Civics 101: Your local Central Committees

[Le Taz Hot]

I was going to post this in response to another post within Elorial's thread but decided to post a seperate thread on it. Several DUers have written that we, as Democrats, have become lazy and complacent and they're right, we have.

Thirty years ago, the Republicans were the underdog and had been since Roosevelt. Owning the airwaves, aligning themselves with the religious reich and having more money than God aside, they gained power by organizing at the grassroots level. Precinct by precinct, district by district, town by town, state by state. They organized.

The ONLY way the Democrats are ever going to start winning again is to do the same. So . . . I'm offering a thread on one way to begin doing that, which is running for your local Central Committee.

Most towns/cities have Central Committees. Each political party has it's own Central Committee. Among other things, they oversee the local political clubs and caucuses, are responsible for locating and supporting suitable candidates, issue resolutions that go to the state, organize local fundraisers and represent their area at conventions and caucuses at the state level.

Most Central Committees are divided into supervisorial districts and each district is allocated a certain number of members based on population. Central Committee members must run for their seats -- in my own area it's every two years.

Candidates must take out Candidate Declaration papers -- just like any other candidate. They must gather signatures from those who are registered voters within the applicable party/district in order to qualify for the ballot. If there are more candidates than there are seats, candidates' names are placed on the ballot and the voting process begins. If there are more seats than there are candidates, the qualifying candidates are automatically placed on the Central Committee and the remaining seats are filled by voting members of the Central Committee.

<Whew> So, back to the lazy and complacent part. In my local area, there were 18 more Republican Central Committee candidates than there were available seats. The Democrats came up short by 12. THAT, my friends, says it all. And I have a strong suspicion that it's the same throughout the country.

The ONLY way Democrats are ever going to reverse this downward spiral is at the local, grassroots level. Being a voting member (and state delegate) of your local Central Committee is one way of doing that. It's a VERY easy thing to accomplish. It requires that you get a certain number of qualified signatures (in my area, it's 20) and there is no filing fee involved.

You can bitch, moan and groan about the disarray of the Democratic party and how we've been losing our ass since 1994, OR you can DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! If you're not involved in some way, whether it's by membership with your Central Committee, poll watching, registering voters, fundraising, whatever, you have NO room to complain, and frankly, you're part of the problem.

Here endeth the lesson. ;-)

Taz

P.S. I'm going to shamelessly keep this kicked up to Page 1 as long as is feasible and I would appreciate interested readers to do the same.

[bryant69]

1. This is well worth checking out

And a good strategy.

Although you are perhaps overlooking the subtle pleasure of complaining. I can complain all day long and not miss any tv--while joining one of these central committees might involve some sacrifice.

Bryant
Check it out--> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[JNelson6563]

2. We are more rural

and I am unaware of any Central Committee. We have Executive Boards for each county and of course the Congressional districts we are in but that's it up here in the north.

But I'm with ya!! Joined my local party, got elected to the board and benn kickin' ass ever since. Rock on fellow active member! :toast:

Julie

[IndianaGreen]

3. and here I thought you were endorsing the idea of Community Assemblies

Most voters consider themselves independent nowadays because the 2-major parties are incapable of addressing their issues and oftentimes are part of the problem.

This is not intended as criticism. I fully support anyone's involvement in the political process. The only thing that we might have a different point of view is that I think that the only way to have a more humane and just society is through socialism and socialist parties, and not through bourgeois parties. Therefore, I am more interested in electing candidates that advance socialist goals such as full equality for minorities, women, and GLBTs, than supporting candidates on the basis of the letter that follows their names.

[Le Taz Hot]

4. You are aware that Greens have

their Central Committees as well, right? As do Independents, Peace & Freedom, etc. The Central Committee is exactly that -- a Central location for activists within each respective party and merely a way of organizing whatever efforts/causes fit a particular group. If it's bourgeois, you probably need a new Chair. ;-) Do political parties have their drawbacks? Of course they do. Some of the things the Democrats do make me insane. However, when it comes time to walk precincts or register voters or watch polling places, having a list of 1200+ or so names is goddess sent.

[bryant69]

5. Socialism

In your theory how much money are people allowed to have before you start taking it away? Just out of curiousity.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Le Taz Hot]

6. STOP!

If you want to have a debate on socialism, start your own thread. THIS thread is about one way to get involved in the process.

[IndianaGreen]

8. I second that!

:)

[bryant69]

9. You are right

I'm sorry--just a flich reflex--I did start my own thread.

[IndianaGreen]

7. Isn't that what you have now in America?

The working class is disproportionately taxed to support the corporations and the ruling classes.

Why should I subsidize your fancy home, or the number of children you have? Isn't that the way the tax system is set up today?

Why should the Church be tax exempt?

how much money are people allowed to have before you start taking it away?

This is a bogus rightwing argument that has been used since the days of Hearst. Socialism is not about taking money away but about fair a fair and just society where all needs are met and were people work for the betterment of all, and not for the few.

[Le Taz Hot]

10. Kick

:kick:

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

14. kick

[Dr.Phool]

11. Campaign and grassroots training

You're right about laziness, but there's another problem too. Most people just don't know how to organize. Acouple of moths ago, I read about an organization called Wellstone action, which had training called Camp Wellstone. They're taking it all around the country, and teaching thousands of activists. They are run by members of Paul Wellstones old organization in Minnessota. Their website is www.Wellstone.org.

I live in the Tampa Bay area, and saw they were having 2 1/2 day session in Orlando last week-end, so I signed up. Camp? They should call it Wellstone University. High powered instructors included Jeff Blodgett, who managed 3 of Wellstones campaigns, Roy Temple, political director for Gov. Mel Carnahan, and Chief of staff for both Mel, and Senator Jean Carnahan. He's also the man who engineered Ashcroft loses to a dead man. Sean Gagen from Grassroots solutions, Steve Rosenthal from America Comeing Together(ACT), an organization which is going to spend over $100 million dollars on next years election, and several more.

The training was very intense, and the cost is 35 dollars, which is returned as meal money for 3 days. Subjects included, Building, Growing and Recruiting a Base,fundraising, field organizing, message development , earned and paid media, research, putting together a phone bank, targeting precincts and voters, recruiting volunteers, and much more. You'll learn how to film campaign commercials, write press releases, and crisis management. Very intese, and you get a woorkbook thats as thick as an encyclopedia.

It was a great experience, as you meet people from different organizations around the state that you can work and network with. They also put you in touch with organizatios such as ACT and some campaigns. Graduates are highly sought out because of this training.

I can't emphasize enough how great this was. There are 3 different training tracks, each 3 days long. I took the working on a campaign and all the stuff I mentioned above was in that track alone. They also havee tracks for Being a Candidate, and one for Organizing a Grassroots Movement. I know they're having a Camp in Tampa next month, and I plan on attending the Grassroots session.

I urge everyone to check out the website, and read-up further and attend. Put your name on their list, and they'll notify you of upcoming camps.

Awesome week-end.

[Le Taz Hot]

12. Excellent site

and you're right, there are people who ARE interested in becoming involved but don't know how to go about it. I'm an O.D. (Organizational Developer) by nature, education and profession but many people aren't, even though they have the desire. This is a great place to start. Whether your organization efforts are through the Central Committees, working on local campaigns or GOTV efforts -- whatever -- basic organizational principles are the same.

Thanks for the link!

[Dr.Phool]

13. thanks

BTW, they also have a lot in that track about GOTV, and I encouraged all members of our Executive Committee and associated clubs to attend the next session. Check the website every few days for updates on training sites and dates