I've been following a local race ...
I've been following a local race. A woman I know is running for office. I've known her for years. I say "known" because I've met her and spoken to her in various contexts over her career. Her family has been in this area for hundreds of years, and she's worked on their business. It's a old family name. I also know her from the university where she was a student, and later, and adjunct instructor in ethics.
She has always been non-partisan. In part because the positions she's held in local government are nonpartisan. There is no party primary for city council. People might have their views, but those who qualify are on the ballot. In part that's sort of her style. Working across differences to get things done. She has also served on various boards that span all sorts of civic activities, really just because she gives a shit. They aren't paid in most cases. How do I know? There's no money.
This scale of politics is something I've always been interested in. Largely because the issues directly impact me. At the level of the garbage picked up, cost of power. Development and this property taxes and values.
I've also appreciated this scale of politics because it's really been outside the division of mainstream politics. Candidates may certainly be more liberal or conservative, but the party talking points have largely not be a thing. Maybe I just didn't notice them.
The race in the media has been pretty copacetic, but it is interesting seeing candidates taking the "fake news" route. Accusing the local media of being political operatives. Even going as far as suggesting that other candidates are operatives within the local media. We're talking the local media that reports dumpster fires, school lunches, people's reactions to the city clearing trees in the margins of roads, planning to keep canopy roads. But no. Now they are part of the deep state. Well, maybe not the deep state, the deep town.
It's interesting seeing it get played out privately. In conversations with people, or in chatter in social media. All the techniques of media driven politics coming out. People calling her out for her looks-- she used to be pretty, now she's not. Sick? Alcoholic? Faith checking her. Pointing out that she is not on record about any number of things. Her position statements that she supports state and federal laws being morphed into a pro open border position, all sorts of LGBT positions-- pro and contra. Oh! What's her position on Trump? 6 January? Ukraine? Putin? And personal shit. Why is she single?. Why no kids? Is she a dyke? trans? She has become a handsome woman you know.
Not just her. Others as well. And other bizarrely distorted and amplified narratives. It's as if people are trying to graft the content and tone of national politics into these races, and it's really not taking. Not in a healthy way. But I really can't hate on people. This is what they train themselves to do watching media boutiques and social media.
It’s all really disgusting.
She has always been non-partisan. In part because the positions she's held in local government are nonpartisan. There is no party primary for city council. People might have their views, but those who qualify are on the ballot. In part that's sort of her style. Working across differences to get things done. She has also served on various boards that span all sorts of civic activities, really just because she gives a shit. They aren't paid in most cases. How do I know? There's no money.
This scale of politics is something I've always been interested in. Largely because the issues directly impact me. At the level of the garbage picked up, cost of power. Development and this property taxes and values.
I've also appreciated this scale of politics because it's really been outside the division of mainstream politics. Candidates may certainly be more liberal or conservative, but the party talking points have largely not be a thing. Maybe I just didn't notice them.
The race in the media has been pretty copacetic, but it is interesting seeing candidates taking the "fake news" route. Accusing the local media of being political operatives. Even going as far as suggesting that other candidates are operatives within the local media. We're talking the local media that reports dumpster fires, school lunches, people's reactions to the city clearing trees in the margins of roads, planning to keep canopy roads. But no. Now they are part of the deep state. Well, maybe not the deep state, the deep town.
It's interesting seeing it get played out privately. In conversations with people, or in chatter in social media. All the techniques of media driven politics coming out. People calling her out for her looks-- she used to be pretty, now she's not. Sick? Alcoholic? Faith checking her. Pointing out that she is not on record about any number of things. Her position statements that she supports state and federal laws being morphed into a pro open border position, all sorts of LGBT positions-- pro and contra. Oh! What's her position on Trump? 6 January? Ukraine? Putin? And personal shit. Why is she single?. Why no kids? Is she a dyke? trans? She has become a handsome woman you know.
Not just her. Others as well. And other bizarrely distorted and amplified narratives. It's as if people are trying to graft the content and tone of national politics into these races, and it's really not taking. Not in a healthy way. But I really can't hate on people. This is what they train themselves to do watching media boutiques and social media.
It’s all really disgusting.
