From: stephen@orchid.UCSC.EDU (x4604 (Hauskins))
Newsgroups: ba.politics
Subject: Sounds like Democracy to me. (Was Re: Well, even Adolph had to start at thge bottom ...
Date: 5 Jan 93 00:45:08 GMT
Distribution: ba
Organization: Santa Cruz
NNTP-Posting-Host: orchid.ucsc.edu

In article <1993Jan4.233744.1311@netcom.com> phil@netcom.com (Phil Ronzone) writes:
>SJMN today:
>
>Andy Pugno, 19-year old Political Science major at UC-Davis, self described
>as conservative and a Republican, is facing a recall for his seat on
>the executive council of the Associated Students of the University of
>California.
>
>He is being recall -- but NOT for any wrong doing or any illegal acts.
>

Well a public office person can be recalled on many things- if they advertise
themselves as believing a particular political philosophy, and then do the
opposite, it is well within the rights of the people to call them onto the
carpet.

See below for comments on the conditions of 'popular vote'.

>Seems he voted Politically Incorrectly.
>
>The recall is being led by a FACULTY member, Merline Williams, an
>academic advisor in Letters and Sciences. Merline is also the campus
>advisor to NOW.
>
>The controversy?
>
>Andy voted against two bills - one that would give the campus
>"Sexual Assault Advisory Board" the power to author legislation.
>And he voted against a bill to ban ROTC.
>
>His opponents charge that the sexual assault vote indicated that
>Andy was "against the best interests of female students" and that
>his ROTC vote was against "the best interests of gays and lesbians".
>
>Again, note that Andy has been the leading vote getter for two elections.
>

There have been many people in government 'who were the leading vote getters'
and still they vote they way they wish, and as we have see eventually lose
their position. You need only look at one of your favorite targets, the
US Congress- we vote (a small set of the eligible voters at that) them in
and they vote according to special interest group pressures.	

And also keep in mind that many times- elections, especially at schools, are
popularity contest- they are not so grounded in the idea of political position
or ideology.

>
>Well, even Hitler had to start somewhere.
>
>Some Ostrich-heads pretend that Political Correctness doesn't exist. It
>does -- it's alive and slowly growing -- the New Age version of
>fascism.
>
>The SJMN points out how the administration sees nothing wrong with the
>faculty leading the recall as Merline's efforts are "[something] she
>does outside her job with the University".
>

And if it is outside of the University, in the sense that it does not
interfere with her work- then what is the problem. Should the University
stop her activities- even in her own spare time? Should they police her
and reprimand her for the recall action?


And of course we won't even delve into the political bais of a newspaper-
in general they take a position and viewpoint when they report on political
issues- SJMN may be anti-PC or whatever one wishes to label it.

>We'll have to remember that line -- but, it is not suprising as most
>University facult (in the US) are a. Very Politically Correct, and b.
>Democrats, which are also predominantly PC.
>
>
>Sig Heil Merline - fuck democracy, how dare a popularly elected person
>vote against the way YOU want. Too bad we don't have no labor kamps, eh?
>

This sounds like democrary to me.  She is initiating a recall- that his
right, and she has to get the backing to have said person removed from
his office. If she gets majority backing, then that sounds democratic to
me.

Again, popularly elected does not mean much today and possibly even in
the past.  A large majority of people vote according to the best advertisements
that they saw, or because their friends vote that way, or because the candidate
is well known, or they don't like the other choices.  If someone gets elected
and pursues a political course that is not representative of the majority and
not protective of the minority, then it is perfectly acceptable to initiate a
recall- democracy in action.

Bottom Line- there is nothing wrong with attempting to recall someone based 
upon their voting record, we put people there according to their political
bent- and we expect them to hold up their end of the bargin.

We attempt to do this all of time- check bounchers, sexual harassers, sexual 
misconduct- most in political office known that a recall takes - money and 
energy that most people do not want to get involved in.  They either ride out
the storm, or the resign under pressure from associates and the party.


Also this sounds like a hip-hop pop story that the SJMN wants to do, so they
can sell papers.  We are afterall a tabloid news society.