Here is the latest from our club:

President’s Letter, May 30, 2019

Whether you thought  this quote originated from Abraham Lincoln, pulled from the Gettysburg Address  —  “… that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”  — Abraham Lincoln, November 19, 1863

Or — Theodore Parker, an 1850’s American reformer and abolitionist, whose words and popular quotations many believe later inspired speeches by both Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Our Democratic Party must get behind a quote of this type. One that unifies our Party and sends a clear message that fits all branches of our Party; the Progressives, Conservatives, Liberal, LGBT, African Americans, Hispanics, Jews, etc.
Democrats, by nature, are people with many different issues, but we cannot fight so many different wars that we divide our forces. Remember the old adage, “Divide and Conquer – Unite and Win.”

Republicans may have many different issues, too.  But, their “MESSAGE” is short, clear and in lock step with their leadership.

We, as Democrats, must discuss our issues and identify the ones that enhance the lives of the majority. Some issues must be put aside until after the election, to allow a few (three or four) to be highlighted.  We cannot fight among ourselves or feature too many different issues if we expect to forcefully arrive at the White House en mass come November 2020.

I believe, the only way we can win is to also present a clear and concise message and select a candidate who is strong on these points.

Once our Primary is held, next March and our Presidential Candidate selected, it will be time for us to vocalize, support these key issues and fall in lockstep with our selected Candidate, sending a clear and concise message…   A Presidential Candidate of The People, By The People and For The People!

Beatriz Motley, President, Solivita Democratic Club

By Joe Clark, May 30, 2019

The Solivita Democratic Club now has its own group on NextDoor Solivita!
If you already belong to NextDoor you know what an exciting place it can be to hear the latest news and views from others who live in our community. Yes, it can be trying at times with more information than you could have ever wanted on whatever subject comes to somebody’s mind.

But it also provides up to the minute information that can range from helpful to life saving. One group, the Sale of Solivita Amenities Discussion Group was a major force in preventing what many considered a bad deal for Solivita residents. Now we have our own group! We’ll feature information on how Solivita’s elected politicians voted on important issues, as well as other issues you think are important.

If you’re already on Next Door and a Democrat, you’re either already in the group or you can easily join.
1. Go to the home page, look at the left-hand column for Groups.
2. Click on it and choose Browse All Groups.
3. Click on Solivita Democratic Club and click join.
4. The system will send the moderators a message asking for their approval. It shouldn’t take more than a few hours for you to be accepted.

If you’re not on NextDoor, go to Google, enter Solivita Next Door, click join. Once you’re accepted, do as outlined above. If you want to be excluded from the group, send me a private message to be removed.

There are two types of Next Door groups: public and private. We’re going to keep ours private, for Dems only. But, feel free to share anything with our Republican and No-Party-Affiliation neighbors you think is appropriate.

See You On Our Own Social Media!

Observations by Joe Tobin, May 30, 2019

Food! Food! Food!  How could we possibly live without it?  Perish the thought that food shelves at Walmart or Publix could ever go empty.  Imagine what life in Solivita would be without goodies to munch on while minutes are read, or bingo numbers called?  So in these times of changing weather patterns that determine the life or death of crops, there are three important issues that can make or break farmers who help to put food on our tables.
As a starter, farmers fall into a number of categories:  crop farming (grains, flowers, vegetables, cotton); land, sea and hothouse; animals (dairy, horse, cattle, chicken, fish); large, medium and small acreage; organic and non-organic; multinational, national and local; full- and part-time; and private and corporate.  This column focuses on mid- and small grain, vegetable and dairy farmers (cattle ranches also share some of the problems as well).
Cost.  The average farmer admits to being land rich and cash poor – a centuries old description of the average life of a farmer.  He does not get paid a weekly salary but depends on the gross income he generally receives once or twice a year from his crops.
With few exceptions farmers need bank loans to pay for fertilizer, seed, feed, equipment, insurance and labor.  Farmers are also competing with foreign nations for pricing.  For example, it is cheaper for large corporations to buy oranges and tomatoes from Mexico than from Florida.  The nature of capitalism is to keep costs down for corporate profit.
Applying for loans is becoming more difficult because of stricter banking requirements.  Bankruptcies and farm auctions are on the rise.  Some farmers still make do with old equipment or depend on neighbors for assistance.  The rising number of suicides has prompted two mid-west senators to include a sizable amount of money for counseling in their proposed farm bill.
Weather.  Changing weather patterns have a definite impact on farmers.  If we think about it, how depressing must it be for the farmer who has borrowed money to plant and nurture his crops and then watch them rot in the fields because of excessive drought or flooding.  He certainly must wonder how he/she can hold on to his farm, feed his family and repay his loans – a challenge nobody would want to face.

