Many Washington Democrats spent twenty-five or more hours over at least three days selecting representatives who will select the state's nominee for President. This was a convoluted and arcane process that left many with the feeling that the Democratic Party begrudged their input. I'm sure that some party members think that, like Mommy, "they know best " and would be happy if the rest of us just stayed home.
What's important isn't that some want to be in charge or that others find the whole process taxing. We all know in the back of our minds that democracy (the small d variety) only works well when we embrace the needs of the whole electorate and heed the majority while honoring the energy and desires of the losers. That said, I'd like to talk about some of the gripes and whining heard during the nomination process.
The biggest gripe was a lack of understanding of the party's process. While it's true many didn't understand what was going on, there was no end of information coming from the party explaining how it all works. What was missing was a way to reach and educate all of those who consider themselves members of the party, but who don't pay dues or attend meetings and as a result are out of the info loop. I guess we can blame the party or maybe the news media for that? Maybe not though, who has the ultimate responsibility for our ignorance? Is it them or us - I think we have that to be active members of the electorate and demand the information we need no matter where it resides.
Another problem is the so called "super delegates". These are mostly elected and appointed party officials who's choice of candidate seems to be at odds with the rank and file of the party. Most of these delegates are long time members of the party and have known Hillary and Bill Clinton for years. Bernie Sanders, on the other hand, is an unknown who hasn't spent the last two election cycles running for president. If the Sanders supporters want that to change they must work to change minds and not just complain about flawed systems.
The gripe that is loudest and one that I find personally offensive is the one that says I'm here and I'm loud and I want my way now! If you want to be an organizer and a changer of minds and think that what you want is important, please show up in between the election cycles. The folks who go to the meetings, pay their dues and volunteer to man the phones and pound on doors will only listen if you back your ideas with the kind of help that gets things done.
Don't be a Fair Weather Patriot. When the election is over, whether you win or lose, please keep working. Democracy fails if it's not constantly fed and renewed.
