(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Find a Hill and DIE on It [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.', 'Backgroundurl Avatar_Large', 'Nickname', 'Joined', 'Created_At', 'Story Count', 'N_Stories', 'Comment Count', 'N_Comments', 'Popular Tags'] Date: 2023-02-01 I get a lot of email. I won’t bore you with the details except to say this: So many arrive from both the DNC and RNC, asking me to donate funds with which I can’t afford to part. The economy hasn’t been kind, the job market hasn’t been kind, and most people hear excuses come the end of a day that never ends from our duly elected leaders. Yet our leaders, in equal amounts, want contributions (in equal amounts) to their campaigns because they claim OUR party (whichever it may be) is in crisis, thanks to the other. To said “statesmen”: A. No one can afford to constantly fuel a war you won’t win. B. No one is inclined to indefinitely feed your fire without tangible results. C. No one wants to see their email flood up with your battles. No one wants to hear us bitch about OUR lives; why would we invite your epistles, especially when they’re form letters? You’re in office because we placed you there. If we had the financial wherewithal and surplus to hold your hands we’d already be doing it. That was on you. We voted you in with the implicit understanding that once you occupied your office you’d collectively be taking actions that make your panhandling overtures redundant. We should be receiving invites for fundraising dinners where you’re the ones who dole out $10,000 plates to us. Send them. You know my email. To their supporters: A. If eternal penpals were not what you’d signed up for when you cast your ballot mayhap you seek an alternative to this process. B. Though I can think of quite a few reforms, I’ll forebear from illustrating them in this communique and keep it simpler: Do you remember hearing your candidate’s platform? Do you recall it being a revolving dole queue for money you might have now if your contender had merely performed his/her function? No? Then perhaps it’s time we begin to demand from our executives and legislatures a higher standard of excellence. How do we go about doing that? Here’s a suggestion, and it’s applicable to either side of the aisle: Write back to (or call!) your senators and/or congressmen and tell them you’ll pledge $1 and only $1 IF they’ll send their receipt on the back of that drafted platform. Next you demand that they circle at least ONE of those platform talking points and tell you they are willing and able to DIE {politically} on that hill. To make the unpopular vote that serves their constituency. You a Green supporter? Great. Tell your office-winner that you want proof of their fealty. That you want to see them prepare for political death and vote your conscience come the day that issue winds up on the docket. Come what may. You a Pro - Lifer? Great. Tell your office-winner that you want proof of their fealty. That you want to see them prepare for political death and vote your conscience come the day that issue winds up on the docket. Come what may. Now. Those of you who follow this advice need to draft one more email or your first will have no meaning. Draft it similar to this {cut/paste!}: Hi, Congressman/Mayor/Governor/President __________! Remember the day I conditionally supported you? Check your email history. I’ll wait. You failed to meet my conditions and have left me with little alternative but to employ BATNA (Best Alternative To a Negotiated Agreement) by supporting your primary opposition =(. In lieu of one applying I am preparing to take up this burden, and I will win because what I lack in experience I make up for in the conviction you evidently lack. Best to the family, {Signed _________} There. You see? If political suicide leaves them unmoved perhaps they’d prefer political homicide. That most of you won’t take up your onus? Principally it’s distressing, but in practice someone will capitalize on that onus because, speaking statistically, one fellow readers of this broadcast will be equal to the challenge. Democrats and Republicans, take heed. This meme is now out in the ether. If you fail to follow through here your opposition may make the advance you chose not to. Politicians, take heed. This meme, now out in the ether, is a new pledge and standard you may well need to re-acclimate. You can be a short-lived public hero, able to bask in your one act of suppuku, or you can be a short-lived public coward. If you’re truly interested in being a statesman rather than a craven politician you could choose more than just one hill…! Cincinnati and Rome both have seven. The more hills you’re prepared to die on the more serious an actor for the people you appear! You might see that, if you remain true to your promises, your political life has more longevity than you anticipated. Either way, best of luck. [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/2/1/2150569/-Find-a-Hill-and-DIE-on-It Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/