Recommendation: Stay Home!
"If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal."---Emma Goldman
Dum-dums, first off, give it up to the valiant bloggers at this site for trying to make the most tedious and insulting City election in a generation a little bit interesting!
Among the excellent posts you'll find just a little bit downtstairs is a wrap-up of would-be election-affecting news (won't make a damn bit of difference, of course) and the locals very own recommendations.
The Mayor might have missed my City of LA Voting Recommendations earlier today, and so here they are:
From where I sit, staying at home is the kindest thing to do at this point. The only race that's remotely interesting is Alarcon-Rodriguez, and doesn't Monica look pretty next to the alternative? But really, she's hoping at best for a mere runoff (if our man Dogg et al. can pull enough to be spoilers) and once again this race only threatens to prove that you can have ALL the press against you and still likely get your $171K and 10-year pension.
Voters, you've already proven your willingness to be steamrolled like a Don Martin cartoon. You already extended term limits when you were told you were limiting them. You already proved you're tickled to death by the prospect of developers running City Hall. You've already watched with glee as your Council tried to give $2 million to a guy who had half a bad meal that was probably tastier than half the stuff they serve up in the Fed Building cafeteria. You've already watched them say "I'd like to help you, but my hands are tied" at dozens of community meetings, as though Gail Goldberg is an all-controlling mandarin (or are her hands always tied, too?) It looks like you're perfectly happy with the fact that five of seven seats are waltzing back into office without any opposition at all. So why even vote?
No. This is the worst election not just in a generation, but on record. The City should be ashamed to hold elections like this. So should the LATimes, for not putting the fact that this is the worst City Council on record fresh at everyone's fingertips. So should some of the other kids in the blogosphere, who go goo-goo-eyed whenever a Council receptionist hands them over to media relations, and say anything that office wants them to say.
And proudly flaunt your empty lapel tomorrow, bereft of that "I voted" sticker.
Dum-dums, first off, give it up to the valiant bloggers at this site for trying to make the most tedious and insulting City election in a generation a little bit interesting!
Among the excellent posts you'll find just a little bit downtstairs is a wrap-up of would-be election-affecting news (won't make a damn bit of difference, of course) and the locals very own recommendations.
The Mayor might have missed my City of LA Voting Recommendations earlier today, and so here they are:
Stay home.
Deliberately forfeit your franchise.
The only thing in your control at this point is to try to embarrass this worst City Council on record by not voting for them in record horrific numbers.
There's only one real race anyway, out of seven; so take the opportunity to slap Parke et al. in the face and drop the turnout rate to under 25%. That way, at least nobody gets to claim any kind of real mandate for anything.
Then, fair City, get your act together and make local elections more meaningful the next time.
From where I sit, staying at home is the kindest thing to do at this point. The only race that's remotely interesting is Alarcon-Rodriguez, and doesn't Monica look pretty next to the alternative? But really, she's hoping at best for a mere runoff (if our man Dogg et al. can pull enough to be spoilers) and once again this race only threatens to prove that you can have ALL the press against you and still likely get your $171K and 10-year pension.
Voters, you've already proven your willingness to be steamrolled like a Don Martin cartoon. You already extended term limits when you were told you were limiting them. You already proved you're tickled to death by the prospect of developers running City Hall. You've already watched with glee as your Council tried to give $2 million to a guy who had half a bad meal that was probably tastier than half the stuff they serve up in the Fed Building cafeteria. You've already watched them say "I'd like to help you, but my hands are tied" at dozens of community meetings, as though Gail Goldberg is an all-controlling mandarin (or are her hands always tied, too?) It looks like you're perfectly happy with the fact that five of seven seats are waltzing back into office without any opposition at all. So why even vote?
No. This is the worst election not just in a generation, but on record. The City should be ashamed to hold elections like this. So should the LATimes, for not putting the fact that this is the worst City Council on record fresh at everyone's fingertips. So should some of the other kids in the blogosphere, who go goo-goo-eyed whenever a Council receptionist hands them over to media relations, and say anything that office wants them to say.
And proudly flaunt your empty lapel tomorrow, bereft of that "I voted" sticker.
Posted by Joseph F. Mailander @ 3/05/2007 03:56:00 PM
11 Comments:
This may be the dumbest post ever at Mayor Sam.
And that's saying something.
Congratulations, "joseph"! Telling people not to vote in a democracy is sheer genius!
Especially since this "democracy" is a republic.
Dumbest? Are you kidding? I love it. These elections really are a joke -- a cruel joke, but a joke -- and staying at home IS a way to say, "I hate you, I really hate you."
Good job and good writing, Joseph.
* * *
Stephen, I've seen people actually get angry at any description of our system as a "democracy" rather than a "republic." However, a republic is merely one type of democracy. A "direct democracy," where voters actually vote on every issue, is another. Can't we all just get along?
No Walter,
Dumb is thr right word.
For years, we saw guys like Mike Hernandez, Ed Reyes, Louis Caldera, Gil Cedillo and Fabian Nunez get elected with 5000 votes. Sometimes 6000 votes.
In some cases, 1-5% of district residents cast a ballot for the winner.
Do you think anyone noticed? Cared?
Nope.
These guys collected their hefty salaries, got elevated to leadership posts. All because their consultants could snow a few thousand to vote for them, in a district full of the poor, the apathetic and the non-citizen.
Honestly, this was the lamest post ever. You want to shake stuff up? Vote for anyone non-establishment. That Pugliese school board candidate. Anyone but Alarcon. Heck, even Walter Moore...
For years, we saw guys like Mike Hernandez, Ed Reyes, Louis Caldera, Gil Cedillo and Fabian Nunez get elected with 5000 votes. Sometimes 6000 votes. // In some cases, 1-5% of district residents cast a ballot for the winner. // Do you think anyone noticed? Cared?
We also had Councilpeople like Wachs and Bernardi on those Councils. Where are the watchdogs now?
I'm constantly hearing people say they don't vote or get involved because it's a waste of time. I'm disturbed by the spreading use of forums to feed this public apathy. I see low voter turnout as a one-sided win and a sign to self-serving elected officials that their future looks bright...and VERY comfortable.
come on mayorsam post it. the public outside cd14 deserves to see jose's last punch at parra (in mailer form)
Can you Homer of La politics. parke's out did himself on this one. I laughed so hard i think i pissed my pants.
The public deserves to see it......please post it.
I'm constantly hearing people say they don't vote or get involved because it's a waste of time.
There are a lot of ways beyond voting to get involved. One way, certainly, is to mobilize votes yourself---to be your friends' touchstone regarding how to vote, maybe even to extend your influence beyond the scope of your own friends.
In this election, everywhere except possibly CD7, your vote is a joke. Make it different next time.
"We had people get elected with 5000 votes."
Hello?! You have incompetent incumbents running UNOPPOSED! They need only one vote.
L.A. is the oblivious ruled by the corrupt and incompetent.
Where is Tofu Girl?
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