It’s been a fair amount of time since I have written a truly meaningful blog post that is more than just me covering a story or talking about an issue. Well today I plan to make up for that with this post, this post wont be about any story, just my thoughts on what I think can move Kansas forward.
I am like many other democrats in this state and haven’t been the most thrilled with the recent happenings, out of professional courtesy I wont discuss which happenings these are, but I’m sure you can guess. One thing that is particularly dear to my heart is The Kansas Young Democrats. I took over as KYD President about 4 months ago now. I am very happy to say that we have honestly done a lot statewide. We have increased our number of chapters, took part in the planning of Healthcare Reform rallies held in Kansas City and Wichita, brought the first Young Democrats of America meeting to ever be held in Kansas (planned for Feb of 2011), done multiple community service projects and shown that young people have, want and deserve a voice in our state.
Here’s the catch. I often get the question “What young dems would you say are best for working on campaigns?” or “Can your young dems organize an event?” which I don’t mind being asked at all, but there seems to be an underlying assumption that KYD is simply a pool of labor for campaigns. I say false. The Kansas Young Democrats are a very motivated force of young people who want to invest in their state and help shape it for the future. We are more than the mules of the party, we are the future of the party.
I have a little over a year left of being President and here is what I would like to see be done. KYD could become a more powerful and better organized grassroots and netroots movement. Allowing for young people statewide to band together to support the candidates we want to help lead our state, working for the issues that matter to us, and having a strong voice in our communities. Build an organization not for the sake of having one but for the purpose of creating a better future. We can always work on campaigns, we can always organize events, but let’s make this about us. Our candidates, our issues, or generation.
We are already naturally moving in that direction. Youth candidates are standing up and running, young people that have felt alienated over the previous eight years took a stand and voted for Obama and the promise of progressive change that he gave us. We voted for real healthcare reform to happen, we voted to end the war, we voted for clean alternative energy sources, we voted to change our country for the better. I may be preaching to the choir here but as young people we do have a voice, and we need to not only start using it but following up with it. We have to start doing more than just showing up on election day and counting on all the other young people to do the ground work for us. We have a great group of activist here in Kansas. Out of that great group a lot of them are young, but all of us activist can’t do it alone all of the time.
We have to work for the change we want, we have to work together, we have to work for our generation, we have to work for our beliefs, and most importantly we have to work for Kansas. It has been far to long that we have taken second place in the battle over our beliefs, only we can bring the changes we want and need to Kansas. I guess we could view this post as a call of arms to democrats young and old, progressives, and activist. Let’s work together to make it the Kansas we want. KYD can be that organization we build in order to create a better future, we are already working in that direction.
Like I said just my thoughts after some recent frustration both State and National, but I hope they hit home with some of you and if they do, I look forward to working with you soon.
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