intellectually, i agree with you, yoshie. on a practical basis, i think there are a lot of generalities in your generous prescription that take a long time to iron out. long enough, in fact, that it could be long after 2008 -- and many more hitched and unhitched carts -- without anything being accomplished.
i believe people committed to reforming the democratic party are self deluded and wasting time which could better be used elsewhere -- including learning to knit or crochet, taking up golf, applique, reading, walking, or painting a room.
i don't see the depth and range of concern in the american people necessary for independent political action to be effective. there currently is a lot of anxiety about shrub and his pals which misleads people into believing there exists the possibility that grass roots activism and independent action will be meaningful in the future. surely, there are many caring, well meaning people in the US; but they don't seem able to work together effectively for a long enough period, or have a realistic grasp of the obstacles, to create lasting, meaningful change.
i doubt anything short of severe, shared, long term national trauma will shake the bulk of the american people from their chronic national quietus and permanent fear of doing anything politically constructive. where this would lead in a nation with so little knowledge of history and such deeply held delusions about reality is anyone's guess. after all, this is the nation that originated compassion fatigue, and the term "ethnic cleansing" as if the latter was something you buy at the supermarket.
R