I realize that my impact on the politics of this country is nil. I realize that my influence on the debates we are engaged in, even within the navel-gazing context of those who read the entries on this web site and the Kossak community is similarly nonexistent.
But this site is all about ranting, and I don't want to step back without one final howl at the sad, sad state of our country.
So here goes:
My contribution to our politics and discourse has been insignificant. I have volunteered in GOTV and other efforts in support of the Democratic candidates for the last four election cycles, and there was an expectation after the last election that this had actually made some difference.
For the last two years, I had a lot to forgive, and have been willing to do so. But no more.
The Obama administration and Justice Department has finally violated too many promises and standards. The weak-kneed Congressional Democrats have finally caved on too many principles. Biden asked us to "consider the alternative." I am finally at the stage of asking, alternative to what?
Certainly, the Republicans are going to damage this country even more than they already have in their blind service to blind moneyed interests. In a country where the legal constructs called corporations have more legal rights and protections than do living, breathing human beings, what else can we expect? In a country where money literally talks, where wealth means power to destroy lives and power means immunity from consequences, what can a mere person like me do?
For there are others out there, who do make sense and can have their voices heard. Others who speak sense and truth in forums that reach millions, and as far as we can tell, have as little real impact as a nonentity like me.
All of that I could live with. I can accept that my role is small. I cannot accept that my actions and service on behalf of the Democratic Party have been betrayed. So I will no longer volunteer for the Democratic Party, an action which will have absolutely no impact on the political process or the outcome of these elections.
There have been many betrayals by the Obama Administration and the Democrats. The final straw, leading to this screed and this despair was the decision that as long as you have been powerful, you are above the law.
This is something that I have feared for years. That the reason Congressional Democrats did not stand up to the criminals in the Bush Administration was that they wanted to use the extralegal methods of the Bushies for themselves when they were in office. The reason that Obama did not want to prosecute their crimes was in the (misplaced) expectation he and his would be protected from prosecution in their turn. That above the differences in policy of the parties was the one unifying quality: love of power.
And now my fears have received their final validation. The Obama teams and Justice Department have stated that power counts more than law; that status as a political official puts those in the inner circles, the power class, above the laws that we insignificant citizens must obey.
So that's it. I know that stepping back from my two hours a week of working the phones will have even less meaning than writing these self-obsessed diatribes. But there has to be a limit.
There should have been an alternative. There should have been some choice between the power-hungry Republicans and the power-hungry Democrats. Unfortunately, the only choice we got was more dupes being used by corporate agents as shills for the agenda of destroying the middle class.
All of you out there, fighting the good fight. Good luck. Best wishes and more power (ahem) to you. You'll have to go on without me, as if you'll notice. All my fears for this country and it's citizens grow stronger and closer every day, and no one's doing a thing about it.
Including me.