Unfortunately, we're up against a wall and all our choices suck.
If only we were in a parliamentary system of government, where progressives could extract promises, or cabinet positions, for our votes. Unfortunately, about the best we can do in the present situation
is to be spoilers: hand the election over to the Republicans by refusing to vote for the lesser-of-two-evil Dems.
It's unfortunate that people tend to think in black and white. Either the Dems are good or the Dems are bad, they think. In fact, the Dems are mixed. There are some good one and some bad ones.
And, by the way, any third party that emerges on the left won't be perfect either, I assure you!
A smart progressive should volunteer to help out good candidates, including good Democrats, who are in tough races. Maybe your local Democrat is a Blue dog. Well, then help out a good Dem or independent in a tight race in another district. Paul Rogat Loeb mentions Russ Feingold as a progressive Dem who needs our help.
Progressives like to say, "I'm never going to vote for the lesser of two evils ever again!" But the choice of refusing to vote this November, or of voting for a third-party candidate is an evil too -- the lesser of three evils, perhaps. Anyone who thinks that the short-term effects, at least, won't be bad is kidding themselves.
Progressives who want to punish all the Dems have apparently decided that that the short-term costs of abandoning the Democrats are worth paying. They may be willing to lose an election or two, or three. Things may have to get worse before they get better. It's not a choice I'm willing to make, but I understand why they want to make it.
I sure hope such progressives respect me for my choice to be more discriminating in my denunciations: I'll support good Dems, but not bad Dems.
Perhaps I'm too kind towards the hardcore progressives. Some of them probably don't share my values. Perhaps I'm too kind towards some of the Democrats.
I admit uncertainty. I'm somewhat on the fence.It's not an easy choice.
Bertrand Russel once said, "The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts."
One final note. If the Dems lose big this November, it will be interesting to see what happens. My guess is that we may witness the end of the Democratic Party as we know it. The "moderate" (i.e., conservative) Democrats -- Obama and the Blue Dogs -- may move further to the right and may buy into the absurd Republican conservative talking point that Obama was too socialist. The progressive wing of the Party may, finally, branch off into a third-party. I guess that's what many hardcore progressives are hoping for.
If only we were in a parliamentary system of government, where progressives could extract promises, or cabinet positions, for our votes. Unfortunately, about the best we can do in the present situation
is to be spoilers: hand the election over to the Republicans by refusing to vote for the lesser-of-two-evil Dems.
It's unfortunate that people tend to think in black and white. Either the Dems are good or the Dems are bad, they think. In fact, the Dems are mixed. There are some good one and some bad ones.
And, by the way, any third party that emerges on the left won't be perfect either, I assure you!
Progressives like to say, "I'm never going to vote for the lesser of two evils ever again!" But the choice of refusing to vote this November, or of voting for a third-party candidate is an evil too -- the lesser of three evils, perhaps. Anyone who thinks that the short-term effects, at least, won't be bad is kidding themselves.
Progressives who want to punish all the Dems have apparently decided that that the short-term costs of abandoning the Democrats are worth paying. They may be willing to lose an election or two, or three. Things may have to get worse before they get better. It's not a choice I'm willing to make, but I understand why they want to make it.
I sure hope such progressives respect me for my choice to be more discriminating in my denunciations: I'll support good Dems, but not bad Dems.
Perhaps I'm too kind towards the hardcore progressives. Some of them probably don't share my values. Perhaps I'm too kind towards some of the Democrats.
I admit uncertainty. I'm somewhat on the fence.It's not an easy choice.
Bertrand Russel once said, "The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts."
One final note. If the Dems lose big this November, it will be interesting to see what happens. My guess is that we may witness the end of the Democratic Party as we know it. The "moderate" (i.e., conservative) Democrats -- Obama and the Blue Dogs -- may move further to the right and may buy into the absurd Republican conservative talking point that Obama was too socialist. The progressive wing of the Party may, finally, branch off into a third-party. I guess that's what many hardcore progressives are hoping for.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
1
1
