I'm tired of political defeatism

[imenja]

I'm tired of reading thousands of posts telling me that any action I take to change the party is useless. Working on elections or political reform is pointless because of fixed elections, because of DLC dominance, because the Democrats lack balls, etc . . .

I see it this way: either you are part of the solution or you're part of the problem. Our country is in the toilet. We need to do something to take it back. There are many options for activism, and I applaud all of them. But what I am sick of is people posting messages arguing that it is all pointless. When they do so, they might as well be campaigning for Tom Delay, Rick Santorum and the rest of the ultra-right reactionaries, because when people discourage activism, they contribute to continued right-wing dominance.

The Christian Right has seized hold of the Republican party through thirty plus years of grass roots activism. We need to match or exceed their level of commitment to build a Democratic party that represents our interests. The question each one of us needs to ask ourselves is whether we care enough to put in the work to make that happen? Or will you continue to complain and undermine the efforts the rest of us make?

[LittleClarkie]

1. Don't hurt me but

for some reason I started humming that ant and the rubber tree plant song who's title is excaping me at the moment, "High Hopes" maybe.

Hell, I'm with you.

[KitchenWitch]

2. Just remember...one drop makes a ripple in an otherwise still pond

combine a bunch of ripples, and you now have a small movement. Keep your head up, and keep fighting the good fight with the rest of us! :D

[Tamyrlin79]

10. I like that analogy. It is so true to how it works.

We are all merely drops, but together we can become a flood.

[babylonsister]

3. Great post!

"either you are part of the solution or you're part of the problem."
I don't enjoy the naysayers either.
But I wonder. Does DU blow our problems out of proportion? "Our country is in the toilet." Do you really think that? I sometimes do, but also wonder if I'm an alarmist and/because I'm a Dem. :-)

[rzemanfl]

5. You are so wrong. The country is in the trap under the toilet that

keeps the sewer gas from getting into the house. The crapper was flushed by the Supreme Court in 2000.

[imenja]

7. I wish I could believe it was unnecessary alarmism

but I don't. We're in the toilet. I do think, however, that it's possible to pull ourselves out and shake off the excrement. In fact, it's essential. Failing to act is a risk we simply cannot afford.

DUers can exaggerate at times, you're right about that. But when one reads the newspaper and sees what this administration and congress are doing, it's frightening. I also wonder about what they may be doing that we have no knowledge of. :scared:

[rzemanfl]

4. Me, I'm tired of political defeats caused by criminals whose

victims walk away "for the good of the nation" rather than fight.

[imenja]

8. the question is, what do we do about that?

How do we make sure we nominate candidates who will stand up and fight? That's what we've got to work on.

[rzemanfl]

13. Here's my answer: 472 to 59. What's that? It is Roosevelt's

electoral votes vs. Hoover's in 1932. The popular vote was 57.4% to 40%. That was not the result of good strategy or catchy slogans or grassroots organizing or get out the vote efforts, it was the result of VAST GREAT GOBS OF HUMAN MISERY. It will happen again, but it will definitely not be pretty. Even Diebold can't steal 17.4% and get away with it, but they can do 5% and they did.

[imenja]

14. so allow the economy to become as bad as possible?

before we do anything? Sounds like a cop out to me.

[rzemanfl]

17. If you feel the power to NOT allow things to happen, go for it.

I think what I mean is that something really nasty is going to have to happen to turn the tide. Not necessarily a depression, it could be something else although anything else bad enough to cause a huge swing in public opinion would likely have an economic impact. I personally have been expecting to see a Tet-type offensive in Iraq. I have been noticing more and more attacks by groups of Iraqis recently. If a large number of American troops were killed in a single day in Iraq, or a base or outpost was overrun, what would be the response in the U.S.? The Tet offensive had more of an impact on U.S. public opinion than all the protests that had taken place up to that time.

[imenja]

18. that may very well be the case

but my point remains the same: Are you going to be part of the solution or part of the problem? There are only two choices. What are you going to do about it now--not next year, and not 10 years from now.


Also, if you examine other circumstances in history, you'll see that societies have responded to economic and political crises in all kinds of ways. Germany responded by embracing Nazism. Others have led to military dictatorships. So if you expect simple circumstances to turn things around, you're kidding yourself. Things can be shaken up in ways you will not like.

[rzemanfl]

19. Absolutely true. For example, if my Tet offensive example came

to pass there could be a military coup here. Those seldom end well. I guess I have convinced myself that all my bitching, voting and bumper stickers, etc. have never changed anything over many years. Don't let my old age disillusionment influence you though.

