Denial may be convenient, but it's not a political strategy.
Since last year, the Democratic Party's base has been eroding. Like canaries in a political coal mine, some progressives have warned of dire consequences. Instead of telling the canaries to pipe down, the way to prevent a collapse is to assess the ominous realities.
"Two years ago, I had many members going door-to-door to campaign," a union president told the New York Times last week. "Now they're saying, 'Why should I? We supported that candidate, but he didn't follow through.'"
During an interview with The Real News Network last week, I talked about the importance of working to defeat Republicans in November. But we're beset by powerful crosswinds these days, and they're not all coming from the right.
A week ago, I read a disturbing new article by a usually insightful writer -- flatly telling fellow progressives that "elections are a waste of time." So, I wrote a piece that appeared the next day on CommonDreams and some other websites, Why Elections Are Not a Waste of Progressives' Time. Here's a sampling:
* "Elections are a waste of time if you don't realize or care that the powerful forces behind Wall Street and the warfare state are thrilled if progressives retreat from electoral battles."
* "Elections are a waste of time if you think progressives should opt out of electoral struggles for government power, leaving it to uncontested dominance by the heartless and the spineless."
A huge problem: When top Democratic leaders align with corporate power -- and when progressives make excuses for those leaders -- it casts us as defenders of an untenable status quo, and helps corporate-funded "populists" of the right wing to masquerade as the agents of change.
The past being prologue, we should resolve to build strong campaigns behind genuine progressives in future primaries. Meanwhile, what remains of this election year is largely a task of trying to prevent catastrophes such as a Governor Whitman or a Senator Fiorina.
And here in the North Bay, we can take heart in a profusion of local races.
In Sonoma County, progressives are running key campaigns for city council in Santa Rosa, Petaluma and elsewhere, as well as for the county board of supervisors. For a list of solid endorsements from Progressive Democrats Sonoma County, click here.
In Marin, a grassroots campaign is challenging the Marin Municipal Water District board. Earlier this year, organizers gathered 18,000 signatures that made possible the upcoming ballot's Measure T, which would require a meaningful public vote before MMWD could move ahead with desalination.
"There are many reasons to support conservation instead of desalination," Food and Water Watch points out. "A desalination facility is costly and energy intensive. It is estimated to cost over $100 million. Second, desalination of ocean water requires enormous amounts of electricity, would drive up water rates even higher and increase Marin County's carbon footprint. Furthermore, discharge from the facility could negatively impact the San Francisco Bay." When you add in the costs of long-term operation and interest, the plant's price tag is in excess of $400 million.
Those are some reasons why I'm supporting Measure T -- and water board candidates Glenn Dombeck, Frank Egger, Peter Lacques and Larry Rose, who'll be on the ballot this fall.
Meanwhile, half a world away, the U.S. war effort continues to escalate in Afghanistan. I hope you have time to click onto my recent article Speechifying for Endless War, published in the North Bay Bohemian and elsewhere. Maybe you'd like to forward it to some friends.
Online activism has its place, but there's nothing like gathering in one vibrant spot to boost energies for social change. That's going to happen in a big way on Sunday afternoon, September 26, at the Thirteenth Annual Progressive Festival in Petaluma's Walnut Park. Hope to cross paths with you there. (I'll be speaking at around 3 p.m.)
In any event, to stay informed about future activities and organizing efforts in the region, I'd suggest that you "Like" the Facebook page of Progressive Democrats - North Bay.
And here in the North Bay, we can take heart in a profusion of local races.
In Sonoma County, progressives are running key campaigns for city council in Santa Rosa, Petaluma and elsewhere, as well as for the county board of supervisors. For a list of solid endorsements from Progressive Democrats Sonoma County, click here.
In Marin, a grassroots campaign is challenging the Marin Municipal Water District board. Earlier this year, organizers gathered 18,000 signatures that made possible the upcoming ballot's Measure T, which would require a meaningful public vote before MMWD could move ahead with desalination.
"There are many reasons to support conservation instead of desalination," Food and Water Watch points out. "A desalination facility is costly and energy intensive. It is estimated to cost over $100 million. Second, desalination of ocean water requires enormous amounts of electricity, would drive up water rates even higher and increase Marin County's carbon footprint. Furthermore, discharge from the facility could negatively impact the San Francisco Bay." When you add in the costs of long-term operation and interest, the plant's price tag is in excess of $400 million.
Those are some reasons why I'm supporting Measure T -- and water board candidates Glenn Dombeck, Frank Egger, Peter Lacques and Larry Rose, who'll be on the ballot this fall.
Meanwhile, half a world away, the U.S. war effort continues to escalate in Afghanistan. I hope you have time to click onto my recent article Speechifying for Endless War, published in the North Bay Bohemian and elsewhere. Maybe you'd like to forward it to some friends.
Online activism has its place, but there's nothing like gathering in one vibrant spot to boost energies for social change. That's going to happen in a big way on Sunday afternoon, September 26, at the Thirteenth Annual Progressive Festival in Petaluma's Walnut Park. Hope to cross paths with you there. (I'll be speaking at around 3 p.m.)
In any event, to stay informed about future activities and organizing efforts in the region, I'd suggest that you "Like" the Facebook page of Progressive Democrats - North Bay.
Of course it's impossible for any of us to do more than a tiny fraction of what's needed. But together, we have a real chance to create some of the basic changes that we yearn for. Never give up!
Best wishes,
Norman
P.S. -- To volunteer at the Sonoma County Democratic Party headquarters in Santa Rosa, call (707) 575-3029 or send an email to [email protected]. To volunteer at the Marin County Democratic Party headquarters in San Rafael, contact Andy Hyman or Patricia Ravitz at (415) 455-9800 or email to [email protected] to sign up for phone banking.
P.S. -- To volunteer at the Sonoma County Democratic Party headquarters in Santa Rosa, call (707) 575-3029 or send an email to [email protected]. To volunteer at the Marin County Democratic Party headquarters in San Rafael, contact Andy Hyman or Patricia Ravitz at (415) 455-9800 or email to [email protected] to sign up for phone banking.