We need a voice-

I have lived in the same house in Bartow County since my birth. My parents have identified as Democrats for as long as I, or anyone else can remember. While others may align my parents’ beliefs more with the Dixiecrats, I grew up to believe that being a Democrat meant believing in fairness and equality. That being a Democrat meant standing up for those who don’t have a voice. And that being a Democrat meant doing whatever was necessary to make your voice heard. Until I left for college my parents, and my best friend were the only Democrats I knew.

Once in college I found that I still didn’t know any Democrats, or anyone who held even remotely liberal beliefs. At North Georgia College and State University (the Military College of Georgia) liberal beliefs are simply few and far between. In fact “liberal” was a dirty word. I joined the Campus Democrats and found others who shared my beliefs. Others who wanted to make a difference.

It was there that I discovered that in extremely conservative areas, someone has to stand up and make the liberal presence known or else even those with similar beliefs will simply go unheard. I was Secretary, then Vice President, and then President of the NGCSU Campus Democrats. I was also the founder of the NGCSU Chapter of Students for Barack Obama. I helped to successfully double the number of attending members during my leadership.

I’m running for the President of the Bartow County Young Democrats because I want to give a voice to those who have remained silent for years.

We’ve grown tired of being the minority. We’ve grown tired of letting the opposition put words into our mouths. I personally have grown tired of hearing that the way someone is born makes him or her unequal to another human being for any reason. I’ve grown tired of being told that differences mean that one is physically, emotionally, or intellectually inadequate. I’ve grown tired of local leaders who offer faulty rhetoric and no real answers while telling us that the way we live our lives is morally reprehensible because of their beliefs.

We are the difference, we are the change, we are the voice and we must work to create a government that works for us, not against us.

I urge all of you to come out and join us on October 11, 2010 for our next meeting. We are still in the organizational phase and would love to have as many new faces as possible. If you decide to come back and be a member it would be phenomenal but if we aren’t your cup of tea then we understand that too.

Together we can make a difference. 

Together we will make our voice heard.

Democratically yours,

Cari Cantrell

To my fellow Bartow County Young Democrats,

I am pleased to be running for Vice President of the BCYDs.  As Vice President, I will work with the President, the executive board,  and our members to strive for a better place to live.  Free from fear of persecution for being  different or choosing to believe differently.  Free to live as the constitution entitles.

The structure and effectiveness of our county government has been going downhill over the course of several elections.  Taxes on the middle class are going up, private beliefs are infiltrating the state, and Republicans still remain in control.  We need to stand up for what we believe in.   We cannot let the Republicans keep control.  We must change things, before it is too late. 

This election year is extremely important,  especially the 2010 gubernatorial race.  If we let Nathan Deal become our governor, our state will crumble and we'll be picking up the pieces.  Mr. Deal has no place in politics.  We need to come together as one and vote for Roy Barnes this year.  It is imperative that we do so.

Now is the time to make a change.  A change that will reshape our state into the beacon we know it can be.  A change that will enable our state to survive in these troubled times.  A change that will bring an end to the tyranny that Republicans have brought upon us.

-Jon Thomas