[Winona Online Democracy]
Reading through the advance publicity for Steamboat Days in the papers, I
see that the organizers this year are using their exclusion of political
units from the parade as a selling point. I'm wondering if anyone else on
this forum sees a problem here.
Last year was the first time that the parade was closed to political units.
Local representatives from the three main political parties contacted the
parade organizers and were basically told that the parade was all about
entertainment, it needed to be shortened, and parade-goers don't like
political units.
We were also told that proliferation of units for various candidates had
become a problem, so we offered to consolidate into one unit each for DFL,
GOP, and Green. The answer was still "No", and is again this year.
I think this is a shame, because local parades are one of the few venues
left where candidates and office holders can informally meet and chat with
voters face-to-face, without benefit of spin doctors, handlers or media
consultants. And in Winona, Steamboat Days is the major summer event of
this sort.
In other parts of the world, democracy gets thwarted by suppression of
human rights, by military invasions, by terrorism...here it gets squeezed
out because it's not entertaining enough.
I realize that's not the intent of the parade folks...I'm sure they just
don't see it as part of their mission. Should it be? Doesn't the City have
an interest in promoting opportunities for voters to become informed on
issues and candidates?
Could something still be done at this year's Steamboat Days, such as a
booth or table where people running for office could meet the public and
discuss the issues of the day? Does anyone have any suggestions?
Scott Lowery
----------
"If the world were merely seductive, that would be easy. If it were merely
challenging, that would be no problem. But I arise in the morning torn
between a desire to improve the world, and a desire to enjoy the world.
This makes it hard to plan the day."
-- E. B. White
sent by:
Scott Lowery
461 Sunnyview Drive, Rollingstone MN 55969
home phone: (507)689-4532
school phone: (507)454-9573 (Winona Area Learning Center)
home email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
school email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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