Dear Upper Middle Class of San Luis Obispo County,
Believe it or not, we have something in common. Rich, poor, or comfortably in the middle, it’s undeniable that anyone left of extreme-right lacks an inspirational cheerleader. (Bernie doesn’t count: one-issue candidates only win elections for county sheriff… and Gavin, while shiny, well… his commodity futures are overvalued.) That means it’s up to people with means in SLO County to create electoral momentum in a reasonable direction.
We can’t.
Occupy Wall Street didn’t work on Main Street, and it certainly doesn’t work on fig tree streets or juicy fruit alleys. Bluntly, you need you to stop “wining” your way through SLO County elections and start more-than-donating-helping to win seats back from the clinching fists of the mob-mentality of government (a.k.a “The Angry” and “The Noisy” (2016 is not your father’s Tea Party – the anger-driven approach has spread outside hyper-conservative circles in which it was spawned)). This isn’t about democrat vs. republican or Marx vs. Smith. The 2016 SLO County election is about Rational vs. Irrational – the Lessers are being beat down by the latter and we need your help. We’re not asking for your money or your trickle-down. We’re asking for a short sit down with Reason, Action, and Influence.
Why now? Because you’ve been too long ignoring – and therefore condoning – the political darkness.
We’ve seen horde-style politics of protest combined with the “Good luck, you’re on your own.” ideology of legislation take over states and counties across the country. It’s fun to chant, rant and roll in an election, but their abilities thereafter have proven nil. While the stump speeches are wrapped in stars-n-stripes and love-thy-neighbor verse, the data shows it has not gone well for residents who value things like schools, equality, paved roads, inflammable water, and a moral minimum of social services. That can’t happen to SLO County. (Although it’s already seeped into the political groundwater because it’s “fun” to be angry about politics, apparently. Everyone needs a hobby.)
Contrary to what we see on TV (and therefore as good Americans emulate), elections are not rock’em sock’em rallies, celebrity-worshipping, or charcoaled catering contests judged by a panel of arcane interest groups… that’s politics. Elections are about the aftermath: what will happen to our community when the winners are sitting in their seats? What will the vote-count be on the important issues? It’s not about the sex. It’s about the baby. (Too bad the Tea Party doesn’t believe in contraception, eh?)
That’s why we need your help to elect people with forward-looking voting records on the Central Coast. (Yes, you should be looking at voting records rather than relying on, “but I heard he works across the aisle” tasting room gossip.) We need to elect people who have an inclusive social vision, not an exclusive one. We need to elect people who seek long-term solutions that employ facts rather than exploit fear. You need to remind your neighbors why they vote: policy representation. Tangible and actionable.
Our votes matter because their votes matter. Fundamentally, elections are The Vote: us unto them to thusly represent. Everything else is politics: fabricated noise designed to fill ad space, peddle pork, and rile an ignorant mob.
And don’t fool yourself: if you check a box without knowing voting records or policy positions, then you too, my friend, are part of the ignorant mob. University degree, 401k, nor SLK does an educated voter make. Only parents – not politicians – can get away with “Do as I say not as I do”. Look to the actions not the speeches: the voting record. On that point alone, I’ve met more voter-worthy ex-cons than I have politifact-accurate millionaires (but ask Ms. Justice why only one is robbed of suffrage).
…yes, I have met many of both. One was both.
So which will it be, boss? Lose evermore seats to The Noise in 2016, or stop the wacko-birds by doing more than celebrity auctions and take action with Reason? Say no to The Noise. Actively. Please stop supporting politics and start working elections. It’s time.
It is most definitely time.
Sincerely in doubt,
Concerned and Without Political Influence in SLO County
