The "liberal elite"

[H2O Man]

105. Let's see:

I've recently been asked to assist a couple of Democratic Party committees to consult and assist in helping them win "local" elections this year. I'm glad to volunteer my time and energy. I assume that they have asked for my help, because they know that I have assisted them in the past, in terms of grass roots power. And certainly, within this context, I advocate for the values of the grass roots.

A few years back, when "fracking" was a hot issue in my state, I traveled from town-to-town, city-to-city, to speak at rallies and other meetings about the issue. I was pleased to accept these invitations. I assume the invitations were made, because these grass roots groups of citizens recognized that my values were one and the same as their's. In that time, as individuals at several such meetings witnessed, there were "bircher-types" who were uninvited, and who were intent upon expressing their displeasure with me as a human being.

Now, lots of the good folks in the events were registered Democrats. My message was simple: the Democratic Party should be opposed to fracking, because of the severe damage it does to the environment. Thus, I support those Democratic Party candidates that oppose fracking. But, of course, not all Democrats do oppose fracking. That represents a huge difference in values.

I also engaged in "solitary" activities in opposition to fracking. A few forum members may recall, for example, that I engaged in a hunger strike to "lobby" a state senator to meet with the pro-environment citizens in his district. Eventually, I spoke to a large rally inside the state capitol. No one there could have possibly mistaken me as an "elite." I had absolutely no power other than participating in a grass roots event.

There remain very different values within the Democratic Party on some issues. That does not imply there are differences on many, most, or all issues. Yet they are real.