4th of July

I love the 4th of July. I love the way that it reminds us about how our country was founded, and the Democratic principles it was founded upon. I find it very appropriate that the 4th of July should be a holiday mixed with politics, as it encourages participation in our government. This year my kids and I once again marched with local Democrats in the Dale City Virginia 4th of July Parade.

We were there to march in support of Hilda Barg, our local candidate for Delegate. But it turned out that Dale City’s parade was THE place to be for candidates from both sides. Both the Democratic and Republican tickets for Governor and Lt. Governor were in the parade. Virginia is a large state. That they all chose Prince William County as the place to start their 4th of July is something I take as a telling sign of them importance of winning here in November is to the outcome of the election.

Recently I have a much greater appreciation of the importance of being involved locally. In college I studied International Relations, and most of my previous campaign work has been at the national or statewide level. But as I have gotten older, I have felt a need to look more closely at my own state, local and neighborhood governments, and to get involved where I can. The 4th of July reminds us why.