[FRIAM] Whew!

Wed May 3 18:34:09 EDT 2017

Damn!   And I didn’t see a dime of that!  2.1 millions, all together.  Let’s guess that there are 40 thousand potential voters in Santa fe.  A majority would be therefore 20,000.  Each of you should have received at least 50 bucks!

Nicholas S. Thompson

Emeritus Professor of Psychology and Biology

Clark University

 <http://home.earthlink.net/~nickthompson/naturaldesigns/> http://home.earthlink.net/~nickthompson/naturaldesigns/

From: Friam [mailto:friam-bounces at redfish.com] On Behalf Of George Duncan
Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2017 4:18 PM
To: The Friday Morning Applied Complexity Coffee Group <friam at redfish.com>
Subject: Re: [FRIAM] Whew!

Hey, Merle, I don't remember forgetting where the money for this campaign came from. According to the AP, 

Campaign finance reports show New York billionaire Michael Bloomberg contributed $1.1 million to a pro-tax committee. The American Beverage Association spent $1.3 million against the tax.

Also, relevant is what organizations were for it and what organizations were against? Again according to the AP,

Spending by rival political committees pitted the American Beverage Association and allied local businesses against soda-tax backers including Bloomberg, teachers unions, the American Heart Association and the Roman Catholic Church.

Interesting allies to a "political mafia". 

Yes, we do need pre-K and now with this defeat I see no path towards getting it.

George Duncan

Emeritus Professor of Statistics, Carnegie Mellon University
georgeduncanart.com <http://georgeduncanart.com/> 

See posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Land: (505) 983-6895  

Mobile: (505) 469-4671

My art theme: Dynamic exposition of the tension between matrix order and luminous chaos.

"Attempt what is not certain. Certainty may or may not come later. It may then be a valuable delusion."

>From "Notes to myself on beginning a painting" by Richard Diebenkorn. 

"It's that knife-edge of uncertainty where we come alive to our truest power." Joanna Macy.

On Wed, May 3, 2017 at 3:18 PM, Merle Lefkoff <merlelefkoff at gmail.com <mailto:merlelefkoff at gmail.com> > wrote:

You forget George, that the political Mafia that runs Santa Fe city government not only put together a stupidly doomed proposal, but also brought in outside money that MATCHED the amount of money brought in by corporate interests.  Some of you may remember that $250,000 of outside money also came into the Mayor's race after the City Council had passed legislation to insure a citizen-funded municipal campaign.  As it turned out, the Mayor would have won without the extra money that local power brokers brought in from outside.  Another loss for local democracy and getting money out of politics.  Cry the Beloved City.  Because we really really need pre-K.

On Wed, May 3, 2017 at 10:29 AM, George Duncan <gtduncan at gmail.com <mailto:gtduncan at gmail.com> > wrote:

Anyone like to bet that we will now address these issues "rationally" so that there will be either funding for Pre-K or disincentives for sugary drinks? I will take the opposite side of that bet.

We now see the power of those corporate interests who will provide the millions of dollars needed to defeat any tax proposal that might hurt them. Some how I do not expect them to be funding Pre-K education by any means. Also any new proposal to tax sugary drinks will prompt their money to be put into opposition. Further note what our Governor said in response to yesterday's defeat about the public  mood to increase taxes.

Yes, elitists may well think that Pre-K dominates cheap soda. And, yes, elitists don't drink Coca-Cola and instead like Perrier water. So District votes hardly surprising.

Duncan

George Duncan

Emeritus Professor of Statistics, Carnegie Mellon University
georgeduncanart.com <http://georgeduncanart.com/> 

See posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Land: (505) 983-6895 <tel:(505)%20983-6895>   

Mobile: (505) 469-4671 <tel:(505)%20469-4671> 

My art theme: Dynamic exposition of the tension between matrix order and luminous chaos.

"Attempt what is not certain. Certainty may or may not come later. It may then be a valuable delusion."

>From "Notes to myself on beginning a painting" by Richard Diebenkorn. 

"It's that knife-edge of uncertainty where we come alive to our truest power." Joanna Macy.

On Wed, May 3, 2017 at 9:54 AM, Owen Densmore <owen at backspaces.net <mailto:owen at backspaces.net> > wrote:

Oh, and Elitism? Culturalism?

Well the south side districts overwhelmly trounced it: 69% & 73% Even the most liberal districts were 50-50.

   -- Owen

On Wed, May 3, 2017 at 9:45 AM, Owen Densmore <owen at backspaces.net <mailto:owen at backspaces.net> > wrote:

Voters smack down mayor’s beverage tax proposal

http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/voters-smack-down-mayor-s-beverage-tax-proposal/article_3971faf0-2f9c-11e7-8374-532a52cd354f.html

Now maybe we can focus on health, pre-K, etc rationally rather than tying them together idiotically.

Quote:

Opponents resisted the proposed tax as an unfair overreach by city leaders and not the best way to fulfill a recognized need for expanding access to preschool programs.

Amen!

   -- Owen!

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-- 

Merle Lefkoff, Ph.D.
President, Center for Emergent Diplomacy
emergentdiplomacy.org <http://emergentdiplomacy.org> 

Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

Visiting Professor in Integrative Peacebuilding

Saint Paul University

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

merlelefkoff at gmail.com <mailto:merlelefoff at gmail.com> 
mobile:  (303) 859-5609 <tel:(303)%20859-5609> 
skype:  merle.lelfkoff2

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