by Viv Corridor

Created on: April 19, 2008

Can Congress end the war in Iraq? An interesting question, interestingly phrased. Not "Should Congress end the war in Iraq" but "Can Congress ..." Simply posing this question reveals the depth of soul-searching this war has inspired in Americans on both sides of the political fence - those who thought war was justified, and those who believe it to be an illegitimate war.

Many of us are wondering now if anything can stop this war. With at least one presidential candidate predicting 100 years of occupation, it's understandable why many reasonable Americans are feeling overwhelmed by the potential additional cost and loss of life we face in Iraq. This war has spiraled out of control on so many levels, it's left us collectively feeling powerless to stop things. So just as many of us have looked for someone to blame for the war (pro-war thinkers blame Sadaam, anti-war thinkers blame Bush and Cheney), now we're looking for someone who can end it.

Like bewildered children who beg Mommy or Daddy to fix a broken toy, we turn to Congress and ask "Can you fix this? Can you make it better?"

Sadly, no. Congress cannot end the war in Iraq. Nor can it curb out-of-control gasoline prices, nor halt global warming. Only the American people can end this war, revitalize our economy and rescue our planet.

How? By beginning to demand change - first in our everyday dealings with each other, and ultimately in the voting booth. Americans have forgotten that we truly have more power than citizens of any other country in the world - no matter what the big corporations and talking heads would have us believe. Congress, the president, policy-makers and even big business exist at our sufferance. Not the other way around. Many, however, have done their best to convince us we no longer have power, and the more of us who listen to them, the more right they will become.

Here's my three-step program for ending the war in Iraq, and getting us back on the road to a government that works for the common people and not just the few wealthy:

1. Stop sending our children to die in Iraq. That's right. If your son or daughter wants to enlist, lock him or her in their rooms. If you are already in the military, and receive orders to go to Iraq, refuse. You are an American and it's your right to object to and refuse to participate in any war you deem immoral.

2. Vote. Get off your ass and vote. I don't care which side you vote on, but get out and vote. Your vote is poweful, even in such a shady electoral process as we've had in the past two presidential elections.

3. Voice your outrage and encourage others to do the same. Do you know why George W. Bush "won" the presidency in 2000 and 2004? Because the American public was complacent and SILENT. When the Supreme Court handed him the presidence in 2000, over the will of the majority of Americans who chose Al Gore, those same people remained SILENT. There should have been a revolt. Our founding fathers would have EXPECTED a revolt. Instead, we did nothing, believing how bad could four years be? Well, we saw how bad it could be.

It's time for Americans to stop looking to anyone else to solve the problems facing our country. Congress is not the cure. Nor is any man or woman currently running for president going to fix our problems alone. Apathy and hopelessness are our greatest enemies, not terrorists, big business or out-of-control government.

It's time for Americans to grow up, take responsibility and fix our own damn problems.

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