March 8 - One step forward, two steps back?

Tomorrow will mark the 1st anniversary of the tsunami that swept the country, where BN lost its 2/3 majority in parliament and Pakatan Rakyat won 5 states. Are we in a better shape today than a year ago?

Let's analyze what has or hasn't changed (at least perception-wise):
Federal govt - no
Monarchy - no
Judiciary - no
Police - no
Civil service - no/maybe a little
Media - no/maybe a little

What we had hoped would have changed did not. Some could even say that the institutions that govern, control or influence our lives have gotten worse. Look at our economy, the ringgit, crime... Enough said, so where do we go from here? What hope do we have there things will change for the better? Was March 8 one step forward, two steps backwards? Are we on a slippery path of no return?

What can we do as Rakyat to influence things? Do we just sit and wait for the next general elections? It would seem obvious now that unless there is a change in the federal government, as there is where almost all the power lies to effect change, Pakatan Rakyat and her bloggers can shout, criticize and demonstrate all they want but nothing will change unless they control Parliament. The government of the day controls the Police, judiciary, MACC, armed forces, civil servants, public hospitals, schools and basically all that have the ability to change our lives for better or worse. Recent examples - Kugan, Perak, Karpal in Parliament, Question is, do we have the luxury of time to wait until the next general elections? Sigh.....wish I have the answers.......