November 30, 2005
Money? No, but I'll give you a piece of my mind.
By Jim Dallas
Can I vent - just for a second? I'm tired of getting three-page-long fundraising pleas from national Democrats which devote two pages to whining about how awful the Republicans are and one page to meaningless platitudes. Lots of bloggers have made similar posts before, I'm sure (no, really, I'm sure, I'd link to them if I had the time to dig them up). But the message just doesn't seem to be getting through: yes, we know the Republicans are bastards. Fundraising letters are supposed to, you know, inspire people. Preferably in the 15 seconds or so between the time I open the letter and the time I toss it in the trash. I got a fundraising letter today, for example, from the United Farm Workers (they are asking for gifts). It was clear, concise (one page, front and back) and motivational. It explained in a few words what the UFW has done for farm workers this last year and what it wants to do.
As for the UFW - I don't have any money to gift out, but here's a "high-five" for giving me a warm fuzzy feeling about the labor movement.
Posted by Jim Dallas at November 30, 2005 12:40 PM
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I don't expect it to work at the national level. And it may not work locally. But I've started listing demands for dollars given to my local Democratic organization. Based on things like % of their web page blasting Republicans vs. useful election information and information on what the folks I've elected have done for me.
In the first round, they didn't do everything I'd hoped. But I like to think that my complaining did support them to make a few changes. If enough folks pile on, the wax may finally be removed from their ears.
Chip Staniswalis is opening up a new direct mail house that will only do one-pagers.
Preach on!! I'm not going to give anymore than I already do just because I get one of those letters, and I get a little bit irritated knowing that some of my money is being spent on them so subconciously I may be giving less than I would.
Perhaps the Democratic fundraisers are taking their que from the blogosphere.
Look at the Austin liberal blogs. Compare the amount of spitting and finger-pointing at Bush & Co. to the amount of actionable ideas they offer.
Where are the new ideas? Where are the solutions? Where are the logically derived policy proposals? I don't see them.
That's why they are weak. That's why they don't win elections anywhere but in districts composed of perpetual victims seeking public funds.
If Democrats and neoLiberals wish to be taken seriously, they first need to start acting like adults.
Im concerned that the National Dems are getting away from the grass roots policies they said they would keep. The national organizations are getting tens of thousands of dollars while local county parties arent racking up much at all in some parts. People need to realize that your local officials and parties can do the most to benefit you. Not some guy sitting in an office in DC doing fundraising.
On that note, Denton County Dems need money bad! Please go to http://www.dentondemocrats.org to contribute your change or your big bankroll if you can please.
