I just read Shanikka's diary Shannika's diary (
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/12/15/9734/4841) and it really got me thinking about what to do about the frustrations some (many?) of us feel with the SOP of the democratic party. Hopefully the netroots will affect some reform in the party but what if they don't?
More below.
What do you do when the democrats keep backing the president or staying silent? What do you do when the leader of the democratic party does not stand up and say, "African American voters were disenfranchised in the 2000 election and the 2004 election and we are not going to stand for it! " ?
I've heard many people yearn for protest right now. Here's a controversial one-- in 2006, if we are uphappy with the direction of the party, we protest by going to the polls, getting our ballots and not voting. (maybe voting for a local issue--something so it is clear that it was an intentional non-vote). I think this would be especially powerful for African American and Native American voters who have been disenfranchised in the past with respect to voting rights.
I know this sounds extreme and really in opposite of what we are trying to do, but I think it is better than leaving the party or voting for republicans. I think it could have more power if it were organized and publicized so the spineless democrats would have to take notice.
The thing is, it would be painful. By recording a non-vote we lose something. In no way do I equate this with MLK and the civil rights movement but the thing that stands out about those protests is the fear those people must have felt. When they were protesting, they were doing so in the face of danger. Maybe we need to find a way to protest where we have to face danger in at least the tiniest of ways.