A DU political involvement survey

[More Than A Feeling]

There are a million different organizations to be involved in, and a million different issues that must be resolved or life in our democracy will be much worse than it is and could be. I'm interested in which outlets and issues DUers choose. I myself have no particular issue that I give the majority of my focus to. I'm more of an "issue du jour" sort of person. I have worked for Americans United, the Concord Coalition, and Representative Dan Lipinski (D-IL) in the past, but I am not current working for anyone, or a member of any organization. With that said, lets get started!

1. Do you have one issue that devote the majority of your political time to? Why did you pick that one, and how do you resist the urge to run around trying to keep up on every issue there is?

2. What political organizations are you a dues-paying member of?

3. Which ways are you involved: writing letters to news organizations/politicians, protesting,
working for a campaign, or running for office yourself?

[Ian David]

1. I've lost track of who I've joined, who I've merely donated to...

and who I joined last year but didn't renew.

[Frustratedlady]

9. Just keep track of the email/snailmail requests

for money.

[mdmc]

2. very interesting OP. Thanks for posting

1. I don't have one issue, but I like to support a lot of local issues. Local environmental issues, like cleaning up the Hudson River, and closing Indian Point, are very special to me. I also like poverty and crime reduction issues. I am a big fan of legalizing pot and ending the death penalty.
I often look to DU for info on other issues. I think that the GOP and the Dems are the bad cop / good cops of one corporate party.


2. I belong to the Orange County Democratic Committee, Saint Mary Church www.stmary.org, Clearwater www.clearwater.org , norml, mmp www.mmp.org , moveon www.moveon.org, and DU (although someone paid my dues here - thanks heidi and callmewesley). I also belong to the Newburgh Boat club.

3. I attend meetings, write letters, and attend protests. I've ran for office in the past and I always work on a local campaigns.

[aintitfunny]

3. I am on a lot of email lists

because I signed this petition or that petition, but I do not consider myself a member. I did join Move On when they first got rolling.

1. I do not have one single issue - but feel very strongly about voting rights and verified voter ballots.

2. I am a dues paying member of my local Dem. Club and I hope to volunteer for the O'Malley primary campaign this June and I will also lend support to local democrats seeking re-election to the county commision and state general assembly. Perhaps also volunteering for Mfume or Lichtman for Senate and certainly for the party's candidates during the general election.

3. I am very active in the dem club and I do write letters to my representatives and the editor when time allows.

Edited for structure

[Sammy Pepys]

4. Answers

1. Most of my time is devoted now to charities that help soldiers who have come back from Iraq injured. I am in regular attendance at protests around D.C., however.

2. None

3. I will possibly be working on some campaigns in the near future.

[alpizzy]

5. Heavily involved in Michigan politics

Member of Michigan Democratic Party.
We (hubby & I) hold fundraisers, go door knocking (voter ID), phone calling,
petitions, hold grassroots training, donate to candidates,etc. and so on.
It is never ending and very time consuming but we can't stop.

[Mabus]

6. 1. The Environment is my biggest cause

My biggest concern is the environment because it affects everything else and is affected by everything else that we do. We need the planet to survive or all the other fights (election reform, health care, education, etc.) won't matter.

I spend most of my time on the environment therefore all the other issues are a part of it. The trick is to not overcommit yourself and keep your eye on the goal. For example, the other day at a fundraiser my husband asked several pointed questions of a congressional candidate concerning what they have done and intend to do about it if they are elected to office.
2. The local and national Democratic Party, RiverKeepers, and National Lawyers' Guild.

3. I write letters, make phone calls, help organize fundraisers, protesting, involvement in local community forums, talk to/educate/get educated by people, network and campaign for candidates and the Democratic Party. I also take voter registration forms most everywhere I go. I also attend events where I believe I can learn how to become an issue advocate or meet others with similar interests (examples, poltical training and events like the recent Helen Thomas).

on edit: added "is my biggest cause" to the subject line.

[MuseRider]

8. You did a great job Sunday!

I had a blast and came away feeling more comfortable with Nancy. Thank you for the opportunity. Love the Hollow!

