So I'm sitting here, watching election returns on WIS channel 10. We had a primary for Fritz Hollings's soon-to-be-vacated Senate seat today and, predictably, our former Governor, "Uncle Dave" Beasley, has a narrow lead on Rep. Jim DeMint on the Republican side, but not enough of a lead to avoid a runoff. On the Democratic side, our former superintendent of education Inez Tenenbaum has steamrolled perennial candidate Ben Frazier.
I'm proud of myself, though. I didn't abandon my principles and cast the politically expedient vote! Well, okay, so for me a vote for any Republican could be viewed as a bit of an abandonment of principle, but who cares? I'm not voting to 'impress' anyone. Just because I happen to belong to one party doesn't mean I can't support--and vote for--a candidate from another party with admirable ideas and vision. And for me, this time around, it was Myrtle Beach mayor Mark McBride. Sure, it's disappointing that he's coming in a distant fifth in a field of six candidates...but at least now he and the rest of South Carolina knows there are at least two people in Barnwell (Harold Geddings Sr. and Harold Geddings, III, in one of our rare moments of political agreement) who support the message and ideology of Mark McBride.
Speaking of political ideologies...
Remember my anti-Party rant last week? Well, scratch all that. I attended a meeting of the Progressive Caucus of the Democratic Party in Columbia this Saturday. It was an interesting group...both old activists and political newbies, party insiders and concerned citizens. Mostly veterans of the Kucinich and Dean campaigns, but all determined to force the Party to abandon the tried-and-failed Republican-lite strategy and to stand for something and to give the voters a real choice once more.
So, while I still don't agree with the direction the current leadership is steering the Party, I now realize that it's not only possible, but highly probable that we can, in fact, change things. We've already got 1/3 of the delegates to the state convention on board. We figure we can make some noise this election...and take over the state Party by 2006. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I'm proud to be a Democrat once more.
This is what we stand for:
1. Resolved: Whereas the Conservation Bank Act of South Carolina was signed into law in April of 2002 with the purpose of acquiring and protecting special places such as forest land, historic sites, parkland, and hunting/fishing properties for the enjoyment of this and future generations, be it resolved that the Bank be fully funded and monies not be deferred for another year or diverted for other purposes.
2. Resolved: Whereas State and Federal governments pass legislation directing counties to perform tasks for which funds are not provided, placing undue burden on local government, schools, and taxpayers; and Whereas unfunded mandates violate the principle of Home Rule: Therefore be it resolved that the General Assembly follows its own dictates regarding Home Rule, passes no legislation that burdens local governments without adequate funding, and allows counties to govern their own domain.
3. Resolved: Whereas Democrats who switch parties after election betray those who contributed to their election: Therefore be it resolved that the elected officials who switch parties would be asked to repay all funds received from the Democratic Party.
4. Resolved: Whereas the state will soon be using a unified system of electronic voting machines: Therefore be it resolved that the Democratic Party encourages the State Election Commission to insure the machines produce a voter verifiable paper audit trail to safeguard and preserve the accuracy of vote tallies and recounts.
5. Resolved: Whereas voting and participation in the political process are both privileges and responsibilities: Therefore be it resolved that a Democratic Presidential Primary be held in South Carolina every four years.
6. Resolved: Whereas removal of sales tax on food purchases would benefit all South Carolina residents, and more specifically, individuals in the lower income brackets: Therefore be it resolved that the Democratic Party support legislation which would remove the sales tax from food purchase by individuals for personal consumption.
7. Resolved: Whereas South Carolina union workers are denied the right to fully benefit from collective bargaining for fairer wages and benefits because of the Right to Work law: Therefore be it resolved that the South Carolina Democratic Party encourage South Carolina lawmakers to repeal the Right to Work law.
8. Resolved: Whereas South Carolina workers salaries and benefits rank below citizens in other parts of the country: Therefore be it resolved that the SC General Assembly be urged to favor legislation that protects and promotes equitable salaries and benefits for SC workers regardless of gender or race.
9. Resolved: Whereas South Carolina public education is being under funded: Therefore be it resolved that the SC Democratic Party use all available means to bring pressure on the Governor and the SC State Legislature to fully and equitably fund our public schools.
10. Resolved: Whereas affordable health care, including preventative medicine and prescription drugs, is not accessible by our citizens: Therefore be it resolved that the Democratic Party work for universal health coverage.
11. Resolved: Whereas there is a national travel ban and an embargo against medical supplies to Cuba: Therefore be it resolved that the Democratic Party urge the US Congress to work to lift these bans.
12. Resolved: Whereas the present administration misled the American people on the reasons for preemptively going to war against Iraq: Therefore be it resolved that the Democratic Party, while supporting our troops, also support the quickest practical resolution in Iraq.
