Well, I will be the second to express my disgust. Take this quote from Matt Taibbi explaining why he is disenchanted by the Democratic Party. It explains exactly how I feel (and a majority of 'progressives' in Minneapolis, I think).
> > "What [the Democratic Party] offers is series of positions of varying > reasonableness on the same narrow issues that have been sold to voters as > the sum total of 'politics' for the last twenty or thirty or forty years: > tax policy, balanced budgets, educational spending. None of the proposals > are ever fundamental changes....The candidates therefore become buffoons > straight out of Voltaire: crusaders for change, campaigning on a platform of > minor improvements to this best of all possible worlds" (Spanking the > Donkey. The New York Press, 2005). > > This is why we have a problem nationally with winning elections and this > is why we have the problems in Minneapolis with having our DFL candidates de > facto republicans (We don't have a problem with Democrats winning because > like Denny pointed out, they all call themselves Democrats). This is why the > Republicans, nationally and locally, call the shots. Our elected Democrats > meanwhile, sit back, comfortable in their knowledge that if they are from > Minneapolis, they know they will be re-elected if they vote the right way > and keep DFL after their name, providing no real leadership, no real reform, > no real solutions*. But rather, reacting to the measures that the > Republicans put forward with conviction and passion (however misplaced, > IMHO) > > So, what to do....Well, we have some great new leadership in the Minnesota > DFL and some candidates for local office that wish to change the DFL from > within (rather than chucking it and heading for the Greens). But it isn't > enough just to vote. The Stone/Kummer race was a perfect example. If all of > us interested in politics vote the way of reform, it isn't enough. We have > to help get others involved. Organize people to their participate in their > caucuses, the primary and the general. > > I love what the DFL party stands for, but it doesn't really seem to be > "standing" for those things as much as kinda wobbling. I have hope for > change, whereas others have already turned Green. But maybe if we can turn > this around here, we can stop the hemorrhage of progressives to the Green > Party and give them a reason to stay and also to return. > > *Note: There are, of course, exceptions...you know who you are. > > Heidi Quezada > Standish > > > 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:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
