Cross posted at
My Left Wing in the Diary section.
My last Kos Diary taught me some things, but did not dissuade me. The Dump Diane Feinstein Pledge Site still awaits smart Dems who want to provide Diane Feinstein some guidance.
One thing I took from the responses to my last Kos Diary was that many people do not understand the use of Primary Challenges as part of a toolset to discipline elected officials.
Every goal-seeking system has TWO feedback loops, positive and negative. Like the blindfolded person playing 'Warmer/Colder', the positive - YES, you are getting WARMER (closer to the target) and the negative -- NO, you are getting COLDER (farther away from the target) both have a function.
More on these mechanisms...
In the USA, the positive feedback mechanism is hopelessly broken right now. Many politicians (Rethug or Dem) get most of their positive feedback from lobbyists in the form of fat checks, 'fundraisers', trips and gifts. Of course, they get that if they vote the way the lobbyists want. But nobody can reasonably deny that this is positive feedback (WARMER) from the lobbyists. Money from constituents is not nearly a counterbalance to the vast amounts of money spent by lobbyists.
There are several NEGATIVE feedback loops making up a much larger feedback loop and lets take a look at what does NOT WORK from the standpoint of grassroots progressive/liberal.
(A) Vote against the targeted Dem politician in the General Election. This is a bad idea because the Rethug can be pointed to as much worse. This seems to be what many people think a Primary Challenge is, but it is not.
Although, I want Diane Feinstein to retire and clear the field for a real Democrat, I would not recommend voting against her in the General Election, unless there was a better alternative to vote for and there will not likely be one, if she wins the primary.
(B) Stay at home during the General Election. This also doesn't work for the same reasons that (A) doesn't work. You may end up with the worst alternative a Rethug in office instead.
*(C) Withold donations. This fails because of the lobbyist money in politics. Your money is not what they need from you, but they will take it if you are dumb enough to give it to them.
(D) Withold support activity. This generally fails because no one counts who is missing in a crowd. And the camera angles are set up to show the full seats.
Now WHAT can work.
(A) Show up outside their office (or better a fundraiser) with a large crowd of people who feel like you. Send in a delegate to negotiate with the targeted politician on what it would take to 'make you go away'. This is OK, but it means you must accept a promise from a politician who already betrays your principles that they are going to reform. Comedian Judy Tenuda made herself famous poking fun at 'It could work'.
*(B) The Primary Challenge. Pledging, donating actual money, and supporting Primary Challenges is the secret weapon that politicians don't want you to know about. Just like 'Jury Nullification' is the secret weapon that Procecutors don't want you to know about.
If your Primary Challenger wins, you have replaced the targeted politician with someone you hope will be better. It is still a race for the General Election but in a 'safe' Dem state, is that so bad?
One thing that a strong Primary Challenge will demonstrate to a politician is that there is a growing dissatisfaction with their performance. Their staffers read the letter you wrote. The lobbyists write more and have big checks. And the party apparatus is set up to build 'Heroic and Popular' image for the incumbent. Nothing provides the negative feedback in as good a method as the Primary Challenge.
Finally, if your Primary Challenge is weak, the politician gets positive feedback from it. Nobody dislikes them enough to even pledge (free) to support somebody else. They have either support apathy. They can live with apathy, because they have lobbyists to provide the cash.
My Dump Diane Feinstein Pledge Site may just prove that Diane Feinstein is really doing just what the voters of California want her to do. Or it may be the start of her retirement.
Either way, it is a good thing to do. Visit the Dump Diane Feinstein Pledge Site and make a pledge if you are tired of Diane Feinstein representing the blue state of California.
Either way, your feelings will be made known to the people you are trying to reach.
Lobbyists have a megaphone and everything but a primary challenge is a breathless whisper.
I do rants myself and I enjoy reading them. But I want to actually change things, not just grumble year, after year, after year... after damn year.
And supporting politicians who betray you is... well... not ALL that a Smart Democrat can do.
LL