Sometimes, we mere citizens feel useless, and more often than not powerless to have impact on those important things which affect our daily lives. One of the principal reasons for such (and other) feelings is the perception that we can actually DO nothing about them, one way or the other.
We even sometimes admit our ignorance about those things which could have dramatic and lasting impact on us personally, or as community, or even as nation. Many or most of those things which give us these feelings do so because we do at least get a glimmer of understanding that we could feel (either positively or negatively) the impact for a very long time. That can be intimidating, fear-causing--or just plain something (like a really bad tooth pain) we really wish to avoid.
I wonder what the citizens of Kiev are thinking along these lines tonight. Actually, I wonder what the people of Kansas City are thinking about such things as these tonight. Or, to be very specific (because I have friends there, and just because I absolutely LOVE their name), I wonder what my target focus group in Lost Nation, Iowa are thinking about such things at the moment. (Waves at LN,I! Long Live Rustic Days! I love and miss you all!)
There is just such one of those things upon our visible horizon today. At some point during this term (between this second and some point during June, 2014), The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) will release its decision in a quite very important legal case, "McCutcheon v. FEC". Many American citizens are hoping vehemently that this case is affirmed. At least an equal number of citizens in our land are hoping against hope that the Justices will overturn this decision.
You can certainly do a search on the style caption of this important case and learn why so many think their view should be reflected in the decision of the Justices. A lot is at stake here. Some, myself included would tell you that democracy itself is at stake here. That's because it is. Surely at a minimum, by any fundamental basic definition of OUR democracy, democracy is at stake here. Affirming the case would change that definition. Overturning the lower court could preserve that definition. Those are the stakes.
How can you, or I possibly do anything about that? Well, follow me just below the squggledoodlethingey fold, and I'll tell you.
