The Way I See It - Sad days in Congress
Permalink +Wed, Dec 09, 2009, 7:00 am // Ham Hayes
Congress - Headed for the ropes, again?Source: Real Clear Politics
Most members of Congress are likely to tell you they listen to their constituents. They may not agree with them, but they do listen. Of course they also listen to their party leaders, special interest groups and lobbyists. Those individuals and groups get the member’s attention all of the time. The voter gets Congress’ attention only every two years or so. So there is a fundamental inequality of access. The belief is that the voter can essentially be excluded from consideration with impunity, except during elections. Perhaps we should pity our representatives. They are torn between what their constituents want, what they have promised, what their party leadership demands and what the special interests are willing to pay for. One more thing they have to deal with is their own set of values. With all those possible conflicts, it is no wonder Congress behaves like a herd of cats looking for mice in a dog pound. And for the remainder of our entertainment, throw in the usual percentage of bad apples and greedy crooks who infect OUR Congress.
Americans can be very forgiving of their elected officials. We may have low expectations, but we also have high hopes. What we really hope for is leadership. Leadership is not about charisma or popularity. Although those traits might help, the more meaningful trait is inclusiveness. Too often today we see acrimony, insults and misrepresentation in discussions by our leaders. These tactics are meant to exclude and ultimately expel the opponent. Inclusiveness wants to build coalitions and collaborate. Another leadership trait is self accountability. Here, true leaders hold themselves accountable for mistakes or a lack of progress, whereas our representatives want you to know they are not at fault. They want to be sure you know the other guy is the problem. A third leadership trait is a willingness to question the status quo. As a society, we cannot afford to hang on to things and ideas that no longer work. At the same time we need to preserve and nurture those that do work. Questions will never kill you, whereas unexamined answers can.
Improving our system may seem insurmountable, but it is possible. The average citizen can find like-minded individuals to present options and new strategies. Free speech and a free press are essential. In fact they may be the specific factors that have enabled the American Experiment to succeed as much as it has. Congress seems unwilling and/or unable to address known faults in how it conducts the people’s business. Maybe we need new political tools to remind them we are watching and will remember. In our technological age, we can now have no-confidence polls all the way down to the lowest elected level if we choose. Perhaps we should allow citizens to petition for no-confidence, off-year, side elections for Senators and Representatives. We need to do something. How do you feel about your representatives having such poor performance? I think they need to take a look at themselves. If they won’t, get your brooms ready for next year.
Related Links:
-> Real Clear Politics
Comments (10)
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Paul de Armond // Wed, Dec 09, 2009, 9:04 am
I’m currently reading Godfrey Hodgson’s More Equal Than Others: America from Nixon to the New Century.
One point he makes is the shift in politics came with the rise in importance in television advertising beginning in the 1960 presidential campaign. It’s so expensive that pluralist groups of citizens got raised off the table by economic interests and their proxies. Increasing the cost of political participation turned citizens from producers of political discourse into consumers of propaganda.
It’s not a small ticket. This year over $1 billion was spent on political advertising, mostly on television. [url=http://tinyurl.com/yaxd7fk]http://tinyurl.com/yaxd7fk[/url].
Add to that mix the relentless political commercialization of the media, particularly talking “entertainers” who have trivialized discourse into mud wrestling.
Those who pay the piper call the tune. And if the piper is so expensive only a fraction of the nation can pay to play, the citizens get stripped of their sovereignty.
So any change in political discourse will have to revolutionize communication to discount and discredit the bought-and-paid for stooges barking to their masters command.
And that means the citizens are going to have to shoulder the burden of approaching political discourse as something other than another form of reality show interspersed with advertising (all controlled by the same sponsors.)
Frankly, I don’t see it. A mass movement based on common sense and engagement doesn’t seem possible in a nation that has become addicted to cheap passive amusement.
The founders intended frequent elections to be a remedy to unresponsive representation. But when the electorate turns into shallow, reflexive couch potatoes, elections no longer can serve that function.
As we’ve just seen with Congress and the health care legislation and the County Council’s inability to appoint someone to a vacant seat, institutions have been so corrupted by polarization that they can no longer engage in meaningful reform. Their corrupting funders are served and their passive audiences are entertained.
<quote>...like a herd of cats looking for mice in a dog pound.</quote>
That’s brilliant.
One point he makes is the shift in politics came with the rise in importance in television advertising beginning in the 1960 presidential campaign. It’s so expensive that pluralist groups of citizens got raised off the table by economic interests and their proxies. Increasing the cost of political participation turned citizens from producers of political discourse into consumers of propaganda.
It’s not a small ticket. This year over $1 billion was spent on political advertising, mostly on television. [url=http://tinyurl.com/yaxd7fk]http://tinyurl.com/yaxd7fk[/url].
Add to that mix the relentless political commercialization of the media, particularly talking “entertainers” who have trivialized discourse into mud wrestling.
