Progressive Cheverly                         

I am proud to be a member of Progressive Cheverly. This is a true grassroots neighborhood organization that have been mobilized to act by recent events.

We have accomplished so much in the past few months. I invite you to look at our Statement of Mission and Principles. It is a document born of consensus of the community where we live. We will use this to guide our activities in local, state and national matters.

The new organization has taken on a huge, unexpected project - a Wal-Mart store coming into our community trying to sneak in under the radar. Progressive Cheverly, as a new organization, has rallied it's members and neighboring community governments and civic associations. While fighting that battle, we were able to draft and enact organizational bylaws, conduct organization elections, work on other projects and sessions with our legislators and earned the respect of those legislators.

Progressive Cheverly not only has invigorated many of us - it has helped validate our inner compass. We shall prevail.

The Democratic Message
                         
I think we could wrap our message around one word - security.

In terms of framing (see George Lakoff), security has a very warm connotation and invokes ease and assuredness.

Democrats offer security. Economic Security. Health Security. Physical Security. Family Security.

We offer families financial security by managing taxes and budgets with fiscal restraint. Outlandish deficits impair our economy's comeback and over time undermine the value of families' savings and investments.

We offer health security by making care available and affordable. We offer legacy security by making education affordable; ensuring equal opportunities in the workplace and fostering an economy that grows retirement savings.

We fight for maintaining our social safety nets - like Social Security and Medicare. We meet our obligations to our veterans and their families.

We provide physical and national security. Democratic administrations avoided wars and protected us from terrorism. Democrats fund first-responders and maintain our infrastructure and military. Our initial successes were due to Democratic administration military preparedness; our recent failures are due to Republican administration policy.

We provide economic security by ensuring each strata of wealth contribute their fair-share to the community - without undue burden upon anyone. Democrats open avenues to success - allowing everyone opportunities to gain wealth.

FDR said we only need fear fear itself. Democrats provide security and that message can be summed-up on a bumper sticker.

Democratic Security vs. Republican Uncertainty

Welcome to my new blog.
                         
In the coming weeks, I will be posting thoughts and suggestions to this blog.

I am also creating a new website, but that work is secondary to the other sites I am maintaining for Democratic candidates and causes. So please be patient.

Thanks and stayed tuned.

Ed