How to make them care about you - an answer to kid oakland

In his diary they don't care about us and never did kid oakland makes some valid points on how little the Democrats in Washington care about the progressive "kooks" that support them.

We are utterly taken for granted.

From the point of view of the majority of long-standing Democratic politicians we are seen as nameless, faceless, trouble-making, easily replaceable, meddlesome busybodies and...not much more.

That view is correct and troublesome and we ought to change this.

Kid suggest local engagement. Fine. But there are better tools available.

We can learn a thing or two from the right. Not in their policies or their nastiness against political competitors, but how to discipline the voters' representatives in DC.

Grover Norquist's organisation "Americans for Tax Reform" developed a "Taxpayer Protection Pledge". The organisation requires Republican candidates to sign if the candidate want any support by the organisation.

Those who don't sign will not see a penny from Norquist or his supporters.  Instead Norquist will work with their primary competitors to defeat them.

The names of those who signed are made public and their signiture is a (moral) pressure point when votes come up in Congress.

I certainly do not agree with Norquist "no tax ever" or the small state he wants to "drown in a bathtub". Still the method used by him and his organisation is very, very effective.

Jonathan Alter wrote:

It has transformed American politics.

So here is an action plan:

• Lets develop a short progressive agenda of three major issues and lets verbalize that into a formular pledge.
• Approach every Democratic candidate and representative at every level and ask them to sign it.
• Explain the alternatives:

• If they sign the pledge and stick to it they will get the full support of the community: Financially as well as through personal support. Dollars, GOTV efforts, phone banking volunteers and of course our votes.
• If they do not sign the pledge they will get NOTHING: NOT one penny, NOT a second of volunteering and certainly NOT our votes.

• Make their signing/non-signing of the pledge public.

Quite simple, isn't it?

If we want the Democrats in DC to take us seriously, we will need some pressure points. As kid oakland explained, they will not recognize us just because we are there. They will have to recognize us if we use pressure.

If they ignore our issues we should punish them. No money, no volunteering, no vote.

The liberal/progressive pledge is the instrument to make sure they understand this. It doesn't leave them the usual wiggleroom they use to escape their responsibilities after they were elected with the precious progressive votes.

The "anti-war" Democrats caved in after they were elected to Congress. A written and signed pledge before the election would at least have put them at a public pillory. For all to see and to remember when the next election comes up.

The pledge:

It has transformed American politics.

It can do again. This time on our side.

•  Name your 3 items

  I really like this approach and we can see how well it works with moveon's plan to bring the bluedogs to heel. My personal three items would be:

  1.Reduction of the military
  2.Stop exporting jobs
  3.Reform health care

  by orisk on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 06:22:20 AM PDT

  •  Has to have energy / global warming ...

    to have my support ...

    by A Siegel on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 08:54:24 AM PDT

•  That's a great idea.

  How about Americans for Progressive Reform ?

  by carver on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 06:23:49 AM PDT

•  My 3 items

  1. Redeploy out of Iraq and stop funding undeclared wars.

  2. Universal health care

  3. Reduce carbon emissions, fund green energy, green jobs

  by coral on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 06:26:05 AM PDT

  •  Agree except the order

    Fighting climate change should be Job One.

    by Barcelona on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 06:40:41 AM PDT

  •  my list

    Sorry folks, can't get it down to three.  

    1.  Climate change: massive effort akin to the Apollo moon shot or WW2, including full energy independence using climate-clean energy sources only.

    2.  Military prudence: Disengage militarily from the Middle East as rapidly as possible; go to a purely deterrence & defense-oriented doctrine of military response only to direct attack on US or allies.  Strengthen the capabilities of the Armed Forces by taking steps to support our fighting men & women, including increased rates of pay, VA reform, and other measures.

    3.  Universal and unconditional single-payer health coverage.

    4.  Separation of church and state: across the board including in education and other aspects of public policy.  

    5.  Real action against terrorism: repeal the so-called "PATRIOT Act," strengthen security in meaningful ways that are consistent with the Constitution.  

    6.  Real education reform: repeal NCLB, develop national curriculum guides in conjunction with educational professionals using the best available knowledge in their field.

    7.  Fiscal prudence:  balance the budget and enact a truly fair and progressive system of taxation that will not place an undue burden upon those least able to pay.

    OK, I'll stop there:-).  

    by G2geek on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 07:29:14 AM PDT

    •  Just wondering what unconditional means here.

      3.   Universal and unconditional single-payer health coverage.

      by valion on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 09:47:48 AM PDT

      •  unconditional means...

        First of all, no person is denied care.  

