Homespun Ponderings about Electorial College

The first Homespun Symposium question: Is it time for the U.S. to end the Electoral College? If so, in favor of what alternative system? If not, why is it still relevant and beneficial to the nation?

I'm a huge fan of expanding our democracy and making a much more open public sector process. We need large measures of accountability. Our system is frail and ill. But, I don't want to mess with the electorial college. I'd say keep it as it is for the next 10 years or so as there are many more important things to tackle first.

I don't care about the pimple known as the electroial college. Rather, I care about the cancer that strickens our overall wellness in terms of (small 'd') democracy.

We should insist upon ballot access changes. In my city, the old parties get to put candidates onto the ballot with a fraction of the signatures on the petition vs. those in minor parties or as indies. Ballot access is a big, worthy issue in Pennsylvania.

We should insist upon a new entry on all elections of individuals: None Of The Above. NOTA! If candidates had to race against each other, and outscore NOTA, then we'd be much better along in terms of our public service. The 'lesser of two evils' dilemma goes out the window.

I'd be a strong supporter of the removal of the single-party lever. Yep, we still got them. And, lever-puller data should be made public at each polling place. I'd like to know how many people in each polling place voted with one action. I think that reporting could be very insightful, until those levers are removed.

Plenty of other great ideas exist as well. They are all going to be blended into my Platform.For-Pgh.org as I build a case for elected office in 2005. Referendums, percentage votes, and retention votes for authority appointees make great sense and should be enacted before the E.C. is scratched.

Another reason for keeping the E.C. -- Iowa and New Hampsire. A campaign is a dance. We've got voters in those areas, and others, that take their added responsibilities with great seriousness. Retail politics can thrive with today's system at certain, early periods. Without the E.C., candidates wouldn't hit the other areas much. The overall dance would change greatly. Meltdowns like that of Howard Dean might not unfold. Candidates could just set up in studios in major media cities.


Back in Pennsylvania, I am NOT in favor of moving our election day to a sooner period in the presidential primary time line. We shouldn't vote in a snow storm.

If anyone wants to inject democracy into their everyday email discussion groups, check out one of the other projects I'm engaged with: eVote, http://Deliberate.com/ and the eVote blog.

Pay raises

Pledge 1:
I won't ever vote for a pay raise.

We don't need to pay our state reps more money. Sorry Harry Readshaw, Mike Diven, Jim Ferlo and you others that represent us. I'm sorry too that you'd put the pay raise matters into effect in a lame-duck session that has so many more important things to occur.

Pledge 2:
Upon leaving office, my golden parachute would constitute nothing but a swim coaching position.

Pledge 3: If I become mayor, and if I ever want a pay raise, I'll put the question to the people of Pittsburgh in a referendum. The voters can decide.

Beating up on Murphy

Murphy might go down in this election. Another "punching ballots" story is unfolding. It's a mayor's race too, but in California.

See the post here from Oct 1, 2004, Maverick Enters Mayor's Race.

The campaign of Donna Frey was challenged in Superior Court. They say the city charter does not allow for write-in candidates in general elections. They wanted an injunction to halt vote counting.

Frye scored 35 percent of the vote to incumbent Dick Murphy's 34 and a county supervisor, Ron Roberts' 31 percent.

A crowd chanted, "Count our vote!" The lawsuit amounted to a pathetic attempt to stop the democratic process. "I will fight any attempt to undermine the will of the voters."

The vote needs to be certified by November 30. For more info, just google it. New comments welcomed.

Today's a great day to kick the habits.

One habit that should stop.... Smoking. Today is the Great American Smoke Out.

Too many young people are smoking. Kids ages 8, 10, 12 are starting their smoking careers. We need some focus on wellness. I've got some wellness planks being built at the Platform For Pgh.

Another habit to kick, one-party lever pulling.

Four or more meeting nights

Tonight was one of those nights, too much to do.

The RED team in Market House soccer (middle ages) played in the championship game. Missed it. Same too with the older kids. Was covering swim practice at the kids there went on the road to watch a college meet at W&J. Plus, won a 2nd election in as many weeks. More news on that later.

