Millennial Donkey
Some small government conservatives are right now pushing for counties, not the state government, to control all policy behind public educations. What this would mean would be an end to graduation standards, universal testing, etc.
Progressives are right now pushing for an abandonment of universal testing, which they see as an ineffective measure of teacher performance.
For better or for worse, why aren't these two movements converging as a united voice?
I think it could be very well that, as much as these groups disdain the current Race to the Top-esque reformist efforts, they don't have much of a response of other policy avenues.
Just a thought...
Progressives are right now pushing for an abandonment of universal testing, which they see as an ineffective measure of teacher performance.
For better or for worse, why aren't these two movements converging as a united voice?
I think it could be very well that, as much as these groups disdain the current Race to the Top-esque reformist efforts, they don't have much of a response of other policy avenues.
Just a thought...
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Millennial Donkey
After Carole Porter threw her hat in the ring to run as the Democratic candidate for Lt. Governor, all eyes are on Commissioner Thurmond to see if he will enter the race as some have speculated he might.
I would contend that Porter's entrance into the race makes a Thurmond candidacy less likely. Porter will have support from a broad coalition of people. True, Thurmond could assemble such a coalition, too. But he hasn't yet for such a run. My hunch is that a candidate like Commissioner Thurmond who has yet to enter this race to run against Lt. Governor Cagle in a fairly advantageous context already is less likely to do so when the idea of a competitive primary season presents itself.
Though I think Porter benefits from not being a politician and emerging from a rural background as well as a businesswoman's background, there'll be a lack of fundamental Name ID.
Also, how will she and Barnes tag-team well in the general election if Governor Barnes had just spent his time defeating her husband in the gubernatorial primary?
I would contend that Porter's entrance into the race makes a Thurmond candidacy less likely. Porter will have support from a broad coalition of people. True, Thurmond could assemble such a coalition, too. But he hasn't yet for such a run. My hunch is that a candidate like Commissioner Thurmond who has yet to enter this race to run against Lt. Governor Cagle in a fairly advantageous context already is less likely to do so when the idea of a competitive primary season presents itself.
Though I think Porter benefits from not being a politician and emerging from a rural background as well as a businesswoman's background, there'll be a lack of fundamental Name ID.
Also, how will she and Barnes tag-team well in the general election if Governor Barnes had just spent his time defeating her husband in the gubernatorial primary?
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Millennial Donkey
Mayor Reed has already begun to establish his legacy as one of the most effective mayors yet.
Why? Looking at his organization of his search committees, he has reached into every niche of Atlantan political life and culture possible.
By making the decisions in consultation with his possible political rivals, he's made everyone have ownership in the success of his Administration.
My only concern remaining, however, is that I'm not positive that Mayor Reed has conclusively communicated to his constituents what he will deliver to them besides his recreational center program. And if voters don't know what to measure his success on, they cannot effectively determine whether to give him another term.
In that line of thought, I would think it would be wise if Mayor Reed took a stronger economic emphasis on his vision for Atlanta.
Why? Looking at his organization of his search committees, he has reached into every niche of Atlantan political life and culture possible.
By making the decisions in consultation with his possible political rivals, he's made everyone have ownership in the success of his Administration.
My only concern remaining, however, is that I'm not positive that Mayor Reed has conclusively communicated to his constituents what he will deliver to them besides his recreational center program. And if voters don't know what to measure his success on, they cannot effectively determine whether to give him another term.
In that line of thought, I would think it would be wise if Mayor Reed took a stronger economic emphasis on his vision for Atlanta.
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Millennial Donkey
As far as I see it, there are 3 inherent compromises made a part of this transportation funding package:
1) Tax regions, not the state. So if I'm not spending in Atlanta, I'm not paying for Atlanta transportation.
2) Make the voters OK the proposal twice--once statewide and once in their respective region. Should it be that hard to enact a funding mechanism that there is broad political consensus that it is necessary?
3) The tax ends after a certain number of years. So, according to our state's policymakers, our sprawl and traffic issue is not a long-term issue but just a short-term obstacle. And so at a certain point this tax will expire and we'll return to our current levels of spending.
Are these three issues just the necessary compromises in securing funding for transportation? Or are the issues these compromises skirt around so crucial that it significantly reduces the efficacy of the legislation?
