OK, so what if Obama and the Democrats decide to bow to Insurance and Pharma Corporations and fail to include a public option? What do we (progressive activists) do?
I'm sure this is a question that most people here are pondering.
It's an important question and I think this fight over true healthcare reform should be a real "line in the sand" so to speak for us. After all, the Democratic Party, the party that we have worked tirelessly for, the party that now has a filibuster proof majority in the Senate, a majority in the house and controls the Whitehouse, no longer has any excuse to bow to CORP interests or the opposition party. If they decide to turn their back on their supporters, nay, the American people in general, I for one feel that it is time we, as a movement, re-evaluate who we should be working for and supporting. If the Democratic Party cannot deliver on a public option now, with total control over the legislative and executive branches of government as well as 72% support from the general public, then we have to ask in all honesty, is this the party that truly deserves our time, money and effort?
The Democratic Party, as personified by Barak Obama, promised us in the last election that if we work hard, give our hard earned money to them, and vote for them, we would see real change in Washington and real accountability in government and the private sector. So far we have seen:
- Tax payer money used to bail out the very financial institutions that caused the biggest recession since the great depression.
- No accountability for the past administrations crimes against the Geneva conventions as well as the US Constitution.
- Continued secrecy from the executive branch and suppression of evidence pertaining to the crimes mentioned above.
- Financial reform legislation, which does little to remedy to systemic problems inherent in the current corrupt system
- A seeming willingness to ignore public opinion and persue meaningless alteratives to a public option in order to appease their finacial backers in the Insurance and Pharma. industries.
These are the realities and we must face them with honesty and conviction.
Now, I understand the argument, (and have made it in the past) that working from within the party is the most effective way of creating a true progressive party. I still find this argument reasonable, but am feeling quite frustrated given the fact that there are so many Democrats that we have supported here that are all to willing to take our money and time yet are unwilling to support or work for our aims. At some point one has to ask, "Am I being played for a foul?"
The third party route, however, would take some time to bear fruit and in the mean time, could divide the progressive movement and give conservatives a temporary boon which could lead to their taking power once again which would be disastrous to the country as a whole.
So, what are our options if the Democratic Party cannot deliver on true healthcare reform?
Do we:
- Look seriously at supporting third party (namely Greens) candidates and throw our full support behind them given that they are aligned with our political philosophy? This option could be effective over time, but it must be done strategically, meaning done in a manner that does not give the conservatives any advantage.
- Resolve to rid the Democratic party of so called "DINOs" by creating and supporting primary challenges to these DINOs. This too must be done in a manner that does not give conservatives an advantage. It also has limited effectiveness for even though this strategy could affect the Democratic primary, it does not always yield desired results in the General election (example: 2006 Primary against Lieberman).
- Create a third, true progressive party and find it's leaders/candidates from within our ranks. This option, again, would take time to begin to effect real change, however, it could produce candidates that are true progressive and not subservient to CORP interests or free market fundamentalist ideology that pervade the 2 major parties.
These are the three options that come to my mind. There could very well be others and I'm all ears for anyone else’s suggestions.
One thing is clear, right now the progressive movement is without a major political party and for real Democracy and reform, this country needs one more then ever.
What ever we do, we will have to be more organized and committed then ever.