Jan

4

110th Congress: An Opportunity For You to Make a Difference

Filed Under Election 2006, United States | 1 Comment

Today, Members of the 110th Congress of the United States were sworn in for a two-year stint. Their goal, I would very much hope, is to change America and, by virtue, the world.

I believe anyone can change the world, whether a mother in Mexico or father in Japan, whether a farm worker in California or a CEO in New York, whether a miner in Kentucky or a teacher in Alaska, and whether you, me, or anyone else who is willing and inclined to do so.

The 110th Congress will forever go down in history as the first Congress to elect a woman Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. This should not be taken lightly.

The change the 110th Congress represents is unlike any change ever before experienced in American politics and this is just the beginning of a wave of change that the United States is going to experience. From demographic, economic, political, social and technological changes, the country and our world is rapidly evolving.

The next two years, and arguably the rest of your life, represents a prime opportunity for you to engage your federal representatives, to let them know what you think about a particular issue, whether local, national or global, and to help change America.

If you care about education, write or call your Congressional Representative and Senators.

If you care about military efforts overseas, write or call your Congressional Representative and Senators.

If you care about the environment, write or call your Congressional Representative and Senators.

If you care about your future, the future of America, and the future of this planet, then write or call your Congressional Representative and Senators.

And if you care not about anything, then find something to care about.

And remember, you have people representing you at the local, county, and state level too. Find them, contact them, and let them know what you think.

To Find Out Who Your Congressional Representative is visit http://www.house.gov/.

To Find Out Who Your Senators are visit http://www.senate.gov/.

Nov

7

Change

Filed Under Election 2006, Personal | Leave a Comment

Change: make or become different. It appears time for change.

Oct

23

Concern of a Younger Voter

Filed Under California, Election 2006 | Leave a Comment

I sent the following email to both the Steve Westly and Phil Angelides for Governor campaigns on May 23, 2006. For some reason, I am compelled to share this email at this time.

Greetings!

I am a registered “Decline to State” voter for I have yet to commit myself to a political party.

After returning from UC Merced to Los Angeles to spend the week with my family and friends, I have had an opportunity to watch both of your television ads.

Both of your ads, with respect to your opponent, are counter-productive and detrimental to your respective candidacy and the Democratic Party in general.

I would highly encourage each of your campaigns to stop airing negative political ads and focus on the issues at hand because personally I am not persuaded by a negative ad and I expect many other Californians, and younger voters in general, are not.

Frankly, your negative ads add to the political apathy of our state and this is of great concern to me because for our state to best confront today’s problems, we need tomorrow’s change agents participating in the political decision making process.

However, deficit politics is prevalent throughout the state and it ruptures during the campaign season, a time in which more people should be engaged and included in the politics but they are turned off by such negative tactics.

More people can be actively involved and it should be the responsibility of candidates to help ensure that.

I would hope that with the millions of dollars your campaigns have, you would work towards practicing new politics a politics that better engages, educates and empowers the public and younger people more specifically.

I sincerely recommend that you change your campaign tactics for the good of politics in California.

For in the final analysis, the Golden State needs to return to a position of political national and global prominence because we are experiencing the economic, environmental, political and and social problems that much of the nation will be facing in the future and the globe is already facing now.

The state’s return to such prominence is dependent largely on the actions of those who lead it.

Best regards,
Josh Franco

CC:

Dan Walters, Sacramento Bee
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California

Mar

7

2008: The Shift, A Call to Act

Filed Under Election 2006, United States | Leave a Comment

2008 will represent a fundamental shift in American politics. For the first time in over 50 years, no incumbent president or vice president will seek the Office of the President.

The historical significance of the 2008 election should not be lost on the world, the American people or the parties which seek to assert their philosophy, policies and power. For sure, this fact is not lost on me.

The 2006 election, a precursor to 2008, will serve to establish the national agenda and the time for action is now.

A power exercised is a power utilized. I encourage everyone to exercise their power to envision the future, to identify problems and potential solutions, to discuss their thoughts about the future with others, to actively and continuously engage those who vie for their vote to shape the future, and, most importantly, to make a commitment to their fellow human to work together for a better future.

Make no mistake, the future is of the utmost concern to me.

I believe each person has the power to shape the national agenda and shape the agenda we must.

———-

Important events that led me to write this post:

  • 2/25/06: IDEAL seminar, hotel room discussion with Fellows about the future of the country
  • 3/2/06: HIST 150, Vietnam War discussion, being labeled a “terrible populist” and not recognizing the “failings of democracy”
  • 3/3/06: Housing Office, discussion with co-workers about the shortcomings of society

Jan

11

California State Budget 2006-07 Available Online

Filed Under California, Election 2006 | Leave a Comment

On Tuesday, January 10th, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed the California State Budget 2006-2007 and it can be viewed at http://www.ebudget.ca.gov/.

I encourage people to look over the budget. In the Full Budget Summary the Governor remarked:

California is stronger and better positioned than most nations on Earth to lead in the global economy of this new century. To do so we must strategically invest in our future and in our children’s future. By working together, I know we will achieve great things for our people.

It will be quite interesting to observe how the budget evolves over the next 6 months and how it will impact the outcome of the 2006 election. Stay tuned!