The other side of the coin: I've felt damned near helpless about all the large scale shit that has been unleashed the last couple of months. But I have really done a deep dive trying to make the intersection we live at much safer for the community.
If we all use what we can to fix what we can, that's huge. Momentum is the greatest motivator.
So true. Being a Democrat and a local elected official I have always maintained that solving people’s problems on a practical level is the best way to restore faith in the party and government in general. Unfortunately from serving on a Democratic Committee I have seen that serving our constituents and finding out our community’s concerns is not remotely valued. They just want us to fundraise, knock doors and be mouth pieces for talking points crafted by consultants who have no idea what our residents want from their representatives.
Bravo Baratunde! The difference between protest and demonstration has never been so clear as it is when you describe it here. I'll be at Bioneers next week and look forward to hearing what you have to say there.
When I was young in the San Francisco Bay Area, I rented an old crumbling down farmhouse in the middle of a field. Across the street was a newer subdivision. One day, a man came walking down my long driveway. If I were him, I would have assumed no one lived there and not even tried. I was outside and as he approached, he identified himself as a candidate running for some government position. He was a democrat, told me his background and ideas and asked for mine. This left a huge impression on me and he got my vote. That experience has never left my mind. He went out of his way to talk to me. That person to person contact is magic and more of our candidates need to remember we are real people.
Thank you so much for this. I would love a way to share this with local Dems but most are Schumer's generation and are not going to be troubled with Substack, Bsky, or IG. :-(
Just want to express a profound thank you!
The other side of the coin: I've felt damned near helpless about all the large scale shit that has been unleashed the last couple of months. But I have really done a deep dive trying to make the intersection we live at much safer for the community.
If we all use what we can to fix what we can, that's huge. Momentum is the greatest motivator.
So true. Being a Democrat and a local elected official I have always maintained that solving people’s problems on a practical level is the best way to restore faith in the party and government in general. Unfortunately from serving on a Democratic Committee I have seen that serving our constituents and finding out our community’s concerns is not remotely valued. They just want us to fundraise, knock doors and be mouth pieces for talking points crafted by consultants who have no idea what our residents want from their representatives.
Bravo Baratunde! The difference between protest and demonstration has never been so clear as it is when you describe it here. I'll be at Bioneers next week and look forward to hearing what you have to say there.
When I was young in the San Francisco Bay Area, I rented an old crumbling down farmhouse in the middle of a field. Across the street was a newer subdivision. One day, a man came walking down my long driveway. If I were him, I would have assumed no one lived there and not even tried. I was outside and as he approached, he identified himself as a candidate running for some government position. He was a democrat, told me his background and ideas and asked for mine. This left a huge impression on me and he got my vote. That experience has never left my mind. He went out of his way to talk to me. That person to person contact is magic and more of our candidates need to remember we are real people.
Thank you so much for this. I would love a way to share this with local Dems but most are Schumer's generation and are not going to be troubled with Substack, Bsky, or IG. :-(
That's wisdom - the best answer I've heard to what's going on. Thank you, you just made my day!
I totally get what you are saying. I just hope the democratic party is listening!
Trump need a taste of his own medicine.
Totally. They'd better get on it.