Candidates needed for County Offices
|
From Membership ChairThe Manistee County Democrats wish you a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year. We are all looking forward to the year 2020 with a renewed belief that our country will return to democratic principles, will return to civility, will embrace the acceptance of diversity and cultural differences. Yes, 2020 is our year of HOPE.
In our country, we have a two-party political system. We need your support for the Democratic Party, which embraces:
The yearly membership in the Manistee County Democratic Party is from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020. Please join now and offer your support for the year 2020. (Reminder: Membership of $100 or more, we submit free membership in the State of Michigan Democratic Party –MDP.) The funds for membership (both locally and statewide) are used for: v
The membership form is at the end of the newsletter. We look forward to compelling meetings, social events, and your input to make 2020 a dynamic election year. Sincerely, Shirley Madden, Membership Chair Revision of
|
|
Breaking News
Monthly Meeting
Cancelled
Comments from the Chair
Lately, I have become very concerned about the issue of firearm safety and more generally, the rule of law in our community, in our state, and in our country. I was troubled a couple of weeks ago when I read an article in the News Advocate that concluded with the suggestion that it is perfectly acceptable for individual citizens to use firearms to oppose what they perceive as government overreach.
Really? Does this mean that it is OK for me to judge the merits of any law passed by any level of government and use my gun to oppose its enforcement? I don't think so. I always thought that my personal responsibility as a citizen of this country was to obey the laws. I know that I am always free to oppose laws that I strongly disagree with by joining with other like-minded citizens to get them changed. I know that I can pursue legal remedies if I care to, or I can write to my representatives in government. I am also free to actively protest laws that I don't support. But I am not and should not be free to use violent means whenever I disagree with my government over an issue.
A few days later I learned that a group of 2nd amendment supporters were planning to ask our county commissioners to adopt a resolution making Manistee a 2nd amendment sanctuary county, meaning that our county would then refuse to obey any state or federal law that infringed upon our 2nd amendment right to bear arms. To my mind, this effort also seeks to circumvent the rule of law in our society. Many people came to the latest county commissioners meeting to speak in support of and against the adoption of this ill-conceived and dangerous resolution. Thankfully, the commissioners declined to act and Manistee did not join the list of counties that have already adopted it.
Finally, we have the spectacle of our President all but directing the US Attorney General William Barr, via twitter, to alter the sentencing recommendations for one of his longtime friends! While this is technically not against the law, it does certainly undermine the independence of the Justice Department and the public's respect for the law. Are we headed to a time when the law is whatever the president says it is? Isn't that the way it is in a dictatorship like Russia? Are we heading in that direction? I wonder!
I think we all need to pay very close attention to events like these and take every opportunity to speak out against the erosion of the rule of law in our society. We must not be afraid to speak up to friends and family about this and other serious issues. Our failure to do so may very well embolden others to continue along the dangerous path to anarchy. This year we have a chance to correct many of the dangerous trends we have recently witnessed. We need to pay very close attention to what is happening during this election year and take our responsibility to vote seriously. Remember these words of Thomas Jefferson: "We do not have a government of the people; we have a government of the people who vote!"
Gary Madden
Really? Does this mean that it is OK for me to judge the merits of any law passed by any level of government and use my gun to oppose its enforcement? I don't think so. I always thought that my personal responsibility as a citizen of this country was to obey the laws. I know that I am always free to oppose laws that I strongly disagree with by joining with other like-minded citizens to get them changed. I know that I can pursue legal remedies if I care to, or I can write to my representatives in government. I am also free to actively protest laws that I don't support. But I am not and should not be free to use violent means whenever I disagree with my government over an issue.
A few days later I learned that a group of 2nd amendment supporters were planning to ask our county commissioners to adopt a resolution making Manistee a 2nd amendment sanctuary county, meaning that our county would then refuse to obey any state or federal law that infringed upon our 2nd amendment right to bear arms. To my mind, this effort also seeks to circumvent the rule of law in our society. Many people came to the latest county commissioners meeting to speak in support of and against the adoption of this ill-conceived and dangerous resolution. Thankfully, the commissioners declined to act and Manistee did not join the list of counties that have already adopted it.
Finally, we have the spectacle of our President all but directing the US Attorney General William Barr, via twitter, to alter the sentencing recommendations for one of his longtime friends! While this is technically not against the law, it does certainly undermine the independence of the Justice Department and the public's respect for the law. Are we headed to a time when the law is whatever the president says it is? Isn't that the way it is in a dictatorship like Russia? Are we heading in that direction? I wonder!
I think we all need to pay very close attention to events like these and take every opportunity to speak out against the erosion of the rule of law in our society. We must not be afraid to speak up to friends and family about this and other serious issues. Our failure to do so may very well embolden others to continue along the dangerous path to anarchy. This year we have a chance to correct many of the dangerous trends we have recently witnessed. We need to pay very close attention to what is happening during this election year and take our responsibility to vote seriously. Remember these words of Thomas Jefferson: "We do not have a government of the people; we have a government of the people who vote!"
Gary Madden
Donations
All donations are used for support of local campaign activities only. Click the Donate button to the right.
