Vox Populi from Pat Rice

Politics has been in my blood since 1972, when I was one month too young to vote against Richard Nixon.

My family's opinions were extremely conservative and dated, and I began my political track from that family base.

I attended a rally for George Wallace, before he was shot for being a loud mouth fool. I was a junior in high school at the time. I pretty much believed what I was told by my parents.

My college education, majoring in history and English, with a teaching degree, opened my mind to independent thinking. Many thanks to the fine institutions of The University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Houston (circa 1973-1977). My degress are rather unmarketable, but my personal knowledge is something I wouldn't trade for.

If one learns nothing else in college, one ought to learn how to think--process information and come to some logical, rather than emotional, PERSONAL OPINION. Unfortunately, I feel few people care to think. It's becoming a lost skill, thinking, so I challenge you reader.

Disagree with me, but tell me why--and don't blaze me with emotion. It has it's place, but logic and reality must rule our passions. This is, of course, unless you are reading this from some madrassa. I'm not quite sure exactly what I'd say, given the chance to speak to such a group.

Since adulthood, I have supported Reverend Jesse Jackson, the Clinton/Gore side of 2000, and I consider myself an informed (usually) citizen who prefers to participate in government. My opinions tend on the liberal side.

In Texas I have served as Recording Secretary for neighborhood political caucuses in Houston and Dallas, and have attended political converntions of the Senatorial District level.

I also once attended the Texas State Democratic Convention in Austin, Texas, and found the inner workings of the system had already been decided long before my arrival on the scence that year. It was a great experience, but for feeling so powerless as an individual with a generally calm demeanor, it made me feel small. My voice is more clear on paper.

Give me an issue I feel stroingly about, and I may open your might to considering alternative points of view about the way things are, or ought to be.

So within this folder, peruse at your content, about the issues and candidates vieing for the Democratic Presidentail Nomination in 2004.

God Bless America, and all Americans, every one.

~Pat Rice~