Your Weekly News from the CCDP and Political Clubs
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Beyond Green, Brown, Red and Blue | Real Local Input
By
Myriem Le Ferrand-Radjef | socialfieldwork.net
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No one holds the reins, folks. “We the people” could set the course of our better futures. Yes, representatives hold a theoretical legitimacy to govern. However, legitimacy is a poor substitute for actuality - t
he facts
- in the decisions that affect us. Authority to govern or legislate draws solely from our approval whether tacit, complacent or active.
If we are to actively transform what we now know to be broken, we begin by coming together to better inform decisions and to assess claims made by agencies, local government, nonprofits, corporate brands and candidates for office.
We believe that Democrats are the good guys: they are cool and environmentally savvy. They represent our selfless values in protecting the less fortunate. In turn, the Republicans are the bad guys: they represent business interests first, people and planet last.
Is that really so? We hand over our authority through a series of elections. However replacing G.H.W. Bush with Clinton did not change the pace of climate change nor did it spare critical habitat.
We did not see immigration issues alleviated nor social justice truly addressed.
So, how did we lose the reins? A partial explanation lies in legislation passed in the sixties, the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA). The rule-making process established regulations requiring Environmental Impact Statements (EIS). However, for a range of reasons, EIS roll out fell short. As time passed, contractors hired to conduct EIS often wrote statements based on existing studies rather than up-to-date social or ecological impact assessments. In the cumulative aggregate, we can now see the devastating consequences of ill-informed public decisions rippling through our social and natural landscapes, and by extension, at the national and even global level.
Now in our extreme times, shock value rhetoric overshadows plain speak and common sense. The day-in and day-out of “environmental stewardship” is reduced to arguments
about climate change (i.e. planet in trouble); “real people” are reduced to disputes over immigration, health care, color, and education. The story is much more complex. We must reclaim the narrative.
We start with real local input. Real local input requires we roll up our sleeves and do social fieldwork. Social fieldwork has a feel of community organizing, but is more from the bottom up. Social fieldwork is getting together and documenting what is important. It is community dialogue and research that lingers in the common understanding as a bond of truth to recognize fake news and false claims immediately. Social fieldwork is unbiased, academically rigorous, participatory research. From there, we can begin to inform ecological and social impact assessments and establish baseline indicators of wellness in our communities and neighborhoods. Real local input will take time and practice. Don't give up. It can be done. It must be done!
To make good decisions, we must have good information. Each election cycle is an opportunity to join together to inform our democracy with real local input. If we do the work, we can link together our common interests beyond green, brown, red, and blue. We can unify what has been divided. The difference between what is and what can be is in our hands.
If you would like to comment on the editorial,
click here
.
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Special Election for CD-4
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The northernmost and easternmost parts of Collin County are in the 4th Congressional district. Republican John Ratcliffe, who hasn't done much to distinguish himself since he took office in 2015, is now apparently being considered for Director of National Intelligence. And one must conclude that this isn't because of his skimpy credentials for the job, but because of his performance last week during the Mueller hearings in the House.
While we would much rather have a more qualified person serving as the DNI, we're not unhappy about the opportunity to elect a Democrat before 2020. If interested, please contact the party office.
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Now Hiring Primary Election Administrator
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Are you election savvy and detail oriented? Do you have a heart for politics and a head for election law?
If so, you may be the perfect candidate for the Primary Election Administrator for Collin County Democratic Party. This newly created position will run from November 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020 if there is no runoff, or June 30 2020 if there is.
This position is responsible for the planning, preparation and conduct of the 2020 Collin County Democratic Primary Election. Other responsibilities include ensuring election is conducted in compliance with state and federal laws. The work schedule hours are varied and dependent upon the needs of the election.
The candidate will work under the general supervision of County Chair and Primary Committee and supervise other paid Primary Election Staff as well as volunteers supporting the Primary Election. The position provides oversight of the activities of Election Judges and their Election Day staff.
For more details about this position and instructions on how to apply,
click here.
Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m., Friday, August 16, to be considered for the position.
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You Can Make the Difference. Become a Sustaining Donor
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Your Collin County Democratic Party office provides a wide range of resources throughout the year to our candidates and communities. Your contributions allow us to have a central location for candidates and voters during elections. Strengthen the Democratic Party in your city by becoming a sustaining donor to the Collin County Democratic Party. Donate with
FastAction
or with automatic payments from your bank to the Collin County Democratic Party 1915 Central Expy #150, Plano, TX 75075.
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Citizen Journalists Needed
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What is a Citizen Journalist?
If you have a special interest in the workings of your city council, school board or the Commissioner Court, you could be the right person to report on meeting, agendas and activities.
Keeping Democrats in Collin County is our goal and you could be a part of that team. Help us continue chipping away at the stranglehold Republicans have held in Collin County. Much of that starts at the local level.
As a Citizen Journalist, you would report on meetings you attend, agendas or even minutes meetings. Help keep Collin County Democrats informed and active.
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Collin County voters will be using a new voting system beginning with the November, 2019 election. This new system features touch-screen technology and produces a marked paper ballot for voter review and tabulation.
The new voting machine made its debut at BITHOC where many of the attendees where able to “test vote” the system. If you didn’t get to try the voting machines at BITHOC, you still have an opportunity to do so at the Collin County Democratic Party office (1915 N. Central Expy, Ste 150, Plano) during regular office hours.
Our summer office hours are:
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday and Friday: 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
After Labor Day, the office will have occasional evening and weekend hours to try out the new voting machine.
The new voting machine will be in the CCDP office through the November 2020 election.
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Who What
*
Events Coming Up
*
When Where
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August 3 - Battle Cry Democrats Meeting:
4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Target, 3440 W, FM 544, Wylie, TX 75098 [
map
] RSVP
here
.
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August 10 -
Should I Run? Making the Decision:
Sign up
to attend this free 3-hour workshop. From 1:30-4:30 pm at Hall Library, 101 E Hunt St., McKinney [
map
]
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August 17 - Plano Area Democrats:
11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
El Noa Noa Tex-Mex, 1915 N Central Expy, Plano, TX 75075 [
map]
RSVP
here
.
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August 17 - It's Time to Organize HD89:
noon at the Lucas Community Center located at 665 Country Club Rd, Lucas, TX 75002 [
map] Please
RSVP here
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August 19 -
CCDWD Monthly Meeting:
5:30-7:30 p.m.
REACH
of Plano 720 E. Park Blvd., Ste 104 Plano 75074. [
map
]. Email
Disability Democrats
to register.
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Yes, We Can Talk Politics
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Drinking Liberally
and
Living Liberally
are
informal, inclusive progressive social groups. Raise your spirits while you raise your glass, and share ideas while you share a pitcher. Drinking Liberally gives like-minded, left-leaning individuals a place to talk politics. You don't need to be a policy expert and this isn't a book club - just come and learn from peers, trade jokes, vent frustration and hang out in an environment where it's not taboo to talk politics.
When: Friday, August 2, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: 401 Central Expy S, Allen [
map]
When: Friday, August 2, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Where:
5454 Main St #123, Frisco [
map]
When: Friday, August 9, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: 8604 Preston Rd #100, Plano [
map]
When: Friday, August 9, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: 2600 W, FM 544, Wylie [
map]
McKinney -
Foxiis Downtown McKinney
MADC joins Living Liberally in August.
When:
Friday, August 16, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Where:
301 E. Virginia, Suite 103, McKinney [
map
]
While drinking liberally, always remember to drink responsibly, and make liberal use of designated drivers. Drinking and driving is reckless and irresponsible, like a neocon war or corporatist tax cut. Liberals, don't do it!
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Collin County Democratic Party (CCDP) | 972-578-1483 |
Website
© 2019
Political advertising paid for by the Democratic Party of Collin County.
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
Political donations are not tax exempt.
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