Saturday, May 20, 2006
May 20, 2006
An open letter to Senator Liz Figueroa:
Liz Figueroa
43801 Mission Blvd., No.103
Fremont, CA 94539
You placed a large billboard in my neighborhood, (along highway 101,) stating; “Jackie Speir wants to take away your health care.” As a freelance journalist, activist and volunteer, I object to this constant negativity during political campaigns, and when I speak to civic groups I tell them the following:
Americans are tired of the politics of fear and negativity. We are tired of being afraid and angry, and tired of a media that consistently feeds this dark side of human emotion. There is a backlash that is growing against media outlets and politicians that prey upon our emotional state. In the following months you will hear about this more and more, and those who have not learned this lesson will find themselves increasingly isolated and rejected.
I urge you to speak out against the politics of negativity. It’s not enough to change your vote, (or worse, to not vote at all.) Vote for the candidate that takes the high road by all means, but also take time to write a letter or email to the negative candidate. Let them know why they lost your support.
And talk with your friends and fellow voters. Post an entry to your web log. When we share our disgust with the politics of fear and negativity we change the way the game is played.
Take down your negative billboards, Senator Figueroa, and stop pandering to the worst aspects of human nature. You will only earn the enmity of voters and community leaders, you will lose our votes and you will lose elections.
Sincerely, Phillip T. Alden
An open letter to Senator Liz Figueroa:
Liz Figueroa
43801 Mission Blvd., No.103
Fremont, CA 94539
You placed a large billboard in my neighborhood, (along highway 101,) stating; “Jackie Speir wants to take away your health care.” As a freelance journalist, activist and volunteer, I object to this constant negativity during political campaigns, and when I speak to civic groups I tell them the following:
Americans are tired of the politics of fear and negativity. We are tired of being afraid and angry, and tired of a media that consistently feeds this dark side of human emotion. There is a backlash that is growing against media outlets and politicians that prey upon our emotional state. In the following months you will hear about this more and more, and those who have not learned this lesson will find themselves increasingly isolated and rejected.
I urge you to speak out against the politics of negativity. It’s not enough to change your vote, (or worse, to not vote at all.) Vote for the candidate that takes the high road by all means, but also take time to write a letter or email to the negative candidate. Let them know why they lost your support.
And talk with your friends and fellow voters. Post an entry to your web log. When we share our disgust with the politics of fear and negativity we change the way the game is played.
Take down your negative billboards, Senator Figueroa, and stop pandering to the worst aspects of human nature. You will only earn the enmity of voters and community leaders, you will lose our votes and you will lose elections.
Sincerely, Phillip T. Alden
# posted by Phillip T. Alden @ 1:57 PM 
