We have finally hit the end of this dismal election cycle, with the Democrats — deservedly — facing dim prospects and a wave of lunatics on the precipice of gaining entry to the nation’s statehouses and national legislature.
It is a sad state of affairs, but one that serves the corporate world well, because it keeps the rightwing strong and sends liberals chasing their tales until they collapse from exhaustion.
That said, I will hit the voting booth tomorrow to cast my ballot. Look, I have no illusions that either party has much in common with my belief system — I am, as I have taken to describing myself, an Anarchist radical populist progressive socialist, meaning I hate large concetrations of power, in particular corporate power, but view the existence of democratic government (when it functions as an extension of the people) as a bulkwark against corporate power. But I can see some candidates — U.S. Rep. Rush Holt, for instance — as having a lot to recommend themselves.
But this is not the post I intended to write. My focus was to be on the anti-politician meme that has controlled this year’s election. Consider Scott Sipprelle, who is running against Rush Holt. His campaign is predicated on painting Holt as a career politician, while painting himself as outside of politics.
A businessman, not a politician — but then, the act of running for office makes one a politican. That’s just the way the language works.
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| A sign on Kendall Park in Kendall Park. |
And it happens at the local level, as well. Mike Kushwarra and Steven Walrond, the Republicans running for mayor and Township Council in South Brunswick, are calling themselves “public servants not politicans,” a claim that automatically paints the opposition as politicians. Both were township police officers and still live in town — the public service part of the claim — but aren’t they, by virtue of the campaign, politicians, as well? Walrond, of course, ran for council two years ago — which makes it pretty clear that he is a politician just like everyone else. And Kushwarra has run for school board, so I leave it to readers to make up their minds.
None of this should surprise anyone, given the anti-incumbency tenor of the election season. Politicians are running against themselves, which cannot be good for anyone, especially voters.
- Send me an e-mail.
- Read poetry at The Subterranean.
- Certainties and Uncertainties a chapbook by Hank Kalet, will be published in November by Finishing Line Press. it can be ordered here.
- Suburban Pastoral, a chapbook by Hank Kalet, available here.
Hank Kalet 
A leader is someone who rules, guides, or inspires others. They are intelligent, helpful, generous, and responsible. Who fits the previous description better than Scott Sipprelle? First of all, Scott is very involved in a plethora of New Jersey communities and knows and ample amount of information about economics. When he was just 32, he became the Head of Equity Capital Markets Division at Morgan Stanley. Representative Holt is too focused on the environment and relieving stress in the military and puts little emphasis on economics and controlling government spending. Scott Sipprelle will make a point to do what Rush Holt is not doing such as reforming the tax code to unleash economic growth and reforming congress to increase responsibility and integrity. In addition, Scott Sipprelle is Chris Christie's choice for Representative. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKIoSP4-2EoI've been a citizen of New Jersey for my whole life and I enjoy being here. However, the increasing taxes are just outrageous! It makes me wonder if staying in New Jersey is really the right thing to do for my family. Rush Holt has made no changes to relieve my family and others like it of taxes. Sipprelle will help this issue. Kenneth Cody mentions no tax cuts in any of his campaign. Obviously, there is only one candidate that deserves to be elected and that is Scott Sipprelle. Vote for Scott Sipprelle, the economic savior.-A Supporter of Scott Siprelle
Why I'm VOTING for Scott SipprelleThe New American Dream according to Rush Holt, Congressman 12th CD NJSummary: A poorly structured stimulus plan that cost taxpayers untold billions with little return on investment; a growing federal deficit; the takeover of private industry Automotive and Healthcare; imposing healthcare insurance purchases on citizens while taking away our liberty to choose; granting government agencies and their unelected bureaucrats unbridled power, much without congressional control; and creating an environment of uncertainty through tax policy, onerous regulation and populist bashing, placing our economic recovery and future at risk. A voting record nearly in lock-step with the Democratic Party leadership—currently Speaker Pelosi, et al. Is this the mark of independence and analytical proficiency?The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act(Stimulus): authorized spending of $800+ billion, claiming the creation of significant jobs and economic activity. Unemployment is still very high at 9.6% and economic growth remains tepid, at best. Where’s the ROI? A growing multi-trillion dollar deficit.Healthcare reform: did he or anyone who voted yes understand the scope of its content and consequences? Speaker Pelosi advised “we have to pass the bill to learn what's in it.” AND RUSH VOTED Y E S ! ! ! We now learn everyday some new dimension of this legislation that increases costs, lowers access to care, reduces choice and increases government control—i.e. Obamacare is structured to drive private medical insurance and private medical practice into the government run insurance exchanges, producing government control. How many more costly and regulatory consequences are yet to be disclosed? Financial reform: fails to address the significant role in the financial crisis played by the Fed, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and their Congressional Democrat allies who fueled it. FinReg