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Gravel Says Citizens Should Be Lawmakers
By Amy Quinton on Monday, January 7, 2008.
Democratic presidential candidate Mike Gravel continues his last push in the Granite State, making a stop in Exeter.
Speaking to about 60 students at Philips Exeter Academy, Gravel touted his desire for national initiative legislation that would be similar to California's ballot initiatives.
He says citizens don't have any power unless they can pass laws directly.
"What's burning in my heart is, I want to empower you as a lawmaker. I want to change the paradigm of human governance."
While he's trailing in the polls, Gravel says the race isn't about winning.
He says at this point he's hoping to get just five percent of the vote in New Hampshire -- to send a message to corporate media who may not be covering all the candidates.
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Populism suppressed...
"He says citizens don't have any power unless they can pass laws directly."
I would say this is true of our lawmakers in Washington as well. Too many rely on lobbyists to write the legislation they sponsor.
"While he's trailing in the polls, Gravel says the race isn't about winning.
He says at this point he's hoping to get just five percent of the vote in New Hampshire -- to send a message to corporate media who may not be covering all the candidates."
This is a sad commentary on our election system. It is overly geared toward the elite and wealthy. Those without personal wealth must either kowtow to the parties sponsoring them or lower their expectations like Gravel. It also speaks to the reason behind his suggestion for direct legislation from the people. The same system keeping him out of office keeps populist legislation from reaching the House and Senate floors.
I agree that it's a sad day when a fine candidate like Gravel has to lower expectations. The same can be said of other candidates that the media is ignoring, like Dennis Kucinich. I am encouraged, however, to see that all the attempts by the media to silence opposing views have not worked in Ron Paul's case. Although I would be more likely to vote for these Democratic candidates, when I see Ron Paul standing up for many of the same issues, trying to give the power back to the people, I feel like I need to support the message, and I truly believe that Ron Paul has a good chance of winning. When our primary comes in March, I'll be voting for Ron Paul. He has gathered a large number of people who wish to preserve our Constitution, and if we stick together, we can defeat those other candidates who would take our freedoms. My hope is that one day soon, elections will be a decision between the better of two good men instead of the lesser of two evils. I wish Ron Paul had another such worthy opponent who could really offer a substantive debate in November, but it's Ron Paul or none at all.