YOUR OPINION: Spirit of local political groups lives on – Elmira Star-Gazette

Carrie Heath 6:14 p.m. ET June 4, 2017

Do you know what those long, rectangular buildings are that still dot the countryside in villages and on once-busy corners? They are Grange buildings, the shuttered remnants of rural progressive politics.

At the turn of the 20th century, the Grange was a political force to be reckoned with, giving voice to rural farmers, looking out for the little guy in an age of robber barons and conspicuous consumption. The Grange was one of the first American political organizations to give women equal standing. They fought against corruption in government and for greater participation from everyday people in the form of initiatives like recall, referendum and direct election of senators.

These were radically progressive ideas at the time. That progressive spirit lives on today in groups, such as Indivisible. I am proud to have a long family history of involvement in the Grange, and I am proud to be a founding member of our local Indivisible group. Like those old Grangers, we emphasize educating our members about current issues in politics, helping them get their voices heard by our representatives, and fighting for policies that reflect progressive values.

We use the inalienable rights of freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom to assemble, and freedom to petition the government that are enshrined in the First Amendment of the Constitution to meet these goals. It is true that our founders constructed the Constitution in order to protect our inalienable rights from government oppression. So why are some Americans so quick today to try to oppress anyone who disagrees with them?

We are not paid protestors hellbent on demonizing America or destroying civility. Like President Theodore Roosevelt, we want an America that offers a square deal to all of her citizens, not a sweetheart deal to just the fabulously wealthy.

We are not liberal snowflakes who will melt away at the first sign of opposition. We are as tough as those old farmers at their Grange meetings. We are progressives. We are patriots. We are Indivisible.

Carrie Heath is chair of Tioga County Indivisible.

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YOUR OPINION: Spirit of local political groups lives on - Elmira Star-Gazette