Progressive Democracy So.Jersey Monthly Meeting - Wed.Nov.18
Joanne ONeill
Monthly Meeting of PDA/DFA Progressive Democracy South Jersey will be held:
When: Wednesday, November 18 at 7:00 PM
Where: Collingswood Library -771 Haddon Ave- Collingswood, NJ 08108
Agenda:
I would like your input about this, so please come .........
If there was a time Ladies and Gentlemen, that time is now!!!
All of us know starting January, we will have to deal with the policies of the new governor, a left over from the Bush administration, (US attorney appointee & friend of Karl Rove).Not to mention, being aware of the political machine at work in NJ, at all levels of government.
What makes matters worse is the fact, we have a President who dared to give us the "audacity of hope" in believing he would end the war, close Gitmo for good, reverse the atrocities inflicted to the Constitution and our civil rights, to reverse the executive orders, and signing statements, that usurped the constitutional powers of the legislative branch. Last, but not least, the promise of affordable healthcare for all Americans with no exclusions. To date none of these have been fulfilled.
There is one thing President Obama did accomplish; he reminded everyone that if we truly want change, then we have to be the vehicle for that change.
I am tired of the lip service and the bones that are thrown our way. I am tired of the way most democrats continually compromise/capitulate to the right. I say the time is ripe for progressives to take back NJ on a state, county, local and party level.
This is not a new strategy, it has always been part of PDA's agenda of working "inside and outside" the party. It is time though for a not so subtle strategy. We will take it to the next level: it is a time for frontal assault.
It is time fellow progressives, time for all progressives (leaders, individuals and organizations) in NJ, despite their differences in the issues, their agendas and/or priorities; it is time to stand as one force this time. This can be accomplished without abandoning our identities or priorities. We just need to put this tactic at the top of the list,( if not share #1 slot on the list of our priorities). If we all share the same priority and all of us are committed to achieving our goals, this will be a win-win situation for us all, win or lose.
I. Instead of individual progressives running for office, I propose where ever possible, have progressive candidates run as teams and appear as a platform ticket on the ballots.
II. Besides a Senate seat, 2010 is an election year for local and congressional members.
III. If we start now to:
a) Identify the races and the issues
b) Recruit progressive candidates that are committed to:
1. A progressive agenda
2. green and affordable towns, counties and state
3. Making NJ a clean, healthy, and affordable place to live
4. Fair and clean elections and A government of the people, by the people and for the people
c) Step by step plan our campaigns
d) Recruit the talent, experience, and resources I know we have in the progressive community
D. We will incrementally increase our chances of winning
E. Also suggest everyone running identify themselves under the same Progressive banner.
Too long we have been defeating our purpose as progressives with loosely tied coalitions. It is time to show the powers that be, we mean business.
· It is time for us to stand together and take action.
· It is time to send a message to those in office, we refuse to be taken for granted any longer
· we refuse to accept their promises and patronizing attitudes with blind faith
· no more financial support to any candidate who does not support a progressive agenda
First you have to accept the face: If we are to have any lasting effect on our government's policies, we will be the ones having to do it.
If we accomplish nothing else, by next year's end, as a progressive movement we will have more influence than the Glen Beck's tea baggers and 9-12 project.
We can do this !!!!
But it takes an army..... we will need the benefit of those with campaign experience, campaign finance rules and regulations, etc . It will take immense amount of time, effort, money, people, and resources. But worth it !!!!
The most important resource is Y O U!!! It’s all of us coming together ...from the top organizer to the foot soldier, committed to the cause of taking back NJ!
For almost a decade now (some of us longer than others have been committed to the cause) we have made the sacrifices to varying degrees to accomplish what needed to be done to make our voices heard. For that we are winners from the gitgo .
Just think how much worse things could have been, if we didn't take stands on so many of the issues. We remained firm in our dedication, not waiving an inch from our principles.
We definitely weren't the "silent majority" despite the media and most of Congress wishing we were and ignoring our voices. Neither were we going to sit back and watch men, women and innocent children die or suffer violently and unnecessarily for the same reasons as Vietnam -fear and profit, all in the name of being patriotic.
As brave as our military are in the line of fire, I know in my heart that we are the patriots, because we care. In the words of Teddy Roosevelt "This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in."
We took to the streets and risked physical harm, some arrested because we knew we were on the right side of the issue and the Neo-cons feared our numbers and did their best to constrain and conceal our existence. Still we would not be silenced.
We were the ones who took the high road and said "no compromise", knowing the Democrats equated compromise with capitulation.
Well it is time to volunteer for duty again. The difference is this time, even if some of us lose the election, the progressive movement in NJ will still have won.
I don't think we have another option here.
· Protests and civil disobedience are only effective to a point.
· Trying to influence elected officials under the current system without huge sums of money is futile
· Resulting in not getting the votes for an important issue is even more frustrating.
What is that maxim -"If you want something done and done right, then do it yourself"?
Now I know somebody is going to bring up lack of money and sources of funding but we can work on these issues together. What's important is we have to get started ASAP!
So please come to the meeting on Wednesday, November 18 @ 7PM. I can fit up to 100 people in the room.
Thank you for your attention.
Peace & solidarity,
Timothy J. O'Neill
Progressive Democracy South Jersey - Steering Committee
NJ Democratic Progressive Caucus - Vice President
Home:856-858-4997
Cell: 856-332-2157