Education on the Issues Should be Foremost

I spent the day at a local supermarket today handing out fliers and talking to people about the CPA and Question 4 on the local ballot. No, i am not going to rehash the arguments, well not today anyway. It was an interesting and eyeopening experience.

Interesting in the fact of how many people admitted they had no idea, not what the CPA was which is understandable, but rather, how much taxes they pay and where they go. Now, understandably many people never see their tax bills as they go to the bank or mortgage company directly but this got me to thinking that this is exactly what the big spenders count on. They count on these people, who don't look at their tax bills, who don't participate in local politics, to not pay attention so they can do what they want. They will stack the town meeting with like-minded people and spend your money, then say things like "Well, it was passed at town meeting."

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It was eyeopening in the fact that even here in our little town of Sturbridge, those on the extreme left of the political spectrum, follow the same rules as their counterparts everywhere else in the country. I shouldn't be surprised I know, but I still have a certain amount of naivety when it comes to politics and as much as I know better, I still think everyone is like me and plays fair. The store manager came out and was talking to us and was relaying to us that one of those on the other side of this issue actually threatened him that she and her friends would not shop there any more if they supported us. They did the same thing with the other supermarket in town as well. Straight from "Rules for Radicals ". Of course I don't know where they will shop now, but oh well, sucks to be them.

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We didn't get too much negative feedback, only some dirty looks and a couple of comments which I found somewhat amusing. It makes you wonder why some people can't just be civil and sit down and talk to each other. Instead any discussion, and I am talking about on both sides of any issue, usually ends up in name calling and accusations being made, while nothing gets accomplished. Really kind of sad actually. We even had a few people who, without hearing what we had to say, say they were against Question 4, but actually knew nothing about it, only that so and so told them to vote "No". This is what is really sad.  And again, this isn't just about this issue, it is about all issues.

I have to to say this has been an education for me, actually the whole process since I have really gotten involved in politics. We live in a republic where we are guaranteed certain  rights yet we continue to let others lead us like sheep and make the decisions for us through our own ignorance or lack of caring. Remember, when we no longer have the freedoms, and we are losing them little by little every day, you will wish you had paid more attention.