Why are We Here?

By Brad Parker

This is a summary of the speech I prepared when running for an officer position on the Progressive Caucus of the CDP (an election which I won). It applies equally to this race for LACDP Central Committee.

by Brad Parker

We ask ourselves today...... why are we here? What is the purpose of "our" Progressive Caucus in the CDP We are here because we find ourselves like the citizens of New Orleans

In the Superdome and
In the Convention Center

Or worse; consumed by indifference

Corporations have sucked the blood out of the Republican Party Its' corpse is beginning to rot Under corporate direction it is now the

Republican Anarchy Collective

Science with Superstition
Environmental Protection with Pollution
Business regulation with robber barons
Public Education with Private Segregation
War without End

Corporate Crony Capitalism then turned its' sights on Elected Democrats... Beginning in the 1990's a concerted campaign has been waged to convert the DNC into the other wing of the National Corporate Party Led by the DLC they have found our weakness..... money

Money that can buy re-election
Money that can lift a middle class activist with good intentions
Out of the neighborhood and into the world of privilege

Too many times at every level of government we have found Democrats doing the bidding of Corporate Lobbyists under the banner of Jobs..... They tell us we have to sacrifice our principles or we won't have any jobs...... so they sacrifice in our name and all we get is fewer and fewer lousy jobs......

We are here to bring a conscience to the Democratic party We know that California is the ultimate prize in the political future As goes California, so goes the nation, the world We are here to transform the CDP and then the DNC will follow We are here to support all of our elected officials who are doing the right thing and elect more like them We are here to give those who are not... the opportunity to see the error of their ways and regain their moral compass We are here to inspire those who have abandoned the political process to join us because every challenge before us in America today is being decided in the political arena and we can not leave the process to only the corrupt corporate influences and to the weak politicians who succumb to them

We are the foundry of ideas. Our focus should be policy not personality. Our action should be keen. Our by-word should be inclusion. You are the leadership of the Progressive Caucus. Make sure you elect an Executive Board who understands that!

I ask for your support