Labor.  Many small farms are operated on a husband-wife basis.  Some include family members as well.  Not every child who grew up on a farm wants to return to farming when they leave home for college or another full-time job.  The average age of farmers is in the late 50s.  Getting help is not easy since most Americans shun the work because it demands “work.”  Hiring foreigners is not as easy as it once was because the number of work permits issued are limited because of political decisions.

Our best hope is for mother nature, banks and the government will super-kindly treat those dedicated men and women who keep the farms brimming with grains and veggies to keep our bodies healthy and well fed.

Scroll down to see past news and projects you may have missed.

April 29, 2019

Thank you for your suggestions on the direction you want our club to go.
It is wonderful to see how engaged our members are.  Now for the results. Drum roll please…

Medicare/Social Security & the Environment tied for first place with over 25 requests. Immigration and Local Politics came in 2^nd with about 20 requests. But one of the most interesting things was the “Other” slot.  We received requests for some very interesting topics. I’ve listed some below:

• Proposed & Current legislation, what it means to us and the pros & cons of who sponsored it (ie., lobbyists)
• Lack of quality education creating an unskilled labor force, resulting in lower salaries, and causing poor demographics that prevent high-end amenities from building our area (ie., movies, restaurants, etc.).
• U.S. relations with Israel and other countries
• Racial inequality and other Minority Issues (i.e., the repeal of Stand Your Ground)
• Jobs that pay a living wage and job training for older workers
• Term limits on Federal Legislators and our current court system

What a wonderfully diverse group of members.  The issues you outline enable us to develop guidelines for clear and measurable paths toward the achievement of our goals.

This month, we are certifying the bylaws that govern SDC’s conduct. We’re also evaluating our progress toward 2020’s goals.

June’s meeting will feature your most requested issues; how Healthcare, Medicare & Social Security proposals affect you.

We hope to see each of you at our meeting on Wednesday, May 8^th at 7 pm.  Your continued input is so important.  It influences our direction, our speakers, and keeps us focused on the issues that are important to you.

Hope to see you soon.

Beatriz Motley, President, Solivita Democratic Club

April 29, 2019

Better late than never!  During the month of March, there were many tributes and remembrances of women who made meaningful and positive contributions to America and the planet.  To add to this list, I wish to salute one group of women in particular –  the First Ladies of America.

While presidents occupy the limelight of the office, first ladies have played important roles in helping their husbands attain the office, support and counsel him during his presidency and have a platform to promote their special interests that can benefit the public.  It’s safe to say that a number of presidents would never have become president without the backing and political skills of their wives.

Each first lady has her own story to tell.  Most enjoyed solid family backgrounds but some less so.  Some went to college, finishing schools or one-room school-houses.  They courted, married and, with few exceptions, raised their children.  They juggled household duties, nursed sickness and buried the dead, including their own children.  A few dealt with unfaithful husbands and many carried the total family responsibility when they husbands’ careers demanded long periods of time away from home.  There were wives who basked in the give-and-take of political life and others lived in its shadows.  Finally, it may be said that some of these women had better political and diplomatic skills than their husbands.  Overall, these women deserve a strong vote of thanks.

From the list of first ladies, I have a chosen few whom I would like to sit and interview.  However, I put one first lady at the top of the list  – .Eleanor Roosevelt.  She certainly had her share of woes such as a dysfunctional childhood, competition with a strong-willed mother-in-law and an unfaithful husband.  But she managed to persevere and find positive outlets to fulfill her inner needs.  Very few first ladies lived through such historic years as the first half of the twentieth century with a bird’s eye view.

During the Great Depression, she quite often visited, sometimes alone, through the hollows and small towns to learn the lives of the poor and forgotten, especially child welfare issues and to report her findings back to her husband. In World War II, she never tired of visiting American troops on duty and in military hospitals.  President Truman appointed her as the first American representative to the United Nations, based on her input during its establishment.  She also found time to write newspaper columns and give speeches.  In so many ways, she expanded the role of first lady in ways “never done before.“   In short, she was a true inspiration for her successors and for women aspiring to public life.

As the 2020 campaign rolls on, I would like to see the media schedule a number of public “meet-and-greets” for potential first ladies (or first gentlemen) so the public can get to know them and their views on all sorts of topics because one of them will be playing such a public life in our lives (I am an optimist).  As the old saying goes, “two heads are better than one.”

Joe Tobin, SDC Member