Getting It Right

Is the League of Independent Voters non-partisan? If so, who can they experience “the giddy joy of people embarking on victory”? If not, i hope they are not tax exempt!

Posted by ken on Aug 11, 2004 at 9:12 AM

Hey, Ken, victory’s not just winning the election for the Democrats, it’s winning real change. Not a partisan thing.

FYI, though, the League of Independent Voters is a 501(c)4. There’s also an associated 527 PAC, and a 501(c)3 organization called the League of Young Voters Education Fund that does non-partisan training and voter registration.

In any case, the government only started being so picky about keeping partisan activity away from non-partisan activity when civil rights activists started gaining influence. God forbid Martin Luther King had endorsed a candidate! That could change government! Damn, better make some new bureaucracy.

Posted by Emma on Aug 11, 2004 at 3:38 PM

Hi Emma -

Thanks for the clarification. In my opinion, real change is not likely to come about given the choice between the two candidates we have. But a modicum of change is possible, if that is better than none.

Posted by ken on Aug 12, 2004 at 8:32 AM

I agree entirely about this election. That’s the value of building this organization—it hopes to be able to influence elections in the short term, and then continue to build a base of support to win future elections and hold politicians and parties accountable. The League’s in it for the long haul, not just this election cycle.

Posted by Emma on Aug 12, 2004 at 9:03 AM

Ken,

I guess the choice between a gradual descent into hell and a headlong rush into hell doesn’t seem like much of a choice, but at least one of ‘em buys you a bit of time… ;-)

Posted by kenmo on Aug 12, 2004 at 6:54 PM