Everyone is talking about the horserace that is the 2008 presidential election but here in Nashville we must first focus our energy on the upcoming 2007 election. The NY Times recently wrote about the conservative takeover of local and state politics in the south and we saw it in full effect at last night’s Metro Council meeting.
As S-Town Mike over at Enclave* wrote, “Eric Crafton and the Metro Council social conservatives–needing 21 votes for passage–got their English Only/First resolution approved 23-14 at tonight’s Council Meeting.”
It is truly amazing that this fear-based isolationist bill passed and it inaccurately brands Nashville as exclusive and hostile. The organizations behind the website NashvilleForAll.com, which includes such varied members such as the Chamber of Commerce, the Hispanic Chamber, TIRRC, Greater Nashville Hotel & Lodging Association, and Catholic Charities, got it right – we need “to build and maintain a City that Works For Everyone.”
Please start focusing your progressive organizational skills on our August election. Jumpstart your voter registration drives. Talk to your friends and family about the importance of the mayoral and Metro Council races. Identify progressive candidates and volunteer for their campaigns. Give them money if you can. We’ve got some catching up to do.
*S-Town Mike also has a list of all the Council members who voted for the bill as well as a Media Matters-like description of Councilman Crafton’s hubris and hypocrisy.
I’ll admit that in 19 years of voting, I’ve only voted for city council members a handful of times, because I haven’t bothered to educate myself on the candidates’ positions. This is the straw that broke the camel’s back. I promise to do my homework before I head to the polls this August.
Thank you, Darrin! It’s never too late…!