Monday, November 22, 2004
What's Our Issue 1?
Jene Galvin and Jerry Springer
I want to thank Jene Galvin for pushing me to write about ballot initiatives. I've been meaning to do this for quite some time but never got around to it. Saturday, Jene, who runs Jerry Springer's JerryForOhio.com and MakeOhioBlue.com websites asked "What's Our Issue 1?":
Republicans are smart. They know that a candidate who sponsors a ballot initiative that catches on with voters is almost guaranteed a win because he sets the agenda (everyone is debating his/her proposal), they get plenty of free face time to discuss their issue, they get the benefit of organizing the petition drive (somebody has to collect all of those signatures), and if the initiative is popular it helps mobilize the base who, of course, vote for the genius who put the initiative on the ballot. Think back -- Jim Tarbell, Phil Heimlich, and Charlie Winburn all used ballot initiatives to help them get elected to City Council. And that's one reason Ken Blackwell is pushing his tax reform ballot initiative.
Now for those of you who don't know, Jene Galvin is to Jerry Springer what Karl Rove is to George Bush. (Well, not exaclty ... but close.) So, Springer wants to be Ohio's next Governor and Jene wants to know what he can do to help. (Again, not exactly ... but close.) I know! What about a ballot initiative??? But... what's the issue?
Jene Galvin wrote this:
I'll gladly give Karl Rove props for conjuring a ballot issue that drove out the necessary evangelical votes to win close elections in battleground states. In Ohio, that was Issue 1, which said marriage is only between a man and woman.
Rove sought an emotional question that would pull out some people that research said had been soft in recent presidential elections. And the issue had to be one that would slide some votes over to Bush as well. He picked a winner, and it was part of his victory in Ohio.
So, with 2006 being an opportunity for Democrats to shove Ohio's hot mess down Republicans' throats in state elections, is there a ballot issue that could spike one of our natural constituencies? On Nov. 2, our inner city voters performed at about the 60% level while suburban, mostly Republican voters, came out in the high 70s.
So would an Ohio minimum wage proposal do it? Or a demand that schools be funded equitably?
Or is there a ballot issue that would draw out huge numbers of college students, one, say, dealing with rising tuition costs?
What would you propose?
Like I said, Galvin doesn't come right out and ask what ballot initiative Jerry Springer should back but we know the deal. And, I don't mind offering my suggestions.
But before I do, I've got to get this off my chest. Karl Rove and George W. Bush did more than just put initiatives on the ballot. For years, Republicans had ignored, or in some cases fought with, Christian conservatives. These people didn't feel appreciated by the Party and stayed out of politics. Rove/Bush reached out to their base, listened to their concerns, and became advocates for their causes. Those Evangelical Christians are now a solid and reliable block in the Republican Party's base.
Contrast that with the Democratic Party where African Americans are, if not the most loyal, certainly one of the most loyal base constituents the Party has ever had. For years, African Americans have been complaining about how they are treated by the Democratic Party. But there has never been an effort made by the Democratic Party to address these problems. They just take Black people and our votes for granted. When is the last time the Hamilton County or Ohio Democratic Party reached out and listened to our concerns? When's the last time Tim Burke or Denny White had a town hall meeting to listen to us? Democrats don't do anything to recruit new people into the Party. Even worse, I can tell you true stories of African Americans in Cincinnati who have tried to get involved in the Democratic Party but found themselves being turned away. One of them is Councilman Sam Malone. And, unfortunately, the Jene Galvins and Jerry Springers of the world -- who are respected in the Party, have the leaderships ear and could talks some sense into them -- haven't said or done anything to change this. Then the Party wonders why turnout among city voters and African Americans isn't as high as the folks in the suburbs. So, ballot initiatives are a good idea but they won't solve the problem which is systematic exclusion of all but a few well-connected folks in the Party. That ends my lecture for the day. Now let me give a few suggestions on ballot initiatives.
These aren't in any particular order of importance.
But before I do, I've got to get this off my chest. Karl Rove and George W. Bush did more than just put initiatives on the ballot. For years, Republicans had ignored, or in some cases fought with, Christian conservatives. These people didn't feel appreciated by the Party and stayed out of politics. Rove/Bush reached out to their base, listened to their concerns, and became advocates for their causes. Those Evangelical Christians are now a solid and reliable block in the Republican Party's base.
