First, I want to thank the more than 18,400 voters who voted their first choice instead of the “lesser of two evils.” Thanks to my wife, Maya, and our daughter Sophie for persevering through the last eighteen months. Thanks to Al Krulick for being my running mate. Thanks to campaign volunteers John Dunn, Rob Field, Greg Gimbert, Yury Konnikov, Moe Alkire & family, Kenneth Storey, Samantha, Dan Collins, Dave Martin, Chantha, Melinda Clark, Jayne, Debra, Angela, Phyllis, Ty, Bonnie, Nancy, Fred, Susan, Hiliary and many others too numerous to list. Thanks also to Bobette, and all the people who put us up along the road during the Biking Mike tour of the state. Thanks to those who donated to our campaign and those who wrote about it in various  forums, blogs and articles.  A special thanks goes to film producer Steve Taylor, director Chris Ramsey and filmmakers Kate, Lisa and Gabriel who will help expose the dirty secrets of this election for posterity.

This is not your usual concession speech, because I concede that if there had been a level playing field the outcome of this election would be quite different.

I also concede that our American electoral process is about money and that the two-party candidates, and our so-called representatives, spend most of their time scheming to raise money or engaging in other forms of vote buying and influence peddling.

I concede that we do not live in a democracy, but a plutocracy, and that the financial elite has put one of their own into office yet again. Rick Scott will be Florida’s next governor despite a majority voting for someone else.

I also concede that it made little difference which of the two-party candidates won, and that if Alex Sink, a mixed-race female, had won it would have only put a gentler face on a dysfunctional system. Instead, Rick Scott bought the election with $73 million of his ill-gotten fortune and made a blatant attempt to pretty up the ticket by choosing a mixed-race female for his running mate. From winner-take-all to pay-to-play, Scott is now Exhibit A of what is wrong with our electoral system. 

I further concede that the Democratic Party has joined with the Republican Party to spoil our democracy, even while putting the spoiler label on principled outsiders like Ralph Nader.

Finally, I concede that our electoral system and the resulting policies have failed us and they must be reformed so we can have a government that brings the greatest good to the greatest number, in the most efficient manner, to this and future generation.  If this had been a fair election, the two-party millionaires would be making the concession speeches, and all of us would be winners.

Even though I concede these sad facts, I will not give up hope. Scott’s win could be a good thing for Florida and for our nation because he will remind us every day for the next four years why we need systemic reform.

The Orlando Weekly endorses independent Michael E. Arth for Governor of Florida

Yes, we know: Arth has neither money nor experience, and the book How to Build a Robot Army is on his coffee table. But keep this in mind: The guy pretty much single-handedly converted a DeLand drug slum into a legitimate neighborhood within the span of a year. His ideas are actually his own, and not only that, they’re good ideas. Given that Alex Sink left us underwhelmed, and that Rick Scott is, well, Rick Scott, we’re giving ourselves permission to follow our hearts on this one.

(Note: The rest of Florida’s major newspapers have chosen Alex Sink, apparently out of the “lesser of two evils” choice forced upon them by our archaic electoral system.)

As a modern day Robin Hood I aim to help restore the common wealth that was stolen from us.

After 18 months of campaigning for governor, the race is coming to an end. My efforts to change our dysfunctional system will go on no matter what the outcome of the election.  I have personally spent far more than I can afford, written a book, ridden 800 miles on a bicycle, and talked (and listened) more than I ever have in my life. All of this effort was to build the dialogue we need to have about finding solutions to poor leadership and even worse policies.

Barring some highly unexpected events, it is unlikely we will win this particular battle. The barriers put up by the two-party machine are formidable, and it will take continued efforts to bring us a representative democracy and rational policies.

A last minute donation will help me continue these efforts even after the campaign is over, but you only have until midnight tonight to make that donation. Please help now by clicking the link below so that someday we can take money out of electoral politics, and we can end influence peddling for good. 

I WANT TO HELP

My running mate and I will be on a two-hour talk show with no commercial interruptions TONIGHT Thursday, Oct. 28th from 9pm-11pm (EST)
 
Da Real Deal with Da Realest 1 on Blog Talk Radio
 
 LINK TO RADIO SHOW

  Today’s cover story in The Orlando Weekly

Last night, my running mate, Al Krulick, and I watched the debate between Alex Sink and Rick Scott. Both during and after the debate we conducted our own “alternative debate.” The first part of the debate, between the two millionaire, corporatist candidates, could not be heard because of technical difficulties. We could see the candidates but could not hear them. This was an unintended metaphor of our electoral process, which is all about putting up a smokescreen of appearances, while hiding anything of substance.

