The choice belongs to the American people. Still there are those in America who believe their influence, their money; and a combination of the two can supersede the rights of the American people. Since December of 2008 I’ve met with fellow Jacksonville residents in Barbeque joints, coffee shops, on their front doorsteps, and in their homes. I’ve heard their dreams and their fears about our direction. On Jacksonville’s Westside the perspectives nearly match perfectly the national mood. People have had enough. Enough big government, enough tax and spend, enough mismanagement (can you say Taj Mahal?); and enough oligarchy. People want their country back and they are in the mood to take it away from the politicians.
Interestingly, one of the most accurate pollsters in America today is a polling agency named Rasmussen. This agency’s polls have most accurately predicted the outcome of the past three national election cycles. Rasmussen found that there are two kinds of people in America today. The breakdown isn’t along racial lines, isn’t Republican or Democrat; it isn’t even conservative or liberal: The breakdown falls within the categories of “political” and “everyone else”. The “politicals” are more likely to throw money at issues as a cure, they’re more inclined to think “bringing home the political pork” is adequate reason to get re-elected; and they are more likely to consider the American people to be “dupes” “simpletons” and “easily bought”. The rest of Americans look at the Politicals with disdain and disgust.
That dynamic holds true here in Jacksonville Florida as well. A recent poll of Jacksonville residents found that only 24% think the Mayor, or their City Council-person understands who they are, or what their lives are like in this text-book Depression. Extravagant spending on the wrong programs; the Mayor saying that he doesn’t think he agrees with the “Big Government is bad” perspective; and City Councilmen high fiving each other for getting tax hikes passed when Jacksonville citizens are living through a financial nightmare. Jacksonville politicians have lost any and all relationship with those whom they are supposed to represent. Instead they choose to attempt to Rule over us.
The citizens of Jacksonville need to understand how this dynamic happened. As I delve deeper into the Jacksonville political system I run into people who use their power-brokerage as weapons of war. From pulling strings to get city contracts, to insisting that their friends run for City Council seats unopposed: these people have forgotten that Jacksonville is a City in America- not Cuba.
The answer is to look past the money the power brokers throw into elections. The answer is to find those who will represent the ideas of their districts and their city as a whole. The answer is to find the “anti-power broker” candidate, and elect that individual specifically to tell the Politicals that the citizens of Jacksonville have had enough. After all- it was THEIR appointees that have nearly bankrupted the city with out of control spending.
The measure of a candidate isn’t the ability to place more signs along the side of the road; but how well does he identify with those whom he wants to represent. The measure of a candidate is how far removed from the power-brokers is that candidate- and is therefore more closely related to the ideas of his constituency. The answer is to hire (elect) someone who isn’t a Political; but a part of the “Everyone else” category.
How does one determine who is and isn’t a Political? Look at their campaign donations. When you see multiple 3-figure donations; it’s reasonable to assume that candidate is being bought and paid for by power brokers. When you see union contributions, names of corporations; and prominent local names: the conclusion is obvious: “Bought and paid for by Politicals and will therefore continue to Rule Jacksonville instead of represent constituents”. That candidate, his backers; are the 24% who mean to rule the 76%. It’s Morning in America: it’s time to wake up.
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