Those who pay the piper call the tune. And if the piper is so expensive only a fraction of the nation can pay to play, the citizens get stripped of their sovereignty.
So any change in political discourse will have to revolutionize communication to discount and discredit the bought-and-paid for stooges barking to their masters command.
And that means the citizens are going to have to shoulder the burden of approaching political discourse as something other than another form of reality show interspersed with advertising (all controlled by the same sponsors.)
Frankly, I don’t see it. A mass movement based on common sense and engagement doesn’t seem possible in a nation that has become addicted to cheap passive amusement.
The founders intended frequent elections to be a remedy to unresponsive representation. But when the electorate turns into shallow, reflexive couch potatoes, elections no longer can serve that function.
As we’ve just seen with Congress and the health care legislation and the County Council’s inability to appoint someone to a vacant seat, institutions have been so corrupted by polarization that they can no longer engage in meaningful reform. Their corrupting funders are served and their passive audiences are entertained.
<quote>...like a herd of cats looking for mice in a dog pound.</quote>
That’s brilliant.
Tip Johnson // Wed, Dec 09, 2009, 11:59 am
It’s a simple fix, made possible by the information age.
Turn Congress into a national monument. Sit congress folk down in their district office, linked electronically to their colleagues. One wall of flat screen would probably do it. Make it easier for constituents to see what representatives are up to and more difficult for lobbyist to monopolize their time. District offfices should have an observation deck where citizens can watch their representatives at work. This would add a lot of daylight to the process and be a great boon for local civics classes.
Next, we need some serious campaign finance reform. Limit personal campaign contributions to registered voters in the district. Pool corporate and PAC contributions in a public financing fund equally distributed among candidates.
Finally, limit campaign expenditures to two months before each election. Follow this up with implementation of provisions for instant runoff voting and proportional representation.
Isn’t representation what it’s all about?
Turn Congress into a national monument. Sit congress folk down in their district office, linked electronically to their colleagues. One wall of flat screen would probably do it. Make it easier for constituents to see what representatives are up to and more difficult for lobbyist to monopolize their time. District offfices should have an observation deck where citizens can watch their representatives at work. This would add a lot of daylight to the process and be a great boon for local civics classes.
Next, we need some serious campaign finance reform. Limit personal campaign contributions to registered voters in the district. Pool corporate and PAC contributions in a public financing fund equally distributed among candidates.
Finally, limit campaign expenditures to two months before each election. Follow this up with implementation of provisions for instant runoff voting and proportional representation.
Isn’t representation what it’s all about?
Ham Hayes // Wed, Dec 09, 2009, 12:05 pm
Paul,
Good points about the impact of high economic barriers on public discourse and political participation. The best and perhaps only tool available today to counter those restrictions is the internet. We are seeing the dynamic of government control playing out in Iran and China most noticeably. And if we are not careful, we could also see the dynamic of corporate control play out here, with our government?s approval, of course. I expect open access to the internet to be attacked in force. The outcome is uncertain.
Good points about the impact of high economic barriers on public discourse and political participation. The best and perhaps only tool available today to counter those restrictions is the internet. We are seeing the dynamic of government control playing out in Iran and China most noticeably. And if we are not careful, we could also see the dynamic of corporate control play out here, with our government?s approval, of course. I expect open access to the internet to be attacked in force. The outcome is uncertain.
Doug karlberg // Wed, Dec 09, 2009, 12:08 pm
Boston was the center of the American Revolution. Where resentment towards the government simmered, and complaints about the American condition under the King were ignored.
Like now, it too appeared daunting, and well ? hopeless.
One of the odd critical things that the Boston men did was to form the Committee of Letters. This Committee was charged with writing letters to other citizen groups in the other Colonies detailing the complaints that the ?Boston men? had against the far away, and remote King.
The letters to citizens far away, in the other colonies, were sent.
When the return letters from other Colonial citizens began to pour in, the Boston men came to realize that they were not the only Colonial citizens who had similar complaints with the King.
There was in fact, a large crowd of disaffected citizens. This single event was empowering.
We were not alone, we were many.
The internet is today?s equivalent of the American Revolution?s Committee of Letters. We need to harness its power to turn a single shrill voice, into a thundering chorus.
Like it or not, today?s Tea Parties do get the politician’s attention. So do Town Hall meetings. In both cases, the citizens control the agenda completely.
For the first time in years, single average citizens could stand up and in their own voice tell their elected leaders how they felt. It was empowering. Some were maybe a little too empowered, but for many it was a once in a lifetime event, so I don?t blame them too much, for their enthusiasm. Many, who would normally be cowed into silence, were empowered to stand and speak without fear.
Today, almost half our citizens do not vote. If we could empower them to use their voices, I think the politicians would sit bolt upright, and pay attention.
I believe that the Internet holds the key. Designing a website that allows for registered voters to actually get one vote, on any issue, would be powerful. Making it easy to vote on a variety of issues in real time, would be powerful. Being able to show elected leaders the results of these ?advisory? votes before they cast theirs on any issue, would be powerful.
