| In 2004 we were told that if we just get rid of Bush, it would solve everything. The war in Iraq would end, we'd get universal health care coverage, the economy would be great, etc. We didn't get rid of Bush, but we managed to keep Bush from privatizing Social Security-our only real triumph in those years.
In 2006 we were told that if only the Democrats had the majorities in Congress, things would be better. The war in Iraq would end, we'd have universal health care, and the economy would be better. Well, the war didn't end because Congressional Democrats showed that they were either supporting the war themselves or they cynically saw it as a political issue they could use in 2008. We took the bait, because we knew that the only way we were getting troops out of Iraq was to get Obama elected. No one even made an attempt at getting any of the health care plans passed, and there were quite a few of them pre-110th Congress. The economy took a depression-style nosedive as the banks (who were allowed for years to be deregulated) collapsed due to their own negligence. There was never any bills designed to regulate the banks to stop the collapse, and there never will be because as one Senator once put it: "They own the Senate". The only progressive legislation we got was the 21st Century GI Bill (which I will admit I'm grateful for), and a raise in the minimum wage.
In 2008 we were told "Just get us 60 Senators and the Presidency! You'll get what you want!" And we did. We donated money to Senate candidates in other states. We walked doors for Obama (we didn't worry about Levin so much-we barely even knew his opponents name) and donated every dime we could spare to put Obama in office. We got the 60 Senators, we kept control of the House, Obama stomped McCain in the election, and Dems won just about every political office that wasn't in a super-red district.
And now look at where we are. Democrats have a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate, control of the House, and the Presidency. And we're still not seeing change.
I have yet to see one bill in Congress to regulate the banks to keep them from collapsing again. Obama's promise to renegotiate NAFTA to keep jobs from being outsourced has become a distant memory. There's been nothing done to lower the wage gap between the super-rich and the rest of us. And we're seeing Democrats being bought off by insurance lobbyists in the hopes of killing any real health care reform. Despite having many (even the majority of) Democrats wanting public health care, we're finding out that it only takes one bribed Senator to kill it. It's being killed and Obama isn't stopping it. Harry Reid isn't stopping it. Nancy Pelosi isn't stopping it. Yes, Pelosi and Obama say they want the public option, but enough to make Congress stay in office past the August recess? Nope.
And for the record, public health care isn't just one of the issues that makes you a Democrat. It's the issue. The only issue that even comes close to carrying that much importance to Democrats is abortion, and while there's a few Democrats in office that got in office admitting they were anti-legalized abortion, there wasn't a single one that got elected (much less past a primary) on a "We don't need no Socialized medicine!" platform.
And what really ticks me off about it is that even the good Senators and Congressmen we have on our side aren't admitting the real reason why Senators like Max Baucus aren't putting in a public option. They claim it's because Baucus wants bipartisanship. Bull-fucking shit he does. He's been bribed with nearly three million dollars in donations from the medical industrial complex. He's just using the Repugs as cover-a strategy in which I'm sure the Congressional Dems have gotten away with too many times.
And then there's the State Legislature. Partial birth abortion ban? Check. Fucking over government employees? Check. Thanks, Andy. I'm real glad I supported you during the recall. I would've hated having a Republican in your place who would've voted for things like screwing over teachers and banning abortion. Oh wait, that was you.
And Governor Granholm? Yes, I like you personally, Governor, and that's why I hate criticizing you, but goddamn it you're too nice to the conservatives and corporatists. Just once I would've liked to have seen you toss up a crazy idea for reform. It could've even been something that would've benefited you, like closing the loophole that allows rich people to self fund their campaigns with millions of their own dollars.
Well the Michigan Promise and NWLB ideas weren't too shabby. But still, why no push for a progressive income tax? What happened to the net neutrality bill that was promised?
In the meantime, We the People are fucking bleeding financially. We're drowning in debt, we worry about whether or not we can get our bills paid, and we're too damn close to homelessness. All this as we suffer through another Great Depression and the Dems we fought so hard to get elected to office seem either corrupt, apathetic, or just completely unable to get the changes needed to get America back on track. And it seems like the only hope we have from getting you guys elected is that unlike the Repugs, you won't pass legislation that fucks us over. You just won't pass anything to help us.
I'm leaving the Democratic party if we don't get the public option. And if things keep getting worse I'll just quit voting altogether. Don't think for a second I'm the only one feeling this way, either. There's no point in fighting for people whose only promise is that you'll be less screwed under them than the Repugs.
Because your supporters just don't have the strength to fight for you if you won't fight for them. |
