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MineralMan

(146,190 posts)
Tue Jul 8, 2014, 01:25 PM Jul 2014

Want to Get Active in Democratic Politics? It's Easy.

The reality I discovered decades ago was that at the local level, few people bother to get involved in party organizations. What that means is that the ones who do get to control what happens. It's the same with many types of organization. A small group of like-thinking people can become part of those local groups and quickly move to make changes, if they have the numbers on their side.

The thing about local Democratic party organizations is that they are organized on the concept of democracy. What that means is that numbers rule. Often, over time, one group often gains control, but more by default than anything else. Local organization leadership tends to be elected from the very few who want to be in leadership positions. It's usually easy to become part of the leadership. All you really have to do is be willing to be part of it. Party organization elections are generally uncontested at the local level, so a person who wants to be in a position can usually put his or her name forward and will get that position, almost automatically.

A lot of local organizational leadership is made up of people who have been convinced to run for a position, but who don't really care about actually doing anything. In many cases, in fact, there's little to nothing that the precinct or district level leadership is actually required to do, most of the time on a default basis. If you're willing, you can be in leadership, and then you can use the processes that are typically simply ignored to advance your positions and goals.

You have to be a bit of a joiner and be willing to do some boring stuff, but if you can do that, you'll be one of the few who is actually willing to do much of anything. At the precinct or ward level, there's little that must be done, but much that can be done. I've been the chair of my precinct organization for several election cycles now. I cajoled a few others to take the other positions, but there's really no business for us that must be done. My fellow precinct officers only accepted after being promised that they wouldn't be called on much. My precinct is one of the few in the district that actually has a full slate of officers, in fact.

So, I looked into things and found out that there is a lot that can be done. For example, I wondered if I could create a website for the precinct. The answer was a bored "sure" from the next level up, so I did. The link is in my signature line. There, I provide contact points, information that helps people access elected officials and stuff like that. Using basic SEO, any search that includes St. Paul, DFL and precinct takes people right to the little blogspot.com site, which took me just a couple of hours to set up.

I also post articles there from time to time, encouraging voting, announcing elections and results, along with other stuff. What is surprising is how many people find their way to that website and then email me for information or with questions. Many aren't even from my precinct. Prospective candidates, too, find that precinct website, and email me. I set up meetings with them to find out what they're about and what their politics are. They want to talk to someone...anyone...who is active. So, I get to meet folks who are running. I get to know them, their positions, and more.

As a precinct chair, one of my jobs is to organize GOTV efforts and things like canvassing. Precincts are small, though, and I discovered that it was difficult to get people involved in these things. So I do it myself. For every election, I walk the precinct, knocking on doors, talking to people, handing out the campaign literature that candidates are more than happy to supply to me. I learn the issues, the positions of candidates, and talk to people. I ask them what their issues are and help them understand why the candidate endorsed by the Minnesota DFL Party is their best choice. I ask them to go to the polls and vote, and help them understand why it matters. If they're not registered, I help them do that. It works. The precinct turnout always is high.

Then, there are the caucuses and conventions, where the typically lousy turnout means that anyone who shows up can be a convention delegate to the district and other conventions. There, the opportunities for getting involved in leadership at that level are many, and you can do it if you're willing to do it. At every district convention, many leadership seats are open, and pretty much anyone who bothers to put his or her name forward gets elected to boards, leadership positions, etc. There are a few regulars, most of whom have been elected over and over. If someone else puts their name forward, they often defer to the new person, since they're tired of whatever responsibilities they have. Candidates are selected and endorsed at these conventions. They are where that happens.

Things don't get more difficult until you get to the state level in the party organization. The leadership positions there are not automatically available, so you have to put in your time and put yourself forward more than once to get elected to those, but there are always minor positions that are available if someone really wants them. Minor positions lead to more influential positions, and that's how the existing leadership got into those positions.

Democratic party organizations in any state are just another club, really. And like most clubs, those who are willing to become the leaders can become the leaders. Locally, it can be done almost instantly. District level leadership takes a little longer, and you have to shake a few hands. Statewide leadership is more difficult, but is attainable, if you don't mind doing a minor job to get elected to leadership the first time. It's good if you understand Robert's Rules of Order, because you'll be among just a few who do.