The Market House's Family Fun Night is tomorrow -- and I'm not missing it. South Side's light up night is a bit earlier. Harry Readshaw is to be there to throw the switch on the snowflakes. See the South Pgh Reporter for more details.

Flick: Grass

Catch the movie called 'Grass' on Tuesday, Nov. 30 at 9 pm in 104 David Lawrence Hall. Venue holds 75 people. It is either about lawn care of marijuana.

Communications In The Arts, seminar with Andrew W. Thornhill

This series of seminars and discussions is designed to help arts
organizations, artists, media outlets and local businesses gain greater
advantage from their communications planning and implementation.

Begins, Saturday, November 20, 2004 - 9:00 to 2:00 pm.

Details in the comment section.

Hosted with PCTV21.

Ho, ho, ho.

Easy info on downtown Pgh

The PDP, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, is making it very easy to find out everything to do this year. It's so streamlined...... thin..... concise...... don't blink......

Fireworks at midnight. Weee!

Last one to leave, please turn out the lights.

Mapping the city for serious, smart campaign

The map is small, to fit the blog. Click the map to go to the directory to see a few others, all larger. The city's vote areas are mapped. Vote totals from Rauterkus 2001 are being matched with others, such as Libertarian candidate for US Senate, Betsy Summers, in 2004.

Other maps you'l be able to see show my votes vs. Carmine in 2001. I got creamed in Shadyside, and those areas show as white.

Too shady and oh so rich

Golden parachute for Mt. Lebo's School boss. gets good blog mentions at Pittsblog.

I wonder if part of this is from a fallout with the botched swim pool deal? The school and the township should have pulled their resources and made a great aqutics facility that would have been a regional asset. But it didn't happen, sadly. The plan wasn't held together with enough duct tape or vision or something.

With her $500k, she could make a nice swim pool benefactor.

NY, Paris, London, Madrid or Moscow

"New York offers the Olympic movement an outstanding combination of marketing, financial and media power that can help the games achieve a new level of global prominence," Ueberroth, chairman of the U.S. Olympic Committee, wrote in The New York Times on Sunday.

New York's plan is for a stadium on Manhattan's West Side that would be home to the NFL's Jets. The uncertainty surrounding the estimated $1.4 billion project may complicate the city's Olympic hopes.

New facilities would be built for cycling, rowing, sailing and swimming. Multiuse arenas would be added for fencing, badminton, judo and wrestling.

"New York's bid is superb in every area," Ueberroth wrote. "[It] will add to the quality of life for future generations of New Yorkers and leave one of the most impressive legacies of any Olympic host."

I'm torn between NYC and Moscow. Going to Russia would help in many ways. But I've got a place to stay close to NYC.
As for the new Jets stadium, hold onto your wallets.

Sweet Catherine to WJAS

WJAS with "Chilly Billie" made radio today from the DePaul Institute in Shadyside and interviewed my sweetheart, Catherine. He jagged with her on the air calling her "Sweet Catherine" and the Neil Diamond song, Sweet Caroline, was in the playlist,

.

I'll post the sound files of the interview some day, I hope.

article on the garden efforts in WA

Just sent an email to Julie DAVIDOW to thank her for the article on the gardens:

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER on Moses Lake accepts challenge to eat better and get more exercise] from Monday, November 15, 2004

I'm going to use highlights in my campign's wellness plank in the platform.

Downtown falling like a house of cards.

PG speaking of the mayor's downtown development efforts "What they were doing was wrong. The way they handled it was wrong. The way they treated really good citizens was wrong," Patty Maloney said. "I think there are times when you have to stand up for what you believe in and for what is right."

If Maloney has a regret, it is that she and other merchants did not follow though and implement a Main Street program Downtown. Such a program has been successful in neighborhood business districts, and Maloney believes it could have worked Downtown.

Still, she doesn't fault Murphy for trying to spruce up the dreary Fifth and Forbes corridor.

