Vince LaMie,To be fair, I'm sending a similar message to Representative Shane Cultra:
Can you give me a detailed plan of what you plan to do if elected as State Representative? I'll post your response on my blog (http://governingourselves.blogspot.com/) and share it with my friends to help you get your message out.
Representative Cultra,I think these are the only two guys who are running for the 105th district. Surely there's a democrat out there some where. Anyone know who it is?
Can you give me a detailed plan of what you plan to do if re-elected as State Representative? I'll post your response on my blog (http://governingourselves.blogspot.com/) and share it with my friends to help you get your message out.
Shane Cultra seems to be doing a fine job, so I'll probably vote for him again. However, Vince is a fellow mathematician and I like to think that mathematicians have a logically way of looking at things and solving problems. But hopefully, who ever wins will be more in the business of letting us solve our own problems and keeping the government out of the picture as much as possible.
UPDATE: Below is Vince LaMie's very helpful response. When I have some time, I'll send him a follow up email and post it as well.
I visited your blog. It is good that you expect detailed explanations to positions taken by politicians and don't seem to accept vague general comments. So, could you provide some detailed explanation to your statement that my opponent "seems to be doing a fine job, so I'll probably vote for him again." He has never had an opponent in the general election, so you haven't had the opportunity to vote for another candidate in the general election. Do you know the details of where his campaign contributions have come from, or what committees he is on?
I am sending a copy of my announcement for you and your followers to get an idea of where I stand.
The corruption in IL is so entrenched throughout the system that the only persons that have not been bought by the system can fight against it. And the system needs to be fixed before we can expect to make any real and sustainable progress. The IL Reform Commission wrote a report that contains many recommendations that would go a long way toward making our system more responsive to the people of IL and reduce the amount of corruption that is an embarrassment to our state. That report contains details of corruption that most of us were unaware. I recommend that everyone in IL get a copy.
I will check your blog for a while to see what type of responses come up.
The Other Guy,
Vince
Thought I'd take my review from facebook and share it here.
ReplyDeleteShane Cultra is a strong advocate for business and for 2nd Amendment rights. He has been given low scores by groups seeking "racial justice' (I'm not sure what this is, really, or how it differs from "social justice"), environmental groups, and the AFL-CIO.
Looking at his voting record, and the bills he has sponsored (or co-sponsored) he seems to mean what he says. I have not found any reason to accuse him of being a shoddy double-dealing politician, and, if I were in his district, I would vote for him.
Regarding Vince LaMie, he seems to be the typical Green Party candidate: everyone is corrupt (except for him), and he is going to go to Springfield to change everything. Of course, he has no plans, other than to refuse money from businesses, special interest groups, and political parties. So his campaign comes across as a poorly-funded one with no goals, no objectives.
Also, his website is poorly designed. (My wife has turned me into a snob when it comes to anything related to graphic design.)
For me, my vote would be a nay. This might change if I were to see more specific objectives set forth by Mr. LaMie.
Hi Alex,
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to have you join the conversation. Your last sentence implies that you believe you have an open mind to my candidacy, but your comments about being a "typical Green" and being critical of my website design imply that your mind may not change even with additional information. My website design has nothing to do with my views on politics in IL. Does it?
I'm not trying to be rude or defensive, but we as voters have to admit that we have a strong tendancy to go along with established political traditions which may or may not be good for our state.
So when you and Scott both declare who you would vote for in your very first posts in this blog, it reminds me that there are so many people who have made up their minds even before they have a chance to consider someone else for this office. If we are to have the best representation we have to truly consider someone "different" and be constructively critical of all that run for office.
Alex, it gave me hope when I saw in one of your other blogs that you sounded as if you were in favor of proportional representation. That is very "third party" of you.
But I still have a hard time beleiving that you guys think it is OK for Shane Cultra to accept money from railroad companies when he is on the Railroad Committee, but maybe I'm not being open-minded enough.
The statement "Freedom isn't free" applies to more than just the lives lost on the battle field. We have to be involved in our electoral process to make sure we are being fairly represented. So, I commend you and Scott for getting involved. Please make sure you are being fair and open to everyone that chooses to get involved.
I will leave you and the rest of the followers with a question to consider. Who do we depend upon to prosecute political corruption in IL? (Hint: Ryan/Blagojevich)
The Other Guy,
Vince