Nice People in Harrisburg

I participated in a demonstration against a proposed rate hike in the price of natural gas today.  UGI, the same company that is proposing to put a fracking gas pipeline through our farm, has asked the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission to allow it to raise the price of natural gas to its customers in Allentown and other Pennsylvania cities by over 19%.

The demonstration was successful in that we called attention to the price rise and managed to get TV coverage, but what I really want to write about is the parking meter guy and the policeman.

I have a hard time figuring out how to get a parking permit from the automatic dispenser Harrisburg uses instead of meters.  I pressed a button, and then found I needed 24 quarters.  At this point a parking meter guy came by and tried to help.  He told me to try my debit card, but since I had already put in 9 quarters, it didn’t work, and I had no more quarters.  He must have realized what a county bumpkin I was, so he put a blank ticket on the car so no one else would ticket me and told me not to worry.

Then, when we were standing in front of the building where the hearing was held, a Capitol cop pulled up.  He was smiling and asked how many more demonstrators were coming.  We told him we were it.  We bantered with him about the rate increase, and he told us while he was in uniform he had no opinion on any issue.  He was very polite, told us not to block the door, and drove off.  

I really like Harrisburg.

GOP wimps out on "open carry"

The Secret Service said it would forbid people attending the Republican National Convention in Cleveland from carrying firearms.

Who runs the Republican Convention–the Republican Party or the Secret Service?  Obviously, the Republicans were having second thoughts about holding a convention full of armed wackos, and the Secret Service provided a way out of their dilemma.  

If they really cared about the Second Amendment, the Party could easily overrule the Secret Service decision.  If they really believed in the sanctity of the Second Amendment and followed NRA guidelines, anyone should be able to walk into that convention locked and loaded.  Right?

The PA legislature caves

Republican legislators were quick to claim victory when Gov. Wolf reluctantly allowed their budget to become law.  They held the line on taxing the frackers, which insures that Pennsylvania will remain the only state in the nation without a severance tax on natural gas.  They were almost giddy with pride.  An editorial writer for the Times News wrote that “Gov. Wolf Blinked.”  

People who actually know finances were not so quick to celebrate.  Three financial firms--Moody’s Investors Service, Standard & Poor’s Rating Services, and PNC Financial Services Group all criticized budget.

The Times News quoted Moody’s statement: “The approved budget relies on nearly $1 billion of one-time measures to balance the budget, does not include a pension contribution at the fully actuarially required level and casts no light on the government’s ability to reach compromise on its long-term fiscal challenges.”  

PNC was quoted: “We do not expect the budget to come close to solving Pennsylvania’s fiscal pressures, including its structural budget gap, which is sizable and growing.  Without broader policy changes, Pennsylvania’s structural deficit will worsen.”

This is what Republican legislators are proud of?  They ought to hide their faces under a paper bag.

At least they failed to sell the state Wine and Spirits shops, which would have eliminated one of the few revenue sources that is actually making money for the state year after year.  What a bunch of idiots.

Scotty Morrison of Lehighton

Earlier this month the Times News printed a letter from a Mr. Scotty Morrison of Lehighton, Pennsylvania.  I certainly won’t quote the whole letter, but the theme of the letter was that “...the Civil Rights Act of 1964 has just been an entitlement program for ‘minorities.’”  That act, you may recall was the one that outlawed various forms of racial discrimination.

Mr. Morrison went on to say that “minorities” 

...also have the moral responsibility to learn and understand how liberals, aka Democrats, socialists, progressives, communists (all the very same thing) have ruined the strength and backbone of this nation by “political correctness,” revisionist history, minority dependency-creating entitlements, dumbing down our educational system, removing God from society.

The letter goes on from there, but I think you have the gist  I have no other comment.

"Rep. Heffley offers basic boating safety course"

That was the headline for a small item in today’s Morning Call.  The course will be held in April.  Heffley will personally demonstrate the Eskimo roll with a kayak.  He will show his paddling techniques, moving from one side of the river to the other, keeping mostly to the far right.  Rep. Heffley will also illustrate other techniques, including what he does when he is up a creek without a paddle.  

Mostly, however, he will drift with the current.

