Mailbox Full of Politics
Lately we've been getting a lot of political mailers in our mailbox. Today it was just 3 glossy flyers; yesterday it was 10. We've been averaging several a day for the past few weeks.
In the past I've lamented that my vote doesn't count. Politicians often have spent little time or money campaigning for my vote because the outcome in my area and my state is pretty much known in advance based on party affiliation. Sometimes it was really lopsided, like 75-25. I'd see maybe a handful of mailers over during the election season. This year my vote actually does count, if the dozens of mailers I've received are any indication.
The flood of political junkmail is even more impressive when you consider what's not in it. Dozens up dozens of pieces, and not one is for Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump. As far as the presidential election goes, my vote still doesn't count. Deep blue California is taken for granted by Democrats and written off as a lost cause by Republicans.
Also not driving the blizzard of political mailers the past few weeks are any of the state executive offices, like Governor or State Attorney General. That's because none of those offices are up for election this year.
One of our senate seats is up for reelection. With Senator Barbara Boxer stepping down after several terms the seat is wide open. You'd think that would result in a vigorous race. But it hasn't. The candidate who did best in the primary, State Attorney General Kamala Harris, basically stopped campaigning months ago and has acted like a shoo-in incumbent. She wouldn't even debate her challenger, Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez.
Silence in all the big ticket races makes it even more surprising what a flood of political ads I've seen this year. Yes, it's being driven by local races plus a few of the ballot props. Among the local races are the contests for Congress and State Assembly. They're actually contests again this year! That's because of the blanket primary system we adopted statewide a few years ago. Nay-sayers point out both candidates in the general election are democrats, "So where's the choice?" I'll point out that we voters get a meaningful choice because either candidate could very well win, instead of it being yet-another predictable 50 point landslide.
In the past I've lamented that my vote doesn't count. Politicians often have spent little time or money campaigning for my vote because the outcome in my area and my state is pretty much known in advance based on party affiliation. Sometimes it was really lopsided, like 75-25. I'd see maybe a handful of mailers over during the election season. This year my vote actually does count, if the dozens of mailers I've received are any indication.
The flood of political junkmail is even more impressive when you consider what's not in it. Dozens up dozens of pieces, and not one is for Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump. As far as the presidential election goes, my vote still doesn't count. Deep blue California is taken for granted by Democrats and written off as a lost cause by Republicans.
Also not driving the blizzard of political mailers the past few weeks are any of the state executive offices, like Governor or State Attorney General. That's because none of those offices are up for election this year.
One of our senate seats is up for reelection. With Senator Barbara Boxer stepping down after several terms the seat is wide open. You'd think that would result in a vigorous race. But it hasn't. The candidate who did best in the primary, State Attorney General Kamala Harris, basically stopped campaigning months ago and has acted like a shoo-in incumbent. She wouldn't even debate her challenger, Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez.
Silence in all the big ticket races makes it even more surprising what a flood of political ads I've seen this year. Yes, it's being driven by local races plus a few of the ballot props. Among the local races are the contests for Congress and State Assembly. They're actually contests again this year! That's because of the blanket primary system we adopted statewide a few years ago. Nay-sayers point out both candidates in the general election are democrats, "So where's the choice?" I'll point out that we voters get a meaningful choice because either candidate could very well win, instead of it being yet-another predictable 50 point landslide.