, I have to confess that the last two years have been a real exercise in personal and spiritual growth for me, often inspired by politics. I’ve learned to accept that people can be even greedier and more irrational than I imagined, and that change doesn’t happen overnight. I’m usually cynical enough to read between the lines of the kind of talk the president served up on the campaign trail, but was still moved by his words and the upswell of hope that he inspired across America and around the world. Now, not so much. Mostly because he doesn’t come across as the same person I voted for in 2008. Strangely, all I really want from the president right now is for him to talk like he’s campaigning! I don’t expect that after the recently approved finance reform legislation takes the beating policy always takes moving through congress that it will fare any better than the health care bill did; Washington is just far too awash in the self-interest of the affluent elite that live and work there. So stop being so damned modulated and reasonable, will you Mr President? I don’t think we’re getting anywhere, and now Teabaggers are co-opting your brand. I have a friend who – when a street person asks him for change – actually uses the old line “change comes from within, brother“. I’m now learning a new truth in that. It’s certainly not likely to come out of Washington in a hurry. Maybe I need to learn that small change is a good thing too.

1.) We Need Sweeping Reform Of Lobbying & Election Guidelines & Laws
The two prevailing political parties in America are in reality very much aligned in principles, but polarized in rhetoric because of the fact that what ultimately wins major elections are two things: financing and market research. Campaigns are based on fine-tuned messaging based on things like dial groups, and financial support from a complicated array of corporate and political interests. Legislation typically is shaped almost entirely by well-funded lobby groups and almost zero actual democracy.

2.) News Organizations In America Need To Rediscover Journalistic Integrity
In spite of (or maybe because of?) the news media’s choice over the past decade to base content decisions on sales rather than any attempt at conveying “truth”, we are delivered a constant barrage of the most aberrant but sensational imagery, while major events that are politically uncomfortable at the time receive little or no attention. The major news outlets are doing a fine job of engineering their own demise, but maybe a little insistence on quality of information and rational feedback from the general public could help keep journalism alive? Okay. I’m suggesting the absurd here, I realize. A guy can dream though, can’t he?

3.) The Impossible Dream: Rational Behavior As Citizens
To me, this is the most important, but perhaps most irrational hope. Maybe we could all act like Americans instead of Republicans or Democrats again. Maybe more of us could pause for a moment and remember that if there’s an “us vs. them”, it’s the working class taxpayer vs. the affluent and entitled. Maybe we could rediscover the kind-natured, hardworking, compassionate, innovative, competitive spirit that makes us American citizens, and focus on bridging differences and getting to work on common goals to build a stronger nation?

Okay. I’m nuts. What do you think?

Proving that political campaigns have truly devolved to the level of entertainment, Paris Hilton responds to the McCain campaign’s use of her likeness by announcing she’s running for president. No big deal, I’m running for president too. This got me thinking though, about that rarely-mentioned monster, the Military-Entertainment Complex, which then (curse you, Internet!) led me to spend an hour or so perusing TomDispatch.com, which further led me to impulsively order two books: The Wrecking Crew: How Conservatives Rule , and The Complex: How the Military Invades Our Everyday Lives. Regardless of whether you find those books intriguing, TomDispatch.com (which is a project of the Nation Institute) is a wealth of well-researched journalism, which although possessing a decidedly liberal bent, provides a depth of coverage and reporting that is hard to come by these days.

Remember back in the ’04 elections, when those pesky liberals turned the create-your-own-poster gizmo on the Bush-Cheney web site against itself? Well, in the interest of equal time, have at it, all you No-We-Can’ters. Just type your own phrase in the little box below Obama’s picture, and voila, your own campaign poster. This site doesn’t appear to belong to the official Obama campaign, so maybe it’ll be around for a while. Have yourself some fun, whoever your candidate may be.