--- Yoshie Furuhashi <furuhashi.1 at osu.edu> wrote:
> it
> doesn't
> make sense to run candidates only for school boards and city
> councils.
Yoshie, I think I followed you on most of your explanation, and I agree with your point about the notable differences at the national level, but I still have to disagree with you on this last bit quoted.
It does make sense to run candidates in the alleged non-partisan local elections which, historically, elect stealth social conservatives and green-leaning members alike to school boards and city councils for two reasons: it allows grassroot infiltration of progressive and leftist ideas which are assimilated into the mainstream, and it gives face/name recognition to candidates, which aids in their election to other local, state and, yes, eventually, national positions.
I agree that you don't want to *only* run candidates at local levels - too shortsighted - but I have to emphasize that having that strong local base, especially in metropolitan communities of any size is necessary for development and growth.
- Deborah R.
===== "If Jesus had been killed twenty years ago, Catholic school children would be wearing little electric chairs around their necks instead of crosses." - Lenny Bruce