Lou Barletta and Pat Toomey

I’m not in the least bit surprised that Congressman Lou Barletta has endorsed Donald Trump.  After all, Barletta made his reputation as the racist mayor of Hazleton and has continued his vicious diatribes against immigrants while in office.  

On the other hand, Toomey likes to give the impression that he is a moderate Republican, reasonable, somewhat in the center.  Yet he has publicly stated on network TV that he will support the nominee of the Republican Party.  Suppose it is Cruz, whose main accomplishment was working to shut down the government and who would like to return to the gold standard?  No problem.  Suppose it is Trump?  No problem.  Voting on Obama’s pick for the Supreme Court?  No way.

People like Toomey put their party’s interest above the interest of the country.  That is about as unpatriotic as Toomey can get, no matter how many flag pins he might wear in his lapel.  The irony is that his actions will ultimately hurt the Republican Party as well.

What's left for the devil?

A handwritten note by a memorial in Brussels said, “In the end, when you see what can be done in the name of God, it makes you wonder what is left for the devil.” 

If we look back over history, the atrocities committed in God’s name by all kinds of religions are astounding.  On this Good Friday, I am quite proud to be an atheist.  I only wish that there were a God, and that it would smite down the idiots who are committing terrible crimes on its behalf.

The quote in the first paragraph was printed in an article by Dan Bilefsky in today’s Times.

It's personal

In recent years my friends Janette and Anne, who live in Brussels, have donated money to the Carbon County Democratic Information Center so the Board of Directors could purchase Belgian beer.  Yuengling, now a non-union beer, just doesn’t cut it.

Yesterday I received an email from Janette telling me that Anne had been at that subway station just an hour before the blast.   Anne is a nurse, and many of the injured were treated at her hospital.

I do not think ISIS is an existential threat to the U.S.  It is a relatively small group of terrorists who cannot defeat the U.S.  For that matter, it can’t defeat the Kurds.  Nonetheless, it is like a cancer.  It kills innocent people, kills anyone who doesn’t agree with it, uses rape as a policy, and takes advantage of the openness of democracies to wreak destruction.  It mocks what the Muslim religion stands for, and it has no redeeming qualities.

My test for U.S. troops going to war has always been, would I be willing to go?  I’m 73, and I know I won’t be called up to fight, but if I were able, I would be willing to go.  I would like to see these assholes eliminated.

Obama to sell Great Lakes

In her gym this morning my friend Marian overheard two guys talking.  The one said “Did you know that Obama is selling the Great Lakes to China?”

At this point any normal rational person would have said, “Ok, what’s the punchline?”  Instead, the other guy said, “He must really hate America.”

Last night I listened to a presentation of Erin and Dave from the “Hear Yourself Think” project.  They put on a workshop of how to counter the constant fear and hatred that is spewed 24 hours a day on talk radio and the Fox network.  You are supposed to treat these people with respect and ask questions to move them into a zone where they start to question their beliefs and actually think.

For example, Marian might have asked, “Are the Chinese running a pipeline under the Pacific?  Won’t that be difficult?”  Or, “Are they going to take the water by tanker?”  Or, “Why would China buy the water?  Don’t they already have a surplus?”  

On the other hand, you could just ask, “Just how far up your butt is your head?”  This might not lead to the two guys questioning their belief, but it might be more satisfying.

The Obama Doctrine

The April issue of The Atlantic includes a ten page interview of President Obama by Jeffrey Goldberg entitled “The Obama Doctrine.”  The President discusses his policies on the Middle East, including Syria, and why he thinks Asia, Africa, and Latin America are more important to U.S. interests than the Middle East.

What I took away from the interview is how thoughtful Obama is.  He reasons.  He considers.  He looks at possible outcomes, and he picks the best strategy to obtain the best outcome.  He admits he doesn’t have all the answers, but he considers all the questions.

When I look at the current crop of presidential contenders, there are only two that even come close to Obama’s careful consideration of foreign policy issues:  Sanders and Clinton.  People like Cruz or Trump or Kasich do not have a clue about American interests, American power, or American capabilities.  It is scary to think of what will happen to this globe, and to America, if a Republican somehow wins in November.

