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January 31, 2006

World Can't Wait--tossing us out to the margins

I'm as disgusted with the Bush Administration as anybody.

Their foreign policy has made us an enemy to countries that used to be our friends. Their arrogance has created a larger cancer of terrorists and terrorist activity. Domestically, those in the middle to lower class are suffering due to their economic policies. National security is shaky. Policies in regard to essentially every aspect of American life are sold out to corporations who pad the Republican Party campaign coffers.

I understand all of these things.

But standing up on a soapbox during Bush's State of the Union and pretending he can be drowned out while simulcasting over America's TV networks just looks ridiculous and silly.

Stamping our feet and demanding that Bush resign at this point is absolute nuttiness. It makes those who ask look like spoiled toddlers..demanding that their parents buy them an ice cream.

If it looks like this to me..a dedicated and engaged progressive, imagine how it appears to rank and file Americans who take only a cursory glance at the daily news?

What a waste of energy.

This demonstration reminds me of the way that the Libertarian Party fumbles around. They field a candidate for President each cycle, claiming that he's viable. And why is he viable? Because they say so. But the Libertarian Party has done nothing to prove themselves at the state and local level..to show the electorate that they've got what it takes to govern.

Protesting is an important exercise and I don't want to diminish its necessity. But honestly..aren't we protested to death? The general public is keenly aware that there are some fundamental problems with Bush's presidency and policies. Polls already reflect that. Standing outside and screaming about how Bush has to go reflects so badly on us however...that we don't exactly come across as a palatable alternative.

All this energy wasted on demonstrations and protests could be channeled into something much more effective: organization. Progressives must continue to rebuild at the state and local level. Our beliefs and values have been allowed to languish in places closest to home. We must rebuild these first. Build the foundation and then work upward toward DC.

Yes we think Bush is an abomination of governance. Yes we believe that he's done serious harm to this nation that will take generations to fix. But we can't convince the American electorate that we're the better alternative merely staging protests and stamping our feet. We have to prove that we're better.

Acting like spoiled children isn't going to demonstrate that proof.

Posted by Carla at January 31, 2006 11:53 AM