Wyclef JeanGrammy-winning musician and founder of YƩle HaitiPosted: November 1, 2010 10:08 AMBIOBecome a FanGet Email AlertsBloggers' Index
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In my new song, "Election Time," I wrote, "Election time around the corner what you gonna fight for." How about fighting for candidates and politicians to tell us where their money is coming from, so we know who's paying their bills? How about fighting for getting our voices heard? How about fighting for politicians who want to keep moving this country forward, not back, in the midst of the worst recession we've seen in most of our lifetimes?
It's hard to understand, living in this country, just how lucky U.S. citizens are to be able to vote, to have the right and the privilege of making such important choices for their own future, the future of their families and the future of their nation. My brothers and sisters in Haiti are living and dying in poverty, the government there so wrapped up in funneling money and influence to the rich and the elite that even with decades of financial aid from all over the planet, those in power can't do right by the people who need them.
Think of the Haitians now, suffering beyond imagination since the January earthquake, and now falling by the hundreds from a cholera epidemic (and pray, as I do everyday, that the outbreak has been brought under control). So, truly, in the United States, voting is the least everyone 18 and older can do to express gratitude for all this country affords them. I'm talking to everyone qualified to vote here: You all need to get yourselves registered and need to get to the polls in just a few days, on Nov. 2. Voting is a privilege -- and it's also the duty of every U.S. citizen who loves this country.
I know from all my work in Haiti that the youth of a nation can make a real difference, and I know that they can here in my adopted country, too. And in fact, they have -- as recently as two years ago. The election of 2008 was a shining moment for the youth of this great land. They spoke louder, and with more care for their fellow citizens, than they have since the Civil Rights era. They rallied around Barack Obama, a charismatic, intelligent leader who captured the imaginations of so many and embodied a youthful hope and desire to take this country down a better path. In that election, no one could call the youth apathetic -- throw that stereotype out the door
The Nov. 2 midterm elections are another chance for the youth of America to speak and be heard. Don't forget that Obama inherited a failed administration. The path to recovery is a long and hard one, especially considering where we were when we started this one. None of us could have expected President Obama to turn the country around in two years, could we? Or even four -- I've always thought he'll need eight years to even remotely make a dent in all the areas that need improving, not to mention some that need complete repair.
And I never figured the U.S. people were in this for the short haul -- everyone who voted for change and hope two years ago needs to show that they're all in this for the long haul. Everyone needs to get out and vote again and make sure to support candidates who are looking to the future, not ones who want to turn back the clock, saying crazy things about eliminating social security, or changing parts of the Civil Rights Act or forcing victims of rape to see the pregnancy to term.
In "Election Time" (which you can hear on a new website, TheyWinULose), I say "Health care, welfare, seems like nobody cares." I am asking you all to prove me wrong on that. Show the world you care enough to fight the good fight. And this is the easiest fight you'll ever be asked to fight; all you have to do is vote -- just vote, man. Be a patriot at the polls. Be a shining example for the citizens of the world who don't have it as good as you do. That is fighting the good fight.
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Post to Facebook.Post to Blogger.Post to Twitter.Post to WordPress.Post to TypePad.Post to Tumblr.Post to Yahoo! View All Favorites Recency | Popularity Page: 1 2 Next › Last » (2 total) fighting4sadie 09:40 PM on 11/04/2010 3 Fans "Be a shining example for the citizens of the world who don't have it as good as you do. That is fighting the good fight." .... it could not have been said better. Right on! fighting4sadie: "Be a shining example for the citizens of the world http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/fighting4sadie/what-you-gonna-fight-for_b_776910_66297371.html Permalink | Share it planet416 04:55 PM on 11/01/2010 18 Fans my little baby's right to smile without having to be afraid. planet416: my little baby's right to smile without having to be http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/planet416/what-you-gonna-fight-for_b_776910_65813736.html Permalink | Share it
tnkeating 04:15 PM on 11/01/2010 68 Fans I voted for hope and change I could believe in, not change what I believe in. If the President had worked as hard on creating jobs as he did on bail outs financial takeovers we wouldn't be here. tnkeating: I voted for hope and change I could believe in, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/tnkeating/what-you-gonna-fight-for_b_776910_65808088.html Permalink | Share it
HUFFPOST SUPER USER contradiction 05:42 PM on 11/01/2010 83 Fans Follow He can only do much, especially when attempting to work with the party of 'no'. You have to keep the Dems in office because it is the only way to get things done. You need a team willing to work together, not one is complete disarray. contradiction: He can only do much, especially when attempting to work http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/contradiction/what-you-gonna-fight-for_b_776910_65819712.html Permalink | Share it
ConnieInCleveland 04:13 PM on 11/01/2010 70 Fans It has been said that the young voters who voted for President Obama are now disappointed that he has not accomplished more. Adults should explain to them, there really is no 'instant gratification', even in government. Everything takes time. They should be more disappointed with the party of NO and hold them accountable for hindering the change they voted for. ConnieInCleveland: It has been said that the young voters who voted http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/ConnieInCleveland/what-you-gonna-fight-for_b_776910_65807760.html Permalink | Share it Sajwert 05:58 PM on 11/01/2010 55 Fans @ConnieinClevelandYou are wasting good words. If things aren't fixed in less than 30 minutes, everyone loses interest, says it sucks, and moves on. They expect instant everything, and have to be amused while it is taking place.
