As some of you know, I wear two hats in the Delaware political word. I am a contributing editor here at Delaware Liberal, and I am involved with the Progressive Democrats for Delaware. I am taking advantage of those dual roles right now by posting PDD’s annual fundraising and membership letter, should some of our readers like to join and/or contribute to PDD to advance progressive causes in Delaware or to help elect progressive candidates. And if you want to attend one of PDD’s monthly meetings, they are held the first Wednesday night of every month at the Delaware Democratic Party Headquarters, located at 19 E. Commons Boulevard in New Castle, off Rt. 141. In fact, they are meeting tonight at 7 pm.
Friends,
The Progressive Democrats for Delaware (PDD) was founded in 2004 to promote the election of progressive candidates in the First State, and after they are elected, to promote the adoption of progressive policies. While some progressive organizations work independently of the Democratic Party, we instead work inside the Party for two reasons. First, the Party is an important and necessary vehicle through which we can work to elect progressive candidates and then pass progressive legislation. Second, the Democratic Party has been a champion for social justice, civil rights, equality and economic equity for many decades, going back to the New Deal.
It is our job as Progressive Democrats to make sure our Party, our Governor, and our President stay true to Democratic and progressive values. It is our job to counteract the enticing pull on the party from Wall Street and big business. Wall Street and big business already have one political party under their control. They do not need another. So we as Progressives cannot abdicate from this constant internal struggle within the Party. Instead, we must redouble our efforts.
Two of the most basic Progressive principles are social justice and economic equity. 2013 was a great year for social justice in Delaware. Progressive legislators that we have helped elect have passed into law marriage equality, a ban on discrimination against transgendered persons, and the restoration of voting rights for former convicted felons who have paid their debt to society.
As 2014 begins, we must make it a great year for economic equity. This year, we will be pressuring the General Assembly to raise the minimum wage, to add additional tax rate levels above the $100,000 annual income threshold, and to pass campaign finance disclosure reform, lobbying disclosure reform, independent redistricting reform, and open government reform. As we have learned from prior elections, the more progressives you have in the General Assembly, the easier it is to pass progressive legislation. Thus, one of our most important priorities in 2014 will be to seek out progressive candidates and help them get elected.
To do that, we need your help. If you are not already a member of the PDD, we invite you to join. With a donation of $25.00 (more if you can, less if you must), not only will you help us to financially support progressive candidates and causes in Delaware, you will become a voting member of the PDD. If you are already a member, your donation this year can likewise help the PDD seek out and elect progressive candidates up and down the state. You can mail a check payable to the ‘Progressive Democrats for Delaware’ to 413 Roseanna Avenue, Wilmington, Delaware 19803, or you can simply click on the donate button below.
If you would like to join our email list to receive updates from the PDD, please email pddemail@gmail.com. Throughout the year, and at least every month, we will be inviting various government officials and leading advocates of progressive causes to speak at our meetings and events, and we will also hear from candidates for various offices up and down the state.
