I just figured something rather profound out. I love the power I have. Right now. I have the financial ability to reward politicians who do what I want. Thankfully, "what I want" are politicians who stand up for the Constitution, who care about our party and about winning the White House and a strong majority in Congress in November, who care about the poor, disadvantaged, health care, etc. The folks who either are new to national politics, or been around but have a great record.
I can read about Tom Allen in Maine, fighting to win his Senate seat, and I can just visit his site and donate money. Partly to help another good candidate be (re)elected, but also because he just endorsed Obama.
I know it will not be lost on the Allen campaign (or the many others I have donated to after high visibility vote, or pledging to Obama), that their contributions increase the next (or same) day.
I finally feel like I really do have some say, I have a voice, I can influence (even to a small degree) what happens in November. Living in a perpetually blue state is great, but you always know what the outcome will be. But being able to have a say in races across the country is envigorating and empowering.
I don't know why it is striking me so strongly today, perhaps it's because I finally feel the momentum that has been building toward locking in the nomination for Obama is too strong to stop, or maybe the diary about Tom Allen declaring his support for Obama, or Granny Docs' diary talking about why Obama is the right candidate for us (fantastic diary, btw).
Power can be positive, when it is used to promote people and policies that are good not just for the folks in one state or country, but will have long reaching impact on the greater population and other countries.
We will never all agree (I do know that), but maybe we are getting closer to a center point where hunger, poverty, energy and the environment will outshine religion and the core social arguments of abortion and gay rights....
The election of Don Cazayoux in LA is a great example of this. He is anti-abortion, but will not have a focus on it, instead it will be the bread and butter issues facing his district where he will spend his time.
My hope is that this is the future of politics, or at least sign of a strong shift, and my "voice" is going to be a part of it.