I have two bumper stickers on my car, one reads "Proud to be a Democrat" and the other says "Is it 2008 yet?" Because I live in Greenville, South Carolina better known as the buckle of the Bible belt as well as the home of Bob Jones University, my political statements have generated both positive and negative attention. Democrats and liberals want to get a copy of the 2008 sticker, while other similar stickers have been torn off my car and in one case defaced.

I was parked in the drive through area of Arby's recently with my family when a man came and knocked on my passenger car window. When I rolled the window down, he gave me a thumbs up sign and said, "Love your bumper stickers." On the flip side of this phenomenon I was waiting in the parking lot of a convenience store when a lady knocked on my window. She mentioned the bumper stickers and said she wanted to know one good thing about being a Democrat. I replied that I could think of many reasons but the one that was the most important to me personally was the belief that we have a responsibility to care for the least fortunate among us. The political philosophy that by uplifiting the poor, we improve society and the economy as a whole. The woman took that in and then challenged me to name, "one good Democratic President." I said there were many but my favorite was Franklin Roosevelt. I reeled off some of his accomplishments including the creation of Social Security and leading our country to victory in World War II. Her reply to this information was, "I grew up in California and we never studied him." I wasn't quite sure what to say to that so I told her that I was glad to be of help and she went on her way.

I share these stories to encourage you to promote a political dialog and be brave enough to publicly proclaim your political beliefs and be ready to explain and support them if necessary. Have you noticed the thousands and thousands of W-The President bumper stickers? It would never occur to me to challenge the people who sport those bumper stickers but fans of our current President apparently feel so threatened by the rare appearance of an opposition sign that they must challenge the person who holds these opinions. I say bring em on, I'm ready and you should be too. As a public speaker I long ago made the decision to proudly announce that I was a liberal, feminist. Those words have been so demonized by conservatives that I wanted to reclaim them and inform as many people as I could that is was possible to be a church going Christian, wife and mother and be open minded enough to support the legal and economic equality of the sexes.

The importance of publicly expressing unpopular political views was supported by several articles I came across in Utne Magazine. Joe Carpenter, from Dissident Voice writes, "We don't need to rush out to tell the few that they are abusing the many. They already know that. We need to stand upright and walk out to tell the many that they are being slowly devoured by the few, for incredibly-they do not know. We need to look to our next-door neighbors and to their next-door neighbors. We need to tell the truth to each other-for we are the answer." Carpenter goes on to say, "Because as long as we believe we need the rich and powerful, exactly that long will we live life on our knees, begging for crumbs from their table. The depth of our apparent need is the measure of their height above us. The illusion of our impotence is the chimera of their monstrous strength. We shall be slaves as long as we're convinced that we have masters, and not one moment longer."

That's what I'm talking about. Political movements don't begin fully evolved with millions of adherents. Radical departures from current policies start with a few dissidents, brave souls who believe beyond reason that change is possible. Frances Moore Lappe, writing in the book "Democracy's Edge," recalls, "In the eyes of our founders, only about a tenth of the population-white, male property owners-were fit for democracy. The rest of us can salute those who were willing to stand up against slavery, to march in the street to declare that even women could be trusted with the vote, and to sit in at lunch counters in Mississippi to secure civil rights for black Americans; and more recently, those who have fought to end second-class citizenship for gays and lesbians." In her book, Lappe describes a "thin democracy," which is built on the premise that a market system can only be driven by one rule: highest return to existing wealth. In a thin democracy, wealth inevitably concentrates to the point that it infects and corrupts political life." Sound familiar? Lappe, states that for every person we've elected to represent us today, more than 60 lobbyists walk the halls of Congress.

In order to reclaim our place in the political process we must take action as individuals. If we all wait for a leader to emerge, nothing will happen and the rich will indeed get richer. Living democracy requires more than going to the polls; it requires that we be an informed electorate and be active in movements and organizations that support our beliefs and philosophies.

The good news amidst all the bad news today is that the American public does seem to be awakening from its long catatonic state. The facts emerging from Iraq and New Orleans don't match the political rhetoric spewed by the Bush administration. Rising unemployment, a higher cost of living and dropping wages have forced Americans to realize that the tough talking Texan is full of bull shit. All the speeches in the world, all the fancy posters and backdrops in the universe can't reclaim the trust and belief of the now jaded American public. Bush's falling approval ratings are the signal that they have finally realized that winning political campaigns and the politics of personal destruction don't create competent leadership in government.

The most apt statement I've heard recently came from one of the many talking heads on cable TV. He said, "Those who hate government can't run it." Truer words have never been spoken.