The parable of the lady who complained that I had no extra Kerry buttons.

[Dr Fate]

...yeah, I was doing some heavy canvassing on the street, wearing my Kerry/Edwards badge...

And this lady comes up to me and asks were she can get a badge like mine.

I tell her "You could try Kerry's website, or visit your local Democratic party Headquarters-the local DEMS sold me mine on a street corner...."

She then starts yelling very passionatly about how "Kerry needs to get on the ball- telling people to go to the website or somewhere else is not good enough...People need to be out here passing out Kerry badges..."

So I say- "I agree, why dont you visit the local DEM party and volunteer to do that in this very neighborhood. I've seen the local party at the park and on a corner in my neighborhood- I bought my badges from them..."

BLANK STARE, then a scowl and she walks away shaking her head as if *I* am the problem.

Does THIS kind of "Democrat" sound familiar to you?

In other words, DUers- get off your ass, stop complaining, and get to work!!!

FATE

[Spinzonner]

1. Be kind and gentle, she may have been a Recovering Republican

[Dr Fate]

2. All I asked her to do was volunteer & get the job done herself...

...that is the problem w/ so many DEMS, they expect someone else to do all the work, while they just bitch about Bush or Kerry.

[zuzu98]

3. as long as we're not making any sweeping generalizations....

Sheesh.

[Dr Fate]

4. If the shoe dont fit, dont wear it!!!

Do you know any DEMS like I am talking about?

I know many of them.

What would have been so wrong with that lady handing out Kerry badges this weekend? It was HER idea.

Democracy is about participation, my friend...

[zuzu98]

5. How about making your point

by saying "that is the problem with people like her" instead of says "DEMS?" We all know people like her -- DEMS or otherwise --that's where the saying "better to light a candle than curse the darkness" comes from. You just don't have to make a generalization about a very broad category of people. My friend.

[Dr Fate]

7. I'll meet cha half way!!!

My point is that too many "DEMS" are not Active DEMS.

I think you can agree that if more of the "talkers" helped you & I out, our jobs would be easier.

I see this mindset everyday- "Why arent you guys doing this & why arent the Democrats doing that..."

"You guys?" "The Democrats?" Whatever happened to participation & civic duty? Democracy is somthing you DO- not somthing you live under or wait for other people to do.

[zuzu98]

9. Agreed!

I'm a reformed "armchair Democrat" myself.

I just think it's not limited to "DEMS."

[Dr Fate]

10. Sorry I was not more positive- I DO see your point...

... this mindset just irks me sometimes...

Thanks for all you are doing...

[fudge stripe cookays]

18. He's right. There are plenty of them. I've met some too.

It wasn't sweeping, it was a statement. These people DO exist, and we need to get them out there working along with everyone else.

[Warpy]

17. You'd have gotten the same reaction from me

because my health really and truly sucks. My marching days are long over, as are my days of being able to stand on my feet for any period of time.

Don't presume to judge strangers. You don't know what sort of burdens they're already carrying.

Besides, don't you know you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar?

[fudge stripe cookays]

19. There are still ways to get involved, even with health problems.

Phone banking for instance. Stuffing envelopes at a local Democratic HQ, tabling at an event. None of which involve taxing physical labor. Yes, we all have our problems, but I think the biggest one right now is replacing this administration. Until then, many of the other problems can't be solved.

I've got horrific arthritis in the joints in my feet but I've still gotten out and canvassed neighborhoods in addition to other activities.

We all do what we can.

I don't think this DUer was using vinegar, only trying to wake a person up the "They" is all of us, working together.

FSC

[Dr Fate]

26. I was very nice to her.

If she was unable to volunteer, she never said so. She seemed very energetic & passionate to me.

It's not mean to suggest someone get the job done themselves...

[Radical Activist]

6. Many people always expect someone else to do the work

and complain when everything isn't done just right. Its kind of like how every jackass off the street is sure they know how to run a campaign and can tell a campaign staff everything they're doing wrong, but if you ask that person to help they always have something better to do.

I wish we lived in a nation where more people were taught that politics was something every person participates in rather than something you watch on TV.

