Creating Change Is the People's Job

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/story/155615/creating_change_is_the_people%27s_job/

There is a grumble being repeated in some progressive circles. It goes like this: “President Obama has been a disappointment. But what’s the alternative?” It’s usually followed by a sigh and a plea for work to save the “few minor” things we did get done in the last three years.

But this grumbling is largely wrong. Some of the disappointment is understandable. For instance, on the President’s watch, thousands of immigrant families have been torn apart by inhumane deportation policies

Even so, our achievements are by no means minor. The stimulus contained the largest expansion of anti-poverty programs in a generation, health care reform is already expanding coverage for millions of people, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” has been consigned to the history books, and efforts to slash Medicare and Social Security have been held in check.

From where I stand, something more interesting is going on. We’ve examined ourselves and found a fundamental weakness: We placed too much hope and faith in the president. It was a mistake, but not because this president has somehow betrayed us. He’s done what presidents do: governed under all the stresses of competing pressures.



***the point - IMO- keep going!

[MannyGoldstein]

1. Poverty, homelessness and hunger are growing

While the WH works mightily for "free" trade, austerity and abrogation of our constitution.

A little more than disappointing, I think.

[xchrom]

2. agreed. which is why i hope Occupy doesn't go away.

they work w/ women's rights, sustainable interested folk, unions, etc.

it's one thing we have that brings a lot of people under the 'wall street' banner.

we need that.

[MannyGoldstein]

3. Indeed! nt

[Fire Walk With Me]

4. It is entirely up to the individual to determine whether or not

utter silence from the white house over 7,000+ 1st Amendment protesters being brutalized and arrested is betrayal.

[Chathamization]

5. We won't get leadership from the top

I think that's one of the things that people in general have a hard time understanding. Elected officials don't become elected officials because they are the best leaders, the most passionate, have the strongest convictions, etc. They get to where they are because they're the best at winning elections. And as such, they are going to act in the way that they think will help them win more elections (even though their judgement could be awful).

If we want to succeed, we need to move away from this idea that some politicians are our friends, and we should vote for them and then hope for the best. We have to move to the mindset that politicians are reactionary, and find out what types of stimulus will cause them to do the things we want.