Radical changes needed

The state of this country and the world at large is such that tinkering around the edges will no longer suffice – not that it ever really did. (In fact, that's what got us into this mess in the first place!)

The current crop of neocons that has stolen the White House and terrorized our democracy should be tried and locked up forever – as karma would dictate, seeing as how they think they can lock people up and throw away the key. (Only difference: they can be locked up legally, for high crimes and misdemeanors.)

As Truthout.org's Marc Ash put it: "For those who thought Tom Delay's departure would really change anything in Congress, this past week was a strong cup of coffee. On Capitol Hill, politics and greed still trump the good of the nation, still trump the Constitution, still trump all. While nothing that happened in Washington this past week was new or should have surprised anyone, we were nonetheless served clear notice, anew, that this is a democracy under siege."

So, we need to do some serious reconstruction of our democracy, by, in my view:

1. Outlawing big money from the electoral process at all levels, giving qualified candidates equal time and space in the media, and nationalizing the energy corporations and health care.

2. Implementing a 'new deal' style alternative energy program, training and employing people to build a new infrastructure for carbon-free energy delivery.

These things will allow us to gain a new footing, and begin to change everything else that needs fixing. Neither the Dems nor the Repubs will do this on their own, we need to pressure them like they've never been pressured before.