creates a new Financial Consumer Protection Agency, not accountable to Congress for oversight or funding, and whose leadership has circumvented constitutionally required Senate advice and consent. Protecting “favored agencies” and unchecked government power is not the reform we need. Taxing overseas American corporate profits immediately vs. when repatriated to keep American jobs in the USA belies economic reasoning. Capital finds investment environments where it can generate the best after-tax return. This action will drive more U.S. jobs, businesses and capital overseas.Small business: the businesses incentives–short term tax relief—for hiring unemployed workers and a new small business banking bill to stimulate banks to lend to companies are misguided. It is demand that drives business hiring and the need for capital, not one-off tax relief or government forced credit availability. Supporting and selling this clearly ineffective agenda as solutions to the very difficult problems the nation faces without disclosing the total consequences is not the disengenuous congressional representation for me. I prefer someone who does not desire to be a career politician, but seeks to implement solutions—i.e. who understands what it takes to create economic incentives to grow the economy and create jobs, who supports fiscal responsibility, who desires healthcare reform that enhances affordability, access and choice, who advocates real reform of the Beltway bureaucracy, who is honest and transparent about what new legislation does for citizens, the pluses and the minuses, who supports effective not populist or ideologue regulation of the private sector, someone who believes in the American ethic of working hard and reaping the rewards from that effort and who respects and supports our Constitution. Mr. Scott Sipprelle will receive my vote on November 2, 2010.
Why I'm VOTING for Scott SipprelleThe New American Dream according to Rush Holt, Congressman 12th CD NJSummary: A poorly structured stimulus plan that cost taxpayers untold billions with little return on investment; a growing federal deficit; the takeover of private industry Automotive and Healthcare; imposing healthcare insurance purchases on citizens while taking away our liberty to choose; granting government agencies and their unelected bureaucrats unbridled power, much without congressional control; and creating an environment of uncertainty through tax policy, onerous regulation and populist bashing, placing our economic recovery and future at risk. A voting record nearly in lock-step with the Democratic Party leadership—currently Speaker Pelosi, et al. Is this the mark of independence and analytical proficiency?The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act(Stimulus): authorized spending of $800+ billion, claiming the creation of significant jobs and economic activity. Unemployment is still very high at 9.6% and economic growth remains tepid, at best. Where’s the ROI? A growing multi-trillion dollar deficit.Healthcare reform: did he or anyone who voted yes understand the scope of its content and consequences? Speaker Pelosi advised “we have to pass the bill to learn what's in it.” AND RUSH VOTED Y E S ! ! ! We now learn everyday some new dimension of this legislation that increases costs, lowers access to care, reduces choice and increases government control—i.e. Obamacare is structured to drive private medical insurance and private medical practice into the government run insurance exchanges, producing government control. How many more costly and regulatory consequences are yet to be disclosed? Financial reform: fails to address the significant role in the financial crisis played by the Fed, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and their Congressional Democrat allies who fueled it. FinReg creates a new Financial Consumer Protection Agency, not accountable to Congress for oversight or funding, and whose leadership has circumvented constitutionally required Senate advice and consent. Protecting “favored agencies” and unchecked government power is not the reform we need. Taxing overseas American corporate profits immediately vs. when repatriated to keep American jobs in the USA belies economic reasoning. Capital finds investment environments where it can generate the best after-tax return. This action will drive more U.S. jobs, businesses and capital overseas.Small business: the businesses incentives–short term tax relief—for hiring unemployed workers and a new small business banking bill to stimulate banks to lend to companies are misguided. It is demand that drives business hiring and the need for capital, not one-off tax relief or government forced credit availability. Supporting and selling this clearly ineffective agenda as solutions to the very difficult problems the nation faces without disclosing the total consequences is not the disengenuous congressional representation for me. I prefer someone who does not desire to be a career politician, but seeks to implement solutions—i.e. who understands what it takes to create economic incentives to grow the economy and create jobs, who supports fiscal responsibility, who desires healthcare reform that enhances affordability, access and choice, who advocates real reform of the Beltway bureaucracy, who is honest and transparent about what new legislation does for citizens, the pluses and the minuses, who supports effective not populist or ideologue regulation of the private sector, someone who believes in the American ethic of working hard and reaping the rewards from that effort and who respects and supports our Constitution. Mr. Scott Sipprelle will receive my vote on November 2, 2010.
If anyone has really paid attention to ALL of the candidates – Kenneth Cody HAS mentioned tax cuts in his campaign. He said it in the Trenton Times candidate election preview. He wants to lower taxes for middle income earners and stop the Bush tax cuts. I voted for Cody so don't blame me over the next two years if things get worse for the 12th district.