Pubdate: Tue, 18 Jan 2005
Source: Capital Times, The  (WI)
Copyright: 2005 The Capital Times
Contact:  http://www.captimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/73
Author: Dennis Bergren
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

DEM PARTY NEEDS TO WORK WITH OTHERS FOR PROGRESSIVE VALUES

Dear Editor: I've been a Democrat since 1957. Since that time I have seen 
the Democratic Party move far to the right, abandoning its progressive base.

In this last election, many of us waited in vain for the Democratic Party 
to take definitive stands on the environment, on civil rights for all 
including our LGBT citizens, on opposing the Iraq war, on opposing the drug 
war and for legalizing medical marijuana, to speak out on prison injustice 
and the unjust incarceration of minorities, to unequivocally oppose the 
death penalty.

I would like to see Democrats proudly asserting leadership on these issues 
but they seem afraid they will alienate some voters. Instead, they simply 
avoid talking about progressive issues, hence Democrats come across as 
wishy-washy at best.

Progressive Dane and the Green Party have stepped up to fill this gap. 
These issues are the core values of both parties and they do not shrink 
from them. It is easy for many of us old-school Democrats to support Green 
and Progressive Dane candidates because they voice the positions that were 
once basic beliefs of the Democratic Party when I first joined almost 50 
years ago.

Instead of re-evaluating Democratic positions on these issues at last 
Wednesday's meeting of the Dane County Democratic Party, the Democrats 
spent their time demonizing Progressive Dane, even calling them "leeches 
and parasites."

Instead of welcoming their help in electing progressive candidates, the 
party leadership hunkered down in a bunker mentality and shut out the 
possibility of working together for progressive values.

Their defensive posture came in stark contrast to the evening's featured 
speaker, Joe Wineke, candidate for chair of the Democratic Party of 
Wisconsin, who called for reaching out to increase party membership.

I have been a lifelong Democrat and I hope to stay one, but I would say to 
Mr. Bigelow and the Dane County Democratic Party board: Don't make us 
choose which progressive group to support. You might not like the result.

Dennis Bergren

Cottage Grove 
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MAP posted-by: Beth