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Economic and Social Justice

"Somehow we have to convince people who vote in the presidential election to vote in the midterm elections.  If they don't they have no reason to complain." Bill Clinton

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Annual Summer Picnic
July 21, 6 PM 
Onekama Village Park
Brats and Fixings Provided
Pot Luck on sides and salads
Program TBA

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Open House Every Day
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339 River Street, Manistee

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Comments from the Chair

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​Stop the Real Big Steal on November 8th!
 
Based on the current rhetoric coming out of the so-called leadership of the radical Republican Party, in the 2022 election cycle if you vote Republican, then you will vote for what many are calling the “Real Big Steal”. Current Republican legislators at both the state and federal level have publicly called for legislation to review and eliminate existing established programs that have been tightly woven into American culture and our economic system. If we allow the current Republican Party to gain majorities in our state and federal legislatures in 2022 here is what we stand to lose:
  • Our Social Security
  • Our Medicare
  • Our Medicaid.
  • Our opportunity for affordable prescription drugs
  • Our access to affordable health care.
  • Our access to mental health services
  • Our right to privacy.
  • Our control over reproductive choices.
  • Our voting rights
  • Our right to elect those to represent us in Lansing or Washington
  • Our democracy
 
We are confident that even those who may still believe the “Big Lie” that the 2020 Presidential election was “stolen” would agree that taking these long-established programs and rights away from the American people would be exceedingly difficult to justify. But unjustified or not, they are squarely on the chopping block right now! The spin being put on these issues is that somehow the Republican Party will be able to craft an improved or more efficient program.  That is nothing but a hollow promise as we are still waiting to see the Republican alternative to the Affordable Care Act that was promised by the previous administration. Be looking for the opportunities to interact with candidates backed by all political parties that will be provided by non-partisan organizations like The League of Women Voters.  If a candidate refuses to participate in these types of town-hall forums, then that should be a major warning sign that they may not be worthy of your vote.  We still have the power to stop the Real Big Steal by doing our research, questioning the candidates, and voting based on facts on November 8th.


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​(​Comments from the Chair continued)

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The blame for this deeply divided country rests squarely on the shoulders of people who have made a conscious decision to follow and support the current radical Republican party, a political party that has been taken over by people who have failed at business, failed as legislators, but wildly succeeded as conmen/women gleefully raking in money from gullible supporters and high-rolling lobbyists. These people, who have consistently proven to have no idea what it means to be decent human beings, are now the leaders of a political party that has historically stood for family values and decency. Sadly, under their reign this is now a party that has decided it can only return to power by spreading hate and division, waging meaningless culture wars, and blaming others for any of the challenges we face as a nation without providing any viable alternatives or taking corrective action. They blissfully, almost joyfully do this all just to be able to crow about “owning the libs” on Fox News or local talk radio while refusing to legislate anything meaningful for the good of the people who elected them.
 
This current radical version of the Republican Party through the rantings of their dictator-in-waiting and the implicit approval caused by the silence of their leaders at the state and national levels has made it acceptable to fear and hate those who look differently than you, to fear and hate those who pray differently than you, to fear and hate those who are less fortunate than you, and to fear and hate those who think, act, and love differently than you.  It is so sad that the leadership of the current radical Republican Party has made it seem to some that it is acceptable for people to act through an explosion of rhetorical abuse and physical violence against those who are different. 
We hear lifelong Republican voters and supporters vainly try to justify their continuing support of their favored political party with statements like, “Well, you know I like their policies about abortion, guns, regulations, etc., but I sure wish they would tone down the name-calling and bullying tactics.” Statements like these are nothing but a weak cop-out in the glaring light of all the incompetence, lies, deception, fraud, and crimes that have been and are being committed by those currently running the Republican Party at both the state and national levels. If YOU still insist on calling yourself a Republican after everything this state and nation has experienced since January 6, 2021, YOU must accept responsibility for our current situation with no excuses. It is time for YOU to step up and demand action to change this once respected political party back to what it used to represent in the heydays of Lincoln, Eisenhower, Ford, and Milliken. If that will not happen, then YOU should have the courage to publicly denounce the current Republican Party and vote lor an Independent or a Democrat in November!

John Helge is a veteran U.S. Army officer and has recently retired after a 40-year career leading technical sales teams focused on the challenges of industrial water and energy sustainability. He is currently serving as chairperson of the Manistee County Democratic Party. He can be contacted at johnmhelge@gmail.com.

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How to Run for Local Office Guide

​So, you’re considering a run for local office? That’s so exciting. Local officials have the power to transform their communities for the better. In this guide, we’ll go over the basics that you need to know in order to field a successful campaign. When you’re ready to dive deeper on a topic, we’ve linked to resources that can give you a more robust understanding. We’ve also created a Campaign HQ page that has upto-date resources. We’re here for you. Let’s get started!
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P. O. Box 65
Manistee, MI  49660

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social and economic justice.


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