2.5 - Hope for America

I have recently noticed many events of tremendous significance. At first glance, they seem irrelevant, meaningless—even boring. I contend that they are not.

• My Ron Paul 2008 bumper stickers came yesterday.
  
• I put one on my car.
  
• There was not enough space in the non-wiper area of the rear window, so I actually had to put it below the window on the actual painted surface.
  
• I have only seen about 10 bumperstickers relating to the 2008 election. All of them have been for Ron Paul.

It's a short list—it could easily be longer.

These events are significant because:

• I donated money to a political candidate.
  
• I don't put stickers on my car unless I have to.
  
• Especially not on the paint.
  
• I'm not alone.

These events are significant because they are far outside the norm. I have noticed that when my actions change, and there is any early indication of similar changes in others, the overall effect of the coming shift is enormous.

There are things that I like that aren't popular—but I don't expect them to be. There are also popular things that I don't like—but I understand why they are.

I am rarely first on board. I'm not the first to get a cell phone, first to get broadband, first to like (or hate!) a company, or first to embrace any new technology. My "everybody is going to want one of these" or "why does anybody do business with that company" moment is usually pretty well timed. My interest usually occurs just before the tipping point to mass acceptance. I don't usually notice it until well after the fact.

I have agreed with some political candidates in the past. I've engaged in discussions on political issues and the positions held by those running for office. I've voted for libertarians that I knew could not win. I've seen my chosen candidates summarily dismissed by the media, effectively silencing them and making them largely unknown to the voters.

Until recently, I simply had to admit that the politicians that I could support simply weren't going to win. Even when I agreed wholeheartedly with a candidate, there was just nothing to be excited about. This is different.

Very different.