Letter to the Editor: Being "Political"

We, Monroe’s Democrats, are your friends and your neighbors – we’re your doctors and your lawyers, we dry clean your clothes, we’re your educations.  We live in Monroe, pay taxes in Monroe and care about our Town and its future.

There are times in our local government that Democrats disagree with Republicans and some in our government may term these incidents “political.”  However, this is a misuse of the negative connotation that is attached to the term “political.”  In 1787 at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia there was much debate as to how our new government should be formed.  On opposing sides were the Federalists - those who believed in a strong federal government - and the Anti-Federalists - those who believed in a weak federal government and stronger state governments.  The debate raged for months and the Federalist-driven Constitution was subsequently ratified.  However, to improve upon the newly minted document, James Madison along with others penned the Bill of Rights, the first ten Amendments to our Constitution, with great input from the Anti-Federalists.  It is our Freedom of Speech, our right to due process and our right to a trial by jury for all that came from a group of people in the minority fighting against the tyranny of the majority.

The term “political party” is not in the Constitution.  The job of a political party –  at the local, state, and national levels – is to put up candidates that agree with its platform and get its message out to the masses on its view on the issues. 

So, although things may be labeled “political,” that is not the goal of the Monroe Democratic Party.  The goal of the Monroe Democrats and what we have done and will continue to do is present our vision for the Town of Monroe and present our view of how to make Monroe the best Monroe it can be right now.  If there is debate that includes facts that are not so flattering, that is not political, that is a service to the people of this town.  Although elected Democrats do not make up the majority of any elected board or any appointed board for forty years, we were still elected by you and will represent you.

I look forward to an honest dialogue about our town.  I am proud of the fact that together we have weathered snowstorms, helped our neighbors during incredible tragedy and overcome difficult economic times.  Now is the time to plan for the future and the unexpected and to know clearly each candidate’s vision. 

Nicholas Kapoor

Monroe Democratic Town Committee Chairman