At one time I would have recommended that you go out to your local newsstand and buy the April issue of The Atlantic, but we don’t have local newsstands anymore.  However, you can get the article online.  I will warn you that it is a long and serious article, but I think you will find fascinating, and I also think you will agree that we can be thankful this man is president.

Republican National Committee questionnaire

Somehow I received a mailing from the RNC.  You answer a “poll,” and then you are asked to send in money.  The questions on the poll are not to ascertain one’s attitudes, but to whip up the base.  A typical question is “Are you in favor of granting retroactive Social Security eligibility to illegal immigrants who gain U.S. citizenship through an amnesty program?”  I answered yes with the comment, “They paid into it.”  Of course, there is no amnesty program.

Another question was, “Do you support President Obama and Hillary Clinton’s plan to close the Guantanamo Bay (Gitmo) detention center and bring hardened terrorists to the United States?  I answered yes with the comment:  “Oh, for goodness sake.  It’s not like we plan to release these guys in downtown Dallas.”

#15 was “Do you agree with Hillary Clinton that Barack Obama should get an ‘A’ grade for his job performance as President?”  I said yes, but commented that I thought it should be an A+.  

I have a feeling they will take me off the list, but I did comment at the top of the poll, “We are about to see just how big the Republican tent is.”  

I thought the fun I had was worth the 49¢ stamp.

GMO labeling and free speech

The Heritage Foundation is usually called a “conservative think tank,” but I never realized just how stupid it was.  According to an article in Lancaster Farming, the Heritage Foundation issued a statement that mandatory GMO labeling would violate free speech.

The U.S. Senate did not pass a mandatory GMO labeling bill.  According to a Heritage Foundation spokesman, “That’s good news for anyone who believes the government should not compel the disclosure of misleading information.”

What misleading information?  Requiring GMO foods to be labeled as such is not misleading.  If you are a fan of GMO foods, you will purchase the foods; if you aren’t, you won’t.  There is nothing misleading about the label.  In fact, it provides the consumer with more information about what he or she is eating.

To call GMO labeling a violation of free speech is just plain nuts.

Hulk Hogan Sex Tapes

Last night I was looking for a syllabus for a course on the history of labor unions.  I typed “labor union history syllabus” into the search engine and syllabi from various professors was immediately available.  Experiences like that that makes me appreciate the Internet.

On the other hand, I don’t see the reason why Gawker needs to make available a secretly recorded film of wrestler Hulk Hogan having sex with his friend’s wife.  Why does a site like Gawker even exist?  The downside of the Internet is the nastiness and cruelty that is available.

I am pleased that yesterday a jury awarded Mr. Hogan $60 million for emotional distress and $55 million for punitive damages.  I only hope is it enough to bankrupt Gawker.  It would be justice.

Heffley denies involvement in Makhija lawsuit

According to the Times News, Representative Heffley, (R, 122nd House District) (though not for much longer) denied any involvement in the ballot challenge to his opponent Neil Makhija over residency requirements.  

Evidently he did have a slight interest in the case, however.  He said he had reviewed the evidence (although he was not at the hearing) and stated that the judge came to the wrong decision.

Heffley now thinks he knows the law better than Commonwealth Court Judge Mary Hannah Leavitt.  In my opinion Rep. Heffley ought to quit worrying about cases in which he has no so-called involvement and work to pass the budget.  

Residency for College Students

Recently in Carbon County two plaintiffs brought suit to keep Neil Makhija off the ballot, claiming that while he was at Harvard Law School, he was not a resident of Carbon County.  Hence, the suit claimed, he did not meet the residency requirements to run for the Pennsylvania state legislature.

As a Pennsylvania State University grad, I think Penn State is correct in its determination of when a student becomes a resident of Pennsylvania for in-state tuition.  According to University rules, an out-of-state student can live in Pennsylvania, have an address in State College, own a car registered in Pennsylvania, have a Pennsylvania driver’s license, and vote in Centre County, but still not qualify for in-state tuition because he or she IS NOT A RESIDENT OF PENNSYLVANIA.  He or she is a COLLEGE STUDENT.

We found out today that those rules also apply to students at Harvard Law.  They are students, NOT RESIDENTS, according to a decision by a judge of the Commonwealth Court.  Neil Makhija will be on the ballot, and Doyle Heffley’s nuisance suit is a loser.  