Speaking of reality, the Orlando Weekly just today published a front page article about me titled Reality Check, which outlines the sad realities of our electoral system in relation to my gubernatorial run. The paper is also expected to endorse me for governor in the next issue. Please read the article and contribute your comments.

We still have one more debate designed to induce you to “choose the lesser of two evils.” I will be attending the “Debate Watch Party” to discuss the evil of such a system as well talk about real issues. Please join us:

Monday, 25 October 2010 at the South Florida Tampa Campus. 6:30 to 8:30. (actual debate from 7 to 8)
University of South Florida
 Marshall Student Center, in the center of campus
The general address of the school is
4202 E. Flower Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33620

LINK to MAP

I will also be here:

Saturday, 23 October 2010, The SCPA Progressive Fest, 11-5 PM, at the Eau Gallie Civic Center, 1551 Highland Ave., Melbourne, FL. Link to more information.

Many of you have asked how you can help. The best way, other then sending much needed donations, is to spread the word through your email lists and through your social media, as well as through actual word of mouth, about my campaign.

Dear supporters,

I would like you to know about my new campaign ad, which you can watch at TBO.com.

I also want you know about upcoming events during the 24 days we have until the November 2nd general election.

1. Tomorrow,  I will be speaking at the Electoral Forum on how we can fix our electoral system.

Where: Unitarian Universalist Society, 11648 McCulloch Rd. Orlando, FL 32817 MAP
What: Electoral Forum (Michael E. Arth and others)
When: Saturday 9 Oct 2010, 1-4 PM

2. Sunday, 10 October, I will be at Lake Eola Park in Orlando from 12-6 as a straight ally supporting GLBT rights in the “Come Out With Pride” event and parade.
You can see the flier for this event and read the Stand Up Florida endorsement for my campaign at the same link.

An excerpt: “There IS another choice and his name is Michael E. Arth. Michael is the Best-Kept Secret in Florida, and be assured that Alex Sink and Rick Scott hope to keep him that way by refusing to debate him and freezing him out of our democratic process. But with your help Michael, his dedicated team, and Stand Up Florida plan to break through the barriers set up to silence his voice for true change by his putting Principles Above Party!”

3. DEBATES: I was kept out of the official debates between Alex Sink and Rick Scott, but I will still debate their cardboard cutout effigies outside of the debate halls. Please mark your candidate come and support me on these dates (times to be announced soon) Please write me at michaelearth@michaelearth.org to let me know if you can make one of these alternative debates, so we can rendezvous.

Wednesday, 20 October 2010 at Nova S.E. University in Davie, FL (near Ft. Lauderdale)

Monday, 25 October 2010 at the South Florida Tampa Campus.

4. Saturday, 23 October 2010, The SCPA Progressive Fest, 11-5 PM, at the Eau Gallie Civic Center, 1551 Highland Ave., Melbourne, FL. Link to more information.

Many of you have asked how you can help. The best way, other then sending donations, is to spread the word through your email lists and through your social media, as well as through actual word of mouth, about my campaign. 

“Michael E. Arth is one of our generation’s Thomas Jeffersons in many ways. In addition to his work as a policy analyst, he went into a crack-infested community that was scheduled for demolition and not only saved it, but turned it into a prosperous, happy, healthy place to raise children.  If he can do that on a small scale, what can he do in the whole state of Florida? This is the kind of visionary thinker and problem-solver we need.  I’m convinced that if Michael were simply heard by Floridians, he would be elected governor of Florida. I fully support him as the only reasonable choice. If all our leaders were like Michael, we would be living in Utopia.”

  —David Cobb, 2004 Green Party Presidential Candidate, Principal with Program on Corporations Law & Democracy and spokesperson for MovetoAmend.org.


Whatever your political beliefs are, you will surely agree that the public has the right to hear me debate the two-party candidates. If we had a level playing field, I would probably win this race. However, because the system is rigged in many ways, most Floridians have not even heard about me.