If you do things, you get noticed by folks who don't really do much. More handshaking ensues. Pretty soon, you can move up in the leadership ranks. But all along the way, you get to be involved in the process that ends up selecting candidates, and you have a voice in all of it. I'm old, now, and am no longer looking to get involved in leadership beyond the district level. But folks are doing just that who are younger than I am, and the leadership is changing as they do.

It's a tried and true process, and that's how our candidates for state legislative office and congressional districts are selected. It varies from state to state, of course, but the process is about the same in all Democratic party organizations. If you want to be in a leadership position, you can be, even if it takes a bit of time to work up to it. But you have to be willing to do some work. I'm in Minnesota now, which uses the caucus and convention system, but I spent decades in California, which uses a different system, more like most states. The same processes apply to both, though, and the bottom-up organizational system is pretty much the same everywhere. The same strategies will get anyone who wants to be in party leadership in party leadership. It works.

Bottom line: If you want to be involved, you can be. If you want to be involved in leadership, you can be. But, you have to take the steps needed to get there. You must be willing to take on some responsibilities and spend some time doing mundane things. If you do, though, you can be what you want to be and have a role in the most fundamental part of our political system: selecting candidates for office. It's up to each individual to decide if that's the right path for them. It can be boring. It can be rewarding. It can be frustrating, too, at times. It leads to meeting a lot of people, including the candidates. It's interesting and fun, if you're a political person. I highly recommend it as a way to really be involved in the process.

Note: A shorter version of this was posted as a reply in another GD thread.

8 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Want to Get Active in Democratic Politics? It's Easy. (Original Post) MineralMan Jul 2014 OP
Very nice, and thanks for the information. Xyzse Jul 2014 #1
My pleasure. I always try to encourage people to get MineralMan Jul 2014 #2
I am still registered as an Independent however. Xyzse Jul 2014 #4
Yes. That would make it difficult. MineralMan Jul 2014 #6
Yeah, kinda figured. Xyzse Jul 2014 #7
Democratic committees in CT are not really clubs Larkspur Jul 2014 #3
Thanks for the information on your state. MineralMan Jul 2014 #5
TL;DR MineralMan Jul 2014 #8

MineralMan

(146,190 posts)
2. My pleasure. I always try to encourage people to get
Tue Jul 8, 2014, 01:40 PM
Jul 2014

involved in their Democratic Party organization on a local basis.

Xyzse

(8,217 posts)
4. I am still registered as an Independent however.
Tue Jul 8, 2014, 01:42 PM
Jul 2014

I just don't feel right putting a "D" after me.

It is actually my stumbling block, other than helping canvass, manning phone lines and donating.

MineralMan

(146,190 posts)
6. Yes. That would make it difficult.
Tue Jul 8, 2014, 02:05 PM
Jul 2014

You do really have to be a registered Democrat to participate in party organizations. It's pretty much a rule. In Minnesota, we sign something at every caucus and convention affirming our status as Democrats.

Xyzse

(8,217 posts)
7. Yeah, kinda figured.
Tue Jul 8, 2014, 02:11 PM
Jul 2014

I just don't feel right being registered with any party.

It is a personal hang up.

 

Larkspur

(12,804 posts)
3. Democratic committees in CT are not really clubs
Tue Jul 8, 2014, 01:42 PM
Jul 2014

Democratic Town Committee (DTC) members are the lowest level elected positions. There is a biannual caucus in January to select individuals or slates of individuals by local Democrats to serve on the DTC. Most times, especially in small towns, there are no competing slates, so the caucus serves as the election, but if there is, there is a primary on the first Tuesday in March for local registered Democrats to vote in. In CT we usually see DTC primary battles from the big DTCs, like those in Hartford and New Haven.

DTC members are elected to represent the Democrats in their town and are representatives of the Democratic Party in their town. So I avoid using the club metaphor when describing our Democratic committees. By being an election position, DTC members can not be booted out of the DTC on the whims of the majority; whereas, in a club, you could be.

I do agree that most DTC's are not difficult to join, and most existing members welcome new blood, especially if you are willing to volunteer to help out. If there are no openings in a Democratic committee, offer to volunteer to help out. This way if an opening arises, the members will remember you and most likely ask you to fill the vacancy.

MineralMan

(146,190 posts)
5. Thanks for the information on your state.
Tue Jul 8, 2014, 01:44 PM
Jul 2014

Each state does things in its own way. As you say, though, it's still pretty easy to get involved if you want to. Local stuff almost always is, really.

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