1. law, govt and politics
2. government

PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Traverse City, MI
Permit No. 374
Dedicated to the improvement of the human condition through our commitment
to opportunity, community, and accountability.
A Publication of the Leelanau County Democratic Party
• Calendar of Events •
OR CURRENT OCCUPANT
Wed., April 1. League of of
Women Voters will discuss
Ballot Proposal 1.
Starts at 12:00 noon at the
County Government Center in
Suttons Bay.
Wed., April 8. Dish with the
Dems. Starting at 5:00 p.m.,
Harringtons By-the-Bay,
Greilickville.
Sat., April 11. MDOT Road
Cleanup M-22 and M-72.
Starts at 10:00 a.m.
Rain Date: April 18. See inside.
2015 LEELANAU DEMOCRATIC PARTY MEMBERSHIP FORM
Membership enclosed per person ❏ $10
❏ $25 ❏ $50 ❏ $100 ❏ $__________ ❏ $5 Student
Name(s)
Street Address
Post Office Box, if applicable
City Telephone Township Employer Name
State Email
Zip Code
(LCDP does not release our members’ email addresses)
Employer Address
(Political dues and donations to political organizations are not deductible on federal tax returns; they may
be deductible in whole or in part on state tax returns. If you have already paid your dues for 2014, you may
use this form to make an additional donation.)
Please make checks payable to and mail to: Leelanau County Democratic Party
Ross McAninch, Treasurer
PO Box 215
Empire, MI 49630
Tues., April 14, Board of
Commissioners, Executive
Session. 9:00 a.m. at the
County Government Center,
Suttons Bay.
Tues., April 21, Board of
Commissioners, Regular
Session. 7:00 p.m. at the County
Government Center, Suttons Bay.
Sat., April 25, Food Drive.
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
at five local groceries.
See Inside for details.
Wed. & Thurs., April 28 & 29.
LCDP staffs the State Theater.
Tues., May 12, Board of
Commissioners, Executive
Session. 9:00 a.m. at the County
Government Center, Suttons Bay.
Tues., May19, Board of
Commissioners, Regular
Session. 7:00 p.m. at the
County Government Center,
Suttons Bay.
Wed. & Thurs., May 27 & 28.
LCDP staffs the State Theater.
A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
APRIL, 2015
By Betsy Johnson
The single most powerful word in our democracy is the word “we”. We the People!
We shall overcome! Yes, we can! -- President Barack H. Obama, March 8, 2015
Thank you, President Obama. You took the words right out of my mouth! I’ve been thinking a lot
about “us” as we enter 2015. And here are some of my thoughts:
• For the first time ever, there were five (yes, 5!) outstanding Democratic candidates running
for the Leelanau County Board of Commissioners. Three of them won, and the other two came
incredibly close!
• Even the Leelanau Enterprise admits (albeit grudgingly) that Democrats in this County are a
force to be reckoned with. Change is coming.
• Our membership continues to grow, with a record number of people joining in the first two
months of 2015.
• The LCDP Leadership Team -- comprised of executive officers and active committee members
and chairs -- numbers more than thirty members, and we have twenty-two Precinct Delegates!
• Liberal letters to the editors of all local papers are appearing regularly and having a great
impact on developing our message and getting it out.
• Membership and Events volunteers have already hosted a Winter Fun Event for all ages, the
very-successful “Oil and Water Don’t Mix” program and two “Dish with the Dems” events, with
the third coming up on April 8, -- and they’re just getting started!
Thanks to the efforts of so many enthusiastic and committed volunteers, “WE” have accomplished
a lot in a short time. So where do we go from here?
First, we must remember that this is only the beginning -- before you know it, the 2016 Presidential
election will be upon us. Will WE be ready? Can WE continue to grow our membership and engage
more people? Can WE recruit more like-minded people to run for elected office -- at all levels of
government, including village and township? Will WE have built an army of election volunteers to
work when the time comes? Can WE articulate our democratic message both by word -- through
continued letters -- and our deeds -- demonstrating support and respect for low income wage
earners, for example? Our message is powerful; can WE ensure that the drumbeat of democratic
values is loud and clear and heard by all?
Can we do it? Yes, WE Can!
A REQUEST Did you know that this newsletter is mailed to more than 2,500 people? Are
you surprised to learn that only 10% of those people have joined the LCDP? Thank you to all
of you who have joined us -- and we urge the 90% of you who haven’t yet joined to go the back
page, cut out the membership form and mail it in with your check. Thank You!
