No one is fired up about the direction this country is taking,  what I mean by no one is that you don't see mass amounts of people talking about it.  I talk to people about it.  I end up offending a lot.  As far as I'm concerned these people are the problem, gun owners who don't vote included.  Vote with your wallet and cast your ballot.  Join the NRA or other like minded liberty group.  Study the constitution, the real document!  Have your kids study it too.  We will all  be extinct soon if not.

Well, I think there is a definite minority of people who are "fired up about the direction this country is taking"... a small minority... but definitely concerned and active to the extent possible. That's the source of my frustration: "the extent possible".  My exasperation is that if voting is really the only effective possibility of changing things, all I ever see (realistically in terms of who will actually get enough votes to win... my Libertarian preferences have no real shot) are two choices: one of whom wants to impose government restrictions and limit my freedom in certain areas of my personal life, and the other choice who wants to impose government restrictions and limit my freedom in other areas of my personal life. What kind of "choice" is that? The fact that my "choice" seems to be limited to the "lesser of two evils" is rather depressing... I can understand why so many people are not interested in the voting process... does it really make any difference except in relatively minor things? Both "parties" follow the money... the lobbies and vested interests that fund their campaigns/lifestyles. Rarely or never are those interests the same as we "little people"... ordinary citizens. I want to do something to really change things, but I just don't know what that would be. 

As an example of minority dissatisfaction with the status quo, I just saw the Harvard Institute of Politics polling of "Millennials" (age 18-29) who were asked "If you could recall and replace various elected officials, would you recall President Obama? Total YES 47%. Age 18-24 52%. Age 25-29 40%. It seems as if there is at least a relatively high level of dissatisfaction... whether that translates into action, and what kind of action... that's another question.

Here's a link to one of the summaries, which includes a link to the full report: http://iop.harvard.edu/blog/iop-releases-new-fall-poll-5-key-findings-and-trends-millennial-viewpoints?utm_source=homepage&utm_medium=hero&utm_campaign=Fall2013Survey

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Article V of the United States Constitution provides an interesting option.

I keep trying to vote, however a lot of people tell me you have to look back to the JFK era to see what we really lost.  Probably before that even.  I know JFK was offed because he wasn't going along with the group who has been driving the bus ever since.

I question certain amendments to the Constitution, and some things that went down during teddy Roosevelt's time.  I know the bank was killed off how many times?  2-3.  Yet the FED is alive and kicking. 

I think the problem with our local political scene is due in large part to apathy and group think. I've often heard many younger and over 30 yr. old folks say they vote for the Democrat Party because their mom or dad voted that way their whole lives, so they follow suit. That would be the group think that permeates Hawaii. Many voters here are completely clueless when it comes to being informed on the issues. Their inability or lack of desire to become informed is due to simple apathy or laziness, which is something you kind of understand due to Hawaii's laid back culture. And liberal types are very effective in using emotional arguments that may be logically wrong, but appeal to low information voters - something Hawaii has in abundance.

I think the problem with our local political scene is due in large part to apathy and group think. I've often heard many younger and over 30 yr. old folks say they vote for the Democrat Party because their mom or dad voted that way their whole lives, so they follow suit. That would be the group think that permeates Hawaii. Many voters here are completely clueless when it comes to being informed on the issues. Their inability or lack of desire to become informed is due to simple apathy or laziness, which is something you kind of understand due to Hawaii's laid back culture. And liberal types are very effective in using emotional arguments that may be logically wrong, but appeal to low information voters - something Hawaii has in abundance.

Also, one of the biggest problems here in Hawaii is what I call 'plantation mentality', where no matter how much the status quo pisses the people off, they are unable to pose a defiance to it.  They just shrug it of to 'what it is, is.... what can I do about it?'  Then go back to doing what they do....  which is nothing....

Also, one of the biggest problems here in Hawaii is what I call 'plantation mentality', where no matter how much the status quo pisses the people off, they are unable to pose a defiance to it.  They just shrug it of to 'what it is, is.... what can I do about it?'  Then go back to doing what they do....  which is nothing....

Lucky we live hawaii