Message from the Chair

July 7, 2011

"Democracy begins with you. Tag! You're it!" says Thom Hartmann, one of the top Progressive Radio Talk show hosts in our nation, to his audience as he signs off his show.

One of the ways to actively participate in our democracy is to become a member of the Killingly Democratic Town Committee (DTC). What is a DTC? DTC's are the grassroots of the Democratic Party in the state of Connecticut. It's a great way for Connecticut Progressives and Democrats to get their voices heard in our political process and help promote the core values of the Democratic Party.

What are the core values of the Democratic Party?

Both my parents were Democrats and my father was active in the local Democratic Party wherever we lived. They were also strong supporters of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who best summed up what are the core values of the modern Democratic Party, in his speech called "The Four Freedoms":

  1. the freedom of speech,
  2. the freedom of worship,
  3. the freedom from want, and
  4. the freedom from fear.

The first two freedoms can be combined as representing civil and human rights for all people. The Democratic Party championed civil rights via legislation, like the Civil Rights Act, and continues to support civil rights for other groups, like women and the LGBT community. In the spirit of Eleanor Roosevelt, Democrats championed human rights for all people around the world. Along with civil rights, Democrats also support making sure every citizen has a right to vote and oppose punitive measures that make it difficult for minorities, the poor, and the disabled to vote.

"Freedom from Want" means supporting a strong domestic safety net, which includes opportunities for good medical care for the poor and those who suffer misfortune, and also increasing economic opportunity for all by supporting strong public education and retraining programs for laid off or displaced workers. In addition, the Democratic Party supports appropriate regulations of corporations, industry, and the financial sector to protect our nation's economy.

"Freedom from Fear" means that Democrats support protection of our nation from both foreign and domestic enemies. Democrats support a strong and efficient military to protect us from foreign danger, a strong and professional police force, fire departments and emergency personnel to protect us from domestic danger as well as from man-made and natural catastrophes. Democrats also support strong legislation and enforcement of it to protect all within our borders from lethal hazards, like pollution and toxic substances.

How does one become a member of Killingly's 2010-2012 Democratic Town Committee?

  1. You must be a registered Democrat.
  2. Either attend one of the scheduled monthly meetings (See Events Calendar on the Town of Killingly web site) or directly contact the Killingly DTC Chair to inquire about joining the DTC.
  3. If there are either empty full-time or alternate slots in your district, you will have an opportunity to be voted into one of those slots by the current DTC members. If your district's slate is full, you will have to wait until a vacancy opens. Until then you are welcome to attend all public meetings of the Killingly DTC. You can participate in the discussions but won't be able to vote on motions, endorsements, etc..

Please visit our newly revamped web site regularly to keep up-to-date with what the Killingly DTC is doing.



Teresa ("Terry") Barton
Killingly DTC Chair