I wonder if the Democratic Party realizes what is at stake here?

[Barack_America]

My message to congressional Dems:

I canvassed hundreds of homes in that last election cycle, registered more than 500 people to vote, signed up dozens of volunteers, etc.

What I did is not important, what is important is what the people I talked to told me.

Old, young, affluent, poor, white, black, previously politically involved or not; the answer to the question of, "why are you getting involved in this election?", was almost always the same:

1. Health care reform
2. Iraq

Health care was by far the biggest issue in this campaign. The reason is simple, NOTHING affects everyone like health care. It's why people volunteered, it's why they donated...It's why they voted for the Democratic Party.

I wonder if the Democratic Party really understands what's at stake if you fuck this up, if you fail to give the people what they want? (#57) Those people in the poor neighborhoods of West Philly who are hanging on by a thread? They'll just quietly slide back off the grid. Those college kids empowered by the prospect of change? That generation will probably just drop out all together.

In short, the powers that created the Democratic majorities in Congress will cease to support you.

My question for the Democratic Party is simple; is the political livelihood of a few Democratic representatives and senators from conservative districts and states really more important than the party as a whole?

Is the desire of Blue Dogs to prolong their careers more important than enacting the meaningful change that you were ALL elected to do?

Or, more cynically, is saving their jobs more important than saving your own?

Because that is what is at stake here, and it's time you all recognize that.


Political capital is created to be spent. And if the Democratic party is unwilling to spend it, then we won't waste our time and energy supplying it to you.

Crack the whip, get the public option done, or face the consequences. It's time for the Blue Dogs to be forced to act like Dems, even if it means losing their seats.

[OregonBlue]

1. I don't think they get it. Obama needs to quit listening to Rahm and start listening to US.

[Donkeykick]

2. I thought that...

health care was an important factor too. Apparently not with this party. :wtf:

[dkf]

3. Hmm. Are you sure about this?

Health Care reform was the most important thing they identified during the election?

Weird. No one I know talked about it until we started getting pissed at the anecdotal horror stories.

[Barack_America]

5. To the people I talked to, which were by and large new voters...

...health care was their #1 issue.

People in poor neighborhoods, working for minimum wage with no benefits and students with limited job prospects and about to be kicked off their parents' insurance are very concerned about health care.

These groups represent what put the Democratic Party over the top. It was not middle class whites with good jobs who did so.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

9. And yet it IS a big issue for the middle class, middle age as well

who feel their job security is precarious, see their premiums rising, are old enough to have health issues themselves or have a family member or friend who does and who also is well aware that every American family is one major accident or illness away from the financial abyss.

People for whom it is NOT an issue are either foolish,selfish or irresponsible.

[Barack_America]

12. To be fair, I talked to most people before the economic collapse.

When most people who had them felt their jobs and benefits were secure.

[kctim]

7. Same here.

[Winterblues]

23. It was certainly my number one issue with ending the fake wars as number two.

Apparently I got fooled "Big Time"

[robinlynne]

4. Maybe they have so much lobbyists' money, they really don't care.

[Romulox]

6. The battle is already lost, as far as I'm concerned.

How will mandatory, for profit insurance help America's competitiveness? We're still going to be competing with countries, which, by and large the taxpayer, not businesses, shoulder the cost of universal coverage.

So, we're keeping the corporate middlemen, mandating purchase, and not promising to cover everyone while doing absolutely nothing to reduce the burden to our manufacturers and other businesses? And that's the best plan that is considered viable? :puke:

[ShortnFiery]

8. +1

Well put.

[JVS]

13. It won't help. This plan is shit and hopefully will be scrapped.

[Barack_America]

16. The public option that I and the poll question was referring to...

...was essentially allowing Americans to buy into a Medicare-like system.

That I would accept, as I feel it is a backdoor way to single-payer.

[ddeclue]

10. +1

[Echo In Light]

11. Denial is the prime impetus fueling the notion of Reps being "out of touch." BS! They don't CARE.

Difference ... but you can see why so many cling desperately to the illusion nonetheless. It's the exact same stratagem behind the "Dems lack spine," and "Bush/Cheney were 'just' incompetent" memes b/c it suits Power's aims to have people believe in the lesser of the evils.

[Barack_America]

14. They care about getting reelected...

...Which is why I tried to frame the OP from that perspective.

