The Ripple Effect

Circle Voting encourages us to connect with like-minded people, while not having to agree on everything.   The movements of Blacks, women, and gays in the 60's and 70's all contained divisions within them but were very effective because they came together around common interests.

Here is what can happen as a voting force evolves that votes strategically for values, is constantly involving more new voters, and relies on the intelligence of its like-minded circle members rather than the well-financed campaigns:

1. It decreases the power of money and corporate support. The statement “money is the mother’s milk of politics” is especially true today. It feeds expensive media campaigns that control the messages and slice up  opponents with distortions.  Voting strategically for values lessens the power of this money by giving alternatives to following the campaigns and by organizing a voting force that does not need expensive efforts to turn out.  Lessening the power of money in campaigns will decrease the power of corporate and special interests to pressure officials to favor them and will make room for better policies for the people.   This will also encourage  candidates to run that aren't independently wealthy.

2. It will be attract better candidates that won't have to be well-financed.  Right now less than 20% of those eligible vote in primaries. So a large vote mobilized with little cost will have the power to draw in attractive candidates that would not otherwise have the funds to run. They will provide new approaches and more of a track record of commitment to good policies.

3. It will lead to more serious efforts to face difficult issues that directly affect our lives like health care, human rights, education and a sustainable environment because people will be voting strategically for their values rather than on the superficialities of a campaign. And it will make existing politicians with a vision of the future less vulnerable to distorted negative advertising.

4. Incumbents would lose their base. Winners would have to use their time performing well and not just entrenching their position. We would not have a repeat of this year when less than 10% of the seats in the House are contested and only 6 Senate seats are up for grabs.

And now for the hidden agenda: Since you've read this far, you might not think this too naive. It moves us toward a government "of the people," "by the people," and "for the people."

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