They Say "All Politics Is Local" And It Looks Like The Repugs Have Embraced This.......

[global1]

look at how the Repug controlled states have worked to disenfranchise voters and suppress the vote; as well as all the shenanigans Walker pulled up in Wisconsin. ALEC contributed to this as well across the country.

Why haven't the Dems been more pro-active in a similar way in the states that they control?

Are the Repugs just more strategically smart to do these sorts of things?

[Junkdrawer]

1. 2006 HAVA gave them the tools they needed...

The assault on ALL levels of democracy is complete.

[loyalsister]

2. They have been stacking school boards and city councils

Not to mention state Assemblies. Too many Dems have focused on higher offices. Mistakenly believing that the statewide and national offices will give them a chance to do the most work. Not true.
Not only do things happen from the bottom up, the Democrats need to work the pipeline. People who want to run for state rep should run for school board or city council first. Learn the ropes make the contacts, etc.
Democrats also need to be active on boards and commission. Democrats who are active in environmental issues should be on planning and zoning committees. There are always state, county, and city commissions that need to be stacked with dems. Not to mention local advocacy organizations that are the heart of politics.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. We got a WINNAH

and when a local city democratic club thinks strategically, they get that broken on their asses.

Don't ask...

Suffice it to say, only reason dems do well at the higher levels in my state is that the pubbies are that dysfunctional, not for any brilliance on their part.

[loyalsister]

5. Imagine if people who were active in OWS would infiltrate government in official capacities

or take on some kind of institutional, professional or volunteer advocacy role? Worm their way into local chambers of commerce...
THEN run for office.


I think we have the numbers, but unfortunately they must have stopped requiring or teaching civics.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Well given that they have locally

I don't have to imagine a thing.

[loyalsister]

8. I'm glad to hear it

The ones in my area have that anarchist thing going and won't even vote. My sister is the worst. She is angry about our "communist" system of government.

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. Oh we have the anarchist types too

that is the problem of making any kind of generalization about OWS.

Here we have so many groups, and factions, it is hard to keep track. But more than a few have gotten very involved in local politics, mind you, those are the ones who already were involved in local politics.

[AndyTiedye]

4. The Repigs Have Infinitely More Money, thanks to the Supreme Court's "Citizens United" Ruling

We have to pick our battles and conserve our resources for the big ones. The Republicans do not, because they have so much more money.

This is entirely due to the "Citizens United" ruling by the Supreme Court, which opened the floodgates to unlimited corporate money, foreign money, dirty money, any kind of money to flow to the Republicans.

[loyalsister]

7. Until it is overturned we have to show up as currency

Low dollar lobbying can be very effective.
Advocacy groups should forget about CU and show up. We have to pack the committee hearing rooms. Testify during hearings for bills and policies we care about. Visit their offices to ask for or discourage their votes on issues we care about.
A defeatist attitude will get us nowhere.