Do you hate what's happening in our country? Feel like democracy is slipping away? Feel like the nation is racing toward war and destruction, while important questions are not being answered or even asked? What about all of our other problems, concerns? Who is listening? Feel helpless? Hopeless? Angry? Read on.

Get a computer and get on the internet. Quit making excuses-if you have to, use the one at the public library. Politics is history, and, even if you've lived through a lot of it, remember that you perceived it largely through the opinions of family members, through newspapers and television news that may or may not have reflected reality. Much of what happened during World War II and Vietnam, for instance, was classified for decades. We are only now beginning to have a clear and comprehensive picture of those complex eras. Most of the major newspapers and magazines of today have online content that you can, for now at least, read without paying a fee. Take advantage of this. There are also websites available that have, not only text archives, but even photographic archives. Some of these are private collections, others academic. A sampling of political and historical websites are available at the end of this article. Keep in mind that websites are often fronts for organizations that have political agenda, so "consumer beware." Besides the web, internet newsgroups are sources for postings. Many of the postings are of the "spam" variety, but you can also post questions of your own and often a helpful fellow netizen can answer your questions or refer you to sources that can.

Read. You can't possibly buy all the books, so go to the library. One way to find interesting and relevant books is by using the internet. I go to Amazon.com and read their reviews, then find the books in the local library. A card for the Salt Lake City system also gives you access to the Salt Lake County system. Both have internet access to their collections, so you can see if a book is available. If it's a hot book, you may have to put a hold on it. If it's a rare book, you may have to request it through interlibrary loan. Your reference librarian can guide you through this process.

Change the Channel-with a very few notable exceptions, it's corporate fluff and propaganda. "Survivor" will survive without you and the "Wheel of Fortune" will go on turning. Your brain deserves better. Some alternative news is available through satellite channels.

Listen to Community Radio. Go ahead and enjoy your musical programs, too, but recognize that there is newsworthy stuff on community radio. KRCL (KZMU in Moab) and KUER provide intelligent talk radio. You won't even miss Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity. I promise.

Watch movies and videos. Huh? Yes. Go to your local library and browse their video selection. You might be surprised. Documentaries abound. Not just travelogues, but historical productions and political and cultural commentaries that you may not have even known existed. Be sure to consider unusual local video outlets, such as the Tower Theater.

Take a deep breath and call up your Congressman, Senator, State Representative, Governor. Bitch loud and long and often. After the first time it gets easier. Also, be sure to tell them what they're doing right. Program their phone numbers into your phone and have fun! In the words of Thomas Edison, "Restlessness and discontent are the first necessities of progress." Contact information for your representatives can be found in the blue pages of your phone book or visit our Humanists of Utah web site.

Write letters to the Editor all over the local area: to dailies, weeklies. If you have a great letter, send it to everybody. Again, some addresses are to be found on our web site.

Find good groups involved in significant causes and support them, if not by time and labor, then by money, even if it's only a few bucks a year.

Call local television and radio stations and ask them to air more issue-based political coverage. Get involved in the Free Air Time Campaign

Fed up with the political parties fielding lousy candidates? Call them up and complain. Tell them they need to stop assuming you'll be some partisan robot, writing them a blank check every other year. Tell them you want answers, competent leadership and accountability!

Top 10 Reasons to Register and Vote-from the League of Women Voters

1. It's your money. The county commissioners, governor, state treasurer, legislators, president and members of Congress you vote for will decide how much of our wealth to invest in public services and how to fairly share the tax burden.
2. It's your children's education. You elect local and state school board members who set public education policy and budgets that will affect how well prepared your children and grandchildren will be for the future. Decisions by our legislators, governor, members of Congress and president also affect the public schools-and the quality and cost of higher education as well.
3. It's your job. Congress, the president, the governor and your legislators influence what job training is available, minimum wage, pay equity, fairness in hiring, health insurance through your employer, job and pension security, and workplace safety.
4. It's your health care. Action by the governor, legislature and Congress has made health insurance accessible to thousands but 1 of 10 Utahns is still uninsured. Their decisions on Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance laws determine your access to health care.
5. They're your highways. Utah's population and traffic are growing rapidly. Your county commissioners, legislators, governor and members of Congress decide what highways are needed, what alternatives to highways such as public transit to support, and how to pay the bill.
6. It's your Social Security. The president and your members of Congress decide how much payroll tax you pay, cost of living increases and benefit schedules for your Social Security pension, and what Medicare services you receive and share payment for.
7. You breathe the air and drink the water. Your county, state and national elected officials set pollution standards, enforcement strategies and budgets. They plan and zone where roads and industries will be built and how public lands will be used-decisions that can determine how safe your air and water are.
8. It's your neighborhood. Your elected officials and judges you vote to retain make daily decisions about crime prevention, laws and law enforcement, safe and affordable homes, traffic patterns, where to put schools, parks and recreation.
9. They're our children. We do our best to keep them healthy, fed, safe, educated and cared for when we are at work or unable to provide. The officials you elect can help or hinder Utah families trying to do their job.

It's your democracy. Make it work. Register and Vote.

The following sources are available on the Internet.

• Money in Politics Data
• Utah Election Information
• U.S. Congress on the Internet
• National Institute on Money in State Politics
• Project Vote Smart
• Public Agenda: Public Opinion and Public Policy
• Institute for Public Accuracy
• Write to Congress, the President and State Legislators