Here is your chance to put me on stage with Alex Sink and Rick Scott so the voters can make their own side-by-side comparisons.

A Mason-Dixon poll, starting today and continuing for several days, will ask voters who they would vote for if the election were held today. No matter who you would vote for in the general election on November 2nd, please choose Michael E. Arth in order to ensure that I poll at least 11%. If I’m over the threshold, I’ll be in the debates. If not, I won’t and we will all lose a valuable opportunity to enjoy a small taste of democracy.

The key to making the 11% is for you to copy this message and email it NOW to everyone on your email list, no matter where they live, and ask them to forward it NOW to everyone they know. Within one day we could reach enough Florida voters to make a difference.

Michael E. Arth for Florida Governor website.

(Source: michaelearth.org)

1. Here is a short video about how we hire our leaders to do some of the most important jobs in the country on the basis of how many yard signs they buy. Campaign Signs 2010

2. This is a video done with me by the Hometown Democracy supporters in support of Amendment 4:

3. Chris Ramsey edited this campaign video captured from New Urban Cowboy:

Michael E. Arth for Florida Governor.

4. Chris also shot this video of my campaign video that plays homage to Bob Dylan in the 1960s documentary, Don’t Look Back.

Here are the lyrics to the campaign video:

“I am the Very Model of a Pragmatic Humanitarian”

Music by Gilbert & Sullivan / Arrangement by Howard Ferguson
Vocals by Lara Larberg and Michael E. Arth / Lyrics by Michael E. Arth

1.  My name is Michael Arth. This is why I’m running for Governor.
                              (Clears throat)

2.  I am the very model of a pragmatic humanitarian.

3.  I’m combination designer, philosopher and utilitarian.

4.  I know the presidents and can debate their merits rhetorical

5.  From Washington to Obama, in order categorical.

6.  I have some acquaintance, too, with matters mathematical

7.  Regarding ideas for family planning and taxes that are logical.

8.  I study things deep, arcane or even topical

9.  In application to helpful things that are quite practical

10.  Like build a house, design a town, or steer the ship of state.

                                    (chorus)

11.  He can build a house, design a town, or steer the ship of state.

12.  He can build a house, design a town, or steer the ship of state.

13.  He can build a house, design a town, or steer the ship of
Florida’s state

14.  And with electoral reform there will be positive synergy,

15.  To bring new leaders and ideas that will clean up our democracy.

16.  In short, I’m a designer, philosopher, and utilitarian

17.  I am the very model of a pragmatic humanitarian.

                                     (chorus)

18.  In short, he’s a designer, philosopher, and utilitarian.

19.  He is the very model of a pragmatic humanitarian.

20.  The two parties say that it’s about the power and the gold

21.  The rights and privileges we deserve have been sold.

22.  Campaign advisors say to speak nothing of this autocracy

23.  Keep voters clapping with compliments and pleasantry

24.  They say to tell people simple things they want to hear

25.  Or misdirect them with all kinds of things built on fear

26.  Like terrorism, socialism, death squads, and they’ll take your
guns.

27. Carry a cross, wave the flag, beware of the drugs-and the bums!

28. And  don’t forget to say that you going to cut the tax.

29. Remember that unless you lie about these things, you’ll get the
ax.

                                             (chorus)

30. Gimme your money, the power-keep the status quo-forget the
facts.
31. Gimme your money, the power-keep the status quo-forget the
facts.
32. Gimme your money, the power-keep the status quo-forget the
facts.

33.  No more spoilers, gerrymanders, vote strategizing or
first-past-the-post

34.  No unfair voting, pay-for-play or paid lobbyists to host.

35.  In short I’m combination designer, philosopher and utilitarian.

36.  I am the very model of a pragmatic humanitarian.

                                      (chorus)

37.  In short he’s a designer, philosopher, and utilitarian,

38.  He is the very model of a pragmatic humanitarian.

39.  We should stop building prisons and end the War on Drugs

40.  It’s unconstitutional, doesn’t work, costs a lot, and makes more
thugs.

41.  It’s a crime made of things not criminal, said Lincoln of
prohibition

42.  It’s a distraction from something truly bad, like a stinkin’
politician

43.  Or an energy policy based on war, pollution, debt and corporate
expropriation.

44.  Our growth policies have created a suburban nation.

45.  Our conglomerating media is based on tabloidization

46.  If it bleeds it leads and if it thinks it stinks beyond
recognition.

47. This happens because fairness is something we fail to
appreciate.

48. Therefore representative democracy is something we must
contemplate.

                                      (chorus)

