A question of viablilty

Much has been made of the fact that Mark Wilson (candidate for US Senate – Democrat) has previously run for office as a Libertarian and a Green. Ironically, some of this talk is coming from the very people who now embrace (the 48th LD’s) Rodney Tom’s conversion from republican to Democrat but I guess that’s just the way some people “play politics”. To be honest, I was concerned about Mark’s previous political affiliations before I decided to support and endorse him (both individually and as part of the Progressive Caucus of Snohomish County Democrats ) so I decided to do some checking. To begin with, it should be noted that, politically, it is a widely accepted practice to run as a third party candidate at times to ensure that a particular message is heard or emphasized all the way through an election cycle. In my opinion, for Mark to have run as a Democrat in 2002 and 2004 (where the incumbents were universally embraced within their party) would certainly have silenced his voice immediately after the primary contest and would have left him shunned by virtually every faction of the party. I do not believe he has that same problem with Maria Cantwell. Progressive Democrats are distancing themselves from Sen. Cantwell like we haven't seen in some time.

To me, the most important factor in deciding support for a candidate is where they stand on the issues that I most identify with. Because it is Mark’s association with the Libertarians that most concerns Democrats, I thought it would be useful to look for statements and positions Mark took in 2002. Yes I know that Mark gave some solidly Libertarian (and now infamous) responses to some questions to newspaper interviews during his 2002 campaign. He spoke of eliminating the capital gains tax and opposing a national healthcare plan (using the “tort reform” angle for containing costs). However, the fact that he has since recanted those positions seems to have been lost in the “fog of politics”. The fact is that, while those were the questions asked, they were not the major issues that Mark was running on. What follows is from the “Issues” page of Mark’s 2002 campaign website.

Slash Corporate Welfare:
One of the greatest injustices in our country today is when the tax money of hard working Americans finds its way into the bank accounts of for-profit corporations. It happens in a million ways; from tax write-offs for foreign advertising and oil exploration to outright payments to huge agricultural conglomerates. Often, these corporations won their special subsidies after making large campaign finance contributions. Let's call these what they really are: bribes. This is the largest corruption scandal of our times. Vote for Mark Wilson, who will make eliminating corporate welfare a top priority in Washington DC.

Legally Manage Marijuana:
The second greatest government perpetrated injustice of our time comes as a result of the honorable desire to reduce mind-altering drug use in America. Though a reduction in drug abuse would be a great benefit to our country, prohibition just does not work. Even worse, prohibition increases violence, creates disincentives to seek treatment, increases temptation and corruption of our police, and destroys civil liberties. Buying, selling or growing marijuana is, after all a non-violent act. Another cost to our society comes from the huge costs of incarceration. Over a quarter of the inmates of our countries prisons and jails were put there for non-violent drug offenses. This not only represents a huge financial burden on taxpayers, but destroys the lives and the productivity of the "offenders." Have you ever heard of anyone dying of marijuana abuse? The statistics show that it is far safer than alcohol. It is time to legally manage marijuana.

Repeal the USA Patriot Act:
Mark Wilson will also work to repeal the USA Patriot Act which nullifies our right to be free from warrentless search and seizure and allows the executive branch to violate our privacy without probable cause.

Prevent Terrorism:
Aren't the Saudis wealthy enough to pay for their own defense? The US's interests in stability in the Persian Gulf region primarily come from oil companies' desire to preserve their existing contracts and relationships there. But whoever owns the oil will want to sell it, if not to us, then to the world market from which we buy. Propping up an unpopular, undemocratic, totalitarian government because it is friendly to US oil interests is another form of corporate welfare as well as a violation of the principles of individual liberty that make America great. Bin Laden's primary reason for attacking on 9/11/01 was the presence of "infidel soldiers" in the land of Mecca and Medina. The Saudis should buy their own tanks and aircraft, and hire mercenaries if they need to. Though internal security of Israel is a just cause, involuntarily taxing anti-Israeli US citizens to support the military of Israel is immoral. Instead we should reduce income taxes and allow the friends of Israel in this country to solicit and send money voluntarily to help this worthy cause.

Enhance our National Defense and Security:
While we are at it, after we bring Bin Laden and his top lieutenants to justice, let's gradually bring nearly all our troops home, and deploy them in a defensive configuration on US soil. Let's use our electronic surveillance technology on satellites and in aircraft to keep tabs on foreign troop and missile deployment. Let's make much of that data available to the public of all nations. We will be able to enhance our national defense, reduce our profile as a target, improve our security and safety from international threats, further the spread of democracy and international sovereignty, increase international stability and reduce US defense spending all at the same time. We can keep our military all-volunteer and the best in the world, while spending more money per soldier (including increasing their pay) and save taxpayer money all at the same time through refocusing our military priorities on defense instead of offense.

