Once upon a time, I was a political junkie.
It was, oddly enough, during the 2002 mid-term elections. I could have told you all the hotly contested seats in the house because I was hoping that some how the Democrats would be able to capture the house and delay or stall the, then, upcoming "war" in Iraq and Afghanistan. (I couldn't now, though.)
Daily, I was on the internet checking out The New York Times and CNN and even Fox News (to get a different perspective, I scoffed a lot in those days) to find out what was happening. I probably tracked the polls as closely as the DCCC, although I didn't have access to as many polls as they did.
I may have gone a little insane, but that was my business.
One thing I didn't do was get involved in the election in my district. That district is redder than the blood that pours onto the ground each day in a war. So, there was no reason. Besides, I'm not a people person.
In the end, the Democrats got crushed. I was crushed, but not surprised. I knew the runoff and spin and fear mongering after 9/11 would push the Republicans into office, but I was hoping that, for once, the public would vote with their hearts or head instead of their fear.
That was the day I decided not to be a Democrat anymore.
It didn't happen until this year, though.
I feel a little lighter because of it.
7 comments:
Despite what the hippies say, you can't fight the power by dropping out. Also, you loose the privilege to complain in good faith about the state of things.
Tooo many 'o's...
You should join the Matt Fitzwater party. We vote in democratic primaries because the republicans opt not to count every, merely party, votes. Course the 'system' doesn't take the Party seriously... They'll learn. You'll all learn, soon enough.
Dropping out of what? The party?
I'm not going to quit voting. However, I think I'm going to quit voting for the lesser of two evils. Despite what people say, one vote doesn't make a difference. At least not in a country where the majority believes that there are only two choices out there.
As for the parting thing, I'd honestly been thinking about it since 2000. Then 2002 happened and then the stupid recall the next year.
I did quit the Democrats until now because I had just left my registration active in Cowtown. Until I knew I was away from that place for a long time, I figured it was easier just staying put. Which, it was.
As for fighting the power, in my own way (even though it'll go unnoticed by the party overall), I'm taking a stand and saying that no party supports my ideals. Sure, I won't be heard by anyone except my friends, but at least I don't feel like I'm compromising myself by being part of a political party that's out to save itself by shifting it's ideals into what once were the ideals of the party that is its adversary.
Oh, and despite what they say, the revolution will be televised. And it will be brought to you by Coca-Cola. That's the way our world works.
The Matt Fitzwater party sounds too much like setting up for an out in the open dictatorship. I prefer the subtle dictatorship we all experience now.
True, one vote has little chance of being decisive. However, aggregates of like-minded people do have a good chance of changing things. Coalition-building, lobbying and the like initiates change in our system, not do-nothingism. I am disenchanted (and sometimes disgusted) by the Democrats, but until there is a better coalition for me to be part of, I remain a Democrat.
"Coalition-building"? Within a US political party? I've yet to see it happen.
Coalition implies, to me at least, that the party is trying to work with other groups (or, I suppose, factions within itself) to work toward a common goal, to find compromises and work together.
The way that I've seen the Democratic Party in recent years is more toward right of the center. (I guess to make up for the Republicans moving even further to the right.) In moving that way, the party alienates more and more people who are left of center. The Democrats fear being called "liberal" as if it's become a swear word. The Democrats fear taking a stand together on an issue. (In on of the Senate hearings to confirm someone, I can't remember who, didn't one of the senators say, "I don't like what you've done and I don't like what you stand for, but I'll vote to confirm you." What kind of bullshit is that? Make a stand! Prove that your convictions come from within, rather than a lobbyist.)
Who among the regular people have the ability or means to lobby the Democrats in power? Who among those few have the ability or means to out lobby the special interest groups who are funded by multi-national, multi-billion dollar corporations? Any?
Who among the Democratic Party is out there trying to be a leader and woo people like me (people who are sick of failure and picking the lesser of two evils (which isn't much of a choice, no matter how I look at it)) back into the party? Who among the Democratic Party is taking a stand within the party and saying, "Once, we were the party of the people. We were the party of Franklin Roosevelt, John Kennedy, and Robert Kennedy, men who could unite the people of this party, men who wanted to unite this country, and men who dreamed of peace in the world. How will we unite this party? If we can not unite ourselves, how can we be expected to unite the people of this country? If we can not create peace within our nation, how can we foster peace between nations? If we wish to lead, shouldn't we lead by example? Shouldn't we be the first ones to take the first step, the most difficult step to prove that it can be done? That we are willing to try? The Republicans may proclaim that they are the party Abraham Lincoln, but if Lincoln were to see the Grand Old Party of the Republic today, he wouldn't recognize it at all. We must reach out to those who have become disenchanted and disheartened by the recent past of our party. We must reach out to unite, to win, to make the future a better place for everyone."
As for "do-nothingism," maybe the best way for the people to wake the Democratic Party up is if massive numbers of people drop out of the party and re-register as independent of any party. Maybe if enough people do that, the party will realize that before it can truly change the country, it has to change itself.
But what do I know? I'm just a twenty something with a little soapbox on the 'net.
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