No one has anything near the intention of being into anything for the long haul. In fact, over half of Americans haven't he foggiest idea what in hell one means when they say "being into it for the long haul" or "having a long-range plan that isn't going to take place before you can finish your first beer". Sajwert: @ConnieinCleveland You are wasting good words. If things aren't fixed http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Sajwert/what-you-gonna-fight-for_b_776910_65821722.html Permalink | Share it 2013 03:32 PM on 11/01/2010 8 Fans The real question is not the band wagon of two years ago but the dead horse both parties are pounding and saying you have to believe it is just fine.
The future of this nation, under the Democrats and or the Republicans is dismal. Yes, they can have a great two months or five months run to get you involved but the reality is both parties like the problems America is now stuck with. They created these problems, and will do what ever they can to keep you thinking they are working for a solution when in fact they only want to keep themselves in power.
Leadership is looking at what is, not what you say, but what you have done and being willing to say to the young, old and middle Americas that they have had their country stolen by two parties.
Tomorrow vote in another ice cream election, starting in 2011 you might want to look beyond the sweetness and great taste of the covering of your choice and taste the rotten core that is in fact running your country.
In 2011 you may even have the strength to look at where you want this nation to go and be in twenty years, poorer, 30% unemployment, no manufacturing, cities failing in water sewer and schools, or choose to change that. The American party is rebuild, retool and reeducate America. Pro worker and mainstreet. Change free trade to equal trade and again going into space not Iran. 2013: The real question is not the band wagon of two http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/2013/what-you-gonna-fight-for_b_776910_65801897.html Permalink | Share it
EagleFury 02:11 PM on 11/01/2010 43 Fans Um, the US political situation appears to be deteriorating toward the same sort of wealth-serving orgy as Haiti's. It's obvious from any reading of Caribbean history that the Haitian situation is attributable in no small measure to the pernicious influence of US administrations' systematic undercutting of Haitian sovereignty. It's ironic--perhaps fitting--justice that US citizens now find themselves trapped in the same sort of nightmarish process. What's particularly galling, however, is the extent to which this downturn was brought about by the ineptitude and complicity of a status quo-oriented Democratic presidential administration.The takeaway: in george bush I's "new world order", the wealthy elite get whatever they want, the people be damned, and no one is immune, anywhere. EagleFury: Um, the US political situation appears to be deteriorating toward http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/EagleFury/what-you-gonna-fight-for_b_776910_65790470.html Permalink | Share it
HUFFPOST PUNDIT soitgoes12 01:39 PM on 11/01/2010 843 Fans I know a lot of progressives have been disappointed with the Obama administration. They have continued the war efforts, continued to cater to big business, made healthcare and financial reform bills weaker and didn't get any votes from the other side for it. With that being said, there are still 2 distinct options. It's depressing that we are stuck voting for the lesser of two ev.ils, but now is not the time to be apathetic. If you aren't campaigning all year round for the true progressive candidates, then you have no right to complain that you only have 2 corportists to chose from come election time. However, I will take my Democratic corporatists over the Republican Corporatists any day of the week, because I remember what the Repbulicans truly stand for:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/10/28/914684/-I-Remember
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/09/gop-pledge-closing-argument-voters/
And no matter how much the media wants to magnify this administration's failures, there have been many successes that have gone unnoticed by most:
http://obamaachievements.org/list#top
http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/rulings/promise-kept/ soitgoes12: I know a lot of progressives have been disappointed with http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/soitgoes12/what-you-gonna-fight-for_b_776910_65786081.html Permalink | Share it
3dogman 03:00 PM on 11/01/2010 62 Fans Thank you for writing. I already voted for Brown and Boxer among others. I'll be a new fan. 3dogman: Thank you for writing. I already voted for Brown and http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/3dogman/what-you-gonna-fight-for_b_776910_65797561.html Permalink | Share it
HUFFPOST SUPER USER toldyeso 01:25 PM on 11/01/2010 198 Fans Follow wont this embezzling fraud ever go away? toldyeso: wont this embezzling fraud ever go away? http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/toldyeso/what-you-gonna-fight-for_b_776910_65783946.html Permalink | Share it Garioch 01:13 PM on 11/01/2010 122 Fans They went and voted the last time. It was indicated to them that there would be change so they went and voted for it. I did point out to them that it would be more of the same but with a slightly kinder face but they believed and now having seen that it was not change but the same with a slightly kinder face and better vocabulary many of them have become rather disinterested in the process again.Voting doesn’t matter a jot if someone else makes the choice of who you have to vote for and that’s what you have, have had and will have in the future. You can vote for the happy dolphin or the sad angry dolphin but either way they’ll be behaving in a dolphin like manner and catching fish not looking after your interests.
