A bit delayed, given that the rally was Friday, but I did go down and cover the event in front of Senator Wyden's Portland office, snapped a couple of photos, and talked with Lisa Caballero, the volunteer organizer while getting a copy of her statement and testimonials from ordinary Oregonians about their strong desire for a public option.
See, that was the reason for the rally, to try and push Wyden towards a full and robust public option (FRPO). Here's a picture of them doing that!
The shot I have here is cropped a bit; the strength of the rally was a definite 50+ and closer to 75 by my headcount. (That's easily double or triple the group who came out for single payer, although I did recognize some overlap). They spoke, chanted and got honks for about 20 minutes before dispersing, but they did deliver their petition (more on that below), raise some awareness and earn media attention (WWeek and the Merc).
Here's the transcription of the audio I got talking to Caballero after the rally, which wasn't really conducted as a formal interview--but she does make some good points which echoed her speech:
People don't quite understand the politics of what's happening. Wyden keeps making these statements that are quite confusing to someone that's not bothering to dig and be informed. I have had people just from this event say, "why are you out here? Wyden is supporting a public option." Well actually he's not; if you listen to what he's saying, he's saying he supports a public option if it's "sustainably financed." And then he doesn't describe what that is.
I would be happier if he just said, "I disagree with you; we don't see eye to eye on this and this is what I'm supporting, can I convince you?" But instead, he's deliberately not being straightforward to people that aren't up to their neck in this issue It's confusing to people. So I think we're really getting down to the point where he needs to come out and make a statement. This week Sen. Kennedy's committee has come out with a bill. There's something on the table. It's been vetted by the Congressional Budget Office, and so they've got a number on it. My question to Sen. Wyden is, does he consider the finances of that bill to be sustainably financed?
The problem that starts happening with someone like me is I'm not a professional. I'm not an economist, I'm not a policy wonk, I just read the newspaper. So I can't argue policy with complicated answers like that about Senate procedures. But I just get the feeling that I'm not being dealt with straightforwardly.
(Bumping to the top as a reminder--apparently there is also a rally today at 1230p for his Salem office, Federal Building, 310 W. 6th St, Rm 118... - promoted by torridjoe)
If you're feeling itchy about where Senator Wyden stands on a full and robust public option (FRPO)--and why shouldn't you be, considering he continues to press his own bill that doesn't contain one?--here's a chance to represent:
Public Option Now! Health Care Rally
Sen. Ron Wyden's District Office, 1220 SW 3rd Avenue, Suite 585 (Map) Portland, OR 97204
Thursday, July 09th, 12:00 PM
MoveOn is sponsoring the rally, and has been working furiously to get its membership out on the hustings, trying to fulfill FDR's imperative when asked to support progressive policy: "Make me do it." The only way that Wyden will come out openly and strongly for a FRPO, and finally ditch his weaker alternative, is the same way that Arlen Specter, Ben Nelson, Dianne Feinstein and Kay Hagan have been made to come around: they've been shamed and warned into it.
These videos are from Thursday; today seems like a good day to celebrate mass protests of conscience, and also to spread the word that folks are ready to tell an alternate story about Gordon Smith than the one he likes to present to media and the voters. They were where he was in Medford last week, a feat in itself considering how close to his chest the daily schedule resides. They managed to make enough of a show to have two of the networks cover their acts of civil disobedience, and we embed them here in that spirit. The weight of moral conscience can be brought to bear on the forces of hatred and inequality in this society; being visible in adding to that weight is what Dr. King's peaceful protests were all about. Here's to mass effort. First, KOBI:
The title of Professor Francis Fox Piven’s lecture was “Can Power from Below Change the World?” She answered with an emphatic “Yes.” Speaking before a crowd or 110 at Reed College on Saturday afternoon (11/03/07), Piven describe how social protest movements can change electoral politics and gain their goals.
Professor Piven said we “have real problems in the US today,” and listed some: war, “war policy through cronyism, greed, and incompetence,” “destruction of multilateral relations with the rest of the world,” soaring inequality, “deregulation of our capitalist economy” and more. Although “it is hard to see a stable future unfolding,” she argued, “the lessons of our history suggest” that similar problems have been solved by “great social protest movements in the past.” She discussed examples from the American Revolution, the Abolitionists, the union movement in the 1930, and the civil rights movement.
She spoke of “interdependent power” that gives people with little resources the power to disrupt the lives of those with more resources who are dependent on those with few resources. “Sometimes people with very little win something.” She said the world was becoming more interdependent, thus offering opportunities for disruptive social protest movements. She also said “movements arise out of hope, not hardship alone.”
“Social movements can have large impacts on electoral politics,” she argued. “Collective defiance has always existed, and can have an impact on electoral politics.”
“There is no permanent institutional solution,” she said. “The concentration of power and its abuses can happen under any system.” She cited Jefferson who said “people have to fight for their rights.”
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Professor Pivens is a Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Sociology at the City University of New York and President of the American Sociological Association. Her books include “
She spoke of “interdependent power” that gives people with little resources the power to disrupt the lives of those with more resources who are dependent on those with few resources. “Sometimes people with very little win something.” She said the world was becoming more interdependent, thus offering opportunities for disruptive social protest movements. She also said “movements arise out of hope, not hardship alone.”
“Social movements can have large impacts on electoral politics,” she argued. “Collective defiance has always existed, and can have an impact on electoral politics.”
