Here is a copy of the letter I sent to Ms. Eleanor Robinson of Charles City County to be read on my behalf at the Candidate Forum held at the Charles City County Government Complex on Friday, October 19, 2007.
I do not know for sure if my prepared comments were read. I also sent along 30 pamphlets.
Dear Ms. Robinson,
Thank you for the opportunity to have my comments read during the Charles City County 2007 Candidate Forum. Thank you also for helping to organize such an event. It is only the second forum of the campaign that I am aware of being held. Sadly, citizens don't get many opportunities to hear directly from candidates. That is why I deeply regret not being able to join you on Friday night. I have prepared an opening statement.
Thank you again for the invitation to speak and I hope we have the opportunity to meet under more favorable conditions.
Respectfully yours, Silver Persinger
* * * * * * * * * OPENING STATEMENT * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
I regret that I am unable to join you tonight. However, Ms. Robinson has kindly offered to read written comments that I send to her.
I know very little about Charles City County, the first time I visited was about 6 weeks ago. I am impressed by its natural beauty. It seems like all I saw was farmland, plantations, and a few small houses. Oh yes, and I saw the landfill and the new school and the Government complex. I regret that I do not know more about Charles City. However, I am asking for your votes, people of Charles City County.
Let me tell you about myself. I am 35 years old. I work at the Library of Virginia preparing old newspapers for microfilming. I have worked as a carpenter, a cook, and in other service jobs. I have never earned more than $23,000 in a year. I am a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with an English degree.
Now I will talk about my politics. I call myself a Socialist. By that I mean, I think government should do more to help people. For example, the United States is the only western, industrialized nation that doesn't have universal health care. I believe everyone should have health care. Likewise, I believe that everyone should have opportunities for education and job training without having to go into debt for it.
I believe our economic system is fundamentally flawed. Our government creates the economic conditions we live under. If President Bush wants to cut taxes for the rich while simultaneously borrowing extravagantly to finance two wars, those are policy decisions that have a very real effect on the level of services provided by our government.
In a democracy, the people have the power to elect their officials. Therefore, it is the people who can effect the political changes necessary to change our economic system. Now might be a good time to say, for more information about my campaign in detail go to my website, www.votesilver.com. I have also sent along pamphlets that should be available.
Here are a few of the issues I am running on. I advocate Instant Run-off voting as a more democratic vote counting method. In Instant Run-off voting, for elections with more than 2 candidates, you vote your first, second, and third choice of candidate. If no candidate receives over 50% of the vote, the candidate with the fewest number of votes is dropped from the ballot and everyone who had that candidate for their first choice, their second choice is then counted and you end up with a majority candidate. I also favor introducing the use of the citizen initiated ballot initiative, the referendum, recall elections, and term limits. These are tools which promote democracy and involvement in the governmental process by our citizens.
I want to repeal the Dillon Rule. For those that are not familiar with the Dillon Rule, it is a concept of government which says that localities don't have the authority to do anything that isn't expressly granted to the locality through its charter. Virginia is a Dillon Rule state, and only six states in the nation use the Dillon Rule. I favor giving localities more power to determine their laws and their form of government.
I support the election of judges at the local and state level. Why should the third branch of government be exempt from democracy? These positions are clearly not apolitical.
One item in my platform calls for a 5 year moratorium on the development of undeveloped land. Even if I were elected, it is highly unlikely the General Assembly would support such a proposal. I am interested in hearing from the people of Charles City on this particular issue since you are seeing encroaching development.
Charles City's inclusion in the district is relatively recent but you may be interested to learn that the last time there was more than one name on the ballot for this Senate seat was in 1967. There's so much I haven't had an opportunity to say. I am very active at Richmond City Council. If you ever watch, it's likely you've seen me speak.
Time is short, so I will say thank you for your time and consideration. I am eager to serve you.
I am more than happy to answer your questions by phone, letter, or email. My contact information is on the back of my pamphlet. But here it is also. My phone number is 804-683-7845. You can write me at PO Box 4299 Richmond, VA 23220. Or you can email me at silver@6hourday.org
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
One more week to go!
