Why we can't have nice things

[hay rick]

28. Point by point from someone who feels your pain.

First off let me say I am saddened but not surprised by the media's enthusiastic embrace of Donna Brazile's critique of the DNC. They will always err on the side that keeps their oligarchy-friendly advertisers happy. The same sentiments extend to the "progressives" who cherish any story that confirms their belief in a Democratic Party conspiracy against their values. Their howls of anguish are a righteous substitute for actually joining the better of two viable parties and improving it with their efforts. We live in an age that would make P. T. Barnum proud.

1) I am a 72-year-old retiree and volunteer with my county Democratic Party in Florida. Everyone involved with the local party is a volunteer. We maintain an office and stage multiple fundraisers every year just to keep the lights on. Our primary job is "getting out the vote." I have several functions in the party including VAN administrator. I put in 20-30 hours a week now and that number will increase after the New Year and again as we approach elections. People who contribute 0 hours a week offer all kinds of advice on what "the Democratic Party" should be doing. I take it personally because obviously they think I am the Democratic Party. I listen politely but their words come in one ear and exit through the other while I am thinking "The Democratic Party is not what I make it, it's what we make it. If you want to see the the problem, look in the mirror."

Enough with the venting already. Like the DNC, our local party is always fundraising. It's not fun but it's necessary. The local party supports all candidates, provides continuity between elections and basic infrastructure (the VAN, a meeting place, a source of information and volunteers). It's not all sweat and suffering, however- the incidental benefit is that you meet and get to hang out with some really good and interesting people.

3) Progressive groups AND Hillary partisans who regurgitate Bernie-blaming are part of the problem, not the solution. I miss DU's discontinued unrec feature. At the present time, the rehash of the DNC's problems is a convenient distraction from the rush to pass "tax reform" which will eventually impoverish tens of millions of Americans.

4) Ronald Reagan: " The person who agrees with you 80% of the time is your friend and ally- not a 20% traitor." If we don't support Hillary Clinton we get Donald Trump. If you voted for Jill Stein or undervoted you are complicit.

7) "Turn your frustration into action." In my area we have well-organized Indivisible groups. At this point their activism is mostly defensive- calling their MOC, showing up at town halls, writing letters to the editor and waving signs at rallies. They have meetings, but they are like a book club/pity party- they drink wine and compare notes on last night's Rachel Maddow show. They need to take the next step and talk directly to voters, not each other. Our local party is ready to help.