the real change 'from the ground up'

The real grassroots movement needed is one to retake our ability to judge and hold our elected officials accountable.

To be effective (unlike what we've got now) this will first mean we need to stop using that power to judge to try to make our fellow voters conform to our ("thought police") vision of what they ought to think and how they ought to vote. We remember how to use our power wisely.

It requires a faith in democracy - a belief that people armed with correct information will make good choices.

It requires letting go of the desire to coerce. Even if you're sure you're right and the rest of the world is stupid.

I blame the fringe liberals for the fact that we have done a complete reversal: instead of us judging our elected officials, liberal voters judge each other - and now the circle is complete: elected officials have learned how to judge the voters, while fringe liberals have done nothing but cheer at the idea that a "new kind of politician" can make the voters be the change we are waiting for.

Ugh!