Mesa Democratic Club Leadership

In the weeks following the 2000 election, citizens watched as the Florida electoral process unfolded. Many were stunned when the presidency was determined by the Supreme Court instead of counting all the votes cast. Rather than roll over, many became actively involved in the political process for the first time. We were determined that the 2002 election would be above reproach as many more would wake up to what was happening to our democracy. Instead, we have lived through the catastrophe of 9/11 and the sad days for our country that followed. Another presidential election has come and gone and those who pay close attention to both words and actions have seen many of their worst fears playing out. The DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGE, see below, was written on March 21, 2001. Additions have been made on March 22, 2002, November 9, 2004, February 20, 2005, April 28, 2006, November 9, 2006 and finally October 13, 2007. We continue to have a growing challenge before us and must not let down. Eleanor Mang

THE DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGE

CHILDCARE: We must make sure that affordable quality childcare is available for all working parents. Childcare employees deserve to earn enough $ to be able to survive too! Looks like the only way to make this happen is to elect Democrats, turn the economy around, dig out of the deficit, and make progress again.

CIVIL RIGHTS: We must fight hard to preserve our liberties and assure equal rights under the law for everyone. Our civil liberties have taken a real beating at the hands of U.S. Attorney General Ashcroft and the current Bush administration. Have you been looking over your shoulder lately? Many are! Who is really safe when "big brother's eyes" are looking everywhere and the rules are being changed at a whim?

ECONOMY: We must turn the downward economic spiral around by returning to sound economic practices. Dishonest accounting practices by big business; the administration's 2001 tax cuts for the wealthy, their knee jerk reaction to 9/11, and their rush to war have taken a terrible toll on investor confidence. Now, Bush even wants more tax cuts that will again prove meaningless to the great majority of our citizens. Rather than our 2000 election year surpluses, we now see a future of giant deficits. To top it off, we can't help but wonder whether our 401k plans will ever rebound. Surely this is another alert to keep our social security program away from the stock market.

EDUCATION: We must provide the support needed to enable our schools to function well and our teachers to teach. Blaming school administrators and teachers for school problems provides handy scapegoats but does not make sense. Rather than asking the actual professional educators (teachers & administrators) what they need, we play politics with our children's future. Politicians talk about education being a priority, make standard testing demands, and promise no child will be left behind. But, what is reality? Money doesn't come through to implement mandates. Professional educators grow increasingly discouraged when facilities fall into disrepair, teaching becomes test preparation, and class sizes increase. Also, demographic and societal changes (drugs, language, poverty, stability...) exacerbate the problem while most parents are led to believe that all children should be college bound.

EMPLOYMENT: We must provide jobs with fair & living wages for all who need/want work. If we ask, "Are you better off today than you were in the year 2000?," the answer is clear. Job losses have swept the country since the current administration took power. Well, at least they extended unemployment insurance one more time. We can't help but wonder how many people will pay the penalty and draw from what is left of their 401(k) to survive. What is wrong with public works projects? They worked in the Great Depression.

ENVIRONMENT: We must ensure clean air, soil & water because our planet is not limitless in its scarce resources. As more flora and fauna disappear, nature teeters ever closer to that invisible point at which our world as we know it could be doomed. How much nuclear and other waste can we really store safely? In a contaminated world without coal, forests or oil; would future generations even be able to survive as hunters and/or gatherers?

HEALTH: We must ensure good health care and prescription coverage for all our citizens. Does it make sense that only those with wealth or fame should be provided good health care? Do they have a greater right than those who work as public servants, in the private sector, or are poor? While none of us has a right to live forever, surely we should be able to expect good professional medical care throughout life.

HOUSING: We must provide decent & affordable housing for everyone. The percentage of citizens who can afford a home of their own is dwindling. The same could be said of those who can afford to rent a home or apartment. Increasing numbers of people are finding it necessary to co-reside to stretch their shrinking $. Even worse is our Nation's growing number of the destitute, hungry and homeless.

INTERNATIONAL: We must seek peace for humanity & all cultures. Since the current administration began work in early 2001, it has been appalling to watch Bush strut before world opinion. "My way or the highway." Wonder whether any of them heard the following words at their mother's knees: "You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar." or "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." It is almost as though our nation set out in 2001 to alienate the world.

