Ask Ructions: Local Politics and Our Corner of the Planet.
Dear Ructions,
I’m excited to be running for office for the first time. The people who lead our local party were looking for candidates and someone suggested me. I don’t know the people I’m running with very well—and they know me almost not at all. Nobody asked me about my political views. They just wanted to make sure I would do some campaigning and had nothing embarrassing in my background.
Now that I’m in this I want to show voters we can make a difference. My first idea is to ban drive-thru windows at local businesses. If we are serious about climate change we should not allow cars and SUVs to sit in a line spewing fumes and burning fossil fuels for a cup of coffee or a Happy Meal. We need to get serious. (I’m appalled that some of my neighbors don’t take recycling as seriously as they should.) My ticket team members, who have all been candidates before, seem timid and reluctant to do something meaningful, even if some selfish locals might grumble.
How can I persuade them to embrace my ideas? Should I go it alone in the name of the future?
In the name of the planet,
Acting Locally
Dear Acting,
These team campaigns can be tricky. You don’t want your fellow candidates to decide they would rather win a smaller majority without you than a bigger one with you.
Unveil your ban on drive-thru windows at a closed campaign meeting. Do it with optimism. That you may know your neighbors’ recycling habits suggests a certain vigor that others may see as stark rigidity. Your home district may not be your strongest when the votes are counted. Others on your team may be able to help figure out how to rebut the opposition of local businesses and their customers. There are a lot of drive-thru windows in most towns.
Some flexibility can be helpful. More cars are starting to have the feature that shuts them off while idling. Drive-thru windows can make the lives of the disabled easier. The ones at local pharmacies help keep ailing germ carriers away from the rest of the customers and that seems like a public benefit. Many banks have closed their drive-thru windows as they nudge their customers online. Talk to them about their experience and you may get some helpful ideas to polish your proposal.
Here’s a thought. The drive-thru windows at food and beverage establishments often have trash receptacles (don’t tell Fotis Dulos) at the beginning and end of the lane. They don’t have a way to separate recyclables from other trash. Find an establishment that will begin a voluntary program with split bins–recyclables and trash. Shine a bright light on it. It will be the beginning of a reputation for you.
If you are impaled on the horns of a dilemma and want to risk receiving advice, send a message to kfr@dailyructions.com. Identities will be protected. Messages may be edited.