What I think is missing from the debate on cross endorsements is a
view that to some extent all political parties tend to subscribe to a sort
of pack mentality that who they anoint is somehow either the most qualified
for a specific seat, or the most well connected enough for a seat, such as
the seat I'm seeking. All of this can be distressing to a generation that
has grown up learning NOT to follow. I think part of the reason that our
current governor is in office is because young people were constantly told
who to support (Humphrey or Coleman) and given the message that this person
was in some way better than they were.
Putting anyone on some sort of high political pedestal, no matter
what the ideology is, fundamentally turns most of us off. I think this is
a reason that many young people are turned off to politics today. Though I
have supported and respected some DFLers in the past, I think the DFL's
stranglehold on Minneapolis local government is near it's end, not because
of it's ideology or the idealogy of any other political party, but simply
because we yearn to see someone more like us. Someone who is politically
independent, can relate to the real struggles our lives consist of and can
run a campaign on that and that alone. In a few years I'll bet that no
candidate will want to list him or herself as a member of any party because
perhaps that itself would show a lack of independence, and lack of
identification with the people they are trying to represent, many of whom
are distrustful of politics and parties.
The other problem I'm having with this debate is that the current
sixth ward city council member, Jim Niland was endorsed by the Green Party,
the New Party, (now Progressive Minnesota)and the DFL in his last election
bid. This apparently was not a conflict as these are suppose to be
"non-partisan." I know for a fact that the smaller parties have no problem
with cross endorsements and I know that the Independence Party has no
problem with this either. I've been told that the DFL does not allow cross
endorsements, and has not for some time. Could someone then explain this to
me. I would urge the other parties thinking about prohibiting cross
endorsing to judge a candidate on who they are, their issues, actions and
how they fit with that party, and not make cross endorsing a limitus test.
I for one would much rather serve a community than a political party.
----------------------------------------->
| Tamir Nolley
| Candidate for Mpls City Council, Ward 6
| Hop on the Nolley Trolley !
| http://www.nolleytrolley.org
----------------------------------------->
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