Good Morning Justin

Letter to my Son
Sunday, 31 August

Good Morning Justin…

It’s the Labor Day weekend.  I don’t care how hot it is there’s the feel of Fall in the air, like it’s the first day of school.  We’ve turned a corner and there’s no going back.  Halloween get-ups are beginning to creep onto the retail shelves, taking the place of notebooks and other school supplies.  Swimsuits are marked seventy percent off in this part of the country.  All community pools will soon close.  It’s near time the leaves begin falling from trees.  Are you ready for another round of family gatherings for the holidays?

Hold everything.  Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.  The acorns are still locked in the crowns of their trees.  I haven’t yet heard the sound of a single one land on a roof and roll off into a rain gutter.  The day I hear that sharp thunk followed by its tailing uneven rolling rattle is the day we can officially mark as the start of Autumn.  It won’t be long.  It arrives before the first votes are cast.  Yes, this is an election year.  This is good.  I’m a someone again.  My Senator can’t stop thinking of me.  She’s always in need of my money.  If only I can open my wallet one more time we can maybe meet our monthly goal.  Please.  Even five dollars would be so gratefully received.  Surely I won’t miss such a trifling amount.  Won’t I take a moment of my time right now and wire off the money immediately?  By the way… am I aware a gift of another twenty dollars or more will place me on a list of donors deserving special thanks from the Senator and her family?  The Senator hopes I realize how important a person I am to her.  That’s why she feels good about asking me for an additional hundred dollars.  After all, I am just like family.  Yes, these are desperate times.  No, I certainly don’t want to see my freedoms eroded.  I can make a difference.  People have turned to me to help put things right.  The campaign is at a critical juncture.  It’s up to me, now.  I stand tall.  I’m big enough to meet this challenge.

Doesn't a hundred dollars seem a bit small for the task at hand?  The Senator knows I won’t let her down.  I’ll simply juggle these bills a bit and see what’s left to give.  It’s a tidy sum for a man living on social security.  My heart swells with humility knowing the appreciation felt towards me.  Please don’t embarrass me by unduly fussing over my generosity.  Let’s just say I've made a wise investment in democracy and the future of our nation.  I’m feeling quite the statesman right now.  Yes.  May I suggest we not publicize the extent of my contribution?  I've come to appreciate that my role in saving western civilization is all the thanks I’ll ever need.  Each dollar freely given from my wallet acts now as a sentry protecting justice and fair play. 

I’m overwhelmed.  I've scaled heights too dizzy even for me.  Maybe I've over reacted.  Am I truly ready to take on all this responsibility?  You did say five dollars, right?  Listen, you know I’d love to help but I don’t get paid for another week.  If only I hadn't bought that Starbucks latte the other day.  I swear to you here and now I wouldn't have bought it had I realized you needed another five.  Five bucks seems so little.  Gee, there’s got to be plenty of people other than me that can swing you a five.  Why don’t you ask around.  Maybe I know someone that can help.  I can’t promise anything.  Most people I know are voting for the other guy.  They’re all good people, though.  Guaranteed they’ll feel just terrible knowing five dollars can mean so much and yet be so far out of reach.  A horse!  A horse!  My kingdom for a horse.  Mark Twain, I think.

Love,

          Dad

Why Ferguson is Republican in a sea of Democrats

Black majority elects white Republican mayor

The tragic death of Michael Brown has focused attention on the Ferguson, Missouri Police Department’s lack of diversity.  Of the fifty-plus personnel there are only 3 black officers on the force.  It is further pointed out that the Police Chief is white as are the members of the Board of Education.  The Ferguson City Council is all white except for a single Hispanic councilman and the Mayor of Ferguson is a white Republican.  How is it that a town of 21,000 is ruled by whites while the population is 67 percent black?  It has to do with voter turnout.  Municipal elections in Ferguson are not held simultaneous with presidential elections, midterm or gubernatorial elections.  Elections to fill city positions are held at odd times other than November when, historically, turnout of registered voters runs under 12 percent.   While this election scheduling may be by design to suppress minority turnout the fact remains that all citizens have equal opportunity to exercise their voting franchise.  The Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965.  2014 Ferguson, Missouri is not Selma, Alabama or Tupelo, Mississippi of some Jim Crow yesteryear.  People put their lives on the line so that people of all color and creed have access today to the power of the ballot box.

