Where should my money go?

I'm having a hard time deciding which organizations should get my money this year. Of course, I'll be renewing my CSCC membership for $20 because I want to see this local effort at grass roots communication and organization continue, but what else?

I stopped by the Brasserie Louis as the Obama party was winding down last night. I was struck by how many new faces were in the crowd of about 30--and these were young faces. That got me thinking about the Obama movement and what comes next. It seems clear that the Obama organization is going to remain together in some form. I expect that they will be soliciting contributions for their organization before too long. I've already received a mailing from DFA (Democracy for America, Howard Dean's old outfit, now run by his brother Jim) and an email from MoveOn today asking for $15 per month (now that's aggressive). When I get time I'm going to log into change.org to vote in the poll they have going on, and I can expect a request for a contribution after that. About a year ago I contributed to the Nature Conservancy, so I've been getting a weekly request of some kind from them.

So here's what I'm wondering: how do we measure whether any of this is doing any good? I think MoveOn is making a difference, but do I know? Is it better to give a larger amount to one organization or small amounts to several different efforts? What about the national Democratic party (now run by Tim Kaine) or the DCCC or the local UCDC?

So here's my thought: the group that I can see is able to leverage a small amount of money into a big impact is going to be most likely to get a contribution from me this year. Frankly, after all the campaigns and efforts of the past year, there's not a lot of excess money to give.

Looking for Spilling Ink?

If you are looking for more political commentary with local connections, take a look at Spilling Ink: Voices of Radical Democracy. You'll probably see some names you know offering up some opinions you haven't heard.

http://radicalwriting.wordpress.com/

Letting Go of W.

I want to look forward and not backward, forget about everything that George W. Bush did wrong. But then I read Maureen Dowd in the New York Times:

Asked by People magazine what moments from the last eight years he revisited most often, W. talked passionately about the pitch he threw out at the World Series in 2001: “I never felt that anxious any other time during my presidency, curiously enough.”

Asked by Fred Barnes and Bill Kristol of The Weekly Standard if he had made progress in some areas for which he hasn’t gotten credit, the president put trying to privatize Social Security at the top of his list. It’s frightening to think where a lot of people would be now if that effort had succeeded.

I recall one time when George W. Bush admitted making a mistake (he said he believed he'd worn too many red ties in the 2000 campaign). I'm not expecting a mea culpa (wouldn't that be refreshing), but some acknowledgement that maybe something has been mismanaged in the last 8 years would be nice. Just as he tried to blame the Clinton adminstration for 9/11, now he says that history will show that our economic problems stem from decisions made in the 1990s. So much for personal responsibility.

Meetup Tonight

Please join us for the first monthly CSCC Meetup of 2009, tonight at 7:30 pm at the First Baptist Church, 51 S. 3rd St., Lewisburg. Hope to see you there!

New Year's Resolutions

As we head for the end of 2008 and start reading the "Year in Review" lists, it's a good time to look back a little bit. Barack Obama, a Democrat who won with a grass roots/net roots strategy and who created a broad coalition and a movement for change, is headed to the White House. In spite of the rocky news this last year and in part because of it, we have to believe that things will get better in 2009. I heard this week that 1 in 10 Americans were on food stamps in September. That's a pretty sobering statistic. The numbers on the uninsured and the underinsured, the number of houses in foreclosure or close to it--all those statistics suggest a lot of suffering in America at the end of 2008.

Looking forward, I see that MoveOn.Org voted universal health care as it's #1 issue for 2009 (build a clean energy future and create jobs and end the Iraq war were also on the list). It seems there is broad agreement about what the issues are. The hard part is how to make something happen. The next six months will be a key time.

In spite of some reservations, I'm hopeful that the PickensPlan will help tip the balance toward action on global warming and our dependence on foreign oil. (My reservation is that dependence on our finite domestic supply of natural gas seems also problematic, but that amounts to quibbling given the basic agreement that action on renewables and conservation is long overdue and now URGENT.) I don't see major health care reform happening in the next 6 months, but some action is possible.

So--resolutions: Not to tune out in this next crucial period, not to waste an opportunity, even if it involves working with T. Boone Pickens. (If Bill Richardson can do it, I can too.) The politicians, especially at the state level, rely on our ignorance and apathy. Let's send a message that they'd better not assume we're tuning out, or we'll be here to throw them out.

What are your resolutions for 2009?

Haven't we seent his pattern?

I am just shamelessly quoting Kos here. But it does ring true, and so, so frustrating.

Seriously, this earlier post by Kagro encapsulates every frustration I've felt over the last eight years.

1. Republicans ask for the absurd, threaten nuclear/economic armageddon if there's no action.

2. Democrats cower in fear.

3. We try to talk some sense into them.

4. We get scolded for being unserious, and wanting the terrorists to win/people to lose their jobs.

5. Democrats promise oversight!

6. We roll our eyes.

7. Democrats cave on every single point, but pretend to win anyway.

8. We wonder what we ever did to deserve this sorry bunch of representatives.

9. Republicans do whatever the hell they want.

10. Democrats pretend that no one could've ever predicted Republican outrages and express "outrage". Sometimes, they even write a sternly worded letter!

11. We make "no one could have foreseen" jokes and wonder what we ever did to deserve this sorry bunch of representatives.

12. Rinse, lather, repeat.

Holiday Potluck 2008

CSCC held its annual Holiday Potluck last Thursday night. It was well-attended (about 40 people), and everyone enjoyed the good food and conversation. Thanks to Steve C. for sharing the photos, and thanks to all who came!