        What about illegal immigrants?  The answer is: what about pandemics?  The best available science says we're very close to a pandemic flu outbreak, and depending on which viral strain is involved, the fatality rate could be as high as 50%.  Add to that such things as extreme drug resistant tuberculosis and other emerging disease threats.  
        As a matter of national security we cannot have a situation where a large number of people are afraid or unable to go to a doctor, clinic, or hospital: that is precisely the condition that is ideal for spreading a pandemic.  (The way to deal with illegal immigration is to simply enforce the wage and hour laws and thereby dry up the demand for illegals.  In strictly Libertarian Democratic terms, "jobs Americans won't do" is a market signal that demand has exceeded supply, that is, the hourly wage and working conditions have to improve.)

        Second, no "pre-existing conditions" crap or "lifestyle police" puritanism.  

        No denying coverage to people due to pre-existing conditions or lifestyle risks.  That means no denying AIDS care to someone who's gay, no denying coverage to someone who breaks a leg while skiing, or to someone who smokes tobacco or pot, uses dangerous drugs such as meth and crack, drinks alcohol in excess, etc.  

        The way to deal with lifestyle and behavior risks e.g. smoking, drinking, pot, dangerous drugs, skiing, mountain climbing, skydiving, unsafe sex & STDs including AIDS, etc. is:  

        if the product or service is legal, replace the "excise" (sin) tax with a health risk tax.  I calculated that out once for tobacco and it came to about $2.50 per pack of cigarettes, assuming the worst possible outcomes (and almost nothing for pipe tobacco & cigars).  If the risk factor is illegal, e.g. illegal drug addiction, consider the fact that immediate access to treatment is a far more cost-effective method of dealing with drug abuse than the present criminal/incarcreation model.  If the risk factor is sex, that's where truthful & comprehensive sex educatioan comes in (no more of this "abstinence only" crap, it even produces an increased rate of teenage pregnancy.  Etc. etc.  

        Third, no ideological tampering with treatment modailities.  

        That means the righties can't tweak the system to exclude contraceptives and abortions.  In general, no use of people's health care needs as a means of promoting various interests and agendas that lead to less care or greater suffering.  Health care decisions to be purely between each person and their doctor.  

        by G2geek on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:02:05 PM PDT

•  Won't work ...

  Because this sort of thing only works for fundamentally brainless issues like "no new taxes," and relies on the freeper mentality.

  The items listed on our side aren't that simplistic or easy to monitor. What constitutes compliance with or violation of a pledge like universal heath care? Do halfassed proposals qualify, and who decides. And how do you get voters on our side to behave in the robo way Norquist depends on?

  by al Fubar on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 06:48:26 AM PDT

  •  How?

    And how do you get voters on our side to behave in the robo way Norquist depends on?

    You start by not treating the constituents like idiots. By telling them that they have a part in how this country is being run.

    That is the failings of both parties in my opinion.

    by pwrmac5 on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 07:02:10 AM PDT

    •  Norquist depends ...

      On the fact the the GOP base does contain a large proportion of idiots. We have some idiots too, but not near as many - which is why Norquist-style tactics are not viable for us.

      by al Fubar on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 07:21:55 AM PDT

      •  When you consider what failed Gore

        It wasn't that he thought the electorates were idiots but the perception that is still ongoing today was that the left wing is made up of eggheads and elitists who think they all know better. That perception brought on by the right is what does the most damage.

        by pwrmac5 on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 07:57:54 AM PDT

    •  The Republican Party Succeeded Beyond Their

      wildest wettest dream. They've locked down the Constitution for a generation to come and they've already dismantled 2/3 of the bill of rights. They've deported most of the historic economic ladder for the poor and middle class. They own the public square which is protected from the people by the 1st Amendment. They steal elections, they rule in secret with untouchable power even with 70% disapproval.

      So they lost one election, so they lose another one or two. Big friggin deal.

      They did this with idiotic messages through a public square that is structurally insane under our system even when it's operated legally.

      The world just does not work the way you think it does.

      by Gooserock on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 07:47:31 AM PDT

      •  Oh, I beg to differ

        I think I know pretty much how the world works. You'd be surprised at how my coworkers and some friends tend to treat me as an African American until I show them the depths of my intelligence. (I have had white people spell out simple words that I already knew out to me). There was no real malice but the perception was that I wasn't quite as smart as I looked. Often instead of getting to the point things were explained to me in unnecessary detail as if I really need the entire context to grasp a simple concept. This is how the Repubs separate people and how they win over those who should know better. They distill what their goals are in sound bites and catch phrases.

        Here is a simple test:
        Scan or google on how FEMA dealt with the devastation in Greensburg Kansas and compare it with New Orleans. Now dropping the scale of the towns, view what people said about the residents of both or lack thereof. Ask yourself why one group of people is expected to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps with no help fromthe government while no one grouses that another group getting federal aid.

        It is all about who controls the message. The poor and the indigent are only pulled out by either party when it suits them. Othwerwise, they are somthing not seen much less heard.  I refuse to see that as "That's the way of the world", that is the same talk  that went on during the Civil Rights era. It is time to break that chain of thinking and there is no better time than now.

        by pwrmac5 on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 08:16:41 AM PDT

•  Items are not that important ...

