POC and politics

[andwhat]

Are you involved in politics on a local/state level?

Do you feel like your politicians are meeting your needs?

I want to be involved more politically, but my schedule doesn't really allow me to attend a lot. I joined my local indivisible group, but I recently left. We have a Republican governor and basically everyone else is Dem, but I just felt like they were opposing everything without really addressing why they were in opposition and their focus was on things I don't really care about. I also felt way more moderate compared to them.

I am really struggling with the career politicians in my area, but I am not seeing strong new candidates in the pipeline.

[05heel]

I'm involved in local politics and feel that the politicians I support are meeting my needs. That's a pretty broad criteria though, so what are you looking for specifically that you're not getting?

That said, I don't deal with white people, so most of what I actually commit my time to is AA-focused groups and causes. I'm not the least bit moderate though, so I probably couldn't point you towards any particular groups. My suggestion is to find an issue that you're passionate about and see where you can get involved. Those larger groups like indivisible, etc. aren't likely to get you there.

[andwhat]

May 2, 2017 9:25:01 GMT -5 05heel said:

I'm involved in local politics and feel that the politicians I support are meeting my needs. That's a pretty broad criteria though, so what are you looking for specifically that you're not getting?

That said, I don't deal with white people, so most of what I actually commit my time to is AA-focused groups and causes. I'm not the least bit moderate though, so I probably couldn't point you towards any particular groups. My suggestion is to find an issue that you're passionate about and see where you can get involved. Those larger groups like indivisible, etc. aren't likely to get you there.

I would really like to be more focused on education. I really cannot understand why so many people do not want to invest in the local schools. But I just don't have a schedule that will allow me to get involved right now. I try to watch meeting online and read up on things and follow school board members on FB, but that is it. 

I just feel like many Dem members are just trying to get rid of the Rep governor and not really looking at legislation being proposed. Like the governor proposed legislation to have district lines drawn by a nonpartisan entity to get rid of any chances of gerrymandering. Most constituents support this, but Dem members voted against it. I looked on FB pages and articles to try to find a reason they may have legitimately been against this, but no luck. It really seems like they opposed it because he is Rep. I just can't be supportive of members like that. 

[threejs]

May 2, 2017 15:38:38 GMT -5 andwhat said:

May 2, 2017 9:25:01 GMT -5 05heel said:

I'm involved in local politics and feel that the politicians I support are meeting my needs. That's a pretty broad criteria though, so what are you looking for specifically that you're not getting?

That said, I don't deal with white people, so most of what I actually commit my time to is AA-focused groups and causes. I'm not the least bit moderate though, so I probably couldn't point you towards any particular groups. My suggestion is to find an issue that you're passionate about and see where you can get involved. Those larger groups like indivisible, etc. aren't likely to get you there.

I would really like to be more focused on education. I really cannot understand why so many people do not want to invest in the local schools. But I just don't have a schedule that will allow me to get involved right now. I try to watch meeting online and read up on things and follow school board members on FB, but that is it. 

I just feel like many Dem members are just trying to get rid of the Rep governor and not really looking at legislation being proposed. Like the governor proposed legislation to have district lines drawn by a nonpartisan entity to get rid of any chances of gerrymandering. Most constituents support this, but Dem members voted against it. I looked on FB pages and articles to try to find a reason they may have legitimately been against this, but no luck. It really seems like they opposed it because he is Rep. I just can't be supportive of members like that. 

Funny you mentioned this particular topic, because I read a little (by little, I mean like one article) about this.  I will admit that I am pretty strongly against our governor mostly because he's Republican.  But, if I'm remembering correctly, Dems keep voting against this proposal because things are set up now in favor of Dems -- and they certainly don't want to risk changing that.  I also seem to recall something about there not being any benefit to doing this unless at least 5 other states did as well -- but I'd have to go back to look up the reasoning.  

I will admit that right or wrong, in my mind, Republican = white people who will never make my interests a priority. So, I'm never bothered by Dems voting against them, even if it's just on principle.  Now, I also realize that Dems aren't necessarily any better -- and more and more often lately I feel like there are plenty of instances in which they could be arguably be worse.

[andwhat]

May 3, 2017 16:01:57 GMT -5 threejs said:

May 2, 2017 15:38:38 GMT -5 andwhat said:

I would really like to be more focused on education. I really cannot understand why so many people do not want to invest in the local schools. But I just don't have a schedule that will allow me to get involved right now. I try to watch meeting online and read up on things and follow school board members on FB, but that is it. 

I just feel like many Dem members are just trying to get rid of the Rep governor and not really looking at legislation being proposed. Like the governor proposed legislation to have district lines drawn by a nonpartisan entity to get rid of any chances of gerrymandering. Most constituents support this, but Dem members voted against it. I looked on FB pages and articles to try to find a reason they may have legitimately been against this, but no luck. It really seems like they opposed it because he is Rep. I just can't be supportive of members like that. 

Funny you mentioned this particular topic, because I read a little (by little, I mean like one article) about this.  I will admit that I am pretty strongly against our governor mostly because he's Republican.  But, if I'm remembering correctly, Dems keep voting against this proposal because things are set up now in favor of Dems -- and they certainly don't want to risk changing that.  I also seem to recall something about there not being any benefit to doing this unless at least 5 other states did as well -- but I'd have to go back to look up the reasoning.  

I will admit that right or wrong, in my mind, Republican = white people who will never make my interests a priority. So, I'm never bothered by Dems voting against them, even if it's just on principle.  Now, I also realize that Dems aren't necessarily any better -- and more and more often lately I feel like there are plenty of instances in which they could be arguably be worse.

I did see the part about the Dems wanting there to be a coalition of the other Dem controlled states on the East Coast, but nothing in the articles or on their FB pages explained why this is advantageous other than it is not what the Rep is proposing. I feel like they feel they don't have to justify their decisions or actions because people are not trying to leave the party. I am not ok with that reasoning. I don't think things are really set up to benefit the D's anymore. This article has a map of the counties and their votes for Hogan. The map looks like that of the national election. Pockets of deep blue (heavily populated) and a lot of red. I think the tide in the state may be turning. Especially as people become frustrated with the Dem party.

www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/can-kathleen-matthews-heal-marylands-democratic-party/2017/05/02/2bc371d0-28fe-11e7-b605-33413c691853_story.html?utm_term=.01bc4a507576#comments