Such a website if well designed could bridge some of the partisan divide amongst citizens, If we add in a few ?couch potatoes? that normally are not part of the political process now ? we will have created our thundering chorus that politicians cannot afford to ignore, and still get elected.
Make it easy to participate. You get to vote anytime you want, on any issue you want. Your vote is secret, and we will count it for you along with all the other citizens who would like to vote also.
Then concisely present the results to our elected leaders, before they cast their votes. It is real time voting.
While not binding voting, it would, if enough participated, be like the Mafia ?making them an offer, they could not refuse?.
When we can show a politician that the liberals, conservatives, independents, and couch potatoes have united behind a specific policy, then it would be very, very difficult for a politician to deny the citizenry their wishes.
I fear that we are seeing the creation of a permanent class of people who are the political elite of America. This will be difficult to dislodge, and I am fearful for America?s future, with a permanent political class.
I fear the day, when ordinary people, with extraordinary talent, cannot rise up to lead politically.
?Democracy is ? the conviction that there are extraordinary possibilities, in ordinary people.? Harry Fosdick
Like now, it too appeared daunting, and well ? hopeless.
One of the odd critical things that the Boston men did was to form the Committee of Letters. This Committee was charged with writing letters to other citizen groups in the other Colonies detailing the complaints that the ?Boston men? had against the far away, and remote King.
The letters to citizens far away, in the other colonies, were sent.
When the return letters from other Colonial citizens began to pour in, the Boston men came to realize that they were not the only Colonial citizens who had similar complaints with the King.
There was in fact, a large crowd of disaffected citizens. This single event was empowering.
We were not alone, we were many.
The internet is today?s equivalent of the American Revolution?s Committee of Letters. We need to harness its power to turn a single shrill voice, into a thundering chorus.
Like it or not, today?s Tea Parties do get the politician’s attention. So do Town Hall meetings. In both cases, the citizens control the agenda completely.
For the first time in years, single average citizens could stand up and in their own voice tell their elected leaders how they felt. It was empowering. Some were maybe a little too empowered, but for many it was a once in a lifetime event, so I don?t blame them too much, for their enthusiasm. Many, who would normally be cowed into silence, were empowered to stand and speak without fear.
Today, almost half our citizens do not vote. If we could empower them to use their voices, I think the politicians would sit bolt upright, and pay attention.
I believe that the Internet holds the key. Designing a website that allows for registered voters to actually get one vote, on any issue, would be powerful. Making it easy to vote on a variety of issues in real time, would be powerful. Being able to show elected leaders the results of these ?advisory? votes before they cast theirs on any issue, would be powerful.
Such a website if well designed could bridge some of the partisan divide amongst citizens, If we add in a few ?couch potatoes? that normally are not part of the political process now ? we will have created our thundering chorus that politicians cannot afford to ignore, and still get elected.
Make it easy to participate. You get to vote anytime you want, on any issue you want. Your vote is secret, and we will count it for you along with all the other citizens who would like to vote also.
Then concisely present the results to our elected leaders, before they cast their votes. It is real time voting.
While not binding voting, it would, if enough participated, be like the Mafia ?making them an offer, they could not refuse?.
When we can show a politician that the liberals, conservatives, independents, and couch potatoes have united behind a specific policy, then it would be very, very difficult for a politician to deny the citizenry their wishes.
I fear that we are seeing the creation of a permanent class of people who are the political elite of America. This will be difficult to dislodge, and I am fearful for America?s future, with a permanent political class.
I fear the day, when ordinary people, with extraordinary talent, cannot rise up to lead politically.
?Democracy is ? the conviction that there are extraordinary possibilities, in ordinary people.? Harry Fosdick
Paul de Armond // Wed, Dec 09, 2009, 1:21 pm
Falling communications costs through the internet, cell phones, long distance via fiber, etc. have favored networks over institutions. In DC, John found the major thrust of the infotainment media (we can’t really call those guys journalists anymore) is either subsidy or government imposed transaction costs to cut force communications dollars their way.
Lowered communication cost are what made parapolitical activities like the WTO protests, the Spanish elections following the train bombings, Tea Parties, etc. possible. Now the institutional response is to try to put the genie back in the bottle.
For those who might think that the internet economy is an example of free market forces, I point out that the internet became possible through government funding, not by private enterprise. It’s worth thinking about the role of centralized government in providing public goods that markets would never make possible.
Lowered communication cost are what made parapolitical activities like the WTO protests, the Spanish elections following the train bombings, Tea Parties, etc. possible. Now the institutional response is to try to put the genie back in the bottle.
For those who might think that the internet economy is an example of free market forces, I point out that the internet became possible through government funding, not by private enterprise. It’s worth thinking about the role of centralized government in providing public goods that markets would never make possible.
