Over the last few months I have received several calls from The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee soliciting contributions. On each occasion, I said unless I saw more tangible evidence that Democrats were willing to use their majority, it seemed pointless for me to continue to contribute to them. And of course I would emphasize the need for a public option in any healthcare reform as a prerequisite to any further contributions. Having seen a few diaries on this subject, I know I am not alone. Perhaps our voices have had some effect, or perhaps the outcome would have been the same regardless. In either case, I don't think it hurts to make our feelings known. But if the Democrats in the Senate come through, as it now looks like they may, I feel I should also come through.
Corporations and their lobbyists have been masters of the art of political influence for as long as anyone can remember. They spread their money and their perks around with a skill and precision gained from decades of gaming the system. I hope we can be a counterbalance to the lobbying climate in Washington, an overwhelming grassroots approach that makes up for in numbers what it might lack in individual wealth. We had this level of enthusiasm and participation during the election, but it may be even of more importance when applied to issue advocacy.
I remember when Lieberman was able to retain his chairmanship, how the progresssive left was labeled irrelevant. We would have to take the crumbs that were tossed our way, but defer to the more conservative of our brethren on matters of real importance. I think current events prove otherwise. The fight for the public option is not yet over, but were it not for the voice of progressives it certainly would have been over some time ago. Had this fight taken place several years ago, without netroots or the blogosphere, I don't think we would have had a chance, but now we have victory within our reach.
We seem to have found our legs during this debate, in the realm of policy making. Now we need to continue to enhance our abilities. In particular, while we continue to develop our skills as issue advocates, we need to refine our methods where it comes to the power of the purse, our purse that is. During the campaign, we were very effective in directing funds to particular candidates. What kind of effect would it have if politicians understood we could be equally effective in the arena of fundraising for issue advocacy?
I know the fight is not over, and I'll be following events closely, but if the Senate passes a Healthcare bill with a public option and no trigger, I am inclined to make a phone call to the DSCC, and make a contribution in honor of the occasion, with an understanding of just how important a progressive agenda is to me. I wonder if a more organized effort is called for.