I am a person who lives paycheck to paycheck. More often than not, I am actually living beyond paycheck to paycheck. I have, like a lot of people, been able to squeak by because the local "payday loan" shop was able to give me some money to tide me over, albeit at skyhigh interest rates.
I haven't had a real vacation in 15 years. My vacation is usually a 3-day weekend spent with friends at their homes in California or New Mexico. If I am lucky, I am able to save enough change each year to celebrate my anniversary with my partner as someplace other than Outback Steakhouse.
Although money is always extremely tight, I found some money to contribute to Paul Hackett in his bid to become a Congressman from Ohio even though I live far away in Arizona.
Here's why:
My contribution was a scant $10.01 (with a $1.00 tip to ActBlue). It isn't much, but it is from the heart and it is all I have to spare right now. I wish it could be more.
Sure, I could have saved it for the coming weekend and treated myself to a movie or a couple of beers at a local watering hole or even a nice brunch on Sunday at Einstein's Bagels. After all, I live in Arizona, so why contribute to a campaign in Ohio?
Even though Mr. Hackett lives in Ohio, I contributed because this could be the lynchpin that breaks and starts Americans rethinking what this damnable one-party government has done to us. The arrogant Republicans with their sock puppet mentality in their zeal to follow Bush (read: Rove) have nearly bankrupted our coffers, lied to get us into a war so they could boast and brag about how big their penises are, and caused the deaths of 1700+ service personnel and untolled civilians.
If Mr. Hackett makes a strong showing or (I pray) wins this election on Tuesday, this could open the eyes of Americans that the demonized "Democrats and liberals" are not to be trusted. Just news that a Democrat won in a solidly Republican district is enough to sway people to think, "Gee, if the Republican voters in Ohio want a Democrat, why should I be afraid to vote for one?"
That leads to thinking and that leads to changes in opinion.
Here in Arizona, we are a red state with lots of Republicans who simply adore John Kyl, our senator who is up for re-election next year. But, there is talk that Kyl is going to have a fight on his hands for his seat if Jim Pederson, the former chair of the Arizona Democratic Party, enters the race.
Arizonans need a push to see that backing Pederson over Kyl will be good for Arizona. Pederson is no radical or reactionary. He is a solid candidate. However, Arizonans need something to give them the impetus to vote Democratic. Right now, so many of them are afraid because the Arizona Republican Party has frightened them into thinking that Democrats mean that they will have to give up their cars, share their homes with other families, work 7 days a week and give 75% of their income to the government and will cause the U.S. to become a shell of its former self.
Now more than ever, my state - Arizona - needs to be shown that Democrats are not the enemy. They are the loyal opposition and, given the chance, they can show that things in this nation can be better. Much better.
So, my goal was to help Mr. Hackett win District 2 in Ohio and go to Washington to show that Democrats are soldiers and fathers and concerned about America.
I hope my $10.01 helps Mr. Hackett. Again, I wish it could be more.
That being said, I do take solace in the fact that my $10.01 could be the final amount that pushes this race in Mr. Hackett's favor.
If that happens, then giving up a movie or a few beers or a Sunday bagel will be just fine.
I will have something much more wonderful to savor.