Walk like a Republican

I enjoy reading about "lockdowns" and shunting aside of minority opinion and the new "imperial leadership."

I enjoy it when I read it about George W. Bush and the Neo-Cons in the GOP. I don't especially enjoy it when I read about it happening in the Democratic Party.

Unfortunately, it's happening, from the Democratic National Committee to local county committees. Thousands, maybe millions, of volunteers who became politically active in the last six months are basically being shown the door.

"Thanks, but we don't do things that way," they are told when they ask why changes aren't being made, as they are being escorted to the door. "We'll call you when we need you."

It's not true everywhere, I know, but I've seen enough first-hand and read enough more, to think this is a major problem around the country. Without the volunteers, the average age of party regulars is about 86, with a decent number of the of people involved under 40 acting suspiciously as if they've suffered serious brain injuries. What it looks like to me is that a number of people in party ladership are more interested in protecting their turf than building the Democratic Party, protecting their money from lobbyists, protecting their little power base.

Such behavior previously killed two American parties, the Federalists and the Whigs. Are the Democrats next?

And if so, what replaces them? The Greens? A new Progressive Party? Can either be a more effective body than the Democratic Party?

Isn't it a little frightening to have to ask these questions? Are the leaders of the Democratic Party listening, or is it business as usual?

What do you think?