1) Tax regions, not the state. So if I'm not spending in Atlanta, I'm not paying for Atlanta transportation.
2) Make the voters OK the proposal twice--once statewide and once in their respective region. Should it be that hard to enact a funding mechanism that there is broad political consensus that it is necessary?
3) The tax ends after a certain number of years. So, according to our state's policymakers, our sprawl and traffic issue is not a long-term issue but just a short-term obstacle. And so at a certain point this tax will expire and we'll return to our current levels of spending.
Are these three issues just the necessary compromises in securing funding for transportation? Or are the issues these compromises skirt around so crucial that it significantly reduces the efficacy of the legislation?
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Millennial Donkey
Governor Perdue has released a proposal to shake up the way government works.
Not a shocker, considering his similar plans through the Commission for a New Georgia and his GDOT reforms.
But what is shocking this time around? His reforms could be really -- for lack of a better word -- sensible.
If you dislike idea of citizens being able to vote on fewer things, this proposal is not for you. But, consider this-- California's citizens get to vote on many, many initiatives and propositions but still have a fairly dysfunctional government. So a longer ballot does not mean a smarter government.
But, as was wisely said on the Georgia Gang today by I believe Phil Kent, making the Governor the manager of a cabinet makes him accountable for education and food safety in a way he's already responsible for transportation and water. And, with Governor Perdue's proposal, the properly independent roles of Secretary of State and Attorney General are preserved as independent of the Governor.
We Democrats wish Republicans on Capitol Hill would support common sense ideas once in a while that everyone should be able to agree on. We should act as we hope the Republicans nationally should act and support this proposal. If voters see a bipartisan acceptance of this idea, they will accept it as well.
Not a shocker, considering his similar plans through the Commission for a New Georgia and his GDOT reforms.
But what is shocking this time around? His reforms could be really -- for lack of a better word -- sensible.
If you dislike idea of citizens being able to vote on fewer things, this proposal is not for you. But, consider this-- California's citizens get to vote on many, many initiatives and propositions but still have a fairly dysfunctional government. So a longer ballot does not mean a smarter government.
But, as was wisely said on the Georgia Gang today by I believe Phil Kent, making the Governor the manager of a cabinet makes him accountable for education and food safety in a way he's already responsible for transportation and water. And, with Governor Perdue's proposal, the properly independent roles of Secretary of State and Attorney General are preserved as independent of the Governor.
We Democrats wish Republicans on Capitol Hill would support common sense ideas once in a while that everyone should be able to agree on. We should act as we hope the Republicans nationally should act and support this proposal. If voters see a bipartisan acceptance of this idea, they will accept it as well.
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Millennial Donkey
Two interesting thoughts about the upcoming elections:
1) Almost every single statewide elected office is not being sought by its current holder in the upcoming elections.
So in a time of economic uncertainty, we in 2010 will be having a new slate of officeholders many of whom might be still beginning to implement their agenda and fully realize the reality of their office's full nature.
2) In contrast to this possible trend, Secretary Kemp will be running for re-election as an incumbent.
Is this an advantage or disadvantage for Secretary Kemp?
1) Almost every single statewide elected office is not being sought by its current holder in the upcoming elections.
So in a time of economic uncertainty, we in 2010 will be having a new slate of officeholders many of whom might be still beginning to implement their agenda and fully realize the reality of their office's full nature.
2) In contrast to this possible trend, Secretary Kemp will be running for re-election as an incumbent.
Is this an advantage or disadvantage for Secretary Kemp?
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Millennial Donkey
So far, Governor Barnes is leading in his party's primary and Commissioner Oxendine is leading in his party's primary.
What do these two men share? They are both in their respective primaries one of the longer-serving statewide elected officials.
As 2010 rolls around, why are Georgian voters turning to the candidates they feel most familiar with in an unusually tumultuous political environment and economic environment?
Or is this pattern just a coincidence? Are Governor Barnes and Commissioner Oxendine just coincidentally the most compelling candidates in their respective primaries?
I am surprised that voters still have such a strong Name ID association with a governor from almost a decade ago, but Governor Barnes poll numbers have proven me wrong so far. And though Commissioner Oxendine has served for quite a while, I'm shocked that voters don't have any sort of allegiance to Secretary Handel.
