24
Sep
2002
Iowa candidates for public office should be ashamed for not filling out Project Vote Smart's National Political Awareness Test (NPAT). What message does it send to voters when our incumbents and challengers are unwilling to share their views with voters? And what does it say about the parties and political consultants who discourage candidates from such basic disclosure? This refusal to inform voters is part of the systemic problem that perpetuates lack of accountability of the body politic. But it is only the electorate that can create the necessary change by bringing undiluted pressure to bear on any candidate who refuses to respond to a survey as respected, non-partisan, unbiased, thorough, and informative as that of Project Vote Smart's NPAT.
It is important to note that the NPAT survey is one in many such efforts by Project Vote Smart (PVS) to inform the nation's electorate. Incumbents' voting records are online for voters to review at any time. The information available at PVS's site includes major contributors to the candidates' campaigns, a record of every vote made by the incumbent candidates, including how they voted in relation to special interest groups, as well as those issues near and dear to the major contributors of each candidate's campaign. It is invaluable information.
The NPAT survey, however, provides an opportunity to hear directly from the candidate. It is a reliable format that allows the candidate to accurately reflect his or her position on more complex or controversial issues. Therefore, refusing to participate is nothing short of political cowardice. Candidates do not want to go on record with their views or positions because, should they abdicate them in the future, they do not want to be held accountable for the betrayal. Also, there might be positions or views that the candidate does not want the electorate to know in fear that it would hurt his or her chances for election. This is no less cowardly and is actually deceitful. Candidates should stand on their own merit. Whether they support or oppose an issue is part of each candidate's political composition. To hide views reflects a complete lack of leadership. A candidate should be able to justify a position he or she has with good sense and even better science. At a minimum, trust will be instilled even if the candidate can't sell the particular issue that might create objections.
Those candidates who vote with special-interest groups, or who have a personal agenda, cannot bear the scrutiny of something as comprehensive as the NPAT. Their fear of such disclosure is well-founded because these political rats will be exposed with such a thorough process. So the strategy becomes one of stonewalling. The parties' only concern is to get their candidates elected - good, bad, or ugly. If a strategy of stonewalling protects those candidates who might not be very qualified, or whose views don't perfectly reflect the parties' line, then so be it. This posture could very well be the beginning of the end for parties because it reveals the lack of political integrity voters are tiring of. In Scott County alone, the large majority of voters are registered Independents, and that list is growing.
Until the two major parties return to a genuine regard for the state of the union versus the narrow mission of getting their party candidates elected come hell or high water, then the exodus of registered voters from the parties will continue. Still, the consequences remain minor. Only when voters start wielding their political power through their individual votes will this country's body politic change. Currently, only a small minority of voters actual vote in every election. The parties and political consultants know exactly who they are and focus all their energy on this group. There is very little effort spent attracting new voters to the polls. In fact, the consultants and campaign managers count on those folks staying home. In other words, they know who those voters are, too, and their civic laziness is factored into the equation for winning elections. So don't ever think for a moment that your vote doesn't matter. Every single vote carries the weight of political success or failure.
Illinois QC Chamber Celebrates the "Art of Business"
Last week, the Illinois Quad City Chamber of Commerce (IQCCC) held its annual business meeting at The Mark. It was a special event as annual chamber meetings go because of its creative and festive theme: The Art of Business.
The IQCCC partnered with MidCoast Fine Arts, which founded the Arts Mecca initiative to make the Quad Cities region a Midwest destination for the arts. MidCoast recognized the collective talent and strength of the myriad arts organizations in the QCs - combined with economic imperatives embraced by the business community to bring new development that emphasized a high-paying, creative, and progressive work force - as the key to the continued growth and stability of our community. The Arts Mecca initiative is designed to create brand awareness for the Quad Cities as just such a place, where economics and the arts are inseparable as a model for sustained prosperity.
The IQCCC demonstrated its support of this initiative through the presentation, celebration, and advocacy of nearly a dozen different visual and performing arts organizations that presented at the event last Thursday evening. It was nothing short of delightful, and thrilling to know we have such an inventory of exceptionally talented people, young and old alike. It is also exciting to think that this was just a small sampling of the deep culture available in the QCs. Thanks to MidCoast Fine Arts, whose mission is to bring art where the people are, for its steadfast efforts to bring collective recognition to the arts community, and for understanding the dynamic relationships possible through ongoing partnerships with such creative, progressive, and emerging business and community leaders such as the Illinois QC Chamber of Commerce.