OIL AND WATER DON’T MIX
The photo on the left shows Jim Lively, a Maple City resident and Program Director of the
Michigan Land Use Institute. At our general meeting on March 11, Jim brought about 40
LCDP members up to date on the risks posed by the Enbridge Pipeline that carries crude
oil from Superior, Wisconsin across the Upper Peninsula. under the Straits of Mackinac,
and then downstate to an oil refinery in Sarnia, Ontario. Another Enbridge Pipeline recently
spilled a million gallons of crude oil into the Kalamazoo River downstate. A potential failure
of Enbridge’s sixty year old pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac is an even greater concern.
Learn more about this risk to the Great Lakes at: http://www.oilandwaterdontmix.com
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS PRESENTATION
ROAD FUNDING PROPOSAL – SALES TAX INCREASE
On December 19, 2014, the Michigan legislature passed a very complicated plan intended to raise additional revenue to repair
Michigan’s roads. Because the plan would raise the Michigan sales tax by 17% -- from 6% to 7% -- an amendment to Michigan’s
constitution must be approved by the voters before the tax increase can go into effect.
If the sales tax increase is approved by the voters, a middle income family would pay from $150 to $300 more in state sales taxes,
every year, and $200 beyond that if they also purchase a new car that is worth $20,000 more than their trade-in.
If the sales tax increase is approved by the voters, the current state excise and sales taxes on motor fuels would be repealed and
replaced with a new motor fuel tax collected at the wholesale level.
Because the elimination of the sales tax on motor fuels would adversely affect both public school funding and local government
revenue sharing, and because the increased sales tax would disproportionately affect lower income residents, the plan contains a
number of measures to address those concerns.
The following summarizes the major changes in Michigan law that would come into effect if the voters approve Ballot Proposal 1 at
the general election on May 5, 2015.
The non-partisan Leelanau County Chapter of the League of Women Voters is presenting an overview of the Michigan
legislature’s plan to raise money for our roads and schools by changing how motor fuel is taxed and raising the sales tax.
The League presentation will begin at noon on April 1 in the lower level conference room of the county government center in
Suttons Bay. This extremely complicated proposal, as described on the next page, will appear as Ballot Proposal 1, in our next
general election on May 5, 2015.
ROAD FUNDING
SCHOOL FUNDING
Michigan’s roads and bridges are currently funded by vehicle
registration fees and state and federal taxes that are collected
“at the pump” when motorists buy fuel. The current federal tax
rates of 18.4 cents per gallon of gasoline and 24.4 cents per
gallon of diesel remain unchanged.
Proposal A, passed in March, 1994, increased the Michigan
sales tax by 50%, from 4% to 6%, and dedicated the additional
revenue to the School Aid Fund. Ever since, the sales taxes
collected on motor fuels have been a significant part of the
state’s annual expenditures for public education.
The current state excise taxes of 19 cents per gallon of gasoline
and 15 cents per gallon of diesel and the current sales tax of
6 cents per dollar on motor fuel would be repealed under the
plan. The current taxes would be replaced by a new motor fuel
tax of 14.9% based of the wholesale price as adjusted annually
each October. Gasoline and diesel would be taxed at the same
rate and all taxes on motor fuels would be dedicated to road and
bridge construction, maintenance and public transit.
The proposed change in state taxation of motor fuels would
reduce state funding for public education by approximately $570
million per year. The proposed increase in the state sales tax,
from 6% to 7%, would both offset the loss of motor fuel sales
taxes and provide a net increase of more than $300 million that
would be dedicated to support public school districts, community
colleges, career and technical education programs and related
scholarships. The legislature would no longer have the ability to
transfer public education funding to meet other priorities.
VOLUNTEER ACTIVITES
Please consider joining other LCDP members by volunteering at one of the events listed in the calendar. We have four miles of
highway to clean up on April 11; contact Larry Dodd, 941-7450, if you can help with M-22 near Peshawbestown or Charlie
Godbout, 334-3204, if you can help with M-72 near Glen Lake Marine. We will have food drives at five local groceries on
April 25; contact Gwenne Allgaier, 228-6763, if you would like to take a shift at Hansen’s, NJ’s, the Mercantile, Anderson’s
or Deering’s. Finally, we also have two days every month to staff the State Theater as ushers, ticket takers, popcorn makers,
drink dispensers, etc. Contact Betty Bushey, 409-9339, or Barb Schneider, 228-6940, if you would like to join us.
