A VIEW FROM THE LEFT: HEY ... IT'S A LIVING

Hey there Local Area Watchers, please excuse my tardiness.  

Sometimes family, work, and life get in the way of deadlines.  I have been researching for an article for this submission, but am still awaiting some data from the legislature.  So in the meantime, I will shift gears and put that story on hold until later.

Nick over at ‘The View from the Right’ has taken his potshots at me for writing about the Chamber of Commerce rather then writing about myself.  Usually I am more concerned with the myriad of issues that we are facing in our Country and in Michigan to be vain enough to skirt the issues to write about myself.  But since Nick has his panties in a bunch over the issue, I will tell the readers about me.  I wouldn’t want him to feel that I one-upped him because I dug right in to the politics.

In my real life, I am more than an innocent bystander, more than a political blogger.  I am a paid Campaign Manager, Policy Analyst, and a Political Consultant.  I do this stuff all day, everyday.  Politics truly is my life and my bread and butter.

I am always astounded at the reaction from people that I meet when I explain that I work on campaigns.  The first reaction is wonderment.  People assume that I am only employed every two or four years.  For example, are you aware that there is an election next Tuesday???  You may be surprised to learn about how many people do not.  There are also many people who are not aware that there will be elections held in August and November of this year.

Political Campaigns are becoming more and more like Christmas.  Every year, they begin marketing earlier and earlier.  I remember when Christmas was not rolled-out until the day after Thanksgiving.  Soon it was just after Halloween.  Now many stores are starting in September.  In fact, Hallmark rolls out their keepsake ornaments in July.  Get real!

Political campaigns are just like Christmas.  Last year, DeVos began running television commercials in February for a November gubernatorial campaign.  Prior to DeVos, the norm in Michigan has been to start spending on television in May if your candidate is in a run-off primary election, and July if there are only two candidates running for the November general election.

There will always be an election of some sort in the works.  So for those who are concerned … don’t worry about me.  I’ll always be busy.  Instead worry about those who do not realize there is an election every year.  Encourage them to register and to vote … EVERY TIME!   In Grand Rapids, the last mayoral race brought in a whopping 11.83% voter turnout.  This is deplorable and unexcusable.  This is your democracy, use it … or lose it.

Jeff Winston
www.MichiganLiberal.com

Comments

[TRex]

Part of a thriving democracy is "knowledge".

With that in mind, excercising the right to vote is as important as choosing not to vote.

No one benefits when a citizen goes into a voting booth, pulls the lever and hasn't a clue what a ballot proposal is for or against, which candidate stands for this or that position and so on. Frankly, I find uninformed voters very dangerous. It's like being drunk at a bar and tossing a dart while blindfolded at the dart board and hoping for a bullseye. While fun, it is dangerous and rarely successful. Just like an uninformed voter.

I think political parties sometimes hope for the uninformed voter to pull a straight party lever to benefit them regardless of the information level. All they care about is wearing the "I voted today" button, getting one for the team and feeling good.

Being an involved and concerned citizen requires time and effort like all good things in life. Picking up a ballot brochure before the big day and educating yourself on the issues and people is the best thing anyone can do.

When voting, I believe you should do it with care and caution, not blind devotion.

That's just my take on things.

So, I'm all for voting rights. But, I'm more for the educated and smart voter.

[JWinston70]

I couldn't agree more with the value of an educated voter. In today's election landscape... you would have to live under a rock to not know about the candidates. With record breaking campaign expenditures, the non-stop barrage of television commercials, etc. The voters should know the candidates or most of the issues before arriving to the polls. The text of the initiatives is available at the polling place to review before you vote.

I advocate for getting people involved in the process. By that, I do not mean to send people to the polls unarmed. I want people to take a part in the entire process and to vote at EVERY election. I do not care if they vote for my choices or my party. I just want them to show up at the polls and make their voices be heard on every election day.

As for straight party tickets. I think that they should be abolished! I think that a voter must choose each candidate on their individual merit. If someone wants to go down the line and vote for people simply because of their party; there is nothing that can be done about it. But we shouldn't make it easier for voters to be lazy.