Politics Going Forward

Last night I attended my last meeting as a member of the county party’s Democratic central committee. Once I chair my precinct caucus, I’ll be finished with my obligations. Considering it was 2004 when I reactivated in partisan politics, 20 years is enough devotion to this civic duty. It’s time to move forward.

Given my belief in the importance of collective action, what shall I do? I don’t know. Decreased mobility as I age will have me avoiding knocking on voter doors in future cycles. Likewise, the technology that drives human interaction has changed since the days when I could grab a list and make effective telephone calls to voters. Stuff envelopes for mailings? Maybe, yet that has its problems as well. One reason I am leaving active Democratic politics is the old methods don’t work any longer. There are demographic changes at work in my precinct and they have driven the electorate to vote Republican. The local Democratic party hasn’t kept up with the times, God love them.

I may be best at writing about the Iowa political scene. While newspapers are dying (small town Iowa newspaper continue to consolidate or close), when I post something on the Insights page of the Cedar Rapids Gazette, it gets noticed. Same thing with my bloggery here and on Blog for Iowa. I’ve written my share of candidate support/opponent criticism op-eds, yet the times call for something different to dig us out of a hole of ineffectiveness that enables Republicans to thrive.

What seems most important, that few are paying attention to as such, is the further deterioration of the post-World War II consensus that brought unparalleled economic vitality to the United States. Rich folks and libertarians never cared much for the changes wrought by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and have fought those changes vigorously during the Post-World War II prosperity. It looks like they are finally beginning to win this struggle to the detriment of citizens like me, to the detriment of a Democratic form of government.

People say our politics divide us, but what about it does? The Milton Friedman doctrine that “the social responsibility of business is to increase its profits” is a significant part of why Americans are so divided in our politics. This prevailing culture ran contrary to what skilled workers believe and eroded a key aspect of society for people who sought identity through the workplace. It forced a choice between our values and pragmatism. It has not been good for society. It left a vacuum that remains unfilled. Republicans, including the 45th president stepped in to fill the void with their malfeasance.

We must ask better questions of businesses: What great products do you make? How do your workers buy into the company? Why do corporate CEOs get paid so much? How are you giving back to the community? What percent of revenue is invested in long-term research and development? What do you do to make life better for consumers who use your products? If you outsource parts of your business, what is your moral responsibility to subcontractors? How does your company deal with external costs like its impact on clear air and water? There are other questions inadequately addressed that could occupy a writer’s time in perpetuity.

As I write my autobiography, I’ll dive into my political history, beginning with my favorite story about working for Lyndon Johnson’s 1964 presidential campaign. However, my public presence in politics must change to secure the benefits of living in a democracy. No political party can help much with that. Their role must continue to be to find excellent candidates to run against the Republican machine. I ruled out running for office again. It is time to pass the baton to the next generation of political activists and focus on what I do best.