Progressives can’t sit this one out by Robert Reich

[DonViejo]

THURSDAY, OCT 25, 2012 02:39 PM -0400

Progressives can’t sit this one out

Disappointment with Obama's first term is understandable, but allowing Romney to take office would be calamitous

BY ROBERT REICH, ROBERTREICH.ORG, ROBERTREICH.ORG

This is for those of you who consider yourself to be progressive but have given up on politics because it seems rotten to the core. You may prefer Obama to Romney but don’t think there’s a huge difference between the two, so you may not even vote.

Your cynicism is understandable. But cynicism is a self-fulfilling prophesy. If you succumb to it, the regressives who want to take this nation back to the 19th century win it all.

The Koch brothers, Karl Rove, the rabid Republican right, CEOs and Wall Street titans who want to entrench their privileges and tax advantages – all of them would like nothing better than for every progressive in America to throw in the towel.

Then America is entirely theirs.

The alternative to cynicism is to become more involved in politics. Help create a progressive force in this nation that grows into a movement that can’t be stopped.

We almost had it last year in the Occupy movement. We had the arguments and the energy. What we lacked was organization and discipline.

more:
http://www.salon.com/2012/10/25/hey_progressives_dont_sit_this_one_out/

[Warpy]

1. I only know a few who are sour enough to sit this one out

but that's likely a function of age. I imagine as they get younger and more idealistic, the more likely they are to sit out elections when the candidates have disappointed them in one way or another.

At some point they'll get over insisting the world needs to be the way it ought to be and start to cope with the way it is.

Mostly, the election boycotters on our side are so far out there that I'm not altogether sure I want them voting. I dislike their vision of the world almost as much as I dislike the fascist one.

[colsohlibgal]

2. The Big D Dems Have Us Over The Barrel

Once more, it's mostly republican lite (Obama) vs much worse. Voting against someone more than voting for someone. It's getting old.
Many of us, like me, will do it but aren't thrilled about it.

We need a real democracy, public financing, foolproof standardized non computer voting and IRV with more than the two corporate controlled parties of now. The Jill Steins of the world need a chance.