MARGARETVILLE - In Margaretville, Sunday Aug. 23 at noon, there was the annual "Soapbox Social." Democrats, Independents and "Dem-curious" gathered for free ice cream, Kitchen Cheetah's Chili for sale, and Home Baked Treats for donation and auction.
They heard speeches from Michele Frazier, who is running for New York State Senate's 51st District. She is running on a platform of affordable housing and access to health care, Neurodivergent Support, .Affordable Childcare,.and Senior Dignity.
Janet Tweed, who is running for New York State Assembly's 102nd District, places the passage of the New York Health Act as a first priority.
Tom O'Brien, who is running for Roxbury Supervisor, has a passion for public service and wants to bring his experience in the same to advocate for rural life in Roxbury. It is his conviction that a town supervisor must be the one to help find consensus among groups pulling in opposite directions, to find common ground.
Jonathan Kilday is running for Hamden Town Supervisor as a Democrat, as long-time Democratic supervisor Wayne Marshfield, is retiring in November. He has a strong interest in supporting small businesses.
The candidates stayed for a while after the speeches to meet and answer questions from the gathered crowd and to listen to the voters tell them why they are voting this year.
Bernard Cohen of Delaware County "Indivisible" spoke as well. He explained that the mission of Western Catskills Indivisible is to be a non-partisan organization that brings together people to work for justice, and democracy. They believe in a country that provides liberty, civil rights and a decent standard of living for everyone. What they have accomplished this year is a "grow grant" from National Indivisible. They "met with Congressman Reilly in March for a Q and A zoom. Along with Gov. Hochul, they presented a "disaster preparedness event at the Walton Theatre. They have been tabling at fairs and farmer's markets this summer focusing on unaffiliated voters and broadening the voter base. They've established a strong link with the NY Act coalition. Steering Committee member Lora Silts established an ongoing Sunday Rally outside Freshtown."
Music was provided by Sue's Garage, and was, as always, uplifting and enjoyable.
A moving part of the event was the statements of the audience on why they are going to vote in this coming November's election. They did not speak to local issues. They spoke of their concern that this is no longer the nation in which they grew up and their intention to restore rule of law and decency.
"I'm voting to stop the cruelty," one person said. "I'm voting because it is my civic duty and it is my privilege to do so," said another. "I am voting to preserve women's rights because Women's rights are human rights, and the rights of all the varied people who live on this earth. We need to support each other in our growth on this planet and in this county, this beautiful county. ." said a woman attending. "My name is Ted, and in the 73 years I've been on the planet, this is the first time we've really seen our democracy threatened at its core, and I've been through a lot of threats. "I'm Matt and I'm voting because we have to get the people that have no moral compass and are corrupt out of this system and out of elected office." "I'm voting to shift the balance of power in Congress, Did you hear that?" said a woman who did not wait for the microphone. "I'm voting so my grandchildren have the chance to vote," said a young man. "My name is Elissa, and I'm voting because I believe in the separation of church and state. And I think that it [ the erosion of that separation ] is creeping up a little too uncomfortably close, so that is why I am voting." "I'm Mike, because in my 73 years, on this planet I've never seen such madness and we've got to stop the madness." George, "I'm voting because that smug bastard just pisses me off."
