Write? Call? Email your Senators, Representatives? NO.

[rateyes]

FUCK THAT!! Been there. Done that. Doesn't work.

Wake up, America! The country is governed by the corporate class. THEY ARE NOT THE LEAST BIT INTERESTED IN PASSING ANY KIND OF LEGISLATION TO HELP THE WORKING CLASS.

If you haven't noticed, there is a class war going on in this country, and the working class is getting the shit beat out it because WE KEEP ELECTING MEMBERS OF THE FUCKING CORPORATE CLASS.

We are sleeping with the enemy, and we're going to get our throats slit. There's a reason they are called "politicians." They know how to play the game of politics. They keep patting us on the back with one hand as a distraction to the fact that they are getting ready to stab us in the back with the other.

As long as the Democratic leadership thinks that the progressives and liberals have no other alternative than to keep voting for them, they will keep taking progressives and liberals for granted. They will continue to "run to the left," and "govern from the right."

Well, there is an alternative. And, I'm going to choose it. I will not let the Democratic Party take my vote for granted for one more goddammed second.

So, if it makes you feel better to write, call and email your Senators and Representatives in the naive belief that you are "fighting the good fight" and "making a difference" then go right ahead.

I've wasted too much time doing that. Our corporate class political leaders only pretend to care about us. Yes, they'll eventually get back to returning your letter, or your email. Their "staffers" on the phone will keep spouting the same tripe, trying to reassure you that their bosses really do care about you. They don't. They never have. And, they never will.

We're in a class war. And, we're losing.

[PBS Poll-435]

1. And your solution is what?

[rateyes]

2. ...

http://images.google.com/url?source=imgres&ct=img&q=&usg=AFQjCNGzUO06pQwQCLT4M1ZnTFFuJAxr2A

[hootinholler]

22. Well

I was expecting Kazinski's cabin

-Hoot

[elocs]

5. DU rants are not required to have a solution. Never have been.

That's why they are rants of frustration and betrayal.

[liberalmuse]

6. Grassroots revolution. n/t

[rateyes]

8. Click on the link in my reply to that question.

Basically, that's the answer I gave.

[BunkerHill24]

10. You know that politicians are magnet for polls, right?

It's a no brainer that Democrats know the latest polls indicate that there is a shift on those who appose the current HCR bill, and they are aware the base is pissed off.

So, what the OP is saying is that frequent letter-writing and calling means shit, and waste of time.

[IndianaGreen]

12. In my case. run Evan Bayh over with a bulldozer. Several times over!

Bayh voted against the importation of cheap drugs because he owns stock in Big Pharma. Bayh opposed single payer and a strong public option because his whore of a wife sits on the board of WellPoint.

[PBS Poll-435]

14. He was but just one vote on those amendments that failed by a pretty substantial margin

And isn't re-importation a regulatory matter rather than a legislative one?

DEA/FDA?

[IndianaGreen]

15. He is up for reelection in 2010

He won't get my vote, and I am not alone!

[PBS Poll-435]

16. Why not attempt to primary him?

Isn't it better to have a 60% Dem than a 100% Republican?

Indiana isn't exactly the most "progressive" state.

[IndianaGreen]

19. He has a challenger in primary

I posted about it in Indiana forum:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=151x7213

Politicians must earn our votes. If they don't, we owe it to ourselves to deny them our votes. There are other candidates running for other offices on the ballot.

[roguevalley]

25. it always ends up in violence. It happened before. It will happen again.

I am sorry to say.

[firedupdem]

'Well, there is an alternative. And, I'm going to choose it.'

Hope that works out well for you.

[rateyes]

9. Can't work out any worse than what I've been doing. nt

[liberalmuse]

3. Oh shit yeah I've done that.

And done that. And done that. I even emailed my Senators yesterday letting them know how I felt about this fucking HRC coming out of the Senate. They have nothing to do with this atrocity, thankfully, but I let them know. The truth is, once you move to DC and start playing the stupid, jaded power games, you all of a sudden truly believe you know what is better for 'the little people' than they do. It's not about fighting for us anymore. It's about keeping your new, very powerful connections happy, and the corporate oligarchy sated. The thing that makes me want to puke right now is that if I were to go out and protest (AGAIN), it would be sort of parallel with those inbred nutsuckers in some sick way.

[Jamastiene]

4. I wrote a message to Larry Kissell that I agreed with him for

voting for including gay people in the hate crimes legislation. I got a message back that stated, "Although you do not agree with my vote..."

His staff didn't even read it apparently. I got a form mail as if I was opposed to his vote for gay rights, when, in fact, I was happy to have a representative who did vote for gay rights.

I'm still glad he did vote for my rights, but disappointed I received a letter that did not match my support of him on that vote.

:(

[rateyes]

7. That's happened to me, as well.

Damned Blue Dog is the guy that DOESN'T represent me in the Congress. Just says he does.

[LooseWilly]

11. Some few Senators and Representatives have shown themselves to be sympathetic to the working class.

That said... you have a good point.

Don't let them take progressive/liberal votes for granted. If yours does, then vote for someone else. Vote third party if it comes to that. If it comes to naught, then maybe the next candidate will think to "embrace" the progressive/liberal values/policy positions. Or, maybe some third parties will blossom and provide a real alternative.

I wouldn't advise walking away from those few that do actually stand up for progressive/liberal positions, however. Better to reward those few, and work to penalize those who refuse to acknowledge those values.

A fight, a struggle, for progressive/liberal values may well involve some bruising... some "beatings" even. Asking the "establishment" nicely, however, isn't a fight... it's a plea. Corporations have more money to "plead" with though... it's a losing proposition as I see it.

[rateyes]

13. Yep. I'll work for progressives---true progressives who ACT rather than just talk...

even if they are from another state than mine. But, my Blue Dog Rep lost my vote last November, and Mr. Obama is on his way to losing mine in 2012.

[LooseWilly]

17. I'm right there with you then...

:)

On all counts (though I have a Progressive Caucus Member Congresswoman, and a progressive Senator to vote for this year... when Feinstein comes back up... I might have to vote for Cthulu...)

[cliffordu]

18. The first rule of fight club is that you do not talk about fight club.

[rateyes]

20. What's the second rule?

[guardian]

21. I called & emailed today. n/t

[rhett o rick]

23. We need a leader for a movement. Sen Sanders or Gov Dean. nt

[mzmolly]

24. Why does Lieberman = the Democratic Party?

eom