| A couple of weeks ago, Robert posted an item here pointing out that our mutual Congressman, Chris Lee, is the 33rd richest member of Congress. In the course of the discussion, one of TAP's regular commenters suggested that expending time, effort, and money on a district like NY-26 which we'd failed to win in either 2006 or 2008 was a waste.
Let me make something clear: I completely understand the motivation for wanting to defend existing seats, and to avoid distractions. In some ways I even agree with it--in purely political terms there's not much to be gained from fighting over NY-26.
But to those of us who live here in the heart of the district, it's not nearly that simple.
I'm reminded of a scene out of the film Falling Down: a man being forcibly removed from a bank for having a breakdown, after being told that he is "not economically viable" for the loan he needs. The scene underscores the simple, sanitized way in which our society tells people that they're not worth saving; the disassociation between the math that dictates what is "practical" and the real world consequences.
I know that some people here consider me unreasonably obsessed about this district and this race. Let me tell you why. Every day that I drive down Main Street of my home town, I see more empty storefronts. I see small businesses that are just barely hanging on. And I know that without a change in the way that our area is represented, and a voice for our citizens that actually reflects their real needs, then one day in the not too distant future there's not going to be any future left out here.
Trying to make sure that my home has a representative worthy of it is anything but a "purely political" equation of who wins and who loses. It's about the continued survival of real people who go to work every day, and deserve more than permanent hand to mouth living for themselves and their children. It's about making sure that everyone has a voice, whether they live in a "viable" district or somewhere out here in the woods. That may not be the most politically practical thing to do. But it's the right thing to do. |
