Democracy for Vancouver

Dr. David Carrier

I met David Carrier about three months ago at a friend’s house.  He was instantly one of those people that you feel like you know the moment you meet him.

I knew he was planning on running against Senator Don Benton in East Vancouver’s 17th Legislative District.  I didn’t know he was an economics professor with a PHD from Notre Dame.  I thought he was in his early 40’s.  I didn’t know he was actually about a decade older.  I cynically thought he didn’t know the challenge he was up against.  I quickly found out I was wrong.

We chatted for many hours that day.  Most people would have found a reason to end our meeting after a couple of hours.  Not David and me.  Since we were having fun just unleashing our stream of consciousness upon each other about pretty much anything and everything (but with a big emphasis on politics), neither of us felt the urge to wrap up our meeting in a timely fashion.

I came away with an impression of a honest, intelligent man who cares deeply about people  Someone with a lot of real life experience that had taught him many of the painful lessons of life.  Someone with wisdom and compassion.  Someone with lots of energy who truly wanted to do some good in this world.  What more can you ask from someone you want to be your Washington State Senator?

It comes as no surprise to me that many many others have been similarly impressed with David and are supporting him with their time, money and soon, their vote.  The DailyKos has a post here about a woman in East Vancouver who tells her story of how she reacted to David who recently knocked on her door:

“I am immediately on guard. Homeless guys, guys in gang colors, guys dressed in odds and ends don’t frighten me. A man in a tie on my doorstep? I am instantly wary. Three-piece suits plunder the average American far more than anyone else.

My eyes narrow. I can tell I’ve got what the Selkie calls ‘that yellow-eyed stare’ on. “Democrat or Republican?”

He shifts into gear, and I can tell he’s searching for a clue. Like you can’t tell how a zaftig girl in sweats and a nosering is going to vote. “Well, the Republicans have had their turn for a long time now. Democrat.”

He bought himself twenty seconds to impress me. Republican would have made me say No thanks, I can’t respect anyone who affiliates themselves with such lying hypocrites. “Okay. That’s good.” I look over my spectacles. It’s time to get serious. “What do you think about the Paulson plan and the proposed bailout?”

“I’m against it,” he says immediately. And I can tell he’s maybe a little frightened at my sudden ferocity. How many times, I wonder, has he knocked on a door and had to contend with ignorance or apathy? And he’s still looking peppy. Bright-eyed. Interested.

This guy has the public-service bug. It might get knocked out of him, but he’s got it now.

My heart suddenly hurts…”

The above is an excerpt from Lilith Saintcrow’s blog post which can also be found in its entirety on her blog here.

If you are paying attention to what is happening in Washington D.C., it is quite apparent we are experiencing a failure of leadership on a massive scale.  It is time that we start holding our elected leaders accountable by supporting only candidates who are willing to represent, we the voters, and not just those with money and power.  David Carrier has refused PAC money.  He is not afraid to speak the truth about what is happening.  Most importantly to me, I believe he is a person of principle who will not sell his soul when a situation to do so arises.  This is the kind of person that deserves our support and our vote.

We need a new kind of politics and a new kind of politician in order to create a new kind of world.  As Confucious says, A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Voting for David Carrier is “a single step” in that journey to a new kind of world.