Message from
Chair Judy Ferro
Last week a niece doing homework called to ask
how Democrats stood on various issues.
Immigration? On every side — big tent.
Abortion? Big tent. Gun control? Gay marriage?
Nuclear
power? More big
tent.
I began to
understand why people have such a hazy view of
what Democrats do stand for. On issue after
issue the Republicans have taken a stand, and
many who disagreed have become Democrats.
Yes, you
would have a hard time finding Republicans who
are for gun control or gay marriage. That
doesn’t mean you’d have a hard time finding
Democrats who are against them. Those aren’t
our issues.
Democrats
share a commitment to strengthening democracy
and its base — an educated, informed middle
class.
Democracy —
broaden registration. Shorten lines at the
polls. Give equal weight to votes. Don’t
require supermajorities. Make ballots easy to
understand. Limit the power of lobbyists and
corporations in the election process.
Educated —
support education. Support research into what
makes schools successful. Support food programs
so kids aren’t too hungry to learn. Support
earlier education opportunities so kids don’t
start school three years behind. Support
teaching decision-making and thinking skills.
Informed —
support freedom of speech. Fight concentration
of media ownership. Support science, even if
the findings aren’t what you like. Fight for
truth in advertising.
Middle class
— support a living wage. Strive for a balance
in the power of capital, labor and consumers.
Support workers’ rights and safety. Provide a
safety net for the ill, handicapped and
elderly.
These are the
issues where Republicans have a “big tent.”
Many Republicans work for a democracy with an
educated, informed
middle class — but their party is also the home
of those who don’t.
Democrats share a deep commitment to
our core beliefs.