I don't think I'm power-hungry enough run an effective campaign for office. I have been a bare minimum candidate. The least any candidate had do to qualify and run for office is to file 250 signatures of registered voters on petitions by June 12, requesting your name to appear on the ballot. And I have made periodic filings of campaign finace reports which is basically once a month, in the middle of the month, except an additional report that was due at October 29. I filed that one yesterday with the State Board of Elections and the Richmond Registrar's Office.
Again, I got crummy service from the State Board of Elections. I want to write the Secretary of the Board of Elections to complain about the times when I have turned in my Finance Reports. Yesterday, I received a hard time for requesting a written receipt. Admittedly, when I filed my report in mid-October I didn't get harassed for requesting a written receipt and the person was kind and helpful.
Much has happened since my last blog entry. I joined the Socialist Party in mid-September. I attended their Presidential nominating convention in St. Louis, Oct. 19 -21. I was nominated for the party's National Committee and received 10 votes from 48 delegates.
I haven't done any door to door campaigning. I felt a little overburdened by the size of the district though it included areas of the the 5th and 6 districts that I am familar with -- the district has over 100,000 registered voters. My campaign has primarily consisted of updating my website/blogging, answering surveys sent by special interest groups, attending forums (there's only been one held at U of R, on Sept. 27), and questioning by the Crusade for Voters Candidate Research Committee. Other events included getting interviewed by local NPR radio newscaster, Wayne Farrar and Jennifer Massey for Comcast's "Candidates on Demand." I also attended the grand opening of the new visitor center in Charles City and sent a speech to be read at a cadidate forum held at the Charles City County Government Complex on the night of October 19.
There have been a few encouraging moments in the campaign. Maybe four or five. However, I have been greatly disappointed by the media coverage of the contest. The Times-Dispatch has written nothing of the race, despite the fact that it is the first time in 40 years (!) the seat has been contested. For the last 36 years the only names on the ballot were either Wilder's or Lambert's. The Free Press to their great shame has made no reference to me in its columns, aside from the statement it's June 14 article discussing McEachin's victory over Lambert in the June 12 Primary: "With the Democratic Party nomination in hand, the 46-year-old Delegate McEachin is a shoo-in to win the November general election and to take office in January. No republican candidate is vying for the seat, nor any well-funded independents."
That's me -- the non-well funded independent. And I see from McEachin's expenditures, he has paid out $7,690 to the Free Press for "Advertizing." [As of Oct. 15, 2007 report.] That made my blood boil when I first read it. How undemocratic, how capitalistic, and how tyrranical! All horrible qualities for a newspaper.
The Richmond Times-Dispatch is no better. They practice censorship by omission. Perhaps if they ignore me long enough, I will disappear. Maybe these paper don't write about me because I lack public support. Never mind, that their lacking coverage is the very thing suffocating the democratic process. Without debate, progress will never be made. It is infuriating that these agents of the "American Free Press" have been stripped any pretense of promoting democratice values, free speech, and political debate. It is a glaring example of the exceeding weakness of our democratic system. When the life blood of our political debate is so debased by economic consideration that alternative views are shut out in an effort maintain that exact economic situation.
One thing above, Socialism is a direct threat to the ruling class of the economic elite, the owners of newspapers, banks, and insurance companies. Legitimate Socialism can only come about through a mass movement by an educated electorate that believes in the justice of the program proposed by Socialists. And best of all, Socialism is peaceful and directed by democracy for the benefit of the majority of humankind.
Again, I got crummy service from the State Board of Elections. I want to write the Secretary of the Board of Elections to complain about the times when I have turned in my Finance Reports. Yesterday, I received a hard time for requesting a written receipt. Admittedly, when I filed my report in mid-October I didn't get harassed for requesting a written receipt and the person was kind and helpful.
Much has happened since my last blog entry. I joined the Socialist Party in mid-September. I attended their Presidential nominating convention in St. Louis, Oct. 19 -21. I was nominated for the party's National Committee and received 10 votes from 48 delegates.
