It’s not just Toledo that has a problem with free speech…
I was jaunting about the blogosphere trying to get caught up on what some of my friends are focusing on here in Ohio. As I was catching up on what Jill was covering at Writes Like She Talks, I came across this post that relates some experiences that some of you will relate to when it comes to the issue of free speech and those trying to gather signatures. In the Cleveland area it’s related to a tax being levied upon citizens without a vote so they are trying to “put it on the ballot”.
Jill points out several posts, one of which is by Gloria Ferris on the topic of “Is Freedom of Speech At Risk Here?”. Gloria experiences nasty emails and other treatment that is designed to prevent them from trying to gather the needed signatures. Another blogger, Jeff Buster, is threatened with arrest because he dared to rest his clipboard on a trash can.
Sometimes it’s very easy for us to live in a tunnel vision where we believe our area is the only one with issues, unfortunately it appears with the many scenarios where paid petitioners are not being honest in trying to solicit signatures and the harassment others go through when trying to get signatures that perhaps there needs to be a serious look at the signature process. The ability to get something on the ballot should be done in a fair way and it seems as is almost always the case that those that do play by the rules face the most struggle in trying to do what they feel is the right thing.
There’s no doubt that this topic deserves a serious, lengthy, all-inclusive discussion. It is just too important. Anywhere is a good place to start, but I can’t help but want to know now, what can we actually do to make it all better?
August 13th, 2007 at 11:43 pmI’m not sure what we can do to make it better either, reduce the number of signatures required but perhaps make the standards more stringent so that those that lie or mislead when collecting signatures are more strongly dealt with as well as make the penalty for those who interfere with people who are rightfully collecting signatures stronger as well could be one thing.
We also have to continue to push for people to be educated and stop just signing a petition based on what the person tells them, that they should actually ‘read’ it.
That would at least make a big difference when it comes to the dishonesty factor and perhaps raise awareness as to where legally petitions can be gathered. That’s been an issue here in Toledo as well, the rules are not clear at times.
Roland had a very interesting post on his blog, Roland’s Ramblings that had some good resources on protected political speech. If we become more educated on this, perhaps we can help in small ways…
August 14th, 2007 at 12:02 amPlease allow me to tell you a story. Two years ago, I actually ventured outside my building to the UT Student Union (1 of 4 times I actually visited). Outside the student union, these gentlemen were asking me to register to vote. I politely explained to them that I was already registered. They asked me when was the last time I registered. I explained that I last registered after my last moved and was still in the same place. They asked how long ago that move was. I said about two years. They tried to sell me on a false proposition that I needed to register every two years. I told them politely that they were mistaken. We all know that you don’t need to reregister to vote unless you move, no matter the time period. Furthermore, on a college campus, many students may prefer to remain registered from where they’re from. So I don’t think the question should necessarily be framed about educating voters, but instead should be focused first on educating signature gatherers.
August 14th, 2007 at 12:24 amThat said, our government is no more screwed up than any other.
August 14th, 2007 at 12:28 amHow about we focus on educating both, that way we have informed signature gatherers and informed voters. That would create a win/win scenario. I think the main reason I try to focus on the voters aspect it’s something we can do as far as a personal responsibility level to make sure that what a signature gatherer is telling us is really the case.
August 14th, 2007 at 12:35 amOur government has it’s pluses as well as it’s minuses, but I thought it was worth it to point out that other areas are also experiencing similar problems. Not to excuse ours away but to show it’s something that affects more of us than I think at times we realize.
We could have a much worse government than we do have…
August 14th, 2007 at 12:37 amI agree Lisa, just wanted to demonstrate all sides. Honestly, that experience truly bothered me. I thought it was appropriate to express it in this thread.
August 14th, 2007 at 12:40 amKurt, I agree 100%, I can understand why it disturbed you, and thanks to you being an informed voter, you knew what they were telling you was wrong.
It almost makes me wonder if they were operating on some type of bonus scenario for registering voters, hence why they tried to get as many people as they could, even those who were already registered.
August 14th, 2007 at 12:47 amThat was my thought too (the bonus scenario). I’m not much of a conspiracy therorist, but I think it raises the question.
August 14th, 2007 at 12:52 amGreat minds think alike…
August 14th, 2007 at 12:55 amIs it possible that the public is a tad burned out with the ad’s on television, internet, radio that have become so pointed and sharp that the message is lost?
And conversely the public, some, is repulsed by a political proposal of any stripe and react badly.
August 14th, 2007 at 6:41 amKurt, as much as I do not want to believe us, there is still, sincerely, the outside chance that those folks asking you to re-register actually BELIEVED whatever they had been told. Think about the news we’ve been reading over the last many years about how poorly kids do in civics etc. I am sad to say that my kids have come home from school with study guides that are wrong (one in particular about Ohio government!!).
So – no excuse for it, just saying – it’s possible those folks talking to you were parroting what they’d heard, without questioning it.
August 14th, 2007 at 8:15 amKurt, are you sure that these people were actually registering people to vote. It sounds like they could have been attempting to gather info for ID theft purposes.
August 15th, 2007 at 2:00 pm” “I’m upset with the state legislature not doing anything to [State Rep. Tom] Brinkman for doing this. They should throw him out of office.”
Hon. Robert P. Ruehlman, July 11, 2007, Ohio v. Mingo,Ward ”
One month ago this week, the Cincinnati Enquirer ran a front page story titled: “Judge: Brinkman the ‘real criminal”.
In a stunning sentencing involving two people hired by Brinkman to collect the signatures needed to challenge Cincinnati’s gay rights ordinance, Hamilton County Judge Robert Ruehlman condemned the behavior of Brinkman. The Judge openly questioned why the Ohio House allowed his fellow Republican to continue to serve, despite his role in the election fraud case before him.
http://www.progressohio.org/page/community/post/brianrothenberg/CLFs
August 17th, 2007 at 10:59 am