Oh, yeah, the plaintiffs, neither of whom showed up at the Court hearing, had an attorney paid for the Republican Party.  So it wasn’t really Heffley’s suit.  I should make that clear.  Heffley didn’t bring the suit.  In fact, he probably had nothing to do with the suit.  I’m sure he didn’t even know it was being filed.  I really believe he had no idea.  Really, that’s what I believe.  I’m serious.  I am.

Falling Apart

House members threaten to hold up budget consideration.

Senate Republicans refuse to consider Obama’s appointment to the Supreme Court.

Trump threatens rioting if he is denied the Republican nomination.

Pennsylvania legislature remains deadlocked on state budget.

Good riddance, Marco Rubio

Marco Rubio was one of those candidates willing to say just about anything to win.  His tax “plan” was ridiculous, he knew nothing of foreign policy, he got down in the gutter with Trump, and he repudiated the one good thing he had done on attempting immigration reform.

In Republican “debates,” Rubio claimed that President Obama was deliberately trying to weaken our nation.  He said, “Let’s dispel with this fiction that Barack Obama doesn’t know what he’s doing.  He knows exactly what he is doing.”  

While Rubio, I’m sure, meant to say dispense, not dispel, what he was doing was accusing the President of treason.  I am glad Trump whipped his butt in Florida, and I hope we have seen the last of that little poop.  

Now let’s get rid of Cruz.

Responsibilities of a reporter

Ben Bagdikian died earlier this month at this home in Berkeley.  Mr. Bagdikian was a reporter for the Washington Post, author of eight books, and dean of the Graduate School of Journalism at UC Berkeley.  

He warned that freedom of the press was threatened by the consolidation of news and entertainment outlets, since only about 50 companies controlled what most Americans read or saw on TV.  That was way back in 1983, over 30 years ago.  It has only gotten worse in so many ways.

I don’t kid myself that this blog is going to change the world, or that I set an example for journalists, but I do aspire to what Mr. Bagdikian told his students:

“Never forget that your obligation is to the people.  It is not, at heart, to those who pay you, or to your editor, or to your sources, or to your friends, or to the advancement of your career.  It is to the public.”

How I wish that more journalists, especially the journalists on cable news shows, followed that advice.

Tired of Stupid People

#1:  How would you feel if you were a parent who buried a child killed at Sandy Hook, and a candidate for office claimed that it never happened; that it was a government-staged hoax.  Mary Lou Bruner, candidate for Texas State Board of Education, says that.  (The 15 member Board sets policy for Texas school books.)

Bruner also says that the U.S. should ban Islam, that the Democratic Party had Kennedy killed, and that President Obama worked as a gay prostitute to finance his drug habit.

OK, you say, she’s obviously nuts.  Nonetheless, running in East Texas, she may actually win the election.  Here’s a comment from one of her supporters, quoted in today’s Times;  “I would not discount her on the basis of having those beliefs.”

Another said, “At the end of the day, is Mary Lou a wacko extremist?  No, She’s a nice older lady who doesn’t understand social media and the impact that it can have.  I’m still going to vote for Mary Lou, and I’m going to encourage people to do the same.”  Bruner was the top vote getter in the Republican primary and is now in a run-off.

#2:  When I was out buying my Sunday Times this morning, I overheard a guy about my age say something about Trump, contrasting him favorably to Obama, whom he called stupid. I jumped into the conversation.

I said, “Obama is probably the smartest president we’ve ever had.”  He said, “He should have been impeached three times.”  I said, “For what?  Name a reason.”  He said, “Don’t your read the paper?”   I said, “I read the New York Times every day.”  He headed for the door in such a hurry that he dropped most of the advertising circulars as he was going out.  I picked them up, and I felt really good.  I actually think I scared the guy.

A guide to political parties, Part III

In this last of the series discussing political parties, I will explain the difference between parties of inclusion and parties of exclusion  In the past American parties that succeeded in winning office tended to be broadly-based parties with little ideological content.  At one time the Democratic Party included northern liberals and southern conservatives; the Republican Party included midwest farmers and Wall Street tycoons.  

