Here, Here Keith. By gosh I think you have it right. Some fools, (such as myself), have shown a willingness to shed their blood and give up some of the idle time of youth to fight for, and defend other fool's rights to run for office in this country. No matter how foolish they may be perceived to be. On the Fourth of July, I would think people would be applauding them. They are the essence of what is great about this wonderful, crazy Country, which some of us are actually very proud to call home.
Isn't it wonderful to live in a country where any fool is guaranteed the right to be heard, no matter what his position, and any fool is guaranteed the right to run for office, no matter if politically powerful, rich, or who one's grandfather was? It seems to me the only real criticism of those mentioned is that they do not have a lot of money, yet still they have the inflated egos like regular politicians. This false pride seems to bother some. To me though it does nothing more than highlight the false egos of almost all politicians. Someone once said that our form of government was incredibly stupid and dysfunctional and the only good thing that could be said about it was that it was better than any other on this planet. Having traveled around this crazy blue planet I have to admit to the righteousness of this statement. The problem with our system of government is that it allows people to attempt to abridge the freedom of speech of others. Those who scream the loudest for their freedom of speech always wish to abridge the same freedom for those who disagree with them. The protection of even these fools is what makes our country great, even if it does seem foolish. It is the reason "God" looks after us. As Otto von Bismarck said: The Lord God has special providence for fools, drunkards, and the United States of America. Allowing "crazy" people with no chance at winning to throw in their two cents worth allows Americans to consider novel ideas such as social security, welfare, national transportation systems, health care for seniors, public education and just about any other idea worth a damn that now is part of the American experience. Of course along with all "Our" great ideas also came some other "crazy" ideas that did not work. But then the "People" were able to winnow the wheat from the chaff if given a little of both. Of course some of the nay sayers probably tried to stop wheat harvesting because you get all that worthless chaff with the grain. While we are separating a little wheat from chaff let us look at two politicians in Minnesota. Both made solemn oaths and promises about when they would be leaving office before being elected . One promised that if elected he would fight for term limits and he would never run for more than two terms. One promised that if the elected and after being in office for two or three terms if things were not run better in Washington he would quit and not run for re-election. I believe you can judge a politician by not only his money and power but also by the way he keeps his word and promises to me and the rest of the people. Sort of like a verbal contract, " I will trade you my guarantee and promise for your vote". I feel absolutely cheated by one of these men,(the one I HAD politically supported, and very grateful to the other, (the one I never supported) for the truth. Paul Wellstone promised that if elected he would only serve two terms. Wellstone is running for a third term Tim Penny promised to quit if things were not better in Washington. Penny quit and did not run for re-election. All Savior, Franson, and Davis promise is entertainment, different ideas in the race, and most importantly the continuation of an American and Minnesota tradition. I think they will fulfill this promise. I may not vote for them, but I admire their willingness to fight. I think Minnesota occasionally elects some crazy person with no political backing. But then we may be wise fools. It's the American way. Jim Graham, Ventura Village - the good old U.S. of A!!! ----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, July 04, 2002 12:27 PM Subject: [Mpls] Lucky!!For Free Speech/Unfinanced Voices Count!! > In a message dated 7/3/02 4:33:38 PM Central Daylight Time, > [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > > I for one am. What is up with Minneapolis residents Ole Savior and Dick > Franson running for some office or other every year? Of course I support > their right to run for public office but it seems that after the initial > publicity of filing, they offer little or no reason to vote for them. It's > not because I necessarily disagree with views, it's that they make virtually > no effort to engage in the discussion of why I should vote for them. It > comes across as more an ego trip than an effort to truly expound on an issue > or mobilize a previously unmotivated voting block. > > Dean E. Carlson (over 30 years of not running for public office) > Ward 10, East Harriet > > << > Dean was responding to Brandon's query below: > > I guess Lucky Rosenbloom is hopin' he'll be lucky in this election. Is > > anyone else turned off my candidates who seem to run in whatever race > > happens to be open on the day the filing period begins? > > > > -Brandon > > -Powderhorn Park > > > _____ >> > Keith says: It is the 4th of July, God bless America. And may God bless > America's stated goal of the separation of Church and State. > > I would like to advise and remind Dean, Brandon, and all other readers here. > For the most part, the media will determine whether to "inform" you of the > "...reason to vote for them". Them being the 'minor' candidates such as the > above referenced Ole Savior And Dick Fransen. The media may be TV, Radio, or > The Newspaper of the Twin Cities. It may also be the "medium" of yard signs, > posters, handbills, booths, travel, phone banks and political patronage. > Whatever the access is, Money Fuels Access. Soft money, hard money, cash, > coin of the realm. Currency, a commodity that 'minor' candidates, almost by > definition, do not have. > > Leslie Davis, always media described "gadfly and perennial candidate," > springs to my mind as an opinionated candidate who's message was blocked from > public access. He spent his own money to promote the public's issues. And > risked his life and health to reach you with his message. > > Dean, when registered Mpls. Mayoral candidate Leslie Davis chained himself to > a tall tree to protest exclusion from the Mayoral candidate's debates, did > you go out on a limb with him? Did you demand your own right to hear the > other 'minor' candidates explain to you, the "...reason to vote for them"? > They wanted to tell you why, but they had no money; and no access to media or > mediums. They were arbitrarily excluded from the debates. If you did not > protest, you, and all silent others, share complicity in the censorship. > > Brandon, did you experience a "bad taste in your mouth" when Leslie Davis was > put in a choke hold, injured, arrested and charged with a crime for trying to > access the Mayoral debate stage at the Minn. State Fair? He was a registered > candidate trying to participate, debate and inform you of his 'take' on the > issues at hand. Did you help in his legal defense to preserve free speech and > participation in the electoral process? I do not think so. > > You and so many others did Nothing. And on this 4th of July you and others > disparage and dismiss those trying to make their free speech heard. In this > way you honor types like Mark Dayton, who can buy his way in; in cash. Or > Buck Humphrey, whose name alone guarantees buckets of soft, and hard, money > and media 'access' while he does, and knows, nothing. (My opinion of him > through observation when he was collecting his pay in a patronage job at City > Hall, under SSB.) > > > My opinion is your quick dismissal of independent voices will exclude your > name sake, the other Brandon Lacey Compos. The one who switched parties for > all the right reasons. The one who wants his small, queer voice to be heard. > There must be two Brandons, or huge conflicts within one. > > Keith Reitman NearNorth > _______________________________________ > Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy > Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: > http://e-democracy.org/mpls > _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
