2006 Precinct Meeting

This morning, we held a precinct meeting for the local Democratic party. One of the points of this meeting is to present and vote on resolutions that will go on to the county convention, then the district convention and finally the state convention. Anyone can come to the precinct meeting, but to go on to the next step in these meetings means you have to be elected. This is not hard, since there are generally more available slots than people wanting to fill them.

At first, we did not have enough to have a quarum for the meeting, but one guy there called his wife and got her to come in, so we then had five people: Kathy (chair), me (vice chair), Charles, Melody and Merlinda. Merlinda came with one resolution, about the Dept of Peace. I had this resolution also, and that one passed. I presented a resolution on NC Energy Future, and that passed. I also presented a resolution on stopping the transport of nuclear materials, and that passed. We had a resolution on Health Care reform, and that passed also.

I presented a resolution on Campaign reform and voter owned elections, and that one failed, mainly because Charles thinks that non-partisan elections are dirty elections. He claims that when you have a non-partisan race, then there are back room deals were they decide who is going to get the spot instead of a race between the Democrats and Republicans. I don't agree with him on that one, and have seen no evidence to support his claim. So, that one was voted down, even though it really dealt with how campaigns are financed, not if they are non- partisan or not.

There was a resolution for a temporary moratorium on Big Box Developments in Buncombe County. That also did not pass, so I can only surmise that this group feels the more big box stores, the better. We already have one big box Wal Mart here in Asheville, and they are talking about making another one.

But the one that really got me was the resolution to withdraw troops from Iraq. These four individuals feel we have to stay there and "do right by the Iraqis" and Charles also objected to the resolution saying we should leave no "structures" behind. He was concerned that it would be wasteful to tear down buildings instead of leaving them for the Iraqis. Well, I am sure when we do get kicked out of Iraq, the Iraqis themselves will burn the buildings down. I am also sure that Bush does not intend to EVER leave Iraq, which is why he is building permanent bases there. Anyway, it was clear that these four folks, like most Americans, are very ignorant of what is happening in Iraq. But I truly find amazing, and very depressing, is to run into Democrats who support Bush's policies. If they want to be Republicans, what are they doing at a Democratic meeting? Can't they see how bad Bush and his policies are for the USA? I guess not.

More folks that are doomed to learn the hard way, which means America will learn the hard way also.

Kathy is stepping down as chair, and I know I am too busy to do the job, so finally Charles took on being chair for the precinct. I think he has a lot of Republican policies, which really means he is not very well informed.

oh, well............