There is a story, often told, that upon exiting the Constitutional Convention Benjamin Franklin was approached by a group of citizens asking what sort of government the delegates had created. His answer was: “A republic, if you can keep it.” The brevity of that response should not cause us to under-value its essential meaning: democratic republics are not merely founded upon the consent of the people, they are also absolutely dependent upon the active and informed involvement of the people for their continued good health.
With more than a year before the 2008 general election most citizens would be surprised to learn that their choice for candidates and if many cases the winner of several important elective offices has already been decided.
A couple of important dynamics contribute to this dilemma
First, because of the sophistication of political parties ability to gerrymander districts for the Ohio House of Representative, Ohio Senate and U.S. Congress many districts have been drawn in a way that pretty much assures the election of a democrat or a Republican. Very few dstrict’s are what would be considered “swing” districts.
Because of redistricting laws in Ohio, voters weren’t really choosing their representatives. The representatives are choosing their voters.
The current system encourages partisan gerrymandering. Gerrymandering is a controversial form of redistricting in which electoral district boundaries are manipulated for an unnatural electoral advantage, usually in the favor of incumbents or a specific political party. Gerrymandering is time honored. Eldridge Gerry, the governor of Massachusetts, used it in 1810 when he drew a district resembling a salamander. Today, computer technology and an increase in voters who identify with a particular party have made it much easier to exactly draw lines to achieve goals.
As a result, gerrymandering in Ohio has produced a Congressional delegation, and a State Senate and House of Representatives that are not representative of the political make-up of Ohio citizens. It has made it very difficult for opponents to unseat incumbents. And it has had a negative effect on voter turnout.
So for example. in the Ohio Senate 6th District currently held by Jeff Jacobson it will be very difficult, if not impossible, for a democrat to win. Likewise the Ohio House of Representatives the 36th, 37th and 38th districts currently held by Arlene Stetzer, John Husted and John White are solidly republican while the 39th and 40th districts currently held by Clayton Luckie and Fred Strahorn are solidly Democrat.
The 3rd U.S. Congressional District is so badly gerrymandered that Republican Mike Turner could be our congressman for life unless he messes-up.
So the bottom-line is extremely sophisticated gerrymandering has created a huge number of solidly republican or democrat districts in Dayton and across the state.
Second, fact that the local political parties hand pick their candidates and push out any potential challengers means we ultimately have very little or no choice.
The general election candidates in gerrymandered districts have been hand chosen by a very few political insiders. The people may think they have a choice but it is all a mirage.
Faced with this dilemma what are the people to do?
How can we, the people, preserve our democratic form of government?
Like any complex problem there are a number of different options to try and solve the problem.
One option DaytonOS has decided to try is supporting is the principle of “People Must Have a Choice”. If the people have no choice during the election process then our democracy is doomed.
DaytonOS will work to help citizens that want to run for political office, especially in gerrymandered districts, regardless of their political affiliation.
DaytonOS is looking for citizens willing to run for office in 2008 for the 3rd and 7th U.S. Congressional Districts, the 6th Ohio Senate District and the 36th, 37th, 38th, 39th, 40th and the 84th Ohio House District.
We will help you obtain, complete and file the candidate petition, we will help you keep the records of your campaign donations and expenses and file the necessary campaign expense reports. We will help all “grassroots candidates” promote their campaigns through web based technology and through traditional campaign activities.
Contact DaytonOS NOW! Time is running out to become a candidate for the 2008 election. If you are not interested or willing to run contact a friend that you think might be interested. help us ensure that the citizens of the Dayton regiona have a real choice to make in the primary and general election next year. Our democracy depends onit!
I believe there is a sizable number of voters, who previously have supported Mike Turner, who in the 2008 election will be inclined to vote against him. And more and more voters would turn against him — if they were to become educated about Turner’s voting record.
You suggest that Turner will never be defeated in his gerrymandered district “unless he messes-up.” But the truth is, he has already messed up — over and over again — because his votes have empowered the whole mess-up called the Republican agenda. Since Turner has been in office, to cite just one example, the national debt has grown by $3 trillion. This huge increase in debt is a huge problem and Turner’s votes in Congress makes him part of the problem — his votes have empowered this disturbing and dangerous gigantic increase in debt.
I think many voters are sick of high handed Republican incompetence in Washington and in Columbus and in 2008, I believe, many previous Republican voters will be looking for a reason to switch their vote. And at the state level, I feel, voters will be looking for a way to support our popular governor, Ted Strickland, and will be more inclined than ever to vote Democratic for Ohio House and Ohio Senate races because they will want to support his leadership.
Regardless of gerrymandering, it seems to me, democracy in Montgomery County has a good chance of showing new vigor in 2008. Dayton OS will be doing a huge service to our community, if it can help recruit good candidates and if it can become the alternative media source that will help introduce these candidates to the public, and help create meaningful discussion / public education about important issues facing our state and our country.
[...] Have you seen it yet? The DaytonOS is about grassroots democracy. What does that mean? They can fill you in on that here. But wait! There’s more! For a limited time only, if you are interested in running for an [...]
[...] December 6, 2007Run for Office “A Republic, If You Can Keep it!” (Grassroots Democracy) [...]
Filing Deadline for Partisan Candidates: January 4, 2008
Filing Deadline for Independents: March 3, 2008
Primary: March 4, 2008