Cramer: Campaigning As Educative Tool

You know, even if you don’t get elected, campaigning for public office is a way to educate people about important issues. (Or so you tell yourself, when you start to confront the likelihood that you aren’t going to win.) I spent some time last night talking to representatives of the Idaho Education Association (the teachers’ union). I was surprised that when I opened the conversation with my support for vouchers, they didn’t seem horribly angry. I also used the opportunity to point out that in most industries, if a simple employer dominates the market, it is generally not good for the wages of workers—and this alone is a reason why public school teachers should be supportive of more private schools/ Clayton Cramer . More here

Idaho Blog Roundup:
* Statesman endorses 10 Commandments attorney /Idaho Values Alliance; Also: The surprise endorsement of the year /Adam’s Blog
* More anti-vax nonsense /BinkyBoy, 43rd State Blues
* Send Jim Risch a shovel /Larry LaRocco, Red State Rebels
* It’s now about race /Morialekafa

DFO: Clayton has hit on an important point above. The late Ron Rankin lost election after election, including an Independent race for governor, until he finally broke through and won two terms as a Kootenai County commissioner. He theorized that you can win even when you lose by seizing the public forum that a candidate has to push his ideas. In this way, he finally persuaded the state — after his death — to take school funding off the property tax. As I’ve said before, candidates are foolish to skip forums where they have no hope of endorsement because they influence the public outlook.