Someone didn't get the lesson in 2010

[Tom Rinaldo]

53. I am not talking about protests, why are you?

OK, on second thought I am taking about protests. I am talking about protesting policies that one strongly opposes. Is there something inherently undemocratic about that? I have, as an adult, under Nixon, Ford, Reagan, BushI and BushII, seen plenty of Democrats protest against policies they opposed. Or are you saying that we should only protest policies supported by Republican Presidents? In other words, if a Democratic President supports it, it must be OK? I guess all of those anti Viet Nam War protestors should have simply supported LBJ's massive escalation of that war then because a Democrat was behind it.

We are talking about what happens when the leaders of the political party that one is aligned with adapt policies that strongly run counter to ones' core political and ethical values. Just shut up and take it because the other party is as bad or worse? Do you figure that is an effective theory for social change, heck not even change exactly, is that an effective way to protect hard fought and critical victories already won? Even so, I can't remember an election I've missed or a non totally corrupt Democrat that I have ever failed to vote for when the chips were down and there was no other viable alternative. When I was young in New York sometimes there actually were viable alternatives, Republicans who also ran on the Liberal Party line such as Sen. Jacob Javits, but I still voted Democratic. But you can't manufacture enthusiasm, it simply can't be done. One can appeal to "duty" and that can make some difference, but it just isn't the same, and anyone who is honest about it knows it.

I support President Obama on plenty of issues; guns, immigration, voting rights, the environment etc. I am not shy about that. I oppose him on Social Security, and I am not shy about that either. I receive Social Security - should I be silent about what happens to a program that in many concrete ways my life literally depends on? I wouldn't be if this was President Romney proposing shifting to a Chained CPI, but you think I should be because it is President Obama? I am not some alt media superstar, I am talking about my own life, not trying to score imaginary brownie points in some alternative talking heads universe by trashing a Democratic President.