[Mabus]

12. Thank you

I've been meaning to write/PM you and thank you (and the others) for coming out. I talked to more than one person who fills more comfortable about Nancy after meeting and being able to talk with her.

BTW, You'll always be welcomed at the Hollow. In fact the next time you could be welcomed there is this Saturday, if you can make it. Damn these relays, it always rains.

[MuseRider]

13. More politics?

I would love to be more connected with your community. It has been a long time, well since the last DU meetup I was able to attend, since I sat in a room full of such informed people. It was wonderful. The chapter chair of the Lawrence KEC was there so you are connected with them somehow, there are a lot of people ready to work. PM me when you have time about what is going on and I will check my calendar, I saved my directions.

[MuseRider]

7. One major issue

for me because I was losing my mind worrying about everything and not getting anything of value done. So I chose one that is closest to my heart, one of the very most important issues to me and something current in my state (in all states right now as well). I work for equality, specifically for the GLBT community because it has to be done and I can't sit by and let this country legislate against it's own citizens. It strikes me close to home with family and many friends and it fits me perfectly. VERY involved, helped create the state organization and now sit on my local chapter exec committee as a state representative. I have never felt better in my life for doing my civic duty, it makes all the difference in the world to me.

I can't even remember who all I send money to or even belong to.

I write letters, sign petitions, work on campaigns but will never consider running for office. I am not qualified, would not be good at it and do not want the world to know my skeletons, lol.

Anyone out here who does not get involved but feels frustrated should do this. It really helps, really it does.

[femmedem]

10. Local issues take up most of my political energy.

Like a lot of folks, my opposition to the Iraq war before it began was a political reawakening for me. I marched in D.C and New York. I wrote letters. I visited my local congressman. I even helped get a peace resolution passed by my town council. When war broke out despite the best efforts of millions like myself, I decided to focus more on local issues. Last year I was campaign manager of the local Green candidates for City Council and Board of Ed--one of our candidates came within 50 votes of winning a seat. Sigh. I've also, for the last year, been involved in various campaigns on behalf of our local homeless and poor residents. My city has a poverty rate of nearly 16%, over 29% of the children live below the poverty level, and our city council voted to eliminate social services. Now I'm on the steering committee of a group trying to open a year-round shelter with support services, over intense local opposition. At the national level, I still stay informed and occasionally write letters to the editor and phone and write my reps. Last year I wrote an Op-Ed for the Hartford Courant opposing the death penalty.

I'm ashamed to say that I don't pay dues to any organization. I make contributions, mind you, but nothing so regular as dues. My income is pretty gosh-darn low: voluntary simplicity and a desire to avoid supporting war with my taxes.

[davsand]

11. Whole lot of changes for me lately.

It used to be that I could have answered your questions a lot easier than I can today. I'll try anyway...

1. Do you have one issue that devote the majority of your political time to? Why did you pick that one, and how do you resist the urge to run around trying to keep up on every issue there is?

I used to be an active Democrat locally. I used to do campaign work and fund raising and everything else you could think of for the local Democrats. No more. They turned their backs on organized labor and on women who are being abused in the workplace by voting to keep a harassing asshole in office--because he's a Democrat. I'm done with them as long as these are the people in power locally. I did not work my ass off to elect them just to watch them abandon principle in the name of a party line vote.


2. What political organizations are you a dues-paying member of?

ACLU, Champaign County Health Care Consumers, and most recently, Jobs With Justice


3. Which ways are you involved: writing letters to news organizations/politicians, protesting,
working for a campaign, or running for office yourself?

I am currently working to organize in local Labor to force a change in attitude for the local Dem party. I am sick unto death of politicians who want money and volunteers from Labor but refuse to support working people when it may not feel comfortable to do so. If I can't change the party attitudes from within, then I'll do it another way. Make no mistake, I am still a Democrat, but I am a REAL one, not just one with a hand out asking for support.



Laura

[MuseRider]

14. YAY for you.

THAT is the way it is done. Good luck, let us know how it is going. Lots of work but very worthwile.

[More Than A Feeling]

15. Kick!

Thank you all for your responses! :yourock: