It is incumbent upon us not to sit back and pout because the great big insurance companies are successfully molding the health care policy to mostly favor themselves with the aid of many Democrats We must put a legitimate fear in Democrats working against us that where a viable primary challenger is not available, we will strongly support the opposing Republican to defeat them.
Make no mistake. Republicans on this issue are irrelevant in terms of passage but very relevant in molding public opinion. We are not getting the bill we want because we have failed to mobilize appropriately. While we communicate on Twitter, Facebook, thousands of blogs, AAR, and a few other mediums creating a self-sustaining echo chamber, those opposing real healthcare reform are mis-informing people directly, successfully, and in mass at churches, at tea parties, via a dedicated TV channel (Fox News), and via talk radio (Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Glen Beck, Michael Savage, etc).
I live in a conservative bastion. Inasmuch as it is difficult I personally engage people every day at the gym, at grocery stores, restaurants, and anywhere people at least would listen. I have been to several tea parties being the odd man out. It is difficult but the one on one engagement usually make people question their beliefs either overtly or covertly. What I find is that most of those who know our goals for healthcare are correct are timid to engage those programmed by the Right. Many simply keep quiet. We must be more engaging than the opposition. It is incumbent upon us to let these folks understand they are voting against their interest and clear the minutia. They really do not realize it given their mediums of information which is more massive than ours.
I contend that the reason why many Congress People in marginal Democratic districts have no fear in being obstructionist is because we will either sit back and pout or not vote. After-all Bush stole an election, got away with it and then won because we simply did not vote. Obama won because we hooked up to a hope and voted. After we voted we thought he would just do as we hoped he would.
Politicians including President Obama will always do what is the most expedient for them. We must force their hands. If like children we run to a corner and disengage when we fail to get our way mostly because of our failure to force our politicians to do what is right, we should simply cede the country to Right Wing, shut up, and accept our destiny. Otherwise let us take our lumps, learn, re-engage, and win.