Like many of you, I have been getting more and more disillusioned in the past 2 years
about President Obama and the Democratic party in general. By disillusioned I mean that I have realized that the Person I thought I voted for in 2008 was an illusion. Was this Obama's fault, Hardly. The bush years filled me with such deep despair that I, like many, needed that now famous campaign slogan..
HOPE!
HOPE that the days of the bought and paid for President were over.
HOPE that the days of Reaganite supply side bankrupt economics were over
HOPE that the Democratic party now had a articulate, Strong leader who would fight for progressive principles.
This hope I now realize was indeed a illusion
Many of you know the litany of progressive criticisms of Barack Obama:
Keeping Bush's economic team,
Keeping Bush's Defense team,
Selling us out on the public option and taxing worker health benefits,
Not restoring Habias Corpus,
Letting the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy stay in place..
on and on and on......
A few months ago I came to realization that I was fooled by a brilliant marketing campaign in 2008. This is a hard and humbling revelation. I like to think of myself as a pretty smart guy that doesn't get fooled easy. I was wrong. I projected what I wanted to see in a candidate on Barack Obama. I understand now he is not the image I projected nor did he really claim to be. I guess what I'm trying to say is my disappointment in Obama is my own fault.
Having realized this I also have come to the conclusion that I can no longer support him.
This is not a hasty decision and it brings me no joy in writing this. I understand full well that the Republicans are far worse. I fear that the Republicans will take control and screw up this country worse then it already is. I see now that this country is on a rapid decline and until a true Social Democratic alternative movement rises against both the Republican and Democratic parties, this country will remain on it's downward course.
I admit I don't know excactly what to do about this, I only know that I can no longer support the Democrartic party leadership and stay true the my convictions.
What to do now? I don't know. Join the Green Party? Join the Democratic Socialist party of America? Maybe. Those options look futile at the moment. But I guess I find myself in the not so unique position of being a Socialist without A organized party.
For the immediate future, I have decided to spend my time and Money to help Elizabeth Warren win the Senate seat in Mass in 2012. She looks like a true progressive who will earnestly fight for working people and speak truth to the corrupt oligarchs who now have tight control over both major political parties.
Who Knows, maybe she could become President in 2016.
Anyone else feel the same way? Any ideas for the big question:
What is to be done???
Thanks for listening.