Thinking of what FDR always said to Eleanor

[eridani]

It's no secret that the New Deal was a much better deal for whites and males than for women and minorities. Look at the work not covered by Social Security and unemployment compensation--farm labor and household labor. Might that conceivably have had anything to do with the race and/or sex of a lot of the people doing that kind of work?

Eleanor certainly thought so, and was always pushing FDR to do more for disenfranchised groups, and in a more leftward direction generally.

According to the ER biography, FDR would always respond to that sort of thing by saying "If you want that to happen, just tell your friends that they have to get organized and MAKE me do it."

What Obama does after we elect him will depend on how well we can organize to MAKE him do things. He's said as much himself--he is asking people to stay involved.

[Maccagirl]

1. Obama may regret telling certain people to stay involved

but I was always told that this was a participatory democracy...right?

[eridani]

2. Popular demand gives him plenty of cover

See--look at all the support there is for policy A--how could I do otherwise than enact it?

[eShirl]

3. exactly. n/t

[JoFerret]

5. Yep. Nice idea. Great cover

there are always other voices - a great cacophony. In the end - pick and choose.

[John Q. Citizen]

6. That was the theory behind the campaign for a legit FISA bill. And there was no one

for the current bill pushing back, except for the bush administration and the telecoms and their lobbyist (like Tom Daschle)

So while the theory is there I'm not sure if it's sound.

A few lobbyists with a ton of money seem to trump thousands of Americans who care enough to call in.

[H2O Man]

4. Right on target.

Nominated.

[redqueen]

7. Yup... it's all up to us.