It is important to note that the NPAT survey is one in many such efforts by Project Vote Smart (PVS) to inform the nation's electorate. Incumbents' voting records are online for voters to review at any time. The information available at PVS's site includes major contributors to the candidates' campaigns, a record of every vote made by the incumbent candidates, including how they voted in relation to special interest groups, as well as those issues near and dear to the major contributors of each candidate's campaign. It is invaluable information.
The NPAT survey, however, provides an opportunity to hear directly from the candidate. It is a reliable format that allows the candidate to accurately reflect his or her position on more complex or controversial issues. Therefore, refusing to participate is nothing short of political cowardice. Candidates do not want to go on record with their views or positions because, should they abdicate them in the future, they do not want to be held accountable for the betrayal. Also, there might be positions or views that the candidate does not want the electorate to know in fear that it would hurt his or her chances for election. This is no less cowardly and is actually deceitful. Candidates should stand on their own merit. Whether they support or oppose an issue is part of each candidate's political composition. To hide views reflects a complete lack of leadership. A candidate should be able to justify a position he or she has with good sense and even better science. At a minimum, trust will be instilled even if the candidate can't sell the particular issue that might create objections.
Those candidates who vote with special-interest groups, or who have a personal agenda, cannot bear the scrutiny of something as comprehensive as the NPAT. Their fear of such disclosure is well-founded because these political rats will be exposed with such a thorough process. So the strategy becomes one of stonewalling. The parties' only concern is to get their candidates elected - good, bad, or ugly. If a strategy of stonewalling protects those candidates who might not be very qualified, or whose views don't perfectly reflect the parties' line, then so be it. This posture could very well be the beginning of the end for parties because it reveals the lack of political integrity voters are tiring of. In Scott County alone, the large majority of voters are registered Independents, and that list is growing.
Until the two major parties return to a genuine regard for the state of the union versus the narrow mission of getting their party candidates elected come hell or high water, then the exodus of registered voters from the parties will continue. Still, the consequences remain minor. Only when voters start wielding their political power through their individual votes will this country's body politic change. Currently, only a small minority of voters actual vote in every election. The parties and political consultants know exactly who they are and focus all their energy on this group. There is very little effort spent attracting new voters to the polls. In fact, the consultants and campaign managers count on those folks staying home. In other words, they know who those voters are, too, and their civic laziness is factored into the equation for winning elections. So don't ever think for a moment that your vote doesn't matter. Every single vote carries the weight of political success or failure.
Illinois QC Chamber Celebrates the "Art of Business"
Last week, the Illinois Quad City Chamber of Commerce (IQCCC) held its annual business meeting at The Mark. It was a special event as annual chamber meetings go because of its creative and festive theme: The Art of Business.
The IQCCC partnered with MidCoast Fine Arts, which founded the Arts Mecca initiative to make the Quad Cities region a Midwest destination for the arts. MidCoast recognized the collective talent and strength of the myriad arts organizations in the QCs - combined with economic imperatives embraced by the business community to bring new development that emphasized a high-paying, creative, and progressive work force - as the key to the continued growth and stability of our community. The Arts Mecca initiative is designed to create brand awareness for the Quad Cities as just such a place, where economics and the arts are inseparable as a model for sustained prosperity.
The IQCCC demonstrated its support of this initiative through the presentation, celebration, and advocacy of nearly a dozen different visual and performing arts organizations that presented at the event last Thursday evening. It was nothing short of delightful, and thrilling to know we have such an inventory of exceptionally talented people, young and old alike. It is also exciting to think that this was just a small sampling of the deep culture available in the QCs. Thanks to MidCoast Fine Arts, whose mission is to bring art where the people are, for its steadfast efforts to bring collective recognition to the arts community, and for understanding the dynamic relationships possible through ongoing partnerships with such creative, progressive, and emerging business and community leaders such as the Illinois QC Chamber of Commerce.