49. Representative democracy is something we must contemplate.

50. Representative democracy is something we must contemplate.

51. Representative democracy is something we must
contem-contemplate.

52. The election is near so I will do my best to endure and strive

53. And even if I lose this time the ideas will remain and we’ll
survive.

54.  Because I am a designer, philosopher and utilitarian

55.  I am the very model of a pragmatic humanitarian

                                  (chorus)

56.  Because he is a designer, philosopher and utilitarian

57.  He is the very model of a pragmatic humanitarian.

58.  Democracy! Yes! Michael Arth! A leader and ideas we deserve.

59.  It’s up to us, after all! This time we have a choice!

60.  Michael Arth for Governor!

Other portals:

Personal Facebook page

Campaign Facebook page

I have had careers in fine art, building and urban design, construction and currently work as an urban designer, community activist and policy analyst. My latest book is Democracy and Common Wealth: Breaking the Stranglehold of the Special Interests.  An award-winning documentary, New Urban Cowboy: Toward a New Pedestrianism, tells the story of how I rebuilt DeLand’s “Cracktown” into The Historic Garden District. The headline in a front-page article in the Daytona Beach News-Journal sums it pretty well: “He turned Cracktown into a gem, now he wants to remake Florida.”

I entered the gubernatorial race fifteen months ago because, with my experience and knowledge of how our system works, I considered it my duty to initiate reforms that could quickly turn around the state’s economy and solve the major problems in our society.  The two-party candidates want to prop up the status quo with Band-Aids when what we need is fundamental, systemic reform that will get the heart of the problems. 

The 2011 Florida State Budget Deficit is $6 billion to $8 billion, with a total budget of $70.4 billion, an increase of almost $4 billion from the previous year. I have a plan to eliminate this deficit, end corruption, and bring Florida into the future as an innovative powerhouse of clean energy and information-based technology.  

1. Tax and economic policies should favor the vast majority. We already proved that progressive taxation and more equality is good for the country. The top federal tax income tax on the very rich from 1951 to 1963 was over 91%, and the corporate rate was 52%, yet this period was incredibly prosperous and productive. It was the heyday of the middle class when one breadwinner per household was the norm.

Both of the two-party candidates, Alex Sink and Rick Scott, are millionaires working for millionaires, and this why both of them support extending the Bush tax cuts for themselves and other members of the financial elite.

Supply side economics does not work and even some conservatives have stated so publicly. George Bush Sr. called it “Voodoo Economics” before he agreed to self-censure and become Reagan’s running mate. Later, George Bush Jr.‘s economic advisor, conservative Harvard economist Gregory Mankiw, in a textbook on economics, described Ronald Reagan’s supply siders as “cranks and charlatans”. Conservative political economist Francis Fukuyama, who contributed to the Reagan doctrine (also called “Reaganomics”) later changed his mind and concluded that tax cuts create deficits.  Supply side economics is widely known as trickle down theory— the idea being that you feed the fat cows so the flies can eat.

I prefer the term “tinkle down economics” because it’s obvious the fat cows are peeing on us while asking us to believe it is raining liquid gold. 

They claim it works even while asking us to tighten our belts and attacking Medicare, national health insurance, and Social Security.  Both Sink and Scott, being among the richest 1% of Americans, have benefited the most from tax cuts, and this is why they want to continue them. We need to reverse this trend to benefit the vast majority of us.
 
Florida’s state and local tax burden is 47th in the nation at 7.4% of income. For 90% of Floridians this should stay the same. However, we should institute a graduated state income tax on the top 10% of income earners, and slightly raise the corporate income rate so that Florida’s collections are close to the average rate of 9.7%.

2. Create a State Bank: North Dakota is the only state to have one, and it is also the only state with a budget in the black. The Great Recession never happened in North Dakota. Unemployment is 3.6%; foreclosures are low; the economy is humming. A state bank in Florida, which incorporated the FL State Board of Administration’s $138 billion fund, the state’s payroll, and its employees bank accounts, could put a $3 billion annual dividend into Florida’s Rainy Day Fund. If we had done this ten years ago, Florida’s deficit would have been covered, and would have had a huge reserve going into the recession. A state bank would be answerable to the people instead of stockholders.