I agree that any sympathy or affection they feel for the American people is way, way down on their list of motivating factors. But reelection? That's priority #1.

[Echo In Light]

15. Election theft is now a high tech science - just one more reason why our 'elections' don't mean much

[kctim]

17. How do the "blue dogs" prolong their careers?

By representing their constituents.
IF their constituents want govt healthcare, they will replace them. If they do not want govt healthcare, then the rep IS doing what they were elected to do.
My question is even simplier: is this one issue more important than the work the party can do as a whole?
Is the desire of liberals to get govt healthcare RIGHT NOW, more important than representing ALL who support the Democratic Party on most issues?
Or, is this one issue so important that you are willing to give up control in order to save your own pet issue?

Its time for liberals to act like Democrats and stop trying to force us to think and believe like them. So unless you are so naive to believe that throwing away millions and millions of votes will have no effect on the Democratic Party, what say we all, Democrat and liberal, work together and get things done.

[Barack_America]

18. The Democratic Party is for liberals.

Independents and disillusioned Republicans are welcome to vote Democratic, but they should have little say when it comes to our platform.

You may dispute that health care is the most important issue in our country today. But the poll numbers show that the majority of Americans disagree with you. 19% of Americans think health care is the most important issue, equalled only by "jobs". 65% of Americans support expanding Medicare to cover uninsured Americans. I provided the link in the OP.

What, pray tell, do you think the Democratic party should stand for, if not for protecting Americans from corporate exploitation?

If you think there is a more central issue to American politics these days, I think there is another party that might represent your interests better.

[kctim]

21. Same attitude that always makes the in party the out party

You are sadly mistaken if you actually believe liberals make up the majority of the Democratic Party, especially in non-urban areas. Real Democrats share many liberal ideas, just not to the same extreme and the Democratic Party has paid at the polls many times for ignoring that fact. Come on man, there is no reason we all cannot work together and actually get things accomplished instead of butting heads and giving control back to the right every few years.

Sorry, but I'm not big on 'polls.' They are too vague and are written and used only to "prove" personal agendas. Take that Times poll, #57 doesn't ask anything about paying for it and the last poll I seen showed that less than half of Americans were willing to pay more for it. Not saying the polls are all wrong, but I will believe the majority are for it when they fire the reps against it and elect ones for it.

Of course one of things the Dem party should stand for is protecting us from being abused by corps, but what one see's as being abused and the solutions to fix such things are going to differ from person to person. Almost everyone of my friends and myself are completely happy with our healthcare right now and due to my personal experiences, I want nothing to do with govt providing my insurance for it or for the care itself.

Believe as you or leave the party? Really? I half expected better than that from you. Do you really believe throwing me and the millions and millions of others who believe as I do out of the party, will be what's best for the Dem Party? You really don't believe the Democratic Party, which I thought was for the people, can represent your views AND my views?
Sad man.
But, on your advice, I will go see if the 'other' party is looking for a pro gay rights, pro-abortion, anti-war atheist.

[Barack_America]

25. There are some issues so core to platform that, yes...

...I think that if you don't stand with Democrats on them, then I would wonder why you stand with Democrats at all.

Expanding health care coverage for all Americans has llloooonnnngg been a fight absolutely core to the Democratic platform. If you do not believe in expanding health care to millions of uninsured and soon-to-be uninsured (how's your job security, by the way) Americans, I do question why you would call yourself a Democrat. The "I've got mine, screw you" sentiment you expressed in your post has no place in the Democratic party, IMO. It is the antithesis of what the party stands for, in fact.

And, honestly, if you are so opposed to government programs running in parallel to private programs, may I suggest that you start using FedEx and DHL for your mail, for starters. And be sure to rip up that Medicare card when you turn 65. Truly expose yourself to the free market and unregulated capitalism and then see how you like it.

[kctim]

28. Wow, no wonder we get voted out so often

So you are saying that if someone doesn't totally agree with you on what you consider core issues, they should leave the party? That's nothing like the everyday Dems in real life around here, but I guess I should have expected it from the screaming you are either with us or against crowd nowadays.
Tell me, are liberals/progressives who wish to get rid of the 2nd Amendment expected to leave the party also? Seeing how do so is NOT part of the Democratic platform and all, shouldn't they?

