Reply #194: Before I Moved To This Ruby Red District, I Lived In Texas... A Military Brat [View All]

[ChiciB1]

from Ft. Hood. Said I would NEVER marry anyone in the military and didn't. He too was an Army brat and we met there when I was 14, but my father had already indoctrinated me into politics at 11. A LIFELONG Democrat when Texas was a Democratic state, I have learned through the years the art of losing gracefully!

Not long after moving to Florida because my husband was born in Tampa, even then Florida seemed much more Democratic. I think Reuben Askew was the Governor then. A few years after moving here the shift began and I too worked for McGovern when I first learned about how "mean" some people could be. I had bumper stickers torn from my car, and I think there were only a handful of us working for George. It was my foray into many lost Presidential elections. My first vote was for McGovern too! I lived in a very small town at the time and I thought it was because I moved to Florida that things had changed.

Of course, you must know the same stories I do, the upheaval of the times, the protests against the war and the excitement that when we MARCHED we got heard! Working in the trenches these many years I realize things change, but in my heart I always believed in the Democratic Party and was always active because I felt it was the correct thing to do.

But I, like you now feel useless and alone. I yearn for the days when the citizens of this country were listened too. I recall one time writing to Bob Graham about an issue and he wrote back right away telling me why he felt as he did. Now, because where I live there has NEVER been a Democratic Representative that I know of. I've written, contacted and phoned these people, but I know they don't hear me. Katherine Harris was my Representative for two terms and that was when I began to have serious doubts about my effectiveness. After 2000 it's been gloomy at best.

I think I've worked my last election now, but as an addicted addict of politics I come here just to communicate. While Obama was never my first choice I did go out in the HOT Florida sun and do all the usual things you do. Many, many hours volunteered, and many hours standing on sidewalks holding signs and going to rallies. It was heady at times and even fun, but my light is going out. I felt I needed to be an example to my kids so they too could pass it on to theirs. It just doesn't work that way these days. People get pumped for short periods and then it's over.

Those of us who are dedicated know issues fairly well, but many around me don't even know whose on the Supreme Court. What can you do?

Drink, Drugs, Despair? Sounds like something I've said myself one too many times! I'm the go-to person when others want to know about politics. That's very SAD and says a lot too!

Now, I'm becoming more cynical and I don't like feeling this way! Unfortunately many of our efforts go un-noticed and we seem to be people who just get in the way of those who are much more POWERFUL!

Remember that old saying "you can't fight city hall?" Well now it seems any fight you have left means very little or nothing at all!

End of my tirade... much too long winded! I'm just venting because I feel lost and alone!