Were You Politically Active In 1993-1995?

Simple, easy poll.

How many DUers were active in politics from January 20, 1993 through January 3, 1995?

This is an important question, IMO, because there were a lot of lessons learned about politics in America during that time period.

It was a lot tougher to be active in politics back then, too.

The internet has shaped up to be the best tool since the telephone to engage in and porganize political activism.

:dem:

-Laelth

We were in the first two years of a new administration that took on health care reform and failed. The consequences of that failure were horrendous and lead directly to December 19, 1998.

The one thing I've learned from history is that nobody ever seems to learn from history.

Clinton's impeachment?

First, of all, healthcare reform has not yet failed. Second of all, it was not the failure of healthcare reform that led to Clinton's impeachment. You can't even blame the loss of the House on the failure of healthcare.

I don't think impeachment was a failure of Democratic activists, I think it was a case where the Republicans took cynical advantage of Bill Clinton doing some things, that while not meeting the high crimes standard were unacceptable to many people.

It weakened Clinton's administration and allowed all that came after to happen.

HAd he succeeded in '93 with Health Care REform, the GOP would have never been able to take over the Congress in '94. Had the REpublicans not taken over in '94, he would ahve never been impeached in '98.

It was never voted on. I suspect that the tax increase on the wealthy had more impact in 1994 than the failed healthcare plan. There I think the bigger problem was that it along with other missteps allowed the Republicans to create a narrative that was not attractive.

HE had expended so much political capital in that failure that he could never really set the agenda again.

The same happened ot Bush in 2005 with the privatization of Social Security, and ended his ability to drive a legislative agenda.

The dynamic, as you rightly note, feels very similar. Clinton got a lot of good stuff done during those first two years. The rest of his Presidency, of course, was a disaster with the exception of two very important Supreme Court nominations.

Ironically, it seems Obama is trying to learn from Clinton. Clinton said he wished he had never insisted on a comprehensive reform bill and had been more willing to accept incremental change. It looks like Obama is willing to settle for incremental change precisely because Clinton regretted pushing for a complete overhaul of our health care system.

Personally, I want a complete overhaul, and I want Obama to push for it because the political climate is really very different now. In 1993, the Republican Party's approval ratings were not in the toilet. The ghost of Ronald Reagan was much more powerful then. Whereas Clinton followed Bush I, Obama follows one of the least popular politicians in American history, Bush II. Clinton was elected with less than 50% of the popular vote. Obama was elected with well over 50% of the popular vote. The religious right had not completely taken over the Republican Party then. Now, Republican politicians are generally insane, reflecting their rabid base.

I think Obama blew his first chance at health care reform by pushing for a weak plan. I think he should table the idea, for now, and push for single payer in 2011. The current system is unsustainable, and everyone knows it. Change will come. Let's not settle for a bailout of the insurance industry. Let's insist on the eradication of it.

:dem:

-Laelth

Ringing door bells?

Donating to politicians?

Attending rallies?

Or just casting a vote?

Any of the other three counts.

ETA: IF you discussed politics with friends and family during that time, I'd count it as being active because you were forming and helping to form political opinion via discussion.

Jsut going to the polls and casting a vote with no other activity, however, is not being politically active. There must be an education process involved as well.

Seriously.

Thank you.

It's important for all, regardless of political leanings, to educate themselves about politics and to participate.

Educated participation is the keystone of any Democratic Republic.

In 1993, I was working and had a 3 year old, a 6 year old and an 8 year old.

Edited to say that based on downstream posts of yours, I easily counted as politically active then. I did donate money and I did discuss political issues with friends, co-workers and family. (I even occasionally posted on usenet groups - though I avoided the ones that were political - though politics were indirectly discussed on the parenting groups.) What I didn't do was canvas or phone bank. I also did influence 3 children, who have values I am very proud of.

And obviously shit has changed...a lot.

and my first vote was in '94...I first really started keeping up with politics and learning the issues ater the GOP takeover of congress...But my first casual interest started with Clinton in '92 with MTV's Rock The Vote, etc..

Third parties had no effect on the '94 election.

But one thing did not happen in '94. There was no concerted effort to unseat those Democrats who had stabbed Clinton in the back on health care by Democrats. Instead, that effort was mounted by the Republicans.

The rest is history.