I have avoided focusing too much on local political issues/races at Catholics for Democracy because CfD has a national focus. However, I think what happens in NYC politics is a microcosm for everything that's wrong in national politics. NYC political races are every bit as driven by soundbites and marketing as the national elections are -- probably more so. I learned this the hard way being involved with the grassroots movement behind the Dean for America campaign in NYC. It is difficult to get representatives -- either at the City level or at the State level -- who truly represent their consituencies; or who even know what the will of their constituencies is. Media-oriented marketing has replaced grassroots politics.

So much of politics in NYC has consequences to me as a Catholic and as a citizen, though. So I created this blog to allow me to address those issues separately from the national Catholics for Democracy blog.

For that matter, anyone out their at Catholics for Democracy who wants to have a blog addressing politics at the local level are free to do so. Go to www.blogger.com, register an account and create a blog. After you create your blog, email me at williamsb@catholicsfordemocracy.org. I will set up a block on www.catholicsfordemocracy.org that lists your postings on your blog.