To be honest, I'm not very impressed with any of the candidates I've seen for the Senate. I feel the Senate is a weighty, important position that's supposed to rise above (most of) the politics and find the right path. What I saw from the candidates was either carefully modulated political messages (from Portman and Fisher) or extreme, not very helpful positions designed to overhaul the American way of life overnight (La Botz and Deaton).
It seemed almost impossible for a candidate to address current issues in a way that was effective and practical--and by practical, I mean something we could implement in a matter of weeks. While I believe both Deaton and La Botz make very good points on fundamental flaws with our system, the changes they want to implement would require changing the public's way of thinking 180 degrees. That won't happen in time to solve the urgent problems in our nation. Neither the "main stream" nor the "independent" party candidates give me the feeling they'd be a constructive force in Washington, and that makes me sad.
But I still have a vote to cast. I might not use it. But, if I HAD to vote...
It wouldn't be for Portman. Portman has a long history of service to Ohio and the nation, and no one can say he hasn't done it with honor. But anyone who did that much work for and supported the Bush Administration that much does not share my beliefs, and would not represent me. This is held up by the statements on his campaign website...point after point, I found myself disagreeing almost 100% with his positions. We're ideological opposites on every issues I find important.
It wouldn't be for Deaton. I do agree with most of his "Stick to the Constitution" vision for the government, as impractical as I think it is in the short term. However, he has a very conservative view on social issues that I find completely out of line with my own. I don't see him representing me on civil rights at all, for instance.
It wouldn't be for La Botz. His liberal view on civil rights and other social issues is in line with my own. However, I have the same problem with his vision for the government as I do with Deaton's: it is too far removed from our current way of life, and would face too much opposition by the public, to do us any good now.
I'd vote for Fisher. Again, this is only if I had to use the vote. Fisher's record as the Attorney General, in the State Legislature, and as Lieutenant Governor shows to me he's at least consistent with my values and my views. I'm not convinced he's able to be part of the solution in the partisan, strangled knot of Capitol Hill, but I can at least feel he'd represent me.
Showing posts with label Daniel La Botz. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Daniel La Botz. Show all posts
Tuesday
Friday
US Senate Race: Daniel La Botz
Apologies on the late post...I had all the research done, but somehow forgot to tie it all into a post before hitting the sack last night. -.-
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Dan La Botz was born in Chicago and grew up south of San Diego along the border with Mexico. He's lived in Ohio for the last twenty years, earning his Masters and PhD in American History from the University of Cincinnati. He's taught at Miami University and the University of Cincinnati. La Botz is married and has three children, and continues to be active in causes that benefit African Americans and Latino immgriants. You can see more of his biography on his website.
La Botz is running as the Socialist candidate, which I realize is a dirty word in American discourse. However, I'd encourage you to read what the party is all about, instead of swallowing propaganda from the 1920's blindly.
The issues La Botz is running on all sum up into a lot of change. His take is the pure capitalist system we have now does more damage than it's worth, and needs to be changed. Between re-imagining the economy (including labor unions, which according to La Botz need to be strengthened but changed to meet current realities) and readdressing civil rights La Botz hopes to encourage a more equal society. He has some solid ideas, such as local and state governments investing heavily in "green" infrastructure. And there are others that seem more problematic, such as enforcing a 32 hour work week at 40 hour wages in order to end unemployment.
Read the webpages, watch the videos, go to the polls informed.
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Dan La Botz was born in Chicago and grew up south of San Diego along the border with Mexico. He's lived in Ohio for the last twenty years, earning his Masters and PhD in American History from the University of Cincinnati. He's taught at Miami University and the University of Cincinnati. La Botz is married and has three children, and continues to be active in causes that benefit African Americans and Latino immgriants. You can see more of his biography on his website.
La Botz is running as the Socialist candidate, which I realize is a dirty word in American discourse. However, I'd encourage you to read what the party is all about, instead of swallowing propaganda from the 1920's blindly.
The issues La Botz is running on all sum up into a lot of change. His take is the pure capitalist system we have now does more damage than it's worth, and needs to be changed. Between re-imagining the economy (including labor unions, which according to La Botz need to be strengthened but changed to meet current realities) and readdressing civil rights La Botz hopes to encourage a more equal society. He has some solid ideas, such as local and state governments investing heavily in "green" infrastructure. And there are others that seem more problematic, such as enforcing a 32 hour work week at 40 hour wages in order to end unemployment.
Read the webpages, watch the videos, go to the polls informed.
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