rok
09-24-2004, 04:32 PM
okay, here's a thread topic for you. now try not to focus on the specifics of my example, but the broader topic... namely, how do you get elected when the dominant sentiment in your area (district, city, county, state, or nation) is incredibly opposed to your own? do you swallow your pride and say what they want to hear to get elected? and if so, do you then turn around after you're in office and turn out to be a liar and go against what you said? or do you do all you can to further your agenda before you get elected right back out?
case in point:
lousiana just held its elections, and with them, the vote on the 1st amendment to the state constitution, namely to make marriage the union of one man and one woman. (mind you, it also does away with common-law marriage, but no one seemed to want to notice that part...)
to say the amendment passed in a landslide would be a gross understatement. EVERY PARISH voted it in. statewide, i think it was 78% for, 22% against. the only districts that managed to go against were areas of the main population centers of new orleans and baton rouge (and, not shockingly, in those areas considered the arts and studio districts, as well as areas of mid-to-high income and close to universities where lots of different students come together regularly).
so let's say i'm looking at this vote, and i want to get elected to "change things." how the heck would you even start? you can't publicly stand against the amendment, or you don't have any hope of being elected. you could avoid the subject uncomfortably in debates, but a vicious attacking opponent might eat you alive. you could lie and say you're for it, or see its merits, and then undermine it when you're in office. any other options???
anyway, looking at that got me to wondering how ANYthing changes with the inertia that public opinion and government have behind them. and it made me kinda depressed...
thoughts?
case in point:
lousiana just held its elections, and with them, the vote on the 1st amendment to the state constitution, namely to make marriage the union of one man and one woman. (mind you, it also does away with common-law marriage, but no one seemed to want to notice that part...)
to say the amendment passed in a landslide would be a gross understatement. EVERY PARISH voted it in. statewide, i think it was 78% for, 22% against. the only districts that managed to go against were areas of the main population centers of new orleans and baton rouge (and, not shockingly, in those areas considered the arts and studio districts, as well as areas of mid-to-high income and close to universities where lots of different students come together regularly).
so let's say i'm looking at this vote, and i want to get elected to "change things." how the heck would you even start? you can't publicly stand against the amendment, or you don't have any hope of being elected. you could avoid the subject uncomfortably in debates, but a vicious attacking opponent might eat you alive. you could lie and say you're for it, or see its merits, and then undermine it when you're in office. any other options???
anyway, looking at that got me to wondering how ANYthing changes with the inertia that public opinion and government have behind them. and it made me kinda depressed...
thoughts?