  .. the concept is important. Can we get this going?  

  Let's formulate an actual pledge ...

  here  is how Norquist is doing it. He has a national and a state level variant.

  The national one:

  I ,__________, pledge to the taxpayers of the ___ district of the State of _______ and to the American People that I will:

  ONE, oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rates for individuals and/or businesses; and

  TWO, oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates.

  Signed
  Date
  Witness    
  Witness

  We need to formulate ONE, TWO and probably THREE.

  My first attempt:

  "ONE, oppose any and will immediately end all U.S. led wars in foreign territories, and

  TWO, oppose all health care insurance schemes that do not implement a full single payer system."

  by Bernhard on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 06:51:56 AM PDT

•  It'd be nice.

  Health care reform and action on global warming would be nice items to have on the list... but for the purposes of such an effort, I think that the focus needs to be more sharply focused and more immediate.

  So, my three items would be:

  • Draconian campaign finance reform
  • Restoration of citizens' civil rights/restoration of Constitutional checks and balances/ending Unitary Presidency once and for all
  • Immediate end to occupation of Iraq

  by Mehitabel9 on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 06:58:22 AM PDT

•  We need our own party

  that will pledge to vote for a Democratic candidate IF the Dem candidate meets a certain number of conditions.

  You know, it's called "politics".  Something that is completely lost on most progressives.  The fascists are very good at it, as you point out.

  Instead, people here are happy to shout out "I'll vote for WHOEVER the Dem candidate is, even if I hate him/her!"

  Yeah, thanks for that.  Just hand what little power you have over to them.  Duh.

  I'm in full agreement -- the only way we can whip these assholes into shape is through organization, force, using what power we have.   Politics.  

  Appealing to them to just "do the right thing" doesn't cut it.  It's like that old saying about the tiger -- expecting a politician to treat you well because you're a nice person is like expecting the tiger to not eat you because you're a vegetarian.

  The Dailykos community IS a political movement, is a de-facto political party.  It just doesn't know it yet, and is clueless about how to use its clout.   Most people here are still too much in the "starfucker" camp -- "ooh, look we got Hillary to speak at Yearlykos!  That means she's COOL!" and don't realize how powerful they can/could be.  

  by theyrereal on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 07:06:43 AM PDT

•  Netroots 2.0

  In the last election cycle, the netroots and grassroots demonstrated that they can provide the margin of victory needed to get people into office. From McNerney to Shea-Porter to Webb, to Debra Bowen in California we were essential components of their victory.

  It took us a few years to get there.

  What we haven't learned how to do yet is lobby effectively. I think we will do so, but we haven't yet.

  Someone above said we need our own party. I don't think so: we need our own lobby.

  by Malacandra on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 07:16:58 AM PDT

•  Making Politicians TOXIC Down Ticket

  Another avenue that could be pursued is making a recommendation by a Dem politician who votes for continuing the Iraq occupation and giving away our Constitutional rights a kiss of death for aspiring Dem politicians down ticket.

  IOW, my Senator, Claire McCaskill, voted for the Iraq supplemental and to diminish the protections previously provided under FISA. When she sends me mail requesting I contribute to another Dem candidate in MO, I send it back without any $$$ saying based on the poor judgement shown by McCaskill in regards to Iraq and FISA, I no longer trust her judgement. Any recommendation by Senator McCaskill will guarantee that I will not contribute to the candidate since I fear that they would take the same position as the Senator and vote against my best interest and the best interest of the country.

  by MO Blue on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 07:31:55 AM PDT

•  Sorry But I Think the Power Organizing

  Had much more to do with it.

  They started years earlier with the construction of the revolution's communication machine of direct mail, thinktanks and the pulpit network. By Norquist's time they were solidifying control of the media public square.

  That's the real trick, ensuring that you can deliver and reinforce slogans not just come up with them. We can learn to some extent from the early rightwing communication strategies, because they 30 years ago were like us today, largely without meaningful access to the mainstream electorate.

  But that means mobilizing fairly large numbers of activists on a continuous basis. It was easy for the churches to do this because by definition they're a message system and they have an eager audience founded on simplistic wild promises. We on the other hand have no comparable institutional system.

  The pledge is easy but how are voters going to hear about it to keep the pressure on the reps? The churches and the radio and the TV and the newspapers sure aren't going to push it.

  by Gooserock on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 07:43:47 AM PDT

•  my three choices

  1. END THE IRAQ OCCUPATION

  2. END THE IRAQ OCCUPATION

  3. use the trillions of dollars we save by ending the Iraq occupation to do everything else everyone wants done in our nation...

  by KnotIookin on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 07:44:25 AM PDT

•  Two words: Primary Challenge

  Done.

  by fatbyjhnsn on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 08:30:03 AM PDT