JUSTICE: We must have a justice system to apply equal justice to all without prejudice. It is vital that all judges appointed to the bench have a dedication to our constitution and the law. We saw the effect on our county in late 2000 when the supreme court interfered with state rights. We have seen the massive changes in our civil rights after 9/11. If we loose our civil rights, the terrorists have won. Democrats must fight hard to keep the unfair or biased off the bench.

MILITARY: We must continue to train, supply, support and pay quality forces who are the best in the world so they are thoroughly prepared to protect us. However, we must also help them understand that peace is our ultimate goal. Our leaders owe it to our military personnel and their wonderful families who sacrifice so much for all of us to avoid war without reason. An unworthy victory is not worth the cost of even one of their lives.

SAFETY: We must strengthen public safety and state security without jeopardizing freedom and the other needs of our people. Our safety and security as a nation are not just our fight against terrorism. Emergencies, whether accidental or deliberate, will always be with us. Let us remember the importance of thorough planning, staffing, training and funding for all contingencies.

STATE & LOCAL ISSUES: We must have an administration that recognizes its responsibility to operate in a fiscally responsible manner. States and local governments have suffered by the inability of the Bush Administration to develop an adequate plan for turning our nation's economy around. Our nation's lost balance of power has enabled the administration to provide the wealthy with massive tax cuts, while choosing war over meeting the needs of our people here at home. It is easy for the administration to say "Leave no child behind," or "Increase Security," when they have no intention of helping pay the bill. California and San Diego join other states and cities across the nation in their struggle to meet the growing needs of our citizens during this period of increased unemployment and dropping taxes. We have no choice but to raise taxes or reduce expenditures, because we don't have the authority to print our own money.

TAXES: We must have a fair tax structure that does not place a burden on lower and middle income families. We have become a greedy nation, indeed, when those who are most successful would rather have "their" money refunded and drive up the deficit than to help educate the young, clean the environment, or care for the sick and/or elderly.

TRANSPORTATION: We must use new technology to develop environmentally friendly automobiles & mass transit systems. Oil is not the only reason. Our growing population and love affair with the automobile have created growing congestion and confusion on the road. Our transportation infrastructure is at risk. By Eleanor A. Mang - March 21, 2001

THEN, 9/11, THE RUSH TO WAR, & INVASION OF IRAQ!

WE MUST CONTINUE OUR FIGHT FOR THE RIGHTS OF ALL CITIZENS!

Thoughtful and dedicated people can develop solutions to even the most difficult problems. As a nation, we must identify answers that will work. By Eleanor A. Mang © March 22, 2002

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

We believed, and still do, that our position on topics such as childcare, civil rights, the economy, education, employment, the environment, healthcare, housing, international relations, equal justice, military support, safety, state & local issues, taxes and transportation reflect our deep seated CORE VALUES.

The Republican Party, guided by Carl Rove's clever plan, jumped the gun on us and defined the term VALUES effectively as "anti-gay," "pro-life,"pro-gun" and "anti-terrorism" among others. Since Republicans took over all 3 branches of government in 2000, their actions have wrought havoc on our nation and around the world. One must, therefore, question either the validity or reality of their stated VALUE system.

Have they resulted in better lives for anyone? Well, there are some people who are smiling. Who are they? The wealthy, military contractors, and certain faith based entities. Where in the New Testament does it say "Blessed be the wealthy and big business. Blessed be only certain Christian's who think like I do." Or for that matter, "Blessed be they that invade other countries." Wonder what their VALUES really are?

If I remember correctly, it does say "Blessed are the poor in spirit, they that mourn, the meek, they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peace makers, and persecuted for righteousness sake." I was raised to believe that Christ set a wonderful example of how to treat others. He even threw the money changers out of the Temple, and weren't there words that said give to God what is God's, and to Caesar what is Caesar's? So where did God & Caesar become one? Looks like that's what is going on in the United States of America today. What a shame!

Now, to our United States Constitution and Bill of Rights. Maybe we should all visit www.bartleby.com to read them. Never has an amendment been made to tighten the screws on any group of individuals. Rather, amendments have been made to expand protections. But, the wealthy in our nation are growing in their ability to control many of our rights from controlling the media to influencing elections.

