Politics – Not for Idealists

This is what I refer to when I say that we are oft times our own worst enemy…

“It’s a scary thought: taking dollars away from the not-so-bad guys only helps the really bad guys on election day. Threatening the fiscal base of the Democratic Party is an important tactic.” ~ HuffPo Emma Ruby-Sachs

This is like playing a juggling game with a gas soaked rag and a flaming torch.

Look, I get it. Everyone who is passionate about their issue is myopic in focus. This causes a fixation on the attention or lack there-of perceived by those who live and breathe their particular issue everyday. Whether it is gay rights (as the full article above is discussing), victim’s rights, health care reform, funding for programs, the list is endless…and therein lies the problem.

It is impossible to address political issues and social change simultaneously. Literally impossible. And there is strategy and careful calculation that goes into addressing each one. Politics sucks! There is no other way to say it. It takes forever and the process is cumbersome and ugly. The saying that, “laws are like sausages, it’s better not to watch them being made” is an absolute truth!

Though we believe and hold an expectation that we should be represented and have our voices heard, it just isn’t that simple. In the years that I worked as a lobbyist for family and children, this process was beyond frustrating. With the external forces causing resistance at every turn it is a miracle that any legislation gets passed at all. The most powerful forces are the lobbyists and special interests who hold the real influence by way of financial leverage.

The costs of running for office, whether local or national, have hit such an all-time ridiculous high that 99.9% of candidates (unless you are an independently wealthy Alan Grayson) could never win elected office without pandering to the money sources through campaign contributions. As a direct result nothing truly gets formulated, addressed and passed in the unfiltered interests of the constituency.

This has all led to an environment that has all but obliterated altruism in politics, leaving us with realism. I often hear frustrations from people declaring a “we want ALL or NOTHING!” And to that there is only one reality…you will likely get NOTHING. Politics is the art of compromise and you have to have a strong stomach to play the game.

Am I suggesting that we do not hold lawmakers’ feet to the fire? Certainly not. But in this climate where the Rebiblicans lost and are out for blood in 2010, we need to be careful about what tactics we use and who we “take out” because they are not performing.

If the tactic is to cripple a candidate by withholding campaign funding…then make DAMN sure there is not only a viable, but extremely strong candidate in the wings to fill that position! Right now to get cocky with the progressives that are in elected positions could severely contribute to the fanatical fringe efforts to take back seats.

So let your emotions run wild in caucus with each other…but use cooler heads and be smart about how to carry out any method of punishment based on single issues. Remember, this is about the BIG PICTURE…and incremental steps forward are more successful than a slide backwards into the minority.

In this age of stealth candidates…we must use wise strategies. Just sayin’!

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