I hope that this diary doesn't get me kicked off of this blog, but I have a confession to make. I am a member of a Political Action Committee. Yes I am an honest to goodness, card caring member of a PAC, and this PAC is even a 527 group. I don't think by any stretch of the imagination anyone could call me “rich” or “big money.” I believe I would have to be classified as lower middle class, which means I have a college education, but I don't earn much. But none the less, a few months ago I decided to join a PAC. It cost me $100 to join this PAC. In addition, I had to agree to donate another $100 to at least two of the candidates who are endorsed by this PAC. Luckily, I have two years to do it–but I'm over half way there already.

Why did I join this faceless organization? Like many others, I became much more involved this election cycle than I ever had before. I voted, I caucused…but I had never actually campaigned for a candidate. I campaigned hard for Hillary, and when she lost Iowa I was crushed, devastated, and despondent. But on her website I read one comment posted by a supporter…that Iowa had never elected a woman senator or representative. Of course I knew that there were fewer women in congress than men, but I didn't know they made up only 16% of the 535 seats and I didn't know that none of them had come from Iowa. The simple dream of a democratic republic is representation, and I didn't feel represented. I wanted to do something more. I wanted to join up with other people who believe the way I do, that all of our citizens will be more fairly represented when there are more women in office. I joined this organization because just like many labor union members know, I recognize that a group of voices can make more of a difference than a single voice. When I found Emily's List, I knew that I had found the group for me. Emily's List doesn't just want to get women into office, it wants to get democratic women into office. 

I am happy with my PAC. I like getting the emails from different women candidates around the country. I like knowing that I am not alone in my belief that there is still a glass ceiling. I like knowing that even though Hillary is not in the race anymore, I can still work to get women elected. Mostly I like that in this country I have a right to join an organization and that together we have the right to campaign and to try to influence elections.

I know of course that that   my financial contribution to this PAC is no where near the contribution that many other people are able to make…but hey, I figure that rich people have the right to spend their money how they want. I also know that many PACs do not support my beliefs and that some are in direct opposition to my PAC. However, I have to acknowledge that if I have the right to organize with others and influence elections, so do they.