Yes, folks, I'm kind of sad.
Went to the Grand Opening of the Pittsburgh Office, and, I must say, I felt a bit let down.
You see, I worked the PA Primary, and had a great time. We were all a bunch of amateurs, flying by the seat of our pants, changing things moment by moment, but we were all committed to Da Man and his message. The party hacks were all on the other side; they weren't running our show, and we didn't have to do things their way.
Tonight, the party hacks were large and in charge. It was evident from the way they gave orders. During the primary campaign, it was What Can You Do? What Do You Want To Do? Okay, Do It! Now, those people who wear neckties or union t-shirts or have the most buttons (not just Obama buttons, but Kerry and Gore and Clinton buttons--I asked one officious personage what she had against Dukakis or Mondale!) tell you Do This, Do That without inquiring into one's gifts or interests. It's as if by winning--nationwide, not alas in Pennsylvania--the crazy, whacky folks who made this movement a success have, in fact, lost control.
Yes, I'll continue working for Da Man, because I want more than anything to see him elected. I'll do what I'm told, even if a party hack, a suit or a union or a multi-buttoned nostalgist tells me to do it. Somehow, though, the fun has gone out of it. For tonight at least.
Peace,
David
"The first of the duties that are at this time imposed upon those who direct our affairs is to educate democracy, to reawaken, if possible, its religious beliefs; to purify its morals; to mold its actions; to substitute a knowledge of statecraft for its inexperience, and an awareness of its true interest for its blind instincts, to adapt its government to time and place, and to modify according to [people] and conditions. A new science of politics is needed for a new world."--Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America 1835
Well, John McCain's energy policy is to let the oil companies do whatever they want. Da Man is right: that's the same energy policy that GWB has. It was also Ronald Reagan's energy policy, and it was Warren G. Harding's as well. Of course, McCain is contemptuous of lowering demand--that would not be good for the oil companies--by such simple things as enforcing the speed limit and inflating your tires properly. Probably he would be equally contemptuous of Jimmy Carter's cardigan sweater, or of taking the bus instead of driving your own gas-guzzler.
Da Man, on the other hand, has imagination. Da Man has vision. Not only has he recognized that decreasing demand is the only short-term solution to high energy prices, but has also recognized that the long-term solution lies in renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and cellulose-based ethanol, hybrids and hydrogen.
JMcC says if we're going to have rechargeable hybrids, we'll need electricity to recharge them. But he can't imagine electricity being generated any other way than from smoky carbon or toxic uranium. Let's solve two problems at once: high energy costs and the enviromental disaster. There's a lot of ways to power our global economy without spewing carbon or radioactive waste into our atmosphere.
JMcC can't do it, can't even imagine it. Da Man, on the other hand...