I haven't done any door to door campaigning. I felt a little overburdened by the size of the district though it included areas of the the 5th and 6 districts that I am familar with -- the district has over 100,000 registered voters. My campaign has primarily consisted of updating my website/blogging, answering surveys sent by special interest groups, attending forums (there's only been one held at U of R, on Sept. 27), and questioning by the Crusade for Voters Candidate Research Committee. Other events included getting interviewed by local NPR radio newscaster, Wayne Farrar and Jennifer Massey for Comcast's "Candidates on Demand." I also attended the grand opening of the new visitor center in Charles City and sent a speech to be read at a cadidate forum held at the Charles City County Government Complex on the night of October 19.
There have been a few encouraging moments in the campaign. Maybe four or five. However, I have been greatly disappointed by the media coverage of the contest. The Times-Dispatch has written nothing of the race, despite the fact that it is the first time in 40 years (!) the seat has been contested. For the last 36 years the only names on the ballot were either Wilder's or Lambert's. The Free Press to their great shame has made no reference to me in its columns, aside from the statement it's June 14 article discussing McEachin's victory over Lambert in the June 12 Primary: "With the Democratic Party nomination in hand, the 46-year-old Delegate McEachin is a shoo-in to win the November general election and to take office in January. No republican candidate is vying for the seat, nor any well-funded independents."
That's me -- the non-well funded independent. And I see from McEachin's expenditures, he has paid out $7,690 to the Free Press for "Advertizing." [As of Oct. 15, 2007 report.] That made my blood boil when I first read it. How undemocratic, how capitalistic, and how tyrranical! All horrible qualities for a newspaper.
The Richmond Times-Dispatch is no better. They practice censorship by omission. Perhaps if they ignore me long enough, I will disappear. Maybe these paper don't write about me because I lack public support. Never mind, that their lacking coverage is the very thing suffocating the democratic process. Without debate, progress will never be made. It is infuriating that these agents of the "American Free Press" have been stripped any pretense of promoting democratice values, free speech, and political debate. It is a glaring example of the exceeding weakness of our democratic system. When the life blood of our political debate is so debased by economic consideration that alternative views are shut out in an effort maintain that exact economic situation.
One thing above, Socialism is a direct threat to the ruling class of the economic elite, the owners of newspapers, banks, and insurance companies. Legitimate Socialism can only come about through a mass movement by an educated electorate that believes in the justice of the program proposed by Socialists. And best of all, Socialism is peaceful and directed by democracy for the benefit of the majority of humankind.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Letter from a Student
Subject: Some questions concerning your campaign...
Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2007 10:52:51 -0400
Hello,
My name is Stephanie, and I attend Appomattox Regional Governors School for the Arts and Technology (in Petersburg). I am working in a small group to represent you in a school debate on Oct. 31st. We are very excited about representing you and your campaign. We feel that your campaign most identifies with our student body (many of which will be voting in the upcoming election). I was curious about a few aspects of your campaign which I have been unable to ascertain thus far. I understand most of your views on abortion, drug control, capital punishment, and taxes. However, I was curious about your stance concerning environmental issues (and Virginia's role in the global environment), same sex marriage, the health care problems in Virginia, and finally the issue of crime in Virginia. If you could describe to me your thoughts and platform concerning these issues, it would be most appreciated.
On another note, we would be honored if you would find time in your schedule to visit our school, and possible see the debate on Oct. 31st. Our school would love to have you as a visitor, and speak if you wish. Please contact me at this email address, or my teacher at args.k12.va.us. Thank you so much for your time, and we support you!
Stephanie
My reply:
Hello Stephanie,
Thank you for writing. It sounds like a fun event to participate in a debate representing real candidate. I would love to come to the event. What time is it being held?
For more information, you may want to visit the "Previous Campaign" button on www.votesilver.com
However to answer the questions you put to me more directly, here goes.
