Knee-jerk Democracy vs Revolution

Right now the airwaves are bursting at the seams with talk of "Obamacare", "Angry Americans", "Government Takeover of Healthcare", "Historic Victories", "Monumental Deficits" and the like. And according to quite a few conservative legislators and voters, the revolution will not only be televised, but broadcasted, twittered and electorally significant come November.

Only time will reveal the reality of all the fears, hopes and predictions being presently made. What history has already shown us is that true "revolution" is more than checking off a ballot. Revolution is about vigilance, awareness, action at every turn to shift whatever unbalanced reality exists. After the 2008 General Election, the word revolution was spoken of to describe the present and the not too distant future. Those legislators (regardless of party affiliation) whom were associated with President George W. Bush's agenda over the past eight years were for the most part summarily dismissed.

It is now March 22, 2010 and many of the same petty fights, name-calling and partisan maneuvering are still happening, even after the "revolution of 2008". Why? You ask. Because while Thomas Jefferson's quote "Every generation needs a new revolution" is often connected with the electoral process created by our democratic republic form of government, by itself, elections are not enough to revolutionize anything. It is merely one in a long line of steps towards the kind of reform that true revolution brings about.

Voting is very important, but so is knowing what those you have voted in to represent you are voting on, proposing and legislating. The real opportunity for revolution comes when our elected officials start talking, debating, crafting and voting on issues that become policy for the city, county, state, region and nation. However, as was said earlier, revolution requires full commitment on the part of all those who claim to want it and that commitment must be proven at every step.

Having a knee-jerk reaction to what a political pundit, elected official or media outlet says is right or wrong won't actually lead to real change. The real change occurs when people stop depending on the thoughts, opinions and information of others to tell them right from wrong and make a commitment to knowing what's going on in all governments (local, state and national) so that they can decide for themselves.

"Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government." Thomas Jeffferson