3. Transparency, Accountability and Efficiency: Make public agencies comply with the open records law, and require all records to be published online in an easily searchable data base that can be understood by the public. Let our citizens seek out the waste and fraud to hold our leaders accountable.  Apply these principles to streamlining regulations and business practices in both the public and private sector.

4. End rampant electoral fraud and corruption: Florida had 824 convicted public officials from 1998 to 2007, presumably with a much greater number getting away with their crimes. It is wrong for the top 1% to have as much as the bottom 90%, or for them to dictate to the rest of us what kind of government we are going to have through electoral chicanery. We should trade winner-take-all voting for majority choice voting, and PACs, paid lobbyists and private campaign funding with highly limited and regulated public campaign financing. This will enable us to elect leaders concerned about the issues and the economy, instead of fund-raising and power-brokering.

5. New Pedestrianism: Require that all new development in Florida follows the New Pedestrianism model, in order to ensure that we are building sustainable communities instead of dysfunctional automobile slums that create interminable social and economic problems.

6. To reduce crime, and save billions, end the War on Drugs: The War on Drugs has been a war on the poor and a war on society. It has destroyed millions of lives, fostered corruption and contempt for the law, and has spawned 49,000 gang members in Florida alone. Our state’s incarceration rate is eight times higher than Canada, and yet we have the second highest crime rate in the 50 states. 

To the extent it is possible, in consideration of the federal issues involved, we need to end the war on drugs, and create a treatment-centered approach to drug problems. The Feds have agreed not to enforce the federal statutes against states that allow medical marijuana. Florida should use this loophole to essentially legalize both the use and cultivation of cannabis. There has never in the entire recorded history of the world ever been a documented overdose death from cannabis, and it is less addictive than coffee. Any prohibition against it is irrational or based on competing business interests.

Ultimately the national solution is make drugs quasi-legal, with regulation and taxation similar to alcohol and tobacco, which are truly dangerous, but with highly restricted advertising for all psychoactive substances, including prescription drugs, alcohol and tobacco. The criminal element that sells drugs will not go away without ending prohibition. The simple fact that drugs are available inside prison demonstrates the impossibility of eliminating them from open society.

Study after study, and real life itself, has demonstrated over and over that prohibition causes far more problems than the substances themselves.

For example, a Rand Institute study showed treatment to be seven times more cost effective than incarceration. Reducing the harm caused by a failed law enforcement policies could save $4-8 billion a year in prisons, courts, juvenile justice, health care and law enforcement.  Huge savings would also result from crime reduction and improving family life. Taxes from cannabis and other drugs could pay for treatment and health care related issues. There will be more on why we need to end prohibition in the next blog.

8. End homelessness, Save Money: This can be done by building villages for the adult homeless that especially focuses on helping those who suffer from developmental disabilities and/or addictions. These villages for the homeless would be located outside of inner cities and they would consolidate inefficient and expensive agencies that are not currently solving the very specific problems related to homelessness. These would also be work centers that provide on site employment, and also provide employees with documented and certified workers. Please visit the website for the organization I founded at www.villagesforthehomeless.org.

9. Develop clean, alternative energy: The real cost of gasoline has been estimated in one study to be $11.35 per gallon because of various public subsidies, both direct and indirect, mostly to the oil and automobile industries, and to the military-industrial complex. This has resulted in global instability, environmental damage, economic distress, an imbalance of trade, and a dependence of foreign countries for energy. “The Sunshine State” should be a leader in solar energy development, and also in hydro-power.  By one estimate, about 0.01% of the hydrokinetic energy in the Gulf Stream (the strongest current in the world), captured with underwater turbines just off the coast, could supply one-third of Florida’s energy needs. This is equivalent to 4-10 nuclear power plants. These immense natural resources, which could create hundreds of thousands of jobs and great wealth, are being ignored because politicians let the oil companies dictate our energy policy.

Conclusion: All of the savings from the increased efficiency resulting from these nine steps could be used to create full employment, and make Florida a global leader in clean, alternative energy.