[imenja]

21. things have changed though

only it's been the right who have changed them.

[rzemanfl]

22. Their house of cards will never last, but when it falls it falls on

everyone.

[MuseRider]

6. Good lord

we can't stop just because the odds are against us! We were roundly trounced here yesterday and this morning we met, talked, worked and started the next move. It takes people with guts and ideas and motivation. The voting machines are a big problem but that does not mean we give up. I get tired and sad and give up for a few days just to regroup but if we don't dive back in as soon as we are refreshed it gets too easy to lay out.

Good post thanks.

[babylonsister]

11. "We were widely trounced here yesterday" ?

Can you supply a reference, MuseRider?? Now I'm wondering what I missed.

[MuseRider]

16. I am so sorry

I have been out of sorts all day and not thinking well. Kansas. Marriage Amendment. 70% of the state decided to put bigotry in our constitution. I worked against it. The candidate I worked for for our city council also lost big because her race became about her being gay, especially after the national attention when Jael Phelps ran against her in the primary.

[imenja]

20. that sucks

Bigotry is a tough thing to work against, since intolerance requires no thought, only fear. So soak in a hot tub and have a glass of wine, then get out to fight the next one.

:yourock:

[MuseRider]

23. We met this morning

and are already planning the next move. No grass growing under our feet. We have to, with this amendment we have no choice but to work doubly hard.

[imenja]

25. awesome. a few thousand more like you and we're set!

[rockymountaindem]

9. BUT THE MACHINES ARE RIGGED!!!

Gaaahhh!!!

:sarcasm:

Seriously, what are we supposed to do? Sit around waiting for unseen forces to magically solve the problem? Ignore elections in the 2/3rds of the country that doesn't use electronic voting? Why should we give up?

[imenja]

12. I cannot tell you how sick I am of hearing that

Of course the voting technology is a serious concern, but when it becomes an excuse to keep from acting, that bothers me.

[rockymountaindem]

15. Yeah, it's a good way to end an argument.

It's like saying "all the 100 posts before this are a waste of time, because the machines are rigged". And that's all they say. No requests to put their activism into the BBV area first. Just that the votes are rigged. I think that a lot of them are trying to get us to believe that so we'll really give up. Wink wink.

[leftofthedial]

24. i'm no defeatist

but we can't win!

[babylonsister]

26. Yes, you can. Connecticut voted for some rights today.

That's a positive! Much more in our future. Have faith!! Bon soir!

[seabeyond]

27. i agree mightily with you

i am there sister? brother?

either you are part of the solution or you're part of the problem.

[Lexingtonian]

28. I'm frustrated by it too

and I've fallen into the bad habit of using very unkind language to persistent offenders. All they're really is talking about their unresolved anxieties, of course, and their need to blame someone. Very much Kubler-Ross grief stages.

I've come to the conclusion that supporting their wishful thinking is not a kindness. Telling them to leave the front lines as uselessly wounded or demoralized is, unfortunately, called for. Let 'em heal up and come back when they're ready to do the job that must be done.

The intra-Party story at the moment is not personal commitment but a debate that amounts to a (partly) winnowing down and (mostly) subordinating of the many different commitments into a consistent and coherent whole. Those people overfocussed on single concerns and those who see only the past and present imperfection of the whole are simply going to continue to drown the rest of us in whines and complaints and objections and misassertions and Gloom&Doom-ery for a while yet.

Clarity is a beautiful thing, when achieved.

[cry baby]

29. I'm with you, if I read one more thread title that

reads "_____ is the only dem that has balls" I'm going to puke. There are a lot of good dems taking the lead on many issues. Boxer, Dean, Kerry, Clark, B. Frank, Lautenburg, Reid, and others that I can't remember right now are taking the lead. Let's not have short memories, but give credit when credit is due.

"If you aren't part of the solution, you're part of the problem" is a tiny nudge to help us to see where we need to go. I'm with you, imenja.

[imenja]

30. the problem is too many see politics as a spectator sport

They imagine they have no role or responsibility in the process. They are simply unable to imagine the Democratic party outside of the politicians with whom they are frustrated. Politics is something that is done for them or told to them, not a process that they themselves help create.


I attended a party meeting today where a political hopeful gave a dynamic speech. He had great ideas and the kind of personal qualities that appeal to voters. We need to encourage people like him to run for office and work for their campaigns rather than sitting around wringing our hands because we don't like some of the Democrats who hold office today.