REFLECTIONS BY TED “Z”

A Small Party. A Large Party. A Free Party.

Just this past summer the Charlotte County Democratic Party sponsored a rally in Laishley Park in Punta Gorda called “Politics in the Park,” a cheerful event at which seven candidates for political office were present to speak to the small crowd of something over a hundred people. One candidate found that, due to gerrymandering, the sliver of his district which reaches into CharlotteCounty has only two registered Democrats in it. One of those voters was present at the rally.

A small party.

Something like the tip of an iceberg.

Few people in CharlotteCounty, Democrats among them, realize that there are some 36,000 registered Democrats in the county. A large party. One with lots of as yet unrealized potential.

In all of Florida, there are some 4.6 million Democrats, substantially more than any other political party.

The Democratic Party is a “big tent” party with lots of room for people with different views, different opinions, different needs, different hopes. Democrats don’t all agree with each other on everything. They debate. They discuss. They argue . . . with each other.

Democrats look with curiosity at Republicans, especially those in the United States Senate. It is remarkable how so much of the time all those leading Republicans there all vote exactly the same way, over and over. Lots of discipline among them, apparently. Obedience, conformity, a follow-the-leader kind of party, all marching in order.

The Democratic Party is a free party.

Free people think for themselves. That is why there are so many good Americans of many different constituencies in the Democratic Party: working people, small business owners, big business executives, union members, senior citizens, middle-aged people, youths, all ethnic and racial groups, “straights” and GLBTs, military personnel, veterans and civilians, pro-choice and pro-life, immigrants and native-born, members of many different religious denominations and beliefs, living in all parts of this great nation and representing its astonishing diversity. There is a place for everyone and all are welcome, whether we individually agree with you or not.

Variety not withstanding, Democrats tend to be united on certain principles. Among these are freedom of thought and expression, respecting the rights of the individual, cherishing the right of assembly for redress of grievances, promoting social justice, and caring for the poor, the disenfranchised, the abused, the disadvantaged, and the deprived.

When Americans work together, great things can be accomplished. Public education and the G.I. bills have transformed America. The interstate highway system united the United States like never before. A national effort put Americans on the moon. Public health initiatives have saved countless lives. Social security has sheltered the elderly and disabled and transformed retirement into something more to be looked forward to than feared. We have preserved vast public parks for all to enjoy.

Are Democrats and the Democratic Party perfect? Of course not. But neither are the greedy and the self-centered. Lots of room for improvement.

We’re looking to you to come and join us in creating a better America for all.

Ted “Z”