And yet, isn't better for us, as we, the people, to fund these candidates than for some conglomerate to do so?
There are some beautiful people running for office this year, stepping up to give the rest of us a place at the table. I have put together a list of some of the people that make me rejoice for the future of this country once more, citizens that would speak from their hearts and souls for us if we give them the chance.
Most of these people I have never met, a few I have. But, these are people who will speak for us if they can make it to the halls of Congress, people of good will and character, and I feel like they are my friends based on the way they honestly answer my questions. I can surely tell you, I would be much smarter investing my meager offerings to my Thrift Savings Plan or my 401(k) or my IRA. But I will also tell you, I have never felt more proud than when Jim Webb and Tim Walz and Jerry McNerney and Joe Sestak won their races in 2006 and my meager offerings helped contribute to those victories. We have not progressed nearly as much as I would have hoped since then ... but progress and change are never easy.
My fellow RKers, if you can scrape up some spare change from your couch or truck, I implore you to toss it towards some friends that will make us proud in January. I have no special brief to carry for any of these candidates, other than I hope and plan to be working for some of them for the rest of 2008 to try and help change this country for the better.
If you are torn and have already given to our Virginia candidates, I implore you to look at Eric Massa, Charlie Brown, Vic Wulsin, and Darcy Burner in the House races -- all four of these candidates are in their second time around, and will most likely be lost to us if they can't win this time. And Rick Noriega, Tom Allen, Jeff Merkley, and Scott Kleeb are just four of the quality Democrats running for the Senate, all of them in uphill struggles -- and yet, all guaranteed to strengthen this republic if we can help lift them into office.
Here's my page at ActBlue, where I have put together a list of the people I would be so happy to see in the halls of Congress in 10 months. If you can scrape together some dimes to send their way, I think you'll feel satisfied when they're speaking for us in the halls of our government. [And, hey, it's better than giving it away to the craps tables or the local barkeep, no matter how much we like to give our earnings to those folk! :)]
This page has seemed so divided as of late between Hillary and Barack, that it would be so awesome if we could all reunite behind the idea of getting to 250 Dems in the House and 60+ in the Senate. I hope you'll join me in tossing your beer money in that kitty to help get us there. And then, let's roll up our sleeves and commit to helping Leslie and Judy and Tom and Glenn and Andrea and Anita and Sam/Drew to get to Congress to really speak for us.
PS Monday 3/31 is probably the most important fundraising day of the year in terms of laying out the landscape for November. If ever you can give to these quality candidates, think about doing it now.