Notes from the State Democratic Convention

Dear Editor:

I recently attended the State Democratic Convention as a delegate from Canton. I participated in amending the platform with regard to protection of immigrants and protection of homeowners from arbitrary foreclosures, but an attempt to solve the Israel/Palestine problem didn’t work as the chair ruled that such matters were outside the purview of the Mass. Democrats. A hint of Bernie Sanders was present when we tried to enlarge the State Democratic Delegation by many members to increase diversification, but was voted down. We voted against prisons for profit in Massachusetts, to grant students relief on student loans, and overall, to try and goad Slick Charlie into avoiding nepotism and getting privatization out of our government. Many of us think that turning the MBTA over to a private company just gave them/Baker a bunch of excuses for canceling commuter rail to our most needy communities this past winter.

Planning left a little to be desired as we were expected to pick up our credentials in long lines at the same time we were expected to show up at a bountiful breakfast. The same problem occurred in the distribution of the amendments, of which there were many and most very important. They had to be submitted to the officials by noon, but we were still getting them at 4 p.m., thus unable to consider the effect on the already long platform. A few poison pills were noticed which would not have been possible if there had been one amendment per change. At town meeting, I’ve had the feeling that I didn’t get an opportunity to think about the effect of the proposed amendments before we had to vote — a similar situation.

Senators Warren and Markey were brilliant cheerleaders as they exhorted us to take action against our president, who I believe is both very dangerous and very ignorant. Attorney General Healey was a pistol ball herself and someone I would like to see as governor. The three Democratic candidates — Warren, Mackie and Gonzalez — each gave credible reasons for voting against the do-nothing-but-talk-a-lot governor of ours. They must all take courses in how to talk against a crowd that won’t shut up. Stephen Tolman, the union guy, made me understand why Hollywood loves to get Massachusetts natives to act as gangsters in their movies. Because the Boston accent makes them sound like gangsters. To think of him as a tough guy in his six-foot, eight-inch height and raspy voice, but then to hear him implore the crowd to be quiet and listen was hilarious in itself.

Put this on your bucket list. Join the Democratic (or Republican) Town Committee. The opportunity to be a part of the brainy Massachusetts Democratic delegation as we hammer out the future plans for our party is quite breathtaking. Especially since our democracy may be going down for the count.

Sincerely,

Alice Brown

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