In the last municipal election to fill government positions in Ferguson, Missouri a mere 6 percent of eligible blacks turned out to vote.  White participation wasn’t much better at 17 percent but it was enough to ensure that long-standing policies remain firmly in place.  These are the very policies that have brought about historic racial embitterment and the unrest we witness today.  You don’t like the make-up of your police force?  Change can be brought about at the ballot box.  You feel city government doesn’t understand your community?  You feel they give you no respect?  Change the government .  Run for office.  Vote. 

The black community of Ferguson has a comfortable voting majority.  African-Americans can largely determine how they are to be treated by their city officials.  The mayor of Ferguson, members of its city council, its Board of Education, its Police Chief can all reflect the vision and hopes of this community.  This is the power of democracy.  It is within reach.  Citizens of Ferguson need not march in the streets and plead for understanding and respect.  It is yours for the taking.  You can organize.  You can pick candidates from your community.  You can vote. 

If there is to be a lasting lesson learned from the untimely death of 18 year old Michael Brown it is that protest marching is no substitute for having the political power of being a voting majority.  If you don’t believe it just ask those who have been running the show all these years.  They will tell you.  They prefer being where they are right now rather than where you happen to be today – and any day of the week.

Good Morning Jack

Letter to my Son

Sunday, 10 August

Richard Nixon works the crowd

Good Morning Jack…

August is the beginning of the end for kids running free during summer vacation.  Back to school sales are hard to avoid.  Paper, pens and all the items needed for homework assignments are pushed right to the front of the store.  It’s like a call from your boss on the last Friday of your vacation wanting to know if you can make it in especially early Monday morning because of the oversize stack of assignments waiting impatient for your return.

August also begins the serious push for candidates in the coming fall election.  Between now and the first Tuesday in November there will be almost no days off for paid campaign workers.  Organizers typically start in May and are given three days off during the period leading to Election Day.  As of today, Sunday the 10^th, there are 85 days remaining until ballots are cast.   Chances are these organizers have used one of their days off by now which means they have a long stretch of 12 hour days ahead of them.  Democracy is a fundamental principle of a free nation.  The campaigns to elect a candidate for office are a particularly demanding business.  Politicians serious about their profession expect to win their job once the votes are cast.  Campaign managers, like the candidates they promote, are among the winners and losers.  Winning keeps you on track for a shot at the title – a race with national prominence.  With back to back loses you’ve earned the right to manage a city council contest in Palookaville.

It’s always good to start with a quality candidate – someone who relates well with the voters and has a message that resonates.  Someone verbally sure-footed and dynamic is going to attract money, which is good since state-wide campaigns are going to be expensive.  Big money flows to those who have a realistic chance of winning.  There’s little upside to having influence with a politician out of office.  Keep the race close in the polls and money is there.  Fumble during the campaign allowing your opponent to take a double-digit lead and you economize while your rival cashes in.  The race becomes theirs to lose.  You’re left being the goat in the media narrative and that’s tough to shake.  You call for a debate, hoping a couple of choice zingers will right your sinking ship.  Why would the other side allow you such an opening to get back in the game?  Unless the voters absolutely demand it, your opponent’s campaign will ignore your plea, sit on their lead and ride out the clock, all the while buying expensive air time to mercilessly trash your image with negative TV ads.  Your audience dwindles and TV news loses interest in what you have to say.  Here’s where we pull out the script that we don’t believe in polls.  The only poll that matters is the one on Election Day.  Only the die-hards retain any hope.  Everyone else has bailed.  The show is over.  Curtain down. 

Volunteers are fundamental to a winning campaign.  People need to work for free on your behalf if you are to be a credible democratic choice.  Making phone calls to voters for hours on end and spending weekends going door to door in unfamiliar neighborhoods requires a personal conviction in your candidacy that can’t be bought.  Your volunteers aren’t slick professionals.  What they bring to your cause is simple sincerity.  Their importance is not in switching anyone’s opinion but in emphasizing the importance of casting your ballot.  Grassroots campaigning is about making sure your supporters are sufficiently energized, if not totally enthusiastic, to take the time and vote.  This is important because the candidate better able to rally their supporters to the ballot box is the one getting the job representing the people.  That is no small accomplishment.  By the first Tuesday in November people are sick of hearing about the campaign.  They just want it over.  Often they are filled with disgust.  They don’t like their choices.  Get over it.  Hold your nose.  Mark your ballot.  Vote.  Saints don’t run for office.  Just folks like you and me.

Love,

          Dad