I got an email from Obama for America, asking me to confirm my address & particulars. I decided to unsubscribe at that point. I provided feedback via their unsubscribe link, then decided it would be worthwhile to be sure they had a better chance of seeing the message - I followed up with an email. Here's what I sent 'em:
This is what I provided on the feedback form - I'm sending it via email as well, because it's important.
Too much compromise. The GOP's operating procedure & Democratic capitulation has cost us valuable time, hurt millions of people & compromised our economy as well as our national security. Current policies are challenging - and diminishing - Constitutional protections of and for the People. The elite are gaining wealth & power; the rest of our nation is going to hell in an express mailer.
That's why I'm unsubscribing. I need to see more effective push-back against this erosion - far less (as in "NO MORE") compromise, and I needed to see it start two years ago.
The President ~has~ accomplished a lot, but much of it is already being undone, undermined and eroded. The compromises simply push the whole nation further to the very brink that this President's administration was supposed to pull us back from - a brink that the GOP nearly pushed us completely over when they held power in all three branches of the government during the previous Administration.
Those facts aren't coming up. They are being put out there. There are no valid or real investigations or accountability of big players who have been key to undermining and further endangering our national infrastructure in the areas of social, economic and national security.
Right now, I'm doing fine staying on top of the issues. I'm ahead of many. Financially, economically - things suck. And hearing platitudes and marketing shpiel from the "re-elect campaigns" isn't encouraging, when it should be far better informed and a lot more aggressively targeting those who are actively undermining any chances for change, recovery & hope.
So, until you decide to stop "playing" politics and get serious about messaging, leave me out.
- Me
I'll still vote for the President. I'm not happy with the current situation, and wish I could find a way to motivate him & his party to start pushing back & slapping around those dopes who are prolonging the pain - very real, and increasingly deadly, suffering that many of my fellow countryfolk are slogging through.
But we needed change to happen 2+ years ago. We needed strength, and have been steadily undermined by capitulation.
Reality is losing ground to ignorance, hyperbole, arrogance & unaccountability. Reality vs. Privilege, in a weighted match where Reality is given the spork and Privilege a tank.
Those are long odds. Bad odds.
Sure - I have an abundance of sporks, and a McGyver (*pre-shark jump) attitude - but I don't need weak-assed, hollow talking points from either political party at this point.
I need to see those in power who allege that they are truly FOR the people actually pushing back WITH the people against the forces of stupidity, ignorance, self-aggrandizement & willful disdain for the Constitution.
When they're ready to start talking real - and sporting the proper walk to back it up - then maybe I'll re-subscribe to their message.
Right now, it falls on ears that I have focused on the extraordinarily more-and-better informed community right here...and speaking of "community" - over the fold, I've a couple more things to touch on. Don't worry - I'll be brief. :)
I am still touched & humbled due to the gift of an anonymous lifetime subscription. For those of you who want to subscribe, or want to make a gift of a subscription, you have until December 31st to do so. For more information, go here.
This is a community that is diverse, yet with a shared depth of knowledge and breadth of heart & soul that I believe it's unique in its makeup. Examples of such caring abound. Here are some ongoing areas that you, too, can make a difference - if not financially, then through materials or simply by helping to spread the word, so that others can help out too:
- Help the Lakota people stay warm this winter. You can use this ChipIn widget for Okiciyap donations if you like:
- You can also help the wonderful folks behind Okiciyap.
- This won't cost you anything but a little time - so, please: help send people of color to Netroots Nation 2012 by signing up for the Pepsi "Refresh Everything" challenge & then voting for Teach under-served communities to use new media effectively every day. More details can be found here. I'm voting every day, and trying to spread the word to get others to vote, too, because there are some fantastic people out there who'll otherwise not make it to NN12...and I want them to be there. It's going to be the first NN I attend, and I plan on meeting a lot of friends in person - old and new - for the first time.
That's not all that's going on - and I'm sure most folks have quite a few things in their own offline worlds to tend to as well - but those are the items that came to mind quickly as I was reflecting on the gift subscription I'd received.
Do what you can & what you're able to do; share the information with others, at the very least, and take care to keep yourselves warm, safe & dry.
Namaste.