Bob Morris Post on Why Environmentalists Failed to Mobilize Anyone at the Polls in 2010

Today I was checking in with the Sierra Club "Activist Network" (it's sort of like a Facebook application for the Sierra Club's 500,000+ members.)  Though the AN is not used very much, sometimes you do find really interesting and useful posts because of the specific environmental activist angle of all the participants.

One such A.N. post was from last November, which is by now 4 months out of date.  However, I have decided to write about it because the post follows nicely on my last post about money in politics.  My point in my last post, in case you don't want to read it, was that unlimited spending and money is the root problem of America's political system.  Bob's basic point, which sort of refutes what I was saying, is that money did NOT win last year's election for the GOP.  Bob feels that the GOP message resonated better with voters and so the GOP won.

I would disagree generally but not universally with Bob.  Where Bob reasons that the biggest failing of  environmental activists like me is an inability to communicate with our neighbors and friends, I would speculate that the elections are becoming more and more a "sounding board" of sorts for people from all walks of life, who vote for the party OUT of power if they are unhappy, and vote for the party IN power, if they are happy.  Since the economic crisis that started under W. Bush was so severe, and is still in strong effect, I would say that the last election was more a response by people frustrated with the economy, than people who were identifying with a specific idealogy (Democratic or Republican.)

I do like and respect Bob's thoughts on how to try to "talk to voters on their own terms," however.  Too often I am caught up in this trap myself, where I feel I have the moral high ground on an issue and approach it with a "how could you not agree with me?" type of attitude.  This is doubtless an unhelpful approach.

Anyways, for those of you who care to read it, here is Bob's post:
http://connect.sierraclub.org/post/ActivistNetworkBlog/enough_excuses.html

Election Ruminations and Regrets

So last night I watched the election results roll in like all of you and I was of course disappointed in the national change in power in Congress.  Our fellow Americans appear to have a very short historical memory.  They are blaming Democrats for the problems caused by the guys who were in power before they were elected. But I am preaching to the choir here.

In any case,  last night and this morning I was following local election results at acgov, and was pleased that several of the candidates and state propositions I supported won.  Some did not, but in all races, even ones where I spent a lot of time volunteering (like the Rebecca Kaplan for Mayor campaign), the tone was positive and upbeat.  So yay for local voters!

This is where the post gets grimmer.  I've taken some time to gather information about national election results and reflect on what happened in general.  Beyond the issue with voters having no memory and no patience, we have a sad phenomenon which is the growing influence (and spending) of money in politics (Newsweek.com.)  This election cycle, campaign spending is projected to exceed $3.7 billion, up 30% over the last election.

I am first of all saddened that we are spending all this money on politics.  Just think what this country could be if that money were instead spent educating kids, or supporting our public schools, parks, and transportation.  Second, I am curious just how such a drastic increase in spending could happen in such a short time.  No doubt the recent U.S. Supreme Court Decision ("Citizens United") has had an impact.  In fact, according to Public Citizen, the undisclosed expenditures by independent groups influenced the election in in 58 of 74 "party-shifting contests" this cycle.

Beyond this disappointment with national trends and ever more increase spending, however, I have to be honest and confess that I have contributed to the "big money" mid term election this year through my own giving habits.  I compiled a quick list of my giving for political races this year.  Below I have tallied it:

Candidate Amount  Won Election?
Barbara Boxer $150  Y
Democratic Party $500  N
Democratic Party CA $100  N
Jesse Arreguin $50   Y
Kriss Worthington $125  Y
Progressive Major'y  $200  N
Rebecca Kaplan $100  N*
Robert Raburn BART $250  Y
Russ Feingold Senate   $100  N
Steve Kagan Congress $250  N
Vinnie Bacon Fremont  $50   N
Total: $1,875

* Oakland Mayor will not be decided till Friday, but it's looking unlikely that Rebecca will win.

I did not realize it until I compiled this list, but I spent a hell of a lot of money this year.  Part of it has to do with my impulsively generous streak.  I am not trying to boast here.  My giving made a difference in some races, and in others made no difference at all.  The point is, I am only one of millions of Americans who made a decision to give significant chunks of money to political candidates and/ or parties this year.  I represent one end of the political spectrum.  There are lots of people like me who gave to progressive causes.  And there are lots more who gave to conservative causes.  And then there are the corporations and "independent expenditure groups" that I mentioned above.  And where does that leave us?  With lots and LOTS of political ads.

Regrettably, I should have given more money to charity and less to political campaigns.  I supported public financing of elections this spring - which our own "enlightened" electorate in California defeated.  Perhaps that's the only thing truly worth supporting with money anymore?

Sigh.