European Tribune

Display:
I was away Tuesday so I missed the post about this.  Very cool.  Keep up the good work.  (And don't let them misquote you.)

Good question, too.  Looking forward to any responses, esp. following up on my remarks about grassroots activity in the US v. Europe in the Obama diary.

Me?  I was recently locked out of my apartment and had to break in, so I suppose, crashing my own gate...  


Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.

by poemless on Thu Jun 28th, 2007 at 04:19:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Is writing on dK and ET and getting heard in various places "grassroots activity"? For someone who's pretty asocial it's not too bad, I hope.

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
by Jerome a Paris (jeromeguillet@yahoo.fr) on Thu Jun 28th, 2007 at 04:22:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]
I was hoping for responses from people in addition to yourself.  We all know what you are doing.  And no, not shabby at all.

Gate-crashing, grassroots activity, I think it is all related.  But one day you are going to actually have to run for office... :)


Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.

by poemless on Thu Jun 28th, 2007 at 04:29:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]
which is also needed. I suppose (I hope) that we do what we are best suited for. As long as we do something. But can we really say that it is enough? It's not.

But as askod pointed, it's a bit harder to write about local activism here on ET, given the site's nature, so not all individual efforts may be visible here.

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (jeromeguillet@yahoo.fr) on Thu Jun 28th, 2007 at 04:36:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]
And you raise a good point.  What is needed?  It might be that the problems in Europe require different solutions than those in America.  And while
"doing something" is fine, the problems in America can be fixed until we change the people running the place and bring citizens back in to the democractic process.  

Perhaps a different approach is needed elsewhere.

So far as what people are best suited for, I think there is a fine line between that logic and coming up with excuses to remain in your comfort zone...  Though we all obviously have our own talents and strengths.  The thing about politics is that it usually comes down to who is doing it, not who is best suited for it.  I really think that democracy isn't like a hobby or interest.  It only works if everyone participates.  I think 10% of it is finding a good way to use your talents, and 90% of it is just getting off your ass and doing something because no one else will, or the people who will don't share your values.    

Stepping down from my little soapbox now...

Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.

by poemless on Fri Jun 29th, 2007 at 01:19:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]
But one day you are going to actually have to run for office... :)

I got an e-mail on May 25 about candidate selection for the European Parliament with an application deadline on July 2. It turns out (as I found out today) that for England the real deadline was May 25. Go figure.

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu Jun 28th, 2007 at 05:10:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Can anyone apply to be a candidate for the European Parliament? (Are they elected? If so, by whom?) Why did you get the e-mail?  

Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.
by poemless on Thu Jun 28th, 2007 at 05:16:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Because I am a member of the party. The applicants get vetted by a committee to get on a shortlist for selection by the members. I missed a number of deadlines, not all of them because of this stupid e-mail I got.

It's probably possible to run as an independent as well, as opposed to on a party list.

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu Jun 28th, 2007 at 05:32:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Which party is this?

Running for office is a huge time committment.

And I'll give my consent to any government that does not deny a man a living wage-Billy Bragg

by ManfromMiddletown (manfrommiddletown at lycos dot com) on Thu Jun 28th, 2007 at 07:16:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]
The Liberal Democrats.

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Fri Jun 29th, 2007 at 03:07:07 AM EST
[ Parent ]
ahem.

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu Jun 28th, 2007 at 05:15:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]
*Round of Applause!*

Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.
by poemless on Thu Jun 28th, 2007 at 05:20:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Display:
Login
. Make a new account
. Reset password
Debates
Campaigns
Occasional Series