- Pennsylvania Among 'Terrible 10' Most Regressive Tax States
- February 4 Non-Partisan Training: HOW TO RUN FOR ELECTION BOARD IN 2013: HOW TO RUN FOR COMMITTEEPERSON IN 2014
- Republican Governors Opt-In to Medicaid Expansion
- The Reports of Unions' Death Are Greatly Exaggerated
- Ask Allyson Schwartz to run for Governor
- Mind the gap: Opting Out of Medicaid Expansion Leaves Low-income Families Behind
- Jan. 14 Workshop:HOW TO RUN FOR ELECTION BOARD IN 2013; HOW TO RUN FOR COMMITTEEPERSON IN 2014
- Seth Williams on Guns, Jasmine Rivera on School Closures @PFC Meetup Wednesday
- PA Revenue Strong Midway Through Year; Tax Cut Could Have Big Impact
- What to Make of the Fiscal Cliff Deal?
When progressive values are under attack, what do we do? STAND UP, FIGHT BACK!
Submitted by Jen Murphy on Wed, 04/05/2006 - 9:42am.
When progressive values are under attack, what do we do? STAND UP, FIGHT BACK!
I'm really sick of listening to Democratic politicians and former politicians talking about how they want young, fresh faces within its leadership. They go to schools, rallies, college campuses and implore that WE get involved. That WE take a stand. That WE even...think about running for office!
But the reality is that they don't actually want that. They want us to get involved in THEIR campaigns. They want us to promote THEIR agendas. They want us to help THEM keep whatever power they have.
Now, more than ever, we progressives need to unite and forcefully push ahead with our own movement. I think some of us were optimistic and really believed that many of these Democrats shared our values. We justified their actions we disagreed with. We thought, maybe they just got a bit misguided somewhere along the way. And we said to ourselves, mabye if we got in there, then they would accept us, listen to our well-reasoned and researched ideas, and follow our lead. And then we were able to sleep at night and dream of a united local Democratic party fighting for a more progressive city and state.
Well, it's time to wake up and smell the deleted emails.
Click "read more" below to find out why you need to come out to an event tonight to fight Dem party leaders who will never let us have our turn unless we take it- a lesson I am learning on the Anne Dicker campaign.
After getting involved in Anne Dicker's campaign and seeing the recent reactions by Dem party leaders to young progressives running for local office, I am convinced that this is a battle. When party leaders want to fight those evil bloggers who promote such ideas as open communication, debate, and political involvement, it's time for us to suit up. This is a battle. I say it's not a war, because the real war is still with the Republicans. But unfortunately, this is a battle we need to fight and win before we can really start the war.
So I am calling on all of the progressives who read this today, to start TONIGHT! Let's start talking about how we're going to do this. Together. Please join me, a young lady who is helping a first-time candidate run for a seat in the State House (or if you are part of the Dem machine, you might refer to her as 'the spoiler'). Let's start the dialogue in person at Philly for Change's monthly meeting (you may remember Philly for Change from such abominations like encouraging progressive folks to run for committee positions). There will be some candidates speaking, like Paul Lang, Joe Sestak and Tony Payton Jr. Then WE will speak. WE will talk about how we're going to take back OUR party. And we will hold up our mugs of beer and toast to the beginning of the beginning.
Let's do it.
7pm
Lucy's Hat Shop (247 Market St)
http://www.dfalink.com/phillyforchange
Absolutely!
You cannot promote change within a status quo. That's an oxymoron I think.
George Washington: "Let me now take a more comprehensive view, & warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the Spirit of Party, generally."
http://mysite.verizon.net/aahpat/pol/gw.htm
Its a tough love thing for me. I don't think the Democrats represent the values that I grew up with in the Roaring '60s of great social and political change in America. The values I learned then wer social justice, civil liberties and humna rights. Core constitutional values rather than family values. The Democrats no longer represent these values, as a Party. So I became an Independent voter, withholding the electoral embrace of my suffrage until the Party returns to reflecting my values.
The Democrats can and should be better than they are.
Have a great meeting tonight.
wow, I wish I'd seen this
I see this was posted yesterday morning, but I didn't see it until this morning, despite several visits to YPP during the day -- was there a server problem? Would have liked to know that it was more than a usual PFC meeting...
How did the event go?
acm
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
— Margaret Mead
oh, and also...
if you live in Philadelphia, aahpat, you owe it to yourself to reconsider your registration. not because you should support what the Democrats do, without their earning it, but because many of the most important elections in the city (including the race in the 175th) are decided by the primary vote, and if you are excluded from that, you're blunting your own ability to make a difference!
acm
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
— Margaret Mead
well
It was there. I cannot help your ignorance, ACM! Just kidding.
Anyway, no, as far as I know this was up all day...
Can someone give us a report? Jen, Ray?
P4C meeting
It was a really energetic meeting. About 70 people filled the first floor of Lucy's Hat Shop. Many were new faces or faces I had not seen for a few months. While the drinks are not as cheap as those at the Blarney Stone, the space was very well-accomodating and I am very happy that it is also wheelchair accessible (a huge plus, as at most places we were given the 2nd floor which was not wheelchair-friendly).
We heard from a host of local progressive candidates (Paul Lang, Joe Sestak, Tony Payton, Jr., Marie deYoung, Harris Martin) as well as Nish Suvarnaker, Valerie McDonald Roberts' campaign manager. We voted overwhelmingly to endorse Valerie McDonald Roberts and Tony Payton, Jr. I'm really excited about some of these candidates, most of whom will have no problem getting through the primary. If you haven't heard about them, you should look them up.
The crowd got even more fired up after Anne Dicker's speech. She was fantastic. Anne threw aside the microphone and asked the group to get closer before she started speaking. She called on all of us progressives to step 'up to the plate' and help start taking our city, our state and our country back! She blew the crowd away with her message of "Neighborhoods First!" Since she's the only candidate in this race not backed by the Party Machine, Anne is the only candidate who will be able to put the concerns of her constitutents ahead of special interests. As she said in her speech, "the only FBI agents that will be visiting me in Harrisburg will be my aunt and uncle!" After that, people started lining up to sign up to canvass this weekend! And you should too! Email josh and tell him you want to canvass this weekend! jrichard@pfcvotes.com
So, if you missed the meeting, please try to get to the next one (May 3rd). Sign up at www.dfalink.com/phillyforchange and get on our mailing list!
After hearing from these candidates and seeing how excited everyone got, I know we're on the right track. let's keep moving forward!