David Camp // Thu, Dec 10, 2009, 4:59 pm
It’s hard to be approving if an institution which is supposed to represent and serve you but clearly does not. Consider our so-called “representative”, Rick Larsen, who only randomly responds to emails from his constituents and stays away from his office in B’ham for months on end because he refuses to meet with peace activists. But when some muck-a-muck from Boeing calls him, he stands up and salutes at his desk.
Two party rule is only marginally better than one-party rule, especially when both parties serve the same master and it ain’t us.
Consider the Senate’s gutting of the public option in the health care bill - yet another act of, by, and for the insurance and pharmaceutical industries at the expense of what the people want.
Now, also consider real estate values plummeting in all areas of the country - and contrast it to Canadian real estate values, which are hitting record highs (the average price of a house in Canada was C$282,583 in Oct 2008, and C$341,079 in Oct 2009, an increase of 21%. In US $, because the US $ has weakened, the average Cdn. House price was US$241,524 in Oct 2008, and US$318,765 in Oct 2009, an increase of 32% !).
When people’s votes don’t count they vote with their feet.
Why should people slave away to pay for a corrupt regime that regards them with contempt? That disregards rule of law and betrays the ideals of the founders of the Republic? That plunders the treasury to line the pockets of bankers and war profiteers?
That actively devalues its currency and the savings and incomes of its people in pursuit of global hegemony? That locks up 1% of its population, more than totalitarian China, and even South Africa at the height of apartheid?
This is such a great country - with a federal government apparently bent on destroying all that makes it great. Ruled by prostitutes, buffoons, racketeers, and mammon-worshippers.
It is to weep.
Two party rule is only marginally better than one-party rule, especially when both parties serve the same master and it ain’t us.
Consider the Senate’s gutting of the public option in the health care bill - yet another act of, by, and for the insurance and pharmaceutical industries at the expense of what the people want.
Now, also consider real estate values plummeting in all areas of the country - and contrast it to Canadian real estate values, which are hitting record highs (the average price of a house in Canada was C$282,583 in Oct 2008, and C$341,079 in Oct 2009, an increase of 21%. In US $, because the US $ has weakened, the average Cdn. House price was US$241,524 in Oct 2008, and US$318,765 in Oct 2009, an increase of 32% !).
When people’s votes don’t count they vote with their feet.
Why should people slave away to pay for a corrupt regime that regards them with contempt? That disregards rule of law and betrays the ideals of the founders of the Republic? That plunders the treasury to line the pockets of bankers and war profiteers?
That actively devalues its currency and the savings and incomes of its people in pursuit of global hegemony? That locks up 1% of its population, more than totalitarian China, and even South Africa at the height of apartheid?
This is such a great country - with a federal government apparently bent on destroying all that makes it great. Ruled by prostitutes, buffoons, racketeers, and mammon-worshippers.
It is to weep.
Marian Beddill // Fri, Dec 11, 2009, 3:20 am
Doug karlberg wrote: “...;a website that allows for registered voters to actually get one vote, on any issue,...;Your vote is secret, and we will count it for you...;.”,
Sorry, Doug. No deal - even though I adore the goal you are hoping to reach - I, too, want to empower the citizens. But - no internet voting on any significant issue - forever, as far as I can see. Sam Reed, his predecessor, and a bunch of geeks in their crowd have been pushing internet voting for years! It “is so cute, and so easy!” See: + Link .
And it is so super-easy to be corrupted by the operators - with the fox REALLY not only guarding, but owning the hen-house. Already, just voting (and counting) on computers is dicey, without the internet. There is noting on the internet that is secret (imho.) All encryption can be decrypted. Every message sent from any computer contains the numerical URL of the source machine = your identity! (“Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is a type of Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) that specifies where an identified resource is...;”). The end of secret voting.
So I cannot tolerate any internet voting scheme which is granted any “authority”, while run by those who are in control. Maybe something by citizens, with substantial public transparency by any concerned citizen....;etc.
Even that can conflate into the other future problem mentioned here - “net neutrality” or “Who has the authority to shut the internet down?” (fully or selectively.) The answer that I believe - “Those folks in DC whom you are trying to influence, have the power to shut down this public piggyback on the ARPANET.”
Ergo - no internet voting.
Sorry, Doug. No deal - even though I adore the goal you are hoping to reach - I, too, want to empower the citizens. But - no internet voting on any significant issue - forever, as far as I can see. Sam Reed, his predecessor, and a bunch of geeks in their crowd have been pushing internet voting for years! It “is so cute, and so easy!” See: + Link .
And it is so super-easy to be corrupted by the operators - with the fox REALLY not only guarding, but owning the hen-house. Already, just voting (and counting) on computers is dicey, without the internet. There is noting on the internet that is secret (imho.) All encryption can be decrypted. Every message sent from any computer contains the numerical URL of the source machine = your identity! (“Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is a type of Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) that specifies where an identified resource is...;”). The end of secret voting.
So I cannot tolerate any internet voting scheme which is granted any “authority”, while run by those who are in control. Maybe something by citizens, with substantial public transparency by any concerned citizen....;etc.
