Title edited.
Ok, so there are several things that are bothering me this weekend. Eugene is right, we do suck at getting what we want from our elected leaders, and Yearly Kos does tell us a lot about what is wrong, but it's not what most people think, in my opinion. I think most of us are missing why what we're doing doesn't work. We are focusing in the completely wrong direction.
We don't know how to lobby. We should LEARN how to lobby. We're really good at ranting and talk about primary challenges. There's more to having influence than that. I think we're going about it the wrong way. Lobbying is not necessarily a bad word...
Yearly Kos sounds like a great event and a huge opportunity for lots of people, but I think there are LOTS of reasons why it's much less effective than it could be.
There's this attitude of entitlement among many (not all) that THEY need to come to US (direct Markos quote) and give US time that, while understandable, I suppose, is really not a very productive focus. Hardly persuasive. It can get a response, sure, but does it really get us what we need? I think that if our goal is to actually persuade and not just get their attention, then it might be a good idea to re-think what we put our attention on, even if it's emotionally true for us to rant, etc.
Think about what could have happened if everybody had been in DC for Yearly Kos this weekend instead of Chicago?
If we'd been in DC having this conference, several things could have happened:
- More representatives from Congress could have come to talk to people because everyone would have been in town. Why is this good? Because there would have been MUCH more opportunity for real in-depth dialogue with people who can actually make a difference RIGHT NOW, on health care, Energize American, Iraq, rule of law, FISA and ALL OF IT.
- We could have made mass constituent visits to our representatives to discuss our priorities one on one and in detail, face to face. EVERY serious issue group does this. We don't. Why not??
- With what went down this weekend with FISA, we could have been on site and taking action then and there in DC, making our voice heard, making a fuss. Instead, Reid and Pelosi stayed in DC while everyone at Yearly Kos was disconnected. Maybe it would have helped, maybe not....
Lots of people (not all) around here automatically call for a PRIMARY CHALLENGE every time someone doesn't vote the way we want. Primary challenges are rarely successful, difficult to pull off and can only happen every 2 years at minimum. This site is not really equiped for such a fight. We're too spread out and unfocused. If you want to focus on that, you should get involved in the Progressive Majority. It's all they do, and they do it very very very methodically, and they're not in it for a quick fix. Primary challenges are NOT a quick fix, and they are not the only option. And often you're not going to get what you really need out of the candidate who can win a primary challenge. But if you become a more powerful constituency for WHOEVER wins, someone who exerts more pressure more effectively then you will get better representation NO MATTER WHO WINS. If you really want more progressive candidates, you also have to persuade actual consituencies for these people, not just the candidates or leaders themselves.
What else can we do?
- Go to town halls. Make your voice heard as a constitutent
- Schedule regular constituent meetings with staff and representatives wherever you are.
- Schedule lobbying trips to DC to discuss at length the issues that matter.
- Create our own legislation, like Energize America and find sponsors.
- Create focused media events LOCALLY, addressing specific positions of your representatives, to appear in the local media.
Two examples:
In Buffalo a year or so ago, a small group of people scheduled a series of events on Net Neutrality, specifically requesting that Chuck Shumer take a position, and planned a rally and invited the media. i think they did it at his local office, or at a local event he was appearing at. At any rate, before the event happened, Shumer came out with a position, supporting the group. In the end the rally became a thank you, instead. The group gave him ample warning and made many requests. The pressure worked. Not everything will be that easy, but if we're smart and focused enough, it'll wear down, it'll work. I can tell you one thing for sure, it'll work a LOT better than ALL DEMOCRATS SUCK! I'M NOT PARTICIPATING ANY MORE. Why did this one work? It was focused, it was specific, it was local.
Also, another Buffalo group that was focusing on housing issues spray-painted a picture of Governor Pataki on all the abandoned houses in town that a company that Pataki had dealings with owned and were sitting on, letting rot and damage neighborhoods and communities. They did lots of media events, lots of lobbying and collaborating with other elected officials. They hit ALL ANGLES. And they're making progress. They got money from Pataki, thanks to all these pressure points, to start dealing with some of the housing issues. It wasn't everything they needed but it was a significant step forward that wouldn't have happened with out targeted pressure. Embarrassment can work. Also, hitting multiple angles. Focused action.
Listen, this shit is hard work. I understand people's frustration, but if we really want things to change, we gotta get focused and be willing to think and change course and strategize.