DISH WITH THE DEMS
Last Fall, our membership committee, Cindy Hollenbeck, Betty Bushey, Fran Eckerson, Jenny Olson, and Elsie Peterson, put
together two outstanding “Dish with the Dems” outings at Tuckers of Northport and Joe’s Friendly Tavern in Empire. The next
gathering will take place at Harrington’s By-the-Bay in Greilickville on April 8. Just show up at 5:00 p.m. and enjoy drinks and
dinner with other LCDP members and help support our local restaurants and their service staff while the tourists are away.
STAY INFORMED
The LCDP has entered the information age, big time. Take a look at our website; http://leelanaudemocrats.org and
say thanks to our new website administrator as Larry Hauser takes over from Pam Godbout. And, you can keep track of
fast breaking news on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/leelanaudemocrats. Jan Bauer, our Media Manager
moderates the Facebook postings and appreciates your “liking“ our page. Finally, you can send an email to: leelanaudemocrats@
gmail.com
RECOMMENDED READING
Many of us wonder why, when the almost unanimous opinion of climate scientists is that global warming is real and is a result
of burning carbon fuel, that many people refuse to believe the forecasts of coming catastrophe. In Merchants of Doubt, Naomi
Oreskes and Erik Conway prove that the public has been thoroughly and systematically lied to by the fossil fuel industry and,
unsurprisingly, that the industry is represented by the very same publicity agents who told us for many years that smoking doesn’t
cause cancer. In their second book, The Collapse of Western Civilization, the same authors use science fiction to convey the
consequences of the global warming story in a more powerful way. Bob Marshall highly recommends our reading both of these
books so we can better understand and better confront our own legislative climate change skeptics, Dan Benishek and Ray Franz.
Consumers are unlikely to notice any significant change in fuel
costs “at the pump” as a result of the proposed changes. At
current wholesale prices, the new state tax equates to 41.7
cents per gallon. This compares to 43.0 cents per gallon that
motorists were paying when gasoline cost $4.00 per gallon or
about 34.0 cents per gallon that motorists are paying today.
The plan also increases annual registration fees for all used
vehicles and heavy trucks and adds an additional fee for hybrid
and electric vehicles whose fuel savings produce less road tax
revenues than comparably-sized conventional vehicles.
If approved by the voters, the legislature’s plan would raise an
estimated $1.3 billion a year for transportation. More than 60
percent of that tax revenue would go to counties, cities and
villages for their local road, bridge and maintenance needs.
REVENUE SHARING
State sales taxes, including the current sales tax on motor fuel,
also provide funds to support local governments. Constitutionally,
the state must provide 15% of the first 4% of the current sales
tax to cities, villages and townships. These are the funds used
by local governments to fund law enforcement and emergency
services.
If motor fuels are no longer subject to the general sales tax,
the amount of money available for revenue sharing would
decline. The proposed constitutional amendment would
increase the mandated amount of state revenue sharing with
local governments to 15% of the first 5% of the total sales tax
revenues. This would result in a net increase in revenue sharing
of approximately $94 to $106 million per year.
PROTECTION FOR LOW INCOME RESIDENTS
The proposed increase in the general sales tax from 6% to 7% would disproportionately affect lower income residents. To address
this concern, one of ten bills that will come into effect if voters approve the sales tax increase raises the state earned income tax
credit from 6% to 20% of the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit, where it had been prior to repeal of the Michigan Business Tax.
Low income residents would not receive the increased amount of this tax credit for two years -- when they file their 2016 state tax
returns in early 2017. The state estimates that the tax credits would total $270 million.
DEMOCRATIC PARTY POSITION
The Leadership Team of the Leelanau County Democratic Party is not taking a position on the passage of Ballot Proposal 1.
Democrats traditionally oppose regressive taxes, like the sales tax, that disproportionately affect lower and middle class families.
If Proposal 1 is approved by the voters, it will increase funding for roads, public schools, public transit, local government, and the
Earned Income Tax Credit. If it fails, the Republican legistlature may make additional cuts to education, social services, and local
government in order to “pay” for another road bill. Voters will have to decide for themselves whether the benefits of passing Proposal
1 outweigh the proposal’s major drawback: the cost of raising the sales tax from 6% to 7%.