Re: stance concerning environmental issues
I am environmental. I oppose the construction of any new coal fired or nuclear power plants in the Commonwealth. I support the construction of solar, wind, and geo-thermal energy generation.
Further, I support building a high speed rail system connecting the state, and light rail systems in our cities. Automobile driving should be discouraged as much as possible and the alternative should be a free, state run rail system in our cities and throughout the state.
I also support the cleaning up of Virginia's rivers and streams, and brown fields. I also propose a 5 year moratorium on the development of undeveloped land. Such a moratorium would place a temporary limit on sprawl and also force redevelopment of neglected and blighted property.
It's a good idea to think of Virginia's role from a global perspective. To put things in a global perspective, here are a few simple facts. 1. Half the world's 6 billion people live on less than $2 a day. 2. The U.S. is about 5% of the world's population and consumes about 25% of the world's resources. 3. 2/3's of our economy is driven by consumer spending, our lifestyle is not sustainable, nor is it fair to the rest of the people in the world. We have have to simply come up with a better way to live with more free time, more meaningful work, and more opportunities for self improvement (ie. jobs, education, training).
Re: same sex marriage
This is essentially a question of individual liberty, equal treatment under the law, and religious freedom. If any church performs a marriage of a same sex marriage, the First Amendment guarantees those individuals religious freedom. Further, a ban on gay marriage based on religious reasons constitutes an establishment of religion which is prohibited by the First Amendment. Additionally, a prohibition represents a violation of the 14th Amendment's guarantee of "equal protection."
Re: the health care problems in Virginia
As a socialist, I hold it as a core value that all humans should have access to health care in a civilized society. However, our government is likely to cling to the capitalist economic model until citizens demand change from our politicians.
If elected, I would have to work within the confines of our current system. I would make it a priority to expand health coverage to children of adults who currently fall in the "gap" of earning too much to qualify to health assistance but earn too little to actually afford health insurance. I think it is a good idea to start with coverage of children because they are the most vulnerable citizens, and good medical treatment early in life can contribute to the health and happiness as the individual grows into an adult.
Re: issue of crime in Virginia.
It is my belief that the best way to deter crime is by creating jobs that pay individuals a living wage, to offer opportunities for education and job training, as well as assisting individuals who need help with whatever challenges they are facing. Government assistance in finding affordable housing will also contribute to a more stable and crime-free society. I believe that crime is the result of poverty, and poverty the child of ignorance. Education is the key to ending most crimes.
Another important issue you should bring up, if the opportunity presents itself, is my strong support for democratic principles and citizen participation in our government. There is a sore lack of citizen participation and control of our government currently. I regularly attend Richmond City Council and its committee meetings and often I am the only citizen there. The Senate seat that I am running for has not be contested since 1967, forty years! For the last 36 years there has only been one name on the ballot and that had been L. Douglas Wilder or Benjamin Lambert. If I did not choose to run this year Mr. McEachin would have run unopposed, having won the June Democratic primary with only 6% of the total electorate's support. As stated in my campaign platform I support the use of Instant Runoff Voting, the use the citizen initiated referendum, ballot initiative, recall elections, term limits, and the election of judges at the local and state level.
Stephanie, thank you for writing to me and thank you for representing me in the debate. If you have further questions or need any assistance, please do not hesitate to write to me again.
Please let me know when the debate is being held, I would be honored to attend.
Respectfully yours, Silver Persinger
Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2007 10:52:51 -0400
Hello,
My name is Stephanie, and I attend Appomattox Regional Governors School for the Arts and Technology (in Petersburg). I am working in a small group to represent you in a school debate on Oct. 31st. We are very excited about representing you and your campaign. We feel that your campaign most identifies with our student body (many of which will be voting in the upcoming election). I was curious about a few aspects of your campaign which I have been unable to ascertain thus far. I understand most of your views on abortion, drug control, capital punishment, and taxes. However, I was curious about your stance concerning environmental issues (and Virginia's role in the global environment), same sex marriage, the health care problems in Virginia, and finally the issue of crime in Virginia. If you could describe to me your thoughts and platform concerning these issues, it would be most appreciated.
