A Letter to American Voters
Dear Voters,
The 2014 midterm Congressional elections will be the most
critical of this century. The outcome will determine the direction of the
country – moderate left or extreme right, that’s the choice.
It shouldn’t be. But
since the Tea Party insinuated themselves into the Republican Party, the GOP
has been dragged further and further to the right, so much so that most of them
would need a telescope to see moderate right, centrist or bipartisan positions
which have become hopelessly isolated on their political map.
The Tea Party’s political provenance and motivations are
discussed at length by everyone ranging from political scientists, historians
and pundits to voters caught up in the maelstrom that is the Tea Party’s surge to
political and media prominence.
It may be summarised as follows: Tea Party proponents see the
USA as the wealthiest and most powerful country on the planet and it is their
objective to ensure that this perception is strengthened at every turn.
As with all such summaries, it’s superficial – there are much
deeper and more complex reasons motivating them. However, for all its superficiality,
it’s accurate enough – wealth and power are at the top of their agenda. What’s
more, they are supported and funded by the corporate wealthy and powerful – to the
tune of multi-billions of dollars.
Consider for a moment this as a possible future: a Tea Party
majority in both chambers of Congress.
Worse-case scenario: legislation passed to repeal social
security, Medicare, Medicaid and all affordable health care; environmental
legislation relaxed to the point of impotency; a major boost in Defense
spending; no tax for the top 4-5% of income earners and increased taxes on the
lowest 60%, just to name a few.
Best-case scenario: you’re just imaging this for the moment;
it isn’t reality in the present day.
Ok, now you’ve had time to consider this, what will you do to
prevent it ever happening? I’ve been considering this over the past four weeks
or so and come up with the following: brainstorm, get creative and get active!
First, of course, is to commit to turning up at the polling
booth and voting. That’s one vote. Now, because there has to be as many votes as
possible, how do we accrue more? There’s a trend in American politics for
voters of the party of the current President not to bother too much with
midterm voting. It’s a trend that has to be bucked in 2014.
“Boots on the ground” is a phrase I’ve seen often but it
needs to be teased out into specifics. There has to be an action plan –
actually, there has to be multiple action plans – and it shouldn’t be left entirely
in the hands of the same few campaigners. Groundswell is all very well but a
tidal wave is better.
1. Get a working action group together. Talk to friends and
colleagues. Is there a college nearby with a Young Democrats group? Are there
volunteer groups (who readily understand the plight of the impoverished),
community groups, knitting circles, book clubs? Don’t limit your thinking and
don’t stop until you have your group.
2. Survey your area. I suggest something like this:
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The next part of the survey will require your group members
to be deputized to register voters and have registration forms on hand.
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Part C is
all about how to get prospective voters to the polling booth:
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How group members handle the fourth question will depend very
much on state law governing early voting and postal votes. Some allow for ‘no
excuse’ voting on one or both of these, some don’t.
The last part of the survey is aimed at giving them a reason
to vote Democrat.
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3. Recruit others along the way if there’s an opening to do
so.
4. Get your group together to brainstorm solutions for those
prospective voters who may have difficulty getting to the polling booth on the
day. For example; organize volunteer babysitters, bus/car transport with
book-in sheets etc (organizing a bus with signs on either side that read “Voting
for a fairer America” would be a nice touch!).
5. Stay in contact with prospective voters in a hands-on way,
particularly those who need assistance of some kind. Get them registered for
affordable health care, get on the babysitting bandwagon in advance, help out
with other tasks like shopping etc. Don’t lecture, teach or argue but do engage
them some casual political discussion.
6. If possible, locate a film crew – amateur, volunteer,
whatever. Invite them to film your group’s activities, especially those in
which they are helping prospective voters. Offer these short documentaries to
local, state and national media. It’s another very effective way of campaigning
when you’re showing a positive image of the Democrat party working at a local
level.
7. Stay in touch with your local Democrat campaign office so
they can help you help others.
8. Stay within the law no matter what!
9. Be kind, be generous, be the most positive and
compassionate face of the party that you can be.
10. Enjoy the experience! It’s a great thing you’ll be doing
but don’t let it be too serious – let a lot of laughter in!
So there it is: my outline for an action plan. Should you
want to use any part of this, please go right ahead!
As I said at the beginning: these are the most critical midterm
elections of this century so mark the occasion with a record high turn-out of
Democrat voters!