Down on the Farm

Republicans can learn a lesson from farmers in terms of building our party from the ground up. The Massachusetts Agricultural Commission held a conference last weekend at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Worcester. Called "Making a Difference in our Communities," this two-day event was covered by Pamela Sacks in Monday's (Jan. 26) Telegram & Gazette. Ms. Sacks focused her article on the lead speaker at the conference, Alexandra Dawson, an attorney who spoke on Sunday. Although the premise that smaller farms are still abundant in the state, hovering around 6100, does not meet the criteria for a complete parallel, both farmers and Republicans are struggling to make their groups thrive and this is where the sage advice Ms. Dawson gave to the commission could be applied to the GOP.

Responding to the question of whether aggie coms should join across the state as conservation commissions have done, Ms. Dawson replied, "A small group of really dedicated people with somewhere to park their computer is all you need." (p.B1) In terms of thinking about organizing a movement, what could be closer to the grassroots level in both the figurative and literal sense than farming? "Agricultural commissions are as close to the ground as you can get. They [opponents] can't figure out who you are and they can't get at you. It's spread out. As all guerilla movements of the last generation prove, you don't know how to get rid of it." (Alexandra Dawson, p.B1)

The wisdom imparted by Ms. Dawson can be applied to Republicans' efforts to re-build the party in Massachusetts. A few dedicated people who truly care, not just about the Republican Party but about the Commonwealth and the Country can start a movement. That small, caring group already exists and I think we can all bank on the fact that each of them owns a computer and has a desk to "park" it .The six Republicans who voted for Lew Evangelidis and of course, Lew, are committed to changing our party. In addition to Lew, they are Reps. Susan Gifford, Don Humason, Jeff Perry, Karyn Polito, Todd Smola and Dan Webster. Let us join with them to re-build the GOP from the ground up and spread our ideas and enthusiasm across the state until it gets to the point that nobody can figure out "how to get rid of [us]."

Telegram & Gazette, Monday, Jan. 26, 2009, p.B1 "Smaller farmers still going strong" by Pamela H. Sacks
http://www.telegram.com/article/20090126/NEWS/901260333/1003/NEWS03