Democratic Party - Give us a PUBLIC OPTION or I QUIT!

[Krashkopf]

I joined the Democratic Party (after 27 years as a left-leaning GDI - GOD-Damned Independent) in 2004 because I felt it was necessary to "choose sides" against the truly evil Neo-Conservatives who had taken over the Republican party.

Along with a lot of other very dedicated people, I worked my butt off for 5 years. I became a Democrat Party Precinct Captain, and together, we Democrats turned "Dumbfuckistan" purple, if not blue. (Here in Colorado, we flipped both houses of our state legislature, and our Congressional delegation, from majority (R) to majority (D). We elected 2 (D) U.S. Senators, and a (D) Governor). We helped elect huge (D) majorities in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate, and of course, we took back the White House and elected Barack Obama.

I gave the (D) Party my campaign contributions, and all of my efforts, because I truly wanted to believe that it was a party that represented the interests of "We, the People" over the interests of Big Business, and the richest among us.

With all of the power we have given it, if this Democratic Party cannot (will not) deliver on a progressive idea as simple and straight-forward as a truly universal, truly comprehensive PUBLIC HEALTH CARE option, it can ONLY be because the Democratic Party (and in particular its "Blue Dog" wing) has become so thoroughly corrupted by the money lavished on them by the Insurance Industry, and "Big Pharma," that it has ceased to represent the interests of the American people.

I declare, here and now, that if the health care reform package that comes out of Congress does not contain a true, strong, PUBLIC OPTION, I WILL submit my resignation from the Democratic Party the day President Obama signs the watered-down "reform" into law.

[saltpoint]

1. It is effective to contact the White House, your Congressional reps in

both chambers, and the media to express support for the public option.

Threatening to leave a political party won't do it.

[Lasher]

2. The Democratic party leadership is aware that the base is restless.

They surely have noticed the dissent to be found here at DU every day now. They thought they could take us for granted while placating everybody else. They were wrong.

[saltpoint]

3. The chart line of the Democratic Party has run in my lifetime from

Ax Handle Maddox to the election of Barack Obama.

That's a very significant upward trend toward inclusion and democratic principle.

A statistical minority may organize, focus, and become extremely effective in bringing pressure to bear on a political organization toward progressive tenets. Squawking about leaving that organization is just that -- squawking.

[shadowknows69]

Not if you have significant money leaving with you

Then they start to listen; I reference the bullshit bone thrown to Federal employees with same sex partners after the DOMA brief threatened some fundraising. We need to pressure the big money lobbies, many of which have lots of products somewhere in their corporate pockets that we can boycott. If President Obama wants to abandon the 50 State strategy that got him elected because of his promise to stand up to special interests, I wish him the best of luck. We won't be able to blame Nader this time.

[saltpoint]

5. The money monster is the one that has to be tamed in health care,

as any meaningful reform would involve health insurance companies surrending massive profit.

It would also likely involve a shift that the public wants but which health insurance companies fiercely oppose from accountants to actual health care providers.

As well, influential entities in the U.S. would be forced to acknowledge that other nations do this better than we do, and more compassionately, and more affordably.

[Krashkopf]

13. Trust me . . . I'm not squawking . . .

if there is no public option . . . I'm leaving!

The Democrats have unprecedented power in Washington right now, but they are too timid to use it.

Obama should be on the bully pulpit every day putting so much pressure on the "Blue Dogs" that they would have to fall in behind him.

If the Democrats can't push through a Public Option now, it will never happen. And if "it will never happen" what is the purpose of belonging to an organization that can't deliver the Progressive policies that I want to see?

[saltpoint]

15. I argue that progressive should remain on the front and do battle

against the health insurance companies and Big Pharma in ways that contribute to an accumulative necessity for the public option.

Things change. It's exciting and worthwhile to be a part of them when they do. Political parties are not the same in any given moment, and different from themselves at different times in their history.

The Democratic Party is being pushed to exercise its muscle more, to hit harder, to be more visceral and direct. I'm for that, definitely. LBJ suggested he wanted a certain thorn in his side to be inside the tent pissing out rather than outside pissing in.

All our Senators won't be like Russ Feingold or Barbara Boxer. A good many are going to be like Ben Nelson and Evan Bayh. I'd light-switch them all to be like Paul Wellstone if I could, but I don't have a lightswitch that does that.

[Lasher]

37. That's the kind of attitude that helped lose Congress in 1994

Clinton and Congressional Democrats failed to deliver health care reform, and Democrats stayed home in droves. It is good that we can point to other goals and achievements, but as far as I am concerned there is no viable alternative at this time to real support for our social programs in general and specifically for genuine health care reform.

I have been a Democrat my whole life and have never voted for a Republican. I have voted in every single primary and general election when I was eligible, except for my first year in 1970 when I was serving overseas in the Army and never received the absentee ballot I applied for.

