« a more pleasant accident | Main | my baby's got a secret »
March 12, 2003
Da Man is NOT in DC
Ahh...Spring in DC. The cherry blossoms, the allergies, the protesters. Yesterday I saw two enthusiastic activists parked outside the Farragut North Metro station at a booth promoting some libertarian/green/independent candidate for president. We love you, sweetie darlings, but there's a few things you need to know:
- DC residents have no representation in Congress. Your protests and recommendations fall on impotent ears;
- The legislators that you really need to be contacting by mail or in person do not work in downtown DC nor do they live anywhere near DC;
- Most DC residents (especially the natives - see comment below on Shaniqua) don't give a shit about your issue. Last week issue du jour was Owners of Black Labrador Retrievers Against Biplane Abuse, and the week before it was Agnostic Anarchists Against Anything. We are a bit jaded and the marching and screaming tends to blend into the background by now.
Y'all know how I feel about protesters 'Shutting Down Washington'. See above three points as to why that's a pointless idea. Plus, think of Shaniqua. Shaniqua is a black unwed uninsured mother of four children (all of different fathers) working as an office assistant in downtown DC. When rich white punks from Indiana shut down the District for a day, Shaniqua misses a day of work, and thus a day of pay. A single day of pay means a lot to her, and it may mean the difference between Kraft Macaroni & Cheese or Top Ramen for the kids. I'm totally serious.
There is a big, giant playground in DC designed just for protesters. Formerly a test plot for USDA agriculture experiments, it's now called the National Mall. You can get a permit to go there and scream and stomp as loud as you want, and you won't be bugging Jimbo or fucking up Shaniqua's life.
And don't be wreckin' shit here. Some of us are really proud of where we live, and it's been a long road to recovery in this town since the elected crackhead mayor was wreckin' shit before you arrived. Why don't you wreck shit in your upper middle class suburb? Ahh...you don't want to wreck shit where YOU live. I see.
Having worked in the legislative and nonprofit process in the past, I've seen a lot of wasted effort on the part of protesting visitors to DC. I'll tell you what really works: write a clear and concise letter to your Senator or Representative, sign it, and make sure you give them your contact information. E-mail is even better. It really works...and they actually do read your mail. They really give a shit about what their constituents think. You can also make an appointment to personally meet your Senator or Representative and talk about your concerns. They can actually make time to meet you. Really! No shit!
Most rallies and protests organized by nonprofits in DC serve three purposes, in this order of importance:
- Gain media visibility for the organizing body;
- Gain more revenue for the organizing body;
- Allow people with similar ideas to gather and exchange information.
Only the last point has anything to do with whatever issue is in question. Keep that in mind when being invited to DC by HRC or whomever. Most nonprofits, even the liberal ones, are primarily self-interested. YOU are the one with the opinions that count! Most of the work that needs to be done is performed by the individual. You can do what needs to be done at home, and it will have a greater overall impact towards the cause. Concerned about depleting salmon spawning habitat? Contact your local officials and voice your concerns. Attend city, county and state meetings. You'd be suprised at what you can do without the assistance of a governing body behind you.
Posted by jimbo at March 12, 2003 10:21 AM
Comments
Shaniqua is also this young white man who makes 9,000 dollars a year, but has to pay 12,000 in rent. And when I miss a day, I don't get paid. But to the point at hand, it is the apathy of these suburban children's parents that allows a democratic system to get bogged-down, and Jimbo is 100% right about the poiltical process, if you want to make change, make it, don't yell about it--and you might find that not everyone belives what you do, which will shock you, and you'll realize that you are a fascist who pushes an agenda on unwilling co-societalists...god, I am bogged down and not saying what I want, which is go home brats and vandalise a subdivision, don't come here and work a frenzy to save whatever...your policy is in doubt, and your effectiveness is doubtful.
Or on the other hand, come and live here...get beaten up by racist black people, get the daily hate stare, stay marginalised for whatever reason, and watch the non-profit sector approve half-million dollar salaries for policy wonks who live in potomac, and hobnob with senator snort, and laugh at YOU. But when you graduate your thirty-six thousand dollar a year college, and take your liberal tendencies to your fluourescent cubicle, and sell-out everything anyone believed in to make someone else rich and yourself a naff clapboard house with hopefully straight kids with psychtropic drug depencies...I'm ranting, yuch.
It is indignified to rant, but I beg that I am infuriated by the following:
-hypocrisy
-racism
-elitism
-hypocrisy
Posted by: beenhexed at March 12, 2003 11:17 AM
If it is indignified to rant, then it is indignified to blog. To blog is to rant.
The point of this entry wasn't to rally against or for a particular cause...just HOW to most effectively rally for whatever cause. And please don't wreck shit.
Posted by: jimbo at March 12, 2003 11:35 AM
So am I in disgrace?
Posted by: beenhexed at March 12, 2003 1:15 PM
No, you're not in disgrace - you're just a big dork. I was merely clarifying myself.
Posted by: jimbo at March 12, 2003 2:13 PM
why does that hurt my feelings so much, I wonder?
Posted by: beenhexed at March 12, 2003 7:14 PM
big dork = big feelings. I know this as many of my friends are 'tards, dorks and geeks.
Posted by: jimbo at March 12, 2003 7:42 PM