I want you to consider this for a moment. Don't answer right away, but really think about what flashes through your mind and heart when I put it to you, ok?
Imagine that key Democrats who are seeking re-election in 2012 were to embrace the message of OWS and pledge to forego any new campaign contributions from big money interests.
Wait. Imagine it and let it sink in. Notice what's happening inside you before you read on. But do read on.
I bet some of your felt fear. ("Oh no, there's no way to win an election that way. We'll be outspent and the country will turn over to the GOP."). Didn't you?
It's okay if you did. I do too. But it just goes to show how deeply engrained the connection between electoral politics and money is. And it illustrates EXACTLY why OWS is necessary. We literally equate the one with the other and (sadly) necessarily so. This is a small example of the FEAR members of our own party feel when the are facing re-election and entertaining that Exxon lobbyist. ("How can I be re-elected if I don't take this money?").
Take a minute and think some more about that. Scary shit, huh?
What a state of affairs we've gotten into in our "democracy" when even we progressives have fear about losing elections because a billion dollars wasn't raised. But I'm wondering....if OWS movement could provide some much needed cover and dissipate some of that fear. See, the fear comes from believing that without 30 million or 750 million dollars, voters won't know who to vote for. But OWS is showing that people can be informed (and motivated) in ways that don't cost 300 million dollars. And better yet, that there are a LOT of people paying attention and identifying with this movement. That perhaps people-power actually could work.
Now I know, I know. There's the element of having to deal with reality. Yeah, I get that. Yeah, I know that.
But what impact might such a stance make among a populace that is growing increasingly cynical and bitter about the political process and beginning to understand why things in Washington just never seem to go their way? I'm wondering whether a stand making such a strong departure from "business as usual" would have the effect of neutralizing the billions that will be spent by the opposition while motivating the majority to vote for those who endeavor to be uncompromised?
See, I wonder these things. Because in just over a month the OWS movement has successfully changed the ENTIRE NATIONAL DIALOG. I swear, in August I thought I was going to PUKE if I heard the words "deficit reduction" one more fucking time. But now, we're talking about a whole different thing. Even the republicans are forced to try to argue their positions on this turf. What this tells me is that we DO have power over the national dialog. We DO have the power to CHALLENGE politicians who CLAIM they love America and Democracy to put their "money" where their mouths are. I think we have the power to do that and to create that type of pressure.
See, I'm not worried about Democrats co-opting this movement. What I want is for them to BEND to it. I wonder if, over the next 3-4 moneths, we (the 99%) could begin to drive this challenge. To push the narrative that we want to see politicians refuse election campaign money from banks and oil companies and multinational job-killing conglomerates, in favor of restoring Democracy. I believe we can. Yes, we can.
And here's what I'd love to hear from our elected officials after bringing such pressure to bear.
"For too long the vast majority of Americans have had their voices drowned out in America because of flaws in our political and campaign finance system. These flaws include the pressures elected officials face of raising insane amounts of money to fund their election and re-election campaigns. For too long, there have been large groups and organizations and lobbyists and corporations, including those in the financial sector, who are more than happy to donate. The problem is that they frequently want something in return. Something in the form of favorable legislation. Occupy Wall Street is a demonstration of the frustration that Americans are feeling about having such difficulty in their day-to-day lives, while the top 1% of earners in this country are doing just fine. That disparity can be traced right back to the flaws in our campaign financing system. What's good for companies making billions of dollars a year is usually not so great for the other 99% of Americans. the legislation is bought and paid for by these entities to the detriment of the American people.
This has to stop. None of us have been completely innocent of succumbing to these pressures but the time has come that it just has to stop or we face the prospect of losing our Democracy, which is supposed to by By, For and Of the PEOPLE.
So I/we am/are announcing today that I/we am/are foregoing all future campaign contributions from those interests so that we can freely and without pressure or feelings of obligation, represent the PEOPLE. The pressure to take that money will remain intense because the GOP will continue to take the money. They will continue to be obligated to craft legislation that is favorable only for the very wealthy. I/we won't be able to pay for million-dollar nationwide ads or rebut the lies and deceptions that will air in ads about me/us. But ads don't vote. People do. I'm/We're asking for you to vote this in a way that can begin the process of restoring integrity and fairness in our democracy. Vote for candidates who refuse to accept donations from groups to which they will later be beholden. Vote for candidates who are only beholden to those who voted from them. I'll/We'll need your support.
I'm/We're also happy to announce that beginning today I/we will begin to take steps to reverse the money-in-politics game. I/we will start crafting legislation to reform the banking/financial system. And our nations campaign finance laws. We'll introduce legislation this year that seeks to remove the bias money injects into our politics and return Capitol Hill to the rule of the the people. Pay attention to who votes this legislation down. And ask yourself why."
Scary shit? Yes. And maybe it's impossible. It's definitely unlikely. But then, I was ready to PUKE in August. So, there's that.