SS Rally (no not Hitler...we're not the new Pope, I'm talking about social security)

Social security rally today - pretty good turnout - id say over 2,000, mostly AFSCME members wearing green "Don't Privatize Soc. Security" shirts. I'm a fan of the Privatize This shirt with an arrow pointing downwards, but haven't seen them printed yet...would be a good idea. But I think my concern in all of this is twofold. First, the lack of young people. There really weren't that many, save for the congressional staffers and the activists already working for the different progressive organizations. This is one of the only times I'll ever say this, but I agree (somewhat) with George Will, who says that the Soc Sec debate is one old folks should sit out. Why? Because this is not an issue that is going to affect them. Even if privatization passes, their benefits are safe, as far as I understand the issue. It's going to affect people of my generation, and perhaps some early 30 year olds. However, the reality is that old people vote in much higher numbers, so pandering is done to the elderly. If more younger people, those that actually will be affected by this issue, were to stand up, we would have more of a say...but that's a different issue. The second concern over this whole thing is the disconnect between issues like this, like DeLay's corruption, and so forth, and the ballot box. Clearly we've learned that pandering to your base can an election make (see past November), and that swing voters do not always make the difference. Is the increasing public disapproval of this administration on any number of issues at this stage or at a later stage prior to the 2006 mid-terms, actually going to have people voting for the opposite party? Before last year's elections, Bush was at incredibly low approval ratings on Iraq and the economy, yet he was re-elected. This can be attributed to the guns, abortion, and gays on the one hand, but also on a hurting Dem party unable to clearly delineate its own views, and a presidential candidate who screamed blue-blooded liberal even if he wasn't one (...).

Solutions? They've been discussed everywhere, on both the liberal-leaning and more moderate sides. But basically, a major issue is framing the debate on our terms, which I think we've been doing much better since the commencement of the new Congress, a more defined, simpler platform (...still needs work), and a strong leadership. That last factor is one I've discussed in previous posts, and is one that I think we've been doing an excellent job at, and significantly better than our opposition has done.