If progressives want a solid voice in American politics they sure as hell better vote, vote carefully and, ideally, get out the vote for the best candidates. And off-year, low voter turnout elections like what is coming up TUESDAY NOVEMBER 6TH are the best chances for progressives to affect the outcome. So from now until Tuesday, get busy to prove progressives are a force in American politics.

Some time ago I wrote about a progressive, Gary Anderson, running for Mississippi state insurance commissioner against an incumbent who favored insurance companies over average Americans. This left many victims of Katrina without recourse if their insurance companies tried to refuse to pay out what the victims deserved. My friend from Mississippi who knows many Katrina victims sent me this report:

Most of the people who DID receive money from the insurance companies received only a fraction of what it would cost to replace what they lost. There was the on going battle of wind vs water issue. That even Trent Lott had to deal with. He sued state farm and they settle out of court kind of quietly... However, when Bush visited the coast he promised Trent that he would rebuild his waterfront house. I think it would be interesting to look into what really happened in that case. No one I talked to was happy with the insurance settlements that they received. Now premiums are so high that many people can only afford the basic coverage. Insurance companies were boasting at how much money the gained last year, mainly because they didn't pay the proper amount of money to the people who lost their homes in the disaster. Also, many people have not had the money to fix or rebuild their house and today is the 2 year anniversary.

Well, the progressive beat the incumbent in the Democratic primary. Now the general election is mere days away and Democracy for America wants to bring the ball home for Gary Anderson and Mississippi's Katrina victims. Here is the email I receieved from Democracy for America:

I'm in Mississippi helping to get out the vote for Gary Anderson in some of the toughest Republican districts.

We only have 5 days to go until Election Day. Can you give $15 right now to help DFA put Gary over the top?

www.DemocracyforAmerica.com/PrimariesMatter

Gary Anderson already won his primary against a 32 year do-nothing incumbent thanks to your support. Now we can finish the job on November 6th, 2007 and elect the first African American to statewide office in Mississippi in over a hundred years.

Thanks!

-Matt

Matt Blizek

Don't forget to vote THIS TUESDAY NOVEMBER 6TH FOR GARY ANDERSON FOR MISSISSIPPI INSURANCE COMMISSIONER! And help get out the vote for Gary!