As grizzled as I am, I can still take heart from seeing the faces of people young enough to be my grandchildren but old enough to vote who realize how precious our democracy is. They came forward in the hundreds at last year's caucuses - and were elected to positions at every level of party organization, from precincts to the state executive committee. They came out in the thousands to vote, to get out the vote, to register voters, to support candidates and argue the issues of the day. Not just in the DFL, either.
About the old faces - the East African elders, young in the civic life of our town - who got on the phone with a translator and called our national representatives to ask that they not support the national president's budget proposal that would cut Medicaid, children's education, community development dollars for low and moderate income communities, Section 8 funding, food stamps, public housing, disabled housing, fair housing and AIDS housing -- They don't live in East Africa any more. They live in Minneapolis, Minnesota with their extended families and we take our citizenship seriously. we - and now they - know that our mayor and our city council and our independent boards take our opinions seriously. For us, participating in the precinct caucuses and other political gatherings makes sense for our own sakes and that of our children and grandchildren - a no-brainer that cuts right across every demographic category there is. Mocking this system is not helpful. I myself had a bad experience four years ago in this system and I found a way to send a stern message about my gaping political wounds, if you will. Those wounds have healed. Hardly any scar tissue, in fact, since we don't actually spend our lives in mortal partisan combat. There are many others like me who understand very well that inclusivity and outreach means making room for all sorts of new strengths and our political parties and interest groups are forever finding the truth of this. Don't throw the baby out with the bath water. Use fresh water! ;-) Fred Markus, Phillips West, Ward 6 --- http://USFamily.Net/dialup.html - $8.25/mo! -- http://www.usfamily.net/dsl.html - $19.99/mo! --- REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
