A lesson in politics and recommendations.

Making recommendations in an election is a tricky business. Do you choose a candidate that best articulates your beliefs or just pick a winner? Do we choose to be part of a candidates’ main support or be a bandwagon jumper? The main purpose of recommendations is to help a candidate get elected. This is in hopes that you will be able to gain access and articulate your position to gain their support. It is not so a candidate blindly supports your position.

As an example of this an elected official can vote for your position 100% of the time, yet be in the minority. They must also be able to support and present your positions so that your positions are passed. They must be willing to lobby others on your behalf.

A recommendation is not just a list of candidates but also comes with abilities and responsibilities. First it allows us to give money to candidates. Unfortunately in Hawaii, history has shown that most candidates that run out of money for media buys close to the election lose. Second it allows the candidate to use the HSTA logo on campaign materials. But most importantly it allows HSTA members to wear their shirts and actively campaign for the candidate.

If teachers want their voice to mean something they need to learn to deliver the vote for the recommended candidates. I firmly believe that when HSTA members start bloc voting they will begin to gain more political influence.

HSTA BOD and elections

I attended the HSTA Board of Directors meeting today. It really astounds me how little the board knows about politics. They seem to have this belief that they have political power and can influence elections by withholding a recommendation.
It didn’t work before and it won’t work now. Teachers need to target a race and work hard for their candidate to win. There needs to be proof that teachers have the will to work hard for a candidate. When they do it will have an impact.
As an example if HSTA chooses to recommend Dwight Synan instead of Calvin Say. If HSTA then worked hard to campaign for the election of Dwight Synan. And finally if Dwight Synan won. That would prove that HSTA has the political strength to influence the legislature.
It proves nothing to withhold contributions and support.

Read This

Read this

http://neatoday.org/2010/04/21/florida-teacher-issues-rallying-cry-for-respect-for-educators/

A Thought

Watched Rep. Weiner from New York on the news and a replay on You Tube. He makes a point that using procedure to stall and then use it as an excuse or reason to vote no is cowardly.
It is a good point on how our leaders sometimes process or procedure to justify a vote. The House used this as a way to defeat the VEBA bill. Did they honestly vote against it because it was flawed or did they say it was flawed to give themselves protection?