Don’t vote for any of them, all it does is encourages and validates them. Garioch: They went and voted the last time. It was indicated http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Garioch/what-you-gonna-fight-for_b_776910_65782223.html Permalink | Share it
JoeLeland 01:21 PM on 11/01/2010 262 Fans The lesser of two zeros. JoeLeland: The lesser of two zeros. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/JoeLeland/what-you-gonna-fight-for_b_776910_65783293.html Permalink | Share it guywhocantype 02:08 PM on 11/01/2010 11 Fans Don't vote? Somebody's going to get elected whether you like it or not. You might as well vote for someone, even if it's the lesser of two evils.If you think all that are running for office(s) are the same, put up someone else. Do something. guywhocantype: Don't vote? Somebody's going to get elected whether you like http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/guywhocantype/what-you-gonna-fight-for_b_776910_65790085.html Permalink | Share it Garioch 01:46 AM on 11/02/2010 122 Fans The lesser of the two eveils being the one who smiles as they steal and exploit you? No, I don’t think I’ll bother with that.
Interesting idea re the candidate but as turkeys don’t tend to vote for Christmas any candidate I backed wouldn’t drew the required millions from the corporate paymasters to have their voice heard.
I prefer to work towards the dismantling of the entire system. Garioch: The lesser of the two eveils being the one who http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Garioch/what-you-gonna-fight-for_b_776910_65868555.html Permalink | Share it
clearpepsi 01:05 PM on 11/01/2010 39 Fans I am going to fight for correct English. clearpepsi: I am going to fight for correct English. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/clearpepsi/what-you-gonna-fight-for_b_776910_65780949.html Permalink | Share it Erik Larsen 04:37 PM on 11/01/2010 116 Fans I wish you good in your fight! :-D Erik_Larsen: I wish you good in your fight! :-D http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Erik_Larsen/what-you-gonna-fight-for_b_776910_65811143.html Permalink | Share it PM Gaffney 12:27 PM on 11/01/2010 64 Fans "What you gonna fight for?" Ask Obama....and when or if you get an answer call us. PM_Gaffney: "What you gonna fight for?" Ask Obama....and when or if http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/PM_Gaffney/what-you-gonna-fight-for_b_776910_65775325.html Permalink | Share it brian farms 12:07 PM on 11/01/2010 146 Fans "Don't forget that Obama inherited a failed administration."It must have been that "failed administration" that upset everyone by ramming the most liberal agenda since Carter down peoples throats while putting jobs on the back-burner during the worst recession since the 30's.