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

Yippee! Now that we did it, the Democratic House & Senate are hard at work to repair the damage that has been done to our beloved Country. NOW, all our volunteers need to role up their sleeves, register voters, recruit more volunteers, talk to our neighbors, and otherwise work to finish our job in 2008. eam 11/9/06

ANOTHER YEAR HAS PASSED!

So much has been unearthed since the Democrats won last year. But, many are complaining because Impeachment is off the table. No reasonable Democrat can possibly think that the Bush Administration does not deserve that fate. Yet we must all understand that the first imperative is the election of a Democratic President of the United States, House of Representatives and Senate in 2008. That is the only way it is possible for our Nation and even our World to have a chance at reversing our direction and rebuilding our nation we were once so proud of. Let's continue to roll up our sleeves working hard as volunteers to save the future for our children and our children's children. Call 858-277-3367 to HELP! eam 10/13/07


EAM's Democratic Perspective In the weeks following the 2000 election, citizens watched as the Florida electoral process unfolded. Many were stunned when the presidency was determined by the Supreme Court instead of counting all the votes cast. Rather than roll over, many became actively involved in the political process for the first time. We were determined that the 2002 election would be above reproach as many more would wake up to what was happening to our democracy. Instead, we have lived through the catastrophe of 9/11 and the sad days for our country that followed. Another presidential election has come and gone and those who pay close attention to both words and actions have seen many of their worst fears playing out. The DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGE, see below, was written on March 21, 2001. Additions have been made on March 22, 2002, November 9, 2004, February 20, 2005, April 28, 2006, November 9, 2006 and finally October 13, 2007. We continue to have a growing challenge before us and must not let down. Eleanor Mang THE DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGE We must help other patriotic democrats turn out the vote for our Democratic Candidates. We must remind all citizens that the actions of the current administration do not match their words. A decision "not to vote" or to "vote Green" is a vote for the Bush administration. We can't let that happen again! CHILDCARE: We must make sure that affordable quality childcare is available for all working parents. Childcare employees deserve to earn enough $ to be able to survive too! Looks like the only way to make this happen is to elect Democrats, turn the economy around, dig out of the deficit, and make progress again. CIVIL RIGHTS: We must fight hard to preserve our liberties and assure equal rights under the law for everyone. Our civil liberties have taken a real beating at the hands of U.S. Attorney General Ashcroft and the current Bush administration. Have you been looking over your shoulder lately? Many are! Who is really safe when "big brother's eyes" are looking everywhere and the rules are being changed at a whim? ECONOMY: We must turn the downward economic spiral around by returning to sound economic practices. Dishonest accounting practices by big business; the administration's 2001 tax cuts for the wealthy, their knee jerk reaction to 9/11, and their rush to war have taken a terrible toll on investor confidence. Now, Bush even wants more tax cuts that will again prove meaningless to the great majority of our citizens. Rather than our 2000 election year surpluses, we now see a future of giant deficits. To top it off, we can't help but wonder whether our 401k plans will ever rebound. Surely this is another alert to keep our social security program away from the stock market. EDUCATION: We must provide the support needed to enable our schools to function well and our teachers to teach. Blaming school administrators and teachers for school problems provides handy scapegoats but does not make sense. Rather than asking the actual professional educators (teachers & administrators) what they need, we play politics with our children's future. Politicians talk about education being a priority, make standard testing demands, and promise no child will be left behind. But, what is reality? Money doesn't come through to implement mandates. Professional educators grow increasingly discouraged when facilities fall into disrepair, teaching becomes test preparation, and class sizes increase. Also, demographic and societal changes (drugs, language, poverty, stability...) exacerbate the problem while most parents are led to believe that all children should be college bound. EMPLOYMENT: We must provide jobs with fair & living wages for all who need/want work. If we ask, "Are you better off today than you were in the year 2000?," the answer is clear. Job losses have swept the country since the current administration took power. Well, at least they extended unemployment insurance one more time. We can't help but wonder how many people will pay the penalty and draw from what is left of their 401(k) to survive. What is wrong with public works projects? They worked in the Great Depression. ENVIRONMENT: We must