Preserve Privacy:
The federal government is forcing drivers' license standards on the States that would make the drivers' license a de-facto national identification card. The requirement of showing "government issued ID" at the airport is another trend in that direction. Soon you may have to show your identification papers on demand of a government official at any time. Video surveillance cameras are now installed at most major intersections and on some public streets and sports venues. These are often connected to software that can "recognize" faces and read license plates. This can allow people to know your comings and goings around town and to know when you are not home. In the name of keeping track of health statistics, the government has acquired the right to all of your medical information that is on file with your doctor. Government employees do not need to get your signed permission, or even inform you that they have opened your file. Do you want strangers (or even acquaintances in your community) in government to know if you are taking estrogen or anti-depressants? So far, public libraries and bookstores have defended your right to privacy by refusing to divulge lists of books you have checked out or bought, even if you are not under suspicion of having committed any crime. But the government is working to gain access to this information. Without a sense of privacy, people will fear getting the knowledge and information they need to fight entrenched interests that are contrary to the public good. The government has fought your right to use encryption software for your use of the internet and has reserved special "keys" so that it can read your e-mail without a warrant. Does this concern you even a little bit? What if this trend continues? Mark Wilson will defend your right to privacy in Congress.

Get Government out of Marriage:
Marriage is that most beautiful of contracts between individuals to love and be faithful. This contract is voluntarily chosen and negotiated. Any two individuals should be free to enter in to this kind of contract. The government has no business regulating who may or may not enter in to these kinds of agreements. Gays and lesbians must be free to marry anyone they choose. Tax laws must not discriminate against either married or single people. Furthermore, the rights of any two consenting adults to do whatever they want in the privacy of their own bedrooms must be preserved. Archaic and backward laws to the contrary must be repealed.

Preserve Freedom of Speech, Religion and of the Press:
Freedom of speech requires that the government not engage in censorship. Freedom of religion requires that the government not create any advantages or disadvantages for any particular religion in our society and no special subsidies for religious or anti-religious activity. The government must remain "religion neutral," even if our elected officials make decisions based on personal moral values. Freedom of the press requires an independent and non-intimidated media that maintains objectivity and reports facts without bias towards the interests of government officials.

Protect the Environment:
The organization that is the largest polluter in America is the government. The Department of Defense the Department of Energy and other state and federal agencies created the largest share of polluted sites in our nation. It is time that the government was required to obey they same environmental laws that corporations do. No longer should government be able to exclude itself from environmental legislation. The federal government pays to build roads into national forests so that contract loggers can remove the wood. These roads are expensive and are just another form of corporate welfare. Government mismanagement of national forests has lead to forest fire disasters and poor stewardship of our natural environment. The subsidies of oil and fossil fuel based transportation have lead to too much burning of fossil fuels and under-investment in alternative, clean energy sources such as solar and wind power. If we stop subsidizing oil, there will be an incentive in private industry to develop these other energy sources. With a record like this, how can we trust the government to protect the environment? Individual initiative, private, non-profit land trusts and local non-governmental organizations do a much better job. I encourage you to contribute to one and to preserve any natural areas you may own.
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As I read this list of issues and Mark’s positions on them, it became obvious to me that Mark has been consistent of the issues that I care about most during each of his campaigns regardless of which label he was wearing. Most importantly in 2006, Mark is the only candidate who can say he has been campaigning and standing up for these issues since 2002. While Aaron Dixon (Green Party Senate Candidate) stood on the sidelines and watched George Bush and Congress send us into Iraq, Mark filed and ran so that he could speak out against it. While former Slade Gorton Chief of Staff, Mike McGavick was ruling over the outsourcing of employees at Safeco while racking up huge profits in order to ensure a more significant golden parachute, Mark was campaigning against corporate abuses. Finally, as incumbent Senator Maria Cantwell was voting to give George Bush authority to send us to war and violate our civil liberties (twice now) and ship our jobs overseas via NAFTA, CAFTA, and the WTO, Mark has been speaking out about protecting our core values as Americans.

The only question that remains is whether Mark is a “viable” candidate.
Viable: “Capable of success or continuing effectiveness; practicable”
Oddly enough, the people who spend the most time asking this question are the very people who keep his name out of their newspapers and other venues where he might gain some traction. I would suggest that the real answer to that question lies with those who consider themselves progressive and are looking for someone to represent their values and stand up to the Bush Administration. The way I see it, we either stand with Mark today or we live with more of the same for the NEXT SIX YEARS. You decide.

Mark Wilson - Democrat for Senate

Peace,

Chad (The Left) Shue