Join Us

 

I hope many of my friends who vote Democratic will join us Thursday evening for this regular monthly meeting. I know of no special program except for the effort to collect food for the local food pantries. BUT it is our first chance to meet with others who share our goals after the significant wins of the election yesterday. 

Y’all please bear with me for a fairly long post.

We need, in my opinion, to build NOW on the enthusiasm of our wins yesterday as we work toward even bigger victories in the 2026 midterms. 

I work through our local, state, and national Democratic Party despite the fact that I have significant differences with many of my fellow Democrats. You will also differ with some folks in the group and maybe even get frustrated with folks who talk too much or who don’t speak up or who seek too much compromise or too much confrontation or too little of either or, or, or,… 

That’s the nature of a political party in a two-party system and like tor not that’s what we have. 

Here’s how I view our current party

Like all volunteer groups we depend overwhelmingly on folks who have jobs and/or family obligations or health issues and/or all the personal and occupational and other obligations of volunteers everywhere. We come from every race, religion, ethnic background, and many other differences. Some of us are willing to be up front and confrontational. Many of us prefer quieter action. Some of us have a lot of time to give and some much less.

We represent many different degrees of liberalism and conservatism as currently defined. Some of us are FDR Democrats, some are Carter Democrats, some are “New” Democrats, some are AOC/Bernie Democrats. Some of us even used to be Capital-R Republicans.

BUT we are all small-r republicans and small-d democrats. We agree on the basic principles of American democratic republicanism — the self-evident truths —as beautifully expressed by Jefferson in the Declaration.

We also agree with Morris on the purposes of government by We The People as expressed in the Preamble — 

1. to always work to improve it (form a more perfect union),
2. to always be fair (establish justice), 
3. to keep peace at home (insure domestic tranquility), 
4. to keep peace with the world (provide for the common defense), 
5. to try to make life better for all (promote the general welfare), 
6. and to protect freedom for all now and always (secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity).

While we all will continue to press for our particular favored policies and programs, we in the current situation — under a wannabe authoritarian president who has some advisors who have expressly rejected democracy — are willing to work with everyone and anyone who seeks to restore small-r republican principles and goals.

I believe we are in a non-violent fight for our republic. And I believe there is a place in this effort for people of all personality types. There are jobs for extroverts AND introverts, out front and behind the scenes. As a 78 year old grandfather my activism is most often from right here in my easy chair with a computer in my lap. Or on the phone. Or attending meetings or rallies. Or making my meager donations. But I try to do my part. 

Won’t you help too?

So, speaking for myself but believing my fellow Floyd County Democrats would agree, I welcome anyone who truly supports the principles of the Declaration and the Preamble to join us.