October 2014

Political advertising this year in Colorado leaves me angered and sickened by its tone and by the presence of huge sums of money spent by outside groups: Crossroads GPS, Republican Governor’s Association, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, The Republican National Senatorial Committee, The Senate Majority PAC, The National Republican Congressional Committee, The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, House Majority PAC, Freedom Partners, Generation Opportunity, American Energy Alliance, The League of Conservation Voters, AFSCME.

A common characteristic of all of these external groups is the miss-statement of the positions of their opponents – whether on the Republican or Democratic side of the candidate or issue. The ads also show a lack of knowledge of local politics and attitudes. Out of date statements are used to argue against a candidate to brand them as either tax and spend or as anti-poor or middle class.

Very few ads present actual positions and policy that address the issues facing the electorate: actual plans to channel government spending, plans to fundamentally reform our ill fitting tax code, plans to help clear the air, to reduce pollution, to regulate banks, to help create business and industry rules that will serve the well-being of the public and not just solidify the corporate bottom line.

In nearly every instance we are urged to vote for a very partisan position and policies that are intended to favor a particular group at the expense of other equally deserving groups.

On the issues:

Amendment 67. Personhood – very little advertising for or against this one. As written this amendment is much too broad. There is a hint in the statement that a fetus would be protected were it killed in a collision or by other means. In such a situation, if the fetus were classed as a person then murder charges could be filed against the perpetrator. However, the wording is so broad as to make it an intolerable intrusion into the decision making of individual women. I will not support this.

Amendment 68. Gambling. Expands gambling at horse tracks as a source of revenue to support K-12 education. Maybe it will, but certainly it will enhance the bottom-line and coffers of casino owners. Education is far too important to leave support to the whims of gamblers and casino operators. Wouldn’t we be better served by candidates who would work to improve the taxing base so that it supported the kind of education that Colorado deserves? I will not vote for this amendment and will seek candidates to the state legislature who will have the courage to work out equitable taxing structures or tax increases that will go toward K-12 education.

Proposition 104. Access to government. Requires open school board meetings when discussing collective bargaining. We should know and understand how our representatives are thinking and acting in such negotiations. Not much advertising. I will likely vote for this.

Proposition 105. Mandates labeling of Genetically Modified/Engineered food stuffs. A lot of advertising on both sides of this issue. Hard to tell if the claims are accurate, though a recently released study by Consumers Reports suggests that clear labeling should be put on foodstuffs with regard to the genetic modification. This is a reasonable request so that those of us who are conscientious and concerned consumers can make purchasing decisions based upon the best available information. At present we have no way of knowing what is in our food stuffs that has been genetically engineered. I tend to agree that state by state laws are burdensome, however, until we get a national policy or laws in the most populous states this state by state will have to do. I will vote for this labeling issue.

Candidates for Office:

I am a progressive and will vote for the Democratic candidate for governor and the U.S. Senate. I have supported Andrew Romanoff financially and would vote for him in the 6th Congressional District if I were a resident.

I sincerely hope that we elect moderates – Democratic or Republican – across the nation and within the state. However, I think this unlikely to happen unless we establish bipartisan/apolitical redistricting rules across the country. We need many more Congressional districts such as Colorado’s 6th District. This district is approximately 1/3 Democratic, 1/3 Republican and 1/3 Independent. This kind of distribution generally means that candidates have to work hard to win over the independent vote and this often moves their position toward the center and a broader moderate approach to issues and laws.
These are my ruminations on this mid-term election. I do hope that we as voters will choose wisely and in the interests of the broadest coalition of people possible.

What ever your persuasion – be sure to vote and urge your neighbors to vote. The more of us that participate the more likely the outcome will create a government responsive to the widest mix of folks and their needs.