Some Dumb Questions

[Rochester]

What kind of things can one do to advance the DP on a local level?
What kind of time commitment is involved?
Are there projects that don't involve badgering strangers (who, in my immediate area, are largely hostile to the DP)?
Is it possible to participate and maintain privacy?
Where would one go to ask about this in real life?
Thanks.

[UrbScotty]

1. Let your county party know that you want to get involved

If you don't know how to get involved, contact your state Party (they almost certainly have a website with contact info) and they'll point you in the right direction.

[MrMickeysMom]

2. I just found some REALLY NOT DUMB questions...

If you wish, I'll give credit to the website, which seeks to find truth in accounting of our debt from local to national. However, in advancing the democratic process, don't you think that it's wise to ask for transparency when people run for office" I do.

Here they are:

Ask your congressional candidates.

1) What is our current national debt?

2) How much money do we owe when it comes to unfunded promises? Isn't that debt as well?

3) Do you believe that our current budget deficit and unfunded liabilities are serious problems that need to be addressed?

4) What is the amount that we owe in terms of unfunded liabilities like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security? How do you plan to pay for these liabilities—and how do you plan to deal with the fact that they are growing every day?

5) How much do we owe in terms of promises made to retirees, to seniors, and in terms of future health care? Are any of these promises funded? With what money?

6) How much will the promises that you're making in your campaign cost? How will you fund these proposed programs?

7) How do you plan on funding benefits for the Baby Boomers who are now beginning to retire?

8) Do you have a plan when it comes to balancing the budget? What is it?

When you make proposals for new programs, do those proposals include how much the programs will cost, how they would be funded, and with what money?

Will you raise taxes or cut spending in other areas to fund your proposed programs? Which specific taxes would you raise? Which specific programs would you cut?

How will our unfunded liabilities impact future generations?

[xtraxritical]

4. Ask them to support the American Jobs Act

and ask them if they support the Presidents current budget proposal now in Congress - as all leading economists do.

[tabbycat31]

3. Talk to your county DP

Get involved at the local level. Every state does things differently, but in NJ, there are four committee members per precinct (a male and a female, a Democrat and a Republican). When it comes to conventions (NJ usually nominates their candidates at the county conventions) and voting on the county party chair, you get a vote there as a committee member. In my county, we had a candidate drop out and the committee had an emergency meeting to nominate a replacement.

Of course I'm saying this as someone who can't get on the committee if she tried.

Another thing to do is get involved locally. Not sure what size city you live in, but attend your council meetings and get to know what the issues of your town are. Get to know how your local elections work (is your town partisan or non-partisan, what is the partisan makeup of the council, mayor, etc) and make sure that the DP has a candidate next time there is a seat up for re-election, particularly if it's a GOP town and there were some unpopular moves. Also get to know when your school board elections are and make sure the local DP fields candidates. Remember that school board members and local electeds are the first place most county parties look to for recruiting candidates for state legislatures, county offices, congress, etc.

As for contacting people. Many people are actually friendly when you talk to them and are happy to see that there are like-minded people in their neighborhoods. I helped a friend recruit for a club by canvassing primary voting Democrats and the ones who were home were incredibly nice and willing to get more involved. Start by talking to the primary voters.

As to where to start, contact your county Democratic party. They will put you in touch with people. If you need help feel free to send me a PM.