There is a misunderstanding, promulgated by Glenn Beck, 9/12ers and others seeking to restrict the interests of the majority to favor the few, that the terms “republic” and “democracy” are mutually exclusive. In fact, the terms were often used interchangeably by our Founding Fathers. Almost no one, including our distinguished forefathers, has advocated for pure democracy; it is simply not practical outside small groups of people. So, it is important to be clear when we talk about democracy that we are referring to the dictionary definition, which also happens to be the way most people understand the term, and the way most of us wish to form our government:

De-moc-ra-cy [from the Greek, meaning “rule of the people”]:

1. a : government by, the people, directly or through representatives; especially : rule of the majority.

b : a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections.

2. a political unit that has such government.

3. the common people especially when constituting the source of political authority.

4. the absence of hereditary or arbitrary class distinctions or privileges. Equality of rights, opportunity, and treatment.

In short, a democracy should be, as Lincoln stated, “A government of the people, by the people, and for the people.” Our Florida state constitution states it plainly enough in Article 1, Section 1: “All political power is inherent in the people.”

One of the greatest threats to a democratic republic is when factions are able to act against the will of the majority. This is why George Washington belonged to no party, and famously warned against them. Our two-party system, cemented in place by anti-democratic election laws, acts against the interest of the majority by shutting out other parties or individuals, by not allowing the best candidates to come forward, and by manufacturing consent through emotionally potent advertising and propaganda.  If a mommy offers her two-year-old broccoli and spinach, but doesn’t tell Johnny about ice cream, the toddler will choose the lesser of two dislikes. The little fellow may be a little grumpy, but otherwise he’ll be none the wiser. Except for not having our best interests at heart, our two parties treat us all like little Johnny, forcing us to choose the lesser of two evils, while distracting us from the knowledge we are not being treated the way we would demand to be treated if we knew all the facts.

The candidates offered by the two parties are two sides of the same coin. Neither candidate has any idea how to fix the current problems within the dysfunctional system we have in place.  “Cutting taxes,” “creating jobs,” or “cracking down on illegal immigration” are slogans that ignore the deeper issues and solutions to the systemic problems that remain, no matter which party is in power. To eliminate corruption we have to take money and campaign propaganda out of the equation through highly limited and regulated private campaign financing. To end the divisiveness and polarization of the blatantly unfair two-party duopoly we need to have a representative democracy that replaces the winner-take-all system with ranked choice voting that guarantees majority winners and proportional representation. This will eliminate spoilers, gerrymanders, vote strategizing, and it will activate most apathetic voters. I don’t belong to any political party because I believe we can solve Florida’s problems together, and we can make our bloated and inefficient government become truly of, by and for  the people. For the sake of our democracy, please vote Michael E. Arth for governor on November second.

Rick Scott and Alex Sink are frightened bullies who are running from a fair fight. Unfortunately in our corrupt system, that’s how politics is played, and as a result, we are all the losers. Alex Sink, in collusion with the Florida Democratic Party, blatantly rigged the primary to prevent all but the barest hint of an election. Almost a quarter of the registered Democrats who did not sit out the primary in disgust saw through the charade and, in protest, voted for the only candidate still left in the primary, an unknown socialist.

Rick Scott, giving me an answer worthy of Sarah Palin

If the U.S. were ranked number one in terms of governance, instead of 18th (after Hong Kong) on the Worldwide Governance Indicator and first in equality, instead of 91st (after Mexico) Rick Scott would be in jail, if indeed he could have ever gotten as far as he got. Scott personally took $300 million for overcharging for health care after being fired, and the company he founded was fined $1.7 billion for fraud. Self-serving thieves like this run many of our most rapacious corporations, which in turn run our country. Sometimes, as in Scott’s case, he intends to buy government influence more directly by becoming governor. The greediest of these people, like billionaires David and Charles Koch of Koch Industries, endow propaganda mills, like Americans for Prosperity, which in turn fund the Tea Party and the hate mongers it attracts. Their aim is to cut their own taxes and escape various regulations designed to protect the public, so they can become even richer. Rupert Murdock and other media moguls own the media, which dumbs down and polarizes what little debate is left, and encourages elections to be bought with advertising and emotional appeals.  With a system based on money and skewered toward those who have excess income, the 1% who own 90% of the wealth in this county have control over public policy through various forms of influence buying.

