About | Board of Directors | How to Post to Website

The pull of the presidential primary, the senatorial race, and the reelection of our progressive congresspersons is compelling. However, I believe that DFNH, because it focusses on the political inside NH, should take some time to brainstorm how we can help get more progressives involved in local government.

Now I am going to tell you why this is so difficult. First of all, politics on this level is non-partisan, so that much of the organization that has been done by progressives in the Democratic Party is difficult to translate to the local level, where races are at least nominally non-partisan. I can tell you that most of the more progressive people in my town will not register as Democrats and will not get involved in the party organization. I am not saying they are wrong, they have very good reasons which they share with me. The point is that we need some other organizational vehicle that will keep these groups together over time.

We also have an issue with the, I almost hesitate to say it this way, “class warfare” that the property tax issue brings to our towns. This year in Northwood that we have a couple of people who either don’t own property or who don’t pay their taxes period, who use the burden of the property tax on certain segments of the population as a campaign issue, distorting the facts in the process (see my recent article on the DFNH website regarding the use of statistics). They imply that the people who volunteer to run or be appointed to town boards are all rich and don’t worry about paying their property taxes, while in fact we have many retired folks and young people with families who help run our town. They are simply willing to pay their fair share.

According to the Education Commission of the States, "Educators and policymakers are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of the first five years of life in the development of children's brains and the cognitive, social, emotional and physical foundations of later success. Research has demonstrated that quality early learning programs can have significant and lasting benefits throughout childhood and into early adulthood. As a result, states and districts are investing more money than ever before into early learning programs, increasing the need for policymakers to make difficult policy and funding choices."

Read the entire article here.

Investing in early education childcare strikes me as a very fiscally responsible thing to do.

As a co-drafter of the Request By Voters letter to Congress ( wethepatriots.org ), I have been working with Nancy Tobi to find workable reform solutions that support citizen oversight of our elections and election integrity. Nancy has been an influential and leading national activist, who understands the importance of the partnership between citizens and election officials in creating meaningful election reform. Your contribution to this fundraising appeal will allow Ms. Tobi to meet with top state and local election officials from across the nation and promote our efforts in working with them to ensure election integrity for our nation. Ms. Tobi has a proven record of success in her home state of New Hampshire in drafting and getting passed positive election legislation. We need this now for the nation, and your contribution will help bring us closer to that goal. -Bev Harris, Black Box Voting

Editor's note: DFNH is a nonpartisan organization. The references to Party affiliation belong to the author of this posting.

Greetings,

Since the state of the state address I have been giving much thought to the idea of John Lynch being the Governor from our party. When I look back at the last year of John Lynch's term I do not see a Democrat that is ideologically in line with our views of social justice, I see someone who has cast aside the Democratic agenda to ensure victory.

Recently the Republican Senate President leader Ted Gatsas basically said to John DiStaso of The Union Leader, why propose our own agenda when John Lynch has taken it up for us? The Lynch agenda is the Republican agenda.

Some may disagree pointing to small postulations such as LCHIP, but in the scheme of things thats small.

Lets look at the facts. John Lynch opposes an income tax. John Lynch has cut $400 million in education funding, John Lynch has done little to make corporations pay their fair share for health care.

Democracy for New Hampshire is a nonpartisan big-tent organization that promotes grassroots community involvement in the democratic process in New Hampshire. DFNH works to protect the foundations of our democracy and the integrity of our political process and supports fiscally responsible, socially progressive candidates who speak honestly about policy choices.

Please read the voting instructions in Mission statement vote - group #1 - communication.

II. POLITICAL ACTION
A. Support Progressive Candidates for State and Local Offices
B. Voter Registration & Get Out The Vote
C. Incorporate Progressive issues into Democratic Party Platform
D. Promote Social Justice Issues
E. Effectuate Removal of Bush and Election of Kerry
F. Effectuate Removal of Governor Benson and Election of Progressive Candidate
G. Support Candidates for Message, not necessarily Electability
H. Reform 2-Party System/Constructing Electoral Reform
I. Facilitate Fundraising for Progressive Candidates
J. Work to Protect the Integrity of the Voting System and Election Process

Go on to the next vote, Mission statement vote - group #3 - organizational outreach.