I don't think I would ever leave the Democratic party but lately I have been replying to email requests for contributions by saying, "Get back to me when single payer is on the table." And if they pass legislation that ends up being nothing but an exercise in capitulation, then I just might not vote during the midterms. Then again I might vote anyway, I don't know. But I assure you some New Deal Democrats won't, particularly if our objections are dismissed as nothing but 'squawking'.

[saltpoint]

40. Dean's 50-state strategy placed emphasis on grassroots up involvement

for the party across all settings, coast to coast.

I like that model.

Bill Clinton did not use that model or anything like it.

Sadly, neither did Jimmy Carter, a man I respect a lot more than I do Clinton.

Obama does use it. An attitude "loses" Congressional majorities far less than the failure of the titular head of said party to engage people at the community and regional level.

[calimary]

42. I wish I could believe that. I suspect that either they're not aware, or they're

resolutely trying to make like they're not aware. It's most discouraging. They've got the votes they need, and it seems they'd just rather enjoy remaining spineless, and continue getting rolled.

Since when did the minority get to run things and set the agenda? And if that's true, why didn't/couldn't OUR pathetic damn Dems do it when they were in the minority?

WHY is it the republi-CONS are the ones who have the backbone and we don't - even when we own it all? We should be grinding the minority into so much dried-up dog shit on the bottoms of our shoes. They should repeatedly be told to go directly to the back of the room and STFU. And our people should be storming EVERY broadcast and cable outlet in Washington DC, loudly demanding face time. Why they still have to "play nice" when they should be nailing these bastards to the wall - is beyond me. What are they waiting for???????

[Lasher]

50. That's just the way I feel.

But I'm trying to keep an open mind. Republicans are not going to do anything but obstruct. Maybe after that gets to be more obvious, public sentiment will translate into broad support for using reconciliation to ram through single payer with the GOP on the outside looking in. I don't see anything good happening the way things are going now.

[Krashkopf]

7. I have the U.S. Congress and the White House on speed dial . . .

and I make a lot of calls, but my voice is getting drowned out by the big Corporate money.

[saltpoint]

9. I say you are smart to have those numbers on speed dial and smart to

have had the impulse to put them there in the first place.

This thing can turn around, Krashkopf. Just over 2/3rds of the voters now favor the public option and while the health insurance companies and Big Pharma are still out there and own a lot of Senators' political fortunes, an accumulative objection to a disastrous health system comes by small percentages at first, then builds to critical mass.

That point is within reach and worth fighting for.

Light up that speed dial circuitry like it was New Year's Eve.

[UrbScotty]

41. Thank you for saying it better than I could.

[endless october]

4. all i ask is that they pay for it by paying for it

and not borrowing or inventing the money to pay for it. i'm tired of being beholden to the entire world because we lack the will to raise taxes.

[Xenotime]

27. The wealthy are the ones who should pay for it.

[endless october]

38. honestly, there aren't enough of them.

everyone is going to have to pay. if they pass it and pay for it by borrowing, we are in real trouble. it's just going to be too big to pay for by borrowing.

i'll tell you a good way to pay for it : end the idiotic drug war and end interventionism. that should free up enough green to do something good for Americans.

[PassingFair]

44. We need to pay for it....

AND force prices for medical care
down to realistic numbers.

The bloated insurance industry
is to blame for the bloated prices.

Take out their control and their profits,
and many services and drugs will be within the
reach of ordinary citizens.

[annabanana]

48. A huge wacking load of it could be paid with closing just a few

offshore loopholes...

[patriotvoice]

46. Yikes. Why exactly should the minority pay for the majority?

I'm all for "those who benefit most from the system pay the most into the system", but flatly saying that the nebulously-defined class of folks labeled "wealthy" should be responsible for the balance of the American population, without the balance being themselves responsible, is simply naive.

Everyone benefits, everyone pays. The healthy pay for the sick. Incentive given for healthful lifestyle choices, no punishment for unhealthy lifestyle choices. And so on.

[WeDidIt]

6. I'll be there with you.

Public Option of no deal.

Period.

If there's no public option, I'll never even consider voting for, contributing to, or campaigning for any Democrat on any level again.

[HughMoran]

12. No!

Stomping your feet won't help here - call your Democratic rep, oh, unless you think the Repukes are going with a public option.

[Krashkopf]

16. Did you even read my post?

I'm not talking about quitting now! I am talking about quitting if, despite all of our efforts, the Dems sell us out to the Insurance lobby, and DON'T pass a public option!

[HughMoran]

17. Call your reps

That's all I can say - this is the beginning of a process that doesn't end until September or October - saying "I'm gonna quit if..." is extremely premature at this point.

Call your Reps daily!!

[Krashkopf]

23. That's where you are wrong . . .

A president's major initiatives almost always happen in the first few years of his first term.

