Granny D: The Right Way to Win Elections

[welshTerrier2]

millions of people don't vote ... many DU'ers have spoken of the need to reach these voters ... we are often amazed that people who have been given a right to cast a vote to make this country better or perhaps even vote their own selfish interests fail to participate in our great American democracy ... perhaps GrannyD offers a little insight into the reason why ...

this is not to argue that there is no difference between the parties ... of course there are huge differences ... the point being raised is whether democrats could, and should, do a better job staying in contact with the needs of citizens on the local level and increasing their visibility and service to their constituents ...

source: http://grannyd.com/speech20040729.htm

<snip>

There were many housing projects and low-income neighborhoods where the people had seen nobody dropping by to talk politics since the last election. The Democrats only come around, we were told, every few years to ask for their votes, but they weren't there to listen to their problems, help them craft political solutions. These people were of the opinion that, if the Democrats won or lost, their own lives wouldn't change much. That is stripped down politics. That is downright exploitive politics, when you come around begging for votes for your concerns, but you don't give a crouton in return. Oh yes, if your man or woman is elected, things will be better for everybody. But that is the top layer of the cake, and right now there is no cake under that frosting. We have to put it back by being involved all year long, every year, and in every neighborhood that needs political help. That is movement building--not just stumping for candidates.

You will go to your home tonight, or to your hotel room, and you will turn on all the lights and have a nice, hot shower, and watch television and not even think about the electrical power that makes it all happpen. If you follow the electrical wires far enough away you will find West Virginia and Kentucky communities that are being ravaged without mercy by big coal companies, protected by corrupt politicians. The coal companies cut off the top half of whole mountain ranges, dump the rubble in the once Eden-like valleys, and leave the mess to the people there. Every time it rains now, their homes flood. Giant pools of toxic sludge are everywhere, and when their dams break, toxins spill for miles. One recent spill in Inez, Kentucky, released more goo than the Exxon-Valdez, but this is probably the first you heard of it.

Now, if you are worried if West Virginia and Kentucky go to the Republicans, you might ask yourself first: where the hell have you been when they have so needed your help? Where have you been, as the residents of Cabrini Green in Chicago, or the slums of Ft. Myers or Miami or New Orleans or Los Angeles have needed your organizing help and your voice added to theirs?--for they love their children too and want decent lives. Do you think politics is just about raising money for candidates? Politics is about creatively serving the needs of your people, and the election is just the report card for how you are doing and how many people you have helped and how many people are following your leadership because you were there for them.

So don't let this new progressive alliance be another can of Betty Crocker icing for a cake that isn't there. Organize not just to win elections, but to deserve to win elections.

</snip>

[mom cat]

1. Thanks for that reminder of what we should all know by now.

Granny D has it down cold....And so does Kerry. I believe that when he takes office that we will see real change in the directions she hopes for. Those are my hopes too. :grouphug:

[no name no slogan]

2. This needs a serious kick

...because this is EXACTLY the way that Paul Wellstone won elections, too.

At Camp Wellstone, one of the biggest points they emphasize is that Paul won because he made politics mean something to the 50% who don't even vote. He energized them, spoke to their concerns, and relied on them to "stay connected" to his constituency.

But for some reason, the Dems have completely ignored this concept since the late 80s. They seem to think that big budgets and TV ads are better than actually talking about policies that mean something. So they spend millions of $$ each election trying to convince the moderate Repubs to support them, instead of trying to connect to those naturally sympathetic to them, but not motivated to vote.