Help me. I have a good idea (I think). I want feedback, suggestions and more ideas.
I'm in Knoxville, TN. In the Senate, we have Bob Corker & Lamar Alexander. My Congress-critter is John Duncan, one of the 2 Republicans who are so conservative that they voted against the Iraq war. It's worse than being unrepresented. My legislators work against the interests of their people.
What to do, what to do? They are intransigent. But wait... there are ways for red state blues to be heard in Congress. Lets put our heads together.
I need constructive help. Please don't use this diary to trash TN or other red states. We've heard it all before. We have plenty of good people and we are ready to roll.
I was feeling so useless. I talk to people about HCR, but they mostly agree with me already (except my landlady who no longer seems to be speaking to me). People who worked for Congress-critters have said they filter out mail that doesn't come from their constituents... they never even see it-- correct me if I'm wrong on that one. There are a few town halls in other parts of the state, but I want to do something that matters here and I want our voices to be heard.
It's been hard to sleep lately. I keep telling myself, "No Google news after 9 pm." Yeah, right. Well, last night the GOP induced insomnia finally paid off. Right at bedtime I came across their latest: a 'Bill of Rights for Seniors'. Basically Repugs are resurrecting the 'Contract on America' concept by bundling selected fabrications into a convenient package targeted at seniors. Parties Trade Volleys On Health-Care Reform.
It's classic... since Medicare won't change much, on the surface it looks like seniors have nothing much to gain with HCR. Hammer home that HCR will dismantle everything they have. Repugs can be very effective without actually convincing people that they are right. We wonder how anybody can believe GOP lies. We miss the point... the GOP works by muddying the water. People don't have to believe their lies if they can raise doubts about what we are doing. They don't care if anybody believes there are death panels.
Toss & turn, toss & turn, Doh! \bops self on head... How about going out & talking to seniors? I mean 2 or 3 people going to senior centers, assisted living facilities, etc, and meeting together in small groups. The GOP thoughtfully provided the talking points (Protecting Our Seniors--GOP Principles for Health Care). It's perfect... we don't want any of the things they say they don't want. We are starting on common ground.
Here are a couple of things I like about this approach. First, media generated fears and anger can melt down to proportion in the face of another human being. Second, people who support us may work with us. Our legislators won't listen to us, but AARP listens to its members. It's one way we can reach around them critters & send a message to the rest of the legislators. Don't blow off such organizations because you don't like their agendas:
(1) It doesn't have to be all or nothing. If we can get their support on any particular point, we have that much more than we otherwise would have had.
(2) The Glen Beck experience shows that corporations and institutions respond to concentrated efforts.
So this morning I called the county Dem HQ. One person I talked to liked the idea. The other, not so much. Someone else is supposed to call later this evening. We'll see how it goes.
I wish I'd gotten more involved with local Dems. What I want to do should be easy to organize, but I'm just someone who nobody would remember from last year's phone banks.
So how do I do it?
Is it worthwhile?
What other groups can we talk to this way?
I like the idea of senior centers because we are going to them. They don't have to come to us.
Do you have some other ideas for red state blues? I'm all ears
UPDATE:
Bob Corker is having a Town Hall meeting in Wartburg on Sept 1
I kid you not
UPDATE 2:
He'll be in Loudon on the 2nd