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* As a scientist and educator, my goal, then, is not to become President and lead a dysfunctional electorate, but to enlighten the electorate so they might choo

by byoung2 14y ago

* As a scientist and educator, my goal, then, is not to become President and lead a dysfunctional electorate, but to enlighten the electorate so they might choose the right leaders in the first place.* I think it is easy to do this at the local and state level. These populations are small enough that variations in general political leaning are small (e.g. Californians are a more unified electorate than the US as a whole). It is also easier because some polarizing issues are out of states' hands (e.g. defense spending, immigration, abortion). It is harder to get a whole country to agree on one leader

Smudge 14y ago
> It is harder to get a whole country to agree on one leader The point isn't for the whole country to agree. The point is to raise the lowest common denominator, so to speak.
cpeterso 14y ago
The Long Now Foundation hosted a talk by Benjamin Barber called “If Mayors Ruled the World”. Barber discusses the major influence that mayors and city governments have to make positive change to global problems, sidestepping political gridlock at the national or international level. Notes and audio (and non-free video) are available here: http://longnow.org/seminars/02012/jun/05/if-mayors-ruled-world/ http://longnow.org/seminars/02012/jun/05/if-mayors-ruled-wor...
- shawn-butler 14y ago
  It's been my experience that activist mayors that do so (flaunt regulations & selectively adhere to the law) really are more interested in seeking higher office. Best mayors are ones that realize their job is to keep the streets safe, the garbage hauled, and the sewer working. I do agree that county and state legislatures are much more effective places for real change if only our federal judiciary would quit hamstring their efforts.
saraid216 14y ago
This old comment from rayiner felt very relevant: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4658565 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4658565

by byoung2 14y ago

Smudge 14y ago

> It is harder to get a whole country to agree on one leader The point isn't for the whole country to agree. The point is to raise the lowest common denominator, so to speak.

cpeterso 14y ago

The Long Now Foundation hosted a talk by Benjamin Barber called “If Mayors Ruled the World”. Barber discusses the major influence that mayors and city governments have to make positive change to global problems, sidestepping political gridlock at the national or international level. Notes and audio (and non-free video) are available here: http://longnow.org/seminars/02012/jun/05/if-mayors-ruled-world/ http://longnow.org/seminars/02012/jun/05/if-mayors-ruled-wor...

shawn-butler 14y ago
It's been my experience that activist mayors that do so (flaunt regulations & selectively adhere to the law) really are more interested in seeking higher office. Best mayors are ones that realize their job is to keep the streets safe, the garbage hauled, and the sewer working. I do agree that county and state legislatures are much more effective places for real change if only our federal judiciary would quit hamstring their efforts.

saraid216 14y ago

This old comment from rayiner felt very relevant: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4658565 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4658565