Democratic Party Treasurer

Donald Trump is an out-of-control dumpster fire. No one with any sense at all would dispute that. But so what?

We can’t solve America’s problems with clever posts on Facebook or twitter. Buttons and bumper stickers won’t make America safe for Democracy again.

We must lead the way by living our values, no matter the personal risk in doing so. Our founders pledged their lives, their fortune and their sacred honor to make this nation possible. They risked everything.

The least we can do is open our eyes fully, see what needs to be done, and accept the challenge of being citizens. Risk being a leader. Often, that means doing things that are hard. It may mean doing things that make us uncomfortable. It may even mean opening our wallets to support the people and causes we believe in.

We begin by knowing what we stand for, and by recognizing that “standing for” something is much more than a slogan. As the late, great Sen. Paul Wellstone said,

Sen. Wellstone meant that what we believe is important, but what we do means everything. Our national dialog is broken because too many are left out of the conversation. It's up to us to fix this. We must work to give everyone a say in decisions about our future. We must demand that everyone be given their seat at the table.

For too long, too many Americans have had their dreams denied. If we do not solve this singular problem, we will cease to be America. The poet Langston Hughes said it best:

"What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun, or fester like a sore and then run? Does it stink like rotten meat or crust and sugar over like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags, like a heavy load. Or, does it explode?"

We as a nation must decide: what do we want to be? As Democrats, we must decide what we are willing to risk to make it so.

Our nation can be great only if all of its people have a chance to share in the American Dream.