Burnt Orange Report

Fellow Democrats,

Someone asked what the political parties can do at times like these. A question easier to answer would be "What can’t organized political parties do at times like these?" I can think of little that they could not do. Disorganized political parties such as the Texas Democratic Party can do little more than individuals working on their own.

But, think about it. What could have an organized Democratic Party have done—be doing—in Louisiana? An organized Democratic Party (It doesn’t appear that Louisiana Democrats were organized.) would have known where every Democratic family—and non-Democratic families-- lived and what help they would need in an emergency. It would have known the problems Democrats—and everyone else—would face in escaping a disaster. Every parish chair, precinct chair, or ward boss would have known how many individuals and families did not have a car, how many there were in the family, how many children, how many with special needs? They would have accumulated all this information in the effort to turn out the vote in normal times. A deliberative Parish Democratic Organization would have considered all the logistics in turning out the maximum vote. Those same logistical considerations would apply to emergency communications and assistance with a little more thought. While an organized political party would not have direct authority to take emergency action, it could certainly ride herd on those governmental and non-governmental agencies who did have the authority. It would also have its own resources that could have been directed where they were needed.

It is long past time that we Democrats realize that The Democratic Party must become a 24/7 operation if we are to take the leadership of this country from the Right Wing. They are organized, we are not. We are seeing the result in Louisiana. The Right Wing religious groups think—or say they do--that Katrina hit where it did because of all the sinning going on down there, and they think (say) that those who are suffering are only getting what they deserve—even the children.

And why can’t we organize ourselves? I have lost much sleep over that question. We, here in Texas, have a fine plan in our Election Code and Party Rules. If we follow those documents we will be—by definition—organized. An organized Texas Democratic Party would be a powerful force for good. What is holding us back? We can’t seem to bring ourselves to come together under the same roof and work together to do our business—and we can’t do it any other way. Would we really rather have George Bush and his handlers run this country than work with other Democrats who may not look the way we look, or worship the way we worship, or like the food we like? I can think of only one other reason for not coming together--fear of the majority. If we can’t overcome our fear of the majority, we can’t have Democracy. We don’t have to like one another to do the work of Democracy, but we do have to respect one another. Democracy requires that the majority rule. None of us will be in the majority all the time. We will lose on an issue every now and then—but we will win in the long run. Democracy, with all its faults, is better than having a few telling us how to live our lives. It is our choice?

John McConnell, Democratic Precinct Chair

Precinct 3047

Bexar County, Texas