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 three rounds of televised bickering between Alex Sink and Rick Scott, punctuated by their blizzard of attack ads, are a travesty of a mockery of a sham. Last night, my running mate, Al Krulick, and I crashed the final Sink-Scott debate at the University of South Florida in Tampa. I dressed up as Robin Hood to represent the demand of the people for return of the common wealth that was taken from us by the robber barons and their two-party sycophants. 

Both Al and I made statements on microphone at the “Debate Watch Party,” followed by the moderator asking for a show of hands from the audience regarding who they thought took the debate. Her last offering, “none of the above” took the most votes, but whoever wins the state will still represent the special interests. 

The debates are only a small part of a corrupt system designed to eliminate outside challengers and preserve the status quo. As Robin Hood, I posed with cash-laden, flat wooden cutouts of the two millionaire candidates. I did this to illustrate that the rich have been stealing from the rest of us, and that we deserve an equitable, democratically representative government that is truly of, by and for the people. We can begin this process by exchanging the winner-take-all voting system with ranked choice majority voting (like much of the civilized world already uses), by taking private money out of politics, and by using ranked choice voting and proportional representation in congressional districts.

It seems that voters are lost in a surreal version of the Sherwood Forest where they cannot see the forest for the money trees. Two of those wooden decoys are flanking me, but they are only put there to distract voters and give the illusion of choice.  My focus is on the real cause—our electoral system—and I intend to do something about it.

To the electoral system I say: “I’ve got my eye on you, and I have a lot of arrows left in my quiver!” 

  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. 

E.arth is the honesty planet. Government is open and honest so it creates a more perfect union, and builds trust among people and nations.

On E.arth, the Earth is sacred. This is true for me even I though I follow no religion, and I take all dogmas metaphorically. We protect the land, the forests and the sea for current and future generations.

On E.arth, principles are above party and that is why I belong to no party.

On E.arth, we have a representative democracy so that government can be of, by, and for the people. We have ranked choice voting and proportional representation so there are no spoilers, no gerrymanders, and no vote strategizing. Elections are fair, and they cannot be bought because there are no paid lobbyists, no private campaign financing, and no campaign ads. There are no 527s or PACs. All candidates on E.arth get an informational website where candidates are required to put all the information that voters need to know. Debates are required of all candidates. Votes are publicly counted. Because of these things, the system attracts good leaders, instead of scoundrels, and we can trust them with our government.

On E.arth, there is zero or negative population growth, instead of 225,000 more people being added every day and contributing to immigration problems, pollution and struggles over dwindling resources. An ever-expanding base of consumers is not desirable on E.arth, because our economy is sustainable.

On E.arth, the thin layer of atmosphere that envelopes the Earth is kept sweet and clean. We don’t overheat the air with greenhouse gases and spoil it with noxious gases and chemicals.

On E.arth, there are incentives for hard work and creativity, but there is also greater equality. People are not given equal opportunities because of nature, nurture and circumstances, we share the bounty so that everyone at least receives the essentials in life. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, or creed (or lack thereof). Consenting adults can marry whomever they like, with all the rights and privileges that go with it.

On E.arth, everyone has a birthright to a share of the common wealth, so that there is a guaranteed minimum income, national health care, and education is provided through college. Because of these things, we don’t have welfare, social security, government handouts, homelessness, unemployment, or health care designed for profit instead of health.

On E.arth, we would have a full-reserve banking system. Money would be created by the government, for the benefit of the people, instead of being lent into existence by banks for private profit, growing debt, and ruinous boom/bust cycles. The taxpayers would not pay interest on Treasury bills and securities. There would be no national debt, no recessions, no depressions, and no unemployment. This debt-free economy would create wealth that would  reduce the economic burden on over 90% of us, and the quality of life for all. 

On E.arth, health, home, and many other kinds of insurance would be almost free, and paid for by spending money into existence by the Treasury. When money is created for productive or restorative activities, such as occurs when properties are rebuilt following damage or destruction, it is non-inflationary, and it creates jobs. 

On E.arth, people are more important than corporations.

On E.arth, there is no military-industrial-congressional complex.

On E.arth, there is no prison-industrial-congressional complex, and prisons are used for rehabilitation, education, and to protect others, but not used for punishment.

On E.arth, there is no drug war, because drugs are legalized, taxed and regulated, and all public advertising is banned for drugs, alcohol and tobacco.

On E.arth, there are no chronically homeless because we have villages for the adult homeless who cannot fit into society, or who need specialized care.

On E.arth, we are moving toward replacing the world’s 800 million motor vehicles with about one-eighth as many self-driving, shared-use, electric vehicles. This switchover will expand our choices because we will get the kind of vehicle we want, when we want it, for a fraction of the cost. It will also prevent 30 million casualties a year, vastly reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and get rid of most of the parking lots, garages, and other headaches associated with car ownership.

On E.arth, all new towns and neighborhoods are compact pedestrian villages.

On E.arth, the goal of politics is bring the greatest good to the greatest number, in the most efficient manner, to this and future generations. Following this goal would ensure the Earth becomes better place for everyone.

For more on this, watch my campaign video: “I am the Very Model of a Pragmatic Humanitarian.”

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.