Last night, dengre, one of the best citizen journalists anywhere - not just on Daily Kos, took an indefinite leave of absence. Losing Dengre is a tremendous loss for our community. But he is not the only one leaving us. We lost Mahakali Overdrive, one of the valued contributors and a truly caring soul, little more than a week ago. There have been more losses of great members over time.
These losses are bad for our Daily Kos community. It exposes not only discontent on the parts of those leaving, but a gradual loss of community among kossacks. I love this community, and I am not going to let it fall apart like that, nor am I going to let some drive others out.
Here is what I notice. When our valued contributors and beloved members leave, their diaries get a lot of attention, and a lot of support, which is good. It shows us that a great number of people in this community still care to push back against all guns blazing, hair-on-fire reactionary attacks against the President and the Democrats. Yet, we look at the comments sections of diaries - supportive of in opposition to Democrats - and the attacks on the supporters of the president are relentless, and goes unchallenged. The same people who stand behind the sentiments of the diaries when valued members leave are not visibly and actively there, for the most part, to fight our side.
So here is my call to action. If you believe that this site - especially its recommended diaries and comments sections - is delving into anti-Democratic, anti-Obama hit place, then stand up. We can't get the members we are losing to come back. But those of us who want to stay and fight must speak out more often and more forcefully when we see knee-jerk reactions to bash the President and Democrats just for the hell of it or unreasonably. More of us must speak up and engage in a course correction in those conversations and on this site. No one can fight that fight alone. This can start with small things like subscribing to diarists you find valuable (even if they don't make the rec list always or ever) and sharing their content - not just on dkos but with the outside world - after all, that's what a blog is for, letting people know that you have their back before they decide to leave, and always responding to knee-jerk reactions with calm, to hair-on-fire screams with facts and reason, and to dispirited friends with encouragement and community. Only then can we succeed in our fight.
Do not remain silent. I know from the number of people who recommended Dengre's diary yesterday and MO's the other day that there is a great number of people on this site who stand on the side of reasoned debate, understand the tremendous amount of mess Democrats and the President are having to clean up, and believe that charges against the president - and more importantly, against fellow members of this community - of being sellout corporatist hacks are unjust and unfair. I know there are people who believe in building up our community, not tearing down fellow Democrats in the midst of a tough situation. For you, my message is this: Be silent no more. Speak out. Stand up. Take action.
For what it's worth, I miss the reasoned, level headed criticisms of our leaders, too. The criticisms are now screaming, holier-than-thou attitudes and accusing those who support the president of being 'hacks', 'corporatists,' or "part of a coordinated strategy" to turn Daily Kos into what the people are leaving want it to be. I could say these things must stop, but it won't make any difference. It won't stop. Not until the rest of us start asserting ourselves. Not until the rest of us start speaking out and standing up.
In conclusion, if you care, stand up. Speak out. Fight. Fight for this community. Fight for citizen journalists. Engage.
ACTION ITEM: Oh and call the Capital switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and tell your member of the House that they must pass the Senate bill as is and start working on fixing it through reconciliation on a parallel track. See Elise's excellent diary for more info. And Ezekial 23 20 has a good idea in the comments. After you call your House member, call the switchboard back and ask to talk to your Senators' offices. When you get them, tell them to pledge their votes for a reconciliation bill that will fix and improve on the health care bill. Brilliant idea, thanks, Ezekial 23 20!