Zeev's Turnips Talk Politics (ZTTP)

[Ace Hanlon]

LONG TIME DEMOCRAT DECIDES IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON
http://www.anigami.com/jimwich/md/md.html

JIM LEFTWICH, MD - I have reached a turning point. I propose that we
declare this year's Summer Solstice, Tuesday June 21, 2005, to be Moving
Day. Whereupon longtime Democrats such as myself, on one day and en
masse, move to a party that has the set of values and principles that
the Democrat party not only used to stand for, but used to successfully
fight for, both on the legislative floor and in the hearts and minds of
the American people.

It is time that we joined the Green party, bringing to it the sheer
numbers of people it now lacks to wield significant political power, and
begin the long journey of creating a world that will be better and
sustainable for generations hence.

I am the product of generations of proud and believing Democrats. I have
never been a hardcore political activist, nor a marching protestor
against things my government has done that I vehemently disagreed with.
I have believed in the traditional values of the Democrat party that my
father and his father believed in. I have believed in the progressive
path. The defense of the common man and small businessperson upon which
this country was built and has endured for over two centuries. I have
fought against attempts to split our party, and have held fast through
the last two national election cycles, hoping against hope that true
leadership and a compelling and simply-stated set of principles would
emerge.

I cannot begin to describe the deep sadness I have when I think of what
the Democrat party has lost. but have now, as a single individual, come
to the conclusion that the Democrat party is a failed and ruined
institution. It is truly, and fundamentally, time to move on.

I am by no means the first person to arrive at this point, but I believe
I am exemplary of a particular type of Democrat. A dyed-in-the-wool
Democrat that until now has vowed to hang on for as long as it takes. I
now feel that that strategy is doomed. And our country with it, if a
major and significant shift does not occur, and occur very quickly. In
the present political environment, time is definitely not on our side if
we continue on our current path. . .

I hold no ill feelings toward the Democrats. I believe there have been
many decent, thoughtful, and hardworking Democrats, doing their best to
hold the line against an increasingly leveraged Republican message. But
I no longer believe the Democrat party can produce the message that will
attract back all those that have abandoned it for the false promises of
the far right.

I believe that we must abandon a party that can only manage, at its
best, to offer up a weak and reactionary protest after the fact. That is
not enough to save this country. We need a new model. That model, that
set of values, that truly and deeply progressive and whole vision
already exists. It can be found in the Green party.