"In fairness to the mayor and the mayor's office, they thought they were doing the right thing. They were definitely sincere in their attempts."

Great example of that "free-pass mentality." The mayor was wrong. Great statements. Then comes the 'flip-flop.' We can't give him and the wrongheadedness a free pass.

New County Skate Parks, good for MDs

Three public hearings are slated for the county as it hopes to build skate parks. Skate parks are great injury zones and perfectly suited for E.R. parking lots. My kids won't be there. The county can do about a million other, better things for the kids.

This move, by both the city and county, to build skate parks is about 15 years behind the curve. Fits the trend: too late.

The other trend: one step better than worse. Perhaps it is worse to do nothing. So, let's do a step better than nothing and build a skate park.

Photo: Nice helmet dude. The photo comes from an ISP trying to drum up business. We can do your web site because we can catch some air at a skate park. Say what?

As is my regular mode of operation and style, I take that extra step. I try to go well beyond simply pointing out only the negative by offering alternative, better suggestions.

Here is what I'd do as an alternative: kayaks. Build outdoor kayak parking stalls so folks can build and buy their own boats and lock them up. Sites at North Park, Deer Lakes, Boyce, Settlers Cabin, South Park all have nice water access spots and fringe zones along with ample parking lot. Plus, the swim pools in each can be used. Toss in Highland Park, North Side's commons and Panther Hollow for city locations. Then the kids can play kayak water polo on the water.

The "canoe polo" endeavor would beat the snot out of skate parks in the minds of the kids and for overall wellness of the region.

Ruffle Feathers

Fast Eddie announced in his newsletter that he picked the Steelers. Wonder if he can forcast who is to win and loose when it comes to other state matters, such as US Airways' fate?

Gov asks house and senate to support critical measurs

Governor Rendell Asks General Assembly to Support Crucial Measures Needed for Pittsburgh Financial Recovery Plan

Governor Rendell appealed to the Pennsylvania General Assembly to consider and pass legislation needed so that Pittsburgh can avert a budgetary crisis that threatens its economic future, its residents� way of life and its historic position as one of the Commonwealth�s most vital cities.

In a letter (see comments) sent to all senators and representatives, the Governor called a consensus plan developed by the several groups working on the financial situation �tough and realistic.� For the plan to be implemented, the General Assembly needs to enable the city to fill its remaining budget gap by changing the way the city taxes business and individuals.

Another Dr. Francis (sp) Barnes, but this is inbound

HARRISBURG: The Pennsylvania Senate unanimously approved Francis V. Barnes, Ph. D., Tuesday evening. Dr. Barnes was Governor Rendell’s nominee for the Commonwealth's Secretary of Education. Barnes, who now becomes the state's first African American Secretary of Education, will lead the state’s 501 school districts, and implement the Governor’s Block Grant Funding Program that allocates $200 million in the 2004-05 school year for districts to implement research-based programs to boost student achievement such as full-day kindergarten, pre-kindergarten, smaller class sizes, tutoring and English as Second Language programs. He brings a wealth of experience to the position, having served in rural and urban school districts across the Commonwealth.

Check the search engine box for "Frances Barnes."

Dated Dean. Married Kerry. Woke up with Bush

Dean's Democracy for America seeks to elect progressive-leaning candidates and train grass-roots organizers.

Notes: Dean's roller-coaster campaign started with soaring polls, but crashed. Dean, an 11-year Gov., shouts a Boston Yahoo! ad. Supporters have cheered the ad, reveling in its irreverent self-mockery. Or, William Shatner land? Next could be Sedatives or Throat lozenges.

Politicians as pitchmen: Bob Dole for Viagra; US House Speaker Thomas P. O'Neill for American Express; Geraldine Ferraro for Pepsi; Ann Richards (TX) Mario M. Cuomo for Doritos, Sophie Masloff for Used Appliance Warehouse. None have won political positions after cashing out.

Wonder if Dean-supporters would be fertile land for fund-raising letters?

Wonder if the Democrats who cannot give up feel the need to scrub undemocratic Democrats from bankrupt landscapes?