Contrast that with the Democratic Party where African Americans are, if not the most loyal, certainly one of the most loyal base constituents the Party has ever had. For years, African Americans have been complaining about how they are treated by the Democratic Party. But there has never been an effort made by the Democratic Party to address these problems. They just take Black people and our votes for granted. When is the last time the Hamilton County or Ohio Democratic Party reached out and listened to our concerns? When's the last time Tim Burke or Denny White had a town hall meeting to listen to us? Democrats don't do anything to recruit new people into the Party. Even worse, I can tell you true stories of African Americans in Cincinnati who have tried to get involved in the Democratic Party but found themselves being turned away. One of them is Councilman Sam Malone. And, unfortunately, the Jene Galvins and Jerry Springers of the world -- who are respected in the Party, have the leaderships ear and could talks some sense into them -- haven't said or done anything to change this. Then the Party wonders why turnout among city voters and African Americans isn't as high as the folks in the suburbs. So, ballot initiatives are a good idea but they won't solve the problem which is systematic exclusion of all but a few well-connected folks in the Party. That ends my lecture for the day. Now let me give a few suggestions on ballot initiatives.
These aren't in any particular order of importance.
- Clean Energy - On election day, while "gay marriage" amendments were passing in 11 states including Ohio, the people of Colorado passed Amendment 37 requiring the state's largest utility companies to increase their use of renewable sources from less than 2% today to 10% by 2015. There are soooo many good reasons to do this I can't name them all - health, environment, etc. And the debate would fire up many traditional Democratic voters who rightly believe we've morphed into Republicans. Of course the big business polluters will fight such a proposal using every fear tactic ever invented but with high outrageous energy costs already people will listen to reason. And so what they've got money, we've got people. If it's done right, we win and so does the environment.
- Health Care - There is already a move to make medical care a public service. I've gotta tell you, I think Democrats focus too much on health care and they don't do it right. Health care is just not a winner. Everytime I hear Steve or Alicia Reece say "the #1 cause of death is health" (whatever that means) it let's me know that they don't understand the issue and neither do most people. Besides, I think the numbers are inflated. During the last election, the Enquirer contacted me and asked for my opinion on Kerry's vs. Bush's health care plan. I declined to participate. I've actually had times when I had three separate health care plans -- two from my employer and 1 from the VA. Still, I could be wrong. This might be a great issue. People might really need the coverage. This might encourage them to vote.
- High Speed Light Rail - Light rail isn't just for people who like nice choo choo trains, it's about jobs, mobility, and economic development. For as long as I can remember there have been proposals to bring high speed light rail (I'm not even sure if this qualifies as light rail) to Ohio and connect Ohio's major cities. I haven't finished reading through the Ohio Rail Development Commission's study but what I have read has caught my attention. People want to feel like they are moving into the future and helping advance society for their children. High Speed Light Rail could work on a state level and help encourage local municipalities to build companion rail lines.
- Jobs with Justice - I don't remember exactly who was responsible for trying to put the Jobs with Justice petition on the ballot. It might have been the Cleveland Jobs with Justice group, or Justice Watch, or the Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center, or maybe the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Whoever it was, about 10 years ago they were circulating a petition to have the state create and support jobs with justice after poor people were kicked off Welfare. The theory was that the State of Ohio would pay people to rebuild the State's infrastructure. It's been long enough that I don't remember how they proposed to do this but the thought was a good one.
- Eliminate Property Taxes for School Funding - In March 1994, Michigan voters approved a 2% sales tax increase that replaced about 2/3 of the local school property tax. Yeah, I know sales taxes are the most regressive taxes possible and hurt the poor but I also know property owners shouldn't have to be the only people paying for public education when everyone benefits from it. If everyone benefits (or has the potential to benefit) then everyone should pay. I don't say follow Michigan's example and go to sales taxes for education, I do think, however, that creative Democrats have an opportunity to change the way we fund public schools. If Democrats do this, they will find support not just among city dwellers but also among rural and suburban voters who have left our party in search of reformers. Property taxes are a sore spot with people and should be addressed. A great opportunity to bring people back to our side.
- Affirmative Action - Among the most divisive issues in our nation are guns, God, gays, and race. Why don't Democrats beat Republicans to the punch on this one. Place an initiative on the ballot that does away with ALL preferences - race, gender, veteran's status, The initiative will never pass.
