In my last column, I described how democracy is under attack
by the followers and leaders of George W. Bush. And I promised to tell you,
here, what you can do about it.
They say “all politics are local”. I’m not entirely sure
what “they” mean, but here’s my take: it doesn’t get any more local than having
your very hand scribbling carbon into the tiny boxes, or poking the chads, or tapping the touch-screen (but please insist on
paper receipts, so democracy doesn’t “die-boldly”.) You are the atom, and
without atoms there are no molecules, cells, tissues, or organs, much less the
full body of a democracy.
But it’s *never* enough, in this day and age, to merely
register and vote, to practice what some call “passive democracy”. There are
too many forces “working the system” year-round, every year. To much of this
working is driven by short-term thinking: making personal fortunes, making over
the world to fulfill some prophesy, or just making an obsolete economic system
last until aging CEOs leave this world. Making liberty without justice.
Enough generalizations. The smartest thing you can do to
stop Bush from sneaking back into the White House is to join MoveOn. They’re using the Internet to mount an effective
grassroots campaign, to fight the multi-nationals with “mulit-local.”
They’ll tell you about how you can help counter the Karl Rove slime machine,
how you can help win the “battleground” states even if you don’t live there or know
anyone there (It’s a sad statement that, because of the electoral college
system, so few people have any real leverage in this election.) You can give
them money, time, or both. Now, visualize John Ashcroft on the Supreme Court
and President Jeb Bush in 2008… then go to
www.moveon.org.
Local elections are mild by comparison, but some of the same
elements are present, like the time-old tradition of reinventing yourself to
align with your polling data in the months preceding the vote. But first let’s
be clear on what this upcoming election is not about. It’s not about “growth
versus no-growth”; I haven’t seen a candidate or interest group calling for a
development moratorium in a long time. It’s about *where* and *how* we will
grow.
And don’t be taken in by anyone claiming that Council
members getting big donations from land development interests are “bought” by
those contributors. As I wrote earlier this year, “this is a straw man argument
from campaign finance reform opponents, and it misrepresents the problem. Local
candidates with heavy developer backing are not “for sale.” That’s an insult to
candidates and contributors. Rather, they come into the election with certain
beliefs regarding private property rights and the role of government. These values drive decisions that shift
development impacts and mitigation expenses toward the general public and
future generations. Developers who share those values will naturally support
those candidates as best they are allowed.”
The ideal Council candidate will work for development that doesn’t
create negative impacts like flooding, traffic congestion, crime, visual
blight, and loss of local ownership. That candidate will have both the strength
and independence to resist the pressure to support whatever developers bring to
the table, and the imagination to redirect and reshape proposals into projects
which maximize community benefits.
How do we elect such candidates?
-- First and foremost: inform yourself. Watch the candidate
forums, either live or replayed on Petaluma Community Access. Read the
candidate interviews and issue stories here in the Argus. *Don’t* rely on
mailers, especially with negative messages about a candidate’s opponent.
-- Make sure candidates sign *and adhere to* the Fair
Campaign pledge, which includes, “I shall not use or permit any dishonest or
unethical practice which tends to undermine or corrupt our American system of
free elections.”
-- Be wary of candidates with a lot of large signs on
parcels with development potential.
-- Join the campaigns: give money, walk precincts. Talk with
your friends who aren’t dialed in; inoculate them against the hit-mail.
-- Join with a group: there’s strength in numbers, and more
fun. Try www.petaluma_tomorrow.org.