I’m now 76 years old. I started with the civil rights movement of the 60s, went to Vietnam as a draftee and returned to join the Vietnam Veterans Against the War. I’ve done phone banking and door-to-door for national and local Democratic candidates ever since then. I’ve put up and taken down all the 4’ x 8’ signs in my county for the last 10 years. I’ve been a prolific writer of letters to the editor and active in my county Dem committee. And I’ve found meaning in every minute of my activism.
BUT, I’ve learned over and over again that in general, Democrats are lazy.
They seem to think that economic, social, and scientific truths do not need to be defended, that Truth itself is powerful enough to stand against all assaults all by itself. Even Democrats who affirm human induced global warming can’t seem to stir themselves to urge their Congressional representatives to support legislation that mitigates global warming.
Democrats don’t turn out for primary elections, not enough of them volunteer to help get out the vote, and not enough pay active attention to down-ballot elections.
I think Democrats got used to union members doing the grunt work of elections, and now that the unions have been beaten down by corporate interests, non-union Dems have failed to take up the slack.
In spite of the polls, I really believe that because of pro-Trump passion among the “deplorable sector” of the electorate (and they really are), Trump may make fools of the pollsters again, and win the whole damn thing. But even if he loses, there will not be enough Democratic interest in down-ballot elections to give President Clinton a supportive House or even Senate.
In short, Democrats lack the grit to “git ‘er done.” That’s why W. got elected (just look at the turnout data); that's why President Obama had a Republican House to deal with, and why a victorious (we hope) Clinton will face a hostile Congress.
