Democrats do not lose to Republicans. They lose to apathy.
Local Democrats are finally doing something interesting. Before, it was just a game of scrimmage. Now they are keeping score.
Political observers underestimated Donald Trump because they thought politics was the governing business. Trump understood that politics is show business. Governing is the by-product.
Local Democrats are in "turmoil", writes a local newspaper. They editorialize that Democrats should settle down, get through this "patch of turbulence," put questions to rest, and "move on." There are some factions and suspicions rising within the local party. I say, so what? And of course! Factions and disagreement are the nature of politics.
There is no need to end turmoil and turbulence. Do the opposite. Be interesting. Raise questions. People who do so aren't making turmoil. They are making democracy.
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| Golden video. Scroll down to April 8 post |
Kevin Stine questioned whether the large personal contributions received by Golden were perhaps proof of "influence" just as much as had they come from NARAL or any PAC. It is a fair point, and one that Gomez's campaign would have the ability to hammer on, if Golden wins the primary. Jeff Golden presents himself as a new kind of candidate, one who walks-the-talk of clean government, a courageous politician who values leaders who are "grown-ups". Therefore, he refuses money from PACs or other interest groups, getting money from individuals only. He presents in video as a good and clean politician with exactly the kind of refreshing integrity we need in government.
Stine suggested the opposite point--that maybe those contributions are as "politically interested" and dangerous as would be a contribution from the Sierra Club or the Oregon Teachers Association. I certainly can see how distinctions can be made between a $10,000 gift from a friend versus a $10,000 from a PAC, and yet Democrats have complained about the corrupting influence of individual contributions from the Koch Brothers, from the Mercer family, from Sheldon Adelson, etc., so it is a point that Golden will need to be able to defend.
[Blog post revised. I have removed all references to any Republican opponent for candidate Gomez.]
I welcome controversies being aired and people discussing real issues, which means people need to be newsworthy. Whether PERS can be improved in any way is an issue worth discussion. Gomez brought it up and Stine and Bell weighed in. Whether Jeff Golden's method of campaign finance is better for democratic government than gifts from PACs is worth discussing. Whether Gomez is "Republican-enough" to be a Republican is worth discussing. Issues of health care and taxes and immigration and abortion funding are worth discussing.
Candidates are raising issues. It may look like turmoil to some, but to me it looks like democracy, and news worth watching and reading.
3 comments:
Two points...
1. I think after Clinton, (Monica!) Bush (Boom, Meltdown), Obama (Birtherism et al), and now Trump we are becoming too accustomed to constant turmoil in government. This plays into the hands of Regressives.
Government should be boring and efficient, and run by our best, most ethical and knowledgeable, not mud wrestling.
2. I would disagree that it's apathy, and suggest that Progressives became complacent.
Obama's overwhelming success lulled many into a sense of manifest destiny, not realizing that converting a corporate democracy to a social democracy is a marathon not a walk in the park.
I don't believe it is apathy - I believe it's a deep cynicism stemming from "politics as usual" activities such as have come to light in Jackson County. I for one hope the county party take a firm stance against leadership who do not maintain neutrality.
I appreciate Rick's points, and agree completely. Government, run well, and for We The People, should indeed be highly competent, and boring. Two decades of social media and "reality" television has shaped Americans' perceptions, and attention spans. As a "reality" tv "star" Trump capitalized on that mindless, shallow--yet entertaining--media millieu, and was able to con tens of millions of frightened, marginalized White voters into believing he was competent and would work FOR them. Clearly neither is true, and never was, but desperate people are easily manipulated. Time for progressives to find ways to fight back.
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