A Washington Post-ABC News poll is showing that the public is very angry with Congress. They are not doing their job and the people know it. Nearly two in three Americans believe the war in Iraq has not been worth it. People see the economy unraveling around them and they see the Congress doing nothing but giving more tax cuts to the rich. Gas prices go up and the oil corporations executives get enormous multi-million bonuses and federal tax credits.
But the polls are not necessarily good news for the Democrats. While 55% of the public says they are open to someone else being their Congressional representative, they also by a 58% margin say the Democrats have not offered a sharp contrast to Bush and the Republicans and they disapprove of the job the Dems are doing.
The Dems strategy is to try to ride out "the perfect storm" in hopes it will wash them into control of Congress. Maybe that will happen....but maybe voters will turn to Independents and Greens this year and reject both parties.
This is the year that progressive minded voters and activists need to work together to support good candidates no matter what party they are with. Greens, progressive Dems, Independents and the like must cross normal party boundaries and seek out people who are willing to tell the truth about what is going on. They must identify and support candidates who are willing to call for: investigation of Bush and Cheney for impeachable offenses; cut all funding for the war in Iraq; immediate and unconditional withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq; ending tax cuts for the rich; support for a single payer national health care program; investment in rail, solar and wind technology in the U.S. with our tax dollars; major cuts in the bloated Pentagon budget; and investment in the social and physical infrastructure all across the nation.
Time is running out. The health care system, education, roads and bridges are all broken. Jobs are leaving the country like a roomful of rats running from a nasty cat. Only with significant federal investment can we hope to rebuild the country and develop new technologies to deal with global warming. If we don't demand this now, by getting behind candidates who will fight for this alternative vision, then we will head south fast as a nation.
It is great that people are expressing real anger toward the status quo in the U.S. But in their desperation, if people just put a bunch of corporate Dems in power then nothing much will change. And believe me the corporations now dominate the Democratic party and will be working hard to put their people in place if the Congress turns over.
This is the year for bold action. This is the year not to fall for the glad handing from Dems that will promise they want to end the war in Iraq and then turn right around and vote for more money for the war. This is the year not to vote for candidates who tell you we can't talk about impeachment because it is too controversial. The constitution is clear that when a president oversteps his power we must move toward impeachment!
We need real leaders at this moment in history. I'm tired of seeing the “entitled kid" princes and princesses get elected who are primarily aiming for higher office and put serving the people low on their agenda.
No comments:
Post a Comment