Bert Black asks:
>
> I wonder why the Greens, now another competing major party in this state,
> deserve to be treated any differently than we would treat the Republicans,
> or the Independence Party? Will someone state a rational reason?....
I agree that in the best of all possible cities, where there would be
truly competitive elections--there would be no need for members of one
party to speak at another party's convention. But we don't have
competitive elections in Minneapolis--usually the decisions made at the
March DFL conventions and we all have to live with them for 4 years.
It reminds me of how my father registered as a Republican in my "closed
primary" home town. He, like my mother were lifelong Democrats (which I
would have been too if they hadn't moved the party). But he wanted to
have a say in who was First Selectperson and who was on the
Representative Town Meeting in the town he was born in. There, if you
weren't registered Republican you were disenfranchised.
I remember the SD 62 convention last year--the Davinne/Vescoi battle. I
went for the show and the political schmoozing, to find out what was
happening. I ran into Democrats, of course, but Greens, New Partyites
(PM), Independents, even three or four activist Republicans. Since all
these parties--as parties and philosophies--were effectively shut out of
the city council and the legislative delegation, there was (and is) no
other place for them to congregate with the power elites but at the DFL
conventions.
In that sense, the DFL is like, what did someone here call it, a "public
utility." I know I have many political friends I wouldn't routinely
meet **except** at DFL conventions. (So thanks for allowing visitors.)
Now I would like us to change this, so the DFL can again become a
private organization without so much expectation of diversity (of
opinion) and openness. We could do that with Instant Runoff Voting for
Mayor and proportional representation for city council. Then we could
get some real electoral competition and (proportional!) representation
for ideological minorities as well as demographic groups.
At the same time we could stop the demagogic demonization of the Other
(esp. of Greens and Republicans) so we can start talking about what is
best for the city and all its citizens.
(I think it was a 9th Ward candidate who said--endorse me and we'll beat
the Republicans in November. Give me a break. I suppose the Burmese
are about to take California tomorrow morning, too.)
They used to say Patriotism was the last refuge of scondrels. In Mpls
is it now Republican-bashing and Nadar-bashing. To keep loosely-engaged
voters in the corral.
One last point. Even if the DFL conventions (whose hospitality I
appreciate) are not public utilities, you would think that Dean Z would
have deserved some more courtesy and consideration, and a couple more
minutes, for his years of service as a DFL worker and office-holder.
Even if a party must stigmatize defection in the long run, the
individuals that make up a party can respect principled differences of
opinion, honor service to the community, and cut some slack.
Alan Shilepsky
Independence Party
Downtown Mpls.
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