You are ridiculous. How about getting a clue?

Thanks for honoring me and my generation with this reply Iroqtherowhouse. Actually it was my generation that first figured out you couldn't trust anyone over 30. And see how successful we were with that strategy? You yourself have noticed that. Of course, maybe you have another cutoff in mind which better separates you "young soldiers" from the rest of us. When the military had a draft, the cutoff was 26. So if the rule becomes "soldiers" only should post to this list, then maybe 26 should be the dividing line.

Actually, to really rock the row house, you should form a party that's restricted to people age 26 and under. Then you can talk to people like yourself all the time, and not be distracted by even a single old and useless thought. No doubt you will gain total power almost immediately with such a party. Too bad you'll have to give it over almost as soon as you get it when you yourself pass the thresshold into the evil of 27.

But let's be serious. Resenting people, and assuming they're not on your side, because of age is just stupid. If that becomes your central organizing principle, then we are all doomed to endless generations of right wing rule. The right wing recognizes no such principle. If you're pro-greed, pro-war, homophobic and racist -- or maybe just 3 of the 4, you can be a full-fledged member of the right wing team. And that team is cleaning our clock. So please, don't emulate the stupidity of my own generation when it was young. Learn from that mistake. Help find ways that people who care about justice can unite, rather than bicker with each other about absolutely nothing.

And by all means, please come to our conference. There you will find people of all ages seriously contending with the real evils of our time, racism, homophobia, poverty, sexism, and, yes, ageism.

When I read iroqtherowhouse's post, my reaction was this is really funny; it reads like a parody of ageism. But it seems like he’s serious.

This kind of hostility to potential allies makes no sense, but nonetheless I think iroqtherowhouse has a point. In 2003, many older progressives bought into the crazy paranoia about the bug in Street’s office and rallied around Street. Also in 1999, progressives were divided with some supporting White, others supporting Evans or Fernandez. The consequence was Street won the nomination.

If I remember correctly, Evans and Fernandez got about 5% each and White got about 21%. If you add these votes together and factor in the synergistic effect of a united progressive force, White would have won hands down. (Disclosure: I was a volunteer for John White.)

Why am I bothering to bring up this ancient history? Because I am afraid history could repeat itself. In 2007 progressives no doubt will be divided and the beneficiary might be Bob Brady this time around. Eight years of Brady will be far worse than 8 years of Street.

karen

There's no reason to further respond to your bizarre rhetoric, hate-filled troller, and I'm finished doing so. Prattle on if you wish. I just want to renew my invitation to everyone who's serious about progressive change in Philly to come to the NN conference on September 30. Please do not be discouraged or diverted by one person's insistent ignorance from moving forward with our work.

Sometimes its hard to get a list of committee people. But if I can find one by Saturday, I'll bring a list of open seats on Saturday.

Many ward leaders actually are interested in recruiting new, active people. And they rarely care about your ideology--although if the ward is often contested, they might care about what faction of teh party you associate with. Right now, they are not likely be scared if you say you're a progressive.

Some ward leaders or committee members recruite "associate committee persons" who don't have a vote at the ward meetings--when they actually do vote--but who are welcome to help the committee person canvass the division and work on Election Day. This is often a good way to get involved in the ward and eventually become a committee person.