an introduction

[liberalcapitalist]

My name is Jason Seagraves. I was a candidate for U.S. Congress in Michigan's 7th Congressional District. Regretably, I exited the race just days after winning a Democratic debate (preference poll gave me 64% of the vote) because I was one of two liberal candidates vs. a conservative, New York transplant, carpetbagging, big money, opportunist.

In my dealings with the state Democratic Party, I have found it to be completely unresponsive to first time and young candidates. It is a power structure that plays to corporatist interests, and shuts out innovation and real idealism. The local parties have been different. Most of the county parties, particularly those that are predominantly rural, are stocked with REAL Democrats (in the best sense of the word). The urban counties (Jackson and Calhoun in my case) are corrupt and antidemocratic-- they overtly back this New York conservative.

Overall, the Democratic Party in my area is ineffective. They are perpetual losers of elections, despite the fact that the district is honestly about a 50-50 split (Repub vs. Dem). Al Gore and Ralph Nader combined for 48% of the vote in this district in 2000. But the local Dems are inept, and the state party does nothing to correct the matter. It is forcing a lot of young activists like myself to consider going Green or Independnent.

What's your story?

[freetobegay]

1. "Overall, the Democratic Party in my area is ineffective"

Fix it don't run from it! Thats the easy way out.

[liberalcapitalist]

2. gay liberal

It's on my mind daily which is the better way to go. The thing is, with my experience, I do not see the duopoly as some sort of indominitable force that must be bowed to in order to affect change. I think that third party movements aim too "high," with presidential runs and the like, instead of trying to build at the grassroots, state house level. I mean, county party meetings have 10 or 20 people at them-- that's nothing for an independent party to be concerned with, and it isn't as if money is flowing from the DNC or state party to the counties. The only thing to overcome is the notion that third-party candidates cannot win.

As a gay liberal, you should be incensed at Kerry's nomination as "our" candidate. He opposes gay marriage but can't articulate why, because the reason is that it is politically undesirable to support gay marriage (as I did in my campaign). I was asking people to vote for what they believe in when they voted for me, and that's all I can do myself.