Even that can conflate into the other future problem mentioned here - “net neutrality” or “Who has the authority to shut the internet down?” (fully or selectively.) The answer that I believe - “Those folks in DC whom you are trying to influence, have the power to shut down this public piggyback on the ARPANET.”
Ergo - no internet voting.
Doug karlberg // Fri, Dec 11, 2009, 10:21 am
Merian, I apologize. I did not explain myself well. Not the first time.
My concept of being able to vote, is not something sponsored or even compiled by the government in any way. We do not have to even ask for their permission.(I like that a lot)
It would simply be a place for folks to gather and be able to register in as a user of the site. Like we already do here.
Your registration would be checked against the voter registration list, and as long as you are a registered voter, you would be allowed to vote.
You would then be allowed to vote on any public issue. You might even be able to change your vote, if you changed your mind. This might happen if you were to read something that caused you to change your mind, like a great editorial in the NW Citizen.
Your vote would be compiled along with others, and the vote would only be advisory in nature.
It is really just an active poll, but with one twist, only registered voters would get to vote, and only once per issue.
Let me try to put this idea, into a concrete example below. (It is just an example)
Bob Kelly resigned his County Council seat, and the County Council has punted the decision for his replacement to County Executive Kremen.
One of the big decisions surrounding Kremen’s appointment is; Should the person appointed agree to not run for this office in the next election?
So we put this issue up as an advisory question to be voted on. Folks debate the pros and cons, and over a week’s time folks are invited to vote.
The vote is compiled, and on Monday morning the advisory pools close, and we now know that 3479 registered voters have weighed in and 78% of the voters would like to see Mr. Kremen chose a County Council appointment that agrees not run for that Council seat, in the next election.
Mr. Kremen would need to take this advisory vote, into serious consideration.
Beats writing him a letter, individually. A real time saver, voting from home over a week’s time.
Having an easy outlet for folks to register their voting opinion, might give some power back to the voters, without having to wait until election day.
Politician’s would get some real-time feedback from real voters on a variety of issues, which may not even hove come up in their election campaigns.
Or course there would have to be some safeguards in place, so that it is not rigged, but the safeguards so not need government authority or debate.
While not a binding vote, I do think that if this concept became popular, it would have an effect on political decisions being made, like virtually no other available to the common everyday citizen.
What if we got 10,000 people to vote, and had a healthy debate on the issues via citizen editorials. It would be unsafe for any politician to ignore.
That would be harnessing the power of the Internet.
We might even gain back some of the power, now wielded only by special interest groups.
This format for advisory voting, would allow the citizens to control which issues are voted upon. It is easy to vote on many issues, even ones that might not get much attention normally.
Sure would drive a lot of traffic to one site. No competition currently.
Today we use the Internet to yak with one another, but we do not have much understanding of how many folks feel the same way about an issue.
The power is in compiling how many people feel about a particular issue, and presenting these vote totals to the elected leaders, BEFORE they cast their votes.
I hope this is a better explanation.
My concept of being able to vote, is not something sponsored or even compiled by the government in any way. We do not have to even ask for their permission.(I like that a lot)
It would simply be a place for folks to gather and be able to register in as a user of the site. Like we already do here.
Your registration would be checked against the voter registration list, and as long as you are a registered voter, you would be allowed to vote.
You would then be allowed to vote on any public issue. You might even be able to change your vote, if you changed your mind. This might happen if you were to read something that caused you to change your mind, like a great editorial in the NW Citizen.
Your vote would be compiled along with others, and the vote would only be advisory in nature.
It is really just an active poll, but with one twist, only registered voters would get to vote, and only once per issue.
Let me try to put this idea, into a concrete example below. (It is just an example)
Bob Kelly resigned his County Council seat, and the County Council has punted the decision for his replacement to County Executive Kremen.
One of the big decisions surrounding Kremen’s appointment is; Should the person appointed agree to not run for this office in the next election?
So we put this issue up as an advisory question to be voted on. Folks debate the pros and cons, and over a week’s time folks are invited to vote.
The vote is compiled, and on Monday morning the advisory pools close, and we now know that 3479 registered voters have weighed in and 78% of the voters would like to see Mr. Kremen chose a County Council appointment that agrees not run for that Council seat, in the next election.
Mr. Kremen would need to take this advisory vote, into serious consideration.
Beats writing him a letter, individually. A real time saver, voting from home over a week’s time.
Having an easy outlet for folks to register their voting opinion, might give some power back to the voters, without having to wait until election day.
Politician’s would get some real-time feedback from real voters on a variety of issues, which may not even hove come up in their election campaigns.
Or course there would have to be some safeguards in place, so that it is not rigged, but the safeguards so not need government authority or debate.
While not a binding vote, I do think that if this concept became popular, it would have an effect on political decisions being made, like virtually no other available to the common everyday citizen.
What if we got 10,000 people to vote, and had a healthy debate on the issues via citizen editorials. It would be unsafe for any politician to ignore.