Parties of exclusion impose litmus tests on their candidates.  The Greens, for example, expect their members to agree with the Ten Key Points of Green Party principles.  As a result, parties of exclusion, while ideologically pure, seldom won elections.

What has happened for reasons too complicated to enumerate here (although I’ll be happy to if there is a demand for it), both the Democratic and Republican Parties are becoming parties of exclusion.  How many Republican candidates do you know who are pro-choice?  How many Democratic candidates do you know who are opposed to gay marriage?

When you have parties of exclusion, ideology becomes more important than winning elections.  As the electorate becomes more polarized, voters impose their own litmus tests on candidates, refusing to vote for anyone who disagrees with them.

Our political system has grown increasingly polarized and increasingly ugly.  The whole fight over the Supreme Court vacancy shows that Republican Senators are willing to put partisan advantage above their Constitutional duties.  These are scary times.

A guide to political parties, Part II

In my last post I explained the difference between parties of legislative origin and parties of outside origin.  Tonight, in the second of three lessons, I will discuss cadre parties and mass parties.  (And yes, it will be on the test.)

Cadre parties, which sound like something vaguely Communist, actually define the Democratic and Republican parties.  Members affiliate by simply signing a form.  Party business is usually conducted by a few people in a room.  While cadre parties may involve registrants voting in a closed primary, most of the party business is conducted by a relatively small number of people; for example, a state committee or a county executive board.

Mass parties, on the other hand, try to involve individual voters.  They may issue membership cards, require dues, hold large meetings.  Early European socialist parties did this.  Mass parties frequently have problems involving their members, not because they are undemocratic, but because the members have better things to do.  

Cadre parties sometimes make an effort to be mass parties by holding rallies or authorizing clubs.  After Obama was elected, an attempt was made to involve campaign volunteers with “Organizing for America,” but it never really had much clout.  In Carbon County the 9/12 group has tried to become a mass organization, but probably fewer than 200 members are involved on a day-to day-basis.  

While most modern democratic parties are cadre parties, they do differ in how open they are to new activists.  A party that tends to go with the old guard and resist inroads by newcomers probably will wither away.

A guide to political parties, Part I

OK, boys and girls.  It is time for Professor Roy to present another political science lecture, this one in three parts.  Tonight I will discuss Parties of Legislative Origin and Partiers of Outside Origin.

Parties of Legislative Origin are those initially formed by groups in the legislature who want to increase their power and numbers.  These parties tend to be non-ideological and driven by electoral concerns.  The Federalists and Jefferson’s party fit this model.  The Pennsylvania Democratic and Republican Parties also conform mostly to this model.  The problem with these parties is that when winning becomes the only goal, the party may not mean much ideologically.

Parties of Outside Origin are formed by groups that try to get their members elected.  These parties demand that their representatives follow the ideology of the group.  The parties of outside origin often have problems with their legislators, since the legislators were elected by the entire district or constituency, not just the party.  The British Labor Party fits this model.  It constantly has disputes between its legislators, who moderate positions to win elections, and the party faithful, who demand that the legislators follow the party platform.

In the U.S. the Green Party would be a Party of Outside Origin.  The Green Party has a definite ideology, and it expects its candidates to follow that ideology.  Note that the Tea Party movement also began outside the legislature, and it too expects its candidates to follow its ideology.  When one strays, as Rubio did when he supported immigration reform, the members turn on him.

So, parties of legislative origin tend to be amorphous masses mainly interested in winning elections and willing to compromise on almost any issue, while parties of outside origin hold true to their ideology even at the expense of losing elections.

Tomorrow:  Mass parties vs. cadre parties.

South Dakota's transgender students

Last week South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard vetoed a bill that would have restricted bathroom access for transgender students.  This bill was one of those “culture war” issues that the Right gets upset about for no good reason.  

Really.  How many transgender students are there in South Dakota?  Is this a real issue?

The Governor said the bill did “not address any pressing issue.”  He went on to say, “If and when these rare situations arise, I believe local school officials are best positioned to address them.  Instead of encouraging local solutions, this bill broadly regulates in a manner that invites conflict and litigation, diverting energy and resources from the education of the children of this state.”

