Un-derdog

At a "Meet the Candidates" event this week, there was a gathering of state and legislative candidates that almost outnumbered the folks who came to hear them. Each candidate was given two and a half minutes to introduce themselves and was asked to carry a name placard with them to the front. Printed after each name on the card was an initial to indicate their party affiliation.

I told the audience that mine was "D" for Deon.

One of the other candidates who spoke was running without party affiliation and his name on the card was followed by "Un". He began his talk saying that he was an "Un", and quipped that perhaps some assumed it meant "unpopular" or "unelectable" and then acknowledged that it certainly meant "unfunded".

The interesting thing, however, was that if "Un" really were a party, and the unaffiliated really got behind their candidates, they would win by quite a margin. The majority of voters in this district are unaffiliated.

Based on my own personal experiences, I have accounted the growing ranks of unaffiliated voters to growing discontent with the Republican Party. I made the move from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party about three years ago and have met many others who have as well.

Based on my conversations with voters, as I walk this district, I have discovered another reason, probably a greater reason, for the expanding unaffiliated populace. Very often the unaffiliated are democrats, who have gone underground. I used to think the tales of persecution were exaggerated, that claims of discrimination were handy excuses, and threats of retribution were more perceived than real. I have now decided that, while some may be unwarranted, many claims are exactly as they say.

I have never heard anyone argue against Lord Acton's assertion that "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely." At the same time, it is clear that the Republican Party in Utah, particularly in Utah County, is "in power". Yet the threat of corruption escapes so many people.

I had doubts as to the legitimacy of the recent charges of "pay to play" and corruption in the bidding process for government contracts until I spoke to a small business owner in this district who regularly bids for government contracts. There was no doubt in her mind that politics had come into play and that it does more often than not.

I have been told by business owners that they could not risk offending customers by putting up campaign signs for me. Interestingly, signs for republicans pop up a little while later.

In the last election, I pointed out in my fund raising letters that I was required to disclose the names of donors of $50 or more. I was astounded by the number of $49 donations I received.

When I heard the story of a woman whose husband's professional prospects were impacted by her campaign for public office as a democrat, I asked my husband if he thought his pay or promotions were hindered by my political activities. He responded immediately, "No." And then, with a moment to think about it, he added, "and if they were, it would be so wrong that I would still support you in this."

Other people are not so bold.

I keep hearing from unaffiliated voters, "You are so brave! Yes, I am a democrat and you have my vote." Some will take a sign but with the warning that their neighbors may remove it. Others don't want to cause a confrontation with their neighbors. More than once I found people who claimed to be "the only democrat on the block" living right next door to each other. Staying underground. Staying unaffiliated.

To me, this is the greatest indicator for the need for balanced opposition in government. The image that comes to my mind is that of the teeter-totter -- at one end, one scrawny kid with feet dangling, and at the other end, a gang of burly bullies who find perverse pleasure in their power as they hold their side down.

Perhaps that is why teeter-totters have disappeared from playgrounds. The concept was cooperative but children quickly learned to leverage power and maintain it through fear.

Swing voters have the ability to restore the game to balanced play. I am hoping they will in November.