There are 130 Montgomery County Democrats who met the deadline to submit petitions to seek election to the Montgomery County Democratic Party Central Committee. The petitions are not yet certified by the Board of Elections, but, as it stands now, of the county’s 360 precincts, 100 precincts have one candidate, 12 precincts have two candidates, and 2 precincts have three candidates.

Of the 130 Democrats who turned in a petition, 35 were elected to the Central Committee in 2014 and 18 were appointed to the Central Committee after the election. So there are 53 Democrats who are current members of the Central Committee who are seeking election and there are 77 Democrats seeking election who are not current members.

Seventy-three of the 132 Democrats elected to the Central Committee in 2014, failed to meet the deadline to turn in a petition. Of the 73 precincts, only 22 precincts have a Democrat seeking election to replace the exiting member. This means that, as of now, there are 51 precincts that are losing a precinct leader and that will have no replacement.

Some Democrats who failed to make the February 7 deadline for petitions are intending on making the deadline to be a write-in candidate. That deadline is February 26 at 4:00 PM to complete and submit Form No 13 to the Board of Elections. Meeting this write-in deadline means that the name of the write-in candidate will be on the accepted list. To be elected to the Central Committee, a write-in candidate must get at least five votes (the same as the number of signatures required for the February 7 petition).

Interesting that many Democrats seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination for elected office seem to have no interest in being engaged in the local party organization. The following Democratic candidates live in one of the 246 precincts with no Democratic candidate for the Central Committee:

• Walter Hickman — State Representative for OHD-39
• Albert Griggs Jr — State Representative for OHD-40
• Ryan Taylor — State Representative for OHD-40
• Zach Dickerson — State Representative for OHD-42
• Autumn Kern — State Representative for OHD-42
• Daryl Ward — County Commissioner

The intelligence that humanity must develop, if it is to survive, is not math intelligence, or science intelligence. It is civic intelligence.

Douglas Schuler, a professor at college in Washington State, says that “civic intelligence is a little known term for an important concept.” “Civic intelligence,” Schuler says, “is directed towards the collective good.” He defines civic intelligence as “the capacity of collectivities – from small informal groups to humanity as a whole – to equitably and effectively address important shared problems.”

It makes sense that if humanity does cannot develop the capacity to come together and solve problems —we are doomed. We are lacking that capacity right now.

A political body can be full of “intelligent” people — according to their IQ scores and academic accomplishments — yet, as a body have little or no “capacity to equitably and effectively address important shared problems.” Our US Congress is full of intelligent people, but Congress, as a group, has little “civic intelligence.”

If we are to transform our US Congress so that it is known for its civic intelligence, a place to start is at the local level, at the grassroots. Our challenge as local communities is to create grassroots structures where civic intelligence can thrive. If civic intelligence would pervade our local communities, it would soon impact who we would elect to public offices.

Kettering Republicans are getting campaign literature with this theme: “Achieving the American Dream Starts With Protecting Our Conservative Values.” The literature is paid for by “Ohio Conservatives For A Change.” This PAC is trying to persuade grassroots Republicans to choose DeWine / Husted as the Republican candidates for Governor / Lieut. governor. The Republican Primary is May 8.

The literature says,

“The American Dream doesn’t have to be just a dream. That dream can become a reality for everyone who calls Ohio home. To make that happen, we need someone who will uphold our conservative values. Mike DeWine is that leader. The one who will fight for our shared values to keep the American Dream alive and well.”

The literature doesn’t explain how “Ohio Conservatives For A Change” defines “American Dream.” It does say, however, “Together Mike and Jon will get to work combating the issues facing the Buckeye state to put our families, our children and our grandchildren in a position to succeed.”

Wow. “Ohio Conservatives For A Change,” wants to elect government officials who will “put our families, our children and our grandchildren in a position to succeed.”  It makes me want to know more about the families paying for this literature. This PAC evidently believes it makes for effective propaganda to make the claim to Republican families receiving this literature — those likely to vote in the Republican primary — that electing Dewine / Husted will help advantage their children and their grandchildren. Of course it’s safe to assume that these Republican children are already advantaged by the current status quo — these children already are in a “position to succeed.” The message of this PAC is that Dewine / Husted will help maintain the status quo.

We need a good debate about what the “American Dream” means. Certainly it must mean much more that maintaining the position of the wealthy and powerful to succeed. It must include the dream of a republic where there is “liberty and justice for all.” Since there is no liberty nor justice without adequate income, an “American Dream,” worthy of the name, is one of a republic where all citizens have income adequate for a decent life. Our system of self-government, as it is, fails to deliver such a republic. On the contrary, it structures and empowers an economy where over 85% of new income goes to the one percent.  Protecting and advancing the status quo doesn’t seem a reasonable choice — if the goal is “liberty and justice for all.” Protecting the status quo is a logical goal if the whole point is “to put our families, our children and our grandchildren in a position to succeed.”

I’d like to see political campaigns this year center on answering these questions:

• What is the American Dream?
• What Should Be The Role Of Government In Helping Citizens Achieve The American Dream?