As we near November we are called to (rhetorical) arms. As good democrats, we must vote. As good Democrats, we must stand in solidarity with our brethren; setting aside our incessant internecine battles to defeat the truly egregious alternatives. And therein lies part of the problem. In fighting the "enemy" we sometimes forget to keep track of our "friends".
It is true that our winner-take-all system inevitably produces a two-party system. We are presently in the midst of a reshaping of the political landscape, evidenced by the descent of the Republicans in to the lunacy of the teabagger movement. This leaves only one sane alternative. But this is inherently bad for democracy.
This site's purpose is ostensibly not simply to advocate for Democrats, but also for better Democrats. To not only wrest power from a degenerate and wrong headed ideology, but to place it increasingly in the hands of those who would move America into a more just, more prosperous future. We all have our own ideas of precisely just how to do this most effectively (indeed, this is at the heart of nearly all of the recent meta-wars!). But that progress must be made, and at least the current crop of elected officials has been insufficient to the task, I believe is universally agreed upon. Without the qualifier "that can be done in this political environment", I don't believe I've seen anyone argue seriously that the stimulus was the best we could have, or that "healthcare" reform was the best we could have, or that the continued detention and torture of detainees was the best we could have, or that the finance "reform" was the best we could have, or that equality for our LGBT brothers and sisters has been advanced the best it could have been, or that the tragedies in Iraq and Afghanistan have been concluded as rapidly as possible. Thus, I believe we can also agree that influencing the kinds of Democrats we elect is imperative; President Obama needs the best, most liberal and progressive allies possible. Period.
Now, I'm simply not all that interested in bitching about Republicans. Doing so is like bitching about the dog peeing on the rug; you knew it was going to happen and yelling at the poor thing isn't going to stop it from happening again. That's life. In contrast, we can modify the behavior of Democrats. This is an important point. If you are for economic and social justice, if you are interested in helping your fellow man/woman, if you believe that government has a role to play in making sure everybody gets a shot at life and catches us when we fall, then talking to Republicans is shouting into the wind. But Democrats might just listen.
The problem is Republicans aren't the only problem. The current "discussions" surrounding how we should attempt to influence the current administration and Congressional Democrats reflect this in spades. It's hard not to be cynical while watching liberal proposals fall by the wayside in favor of rightwing nonsense at the behest of Democrats, for whatever reason. It's hard not to despair when we are told we are being strident when demanding that at least a passable effort be made to halt this trend. I find myself often thinking of Dr. King's words when faced with these reprobations:
I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to "order" than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: "I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action"; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a "more convenient season." Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.
--Martin Luther King, Jr.
Now the Republican party isn't the Klan (not quite, but nearly), and every political firestorm isn't the equivalent of the Civil Rights movement. But the essential point is the same. Our would-be allies just aren't getting it done. For whatever reason, they either aren't joining the battle or are actively undermining efforts to advance towards a more just country and just world. Being told to be more realistic or to wait for a more convenient time are not only unproductive, but counterproductive. So what to do?
Dr. King's solution was to create "tension" that forced the more moderate elements to face and address the injustices at hand. The same solution is as applicable to the problems we face today. And as the election approaches, the time to create tension is now. Now is the time our power is at its zenith. Now is the time we can extract promises and dish out retribution for failing to keep them. Now is the time we can demand something to vote for, even though we have everything to vote against. On November 3rd, our turn to be heard ends.
So, I ask those who would brook no dissent, those who demand we march in lockstep now, those who beat the partisan drums, and those who tell us to wait until "after", if not now, when?