Thank you for the reminder. brian_farms: "Don't forget that Obama inherited a failed administration." It must http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/brian_farms/what-you-gonna-fight-for_b_776910_65772674.html Permalink | Share it
HUFFPOST SUPER USER contradiction 05:45 PM on 11/01/2010 83 Fans Follow clueless contradiction: clueless http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/contradiction/what-you-gonna-fight-for_b_776910_65820159.html Permalink | Share it Willeo33 11:57 AM on 11/01/2010 19 Fans I'm voting to fight for jobs and Obama and the Dems are not getting my vote because they refuse to put in place policies that will encourage businesses to hire. Instead they demonize, marginalize, put out of business completely, raise corporate taxes, etc. All things that kill jobs. Willeo33: I'm voting to fight for jobs and Obama and the http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Willeo33/what-you-gonna-fight-for_b_776910_65771237.html Permalink | Share it
HUFFPOST PUNDIT soitgoes12 01:40 PM on 11/01/2010 843 Fans A lot of empty rhetoric and conservative talking points in one post... congratulations. soitgoes12: A lot of empty rhetoric and conservative talking points in http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/soitgoes12/what-you-gonna-fight-for_b_776910_65786206.html Permalink | Share it
HUFFPOST SUPER USER contradiction 05:54 PM on 11/01/2010 83 Fans Follow Do you have any idea what you're talking about? The banks were bailed out and then refused to extend credit to small companies are the ones who put people out of work and closed the doors to businesses.
"Raising corporate taxes" is just an incorrect way to describe the truth - which is an intent to no longer give tax breaks to companies who move parts of businesses over seas because it's cheaper to employ in a foreign country than keep your neighbor employed.
Those are all republican theories and practices and the Dems don't need to demonize those practices. Anyone with the ability to use common sense and simple analytical skills can determine quite easily who is looking out for who.
Unless you're a person making over $250k/year, voting for a Republican is the exact same at voting against yourself. contradiction: Do you have any idea what you're talking about? The http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/contradiction/what-you-gonna-fight-for_b_776910_65821339.html Permalink | Share it sunny4 11:56 AM on 11/01/2010 4 Fans Very unwise for the people who voted for Obama to expect the country to begin celebrating the recovery and good times in 2 years. His hand was not off the bible before the news media, commentators and others to start asking and demanding the magic. Bush was given 8 years and nothing happened, but no outcry. Seems to me it's other than the economy and jobs that are bothering people. I can not truly wait for the "TP" people to take office. Seems weird, there are billions of dollars floating around for political ads and none of the these folks are creating jobs. This is an election against Obama, period. Can't wait untill the social security checks fail to arrive in the mail. sunny4: Very unwise for the people who voted for Obama to http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/sunny4/what-you-gonna-fight-for_b_776910_65771096.html Permalink | Share it
steve11407 01:07 PM on 11/01/2010 254 Fans "Seems weird, there are billions of dollars floating around for political ads and none of the these folks are creating jobs" Think of all the support people needed to run a campaign. It generates income for alot of folks. Temporary as they may be its still a job."This is an election against Obama, period" Correct
"Can't wait untill the social security checks fail to arrive in the mail." Hyperbole steve11407: "Seems weird, there are billions of dollars floating around for http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/steve11407/what-you-gonna-fight-for_b_776910_65781316.html Permalink | Share it vu jade 11:51 AM on 11/01/2010 50 Fans the youth are voting, they're just voting for the GOP.
Change is coming......again. vu_jade: the youth are voting, they're just voting for the GOP. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/vu_jade/what-you-gonna-fight-for_b_776910_65770477.html Permalink | Share it brian farms 12:05 PM on 11/01/2010 146 Fans 100% brian_farms: 100% http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/brian_farms/what-you-gonna-fight-for_b_776910_65772389.html Permalink | Share it PM Gaffney 12:28 PM on 11/01/2010 64 Fans ...and what praytell do the GOP youth want? PM_Gaffney: ...and what praytell do the GOP youth want? http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/PM_Gaffney/what-you-gonna-fight-for_b_776910_65775425.html Permalink | Share it
HUFFPOST PUNDIT BlackJAC 01:52 PM on 11/01/2010 406 Fans All they know is that the gops act awesomely and that's all that matters to them. BlackJAC: All they know is that the gops act awesomely and http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/BlackJAC/what-you-gonna-fight-for_b_776910_65787903.html Permalink | Share it
clearpepsi 01:07 PM on 11/01/2010 39 Fans let me guess your invested in the culture of failure and "government" is the reason your life has not turned out like you thought it would? clearpepsi: let me guess your invested in the culture of failure http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/clearpepsi/what-you-gonna-fight-for_b_776910_65781307.html Permalink | Share it
steve11407 01:09 PM on 11/01/2010 254 Fans right on, right on steve11407: right on, right on http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/steve11407/what-you-gonna-fight-for_b_776910_65781572.html Permalink | Share it Page: 1 2 Next › Last » (2 total) New comments on this entry — Click to refresh
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