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Petitions are an underrated method of getting things done in this country. Many people think they're a waste of time, but in fact a show of numbers is the one thing that has any real effect on both politicians and corporations. Even in the current, lopsided political climate, Republicans backed down on Social Security reform when they saw how many of their constituents were upset with the Bush Administration plans. These people are well aware that they have to be re-elected in order to keep job and lifestyle perking along. In each issue of Cosmik Debris we will bring you a featured petition. We'll show you the basic thrust of what they're talking about, usually by giving you the actual text from the petition site, and then we'll provide a link so you can go sign the petition, should you be so inclined. You don't have to give any personal details when you sign other than your name and e-mail address, and sometimes your state. They often ask for phone numbers and addresses, but if you don't want to give out that information, you don't have to. Your electronic signature will still go through. It's very important we become ever more vigilant in this time when checks and balances seem to be questionable at best. When all other checks and balances collapse, the final check - public scrutiny - must remain strong.
The message below is from DNC Chairman Howard Dean regarding a petition designed to influence Republican senators not to take steps to abolish the right to filibuster. When one party far outnumbers the other, sometimes the only way the minority party can prevent a bill from being passed or a nominee from being accepted is to have a senator take the floor and use up the clock in any way he or she can, making a vote impossible. Yeah, it sounds childish, and it's done some damage to this country over the years, but it's also prevented many pieces of terrible legislation and extremist judges from being pounded through by the majority. If the Republicans choose to take away the right to filibuster, at a time when they control all three branches of government in this country, there will be nothing to stop them from forcing anything and everything, and everyone, on us from here on in. The wording below doesn't adequately explain what this is all about, or even mention "filibuster," but that's the issue. We at Cosmik Debris think this is a most important petition, worthy of your attention. Below, you'll find Dr. Dean's words and a link to the petition. Thank you.
From Howard Dean, DNC Chairman -Sometimes partisan politics gets overheated -- I know that as well as anyone. But when one party controls all three branches of government, and then seeks to change the fundamental principles and rules of our democracy, we need to talk about it soberly and seriously.
The Republican Senate leaders have decided to fundamentally alter the role of Congress -- they want to give George Bush unprecedented power to manipulate the legislative branch and the courts.
Today Harry Reid and the Democratic Senators asked us, the American people, to help them preserve the right of our elected representatives to speak their mind on the floor of the U.S. Senate.
We have to act. Sign this petition, which we will deliver to every U.S. Senator, asking them to protect the right to free speech in the Senate. If they don't, it is not only their voice that will be silenced -- it will be ours:
http://www.democrats.org/freespeech
Here are the facts: George Bush has appointed judges to lifetime positions at a better rate than any president in nearly three decades. More than 95% of his nominees have been approved. Only ten nominees have been refused -- all because they are unqualified and out of the mainstream.
But that's not enough. And on this issue, as on Social Security, it is becoming more and more obvious to everyone that the Republican leadership is out of touch with reality.
More Americans voted against George Bush than any sitting president in history. And that same day, across the country, the Democratic candidates for Senate received over 4 million more votes than Republicans.
Americans did not endorse the fringe agenda to dismantle Social Security. And they did not endorse dismantling the system of checks and balances that have served our country for over 200 years.
Please tell your Senator to stand up for free speech:
http://www.democrats.org/freespeech
This is not a partisan issue -- it is an American issue. And we all must act together in order to protect our democracy.
Thank you.