UPDATE: Okay, it's a bad idea -- but I just thought it was something that had to be put out there. Oh, and I missed last year's convention (along with having to eat the cost of plane fare) because of family health issues (my spouse had surgery while everyone was partying in Austin), so I know what it's like to feel left out. I'll shut up now.
This is something that's been going through my head the past couple of weeks, and I'm still trying to sort out my thoughts about it. So apologies if this seems a bit disjointed.
All the indicators seem to point to an extreme downturn in the economy, if we're not in the midst of one already. It's going to take quite some time to get things back on track, even with our successful election of Barack Obama as our 44th President. I hope and expect him to be the best man for the worst times, as he (and we) pull the country back from the edge of the Abyss and back to a position of moderate security that future Democrats can build upon.
But the fact is that a lot of people are hurting NOW. We've seen diaries from Kossacks who have lost their jobs, or those who worry about losing jobs. And the problems go far beyond the blogosphere; we've had a series of diaries on Feeding America that stressed the issue of hunger here in the alleged greatest nation in the world. We see stories of people caught in the trap of needing medical treatment but not being able to afford it after their insurance company tells them "No way, dude." We learn of people forced to leave their homes, doubling and tripling up with family members causing upheaval in their children's lives.
Now, I've never put on a major convention before, so I'm not sure of the logistics, but we're about 9 months out from the Netroots Nation 2009 convention in Pittsburgh PA. I've already paid for two registrations -- and one will be going unused as my spouse decided he didn't want to use two weeks of vacation for a cross-country trip this year (he wants to go up to Portland OR to see my niece and some much-loved friends). And I wonder how many people will actually be able to make that journey -- there have been folks who've said they have to reconsider because of their own precarious economic situation, or because they're helping out family members or friends who are worse off than themselves. (A friend of mine is beginning the process of leaving an abusive spouse -- I've pledged to myself to help her and her children as much as I can.)
Part of me wants to be there to come together and work on some of these issues that grip our nation -- but part of me wonders if this is the right year for this. In short, is it too late for us to cancel Netroots Nation for 2009 and perhaps direct those resources elsewhere? I'd be willing to have the $450 already spent donated to a fund to help those in need -- or even just hold in escrow to put towards a 2010 convention.
In other words, should we postpone Netroots Nation 2009 till 2010, and find other virtual ways to come together and work on ways to improve life for all Americans?
'Tis a quandary indeed...I hope to get some input from the community.