That would be harnessing the power of the Internet.
We might even gain back some of the power, now wielded only by special interest groups.
This format for advisory voting, would allow the citizens to control which issues are voted upon. It is easy to vote on many issues, even ones that might not get much attention normally.
Sure would drive a lot of traffic to one site. No competition currently.
Today we use the Internet to yak with one another, but we do not have much understanding of how many folks feel the same way about an issue.
The power is in compiling how many people feel about a particular issue, and presenting these vote totals to the elected leaders, BEFORE they cast their votes.
I hope this is a better explanation.
Larry Horowitz // Fri, Dec 11, 2009, 10:53 am
A little off-topic, but hopefully not too far off.
University of Victory environmental law professor Michael M?Gonigle published two columns recently on a popular British Columbia blog, ?The Tyee?. His columns comprise a two-part letter to his friend ?JB? who is attending the global warming conference in Copenhagen. Both columns are excellent and worth the read; however, perhaps more interesting are the fascinating comments about the way governments are failing worldwide.
The Tyee itself is very far-left leaning; but the comments come from a variety of places on the political spectrum. I mention these stories because there are many suggestions in the comments that parallel and enhance our dialogue; but also to illustrate what NWC could be.
To date, Professor M?Gonigle?s articles received a whopping 179 comments combined. Most of these are comments of substance. Imagine having that type of conversation on NWC regarding local issues that we could actually impact.
Here are links to The Tyee blog:
?Against Copenhagen? (Part 1):
+ Link
?The Elephants of Doom in Copenhagen? (Part 2):
+ Link
University of Victory environmental law professor Michael M?Gonigle published two columns recently on a popular British Columbia blog, ?The Tyee?. His columns comprise a two-part letter to his friend ?JB? who is attending the global warming conference in Copenhagen. Both columns are excellent and worth the read; however, perhaps more interesting are the fascinating comments about the way governments are failing worldwide.
The Tyee itself is very far-left leaning; but the comments come from a variety of places on the political spectrum. I mention these stories because there are many suggestions in the comments that parallel and enhance our dialogue; but also to illustrate what NWC could be.
To date, Professor M?Gonigle?s articles received a whopping 179 comments combined. Most of these are comments of substance. Imagine having that type of conversation on NWC regarding local issues that we could actually impact.
Here are links to The Tyee blog:
?Against Copenhagen? (Part 1):
+ Link
?The Elephants of Doom in Copenhagen? (Part 2):
+ Link
Marian Beddill // Sat, Dec 12, 2009, 12:38 am
Doug;
Oh, you did explain your idea quite well enough.
And I stand on my assertion that—while charming and really simple and cool—it will be seen as way too dangerous two ways. I’ve been strong on this issue since about 1999.
Two scenarios:
1)
You set this privately-run thing up, and thousands of people use it and adore it. It’s a love-fest. Then the Government sees that it is “good” - and WAY cheaper than mailing and managing paper ballots, so they buy it from you for a luscious price that you will have a hard time refusing. They then declare (with supporting legislation) that it now IS the election system. Wham!
2)
You set this privately-run thing up, and thousands of people use it and adore it. It’s a love-fest. Then a crew who wants things that you do not want, sees that it is “good” - and WAY cheaper than other ways of getting people involved, so they start using it to accomplish their goals, in just the same way you intended to accomplish yours. Or, they run it, but simply report out the results they wanted to see. Sham-Wham!
Sorry, no dice. No internet voting - ever!
Anyway, you did not comment on the final snag.
Scenario 3)
You set this privately-run thing up, and thousands of people use it and adore it. It’s a love-fest. Then the Government sees that it is “BAD” - cause it puts pressure on them that they did not want. So they shut it down - singly with some trumped-up charge, or if it’s the Feds, just shut down the internet (or severely constrain it.)
Marian
Oh, you did explain your idea quite well enough.
And I stand on my assertion that—while charming and really simple and cool—it will be seen as way too dangerous two ways. I’ve been strong on this issue since about 1999.
Two scenarios:
1)
You set this privately-run thing up, and thousands of people use it and adore it. It’s a love-fest. Then the Government sees that it is “good” - and WAY cheaper than mailing and managing paper ballots, so they buy it from you for a luscious price that you will have a hard time refusing. They then declare (with supporting legislation) that it now IS the election system. Wham!
2)
You set this privately-run thing up, and thousands of people use it and adore it. It’s a love-fest. Then a crew who wants things that you do not want, sees that it is “good” - and WAY cheaper than other ways of getting people involved, so they start using it to accomplish their goals, in just the same way you intended to accomplish yours. Or, they run it, but simply report out the results they wanted to see. Sham-Wham!
Sorry, no dice. No internet voting - ever!
Anyway, you did not comment on the final snag.
Scenario 3)
You set this privately-run thing up, and thousands of people use it and adore it. It’s a love-fest. Then the Government sees that it is “BAD” - cause it puts pressure on them that they did not want. So they shut it down - singly with some trumped-up charge, or if it’s the Feds, just shut down the internet (or severely constrain it.)
