I usually try to stick to policy when I post and don't get introspective, but this is the place for people like me, so hopefully you'll want to hear my story. And maybe I can motivate you too.
Every day, I spend hours at my computer, reading, thinking and often fuming (hopefully chuckling). I've been mildly active campaigning, working about four days for Obama prior to the primary here in New York. I like to think I deserve some of the credit for my district splitting it's delegates, despite the fact that I'm deep in Clinton country.
However, I have not done much since the nomination was locked up. I felt very betrayed by Obama's FISA switch and I've stopped giving money to the campaign. I recognize the man's faults, but he is so far above any other option I've seen in my 29 years, I feel we need him.
But I digress...Recently, my father (whom I take as a reluctant Obama supporter) has been eager to engage me in discussion about his various friends who don't think Obama can win. He enjoys being the cynic. Inevitably, I respond with a well-reasoned and thought out argument explaining why I disagree (as I mentioned I spend hours reading political blogs on a daily basis). However, my father always takes it as condescension. This is something I need to work on. I know that. That said, I think he's enjoyed needling me. So recently we had it out. And one of his comments really stung, "If you want him elected, what are you doing to help?" I told him about the McSame keychains I made to help McCain keep track of all his houses (get em here!). I told him I had signed up for Obama Camp but never heard back (seriously, why haven't I even gotten a polite rejection from them???). I told him I'd be going to Pennsylvania in the Fall. I told him I signed up to be a poll watcher. And I knew he was right.
So I got lucky enough to have tomorrow off, so I went on My Barack Obama and looked for an event listing for a canvassing trip (they need to improve their event sorting functions). Couldn't find anything besides canvassing by Central Park. Really Central Park? Looked for a field office in my area, nothing listed. Went on Facebook, no events listed.
So I looked up the campaign office in Philly and called. I told the woman that I was coming to town tomorrow and wanted to help, "Can you put me to work?" She was very excited to hear it. So tomorrow, on my day off, I'm getting up at the regular time and instead of going to work, I'm getting on a bus to Philly. When I get off, I'm walking to the field office and I'm going to go talk to strangers about why they need to vote. Why we need them.
If all goes well, I'm going to try to organize groups to travel down there with me.
And I'll have an answer for What I'm Doing About It. And truly, that answer is for myself, not for anyone else.
Have you asked yourself this question?