My question is, why isn’t Gov. Daugaard running for the Republican nomination for the Presidency?  He sounds so reasonable.

Information for this post came from Mitch Smith, “South Dakota Governor Vetoes Bathroom Limit on Transgender Students,” New YorkTimes, Mar. 2, 2016, p. A12.

The Abraham Lincoln Brigade

I have always admired and envied the Americans who went to Spain in the 1930s to fight for the Republic against Franco and the fascists, who were backed by Hitler and Mussolini.  They were called the Abraham Lincoln Brigade.  Many of them were Communists, and they numbered about 3000.  It is believed that about 800 were killed.

The last surviving member of the Brigade, Delmer Berg, died earlier this week at age 100.  Mr. Berg was a life-long radical.  He returned to the U.S. in 1939 with shrapnel in his liver from an Italian bombing.  He was drafted into the U.S. Army in ’39 and assigned to an anti-aircraft battery in New Guinea.  Discharged because of his injury, he joined the Communist Party in ’43, served as vice president of his local chapter of the NAACP, helped to organize farm workers, and protested the war in Vietnam.  

According to the obit in the Times (March 3, p. 21) he said last year, “It bothers me a little that at 99 you’re going to die any minute, because I have a lot of other things I want to do.”

Zootopia

“Zootopia” is a Disney animated movie with an important message about overcoming prejudices.  It is also very funny.  If you have kids, you should definitely take them.  If you don’t have kids, borrow some so you have an excuse to buy tickets.

I would also recommend “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot,” with Tina Fey, but if your budget limits you to one movie a month, see “Zootopia.”

Trump v. Cruz

We hear over and over that one reason Trump has been doing so well is because he is not an “establishment” Republican.  The Koch Brothers would never invite him into their homes.  He is crude and raucous, but he so far has not been a particular friend of the rich.  On the other hand, he would have no problem with gay marriages, and I don’t think he would try to shut down Planned Parenthood. 

Ted Cruz, on the other hand, is a smarmy little creep.  He is the student who would tattle to the teacher.  He is an evil liar who pretends to be pious, and he is far more a danger to this country than Trump, for all his bluster, would ever be.  Cruz’s colleagues know this.  Lindsay Graham said if Cruz were killed on the Senate floor, there would be 99 suspects.

Now Cruz is receiving the support of the establishment Republicans.  Today he did well in a number of caucus states.  Of course the wealthy establishment Republicans would support the devil as long as they get their tax breaks and subsidies.  Cruz will deliver that; Trump might not.  

Go Donald.  Whip that little creep.

Why be a Democrat?

I've now printed the front cover and the inside page of the proposed voter pamphlet.  The comment I received on taking out the name of the Koch brothers I'm still considering, although my preference is to actually name them and make it more dramatic with the three to two vote.

We will take this to a professional (and union) print shop to do the actual layout, and we will have some graphics.  The whole approach is soft-sell, but we will have the following message on the back page.  We will have "we think" stuck in between the Why and the you in the very first line.

We also left out all kinds of issues, but the ones we included we think the average voter would care about.

Why [we think] you 

should vote 

Democratic:

Social Security and Medicare.  The Democrats want 

to strengthen those programs.  Republicans have 

proposed replacing them with individual retirement 

accounts and private insurance that depend 

on the stock market.

Health Care:  19 million more Americans now 

have health care insurance than before President 

Obama took office.  Republicans in Congress have

voted more than 50 times to repeal the Affordable 

Care Act.

Clean Air and Water:  Democrats favor tough 

laws to preserve our clean air and water.  The 

Republican position is that large corporations 

will protect us.

Education:  A quality education should be available

to all students.

The Economy:  During the Obama presidency, 

unemployment has dropped to under 5%.  We do not

want to return to the economic disaster of the Bush 

years.

This brochure was sponsored by a group of Carbon County 

Democrats who believe that we can make things better.  

You can call us at 610-377-0235 if you’d like more 

information.

Registration pamphlet, Part II

A few days ago I published the front page of a proposed pamphlet urging people to register to vote.  I received an excellent suggestion that a phone number for people to call for an absentee ballot application be included, which we will do.  Here is the inside page.  Keep in mind that we are trying to keep this short and perhaps a bit cynical.  Remember that people have been told over and over that they should vote.  That hasn't worked.