[Dr Fate]

8. Thank you- someone GETS it!!!

You WIN!!!

Thanks for all you do!!!

[cynatnite]

11. Bought Two buttons and A Sticker, but I'm still on my ass

Where I live, mostly repub, there's no place to volunteer and too many people are mostly hardcore Bush supporters.

About as active as I can get is to go to the meetup 20 miles away on the 17th, email, email and email some more, wear the buttons and talk to whoever might listen if I don't get knocked on my ass.


Fate, if I lived in a larger city which had resources for Dems, you can bet I'd be taking advantage of them. I'm sure there's a lot of others who would as well.

One unfortunate encounter doesn't mean a blanket statement should be laid on everyone else.

Cyn:)

[fudge stripe cookays]

20. Cyn have you checked into a county Dem club?

Honestly, I'm in an 85% Republican area. I didn't expect any Democrats here, but we DO have a club, and new members are starting to crawl out of the woodwork.

Do a google search for your county name and Democrats. You might get lucky!

FSC

[cynatnite]

21. I've Tried

I would love to be part of one, but the only thing that comes close is the meetup in Johnson City, TN on the 17th. I'm not even sure how many people are going to be there.

I've googled it several times but so far nothing. I heard there was one in Blountville, but when I checked into it, I found nothing.

The closest would be in Knoxville, but it's just too far away.

I haven't completely given up. With this being an election year, I hope something will pop up. I'll do another one tonight.

Cyn:)

[fudge stripe cookays]

22. So sorry! I wish you luck!!

Maybe the folks there will start getting on the ball one of these days!

FSC

[Feanorcurufinwe]

25. Right on.

:yourock:

[Dr Fate]

27. But I told her when and where to volunteer w/i a 7x7 mile radius!....

...she most certainly did have options.

[Sparkly]

12. Did she not understand that you're volunteering?

Maybe she thought you were a paid representative of the campaign, and was complaining about the campaign. (Imagine that -- complaining about the campaign?! ;))

I know what you're saying. Better for everyone to think about what we *can* do -- and do it -- than to complain about things we *can't* do, change, or easily affect.

Thanks for being out there, doing what you can do! :)

[Piperay]

13. My mother used to work at

campaign headquarters and people would call up mad because they had called the office at 1:00 AM or so in the morning and 'NO ONE WAS THERE"! :wtf: Geeesh, they actually expected volunteers to be there 24/7 and when they were asked if they wanted to come in to help they always were too busy. :argh:

[skygazer]

14. I think you made an excellent point

Quibbling about whether this pertains to "all people" or "just Dems" is just more of the same. Sure there are Republicans and any other kind of group you could name who are the same way - but who cares? What does matter is there are a lot of people claiming to be Democrats and claiming to be greatly concerned about the situation the country is in and they're doing nothing more than talking about it. This is a call to action not a personal attack or a rhetoric exercise.

[JohnnyRingo]

15. I always carry two or three extras in my pocket

Just for when someone says: "I like that button"

It's costing me about $10 a week, but it's worth it.

[Dr Fate]

28. Me too- In fact, I've given all of mine away...

...and I would have given her that one, if she had expressed a 1% interest in helping us all out...

I've given away about 10 badges that I bought w/ my own money- but only to people interested in doing somthing for DEMS...

At this point, my sole badge is a "Hatered is not a Family Value" badge- I'm all out of Kerry/Edwards buttons...

[the Kelly Gang]

16. I agree...volunteer is the way to go

[ItsThePeopleStupid]

23. good advice.

You put it more gently than I could have. There is *nothing* that can't be accomplished when dems work together to amplify their voices. And there's nothing that will be accomplished, starting with getting * out, if we just sit back and criticize.

I thought it became clear to most dems in 2000 that democracy is not a turnkey operation -- it needs us to work.

[dsc]

24. Her problem might have been with having to buy the buttons

I honestly don't recall that ever having been the case when I have worked with campaigns. Depending on her finances that could have been a real burden. You do have a valid point, and her problem may have been laziness for all I know. But I do know my problem is with having to buy these things. Until the end of this month I can't afford to do that.