(11/9/2006) The midterm elections are over and the Democrats have taken control of the House and Senate, but this apparent shift in power is mostly illusionary and meaningless and therefore this victory is bitter-sweet. I say this because many of the Democrats in the House and Senate are people who have consistently voted with the Bush administration and the Republicans in Congress on terrible fascist legislation designed to rob our government, exploit our soldiers as low value pawns, and weaken the middle class. And this list of sick fascist collusion could go on and on but the point is clear, we still have a one party corporate controlled government. The only thing that has changed is a slight shift from right-wing extremism back towards right-wing conservatism. 99% of the American people still have no political representation in Washington.

This victory was also meaningless to me because I was once again required to vote on a touch screen computer that did not generate an audit trail. As an accountant this lack of an audit trail makes me very uneasy. All businesses are required to generate a paper audit trail even on small transactions. I'm very angry about this clear violation of accountability for our most fundamental right as American citizens. And once again I was given a sticker that said: "My Vote Counted", like I'm some type of easily duped sucker in an Orwelling political tragedy. I blame both parties for this insult on our intelligence.

Then, to add insult to injury, I found more than half of the public offices uncontested. I could either vote for a Republican or no one. Where were the Democrats? Why can't the Democrats find people to run for these public jobs? The Libertarians did a better job finding people to run for office in North Texas than the Democrats. Even for a position in the U.S. Senate the Democrats failed to find anyone to run against the disgusting Senator from Texas, Kay Bailey Hutchison. I know Texas ranks near the bottom in education and that the people of Texas have been dumbed down by the media, bad diets, and corrupt politicians but the Democrats should have at least tried to use the anti-Bush voter wave to carry some Democrats into the spot light, for future nomination purposes if nothing else.

If the Democrats where honest representatives of the people, and if they had any spine at all, the very first thing they should do with their new majority power is to open public investigations into war profiteering, torture, 9/11, elections fraud in 2000 and 2004, illegal wire taps, Senator Wellstone's death, price gouging by oil companies, illegal tax shelters, the skyrocketing trade deficit with China, etc. And then they should begin impeachment proceedings against President Bush for lying, breaking the law, running up the budget deficit, mismanagement, incompetence, conspiracy, racketeering, negligence, torture, corruption, and for being a shameless moron.

That is not likely to happen, therefore, not much has really changed. If the American people want to take back their government from the corporate fascist, and their puppets in Washington, we need to fight. Otherwise, we will have no one to blame but ourselves.

Don't let this meaningless power shift placate you into inaction. Fighting to take back our government is more important than ever. I recommend using the following fighting strategies:

• 1. Strength & Wisdom - The very first thing we need to do is help ourselves become stronger and wiser people. We can accomplish both of these goals by simply boycotting a few products, companies, and activities (see #2 Boycotts below); and by following a new diet and exercise plan to lose body fat, gain muscle mass, and remove the toxins from our systems. This exercise plan can include things like walking, jogging, riding a bike, yoga, lifting weights, playing sports, etc.

• 2. Boycotts - Not only will boycotting these products, companies, and activities help you become stronger, wiser, and healthier but it will save you a lot of money, and it will put the two corrupt political parties between a rock and a hard place. Products to Boycott: caffeine, MSG, alcohol, candy, chocolate, soft drinks, diamonds, jewelry, tobacco, marijuana, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, weight loss drugs, and sex drugs. Activities to Boycott: professional sports, military service, religious organizations, and all commercial television and radio. Companies to Boycott: Taco Bell, Applebee's, Wal-Mart, Wendy's, Outback Steak House, Dominos Pizza, Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Burger King, KFC, Curves for Women Health Clubs, General Electric, CVS, Wal-Greens, McDonalds, Kohl's, J.C. Penney, Sears, CompUSA, Radio Shack, Green Mountain Energy, Pilgrims Pride, Farmers Insurance, Amway, Michaels Stores, Dell Computers, AT&T, FOX News, Anheuser-Busch, Stanley Tools, Disney, Nike, MSNBC, Texas Instruments, Electronic Data Systems, Reliant Energy, and Duke Energy. For a more complete boycott list follow this link: BOYCOTTS

• 3. Civil Disobedience - We all need to become activist. We all need to figure out the best way that we as individuals can use our talents and skills to best put a knife in the back of the extreme right-wing of the Republican Party. For some people this could be something as simple as writing letters, or creating a website, or giving speeches. For others this could include breaking the law in an effort to shame the law's inadequacies, or to shame the lawmakers themselves. For others this could include protest, strikes, organizing others, and lobbying for change directly with elected officials. Use your imaginations and be creative with your actions.

• 4. Badgering - We all need to start badgering the elected right-wing puppets and their family members. Get right in their faces and let them have it at the top of your lungs. Don't back down and don't stop until they run and hide from your angry face. During this badgering don't threaten them with physical harm and don't touch them physically or you will be arrested and that will not help. The right-wing likes to use fear to manipulate us and badgering will allow us to turn the tables and use fear to manipulate them.

• 5. Survival Preparations - We all need to hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Stock up on supplies that will help you and your family members survive during times of shortages. Start by stock piling the basic necessities like water, food, medical supplies, shelter, fuel, clothing, money, etc. And from there you can get as extravagant as you can afford to. 

• 6. Asymmetrical Warfare - This is war. The extreme right-wing started this war a long time ago and the sooner more people recognize this reality the better chance we have of winning. Therefore, it is time for us to start fighting back. Arm yourself and your family members with every type of deadly weapon you can get your hands on, even if you have to make them yourself. Teach yourself and your family members how to fight with a variety of different weapons and in a variety of different situations. Fighting this enemy is an art not a science. Know your enemy and their weapons and then use this knowledge against them. Fight, but don't sacrifice yourself needlessly. Fighting is not about fighting hard but it is about fighting smart. Use economic opportunities to place yourself close to important targets. Stealth is just as important as your weapon. Don't telegraph you shot, don't hesitate to act, just act quickly and then move on to your next target.

Until we achieve a reasonable level of balance in our political system where Democrats once again represent liberal idealism (working families) and Republicans once again represent conservative idealism (moral values) and both parties stand up for the founder's egalitarian democratic philosophies we will need to fight to regain control over our government from the out of touch right-wing fascist currently in control.