As a first-time Mpls. convention goer, I agree completely with Doug Grow's column. If the DFL party is interested in keeping newcomers, such as myself, this was not the way to do. Not with the long lines at registration. Not with the inadequate seating and meeting space. Not with the seating design. Not with a first ballot that didn't take place until 4 1/2 hours after the scheduled start of the convention.
It should not be required for folks to spend hour after hour on a Saturday to have a voice in the process. The length of the convention is a symptom of something drastically wrong in the process. Yes, the numbers were higher than expected, but, if the organization truly wanted higher participation, it would have planned for it. If the intent was to have a substantive debate on the issues and give people an opportunity to express their preference, from top to bottom on the ballot, the party would not require folks to endure what went on on Saturday. How many parents of children can spend 12 hours straight at a convention? What about other caregivers, single parents, new immigrants -- the list goes on. If the price for participating in the DFL process is what occurred on Saturday, and the end result, at least at the mayoral level, is no endorsement, why bother going? What incentive is there to get all but the most diehard party activists to come back for a marathon like this? Or is that the purpose? The process ends up being self-selecting -- only certain people with the time and/or resources can afford to participate. Is that really more democratic than an open primary? I appreciate all of the effort that went into pulling off the convention. (Having child care certainly was a step in the right direction.) But, frankly, it was neither a party building exercise. More people than ever came -- something everyone I spoke with thought was a good sign -- but I get the impression that no one thought about what to do when all of these folks got there. Steve Marchese [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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