Who said anything about not wanting to reform healthcare? I sure didn't. I just don't agree this fantasy option is the best idea. You do realize that being pro healthcare reform does not automatically equal govt control, right?
My job security is the same as it was under Bush, Clinton and Bush; I have one, don't make much money and I could lose it I guess.

Let me get this straight. Your view of what I believe, and not what I said, is the antithesis of what the party stands for? Even though all I have said is that I don't agree with the current healthcare proposals and believe ALL should be represented and that we need to work together? All simply because you think I should just shut up and believe as you or leave the party because I disagree with you on this one issue?
Is that the kind of thinking that does have a place in the Democratic party today? Not to the Dems I know.

I said that my personal experience has led me to not want govt involved in MY health insurance or care. I didn't mention any other program and I sure as hell did not say I was opposed to govt programs. I'm also against NCLB, should I rip up my diploma?

Come on man, you are creating stuff and arguing with yourself in order to avoid the real questions I posed.

[Barack_America]

29. Okay. Let's get to your issues then.

1). Describe for me a program other than the public option that will reduce health care premiums to a level that is affordable to the uninsured. And let's say affordable is equal to or less than 10% of ones pay. So for a family of 4, making $40,000 a year, a plan that will cover all of them for no more than $4000 a year, including all premiums, deductibles and copays. You say you are for health care reform and the uninsured being able to afford insurance, show me the math where a plan other than the public option achieves this.

2). Explain to me why the creation of a public option equals government takeover of your current private health care plan.

[kctim]

30. Thank you

I am not totally against a public-option kind of program. In fact, if paying into and using the program was totally voluntary, it would have my full support and NONE of these tea partys would have had a huge turnout, let alone a leg to stand on. Kind of hard to yell socialism when one has a choice on participating or not.

I did NOT say it was a takeover of my current health care plan, I called it a govt plan and since the govt would be paying, that is exactly what it would be.
The reason I do not like it is because it does not offer one a true option. I would be forced to pay for the public option and then pay again if I wanted a private plan.
I also do not like how there is not an information campaign on it. Almost makes it seem like they are trying to hide something and I get very wary when any politician does that.

[leftstreet]

20. "govt healthcare" Do you also say Govt Fire Depts? Govt Medicare?

:eyes:

[kctim]

22. Govt medicare? Yes.

Govt fire depts? Not so much. Why? Because I get to choose which, if any, fire dept I wish to support and use.
I'll check back though, in case you have a serious question.

[flyarm]

19. its all in the plan for a new world order..ever read Leo Strauss..spend the time to do so! eom

[Uncle Joe]

24. Some of them don't care if the Democratic Party or even themselves lose their seats.

They never came to D.C. to represent the American People in the first place, but only to see what they could get out of it and no doubt some of them are guaranteed nice jobs with the corporations that bribed them for their services.

It's a back and forth game the mega-wealthy and super powerful play, they count on you becoming disillusioned and not voting or giving up on trying to change the party and/or society, this of course increases the Republican Party's power. The Republican Party will then proceed to screw things up so badly either slowly ala Reagan or quickly ala Bush the Least which in turn will spur a demand for change and the same corporate/mega wealthy interests will then back pseudo reformists in the opposition party as a fall back measure meant more to stifle reform by subterfuge.

I believe no single election will address major reform, it will need to be a continuous drumbeat of protests, primary challenges and general election fights.

Furthermore, if the majority of American People are serious about reform they will need to tune out the corporate media propaganda machine or at the very least be made acutely aware of the fundamental inherent institutional wide conflict of interest afflicting that multi-headed hydra regarding any of it's "reporting" or "analysis" on subjects, issues or candidates.

[Barack_America]

27. That's such a good point.

And as soon as I read the header, I knew that's what you were going to say and that I had neglected to think of it myself.

Serving as a representative should come with a lifelong lobbying ban.

[bertman]

26. The Democratic party encompasses a LOT of diverse opinions, but I think you've hit

on a key concern. I have been so pissed about the inept fashion in which this healthcare so-called reform has been handled by our Democratic leaders that I told them I'm not sending them (or President Obama) another dime until they win me back.

Voting Democratic is better than voting Republican, but when one's enthusiasm wanes, so do the contributions and the commitment to helping elect Dems.

I think the leadership is deluded by their beltway feedback loop and will not realize how powerful the backlash is going to be until it happens. A big bummer for the U.S.