Your Thoughts On A Personal Matter
Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 09:03:57 PM PDT
As many of you know, I have been looking for a new job - actually looking for a new career. Something that will allow me to earn a living helping others. And while at Netroots Nation I was busy handing out resumes and business cards like crazy and networking as best I could.
Today I got a call from a political campaign. The Texas Democratic Party had forwarded my resume to them as a potential candidate for a full time job with a campaign. I had a very positive 30 minute conversation with the campaign manager.
I won't say what campaign, but I will say this - it's the real deal. The candidate is a top notch fundraiser, has managed winning Democratic campaigns here in Texas. A lot of Texas blogs are watching this race closely because they think it is a great red to blue opportunity.
And it is local to me.
Sounds perfect, right?
There are downsides:
Hour commute each way
60% salary reduction
Unemployed as of November 5th, regardless of whether the candidate wins or not
Work schedule is 7 days a week, 12 hour days until October. Then it goes to 18 hour days.
Candidate is a fairly conservative Democrat - conservative enough that the word Democrat only appears in news articles on his site. Nowhere on his site does he associate his own name with the words "Democrat" or "Democratic." That worries me.
Can this candidate's opponent harm him by using my Wiccan faith against the candidate? In Texas it might sell to go around saying: That Democrat has a Witch on staff!
The three issues I am most wrestling with are:
- Can I live with pretty much not seeing my daughter during until November 5th?
- Is this fair to do to my wife - Just leave her with the daughter and vanish?
- As a person whose marriage is ending, can I afford to take that kind of pay cut followed by guaranteed unemployment when I am planning on moving out of my home?
But the upsides are substantial as well:
My work would make a real difference
It would be fun and challenging
I would leave a toxic work environment
This would probably open doors in progressive politics for me that otherwise would not open
I would welcome thoughts and insight from any Street Prophet. Ya'll my peeps.