ensure clean air, soil & water because our planet is not limitless in its scarce resources. As more flora and fauna disappear, nature teeters ever closer to that invisible point at which our world as we know it could be doomed. How much nuclear and other waste can we really store safely? In a contaminated world without coal, forests or oil; would future generations even be able to survive as hunters and/or gatherers? HEALTH: We must ensure good health care and prescription coverage for all our citizens. Does it make sense that only those with wealth or fame should be provided good health care? Do they have a greater right than those who work as public servants, in the private sector, or are poor? While none of us has a right to live forever, surely we should be able to expect good professional medical care throughout life. HOUSING: We must provide decent & affordable housing for everyone. The percentage of citizens who can afford a home of their own is dwindling. The same could be said of those who can afford to rent a home or apartment. Increasing numbers of people are finding it necessary to co-reside to stretch their shrinking $. Even worse is our Nation's growing number of the destitute, hungry and homeless. INTERNATIONAL: We must seek peace for humanity & all cultures. Since the current administration began work in early 2001, it has been appalling to watch Bush strut before world opinion. "My way or the highway." Wonder whether any of them heard the following words at their mother's knees: "You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar." or "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." It is almost as though our nation set out in 2001 to alienate the world. JUSTICE: We must have a justice system to apply equal justice to all without prejudice. It is vital that all judges appointed to the bench have a dedication to our constitution and the law. We saw the effect on our county in late 2000 when the supreme court interfered with state rights. We have seen the massive changes in our civil rights after 9/11. If we loose our civil rights, the terrorists have won. Democrats must fight hard to keep the unfair or biased off the bench. MILITARY: We must continue to train, supply, support and pay quality forces who are the best in the world so they are thoroughly prepared to protect us. However, we must also help them understand that peace is our ultimate goal. Our leaders owe it to our military personnel and their wonderful families who sacrifice so much for all of us to avoid war without reason. An unworthy victory is not worth the cost of even one of their lives. SAFETY: We must strengthen public safety and state security without jeopardizing freedom and the other needs of our people. Our safety and security as a nation are not just our fight against terrorism. Emergencies, whether accidental or deliberate, will always be with us. Let us remember the importance of thorough planning, staffing, training and funding for all contingencies. STATE & LOCAL ISSUES: We must have an administration that recognizes its responsibility to operate in a fiscally responsible manner. States and local governments have suffered by the inability of the Bush Administration to develop an adequate plan for turning our nation's economy around. Our nation's lost balance of power has enabled the administration to provide the wealthy with massive tax cuts, while choosing war over meeting the needs of our people here at home. It is easy for the administration to say "Leave no child behind," or "Increase Security," when they have no intention of helping pay the bill. California and San Diego join other states and cities across the nation in their struggle to meet the growing needs of our citizens during this period of increased unemployment and dropping taxes. We have no choice but to raise taxes or reduce expenditures, because we don't have the authority to print our own money. TAXES: We must have a fair tax structure that does not place a burden on lower and middle income families. We have become a greedy nation, indeed, when those who are most successful would rather have "their" money refunded and drive up the deficit than to help educate the young, clean the environment, or care for the sick and/or elderly. TRANSPORTATION: We must use new technology to develop environmentally friendly automobiles & mass transit systems. Oil is not the only reason. Our growing population and love affair with the automobile have created growing congestion and confusion on the road. Our transportation infrastructure is at risk. By Eleanor A. Mang - March 21, 2001 THEN, 9/11, THE RUSH TO WAR, & INVASION OF IRAQ! WE MUST CONTINUE OUR FIGHT FOR THE RIGHTS OF ALL CITIZENS! Thoughtful and dedicated people can develop solutions to even the most difficult problems. As a nation, we must identify answers that will work. By Eleanor A. Mang © March 22, 2002 WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? * We must define and share our values clearly so others can clearly understand. * WE must learn from our past communication failures to create future communication successes. * We must plan, organize and train. Eleanor A. Mang, November 9, 2004 YES, our country still needs all democrats to continue our fight for the rights of all citizens, but how? For the last 4 years we have posted our "Democratic Challenge" on this site