13. Resolved: Whereas the US budget deficit is reaching astronomical proportions under the current Republican administration: Therefore be it resolved that the US Congress demand a balanced budget and a repeal of tax cuts to the wealthiest segment of the population.
14. Resolved: Whereas the Democratic Party recognizes the sacrifices made by our military personnel throughout the world: Therefore be it resolved that the Democratic Party will push for improvements in military and veteran pay, disability compensation, and other benefits.
15. Resolved: Whereas sales taxes fall disproportionately upon the poor, the current five percent sales tax should not be increased with the intent of reducing property taxes.
16. Resolved: Whereas some couples in our community are not receiving equal treatment or benefits, the South Carolina Democratic Party supports legislation to ensure full equality for all couples in our community regardless of race, gender, income, citizenship status, or sexual orientation.
17. Resolved: Whereas unemployment in many communities of our state is unacceptably high, the state of South Carolina should not outsource jobs to other countries.
18. Resolved: Whereas the Social Security Trust Fund is critical to the well being of our society, the Fund should be given the independent authority to deny loans and demand negotiable collateral for loans granted.
19. Resolved: Whereas the majority of our states growing prison population is incarcerated for nonviolent drug related offenses, and whereas community based programs have proven to be more effective and affordable than incarceration for nonviolent drug offenders: Be it resolved that drug use and abuse be primarily addressed through alternatives to the criminal justice system.
20. Resolved: That the South Carolina Democratic Party supports Clean Elections legislation that would provide public financing for candidates for statewide and legislative offices who prove voter support, accept no private donations and agree to spending limits.
21. Resolved: Constitutional officers should be elected and not appointed.
22. Resolved: That the Democratic Party, its candidates and incumbents, including Democratic President of the United States, will work for fair trade.
23. Resolved: We reject any privatization of public colleges, universities, schools, prisons and other vital public institutions.
24. Resolved: We call upon the National Democratic Party to give resources and time to our state in the upcoming election to help build our state party.
25. Resolved: The South Carolina Democratic Party supports a womans right to reproductive choice and the freedom to make decisions concerning her health.
26. Resolved: The County and the South Carolina state Democratic Party will endorse and promote the raising of the state tax on cigarettes to the national average and the dedication of those funds to fully fund Medicare on an ongoing basis.
27. Resolved: The State of South Carolina cease and desist from billing local municipalities for juveniles who are committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice.
28. Resolved: The Confederate flag should be removed from the State Capitol grounds.
This is your wake-up call, South Carolina: we're here, we're ready, and things are going to change....I'm just happy I can be a part of it.
I'm proud of myself, though. I didn't abandon my principles and cast the politically expedient vote! Well, okay, so for me a vote for any Republican could be viewed as a bit of an abandonment of principle, but who cares? I'm not voting to 'impress' anyone. Just because I happen to belong to one party doesn't mean I can't support--and vote for--a candidate from another party with admirable ideas and vision. And for me, this time around, it was Myrtle Beach mayor Mark McBride. Sure, it's disappointing that he's coming in a distant fifth in a field of six candidates...but at least now he and the rest of South Carolina knows there are at least two people in Barnwell (Harold Geddings Sr. and Harold Geddings, III, in one of our rare moments of political agreement) who support the message and ideology of Mark McBride.
Speaking of political ideologies...
Remember my anti-Party rant last week? Well, scratch all that. I attended a meeting of the Progressive Caucus of the Democratic Party in Columbia this Saturday. It was an interesting group...both old activists and political newbies, party insiders and concerned citizens. Mostly veterans of the Kucinich and Dean campaigns, but all determined to force the Party to abandon the tried-and-failed Republican-lite strategy and to stand for something and to give the voters a real choice once more.
So, while I still don't agree with the direction the current leadership is steering the Party, I now realize that it's not only possible, but highly probable that we can, in fact, change things. We've already got 1/3 of the delegates to the state convention on board. We figure we can make some noise this election...and take over the state Party by 2006. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I'm proud to be a Democrat once more.
This is what we stand for:
1. Resolved: Whereas the Conservation Bank Act of South Carolina was signed into law in April of 2002 with the purpose of acquiring and protecting special places such as forest land, historic sites, parkland, and hunting/fishing properties for the enjoyment of this and future generations, be it resolved that the Bank be fully funded and monies not be deferred for another year or diverted for other purposes.
2. Resolved: Whereas State and Federal governments pass legislation directing counties to perform tasks for which funds are not provided, placing undue burden on local government, schools, and taxpayers; and Whereas unfunded mandates violate the principle of Home Rule: Therefore be it resolved that the General Assembly follows its own dictates regarding Home Rule, passes no legislation that burdens local governments without adequate funding, and allows counties to govern their own domain.
