Sonias, slap some sense into me please ------- Gently

[cosmik debris]

I was taught at an early age that I should make one contribution a year to the LOCAL Democratic Party. That contribution would be used to sustain the State Democratic Party which would in turn sustain the National Democratic Party. By contributing locally I preserved the power and influence at the local level.

I had a conversation with Mr. Soechting about this last summer, and he seemed to agree, but his point of view was that we sustain the National Party, but they don't return the favor. The National Party acts as if it doesn't know where the money came from.

Now you seem to be campaigning hard to fill up the State Party coffers, and I am CERTAIN that that is a good thing, but why is it better than increasing LOCAL contributions? If I contribute directly to the State Party will they return the favor? Perhaps I am being short sighted, but I want my local money to support Jim Dunnam and Chet Edwards first and foremost.

What do you have to say about that?

[crispini]

1. Yeah, I'd like to hear more about what the state party does too.

I'm a sustaining member to my county party and to the DLC but I just haven't coughed up the extra dough to the state party yet. I need motivation.

[crispini]

2. Did I type DLC? I meant DNC.

:eyes:

[sonias]

3. cosmik, first let me slap you since you gave me permission

And of course it will be gently. I'm not into abuse.

You essentially have 3 bills to pay, your local county party, your state party and your national party in that order. How many of us kept sending the DNC (Democratic National Committee - Our National Party) money in 04, only to see them totally ignore Texas. The DNC sucked out millions of dollars in contributions out of Texas, and we got squat from them.

Most of the local counties paid for their own Kerry/Edwards signs and distributed or sold them at cost. Of course we expect that to change with Howard Dean at the DNC helm now. And I have given money to the DNC again now headed up by Dean, because I believe that Howard will stick to his 50 state strategy. He's taken the first step in funding 5 positions at the Texas State Party that the DNC will pay for. These are field coordinator positions that the state party is hiring right now. Two of those will work in the South Texas area and I know one is for the West Texas area that includes El Paso. I'm not sure where the other 2 will target. We have to rebuild this party and it takes money. The DNC is finally putting some money back into Texas, and that's a good thing.

I agree with Charles Soechting on that one, spend your money on Texas first. If you can only support one of the three - pick your county party first, if they are active and productive. If not, then send it to the state party. The state party is stepping up now and recruiting candidates, funding candidates and doing grassroots training. These all cost money too.

Maybe you can't send $120, that's cool, $10 to the state party is good too. Certainly they are worth $10 to you. We can't have the Texas State Party HQ shut down or lay off people because we didn't step up to the plate to save our own party. That's all I'm saying.

How much do you give to DU a year? Isn't your Texas State Party worth at least that much? And if you don't think they are, then don't do it. But if you want to complain about a system, remember you have to participate in it. If you don't think the party is doing anything for you, pony in a little money and then you can complain as a stakeholder. It's a much better position to be in when you complain.

Democratically yours,
Sonia

[cosmik debris]

4. Thank you for being gentle

I am retired and living on a limited income. I struggle constantly with the need to be generous and the need to be sure I don't out-live my savings. To me the need to participate financially in politics is not a biennial urge. So it boils down to: how do I proportion my giving so that I can avoid being a greedy old bastard while doing my small part to save a large world.

Although your arguments are quite persuasive, they did not resolve my angst about giving to distant but worthy causes. What did resolve my angst was that I realized that I had made detailed plans to attend the First Annual Muskie Lobster Festival in Brunswick Maine on August 7. http://www.mainedems.org/lobsterbake.asp I'm paying $55 for a DEMOCRATIC lobster (Just because it is red on the outside doesn't mean it is not blue at heart!), I guess I can afford a little for the Texas Democratic Party. You reckon we could get some lobsters down here?

Thank you for your input and keep up the good fight.

I put my money where my lobster is! http://www.txdemocrats.org/

[sonias]

5. Yum lobster

Well now I can see why you're in angst. And General Wesley Clark to boot. I can forgive that. Everyone has to have good times to live a quality life. That's the whole point of our party - like Molly Ivins likes to say "We're the party with the party in it". You have a great time out there cosmik, and say hello to the General for us.

I think our Texas waters are a bit too hot for lobsters, but our good friends on the east coast are more than willing to ship us some.

That's a good fundraising idea. We do too much BBQ in Texas, maybe we should do a lobster boil. I'm not cooking, but I'd pay to come to eat one.

Sonia