Did you know the Nuns are back on the Bus and riding for us!

For the third time, Sr. Simone Campbell and a group of Roman Catholic Sisters decided to get back on the bus and visit ten States.   Their first bus trip, in 2012, was in response to Representative Paul Ryan's Budget, which they felt would have a devastating impact on the elderly and disadvantaged.  The Roman Catholic Sisters disagreed with Representative Ryan's statement that his budget fell in line with Catholic social teaching.  That road trip led to Sister Simone Campbell speaking at the Democratic Convention where she said, "I am my sister's keeper.  I am my brother's keeper."  A reminder to us all that we are all in this world together and must care for one another.

In 2013, Sister Simone Campbell and the Nuns on the Bus went on the road in support of immigration reform.  Their theme was "RAISE YOUR HANDS. RAISE YOUR VOICE.  They visited fifteen states, spending several days in Texas, Arizona and California, hoping to reach out to residents in those States to help them understand that those crossing the border meant no harm.  They were just trying to to survive and make a better life than what they had.  As a nation of immigrants, most of us are here because our ancestors also came to this country to make a better life.  We might want to to remember that fact.

On September 17, Sister Simone Campbell and the Nuns on the Bus began their third road trip in Iowa.  Their theme is We the People, WE THE VOTERS.  They have already traveled to nine States and will conclude with a visit to Colorado.   They are speaking about the 100%.  The need to engage everyone in the discussion, not just the one percent, two percent or ninety-eight percent.  Sr. Simone said "You cannot buy our table of democracy."   Sister Marge Clark said "All are welcome at the table, but the table can't be bought."  Both were alluding to the billions of dollars poured into political ads for conservative Republican and Tea Party candidates.  Ads that are filled with distortions and misinformation.

The Nuns on Bus spent time actively engaging in voter registration prior to the deadline and since have been encouraging people to vote, reminding us all that "we the people" must participate in order to bring about the change we want.  Sister Simone has written a few Op-ed pieces.  She tweets often about the need to vote.  Her quotes should be on Memes and filling Facebook, but they are not.  Instead many liberal groups simply repeat the same things over and over.  Fortunately, filmmaker Melissa Regan is filming the events as part of her Nuns On The Bus - The Movie documentary.

These Sisters are not riding on a bus because they have nothing better to do with their time.  They are riding on a bus because they believe that this is the best thing they can do with their time.  They are riding on a bus because they care about our country, our democracy and want us to become "that more perfect Union."  Shouldn't we care that much, too?  Just imagine what would happen if we all did!

What will get Democrats to vote?

The 2014 election is less than one month from now.  Thirty-six  Senate seats will be decided.  Twenty-one are currently held by Democrats and fifteen by Republicans.  The political climate in Congress is so divisive that very little legislation has passed since since January 2013 when the present members of the House of Representatives, both newly elected and re-elected, took the oath of office along with those newly elected and re-elected  members of the Senate.  Congress has spent most of its time trying to find ways to stop funding for or repeal the Affordable Health Care Act, more commonly know as ObamaCare,  So focused and intent are they on destroying something that is good for so many people, that they willingly, willfully and purposely shut down the Federal Government  Will that get Democrats to vote?

The Koch brothers and other wealthy businessmen have been pouring millions of dollars in to campaigns for conservative Republicans and Tea Party candidates.  The political ads are filled with distortions and intended to mislead.  Fox News, the media outlet for the conservative wing of the Republican party, also fills the air with misstatements, half-truths and, in some cases, false statements.  These conservatives count on a loyal voting base that does not take time to educate themselves about the facts but simply relies on and believes what they are told.  They can be counted on to go to the polls faithfully.  Will that get Democrats to vote?

The Republicans will surely cut social service programs, such as Social Security, Medicare and food stamps.  They have already done so and will not be satisfied until they have either eliminated those programs or left them mere shells which help little if any at all.  Will that get Democrats to vote?

Women still do not receive the same pay as men for doing the same job and that fight has been going on since the 1970s.  Women's rights are being regulated at every turn by conservatives in State and federal government. Will that get Democrats to vote?

There are enough Democrats to make a difference across the country.  Here in Florida there are enough Democrats in Broward County, along with those in Palm Beach County and Miami Dade County as well the Democrats throughout the rest of the State, to ensure that Governor Rick Scott loses and former Governor Charlie Christ is elected.  But that won't happen unless the Democrats stand up, stand together and vote to make the changes we all know we must make.  Will that get Democrats to vote?

The future depends on how we vote on Tuesday, November 4, 2014.  If we Democrats choose to stay home and allow the Republicans to once again decide our fate, then we have only ourselves to blame and bear the burden of explaining to the next generation that protecting their future just didn't matter enough to us.  Will that get Democrats to vote?