Robert Reich Must Read: What Can I Do?

[flpoljunkie]

THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2009

"What Can I Do?"

Someone recently approached me at the cheese counter of a local supermarket, asking "what can I do?" At first I thought the person was seeking advice about a choice of cheese. But I soon realized the question was larger than that. It was: what can I do about the way things are going in Washington?

People who voted for Barack Obama tend to fall into one of two camps: Trusters, who believe he's a good man with the right values and he's doing everything he can; and cynics, who have become disillusioned with his bailouts of Wall Street, flimsy proposals for taming the Street, willingness to give away 85 percent of cap-and-trade pollution permits, seeming reversals on eavesdropping and torture, and squishiness on a public option for health care.

In my view, both positions are wrong. A new president -- even one as talented and well-motivated as Obama -- can't get a thing done in Washington unless the public is actively behind him. As FDR said in the reelection campaign of 1936 when a lady insisted that if she were to vote for him he must commit to a long list of objectives, "Maam, I want to do those things, but you must make me."

We must make Obama do the right things. Email, write, and phone the White House. Do the same with your members of Congress. Round up others to do so. Also: Find friends and family members in red states who agree with you, and get them fired up to do the same. For example, if you happen to have a good friend or family member in Montana, you might ask him or her to write Max Baucus and tell him they want a public option included in any healthcare bill.

http://robertreich.blogspot.com/2009/06/what-can-i-do.h...

[rocktivity]

1. Every American politician must decide where his first loyalty lies

With the people who supported him with the most votes, or with the people who supported him with the most money.


rocktivity

[rurallib]

5. I live in Grassley's state - he long ago chose the money

I call anyway jus t for meanness.
OTOH we also have TOM HARKIN!

[jmondine]

11. They will only side with money if they believe it has the power to get them votes

We must prove them wrong by increasing the number of well-informed citizens who do not vote based on who has the best T.V. commercials.

[Gman]

2. Reich is correct. We on the left created the best grassroots election machine

using technology this country has ever seen. I'm noticing that, as always happens after even the best run election, people have gone back to their own worlds and not wanting to do the second part of the job which is pressuring the people we put into office. I'm not talking about the average DU'er. I'm talking our friends and neighbors across the backyard fence. People who were never very concerned about politics until last year. Those are the people that need to start making their voices heard too.

[abluelady]

4. Have There Been Others?

It seems to me, other than the Viet Nam protests, nothing, we on the left, do gets much attention. It is very depressing to me to see that the only thing that seems to make a difference is big bucks.

[Gman]

7. The things that were protested during the Vietnam era

went absolutely against the culture at the time. That culture was defined by the WWII generation with blind allegiance to the government and a desire to maintain all the social mores that prevailed for the previous 200 years. Elvis caused outrage with gyrating hips. Blacks caused great upheaval for marching the the streets. Same with the war protestors then. This kind of upheaval is what needs to happen now to get health care reform, immigration reform, banking reform, prosecution of torture and other war crimes, and all of the other issues that need to be dealt with now.

[abluelady]

10. So You Think Now it Won't Go Against the Culture?

You must not live in the South! How I hope you are right and I am wrong.

[hlthe2b]

3. What MUST he read?

Sorry...I've been up half the night editing others work--it is reflexive. But, I will bookmark to read for later this pm...

[BonnieJW]

6. We must remind the dem holdouts

that big industry may give them huge campaign funds, but it's VOTES that win elections.

[ramapo]

8. Call and write

If we're not heard then there's no chance we'll be listened to. I've written my Senators a few times, plus the President, plus the DSCC. My congressman is a hopeless case but now and then I write anyway.

I've even sent emails to senators in other states but the out-of-state emails sometimes wind up in the virtual trash. I hope to get to all the Dems and even a few repubs in regards to health insurance.

The congress might still follow the money but the more pressure from voters, the better our chances.

After all, the government really does belong to us. We just all need to take responsibility for it.

[TomCADem]

9. Robert Reich Nails It - Trusters and Cynics - We Need Doers

I will add that on issues where the President agrees with us on an issue, such as a public option for healthcare, it is really important NOT to take it for granted that President Obama will get his way. Indeed, it is all the more reason to demonstrate, rally, and call members of Congress to get on board.

[Cha]

12. Robert Reich is right!

I hope all these posters who are blaming Obama for everything are writing letters to and calling their congress people, too..

That would nice.

[4lbs]

13. It would also be nice if the M$M also heavily covered any large gatherings.

Remember the many people who showed up a few days ago on the steps of Capitol Hill to protest and argue FOR a public option?

Hardly a mention by CNN or MSNBC. Forget Faux.

Yet, this Michael Jackson thing has them consumed 24/7, and pretty will be such into the weekend.