Dear All,
Maybe I have fallen victim to hopeful thinking, but it seems to me that our candidates did in general, state wide, around 1% better this time around. Two candidates seem to me to have outshone others in prior times, but please correct me if I am mistaken: Pamela Brown 5.9%, and Richard Bronstein 4.0%. In San Francisco, most of our folks held their own at 1-2.5% or so, with Starchild at 3.3% and Phil at 2.35%.
I suggest a prize of some sort to anyone who figures a trend in how San Franciscans voted on the propositions. Votes in State propositions diametrically opposed to state-wide votes? But votes in local propositions not as socialist?
I will have a few minutes in the agenda for November 13 to discuss how we see San Franciscans trending, if at all, and how LPSF can take advantage on any perceived trend.
Marcy
Marcy:
I've been following the elections down there as an outsider, but despite the depressing results nationally, the results in California and the West Coast generally have shown some positive signs. Washington State's electoral system really precludes third parties, but several anti-tax iniatives and a measure to end government monopoly on liquor sales did well. In Alaska, Sen. Murkowski, who was probably the most libertarian senator (I think she was a former LP member) is probably going to win re-election over her Palin-backed opponent. I think the anti-drug war movement is growing despite close electoral defeats in California & Washington.
Maybe it's time to re-think secession? LOL
Hi Eric,
Thanks for the input. Although, yes, the anti-tax movement is growing, the appetite for government largess appears to be going unabated. Confusing to me. Here in San Francisco, Prop B failed (government employee pensions can now run the City off a cliff and our problems will be over).
Marcy
Marcy,
That's sad but true, really it's the same problem that Ron Paul ran into in 2008 and Harry Browne before him. To put it bluntly but truthfully, the average voter doesn't have either the education or the intelligence to comprehend these kinds of issues. Watching Ron Paul trying to explain the obvious problem of currency devaluation, or the dangers of the Unitary Executive Theory to audiences weaned on reality TV and dumbed-down public schools was painful. Maybe what we need are some out-of-work kindergarten teachers to make up literature for us in language the voters will understand!