In the shadow of this week's disastrous electoral debacle, it is far too easy for progressives to assemble a circular firing squad. We are absolutely wrought with the shame, humiliation, and grief accompanying the premature obituaries of our own demise. However, to engage in the self-immolation that many have been advancing even before the polls closed in Massachusetts will only embolden the idiots and the idiocy of the prevailing victors. Therefore, it is critically important for us to redouble our efforts to press forward with the agenda that has led us to the point where we were prior to Tuesday's events.
It has been clear for some time now that the only guiding objective of the opposition to that agenda has been to prevent it from becoming reality. To that extent, they have been successful. Unfortunately, there are those among us who are now questioning whether or not the ultimate goals are sound when in actuality what should be questioned are the tactics used to achieve them.
The people are angry and the people have spoken, that is what democracy is all about. We must accept that. Regardless what the polling data may or may not suggest, I would offer that instinctually folks are fed up with the inability of the powers that control the governmental machinery, which is us, to facilitate constructive progress on the agenda we promised. The enemy has become us.
Once again, we can spend an inordinate amount of time casting blame about whom or what caused this inaction but the people really don't care about that. They care about results and quite frankly we have not delivered. They want jobs; we want jobs, deliver jobs. They want health care reform that is cost sensitive, removes the barriers and impediments to coverage, and ensures a high degree of quality, so do we, deliver it. They want to be confident that the nation is on the right track, so do we, we must deliver the evidence to satisfy that confidence. They want an environment that is clean and sustainable, so do we, we must deliver.
What made the election of Barack Obama so exciting and revolutionary is that after a sustained period of stasis, the American people were enthralled with the prospect of a renewed vibrancy that would propel us back to a level of greatness and respect that we had grown accustomed to from our early childhoods. And to some in the younger demographic categories it was a return to the greatness they had only read or heard about. But there was a strong belief that we could once again regain the mantle of leadership on moral and ethical issues that has eluded us for some time. And that is still the goal, that is still the dream, that is still the desire of those who are not mired in the anti-intellectualism of a lunatic fringe whose only objective is to thwart progress.
Therefore, despair not progressives, but recommit to the notion that in fact we can help build a better society and a better world by adhering to the common goals of the vast majority of people who cast their lot for that agenda just a little over a year ago. And let politicians of whatever political stripe who stand in the way of that goal suffer the consequences of defeat. It is too late for Massachusetts, but let us not allow the infection that follows the fever of impatience and anxiety spread.
And let this be a warning to our elected leaders that it is not the dream that died but rather the faith that they would be able to make it come true that took a beating this week. So get to work and deliver lest you also suffer a similar fate soon.
It is often said that what is missing in the drippy, wimpy, compassionate agenda of the progressive movement is not a lack of conviction but a lack of strength. It is now time to exhibit strength and resolve that has been unparalleled in our time. We have the right message, we have the right prescriptions, and we have what the people want and demand, now we must devise the right tactics to get the country on the right track. And not only will we be better off for it, but there will be political rewards as well.
Currently there are relatively little political costs incurred for obstruction because an angry populace does not realize any benefits from inaction. Until we change the calculus so that the angry and anxious exact a penalty for obstruction and reap the benefits from concrete actions, results like those in Massachusetts will multiply and eventually the dream will die. But we cannot allow that to happen. Right now it hurts but there is no time to lick our wounds. We must carry forth because we know it is right.
Follow Lance Simmens on Twitter: www.twitter.com/lancesimmens
The Mass election was lost because of a local issue- nobody cared for the Dem candidate, and didn't want to take the chance she'd be enshrined in there for life. It's a special election, and unless (until?) Brownie gets caught in a scandal, he'll be out in 2012 anyhow.
Brown "seemed" to have a position. Few knew what his positions were but he held up a light and the people followed him like moths to the candle. Obama was a leader during the election and got the moths to his light. Then he blew out the candle and they went elsewhere.
Leadship should be what takes place AFTER an election as well as DURING.
Progressives have precisely two voices in congress. We're hardly the ones calling the shots. We were kicked to the curb 30 years ago and haven't been able to do more than sit on the sidelines and say "We told you so" for a generation.
It sucks but at least we're right.
Dude, the Massachusetts result is due to an angry population sending a clear message: Either fight corporate interests with our support or surrender without it.
I highly encourage the dissatisfied to leave for greener pastures, to start your own tea party. Ultimately (once the dust settles and a new equilibrium forms), it will be a win-win solution for both of our factions and the country.
That was your first mistake. You should've picked up on that during the whole NAFTA-Canada fiasco during the primaries. It was all smoke and mirrors.
And, rhetoric such as 'corporatism' will not get votes.
It seems to me that working toward a political movement that focuses on REFORMING the political system in this nation i.e. getting money out of the federal election system is more valuable than working for a Party that has power but CANNOT govern.
"I would offer that instinctually folks are fed up with the inability of the powers that control the governmental machinery, which is us, to facilitate constructive progress on the agenda we promised."
What constructive progress do you believe that Americans signed off on? I remember Obama's election speaches well. "Change" with no specifics. It was one of the major critiques of Obama, as he seemed to sway with the wind, but he would "change" things. I do not believe he would have been elected if the specifics of his "changes" had been known. The author assumes Obama had a mandate for his left turn. He didn't. He got a buy to try something different than Bush, similiar to Reagan and the nation's disgust with Carter. The only difference was Reagan spelled out what he wanted to do, and all Obama sold was "change". I don't see radical changes in health care, taking over banks and auto companies and other things Obama has done or tried to do part of this "change" mandate. The author is well off base if he assumes anything different.
In the meantime I am going to enjoy watching these incompetents deal with their impotence. With their ____ in hand, they look around asking why it don't work.
This White House is surprise and frustrated that the progressives stood up to them. We are not done fellas.
Ah, but you pointedly, and correctly, left out " we have the right people".
What progressives should, and DO blame themselves for is buying into the promises of democratic candidates- Obama included.
Demo's love to use progressives if it gets them elected, but the shallow convictions of the Democratic party is, by now, historic.
You offer yet another Lucy and the football exercise.
Dig your icon.
:)