To Whom It May Concern (aka: The Other 48%):
Cc: Move On, ACT, Center for American Progress, Al Franken, Air America Radio, Mother Jones Magazine, Michael Moore

For the past six months, I read the emails, I attended the benefits, I signed petitions, and wrote letters. I watched the debates, I watched the films, I donated money, and I passed on whatever information I could. I argued with my Dad, my boss, co-workers, and strangers. I published sarcastic and satirical political parodies. I allowed myself to hope; I totally believed the hype. Then on Tuesday, I voted.

Like many of you, I was disappointed, to say the least. The news of Bush’s win hit me pretty hard. All of a sudden (or not?) the joke was on me. I holed up in my room, drank a lot, smoked a lot, and listened to sad songs. I gave myself the weekend to grieve.

As I sulked, I reluctantly let the words of my activist/anarchist roommate sink in. Tuesday night as each state turned red, I turned to him and asked, "Whyyyyy is this happening?!!" He reminded me that most people (read: me) think they can vote once every four years and that's enough; that for the most part, they forget about it the rest of the time. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but I gulped it down.

So now the weekend is over, and my resolve has returned. I’m ready to hit back, to hit hard, and to hit them where it hurts the most. Your assistance would be greatly appreciated, especially since I’m holding you partially responsible. Thanks to your refusal to take no for an answer, I, and millions of others like me, have gotten involved (really involved) for the first time.

Your most recent messages (vote or die trying) have been heard. We came, we voted in record numbers, and honestly, it didn't seem to get us very far. It did, however, remind me that while our votes may or may not be counted, what always counts most is our money. And as of this moment, I’d like to stop giving mine hand-over-fist to “the other side.”

I’d like to know who (specifically) is giving money to Republicans and right-wing organizations. I’d like to know which corporations (like Halliburton) are directly profiting from the war in Iraq. I’d like to know who are the polluters, the employers of sweatshop labor, and the out-sourcers of American jobs. I’d like to stop giving them my money. Conversely, I’d like to give money to alternative companies which can provide the same goods and services without the same consequences.

This goes double for the mainstream media machine that is distorting the facts and/or sleeping on the job. I’d like to continue to call attention to the liars by boycotting the advertisers that support them. If they won't act out of an ethical responsibility, then let's make them act out of a fiscal one. Let's give them no choice but to take back their posts, watch-dogging the administration, rather than parroting it. And let's continue to support independent, reliable media resources and help them grow.

Can you please help me compile and distribute this information? I mean, I realize I'm not the first to stumble across this idea. But your organizations can help gather and present comprehensive lists; can outline clear choices and viable alternatives; can distribute this among your subscribers; can send regular updates and calls to action. In fact, with our united purchasing power, we should be able to make alternative products just as (if not more) affordable and readily-available as the ones we currently cling to.

Let’s start by trading in our gasoline cars for electric hybrids and installing solar paneling in our homes. Seriously. All of us. Right now. Before winter hits. Let’s contact the companies that can make this happen and tell them to make it affordable right now and we’ll all buy in. By this time next year, we’ll be rolling in $7 electricity bills, while Cheney sits at his desk trying to figure out a way to tax the sun.

The way I see it, half the country is united in its opposition to the current administration. As long as we’re here (and before we let ourselves forget), let’s keep going. We were on to something before last Tuesday, and there’s no reason it should stop now. Together we represent (pardon me, but) a fuckload of money that the oil industry, for one, can’t afford to lose.

I've seen what you can do over the past few months and I'm asking you to keep doing it. If we continue to act in large numbers, won't the results be devastating? Let's start now by making alternative energy sources an easy and clear choice for anyone to make.

I'll do what I can, if you'll please point me in the right direction, and send back up.

Sincerely,
Darci Ratliff
Editor, kittenpants.org

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