Marian
UPDATE: City of Bham Moonlighting Issue - More Documents
Mon, Jan 30, 2012, 10:58 pm // Riley Sweeney
Riley updates us on the latest facts coming to light about City of Bellingham employee moonlighting2 comments; last on Feb 01, 2012
Compliance, Noncompliance and Invalidity in Whatcom County
Sun, Jan 29, 2012, 10:16 pm // Wendy Harris
The County's rural planning actions have not just failed to comply with the GMA...they have contradicted the goals of the GMA.2 comments; last on Feb 01, 2012
A Worm’s Eye View of our local WorkSource Center
Wed, Jan 25, 2012, 9:42 am // Riley Sweeney
Riley visits the local WorkSource center and interviews the regional director
0 comments
Watch out for basement flooding
Thu, Jan 19, 2012, 9:03 pm // Paul de Armond
Stormwater surge may back up sewers
5 comments; last on Jan 21, 2012
The Political Junkie interviews Kathy Kershner
Thu, Jan 19, 2012, 4:29 pm // Riley Sweeney
Riley discusses the Jail, Jack Louws, and an impartial council with our new Council Chair
1 comments; last on Jan 20, 2012
SOPA - A Step in Destroying Democracy
Thu, Jan 19, 2012, 12:17 am // John Servais
NWCitizen.com went black for Wednesday, Jan 18, 2012, as a protest against proposed legislation, SOPA and PIPA. Here is what was posted.1 comments; last on Jan 19, 2012
Why SOPA is so terrible
Tue, Jan 17, 2012, 6:28 pm // John Servais
On Wednesday, thousands of websites will go dark to show opposition to SOPA. I will be posting a single article explaining who SOPA is so bad.0 comments
Planning Commissioner Mocks Environmental Concern For Coal Terminal
Sat, Jan 14, 2012, 11:06 pm // Wendy Harris
Planning Commissioner Onkels should recuse himself from review of environmental impacts at GPT.2 comments; last on Jan 16, 2012
Jack Petree, Olympia, the Whatcom Council and Obama’s Inner Circle
Wed, Jan 11, 2012, 8:04 am // Riley Sweeney
Latest from the Political Junkie on a variety of subjects
7 comments; last on Jan 15, 2012
Commmunity Governance at its Best
Mon, Jan 09, 2012, 8:27 pm // Tip Johnson
We have a new mayor!
4 comments; last on Jan 10, 2012
Property Rights Protected Under Lake Whatcom Stormwater Proposal
Sun, Jan 08, 2012, 11:02 pm // Wendy Harris
The County's proposed stormwater regulations for Lake Whatcom will increase development without improving water quality2 comments; last on Jan 20, 2012
Riley Rouses Row Over Domestic Violence
Sun, Jan 08, 2012, 1:21 am // John Servais
Issue is County Council member Kathy Kershner and how our social service programs are funded.3 comments; last on Jan 08, 2012
Some thoughts on the Occupy Bellingham issue
Sun, Jan 01, 2012, 12:05 am // John Servais
A third note on Jan 1 about the Herald photos with links. And previous thoughts on the trivia around the militarized evictions.9 comments; last on Jan 10, 2012
Kelli Linville has taken oath as mayor
Fri, Dec 30, 2011, 2:07 pm // John Servais
Kelli assumes office of mayor at midnight Dec 316 comments; last on Jan 02, 2012
Bellingham Herald removes comments
Fri, Dec 30, 2011, 11:59 am // Wendy Harris
Decide for yourself if this blog comment, posted under my own name, should have been flagged and removed from the Bellingham Herald Online Edition.1 comments; last on Dec 30, 2011
Herald Permits Censorship of Pro-Occupy Bellingham Comments
Fri, Dec 30, 2011, 11:14 am // Wendy Harris
Anyone can "flag" a blog posting, resulting in immediate removal of your comment, regardless of merit. This is occuring for comments supporting OB.1 comments; last on Dec 30, 2011
City Exceeds Scope of Occupy Bellingham Eviction
Wed, Dec 28, 2011, 8:26 pm // Wendy Harris
The City infringed on the public’s right to peaceful assembly in a public park by enforcing an inappropriate public safety law2 comments; last on Dec 30, 2011
Dan Pike Issues Order to Evict Occupy Bellingham
Tue, Dec 27, 2011, 11:55 am // Riley Sweeney
Riley questions Pike's timing, and Occupy's choice of tactics2 comments; last on Dec 28, 2011
Updates from The Political Junkie
Tue, Dec 20, 2011, 2:19 pm // Riley Sweeney
Where Riley provides more info on the City of Bellingham employees moonlighting issue and Crawford's ethical troubles
0 comments
Dock Increases Risk of Invasive Species on Lake Whatcom
Sun, Dec 18, 2011, 8:43 pm // Wendy Harris
Relocation of a dock to Bloedel Donovan Park underscores failure to protect Lake Whatcom from invasive species0 comments
Sam Crawford Faces Ethical Concerns . . . AGAIN
Thu, Dec 15, 2011, 12:44 pm // Riley Sweeney
Local blogger Shane Roth files ethical complaint over Crawford's sweetheart deals
3 comments; last on Dec 16, 2011
Planning Commission Fails to Remove Cherry Point From Birch Bay Mitigation Plan
Wed, Dec 14, 2011, 7:05 am // Wendy Harris
Claiming it is unfair to treat large property owners different than small property owners, the Commission refuses to remove industrial areas from buffer mitigation proposal.0 comments
Rick Perry, Can We Talk?
