Marc Stier at Large

Some people who read my entry praising Bob Brady wondered whether I was giving up on my efforts to change politics in Philadelphia. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is important to distinguish between individuals and political systems. As I pointed out, many of us who met with Congressman Brady were impressed with him. (I met him a few years ago and have been talking to him from time to time since the Neighborhood Networks organizing conference, so I’ve been impressed for a while.) But that doesn’t mean I’m impressed with the Democratic Party he chairs or the government that is controlled by members of the Democratic Party. I begin my campaign speeches by saying that politics in Philadelphia is broken. I’m not going to stop saying that just because I happen to like Congressman Brady. And I’m not afraid to say that at ward meetings. There is… Continue reading

News that a group of progressive activists (and some bloggers) from Neighborhood Networks, Philly for Change, the African American Heritage Coalition, the Latino community and Philadelphians Against Santorum, met with Congressman Bob Brady on Friday is beginning to appear on some blogs. I considered the meeting off the record, so I’m not going to report on it in detail. But I do think I can give my general impressions of the meeting without violating any confidences, on either side. The first thing to be said is that, in a different kind of setting, Congressman Brady’s performance would have received a standing ovation. Over the last few years I have met most of the leading politicians in the city. There are politicians in this city who can give a better speech, politicians who are better organizers of issue movements, and politicians who have more visionary ideas about public policy. But there… Continue reading