3. Resolved: Whereas Democrats who switch parties after election betray those who contributed to their election: Therefore be it resolved that the elected officials who switch parties would be asked to repay all funds received from the Democratic Party.
4. Resolved: Whereas the state will soon be using a unified system of electronic voting machines: Therefore be it resolved that the Democratic Party encourages the State Election Commission to insure the machines produce a voter verifiable paper audit trail to safeguard and preserve the accuracy of vote tallies and recounts.
5. Resolved: Whereas voting and participation in the political process are both privileges and responsibilities: Therefore be it resolved that a Democratic Presidential Primary be held in South Carolina every four years.
6. Resolved: Whereas removal of sales tax on food purchases would benefit all South Carolina residents, and more specifically, individuals in the lower income brackets: Therefore be it resolved that the Democratic Party support legislation which would remove the sales tax from food purchase by individuals for personal consumption.
7. Resolved: Whereas South Carolina union workers are denied the right to fully benefit from collective bargaining for fairer wages and benefits because of the Right to Work law: Therefore be it resolved that the South Carolina Democratic Party encourage South Carolina lawmakers to repeal the Right to Work law.
8. Resolved: Whereas South Carolina workers salaries and benefits rank below citizens in other parts of the country: Therefore be it resolved that the SC General Assembly be urged to favor legislation that protects and promotes equitable salaries and benefits for SC workers regardless of gender or race.
9. Resolved: Whereas South Carolina public education is being under funded: Therefore be it resolved that the SC Democratic Party use all available means to bring pressure on the Governor and the SC State Legislature to fully and equitably fund our public schools.
10. Resolved: Whereas affordable health care, including preventative medicine and prescription drugs, is not accessible by our citizens: Therefore be it resolved that the Democratic Party work for universal health coverage.
11. Resolved: Whereas there is a national travel ban and an embargo against medical supplies to Cuba: Therefore be it resolved that the Democratic Party urge the US Congress to work to lift these bans.
12. Resolved: Whereas the present administration misled the American people on the reasons for preemptively going to war against Iraq: Therefore be it resolved that the Democratic Party, while supporting our troops, also support the quickest practical resolution in Iraq.
13. Resolved: Whereas the US budget deficit is reaching astronomical proportions under the current Republican administration: Therefore be it resolved that the US Congress demand a balanced budget and a repeal of tax cuts to the wealthiest segment of the population.
14. Resolved: Whereas the Democratic Party recognizes the sacrifices made by our military personnel throughout the world: Therefore be it resolved that the Democratic Party will push for improvements in military and veteran pay, disability compensation, and other benefits.
15. Resolved: Whereas sales taxes fall disproportionately upon the poor, the current five percent sales tax should not be increased with the intent of reducing property taxes.
16. Resolved: Whereas some couples in our community are not receiving equal treatment or benefits, the South Carolina Democratic Party supports legislation to ensure full equality for all couples in our community regardless of race, gender, income, citizenship status, or sexual orientation.
17. Resolved: Whereas unemployment in many communities of our state is unacceptably high, the state of South Carolina should not outsource jobs to other countries.
18. Resolved: Whereas the Social Security Trust Fund is critical to the well being of our society, the Fund should be given the independent authority to deny loans and demand negotiable collateral for loans granted.
19. Resolved: Whereas the majority of our states growing prison population is incarcerated for nonviolent drug related offenses, and whereas community based programs have proven to be more effective and affordable than incarceration for nonviolent drug offenders: Be it resolved that drug use and abuse be primarily addressed through alternatives to the criminal justice system.
20. Resolved: That the South Carolina Democratic Party supports Clean Elections legislation that would provide public financing for candidates for statewide and legislative offices who prove voter support, accept no private donations and agree to spending limits.
21. Resolved: Constitutional officers should be elected and not appointed.
22. Resolved: That the Democratic Party, its candidates and incumbents, including Democratic President of the United States, will work for fair trade.
23. Resolved: We reject any privatization of public colleges, universities, schools, prisons and other vital public institutions.
24. Resolved: We call upon the National Democratic Party to give resources and time to our state in the upcoming election to help build our state party.
25. Resolved: The South Carolina Democratic Party supports a womans right to reproductive choice and the freedom to make decisions concerning her health.
26. Resolved: The County and the South Carolina state Democratic Party will endorse and promote the raising of the state tax on cigarettes to the national average and the dedication of those funds to fully fund Medicare on an ongoing basis.
27. Resolved: The State of South Carolina cease and desist from billing local municipalities for juveniles who are committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice.
28. Resolved: The Confederate flag should be removed from the State Capitol grounds.
This is your wake-up call, South Carolina: we're here, we're ready, and things are going to change....I'm just happy I can be a part of it.
sionkali:
hey...I'm not gonna be on here for a little bit since I'm having some money issues right now. If you need to get ahold of me you have my e-mail and aim name 