Scott was able to buy himself the Republican primary without having to subject himself to any serious public debate, and he ducked the third of three short debates with McCollum to get ambushed by me instead. Alex Sink, who got her own multi-million dollar golden parachute from B of A, has challenged Scott to five debates, and he has thus far ignored her. Sink knows that, even in a mud slinging fest, she will probably edge out Scott as the lesser of two evils. However, Sink is also nervous because the biggest skeleton in her closet has thus far stayed deep, dark and dusty because it equally implicates both Republicans and Democrats. For ignoring 19 audits that contributed to a near meltdown of Florida’s $138 billion public nest egg, the Florida State Board of Administration, Sink and the other trustees (Crist and McCollum) can only be accused of incompetence and not outright theft. While not giving the public even the slightest whisper of an explanation of why she made risky investments against the advice of the auditors, that lost billions of dollars, she brags about how she saved 402,419 paper clips.

Alex Sink ducking yet another debate challenge

But their character and competence aside, the most important questions that concern us should be the issues. Neither one of these two corporatist candidates, who are being forced down the throats of a docile electorate, have any serious plan for dealing with the corrupt electoral system, the economy, employment, poverty, crime, the drug war, homelessness, health care, energy, the environment, the cities, transportation, education, or the looming challenges of the Information Age. Instead the candidates are busy dialing for dollars, working on campaign strategies, and trying to avoid public scrutiny, like virtually all politicians.

Alex Sink has refused to attend scheduled debates with me twice and has evaded the question numerous other times, including recently when I asked her face-to-face. I’ve asked Rick Scott twice, and I had to engage in subterfuge just to ask him one single question, which he danced around in a manner worthy of Sarah Palin. The media and the public should demand that we all appear side-by-side so that we can engage each other on the real issues in a series of live, televised debates. There should be a drumbeat to require public debates among all candidates as a condition for running for public office, and to partially offset the fact that our elections are rigged in various other ways. Candidates who refuse to participate should be disqualified from running. This would be a small but important step toward creating a representative democracy.

Go to the Facebook pages of Alex Sink and Rick Scott, and to other public forums, and demand they show themselves and be held accountable in a live debate with the only candidate who will ask the hard questions, Michael E. Arth.

In June 2009, I threw my bicycle helmet into the ring and registered as a gubernatorial candidate. I spent a year being abused and frozen out by the leaders of  the Florida Democratic Party before I realized that the corruption, inefficiency and anti-democratic forces within our electoral system make it nearly impossible to work for reform within the parties. For the first six months, I traveled the state making speeches and doing research. During the second six months, I wrote a book, Democracy and the Common Wealth: Breaking the Stranglehold of the Special Interests, that exposes the dirty secrets of our political system and how we can fix it.

In June 2010, with the book in print, I set off with five volunteers in a van and trailer, and we drove to Key West from my hometown of DeLand. From there I rode my bicycle the length and breadth of Florida, getting to know our state on an intimate scale, and meeting thousands of people. Six weeks and 800 miles later, led by the stalwart volunteers,  I rolled into Pensacola, still being virtually ignored by the parties, the pollsters, and the media.

At the half-way point, in Jacksonville, I encountered a small tornado in my path, which was followed by a deluge which flooded streets and turned them into rivers. The people most qualified to lead, who could bring us the policies that would bring the greatest good for the greatest number, are automatically marginalized . Instead, if you are a self-funded millionaire or you are willing to do phone banking  4-8 hours a day (both as a candidate and while in office)  and are able to attract the attention of the influence peddlers, then you may be selected to represent the financial elite. Succeeding in this environment, while being sincere about serving the public interest, is like trying to lasso a tornado.

My struggle to reach the voters, raise funds, be put in a poll, or even enter the debates, has been thwarted at every turn by the two parties in cohorts with a corrupt electoral system, in collusion with corporate-controlled media, upon whom they shower money for campaign ads. Since one’s viability is based on how many millions you either already have, or how much money the special interests pay you to keep the money flowing their way, it’s a forgone conclusion that only the sycophants will be favored by the powers-that-be. While trying to “lasso a tornado,” I developed a conviction that  rather than trying to do the impossible, I have actually been learning the art of tornado whispering. This involves finding the calm center of every political storm and putting myself there with the aim of leveraging my talents to help bring forth the greatest common good. There is a pathway to reform, and it begins with a narrative to which the ending has not yet been written. To be a part of that narrative, volunteer and donate.