Fear And Loathing In Washington- Monumental Change

Not to intentionally exploit a highly respected pantheon to American literature when I titled this post, I rue the day when this feel-good, hope-inspired election aftermath rudely awakens to the reality hangover our country inevitably will experience!
President-Elect Obama, I believe, realizes the enormous task at hand and the "ginormous" responsibility he is entrusted with- CHANGING HISTORY!
Now I realize we Citizens must shoulder much of this burden of changing history. Not only must we participate in our troubled economy, we must look at our neighbors differently and discover that by lending a helping hand, we are helping ourselves and our families! And "neighbors" may include all we come in contact with on a daily basis!
In the service industry, I learned how to manage employees by understanding and teaching"WIIFM" - What's- In- It- For- Me?.
It's all well and good to encourage higher sales and better performance by identifying core motivations of a staff and exploiting them. Show your staff how they could prosper will lead to the business prospering. (Hence, increasing management bonus potential ...) One might call this approach "trickle-up" success, But with the necessity of monumental change, I'll call this selfish and egocentric. That's if the only motivation is profit! (nothing wrong with success... what you do with this is the difference.)
Well, the way I am seeing it now, our economic troubles are comprehensive in the segments of the population being affected. The top 1% will always be secure from economic turmoil, at least devastating turmoil. The remaining 99%(you & me) need to take more control of our financial security. We do have a responsibility to participate in our national economy. But we don't "owe " it to support the financial status quo - just about any of the "players" on Wall Street!
How about your town's credit union or independent bank/mortgage office? When seeking to open new accounts, ask where do they invest in.
Many local municipalities have frequent elections at different times of the year. Go to your City Hall and ask for a list of future elections and referendums. Do a bit of homework and discover your voice can be heard with regards to the needs of your communities. Remember, community activism is not necessarily "left" or "right".
Demand your local grocery stores carry local or regional foods- foods grown or manufactured in your communities or areas. Purchasing these products keeps people in your areas working and participating in our economic re-birth!
Talk to friends, business associates and that elderly couple at the diner! Pose questions about your communities, the environment and your local economies. You just might discover similar passions and possible solutions to common issues! I guess what I'm really saying is: start talking!
How many times, as your driving along, you look with disgust at a trash bag spewed all over the side of the road and think "how could anyone do this and sleep at night?"
Now, how many times have you pulled over and got out of your car and proceeded to pick this up? Or, how many times have you stopped to help someone else pick up that trash? See where I'm going with this?
I believe I'm rational and in touch with reality...I'm not suggesting you stop every time you see trash on the road. I'm trying to convince you to be accountable to your passions/feelings! There is also something to be said about "leading by example"...
And finally, after you start" living local" in your lives, you may begin to see the "big picture". Holding ourselves personally accountable for our actions, opening our lives to others in a sense of camaraderie and mutually respected views, we can realistically assess our representatives in Government. Part of this "monumental change" I refer to is hold to standards and laws the very people who hold us to the laws and standards we live by!
If the Congress we elect is only looking out for themselves or their friends, then they do not represent us any longer. They do not deserve the privilege to work for us - VOTE THEM OUT!
So we have a new President-Elect. One that campaigned for change. Along with holding him accountable to his promise of change, we must effect change on our level!
No more "red state" or "blue state", "left or right", just "We The People..."