OIL AND WATER DON’T MIX
The photo on the left shows Jim Lively, a Maple City resident and Program Director of the
Michigan Land Use Institute. At our general meeting on March 11, Jim brought about 40
LCDP members up to date on the risks posed by the Enbridge Pipeline that carries crude
oil from Superior, Wisconsin across the Upper Peninsula. under the Straits of Mackinac,
and then downstate to an oil refinery in Sarnia, Ontario. Another Enbridge Pipeline recently
spilled a million gallons of crude oil into the Kalamazoo River downstate. A potential failure
of Enbridge’s sixty year old pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac is an even greater concern.
Learn more about this risk to the Great Lakes at: http://www.oilandwaterdontmix.com
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS PRESENTATION
ROAD FUNDING PROPOSAL – SALES TAX INCREASE
On December 19, 2014, the Michigan legislature passed a very complicated plan intended to raise additional revenue to repair
Michigan’s roads. Because the plan would raise the Michigan sales tax by 17% -- from 6% to 7% -- an amendment to Michigan’s
constitution must be approved by the voters before the tax increase can go into effect.
If the sales tax increase is approved by the voters, a middle income family would pay from $150 to $300 more in state sales taxes,
every year, and $200 beyond that if they also purchase a new car that is worth $20,000 more than their trade-in.
If the sales tax increase is approved by the voters, the current state excise and sales taxes on motor fuels would be repealed and
replaced with a new motor fuel tax collected at the wholesale level.
Because the elimination of the sales tax on motor fuels would adversely affect both public school funding and local government
revenue sharing, and because the increased sales tax would disproportionately affect lower income residents, the plan contains a
number of measures to address those concerns.
The following summarizes the major changes in Michigan law that would come into effect if the voters approve Ballot Proposal 1 at
the general election on May 5, 2015.
The non-partisan Leelanau County Chapter of the League of Women Voters is presenting an overview of the Michigan
legislature’s plan to raise money for our roads and schools by changing how motor fuel is taxed and raising the sales tax.
The League presentation will begin at noon on April 1 in the lower level conference room of the county government center in
Suttons Bay. This extremely complicated proposal, as described on the next page, will appear as Ballot Proposal 1, in our next
general election on May 5, 2015.
ROAD FUNDING
SCHOOL FUNDING
Michigan’s roads and bridges are currently funded by vehicle
registration fees and state and federal taxes that are collected
“at the pump” when motorists buy fuel. The current federal tax
rates of 18.4 cents per gallon of gasoline and 24.4 cents per
gallon of diesel remain unchanged.
Proposal A, passed in March, 1994, increased the Michigan
sales tax by 50%, from 4% to 6%, and dedicated the additional
revenue to the School Aid Fund. Ever since, the sales taxes
collected on motor fuels have been a significant part of the
state’s annual expenditures for public education.
The current state excise taxes of 19 cents per gallon of gasoline
and 15 cents per gallon of diesel and the current sales tax of
6 cents per dollar on motor fuel would be repealed under the
plan. The current taxes would be replaced by a new motor fuel
tax of 14.9% based of the wholesale price as adjusted annually
each October. Gasoline and diesel would be taxed at the same
rate and all taxes on motor fuels would be dedicated to road and
bridge construction, maintenance and public transit.
The proposed change in state taxation of motor fuels would
reduce state funding for public education by approximately $570
million per year. The proposed increase in the state sales tax,
from 6% to 7%, would both offset the loss of motor fuel sales
taxes and provide a net increase of more than $300 million that
would be dedicated to support public school districts, community
colleges, career and technical education programs and related
scholarships. The legislature would no longer have the ability to
transfer public education funding to meet other priorities.
VOLUNTEER ACTIVITES
Please consider joining other LCDP members by volunteering at one of the events listed in the calendar. We have four miles of
highway to clean up on April 11; contact Larry Dodd, 941-7450, if you can help with M-22 near Peshawbestown or Charlie
Godbout, 334-3204, if you can help with M-72 near Glen Lake Marine. We will have food drives at five local groceries on
April 25; contact Gwenne Allgaier, 228-6763, if you would like to take a shift at Hansen’s, NJ’s, the Mercantile, Anderson’s
or Deering’s. Finally, we also have two days every month to staff the State Theater as ushers, ticket takers, popcorn makers,
drink dispensers, etc. Contact Betty Bushey, 409-9339, or Barb Schneider, 228-6940, if you would like to join us.