On another note, we would be honored if you would find time in your schedule to visit our school, and possible see the debate on Oct. 31st. Our school would love to have you as a visitor, and speak if you wish. Please contact me at this email address, or my teacher at args.k12.va.us. Thank you so much for your time, and we support you!
Stephanie
My reply:
Hello Stephanie,
Thank you for writing. It sounds like a fun event to participate in a debate representing real candidate. I would love to come to the event. What time is it being held?
For more information, you may want to visit the "Previous Campaign" button on www.votesilver.com
However to answer the questions you put to me more directly, here goes.
Re: stance concerning environmental issues
I am environmental. I oppose the construction of any new coal fired or nuclear power plants in the Commonwealth. I support the construction of solar, wind, and geo-thermal energy generation.
Further, I support building a high speed rail system connecting the state, and light rail systems in our cities. Automobile driving should be discouraged as much as possible and the alternative should be a free, state run rail system in our cities and throughout the state.
I also support the cleaning up of Virginia's rivers and streams, and brown fields. I also propose a 5 year moratorium on the development of undeveloped land. Such a moratorium would place a temporary limit on sprawl and also force redevelopment of neglected and blighted property.
It's a good idea to think of Virginia's role from a global perspective. To put things in a global perspective, here are a few simple facts. 1. Half the world's 6 billion people live on less than $2 a day. 2. The U.S. is about 5% of the world's population and consumes about 25% of the world's resources. 3. 2/3's of our economy is driven by consumer spending, our lifestyle is not sustainable, nor is it fair to the rest of the people in the world. We have have to simply come up with a better way to live with more free time, more meaningful work, and more opportunities for self improvement (ie. jobs, education, training).
Re: same sex marriage
This is essentially a question of individual liberty, equal treatment under the law, and religious freedom. If any church performs a marriage of a same sex marriage, the First Amendment guarantees those individuals religious freedom. Further, a ban on gay marriage based on religious reasons constitutes an establishment of religion which is prohibited by the First Amendment. Additionally, a prohibition represents a violation of the 14th Amendment's guarantee of "equal protection."
Re: the health care problems in Virginia
As a socialist, I hold it as a core value that all humans should have access to health care in a civilized society. However, our government is likely to cling to the capitalist economic model until citizens demand change from our politicians.
If elected, I would have to work within the confines of our current system. I would make it a priority to expand health coverage to children of adults who currently fall in the "gap" of earning too much to qualify to health assistance but earn too little to actually afford health insurance. I think it is a good idea to start with coverage of children because they are the most vulnerable citizens, and good medical treatment early in life can contribute to the health and happiness as the individual grows into an adult.
Re: issue of crime in Virginia.
It is my belief that the best way to deter crime is by creating jobs that pay individuals a living wage, to offer opportunities for education and job training, as well as assisting individuals who need help with whatever challenges they are facing. Government assistance in finding affordable housing will also contribute to a more stable and crime-free society. I believe that crime is the result of poverty, and poverty the child of ignorance. Education is the key to ending most crimes.
Another important issue you should bring up, if the opportunity presents itself, is my strong support for democratic principles and citizen participation in our government. There is a sore lack of citizen participation and control of our government currently. I regularly attend Richmond City Council and its committee meetings and often I am the only citizen there. The Senate seat that I am running for has not be contested since 1967, forty years! For the last 36 years there has only been one name on the ballot and that had been L. Douglas Wilder or Benjamin Lambert. If I did not choose to run this year Mr. McEachin would have run unopposed, having won the June Democratic primary with only 6% of the total electorate's support. As stated in my campaign platform I support the use of Instant Runoff Voting, the use the citizen initiated referendum, ballot initiative, recall elections, term limits, and the election of judges at the local and state level.
Stephanie, thank you for writing to me and thank you for representing me in the debate. If you have further questions or need any assistance, please do not hesitate to write to me again.
Please let me know when the debate is being held, I would be honored to attend.
Respectfully yours, Silver Persinger
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