Jim Black Must Go, Chapter 71
Read this, from BlueNC’s Greg Flynn. Skip down to 6th paragraph, where it really picks up steam. I’m working up something for the Indy this week on Black, Art Pope, money in politics, but fundamentally (as Flynn mentions in passing, but clearly understands) about the fact that we don’t actually elect the legislature any more. Which is why Black’s shabby little money games are so damnably effective. Legislative elections? That’s an oxymoron.
(8/17 Update: “The Vanishing Voter” is the article I did on this (with two sidebars, “Black Day at the IHOP” and “Pope’s Purge”) for the Indy this week. End)
August 16th, 2006 17:46
Bob, Thanks for the shout out and thanks for the great Indy article(s) today. I don’t know how you keep up with everything. It seems like every time I “stumble across” a story, a group or a blog you are there already. Greg
August 16th, 2006 20:18
Thanks for the rather large “sidebar” on the MIA voter. I especially like the call for lowering the bar to 3rd (4th,5th) party participation.
When the Orange County BOC takes up districting again, I’ll be back in front of them asking for a real change in our commissioner elections - non-partisan candidates and campaigns. Chapel Hill is non-partisan (in theory) so an independent, like myself, has a halfway decent chance at winning. Beyond that, while the BOC campaign was essentially over in May (deep freeze is a charitable description), right now the municipal elections would be heating up (real competition). Of course, this bluest of blue NC presents an interesting case as the Rep. don’t contest. But that’s beside the point. The fastest growing segment of the Orange county electorate is independents. With non-partisan county elections an independent candidate could make a decent run.