LTE from Scott Elliott: Vote for Dems to uphold progressive traditions Editor, If you missed the recent Ken Burns film on the Roosevelts - Theodore, Franklin and Eleanor - you missed one of the best things I have seen on TV in many years. TR, a Republican, eventually became so frustrated with the rigidity and regressive ideology of his party that he formed a new one, the Bull Moose Party. It did not survive, but it laid the foundations for womens rights, farm relief, banking reform and workers benefits. FDR and his wife were, of course, Democrats, but they both consistently and powerfully demonstrated what can be accomplished by rising above partisanship. Although not primarily its theme, the film clearly traces the devolution of the Republican Party into the soulless, dysfunctional institution it is today, depending for its survival on voter suppression, misinformation financed by corrupt billionaires and fear itself. This year Michigan voters have an unprecedented opportunity to stop this downward spiral and restore some of the kind of skilled and principled leadership the Roosevelts stood for. I was especially impressed with Gary Peters, who is running for the U.S. Senate, when he spoke in Benton Harbor recently. Having run his own business for 22 years, and with his experience on the Financial Services Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives, he will be critically important in helping to rebuild an economic environment conducive to increasing job opportunities at better pay. Paul Clements, a political science professor, Bette Pierman, a teacher, and Dr. Eric Lester, an oncologist, are also outstanding progressive candidates for U.S. House of Representatives, state Senate and state House, respectively. They will listen to you, not Karl Rove and the Koch brothers. Your vote on Nov. 4 has never counted more. Scott Elliott Benton Harbor
Posted on: Thu, 25 Sep 2014 16:52:14 +0000
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