“We may not solve the health care crisis - a deep, profound and complex one - in eight months, in the middle of an economic upheaval, after decades in which social movements and progressive organizations have been attacked and eviscerated, and millions have been jolted into poverty and homelessness. That's for starters.
"But neither are we entirely at the mercy of forces we don't know and can't influence.
"It looks like the Kucinich amendment will not be offered; the Weiner amendment probably will. They may or may not be definitive policy issues in the end, but our activism kept each of these amendments alive, without any doubt.
"It is premature to determine what difference if any the public option will make. The fight to keep it alive was not a pretend fight and it isn't over yet. The insurance industry does not want it there and it is there because of us.
"There are more than enough reasons to be angry and dismayed but it also helps to analyze the politics of the fight we're in. Pelosi tried to get 218 votes for Medicare + 5%. There are voters in districts where Glenn Beck is a more powerful force than Jon Stewart, and government-run health care is not a popular term.
"I think it could make a difference if the President finally starts butting some heads and it will help if he provides his organizers more independence. I do not doubt for a minute that we will want to, and have to, continue to advocate for a single payer system before, during, and after that happens. This fight matters and it's still going on.
"PS to Feinstein 1200'ers: To be clear, this is by no means an acceptance of, or justification for, the status quo. I have written separately and publicly about the need for our elected leaders to lead. This includes our members of Congress as well as the President. They need to fight for us, to come up with strategies that will move policy in our direction, and to let us know when where and how they need us to back them up.
"There is a fledgling effort by the Congressional Progressive Caucus to create a regular communication vehicle for 'outside' groups like us. I worry when I see activists get frustrated and giving up when we haven't done everything we can do, or contribute to cynicism based on a lack of information about how the process works. But leadership is important. We need forums where we can assess frankly what we need from the elected officials we fought and worked to get elected, while being as supportive as possible of the work they are doing for us. This is not optional: The voters will certainly be weighing in, and the effects will not be nuanced if reform does not work out for them.
"Thanks so much for all that you in The Feinstein 1200 do. – Ellen”
Just like she said. Thank you. And let's keep working.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or comments.
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