So here's what we propose.  There will be one more installment after this for the last page of the pamphlet.

Why be a voter?

In 2016 two brothers, Charles and David Koch, will donate over $850,000,000 to Republican candidates and right-wing causes.  The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that is legal.

To state the obvious, you won’t be able to compete with the Koch Brothers in political contributions.

BUT consider this.  In the voting booth, you, your husband, and your 18-year-old daughter have three votes.  How many do the Koch brothers have?  

Two.  

More reasons to be an American voter:

1.  The U.S.A. is a democracy.  That means the people rule, or at least they are supposed to.  If only 10 or 15% of the people vote, we no longer have a democracy.  If rich people rule, that is called a “plutocracy,” i.e., rule by the rich.  If a small group rules, that is called an “oligarchy.”  Those are not good.

2.  There are no downsides.  If you are worried that you will be called for jury duty if you register to vote, don’t worry.  Jurors are now selected from people with drivers’ licenses.

3.  You don’t have to vote for Democrats or Republicans.  There are other parties, including the Green and Libertarian Parties.  You can also be an independent or decline to state a party.  You can write in your own candidates.

Joe Trippi

A long long time ago when I was on the Santa Clara County Democratic Committee, one of my fellow committee members was a San Jose student named Joe Trippi.  I knew Joe very well; he took a number of my classes, and he was president of the student government at San Jose State.

Trippi went on to become a nationally known political consultant, one of the best.  He managed the Howard Dean campaign, and his innovative use of computer technology was later used with great success by the Obama campaign.

Trippi was quoted in the New York Times today in a column by Suzy Khimm on how the Democrats could do better.  Trippi commented on the fact that while the Dems won the last two presidential elections, they were losing in Congress and in state houses around the country.

“We’ve been doing this backwards.  This mistake is thinking that we get behind a progressive candidate for president, and that will solve all our problems.”

“There’s no progressive repository to keep the movement intact for the next progressive candidate–or the progressive candidate in California or Texas or wherever,” Trippi noted.

Pennsylvania is the perfect example of what Joe Trippi is talking about.  While the Koch Brothers are funding local groups and local candidates, the Democratic Party in Pennsylvania hasn’t even recruited candidates in many of the state legislative races.  We need to run candidates everywhere.  Yes, Hillary and Bernie are great, but we need Democratic candidates in Franklin Township or Parryville or to run against Jerry Knowles.  You build movements from the bottom up.  Joe Trippi knows that.

My Record So Far

In honor of Super Tuesday, I thought I’d come clean on my presidential voting record.

1960:  Saw Kennedy in Norristown.  Waited 2 hours in the rain.  Too young to vote, but celebrated his victory.  [at that time the minimum age was 21.]

64:  voted for Johnson.  Thought Goldwater an idiot.  (Still do.)

68:  Supported Eugene McCarthy.  Angry about Chicago.  Angry about Vietnam.  Voted for Dick Gregory.  Resulted in Nixon.  Big mistake.  Still ashamed.

72:  Diehard McGovern supporter from the beginning.  Proud of that.

76:  Udall volunteer.  Still think he would have made a great President.  Voted for Carter in Nov.

80:  Jerry Brown supporter.  Still love Jerry Brown.  Voted for John Anderson in Nov. so he would reach the threshold for matching funds.  Not proud of this.

84:  Jesse Jackson first.  In Nov. went for Mondale. 

88:  Initially for Hart, but he got caught on the “Monkey Business” with Donna Rice and that ended that.  In Nov. supported Dukakis.  Rove used the Willie Horton campaign to torpedo his chances.

92:  Clinton in Nov.

96:  Clinton, but not with great enthusiasm.

00:  Voted for the winner, Gore, but the Supreme Court took it away.

04:  Voted for the winner, Kerry, but Ohio cheated, and Bush Jr. won again.

08 and 12:  Obama from the start.  Best votes ever.

16:  Clinton.  Like Bernie personally, but wonder why he never became a Democrat until he ran for President.  Think his single-payer health care plan is nuts.  Want to break that glass ceiling.