[1168] in Discussion of MIT-community interests
A little rational thought---Objective and real power of election
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (David Smith)
Thu Mar 14 10:57:48 2002
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Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2002 04:34:00 -0500
From: David Smith <dbsmith@MIT.EDU>
To: MIT-Talk@MIT.EDU
In-Reply-To: <200203140842.DAA06198@melbourne-city-street.mit.edu>
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I will spare you all the ethical arguments of everything and instead focus
on the Election Code.
Please read each section carefully and understand the implications.
Article II --- Section B
B. The Commission shall be empowered to enact any special rules governing the
election process that do not conflict with the UA
Constitution, the Bylaws of the UA
Council, or this Code.
This clearly states that the election commission can enact special rules in
the event that a serious problem occurs that jeopardizes the integrity of
the election. This is clearly an issue because if that weren't the case,
then a rich kid who had some reason to want the office could buy the office
outright and some legislation would be able to retroactively invalidate his
candidacy. (If you find it unethical that only the rich win elections in
the US, then obviously we don't want to bring that mess to MIT)
Article III ---- Section 2
C. Candidates shall not be declared valid unless the candidate demonstrates
that he or
she is a registered undergraduate, signs the
Statement of Candidacy, submits the
signature petition for UA President and Vice
President or class council offices,
submits the current and anticipated residence for
Council seats, and satisfies any
additional requirements set by the Commission. The
Commission shall announce the
names of all validated candidates for offices as
soon as they are validated.
E. A blank shall be supplied on all ballots for write-in candidates. A
write-in candidate
may not be declared the winner of a race until he
or she demonstrates that he or she
is a registered undergraduate, signs the Statement
of Candidacy, and satisfies any
additional requirements set by the Commission.
These to sections refer to a legislation that was enacted to prevent
write-in candidates from being able to run "dirty" campaigns that
traditional candidates were not allowed to hold. This simply means ALL
candidates are held to the same standards. (Yes, even write-ins)
Finally,
Article III ----- Section 4
B. The Commission shall limit the value of campaign materials to between 1%
and 2%
of the annual regular undergraduate tuition level.
2% of our tuition is a great deal less than 5000 dollars. It is vital that
all people understand that $10 bills are campaign materials just like candy
or signs, or chalk or posters. We all agree which is more effective at
motivating people. It is therefore clear that overuse of such a powerful
motivator is a violation of campaign rules as they stand.
Through all of these things, The Rules Board can make whatever legislation
that it deems appropriate. IT, like the supreme court does not have to
answer to the people who elected the UA president and Vice-president. This
is exactly how democracy works in fact. Better even, than our terribly
flawed US elections process that allows only the rich men of our country
to be elected. (campaign finance reform)
Seek Truth not Slander,
David B. Smith '05
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I will spare you all the ethical arguments of everything and instead
focus on the Election Code. <br>
Please read each section carefully and understand the implications.<br>
<br>
<b>Article II --- Section B<br>
B. The Commission shall be empowered to enact any special rules governing
the<br>
election process that do not conflict with the UA Constitution, the
Bylaws of the UA<br>
Council, or this Code. <br>
<br>
</b>This clearly states that the election commission can enact special
rules in the event that a serious problem occurs that jeopardizes the
integrity of the election. This is clearly an issue because if that
weren't the case, then a rich kid who had some reason to want the office
could buy the office outright and some legislation would be able to
retroactively invalidate his candidacy. (If you find it unethical
that only the rich win elections in the US, then obviously we don't want
to bring that mess to MIT)<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<b>Article III ---- Section 2<br>
C. Candidates shall not be declared valid unless the candidate
demonstrates that he or<br>
she is a registered undergraduate, signs the Statement of Candidacy,
submits the<br>
signature petition for UA President and Vice President or class council
offices,<br>
submits the current and anticipated residence for Council seats, and
satisfies any<br>
additional requirements set by the Commission. The Commission shall
announce the<br>
names of all validated candidates for offices as soon as they are
validated. <br>
E. A blank shall be supplied on all ballots for write-in candidates. A
write-in candidate<br>
may not be declared the winner of a race until he or she demonstrates
that he or she<br>
is a registered undergraduate, signs the Statement of Candidacy, <u>and
satisfies any<br>
</u>
<u>additional requirements set by the Commission.</u> <br>
<br>
<br>
</b>These to sections refer to a legislation that was enacted to prevent
write-in candidates from being able to run "dirty" campaigns
that traditional candidates were not allowed to hold. This simply
means <u>ALL </u>candidates are held to the same standards. (Yes, even
write-ins)<br>
<br>
Finally,<br>
<br>
<b>Article III ----- Section 4<br>
<br>
B. The Commission shall limit the value of campaign materials to between
1% and 2%<br>
of the annual regular undergraduate tuition level. <br>
<br>
</b>2% of our tuition is a great deal less than 5000 dollars. It is
vital that all people understand that $10 bills are campaign materials
just like candy or signs, or chalk or posters. We all agree which
is more effective at motivating people. It is therefore clear that
overuse of such a powerful motivator is a violation of campaign rules as
they stand.<br>
<br>
<br>
Through all of these things, The Rules Board can make whatever
legislation that it deems appropriate. IT, like the supreme court
does not have to answer to the people who elected the UA president and
Vice-president. This is exactly how democracy works in fact.
Better even, than our terribly flawed US elections process that
allows only the rich men of our country to be elected. (campaign
finance reform)<br>
<br>
Seek Truth not Slander,<br>
<br>
David B. Smith '05<br>
<br>
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