Netroots' Power

Recently, I have seen a lot of discourse on this blog about how the Democratic Party today has no spine.  From not taking a strong enough stand on Alito and Roberts, to letting Bush jump all over then on national security for the past three years, I agree that the Democratic Party is in serious need of an ass kicking.

But what worries me is that many people on DailyKos, and around the blogosphere, seem intent on simply giving up on the party.  Diaries abound calling for the boycott of donations to the DSCC and DCCC, primary challengers for Democrats who may stray on one or two votes (I think I've even read a few posts calling for a primary challenger for Obama in 2010), or even defections to third parties.  As well intentioned as these calls may seem to be it's not going to move the Democratic Party in the direction we want it to move.

I agree, my party disappoints me sometimes and it is far FAR from perfect.  But to abandon it, to give up on it, to claim that the battle to change it can never be won, is something I can not do.  If we truly wish to see the Democratic Party we all wish to see, we must work for candidates, give to candidates, and unite even with those we disagree with, for the betterment of our country.  

When corporations, saw the Republicans as the party of fiscal conservatism, did they say, "This party is to intent with paying down the debt and too focused on responsible spending"?  Of course they didn't!  They knew the Republican Party was weak, a sucker for a dollar, and they exploited it.  They gave till it hurt, and turned the party of Eisenhower and Rockefeller, into the party of DeLay and Bush, and molded it into the party of corporate handouts it is today.

When the Religious Right saw the Republicans as secular in the 1960s and 70s did they say "These guys will never listen to our ideas"?  No!  They too saw the GOP's weakness for money and their desire for more power and turned their message into a hate filled sermon, igniting a culture was within the country, all to give them more control.

But while Republicans were bought out in the desire for more power, the Democrats have a desire for change.  But like the Republicans, they too are politicians and can be bought just as easily.  The question is, by whom?  If we continue to say "They are no good, give up on them"  the Wal-Marts and Microsofts of the world, will continue to pour money into the Democratic Party and do to them today what they did to the Republicans 30 years ago.  But, if we show our party our strength, our determination, and our ideas, they will be forced to listen to us.  They will be forced to embrace our ideas, and we will finally see the change in the Democratic Party, we wish to see.

I come from a wealthy background, and am not yet even old enough to vote, so I dare not pretend to understand your frustration with our party.  However, I urge all who listen to remember that this fight is too important to give up on.  This battle is not just for our party, but for our country, because if the Democratic Party, that last legitimate party that stands between the Republicans and complete rule, is allowed to become corrupted, all our hopes, wishes, and dreams for a better America will be lost.

As much as we desire to be the change we wish to see in the world, we must be the change we wish to see in our party, first.