I am writing this from the latitude of Fairbanks although on the other side of the globe, that is from Finland's border to the Russian Federation. In the last decade, I haven't spent more than a couple of week-long visits in the states. If this makes me disqualified in the reader's eyes, he or she is kindly asked to stop reading now.
There is no reason to deny that the events in America has worried me a lot. And the Bush-administration has been more like the tip of an iceberg. One thing that has worried me in particular has been what I've perceived as a long lasting major disconnect between the American people and the Democratic Party. I feel that the republicans have been a lot better communicators, listening skillfully to the sentiments among "common people", and been even more skillfull when using that to modulate their propaganda. We all know that this loud propaganda poorly has described what republicans then really do, when in power.
It is my opinion, for whatever my opinion now is worth, that there has been more than a grain of truth to the meme about Democrats as an "elite" different from, and opposed to, common people.
This is where my optimism comes in!
I am no big fan of Barack Obama. And I am not all that sure of him beating even an opponent as McCain. Remember: The voters that are to decide are the same who re-elected Bush four years ago.
But what I am very much impressed by is the way the Obama-campaign has worked, of its resemblance to a Popular Movement, how lots of common people have felt energized and mobilized by a common cause.
Also if the election this year should go wrong, there may be reason to hope that the Democratic Party can develop from a posture that by many Americans, and not without reason, is perceived as belittleing.
After the success of the Obama campaign, maybe the party as a whole can start ponder whether few but wealthy donors really is a better strategy than grassroot activism.
I think that people's feeling of being part of a movement is an important feature that greatly enhances the chances to win elections - however, ...of course!, ...the movement must not betray its base. But maybe too much emphasis has been put on winning the elections.
What I hope for, is a Democratic Party that puts more energy into convincing the voters that public health, good education and right to abortion are important issues, but a party realizing that the voters must be convinced first, before it's time to create legislation. A party that treats the voters as adults and gets perceived to be treating ordinary people with respect. A party that is less about achieving or holding on to power, and more about influencing the debate and the agenda.