DISH WITH THE DEMS
Last Fall, our membership committee, Cindy Hollenbeck, Betty Bushey, Fran Eckerson, Jenny Olson, and Elsie Peterson, put
together two outstanding “Dish with the Dems” outings at Tuckers of Northport and Joe’s Friendly Tavern in Empire. The next
gathering will take place at Harrington’s By-the-Bay in Greilickville on April 8. Just show up at 5:00 p.m. and enjoy drinks and
dinner with other LCDP members and help support our local restaurants and their service staff while the tourists are away.
STAY INFORMED
The LCDP has entered the information age, big time. Take a look at our website; http://leelanaudemocrats.org and
say thanks to our new website administrator as Larry Hauser takes over from Pam Godbout. And, you can keep track of
fast breaking news on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/leelanaudemocrats. Jan Bauer, our Media Manager
moderates the Facebook postings and appreciates your “liking“ our page. Finally, you can send an email to: leelanaudemocrats@
gmail.com
RECOMMENDED READING
Many of us wonder why, when the almost unanimous opinion of climate scientists is that global warming is real and is a result
of burning carbon fuel, that many people refuse to believe the forecasts of coming catastrophe. In Merchants of Doubt, Naomi
Oreskes and Erik Conway prove that the public has been thoroughly and systematically lied to by the fossil fuel industry and,
unsurprisingly, that the industry is represented by the very same publicity agents who told us for many years that smoking doesn’t
cause cancer. In their second book, The Collapse of Western Civilization, the same authors use science fiction to convey the
consequences of the global warming story in a more powerful way. Bob Marshall highly recommends our reading both of these
books so we can better understand and better confront our own legislative climate change skeptics, Dan Benishek and Ray Franz.
Consumers are unlikely to notice any significant change in fuel
costs “at the pump” as a result of the proposed changes. At
current wholesale prices, the new state tax equates to 41.7
cents per gallon. This compares to 43.0 cents per gallon that
motorists were paying when gasoline cost $4.00 per gallon or
about 34.0 cents per gallon that motorists are paying today.
The plan also increases annual registration fees for all used
vehicles and heavy trucks and adds an additional fee for hybrid
and electric vehicles whose fuel savings produce less road tax
revenues than comparably-sized conventional vehicles.
If approved by the voters, the legislature’s plan would raise an
estimated $1.3 billion a year for transportation. More than 60
percent of that tax revenue would go to counties, cities and
villages for their local road, bridge and maintenance needs.
REVENUE SHARING
State sales taxes, including the current sales tax on motor fuel,
also provide funds to support local governments. Constitutionally,
the state must provide 15% of the first 4% of the current sales
tax to cities, villages and townships. These are the funds used
by local governments to fund law enforcement and emergency
services.
If motor fuels are no longer subject to the general sales tax,
the amount of money available for revenue sharing would
decline. The proposed constitutional amendment would
increase the mandated amount of state revenue sharing with
local governments to 15% of the first 5% of the total sales tax
revenues. This would result in a net increase in revenue sharing
of approximately $94 to $106 million per year.
PROTECTION FOR LOW INCOME RESIDENTS
The proposed increase in the general sales tax from 6% to 7% would disproportionately affect lower income residents. To address
this concern, one of ten bills that will come into effect if voters approve the sales tax increase raises the state earned income tax
credit from 6% to 20% of the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit, where it had been prior to repeal of the Michigan Business Tax.
Low income residents would not receive the increased amount of this tax credit for two years -- when they file their 2016 state tax
returns in early 2017. The state estimates that the tax credits would total $270 million.
DEMOCRATIC PARTY POSITION
The Leadership Team of the Leelanau County Democratic Party is not taking a position on the passage of Ballot Proposal 1.
Democrats traditionally oppose regressive taxes, like the sales tax, that disproportionately affect lower and middle class families.
If Proposal 1 is approved by the voters, it will increase funding for roads, public schools, public transit, local government, and the
Earned Income Tax Credit. If it fails, the Republican legistlature may make additional cuts to education, social services, and local
government in order to “pay” for another road bill. Voters will have to decide for themselves whether the benefits of passing Proposal
1 outweigh the proposal’s major drawback: the cost of raising the sales tax from 6% to 7%.
