I don't mean anything devious by that. I mean it is a vehicle that can be occupied and driven in a new direction. But doing that involves drudgery AND persistence. I think the Democratic apparatus functions on disposable energy. Someone shows up, they get invited to help staff a table at a fund raiser, they get asked to be an election day observer at a polling booth, they get asked to make some phone calls off a script for someone running for Judge... It usually isn't that rewarding of an experience, they never feel like their own views are included o anything more substantial than which restaurant should host the annual dinner. Then they drift away and new volunteers replace them...
It takes stamina and it takes determination to get to the steering wheel of the Democratic Party at any level, but it is very very doable. There simply aren't enough drivers left to keep it on the road let alone set the direction for the Party moving forward. People who stick around and show up at meetings where they are legally entitled to attend but not necessarily personally invited to attend start to gain a voice. People who are willing to network with other grassroots Democrats to pursue specific common goals inside the Party start to gain a voice.Ultimately, if they put in the time and also do some grunt work they get appreciated for doing what must be done, and then they are recognized and promoted by others. There may be resistance but it can be overcome with organizing
And there is no other vehicle out there that regular folks can climb into with as much potential for consolidating positive social change than the Democratic Party has.
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