Perhaps it's time to start (or join) a real opposition party. [View All]

The Democratic Party leadership has abandoned its role as the watchdog of the people’s interests; they have chosen to ally themselves with a corporate mainstream power structure that cares nothing for Democracy or the needs of the electorate. Progressives have nothing to lose by leaving a party that is so beholden to the corporations that they couldn't beat Bush. Let me repeat myself: DEMOCRATS COULDN’T BEAT BUSH! That's like losing to a sock-puppet.

If progressives can't win elections within the Democratic Party, then why shouldn't they start (or join) a real opposition group? I do not think I am being to harsh with this observation. Please consider:

If the Democratic Party were a real opposition group, those voting machines would never have been installed in the first place. Why didn't Democratic leaders & precinct captains raise a bigger stink when it became apparent that the paperless ballot system was fraught with danger? It's not like they didn't have sufficient warning! Why is Bev Harris & friends doing all the real work of getting the message out about these abominable machines instead of the Democratic think-tanks? Why hasn't the DNC spearheaded this effort?

If the Democratic Party were a real opposition group we would not be in Iraq right now. Where were the Democratic Senators to filibuster the illegal war? Why did organizations like Move-On and ANSWER do most of the anti-war organizing instead of the DNC? How is it that a president without a clear mandate from the American people for war, with hundreds of thousands of citizens marching on Washington TWICE... was still able to start one under the flimsiest of excuses?

If the Democratic Party were a real opposition group outsourcing would be the exception rather than the rule. (Remember, it was Clinton who helped pass GATT & NAFTA.) Where is the DNC to help organize workers & unions to protect American jobs?

All these questions point to one clear answer: These actions & policies would not be possible unless there was no viable opposition party in the United States. I am not saying that Democrats and Republicans are the same; I am merely pointing out that the Democratic Party no longer has any real power to protect or advance the concerns of a Progressive agenda. Therefore, for all intents & purposes, we are now a one-party state.

In the past we have been told by our party leaders that to support Kucinich would be folly because he was to "Liberal" or "unelectable." Up until the 2004 election I believed this lie. I now realize that until Progressives start supporting people who share their values, instead of constantly compromising and settling for someone who is more mainstream, the political debate in this country will continue to slide to the right.

I am proud to be a Democrat, but by sucking up to the mainstream instead of fighting for the rights and needs of the American people... we didn't deserve to win.