believing that it was possible to recapture the presidency for the good of our country and ultimately the world. We believed, and still do, that our position on topics such as childcare, civil rights, the economy, education, employment, the environment, healthcare, housing, international relations, equal justice, military support, safety, state & local issues, taxes and transportation reflect our deep seated CORE VALUES. WE BELIEVE THAT CORE VALUES MUST BE PUT INTO ACTION OR THEY ARE ONLY WORDS WALLOWING IN THE WIND. But, we have not been clear on what our CORE VALUES really are. WE BELIEVE THAT TO BE OF VALUE, ACTIONS BASED ON THOSE VALUES SHOULD BENEFIT THE GREAT MAJORITY OF HUMAN KIND! The Republican Party, guided by Carl Rove's clever plan, jumped the gun on us and defined the term VALUES effectively as "anti-gay," "pro-life,"pro-gun" and "anti-terrorism" among others. Since Republicans took over all 3 branches of government in 2000, their actions have wrought havoc on our nation and around the world. One must, therefore, question either the validity or reality of their stated VALUE system. Okay, so they have their definition of Christian VALUES. But what have their actions really been? Have they resulted in better lives for anyone? Well, there are some people who are smiling. Who are they? The wealthy, military contractors, and certain faith based entities. Where in the New Testament does it say "Blessed be the wealthy and big business. Blessed be only certain Christian's who think like I do." Or for that matter, "Blessed be they that invade other countries." Wonder what their VALUES really are? If I remember correctly, it does say "Blessed are the poor in spirit, they that mourn, the meek, they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peace makers, and persecuted for righteousness sake." I was raised to believe that Christ set a wonderful example of how to treat others. He even threw the money changers out of the Temple, and weren't there words that said give to God what is God's, and to Caesar what is Caesar's? So where did God & Caesar become one? Looks like that's what is going on in the United States of America today. What a shame! WE VALUE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND TOLERANCE! Now, to our United States Constitution and Bill of Rights. Maybe we should all visit www.bartleby.com to read them. Never has an amendment been made to tighten the screws on any group of individuals. Rather, amendments have been made to expand protections. But, the wealthy in our nation are growing in their ability to control many of our rights from controlling the media to influencing elections. WE VALUE OUR PEOPLE, OUR COUNTRY & OUR CONSTITUTION ! A FEW EXAMPLES: WE VALUE THE 1ST AMENDMENT! Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. WE VALUE THE 4TH AMENDMENT! The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. WE VALUE THE 6TH AMENDMENT! In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense. WE VALUE THE 10TH AMENDMENT! The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. THOUGHTS ON THE DANGERS OF CORPORATE POWER! by eam 2/20/05 Corporations now run our country. We must begin changing laws to eliminate their status as "persons." Corporate leaders should not be allowed to contribute to elections in order to buy influence. Is is even more dangerous for our citizenry when corporate bigwigs are appointed to serve as the heads of agencies earmarked to protect us from the misdeeds of their corporate industry in the first place. Last but not least, black box voting machines without paper trails were foisted on our electorate in 2004 by corporations whose leaders clearly stated their intent to do everything they could to elect the Republican candidates. We must fight for the right of all citizens to have honest elections with paper trails. eam 2/20/05 WE MUST WIN IN 2006 The accomplishments or our San Diego County Democratic Party over the last several years, while important, can't take a candle to the importance of sending our Democrats to Congress. We must elect Democrats to State, County and City leadership positions as well. It will take all our energy at the Grass Roots level to turn the direction of our Country around. Yes, WE NEED YOU! eam 4/28/06 Yippee! Now that we did it, the Democratic House & Senate are hard at work to repair the damage that has been done to our beloved Country. NOW, all our volunteers need to role up their sleeves, register voters, recruit more volunteers, talk to our neighbors, and otherwise work to finish our job in 2008. eam 11/9/06 ANOTHER YEAR HAS PASSED! So much has been unearthed since the Democrats won last year. But, many are complaining because Impeachment is off the table. No reasonable Democrat can possibly think that the Bush Administration does not deserve that fate. Yet we must all understand that the first imperative is the election of a Democratic President of the United States, House of Representatives and Senate in 2008. That is the only way it is possible for our Nation and even our World to have a chance at reversing our direction and rebuilding our nation we were once so proud of. Let's continue to roll up our sleeves working hard as volunteers to save the future for our children and our children's children. Call 858-277-3367 to HELP! eam 10/13/07

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