This discussion is interesting to me for many reasons.
Our thinking on this seems so staid. We really need totally new ways of
considering campaigns. Bear with me while I make a point that brings in
some national issues.
Recently, the national spotlight has turned to tax cuts. Missing
entirely from the debate are any agreements on the role of government in
modern America. We debate what to do with the money before we discuss or
agree on the mission or goals.
The same is true for questions of campaign finance. Why do candidates
need money? To get their message out to their voters and to get their
voters out to the polls. We talk about how much it costs to get the
message out, but no one mentions the most powerful mediums for
broadcasting info in our community, the public airwaves. Our radio and
TV stations broadcast in a kind of organized theft of the airwaves from
the people. They pay nothing for the privilege and we get no benefit in
return. Radio and TV can and should be used by candidates to engage
voters on the issue of our time.
There are many other "crazy ideas" that deserve our attention.
Earlier,
Andy Driscoll wrote:
>
> I find it intriguing that, despite the knowledge that millions are being
> poured into campaigns . . . <snip>
Now, I am working one of these campaigns, if any candidate in one of the
Minneapolis races has millions, I WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW! Andy
must be talking about national races or at least statewide races because
I think my candidate, Gary Schiff (running for the DFL endorsement for
9th Ward City Council) has been fairly effective at raising money
(<plug> write me off list to make a donation.</plug>) and he has raised
even a hundredth of "millions" Now maybe Sharon Sayles Belton has raised
millions, or R.T. (he is pretty well known)
When talk turns to public financing of elections, I cringe. If
treasurers of campaigns have a hard time reporting the minimal
requirements now, imagine what they would have to do to account the
public's money. This would be a major obstacle to participation in the process.
Rather than reforming elections, let's make major changes to the
structure of government. A new paradigm for governing. We don't need
representative democracy as we did in 1789, but I haven't heard much
talk about a Constitutional Convention. As in our national arena, so
here in Minneapolis we have to think different. We need to break the
rules to get what we want: responsive government; educated citizens who
participate in the civic life of our community; flexible infrastructure;
an aligned polity; polite discourse; passionate advocacy; and reliable
decision making that involves ALL those who are affected by the decision
in question.
Campaigns should engage voters to discuss the issues of the day! Elected
leaders should know the people they represent.
--
In cooperation,
Erik Riese
Seward 9-1
Decisive Moment - lighting the path to great decision making
Information, support and facilitation for folks who need to choose.
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