By ROBYN SCHULTZ, ChairPeople are right to complain about our political system, but turning away is not the solution. “Political machines” are made up of people. People like you and me. You can complain about the process, try to ignore it, or get involved and actually do something about it.
While most people focus exclusively on the national races, the truth is that local elections like County Council, State House and Senate will have more impact on our day-to-day lives. These contests may not get the press coverage that the presidential election does, but local elected positions are critically important. Municipalities and states can lead the way on policies that are hopelessly gridlocked at the national level. Problems that seem impossible can be tackled at the local level.
And it’s easy to get involved in local politics. Local parties and candidates are always looking for active members and new volunteers. Want these organizations and people to better represent you? Join the local party that best represents you and influence change from the inside. Will a particular political party or candidate ever perfectly represent you? No, they won’t. And unless you’re willing to run for office, you will just have to pick the best fit.
Hopefully, like me, you’ll feel that the Democratic Party is the best fit. If so, check out our website at losalamosdemocrats.org for upcoming events. Our next Monthly Meeting is Monday, May 9 at 6:30 p.m. at UNM-LA Building 05. We have several contested primaries and we’ll be hosting all local Democratic candidates that evening.
If you would like to be a presidential delegate to the Democratic National Convention this summer, the information is also on our website. Just click on “Be a National Delegate.” The whole delegate process can seem complicated, but it is also transparent and our local party would be happy to help you.
Don’t want to compromise? Do you choose to send a protest message by just opting out of politics? The truth is that the only message you are sending when you don’t get involved (and especially when you don’t vote): “I’m fine with the status quo.”