A Blue Tiger Prowls Wyoming<snip>
There is a crisis of confidence and respect in the political system that must be addressed. Party affiliation has been on the decline for years. In the 27 states where voters can register as "Independents" the number of citizens who have done so has gone from 8% in 1987 to 24% in 2004.
Following on the heels of the Democratic sweep, the Association of Democratic State Chairs (ASDC) recently held their bi-annual meeting in Wyoming....
Governor Howard Dean and the Reverend Jim Wallis addressed the 50 state chairs. Both speakers emphasized that Democrats must make grassroots efforts to connect with all voters across the nation, no matter where they live or what their religion or background.This is easier said than done. Little to nothing is spent to build citizen support at the grassroots level. 70% of all political money is spent on 30-second commercials. Most voters only see political parties through the lens of television. $1.6 billion was spent on political television ads in 2004 and more than $1 billion was spent during the past election cycle. More of this money needs to go towards party building at the local level.
Now that the election is over we must remember this: voters spoke loud and clear to Washington. It's time for our politicians to listen and speak back.
The state chairs actually have their ears to the ground. They know that the people want a sustained dialogue, a conversation that begins during the election and continues well after the ballots are counted.
One of the ways that Democrats historically kept this dialogue moving was through the ongoing practice of civic engagement: the party aided individuals in their communities' year in-year out. This practice essentially has more or less died out over the past fifty years and respect for the Party has declined. Bringing back civic engagement as a regular Democratic activity is a way to ensure that we don't lose touch with the needs of the country's voters.At the meeting, the President of the ASDC and Chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party made the announcement that Michigan will be the first state in the nation to adopt Blue Tiger Democrats core principles of civic engagement as a permanent part of its party structure.
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It is finally time for Democrats to address grassroots issues and community needs. If the beltway crowd can't hear this call for a change, their days will be numbered.Michigan Utility Impact Project
http://www.bluetigerdems.com/projectoverview.php?projectID=10BLUE TIGER DEMOCRATS RULE! :woohoo:
Down with the Donkey! Bring Back The Democratic Tiger & Civic Engagement
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