Just a thought...
What do these two men share? They are both in their respective primaries one of the longer-serving statewide elected officials.
As 2010 rolls around, why are Georgian voters turning to the candidates they feel most familiar with in an unusually tumultuous political environment and economic environment?
Or is this pattern just a coincidence? Are Governor Barnes and Commissioner Oxendine just coincidentally the most compelling candidates in their respective primaries?
I am surprised that voters still have such a strong Name ID association with a governor from almost a decade ago, but Governor Barnes poll numbers have proven me wrong so far. And though Commissioner Oxendine has served for quite a while, I'm shocked that voters don't have any sort of allegiance to Secretary Handel.
Just a thought...
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Millennial Donkey
Right now, with all of the conversations about ethics in Georgia, there are two tracks that the ethics reform conversation is happening on: more intense disclosure and transparency rules and rules about gifts from lobbyists.
But there are other conversation that just aren't occurring. I am surprised that the public hasn't pressured politicians to explore the relationship between donated campaign money and influence on policymakers. Though I am ambivalent about the idea of term limits, I am shocked that that idea hasn't bubbled into the public discourse.
Though I am surprised that those two conversations have not arisen, there is another conversation that I don't think will ever arise but in my opinion is the most significant variable: citizens feeling able to extend their political will into the legislature so that the will of special interests does not overpower the voice of citizens (though special interests also represent citizens and should be able to have their voice heard, too).
In a country where people feel confused about what health reform does and doesn't include, can we expect citizens to be able to keep tabs on their county commissioner, county chairman, attorney general, city councilman, mayor, Secretary of State, Insurance & Fire Safety Commissioner, Lt. Governor, state senator, state representative, governor, agricultural commissioner, labor commissioner, superintendent, and every other elected official?
I can't help but wonder whether citizens have so much on their civic "plate" that their elected representatives feel more beholden to the lobbyists than to their constituents.
Maybe that means we need a more robust local journalism or maybe that means constituents should just have to vote for one legislator instead of a state senator and state representative, but there needs to be a recalibration of how our government represents its citizens so that its citizens may be able to develop and have implemented their political will in Georgia.
But there are other conversation that just aren't occurring. I am surprised that the public hasn't pressured politicians to explore the relationship between donated campaign money and influence on policymakers. Though I am ambivalent about the idea of term limits, I am shocked that that idea hasn't bubbled into the public discourse.
Though I am surprised that those two conversations have not arisen, there is another conversation that I don't think will ever arise but in my opinion is the most significant variable: citizens feeling able to extend their political will into the legislature so that the will of special interests does not overpower the voice of citizens (though special interests also represent citizens and should be able to have their voice heard, too).
In a country where people feel confused about what health reform does and doesn't include, can we expect citizens to be able to keep tabs on their county commissioner, county chairman, attorney general, city councilman, mayor, Secretary of State, Insurance & Fire Safety Commissioner, Lt. Governor, state senator, state representative, governor, agricultural commissioner, labor commissioner, superintendent, and every other elected official?
I can't help but wonder whether citizens have so much on their civic "plate" that their elected representatives feel more beholden to the lobbyists than to their constituents.
Maybe that means we need a more robust local journalism or maybe that means constituents should just have to vote for one legislator instead of a state senator and state representative, but there needs to be a recalibration of how our government represents its citizens so that its citizens may be able to develop and have implemented their political will in Georgia.
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Millennial Donkey
According to Jim Galloway, Vernon Jones is now running against Congressman Hank Johnson in the 4th District.
With this news, I have a few natural questions:
1) Does Vernon Jones still have a name ID?
2) And if he does, how is he thought of in that district?
3) How does he in a liberal district run as a formerly conservative Democrat with a Congressman who has largely acted adeptly and in sync with his constituents?
This does, of course, make me wonder if Denise Majette and/or Cynthia McKinney would consider running for the seat again...
With this news, I have a few natural questions:
1) Does Vernon Jones still have a name ID?
2) And if he does, how is he thought of in that district?
3) How does he in a liberal district run as a formerly conservative Democrat with a Congressman who has largely acted adeptly and in sync with his constituents?
This does, of course, make me wonder if Denise Majette and/or Cynthia McKinney would consider running for the seat again...
Published in
Millennial Donkey
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