In November, when candidate Obama received 69+ million votes and a 2-to-1 Electoral College vote landslide, he had been flanked nonstop by posters, banners and placards with his message of "CHANGE."
I listened to his speeches.
I listened to his words.
He has held up his side of the bargain.
Those who have not fulfilled their end of the deal are the American people.
The health care reform debate has sparked a new level of activism for many people. I believe this is because it has directly and/or indirectly affected nearly everyone in the country over recent years.
The obstacles are huge; big insurance is spending $1.4 Million/per day (IIRC) to defeat the reform efforts. The only way we can get real reform is as a result of a new level of activism.
I caught an ad on MSNBC today just after the surprise appearance by Obama at the press briefing. The ad claims that taxes might be added to "refreshing drinks" like juice and soda to pay for health care reform. Although some might point out that this type of tax is regressive, I would favor such action. One of the major reasons we have obesity/diabetes problems in this country is this type of addictive and unnecessary product. (FWIW, I think the ad makes a dubious claim that this tax is likely to be a big part of the funding as the main new tax debate I've heard is about the new "surtax" on millionaires.)
This is simply one example of the myriad weapons of mass distraction being used by the powers that be to delude the public and embolden the racists and other wingnut dead-enders who want to defeat Obama even if it hurts their own self-interest (as ably documented by Thomas Frank).
We are lucky to have a number of brilliant (and active) activists on this site to inspire us. Daily action diaries by slinkerwink and nyceve have prompted me with the names and numbers of who needs to be contacted on any given day. When I have called, usually the staffer on the other line seems thrilled to be hearing from our side. This was especially true when I called Jay Inslee (D-WA) for whom I had actually canvassed and helped him win his first trip to Congress in 2000.
At his health care town hall in Ohio yesterday, when President Obama was asked by a 17-year-old what he (the boy) can do to help advance the reform effort, Obama's answer was clear.
Pick up the phone.
Write letters.
Get in touch with your representatives in Washington.
He also added that they are already hearing from the other side.
The status quo persists in part due to a kind of politcal Newton's First Law. The key to that phrase is the latter half:
An object in motion will stay in motion until acted on by another opposing force.
The powers that be have done well since Reagan's days. They have skillfully manipulated the media to sucker us into a quagmire (or two) in Asia. They have allowed the super-rich to further encrust themselves in golden sacks. Global warming deniers are not ridiculed like those who would also claim that the sun revolves around the Earth.
But the election last year sent a clear message: People are weary of the way things have been going.
What needs to happen now is the rest of the job.
We need to finish what we started.
We need to change.
The bad news is plentiful; change is hard. Most people resist it at all costs.
The good news is that people voted for change.
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Instead of (or in addition to) writing a comment about this diary, why not take this opportunity to call a politician to give voice to the change you want to see today. Perhaps you don't want your children to suffer severe consequences of climate change? Maybe you are tired of credit card companies acting like sharks who sneak up and attack every chance they get?
Or perhaps you, too, would like to see health care reform?
Maybe clicking on the link below that says, "Quit Whining" would help. But unless you have done something to enact change in your world, the advice in that ad should be taken to heart.