Tue, Dec 13, 2011, 9:58 am // Riley Sweeney
Riley has a conversation with Rick Perry
2 comments; last on Dec 16, 2011
For Gift Ideas, Think Beyond Parker Brothers
Sat, Dec 10, 2011, 9:32 am // Riley Sweeney
Riley discusses his love of board games and some good gift ideas
2 comments; last on Dec 11, 2011
The Political Junkie needs your input
Thu, Dec 08, 2011, 12:47 pm // Riley Sweeney
Please take my reader's survey, I'm planning 2012
0 comments
Loophole Benefits SSA and Undermines Birch Bay Mitigation Proposal
Wed, Dec 07, 2011, 7:00 am // Wendy Harris
Tell the Planning Commission to eliminate this loophole2 comments; last on Dec 14, 2011
Washington United for Marriage: It’s Time!
Tue, Dec 06, 2011, 11:12 am // Riley Sweeney
Riley attends a public meeting on equality
0 comments
The Cole Train: Loads of BS
Sun, Dec 04, 2011, 4:53 pm // Tip Johnson
Wherein the sooty prospect of economic necessity rears its ugly head
2 comments; last on Dec 04, 2011
Update on Cherry Point Buffer Mitigation Proposal
Fri, Dec 02, 2011, 1:08 pm // Wendy Harris
Planning Staff's recommended revision will not prevent SSA from reducing wetland buffers.0 comments
UPDATE: City’s response focused on favoritism, not lost revenue
Wed, Nov 30, 2011, 5:51 pm // Riley Sweeney
More on the city employee moonlighting issue0 comments
TPJ Exclusive: Little Documented Oversight for City Employee Moonlighting
Mon, Nov 28, 2011, 4:29 pm // Riley Sweeney
The Political Junkie breaks a story of employee moonlighting within city of Bellingham
7 comments; last on Nov 30, 2011
Deer me!
Sat, Nov 26, 2011, 3:30 pm // Tip Johnson
O.K. Who's in charge of all these ungulates?14 comments; last on Dec 01, 2011
County Proposal Includes New Cherry Point Buffer Mitigation Requirements
Tue, Nov 22, 2011, 9:29 pm // Wendy Harris
The County's new mitigation proposal is unlikely to be adequate for Cherry Point's industrial impacts to habitat buffers3 comments; last on Nov 24, 2011
CameraGate: Red-light safety or city revenue?
Mon, Nov 21, 2011, 1:00 am // Guest writer
With budget woes, Bellingham passes on safety in favor of cash. Starting in 2008, Bellingham officials were coached by ATS on how to get Red Light cameras through…
26 comments; last on Nov 29, 2011
Cameras, not coal, decided the election
Sat, Nov 19, 2011, 8:24 pm // Paul de Armond
Looking at the numbers for the Bellingham elections
11 comments; last on Nov 22, 2011
Election Analysis: What does it take to win a county seat?
Fri, Nov 18, 2011, 12:28 pm // Riley Sweeney
Riley examines Maginnis/Crawford and Kremen/Larson
0 comments
Election Analysis: Dropoff, Lynden Suburbs and the “Buys Bounce”
Thu, Nov 17, 2011, 5:20 pm // Riley Sweeney
Riley looks at Lynden and coins some new phrases.
0 comments
Political Junkie Election Analysis: Louws/Ericksen
Wed, Nov 16, 2011, 12:31 pm // Riley Sweeney
Riley takes a look at Louws/Ericksen in the search for moderate Republicans
1 comments; last on Nov 17, 2011
Kelli Linville is elected Mayor of Bellingham
Tue, Nov 15, 2011, 5:21 pm // John Servais
Results are posted as of 5:21 pm. Use links at top of right side column.2 comments; last on Nov 15, 2011
Padden Trails Rezone – You Should Be Worried
Tue, Nov 15, 2011, 9:43 am // Dick Conoboy
The Padden Trails rezone effort is a misuse of the Infill Tool Kit on the outskirts of Bellingham.
8 comments; last on Nov 16, 2011
Still over 6,000 ballots to count
Mon, Nov 14, 2011, 4:52 pm // John Servais
Kelli Linville takes safe lead for mayor of Bellingham. Sam Crawford is leading for county council.1 comments; last on Nov 14, 2011
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