Pull "health care bill" off life support! It's dead!

Okay, go ahead and put the nails in the coffin, it is over.  The dream is over.  The health care bill took it's final breath win Massachusetts elected a Republican named Scott Brown.  She was barely hanging on, and now, well now she is dead.  We couldn't get it done with a 60 vote majority, now , we will not pass health care.  Once again, the dream has died.  Kennedy has rolled over in his grave. They probably will bury his dream beside him.   But what went so wrong?
First of all, when I say "we", I mean that loosely.  I mean we the "Left" even though I am way further to the left of most of the Senate.  I align myself with the Democrats only out of necessity, and likewise I share their disdain for the Republican party.  That does not mean I agree with all, or even most of their policies.  I think that liberals can be weak at times.  They need to get a backbone.  They need the kind of solidarity that the Republicans have.  If the Republicans had those numbers, I mean a 60 vote majority, Goodness, they could destroy our country.  Why couldn't the Democrats use that same majority to save us?
I actuality, Scott Brown, could very well be to the left of some of our conservative democrats.  But it is what his election represents symbolically that has deeply disturbed the left.  I do believe it is a referendum against the left agenda.  And Obama.  For the most left leaning state to elect a republican to Senate when the Left desperately needed that seat , speaks volumes of where the county is right now.  The United States is moving to the right, and I think I know why.
Any time we make a little progress toward social justice, those in power get so scared.  They mobilize, and they go after the middle, the independent voter hard.  Independent votes are not idealogues and are often easily swayed.  Those in power have the money and resources to do this.  This is why change ain't easy.  Progressive steps are harder.  They are like climbing a steep hill.  Where as regressive steps are like falling.  It is so easy to fall back.  The familiar is comfortable to people.  Change and progress threaten alot of people. 
So, we have missed a great opportunity to make some health care reform.  It is not looking like it is going to happen now.  I wish that it would.  Personally, this new bill is a joke anyway.  But at least it would have been something, something that would keep the Democrats alive another day, to fight.  Now they will have very little to take to their constituents.  It is highly likely we will see massive losses in the fall.  I am going to cry.  I need to call my therapist.  I need some grief therapy.  Help!

The Left year in Review

As a progressive, I have observed that many times, a few progressive steps forward are met my several steps backward.  This was true of 2009.  The Left made some signifigant gains, but these gains were undermined by the backlash from the Right.  From my point of view, i am trying to recap this year from the left, and to evaluate whether or not the progressives actually made gains politically.  Now , I dont just mean  seats in the House and Senate.  I am talking about globally, did the Left have a good year? 
Barack Obama did win the White House.  This was a major accomplishment for progressives as he is a the first black president and he is, or he was far left.  This is a step forward if not met by a right wing tea bagger reaction. 

He has made some efforts to pull out of Iraq, but that was offset by his increased occupation in Aftganistan.  He promised health care reform, but many on the left think that his health care overhaul has been a dismal failure.  But I suppose it was better than nothing.  I guess.  So, some of us on the Left had high hopes, only to get them dashed with reality.  Progress comes slowly, as we have to fight those in power for every little concession.  Plus, they have the money to fight us, and money often wins.  This is the cold hard, sad truth.  So many times when i see a political movement to the left, a revolution if you will, i get excited!  I think, well, the human revolutionary spirit is alive and kicking again. Then, power and money see this as a threat.  They sink their money into it, and often buy back the revolution.  If the United Fruit company can buy a CIA hack to stave off a revolution that might hurt his interest, then he is going to do it. 
So this is why I am a cynic.  This is why I have little faith in the political process.  I believe in Revolution.  I believe in the human spirit.  I believe that humanity will eventually wise up!  But i am getting impatient.
Overall, I will say that the left made some progress, but not a whole heck of alot.  Now, I have this lingering fear that the backlash is coming, and so do the pundits.  So, are we going to take some steps back in 2010.  Yeah probably! So am i going to bitch and moan, or do I have  a solution? Yeah, I got one. 
What fuels the left progressive movements?  Ideas, dreams, visions.  What fuels the right and a contra -revolution?  Ahh, okay so it is money.   The left is going to have to start fighting fire with fire.  But I dont mean sell out.  I mean stay true to your leftist idealogy, but keep your eyes on the prize.  I am a materialist, I know what makes the world go around.  We must get money, so we can have access to everything the Right has.  We cannot win this war for social and economic justice without it.
So that is my plan.  What is yours?