Progressives must focus their attention on rural America in 2008. Recent events such as the failure to withdraw troops from Iraq show just how tenuous the Democratic Party's hold on power is. If we as progressives want to get anything done, whether it is bring our troops home, effectively mitigate global warming, ensure affordable health care for all, make our energy supply secure, renewable, and clean, we are going to have to organize, recruit, and get progressive candidates elected in rural America. Leadership on these activities is going to have to come from the grassroots and netroots.
To do this, we must fully embrace Governor Dean's 50-state strategy at all levels. We must get progressives to run for school board, township supervisor, and county commissioner. We must get progressives to run for state government, and we must get them to run for Congress.
Unless we do this, incrementalism will be our best hope. In truth, however, we will be fighting like mad for crumbs. Yes, we have the majority in both the House and the Senate, but it is not enough to bring the troops home. Yes, we will have a different President soon, but if we do not change our tactics on a massive scale, we will end up with a President similar to the present. There are lots and lots of votes in rural America, as there are in urban areas, but when the vote maps are displayed on TV, peoples' understanding of winners and losers is based on geography. Yes, Bush got about 50% of the vote in the last two presidential elections, but on TV, it looked like he won the entire country. Hence, he claimed he had the mandate of the people.
Last year, on April 29, there was no Democrat, Green, or otherwise progressive candidate to challenge incumbent Bill Shuster in my congressional district. Similarly, on a state level, of the three seats in the general assembly, only one had a Democrat running. This situation played out across rural Pennsylvania and rural America. Yes, the Democrats did well in November, but they have been having a heck of a time since that point. Why? They need more votes for key issues. They need veto over-riding numbers.
Can this be done? Yes. Even in redder than red America? Heck yes! Things are a lot more purple out here than anyone would lead you to believe. I know the numbers. Forget the numbers. As long as we cling to the numbers, the status quo will remain. As Richard Bach once wrote, "Argue your limitations, and sure enough, they are yours." Yes, these things are going to be difficult, but like another wise person (John F. Kennedy) said, "We do these things, not because they are easy, but, rather, because they are hard." My boots are on the ground. I live here, I work here, and I know the frustrations. Rural America is ready to listen. The American people will not give us the mandate to rule until we prove that we are worthy to rule. It does not matter if the other side proves that they are unworthy. We must prove that we are worthy.
This diary will be the first in a series that I will lay out this week and next. In my next diary, I will explain why this must come from the grassroots and netroots. After that, I will focus on issues that progressives must focus on in rural America. Then, I will diary regarding what actions we need to take to win in rural America. I will be presenting all of this in person at the Take Back America 2007 Conference in Washington, DC on June 20th at 11:30 am.