New Paradigm

From at least the time of the French Revolution, politics has been placed on a scale of left, right and center. In this paradigm the center is ideal, left and right lead to the fringes (Communism and Fascism). So far so good, but are Communism and Fascism really opposites? Is the center really all that great? I think not.

This thinking in terms of left and right is misleading and increasingly obsolete. I've come to the conclusion that it should be replaced. How about up versus down? How about a scale that measures something real, like how much control are you willing to allow the state to have over your life? Down represents more control til you come to the very pit where you find BOTH Communism and Fascism. Up is less and less control til you find the rarified atmosphere of Anarchism.

Where on this scale do you want to live? I prefer the bracing mountain air myself.

Serious Candidate

One of the uncomfortable things about being a serious candidate is taking myself seriously. God, I take seriously. Liberty, I take seriously. And little else, least of all me.

It seems though that politics is not the place for humble, self-deprecation. No wonder it is dominated by egotists. Delusions of grandeur are almost a requirement.

Winter Lull

There's not much going on lately. Much of my strategy depends on door knocking. Winter weather is not very conducive to that, especially the weather we've been having recently.

There are still some things happening, however. The campaign now has a checking and a savings account. Just from friends, neighbors and relatives, I now have 11 signatures on my petitions. The campaign also has now a Facebook page with 19 supporters. A website is still in the works.

Finally, I have a large number of face-to-face promises for support on the ground. Looking now for a dry day with temperatures in the 50's!

Strategy

The 79th House District is relatively small, making it easier to cover on foot. It runs, roughly, between New Circle and Man-o-War and Tates Creek and Richmond Road. Meeting most of the voters face-to-face between now and November is quite doable.

I doubt that I'll be raising much money, so knocking on doors will be my primary strategy. Any funds that do come in will be used for door-hangers and yard signs, which would seem to me the most effective at this scale of campaign. Next October, if I have the funds (fantasy time now), I could maybe run a few radio ads on local talk stations. These are relatively inexpensive, as media goes.

As soon as the weather allows, the burning of shoeleather begins.