Local politcs?

[eric922]

In local politics do you all think it is helpful to vote and even work on campaigns for canidates? The reason I ask is because in my local mayoral race one of the front runners is democrat Madeline Rogero who supports living wage laws, green energy, and unions. Her husband was a union organizer in the textile industry and when she was in college she took a year off to march with Caesar Chavez. I'm just curious in your all's experience is it worth the effort to get candidates elected in local races or not?

[W1N5T0N]

Well Noam Chomsky said he often voted on local issues...idk.
but wait what can a mayor do about living wage laws?? they are dictated by capitalism.
Labor theory of value my friend.

[Threetune]

In local politics do you all think it is helpful to vote and even work on campaigns for canidates? The reason I ask is because in my local mayoral race one of the front runners is democrat Madeline Rogero who supports living wage laws, green energy, and unions. Her husband was a union organizer in the textile industry and when she was in college she took a year off to march with Caesar Chavez. I'm just curious in your all's experience is it worth the effort to get candidates elected in local races or not?

It's not honestly possible to give exact advice. It may be worthwhile studying this by Lenin. It sets out very well the issues at another time and place.

http://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1920/lwc/ch09.htm


“At present, British Communists very often find it hard even to approach the masses, and even to get a hearing from them. If I come out as a Communist and call upon them to vote for Henderson and against Lloyd George, they will certainly give me a hearing. And I shall be able to explain in a popular manner, not only why the Soviets are better than a parliament and why the dictatorship of the proletariat is better than the dictatorship of Churchill (disguised with the signboard of bourgeois "democracy"), but also that, with my vote, I want to support Henderson in the same way as the rope supports a hanged man—that the impending establishment of a government of the Hendersons will prove that I am right, will bring the masses over to my side, and will hasten the political death of the Hendersons and the Snowdens just as was the case with their kindred spirits in Russia and Germany.”

[Smyg]

I don't get this mayor thing. Just seems so... silly.

In Sweden the municipal system is better, I believe.

[Sensible Socialist]

Local elections and officials can have a direct effect on the people living there, so it's important not to dismiss it completely. While it's not likely that a communist will be elected as mayor, it's better to have good people at the helm of a community rather than right-wing nutjobs.

[Threetune]

In local politics do you all think it is helpful to vote and even work on campaigns for canidates? The reason I ask is because in my local mayoral race one of the front runners is democrat Madeline Rogero who supports living wage laws, green energy, and unions. Her husband was a union organizer in the textile industry and when she was in college she took a year off to march with Caesar Chavez. I'm just curious in your all's experience is it worth the effort to get candidates elected in local races or not?

From: The Knoxville Journal
Rogero took time Dec. 21 to talk to The Knoxville Journal over coffee at Mahogany's Restaurant inside the Crowne Plaza Hotel, discussing her aspirations and goals for the mayor's office.

TKJ: What issue are you most passionate about?”
MR: “I don't know if there's just one. Being mayor, you have to deal with a plethora of issues. You can't really focus on one. Clearly having a strong economy is important, because everything else I'm going to tell you about depends on having a strong economy. Businesses need it to be successful, and we need to be working with local entrepreneurs to sustain what they have. That's very important. We need to be a city that works well with its citizens. If you have a strong economy, then you can invest in strong neighborhoods. A large percentage of our sales tax goes to local education, so we want strong schools, good neighborhoods and a vibrant downtown. We want parks, greenways…all of that takes a strong economy for support.” Madeline Rogero
http://www.theknoxvillejournal.com/content/stories/news/dec2010/Madeline-Rogero-I-believe-in-Knoxville (http://www.theknoxvillejournal.com/content/stories/news/dec2010/Madeline-Rogero-I-believe-in-Knoxville)


If I were in your position I would not go near this campaign except to expose it as the reactionary nonsense it is. My vote would be to talk to (leaflet if possible) any workers who are interested in this election to explain about the economic crisis that is going to impact on their lives and how all the top candidates are going to bullshitting them about “strong economy” etc. and how they need to form their own local committees and stand candidates. It’s a start.

This is what they are doing with the ‘Sales Tax’ money for ‘education’.

Little brother is watching you! And your 'democratic’ candidates have the hypocritical nerve to complain about socialist surveillance.

Knox news says:
“ Middle and high school students will soon have a new tool to keep themselves and their classmates safe at their fingertips — literally.


Beginning the week of Oct. 17, students will be able to participate in Tip411, which allows a student to anonymously send a text message to school and law enforcement officials if they have information they need to report to an adult.

#"This will leverage one of the most important ways our kids communicate, which is through text messages," said Knox County Superintendent Jim McIntyre (http://www.knoxnews.com/news/topic/jim-mcintyre/) during his report to the school board at its meeting on Monday.
"It provides students with a way to provide information in a way they know will be anonymous and allow them to provide information for their safety that they know will be followed up by law enforcement and by Knox Schools personnel. I think it's a great program."


According to the school board's policy, middle school students may only use cellphones before and after school and must remain off during all other times. High school students may use them during lunch periods and class change times and can keep them on silent.

McIntyre told the board the Tip411 program will be implemented with an annual cost of $2,000.
"It's an additional level of safety and it's an additional level of information that will come forward to us from our students in a very cost effective way," he said.

The program also is the last recommendation from the district's school safety review committee, which was created in 2010.

Other recommendations implemented from the committee include additional video surveillance, metal detectors, and security officers at schools, and strengthening the relationship the district has with the Knoxville Police Department and the Knox County Sheriff's Department.


The school district did a pilot of the program at four schools last year — Northwest and South Doyle middle schools and Central and Bearden high schools.
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/oct/04/knox-county-students-to-have-new-safety-tool-at/ (http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/oct/04/knox-county-students-to-have-new-safety-tool-at/)

[Zukunftsmusik]

I'd say there's nothing wrong with voting in any election, really (except the US presidential elcection of course. What would you rather choose: mr. crap or mr. slightly more crap?) I know an election doesn't start a revolution, but just sitting on your ass doesn't do much either. One vote doesn't count much, but as long as there are realistic socialist/revolutionary alternatives, I see nothing wrong with voting. But this is Norway, though. I know things look differently in other countries.


I'm just curious in your all's experience is it worth the effort to get candidates elected in local races or not?

It's probably not worth it. But that shouldn't necessarily keep you from throwing in a vote. What could possibly be wrong with it?

[Threetune]

OK, why not organise among Middle and high school students in Knoxville to text an “anonymous” vote against the Mayoral bullshit elections. :thumbup1: