DEM PARTY NEEDS TO WORK WITH OTHERS FOR PROGRESSIVE VALUES

Dear Editor: I've been a Democrat since 1957. Since that time I have seen
the Democratic Party move far to the right, abandoning its progressive base.

In this last election, many of us waited in vain for the Democratic Party
to take definitive stands on the environment, on civil rights for all
including our LGBT citizens, on opposing the Iraq war, on opposing the drug
war and for legalizing medical marijuana, to speak out on prison injustice
and the unjust incarceration of minorities, to unequivocally oppose the
death penalty.

I would like to see Democrats proudly asserting leadership on these issues
but they seem afraid they will alienate some voters. Instead, they simply
avoid talking about progressive issues, hence Democrats come across as
wishy-washy at best.

Progressive Dane and the Green Party have stepped up to fill this gap.
These issues are the core values of both parties and they do not shrink
from them. It is easy for many of us old-school Democrats to support Green
and Progressive Dane candidates because they voice the positions that were
once basic beliefs of the Democratic Party when I first joined almost 50
years ago.

Instead of re-evaluating Democratic positions on these issues at last
Wednesday's meeting of the Dane County Democratic Party, the Democrats
spent their time demonizing Progressive Dane, even calling them "leeches
and parasites."

Instead of welcoming their help in electing progressive candidates, the
party leadership hunkered down in a bunker mentality and shut out the
possibility of working together for progressive values.

Their defensive posture came in stark contrast to the evening's featured
speaker, Joe Wineke, candidate for chair of the Democratic Party of
Wisconsin, who called for reaching out to increase party membership.

I have been a lifelong Democrat and I hope to stay one, but I would say to
Mr. Bigelow and the Dane County Democratic Party board: Don't make us
choose which progressive group to support. You might not like the result.

Dennis Bergren

Cottage Grove