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July 1, 2010
Don't Tell ME I've Given Up. I've Been Beaten Down!
By Faith Carr
Aren't we all exhausted from the long Op Ed pieces telling us all of it again and again and again. And adding all the newest disappointments? Please, STOP telling progressives what they already know.
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We all know the problems. How we ended up with them. Discussed them in depth, argued, nitpicked, excused, justified until we were pretzels. Even had a few solutions that nobody ever paid attention to.
How's that working?
Aren't we all exhausted from the long op ed pieces telling us all of it again and again and again -- adding all the newest disappointments? Please, STOP telling progressives what we already know.
How long did you think we could sustain on-going outrage and activism for democratic ideals, when it's OUR OWN GUYS selling us out?
We Paid Attention, Displayed Outrage, and now it's more than just exhaustion. It's honest unvarnished apathy. I've never been apathetic in my life. But now, as far a electoral politics goes, I'm as apathetic as all get out.
Don't spank me, I was with ya from the start of the Iraq occupation -- all the way to the Progressive Democratic Caucus sell-out over the Health Insurance Giveaway. THAT poked me hard in the eye. And, let's not look too closely at the Air Force One ride our own Dennis got.
Here's some recent commentary on the "State of Progressives"
Bob Herbert, New York Times, 6/29/2010...
"There is a widespread feeling that only the rich and well-placed can count on Washington's help, and that toxic sentiment is spreading like the oil stain in the gulf, with ominous implications for President Obama and his party. It's in this atmosphere that support for the president and his agenda is sinking like a stone."
DUH!!! Do you really need any illustrative points? Didn't think so.
Robert Borosage, Alternet, 6/29/2010
"Much will depend on what progressives do. We can drive the issues that frame the election. We can expose the right's efforts to take us back to the policies that failed. A progressive majority is there to be forged, but it won't turn out automatically. In the end, it is not the anger of the right that will determine the rate of America's renewal. It is the energy, the persistence, the will of progressives that will decide. The choice is ours."
Is there anybody left that doesn't already get this? We tried for 10 years. We failed.
So, what's the plan being offered? More "lesser evil" voting?
We get the candidates we get. Some progressives have successfully taken over many local Dem Parties. We found, cultivated, encouraged and supported progressive candidates -- only to watch our money blowing in the wind and our active, physical support go to waste. Dehydrated not only by the disdain and open mocking of state democratic parties, but by active shunning by the national party.
Ned Lamont anyone? Stupack maybe? The guy against Blanche Lincoln? Sheesh, how could we ignore THAT message?
What are you going to do in the face of Citizens United? Got any ideas how progressives can overcome the enormous wealth of our corporations? Will $25 dollars each do it? Can I send them a chicken? I've got lots of chickens.
We fought with pens, e-mails, phones, meetings, Town Hall confrontations, petitions, protests. We donated money. We bravely battled in justified righteousness in opposition to the previous administration. We supported MoveOn, United for Peace & Justice, ANSWER, CodePink, IVAW, World Can't Wait, ImpeachBush, After Downing Street (sorry David), etc, etc, etc, etc.
Well, at least we've got the T-shirts at $25 a pop.
No one likes being cynical. Or disillusioned. Neither do we appreciate being manipulated by doublespeak, misdirection, and parsing of language. Oh we got used to it during the Bush years. And became excellent at "framing" and interpretation, and triangulation, and the diagramming of sentences.
Did anyone think we'd have continued to do this after the 2006 majority and the 2008 Presidential successes? They're supposed to be OUR GUYS. Compromise to get Bipartisan, smells like capitulation to me.
Let's not forget the famous meme: "Don't worry about the Progressives, who are they going to vote for? And Republicans? THEY'LL GET IN LINE ON ELECTION DAY."
Oh Really? I'm ready to cut off my nose to spite my face, especially since my face matters so little to anyone but my family.
Stop telling us we're giving up, that we're weak or lack courage or persistence. We've given you that and more. Much more. We are only giving up on electoral politics, and we have every justification to do so.
And the youth? They believed because we told them that politics could work to change the world. Poor kids, they might never come back. And I for one won't blame them. They're too busy trying to stay employed.
We've been told: "Bring a Solution or You're the Problem." Well, we did, and now it's your turn. Why don't ya"ll try giving us a few new pointers we may have missed over the past 10 years. Something new to try?
Being chastised for turning political energy to something more rewarding is not "productive" either. Most everyone I know is out of new ideas. Nobody wants to go to another damn meeting. Or click on a donate button. Or slap on another bumper sticker.
There is no motivation for the ninth, tenth or one-hundredth pointless, expensive trip to DC for a walky walk. Had 600,000 and it wasn't enough.
Here's my background music for the new administration and the corporate handmaidens of the congress:
Alicia Keys: Go AheadBroken promises -- My heart you stole -- Lies you told --
Got the best of me -- Digging in my heart of gold --
Used to look at you -- And see the possibilities --
I see you for who you are -- Boy you've disappointed me
I thought you gave me love -- Was never near enough
Soon enough time reveals -- Love wait of what is real
Know all I need to know -- But see you got to go
What have you given me ? -- But lies lies --Let me tell you right now -- What I'm gonna do --
I made up my mind. Its time and I'm through with you --
Nothing you can say or can do
Can make me change my mind..."
Faith Carr is an old, retired political activist. Started backyard farming for REAL in 2006. And for the first time we ate out of the gardens for all 12 months.
The mission now is to get as many people growing food as possible. Raised beds, containers, or in the dirt. We're building food security in our community. Might be a good idea if ya'll got on that too.
Come the revolution, I'll bring the eats.