Nicholas Ruiz III
for U.S. Congress 2012
FL District 24
For the new wave of American progress.

Bring the Light

By Nicholas Ruiz III



Excessive careerism, opportunism and fear – these are the artifacts
of Democratic failure. And they plague the progressive movement in
the United States. To know what is right, and not advocate for it - is
the mark of complicity and accessory to the destruction of
progressive politics.

There are those that can and do this hard work of love and
progressive political advocacy – and I applaud them, and work with
them where I can – as they are part of the broader force that holds
the possibility of American progress together. For example, the
people at Blue America, Crooks and Liars, Bernie Sanders, Nicole
Sandler at Radio or Not, and many others.

And then there are those institutions, groups, committees,
organizations, funds and individuals - alas, so many more, which
imagine they advocate for progressive politics, all the while, simply
raising capital and retail exchange without significant progressive
consequence.

Worse, the distribution of such raised capital most often favors its
way into the campaigns of those that would vote precisely against
progressive legislation, rather than finding its way into the
campaigns of those that would enact a progressive politics. And so
many think they can be a triumphant force for progressive politics
all on their own. In fact, some may even desire to go it alone so as to
cultivate an imagined fiefdom of notoriety; or even, celebrity.


In other words, a major hitch of the Democratic community today is
a relatively simple one - too much misplaced heroism, spectacle and
progressive pageantry, and not enough people focusing energy on
the heart of the matter: to get authentic, progressive
representatives, senators and presidents elected that will do the
Democratic policy-making so many voters want to see in America.
Too much progressive energy is actively scattered and unfocused.
Plenty of energy though, is meticulously focused, and wasted - on
useless posturing, and people trying to lord it over one another.


For 21st century America, it is simply not enough to rotate and stage
the same slogans, rallies, anointed pundits, celebrities and quietly
complicit politicians, that travel from media screen to media screen,
punting on issues of the day, and then expect a progressive politics
to emerge out of it. Nothing will emerge in this way, except scattered
energy, and a closed network of extreme individualism, tit for tat
favoritism and that too familiar, good ol’ boys clubbiness that
should be recognized for what it is: progressive cronyism.


History has shown – progressives cannot go it alone. Martin Luther
King, Jr. had a career, perhaps, but was not excessively careerist –
hence he worked with others to enable something bigger than
himself. Gandhi too, worked with others to enable something larger
than himself. No group or individual is powerful enough to dent the
darkness of the radical Right on their own.


Fighting progressives should remember: even Achilles traveled
with warriors. Achilles knew that there is strength in numbers. Even
as he remained, the mighty individual Achilles. And remember too,
that despite his valor and heroism, his hubris hurt the cause of his
people.


For those of you that work hard to learn about, cultivate and
introduce new ideas, people and possibilities - please continue to
do so. We need you. America needs you. The world needs you.


For those that are still waiting for an omen that it’s vital for
progressives to work together, or self-serving to do so, or whatever
it is that motivates you – it’s already here, as we all see a coming
darkness in the form of the radicalized Right – so take a chance,
wherever you are, to work together and bring the light:



























Please contribute now to help NRIII unseat Republican Sandy
Adams in 2012 - and work toward keeping a truly Democratic
tradition alive in America:





and please endorse, and invite friends to endorse his campaign
here:

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Many thanks for your support!
Political advertisement paid for and approved by
Nicholas Ruiz III, Democratic candidate for Congress
Nicholas Ruiz III for Congress
PO Box 1372
New Smyrna Beach, FL 32170

nicholasruizforcongress@intertheory.org