I've read media reports about the Washington, D.C. demonstration against the International Monetary Fund and its policies. This demonstration, which was conducted by thousands of sincere Americans may do some good, but based upon past experience, it probably won't. Nor will any concessions by the World Trade Organization—should they be given—or prove to be long-lasting-which they never are! What a shame! What a terrible waste of misplaced effort and human energies.

If you're one of the millions of Americans discontented with the federal government, or its policies, or its laws, or its actions, please stop and think for a moment! Isn't it really the American System with which you have a gripe?

Isn't it the American System, itself, against which you should be exerting your frustrations and energies and not the consequences of its policies, laws, or actions? Does it really make much sense to vent your anger or discontent against the federal government for the nation's endless racial or ethnic prejudices, or its discrimination against females, when it's the American System—controlled by the American elite—that creates and perpetuates these conditions? Does it really make sense to direct your anger against corporate greed, when it's the American System—influenced by the American elite—that allows and encourages corporate abuse and selfishness?

Isn't it the American System-its values, its biases, and its discriminations against which we, common working people, fight constantly for our human rights and for justice?

Isn't it the total system—and not merely a part of it—that produces the economic inequalities that cause the rich to get richer and the poor poorer? Isn't it the total system-and not merely a part of it-that produces healthcare conditions in which private providers are unwilling to provide for all Americans? Isn't it the total system that allows private interests to abuse and pollute our environmental heritage? Isn't it the total System that has screwed up public education? Isn't it the total system that allows the use of American military force against innocent, helpless people?

Isn't it the total system that allows American tax money to be misused by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to destroy the economies of smaller nations?

Then why continue fighting separate battles? Why don't you unite forces to fight the battle against the American Systemand the American Establishment, as it's the war that must eventually be fought to win all your smaller battles?

Can you not understand that although you and other working Americans might temporarily seem to win the federal government with your Democratic party, it would be only an illusion, because your party is comprised of opportunists who regularly sell their votes to the highest bidder, while the Republican party possesses a perseverance of purpose—which is to keep you and other common Americans from ever gaining control of government.

The history books reveal this truth! So, before you rush off to your next battle tilting at annoying irrelevancies, stop and think a moment or two of how the annoyance might be more effectively removed by redirecting your efforts at the American System.

We, common Americans outnumber privileged Americans and should easily win any election. Except that for two hundred years we have consistently fallen prey to privileged strategies of divide and conquer. We must unite in purpose to win. Also, we must try the untried form of participatory democracy, or expect more of the losing battles American commoners have been experiencing for the past two hundred years.

If you believe in right and wrong, and if you consider yourself a logical, thinking person, it's in your best interest to investigate the benefits direct democracy could provide. All American commoners must be made to understand the only way to create a social system friendly to commoners is to change the American System from a representative democracy to a direct or participatory democracy, from a pseudo-democracy favoring private interests to a true democracy concerned with the welfare of all citizens.