Joel Barkin, the Executive Director of the Progressive States Network, has a column today in (of all places) the New Hampshire Union Leader about cleaning up the on-going stench in government/politics. What struck me the most in Barkin’s writing was the absence of Republican or, to be fairer, conservative organizations sponsoring or taking part in a scheduled meetup to discuss the situation. Here a paragraph late in the column:
“…Tomorrow, legislators from across New England will meet with citizens and non-profit advocates in Concord to discuss the best ideas for cleaning up state governments. Already, people from all over the Northeast (and even a few from across the country) have registered for this event that is open to the public. The conference is being co-sponsored by the Progressive States Network, Public Campaign, Common Cause, the Center for American Progress, Americans for Campaign Reform, MoveOn Civic Action, NH PIRG, New Hampshire Citizens Alliance, and Democracy for New Hampshire…”
New Hampshire Governor John Lynch receives a positive mention, as does Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer. Where are the supposed civic-minded conservatives or Republicans? Is it simply a matter of the GOP being in charge nationally and nobody daring to ruffle the slimy underbelly of Karl Rove? That existing power translates into we-don’t-need-no-stinking-change?
To be fair, if the current Democratic ‘powerbrokers’ were suddenly in all the top national positions, I’m not so sure the reaction would be any different from that of the current cabal. See Rahm Emmanuel, Hillary Clinton, Steny Hoyer, Chuck Schumer…
And that’s where a dynamic difference lies: many in the progressive netroots want the Democrats back in power but also desire fundamental changes in election funding, lobbying, contributions and the like. Back in power, YES. But back in power demonstrating a dramatic difference in politics as no longer usual. Demonstrating to the cynical American public that the Democrats are fundamentally different. That K Street won’t be able to simply switch to kissing Democratic financial ass if a change in power takes place.
But, oh, that’s right. The Progressive States Network, Public Campaign, Common Cause, the Center for American Progress, Americans for Campaign Reform, MoveOn Civic Action, NH PIRG, New Hampshire Citizens Alliance, and Democracy for New Hampshire are all made up of wild-eyed, radical, fringe liberals and directly responsible for the string of Democratic losses in national elections of late.
There’s also a fundamental difference between the progressive and the conservative netroots. The latter, with few exceptions, only wishes to hammer those deemed ‘enemies’ and ‘traitors,’ plus consolidate power at any cost. Reform? Hah! Calling out their own debauched practioners? Yeah, right.
Yes, I desperately want the Democratic back in power across this country. But I won’t settle for a slick paint job, a thin veneer of ‘newness’ that has no real meaning and alters little in how the corporate business world directs American politics. We must close the Republican/Democratic revolving door, the one that produces no discernible difference in operations, just interchangeable names on the checks written by the corporate lobbyists.
To read Barkin’s entire column, go here:
http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Joel+Barkin%3A+Now+is+the+time+to+tackle+corruption
+in+government&articleId=89b8f239-2492-41b1-ba63-0014de3331e3
