Lauren's world of useless information

I don't want to see Xmas ads before Halloween and certainly not until after Thanksgiving, much less tree lighting ceremonies, ads for Christmas cards or anything else.

Why can't each holiday be taken for what it is, instead of being pushed aside so some store can make big revenue.

Speaking as a consumer, I am so turned off by the advertising, I stopped shopping. I have bought very little in the past 2 years and even less during the gift-buying season.

I make food gifts for people. Or I offer something else that has meaning to them, this is much better than commercial stuff.

Sure I want a digital camera and a new PC and to consume some other stuff, but I don't want to deal with poor service and high prices.

People are raving about conspiracies, rigged machines , voters like mean people and more. Am I scared about 4 more years of W? Hell yes.

Let's see here, what can go wrong in 4 years:

• no more separation of church and state as the faith based president makes it a faith based country, but you better be his faith
• up to 3 supreme court justices who may be appointed by Bush - think Clarence Thomas, folks, or Antonin Scalia - fairly rigid conservative guys
• Ashcroft out- could someone worse be in? Same for Rumsfeld and Colin Powell
• more republican control of the congress in 2 years
• huge deficits as Bush jacks up the war costs for the 21st century Vietnam
• continued loss of jobs in the US to cheaper foreign countries
• more raping of the environment

I guess the anyone but Bush tactic does not pay off. Maybe Nader would have won more this year had he been on more ballots.

Democrats and people who like seeing other people vote- it is time to get off our asses and do the following:

1. Get out the vote by continuing to point out why people should vote, even if they are not on your side

2. Protect people's voting rights - prevent voter intimidation, disenfranchisement, fraud and more by being active in your community. Become a poll worker, offer you garage as a polling place and insist that computer voting includes a means of verifying your vote after the fact, such as a computer printout.

3. Fight the opposition - tell only the truth, offer concrete plans and suggestions, study the issues and your opponent's views on the issues.

4. Have a lot of Passion and show it

5. Don't forget the sense of humor. Crack an occasional joke, smile a lot

6. Don't neglect one area in favor of another, go for the big picture, not a detailed area. However, be prepared to cover details if prompted to.