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Alternative Reality

We live in an age where many people say there needs to be an alternative to the two major parties, and then march right into the voting booth, at least the metaphorical booth, and cast their vote for the same old parties. Ladies and gentlemen, casting a vote is the exercise in power that the multitudes have that can bring to power the alternative that we say we want. If we cannot bring ourselves to even cast a vote against the status quo - even in a primary - all the talk about alternatives is truly just talk.

Then there is the so-called alternative media: the bloggers, the fancy political websites, the free tabloids, and so forth. Some of these are actually an alternative to the corporate media, but the large majority are just a restyling and repackaging of the same old media that you know so well. Many have the same mindset, the same arrogance, and the same priorities, which are antithetical to the priorities of the masses. Then they offer endorsements for political candidates just like their more established counterparts, which more often than not are an excellent guide for who not to vote for.

Alternatives are something we often say we want, but when it comes down to it, it's going to take old-fashioned will power and courage to break with the old.

[First posted on "Commoner" on 8/3/09; revised on 8/4/09.]

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Copyright 2009, Party of Commons TM

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