Obama is a popular as he is EVER going to be. If a public option (to say nothing of what America really needs - a single payer system) doesn't happen now, it is NEVER going to happen.

I'm not pouting, I'm being realistic.

[HughMoran]

33. Call your reps!

Like I said, this won't be voted on for 3 months - think positive!

[Bandit]

22. I take it you enjoy being played for a fool

I personally do not and will not fall for again. If Obama doesn't follow through on his Major Promises I will end my voting aspect of civic responsibility..Call it stomping my feet or what ever you like but the fact remains, fool me once shame on you but "wont be fooled again"

[HughMoran]

31. You have several weeks time to call your reps

Do it!

[WeDidIt]

25. I've been doing that for weeks now

and I'll continue doing that.

But the line in the sand is the public option. No public option and the Democratic Party is dead to me forever.

[HughMoran]

32. Don't stop calling now!

They won't be voting on this for 3 months - let's not give up just yet!

[Dawgs]

8. Why? Most of the Democratic party wants a public option; including Congress and Prez.

You need to work on getting rid of the 15% that are making it difficult - not the 85% that are on the right track.

[ima_sinnic]

10. so why have the "85%" given over control to that fake dem, Baucus?

"85%" sounds like way more than enough to tell that asshole he's been replaced, that real health care reform will now be formulated by legislators who truly care, who aren't owned by insurance companies.

If there is really "85%," they're doing very well at maintaining their silence while We The People are locked out of "hearings." Seems this vast "majority" might be an illusion in your own mind, because I don't see a whole lot happening.

[Dawgs]

21. Ego.

"Making" a congressperson do anything is almost impossible.

[HughMoran]

20. Because pouting out loud is so much fun

...and they know it annoys people here to no end, so let's hear it for the crybabies!

[HughMoran]

11. As stated above - this is about the people - contact your reps

Don't let them think the Repuke morans are winning this (due to more phone calls) as was stated in a previous post.

[williesgirl]

14. That's what I tell the DSCC and DCCC every time they call for money. Zero until we get

the true Public Option signed. I'll also resign as a Dem. rec'd

[proud2BlibKansan]

26. I told them to stop asking me for money when Pelosi took impeachment off the table.

[Crunchy Frog]

18. I'm with you on that.

I'm ready to give up on voting over this.

[mirrera]

19. Me too. I am re-registering as Independent if there is no public option.

[proud2BlibKansan]

24. They are as likely to give us public option as they are to end the war

I gave up on them in 2007. I still belong and focus on local and state elections. But if I didn't care about what happens where I live, I would have reregistered as an Independent a couple years ago.

[rucky]

28. If that's what it takes, I'm in.

[European Socialist]

29. K&R--Hope it gets 500 recs

[Schema Thing]

30. recommended

[Bluenorthwest]

34. Absolutely

And it better be a strong, truly affordable plan as well. They will not be getting me to waste another moment of my life for them otherwise.

[Name removed]

36. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Krashkopf]

39. Who died and left you the arbiter of who qualifies . . .

as "much of a Democrat?" We aren't ALL from the timid-DLC-suck-up-to-big-business wing of the party you know.

[madeline_con]

35. Wel waa waa waa. Register however you like, but if you vote

outside the two main parties, you're wasting your vote.

[Kansas Wyatt]

45. People staying home on election day...

Will leave the Leaders of the Democratic Party wondering how 30% opponents could beat them. They are so smart and have it all figured out... But I'm sure they won't have the slightest clue why, and will fall back on 'people voting against their best interests.' Too bad the Leaders of the Democratic Party do not even know what the Peoples' best interests are anymore, since they crawled in bed with Corporate America.

The Democratic Party continuing on their present course of working for Corporate America, rather than the people they are suppose to work for:

2010 - Democratic losses.

2012 - Democratic losses.

A lot of people think voting for a Corporate candidate (R or D) is a "wasted vote," so they just don't vote, because there is no choice.

[patriotvoice]

47. You never "waste" a vote when you vote for what you believe.

To belittle someone's choice -- someone's voice -- is horrible.

[BlooInBloo]

43. Say 'hi' to Ted Nugent for me.

[newtothegame]

49. It's amazing how much shock and surprise there is on DU that this isn't working out.

People, you wanted to make 'HISTORY.' You wanted to take pictures of your ballots. If you wanted anything besides to make history and post pictures of little old black ladies crying on election night, you would have worked to get a PROGRESSIVE elected. Unfortunately, we were too busy posting pictures of Obama in his sunglasses to even stop Prop 8. We reap what we sow, plain and simple.

[Krashkopf]

51. Thanks for all the RECS!

[maryf]

52. Single payer is the only way to go...NO Profit on our health

the public option to the Obama plan is set up for failure, it still leaves 35,000 uninsured, and will fail, NO PROFIT based on human health needs...