I think if someone believes what we, as a country, are doing is wrong they should speak out. The sums and future commitments involved in all of this are absolutely enormous and if someone thinks it is being misspent this is the time to say so.
You are right that there is practically little anyone can do and that politics is usually played several moves down the road. The recent election will be taken as a mandate for whatever is passed and that will be that. That said I still think that if someone believes they should speak their mind.
I don't say this because I'm a libertarian or especially in any given political camp. I just do not want to see political opinion or participation discouraged. I think the long term solution is more people aware and interested in policy and not less.
Although I have no interest in stifling debate here, I do agree with you that HN karma has little to no influence on policy and does not counter-balance monetary influence on policy makers.
So I hope that the strongest opinions here, regardless of which side they take, are also being citizen-lobbied.
You are right that there is practically little anyone can do and that politics is usually played several moves down the road. The recent election will be taken as a mandate for whatever is passed and that will be that. That said I still think that if someone believes they should speak their mind.
I don't say this because I'm a libertarian or especially in any given political camp. I just do not want to see political opinion or participation discouraged. I think the long term solution is more people aware and interested in policy and not less.