Cindy Sheehan: 10 Million Reasons To Vote For Me – OpEd
Yes, I am forming an exploratory committee to run for governor of the state of California: the state of my birth and life. The state where I gave birth to four in the next generation of native Californians, and where I buried my first child who was killed in another war based on lies and for profit of the Empire.
According to a recent piece in the Sacramento Bee, my gubernatorial prospects are “long” because incumbent Jerry Brown (D) has already raised over “10 million” for his re-election campaign.
It is sad that in a state that was in the forefront of progressive election reform, instituting the initiative and referendum process over 100 years ago, has degenerated to cash-based “democracy.”
Just recently, the “liberal” state of California shot down same sex marriage and legalization of marijuana. In 2012, Prop 37, which would have just required food to be labeled if it contained GMO’s was defeated because the “No” side (Monsanto and other food conglomerates) out raised and outspent the correct side about six to one. Now, the Bee has already denigrated my chances because apparently money equals votes. I am relying on my fellow Californians to reject this corrupt paradigm and recognize that ideas, energy, passion and compassion are more important.
It’s true that Brown has already out raised my campaign by 10 million to zero, but he is also mired in the greed and stigma of the “1%” and long ago lost sight of the struggles and challenges of the rest of us (if he ever saw us at all). Even though, many years ago I voted several times for Brown, I think my state, my family, my community and my brothers and sisters in the struggle need a fresh break from the old way with my campaign and potential for leadership that will hopefully inspire that new way forward.
I didn’t vote for Brown in 2010, I voted for the Green Party candidate, Laura Wells. However, in 2011, with the state budget deficit hovering around 25 billion, the seed for the idea of running against Brown in 2014 was planted when I heard him say that it was “unfortunate” but the budget would have to be “balanced” off of the backs of we Californians that were “already vulnerable.”
Brown is in the back pockets of big oil and the Prison Industrial Complex, to name a few, and he is decimating and destroying education in this state as we hover near the bottom of the entire country. I grew up in a California where the public school system was at the top and I’ll be damned if my grandchildren will attend schools that are sub-par and barely beat out Mississippi in almost all measurable standards.
There are so many issues facing our state and as the campaign unfolds and I cycle around the state meeting with as many people as is humanly possible, Cindy Sheehan for Governor will become more specific with people based solutions. I am intimate with the struggles, but the solutions have to be proposed and worked toward by all of us. This will be the third time I have run for public office, but I am NOT a politician and I never say anything that I don’t mean: I do NOT want one Californian to support me–I want you to support yourself, your family, your community and your state by voting for me and helping me drag this state to the forefront of peace, economic equality, educational superiority and environmental sustainability. We used to be there, we can do it again!
What can a governor of California realistically do? Really listen to the people, inspire their confidence, and work to fulfill the agenda of the 99%.
It’s time for a new way, the 1% have had their way with us for too long.
