Health warning: high rant content.

Power to the people, perhaps. 

It's horrific news that Bush has got in again, but  it was bound to happen; fair means or foul.  Bush is simply a more obvious a puppet than the other guy would be. Politicians don't run America, corporations do. Large companies donate to both Republicans and Democrats to hedge their bets and gain influence over those in the seat of power. Elections become smear campaigns, the biggest budget or best sound bite wins, forget any policy details; this is a publicity campaign, not a proper democratic examination of facts. America TM is on a path contrary to better informed world opinion, on several fronts, it's omnicidal. Individual governments seem to powerless when they try to make America agree to fair trade, or reduced pollution (Kioto summit anyone?), or a more pragmatic foreign policy. Any normal diplomatic attempts simply result with threats of sanctions against the government in question, which is individually powerless to act.

Governments are powerless....but individuals aren't. Use your bulge. - No, not that of the hidden receiver (useful during presidential debates). The bulge in your wallet or purse. Think you can't influence the American politics?  Think again. Elections can be rigged, governments threatened and bribed  ...but money talks. What would happen if a few million people in the west took up personal sanctions and stopped buying American products?


Take the pledge.

I know I can't make a difference on my own, but if I do my bit, and spread the word,
 

I promise.

• I won't buy products from any company which donates to politics

• I won't eat American burgers and become large enough to be given my own postal code.

• I won't buy a fat American car to haul my fat ass to the shops.

• I won't wash down my fries with diabetes-inducing, sugar-filled American cola.

• I won't cram my podgy toes into overpriced American sneakers.

• I will buy music from independent labels and go to the independent film theatre more often.

• I will buy my books, coffee and sandwiches from a friendly locally owned and managed store.

• I won't go to American pizza places or "in-your-face-Thursdays" restaurants.

• I will avoid generic American clothes.

• I won't drink generic American beer which doesn't even taste like beer

• I won't smoke cigarettes produced by American companies which didn't admit the dangers or give compensation.

• I won't set my browser to an American owned homepage.

• I will get my news from an independent source.

• I won't holiday at plastic land or plastic land Paris.