The Mass Democratic Party still doesn't get it

[welshTerrier2]

today's Boston Globe (3/13/05) has a great editorial by former, highly respected, State Senator George Bachrach ... he really hits the nail on the head explaining exactly why we keep losing the Governor's races ... the changes he calls for not only are needed in Massachusetts but are needed on the national level as well ...

source: http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/03/13/reform_the_democrats_with_more_democracy/

<skip>The problem with proposal number two is that it concentrates more power in the hands of the institutional bosses of the Democratic Party who already dominate party conventions. Does anyone really think that American politics needs more party control by party leaders or interest groups?<skip>

The problem for the Democratic Party is not that primary campaigns are too short or that party leaders have too little control. The problem is that we pick the wrong nominees. We don't need longer campaigns and conventions controlled by powerful institutional interests supporting front-running Beacon Hill insiders.

We need just the opposite. We need open and spirited campaigns that support bold, independent candidates. We need Democratic nominees who offer a progressive vision and an alternative plan, not an echo of the Republican Party or a front for Beacon Hill power brokers and Democratic interest groups.<skip>

Democracy is a messy business. If we merely wanted order, benevolent dictatorships fill the bill. Or we could simply return to the good old days of Tammany Hall, when backroom ward bosses chose the candidate. That cannot be our future.

[paineinthearse]

1. Brilliant minds!

I just posted this to the Mass Dems official forum - http://p221.ezboard.com/bmassachusettsdemocraticparty

All Mass DU members who are active in the party should be regular participants, there are only SEVENTY ONE!

[welshTerrier2]

2. also posted an expanded copy in GD- politics

please stop by to comment ...

i have my town committee meeting tonight ... i'm so frustrated i don't know where to begin ... after i challenged their "radical dues increase" that some wanted to increase from $5 to $10 (i wanted $25), most of them already dislike me ... i'm fine with that ... i dislike them for their inactivity ...

so tonight, i'm torn between trying to set an ambitious agenda for this "do nothing" group that would include defining policy ideas, polling the community, aligning the town with national issues, reforming the party, etc and just going along with their "milk and cookies" meetings ... i have no intention of "being patient" in calling for change ... frankly, i may be better suited to do what i do outside the party ... but i thought i'd join to say my piece and see what happens ... i couldn't be more pessimistic about the outcome ...