Raising the Fist
Sep. 14th, 2010 11:56 pmOn the way in to caption job, caught part of a radio interview with some members of the Congressional Black Caucus (my favorite Congressional body, as I mentioned some time ago in this space). The interviewer asked them something to the effect of "aren't you worried about the elections given voter unease about the healthcare bill and wall street reform," and their response was, roughly, "fuck that. If we don't get re-elected, so what? This stuff needed to get done. The end." Which is what I like about them -- I feel like they're about social justice and not just being buddies with powerful people.*
This reaction made me wonder why I don't have the same respect for ideologically motivated candidates on the other side with the courage of their convictions -- libertarians or tea party candidates. What it comes down to is that I automatically like people who try to get more power for the powerless, and distrust people who want more freedom for the already powerful. I think there is no freedom without equality.
Anyway, I know we are having serious economic problems, but from where I sit the good guys are still kicking ass.
* The CBO members had some enlightening things to say about several ethics investigations -- it seems the rules have been changed so any congressperson can get another congressperson investigated, and also that you can block a representative or senator from clearing their name on the floor. So the ethics investigations that have been going on have, to some extent, been political manipulation and not a proper handling of internal affairs.
This reaction made me wonder why I don't have the same respect for ideologically motivated candidates on the other side with the courage of their convictions -- libertarians or tea party candidates. What it comes down to is that I automatically like people who try to get more power for the powerless, and distrust people who want more freedom for the already powerful. I think there is no freedom without equality.
Anyway, I know we are having serious economic problems, but from where I sit the good guys are still kicking ass.
* The CBO members had some enlightening things to say about several ethics investigations -- it seems the rules have been changed so any congressperson can get another congressperson investigated, and also that you can block a representative or senator from clearing their name on the floor. So the ethics investigations that have been going on have, to some extent, been political manipulation and not a proper handling of internal affairs.