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Traverse City, MI
Permit No. 374
Dedicated to the improvement of the human condition through our commitment
to opportunity, community, and accountability.
A Publication of the Leelanau County Democratic Party
• Calendar of Events •
OR CURRENT OCCUPANT
Wed., April 1. League of of
Women Voters will discuss
Ballot Proposal 1.
Starts at 12:00 noon at the
County Government Center in
Suttons Bay.
Wed., April 8. Dish with the
Dems. Starting at 5:00 p.m.,
Harringtons By-the-Bay,
Greilickville.
Sat., April 11. MDOT Road
Cleanup M-22 and M-72.
Starts at 10:00 a.m.
Rain Date: April 18. See inside.
2015 LEELANAU DEMOCRATIC PARTY MEMBERSHIP FORM
Membership enclosed per person ❏ $10
❏ $25 ❏ $50 ❏ $100 ❏ $__________ ❏ $5 Student
Name(s)
Street Address
Post Office Box, if applicable
City Telephone Township Employer Name
State Email
Zip Code
(LCDP does not release our members’ email addresses)
Employer Address
(Political dues and donations to political organizations are not deductible on federal tax returns; they may
be deductible in whole or in part on state tax returns. If you have already paid your dues for 2014, you may
use this form to make an additional donation.)
Please make checks payable to and mail to: Leelanau County Democratic Party
Ross McAninch, Treasurer
PO Box 215
Empire, MI 49630
Tues., April 14, Board of
Commissioners, Executive
Session. 9:00 a.m. at the
County Government Center,
Suttons Bay.
Tues., April 21, Board of
Commissioners, Regular
Session. 7:00 p.m. at the County
Government Center, Suttons Bay.
Sat., April 25, Food Drive.
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
at five local groceries.
See Inside for details.
Wed. & Thurs., April 28 & 29.
LCDP staffs the State Theater.
Tues., May 12, Board of
Commissioners, Executive
Session. 9:00 a.m. at the County
Government Center, Suttons Bay.
Tues., May19, Board of
Commissioners, Regular
Session. 7:00 p.m. at the
County Government Center,
Suttons Bay.
Wed. & Thurs., May 27 & 28.
LCDP staffs the State Theater.
A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
APRIL, 2015
By Betsy Johnson
The single most powerful word in our democracy is the word “we”. We the People!
We shall overcome! Yes, we can! -- President Barack H. Obama, March 8, 2015
Thank you, President Obama. You took the words right out of my mouth! I’ve been thinking a lot
about “us” as we enter 2015. And here are some of my thoughts:
• For the first time ever, there were five (yes, 5!) outstanding Democratic candidates running
for the Leelanau County Board of Commissioners. Three of them won, and the other two came
incredibly close!
• Even the Leelanau Enterprise admits (albeit grudgingly) that Democrats in this County are a
force to be reckoned with. Change is coming.
• Our membership continues to grow, with a record number of people joining in the first two
months of 2015.
• The LCDP Leadership Team -- comprised of executive officers and active committee members
and chairs -- numbers more than thirty members, and we have twenty-two Precinct Delegates!
• Liberal letters to the editors of all local papers are appearing regularly and having a great
impact on developing our message and getting it out.
• Membership and Events volunteers have already hosted a Winter Fun Event for all ages, the
very-successful “Oil and Water Don’t Mix” program and two “Dish with the Dems” events, with
the third coming up on April 8, -- and they’re just getting started!
Thanks to the efforts of so many enthusiastic and committed volunteers, “WE” have accomplished
a lot in a short time. So where do we go from here?
First, we must remember that this is only the beginning -- before you know it, the 2016 Presidential
election will be upon us. Will WE be ready? Can WE continue to grow our membership and engage
more people? Can WE recruit more like-minded people to run for elected office -- at all levels of
government, including village and township? Will WE have built an army of election volunteers to
work when the time comes? Can WE articulate our democratic message both by word -- through
continued letters -- and our deeds -- demonstrating support and respect for low income wage
earners, for example? Our message is powerful; can WE ensure that the drumbeat of democratic
values is loud and clear and heard by all?
Can we do it? Yes, WE Can!
A REQUEST Did you know that this newsletter is mailed to more than 2,500 people? Are
you surprised to learn that only 10% of those people have joined the LCDP? Thank you to all
of you who have joined us -- and we urge the 90% of you who haven’t yet joined to go the back
page, cut out the membership form and mail it in with your check. Thank You!