Election 2013: Call her City Councilmember-elect Kshama Sawant

Smitty November 15, 2013 (5:54 pm)

Great track record.

Nice work, Seattle.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_socialist_countries

Seattlite November 15, 2013 (6:58 pm)

Seattle Socialists — sad.

Seattlite November 15, 2013 (6:59 pm)

Socialistic Seattle — kinda has a bad smell.

Marty S November 15, 2013 (7:03 pm)

Let’s just get this over with early and summarize everyone who voted for Conlin feelings thusly:

http://youtu.be/O3ZOKDmorj0

xDuckitude November 15, 2013 (7:05 pm)

That kind of victory, of reason over loot, of sensitivity over arrogance, of community over corporate narcissism might be enough to make the duckies come out of hiding.
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Congratulations to Sawant and the Sawant Socialists — although you were nominated as The Seattle Unsheepable of 2013, you are now on the official list of Successful Unsheepables! Honk, honk, quack, quack, and baaaaaaa….

D.D.S. November 15, 2013 (7:48 pm)

This City has become a Freak show.

DP November 15, 2013 (8:03 pm)

Well-played, Marty S.

a November 15, 2013 (8:17 pm)

I think a lot of people from Ballard decided to vote this year

Kayleigh November 15, 2013 (8:58 pm)

What happened? Seriously.
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I had nothing but positive interactions with Richard Conlin and his office. Sorry to see him go.

For Liberty November 15, 2013 (9:31 pm)

The bulk of Sawant supporters I’ve met are hard-working politically engaged activists who are sick of special interest incumbents and would have been just as happy to support a Dem/Green/Lib/whatever with the same platform. The fact that the other parties didn’t provide competitive candidates and GOTV should inspire them to raise their game next time. And LOL @Marty S, I did vote for Conlin and your video eased my pain :) Congratulations to Miss Sawant and her team for showing us that the grassroots can prevail!!!

KBear November 15, 2013 (9:33 pm)

Here’s the thing, Smitty: You probably thought the city council were already a bunch of socialists. What American right-wingnuts call liberal is what’s considered mainstream in the rest of the world. Barack Obama is about as socialist as Teddy Roosevelt. But now you’ll have an actual socialist to complain about.

Mike November 15, 2013 (10:14 pm)

Seattle has it’s own Lenin. Don’t believe me? Go read a history book and then look at her main talking points about socialism. She’s too extreme for my taste. Maybe next round we’ll have some decent people to vote for.

Rolling in the grave November 15, 2013 (10:25 pm)

Although I am sure Conlin was liberal, we have just sent those who have served and fought for our freedoms rolling over in the grave. I wonder about those socialists who support the $15.00 minimum wage understand that businesses shut down and there are no wages, no jobs, no community. We went to college and never earned that. That was about an average wage coming out of college. As so many around the country have said about Seattle, you have gone too far. If they were always socialist before they came to this country, they should have stayed where they were because that works so well. That is why they left right because it was so great? hmmm

James November 15, 2013 (10:51 pm)

“The most important feeling here is not only confirming the trend toward our campaign,” said Sawant, noting that the mail-in ballots now coming in are coming predominantly from poorer and younger voters, “but in reality, this is confirming our analysis that there is a deep hunger among people not just in Seattle but everywhere in the United States for a deep political change.”

If you haven’t noticed lately, our country is falling apart, and couldn’t be more corrupt. Seattle has been lucky so far and hasn’t felt the full brunt of the economic collapse. But when Boeing leaves for some “Right to Work” state, you’ll probably start getting a sense of what the future has in store for us. Meanwhile you might give Sawant a listen, just in case you end up losing your house, or your pension, or medical coverage. Or someone you care about joins the armed forces just to get an education and ends up in some hell hole and loses their mind to PTSD… Just a thought…

Charlie November 15, 2013 (11:02 pm)

What should send those who served and fought for our freedoms rolling over in the grave is the fact that most people do not exercise their right to vote.

JanS November 15, 2013 (11:51 pm)

She hasn’t even taken office yet, for goodness sake. Interesting how so many of you are psychic, and know what’s going to happen before it happens.

You all complain about the over development in West Seattle, and then complain that Mr. Conlin, who never met a developer he didn’t like, is being voted out. Y’all confuse me.

Marty S November 15, 2013 (11:58 pm)

Again, refer to my YouTube reference above.

Jeffrey November 16, 2013 (7:43 am)

Deep political change… hahahahahahaha. HA!

miws November 16, 2013 (7:45 am)

Next thing you know, they’ll legalize marijuana, and then this will happen:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54xWo7ITFbg

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Mike

JoB November 16, 2013 (7:53 am)

boy..
supposedly educated people sure go crazy over buzzwords..
sort of makes you wonder if they understand what those buzzwords actually mean
or how they are practiced around the world
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it’s funny isn’t it
the most important buzzword to this election has been almost completely overlooked by the media
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occupy
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onion November 16, 2013 (8:23 am)

She is going to be a flame thrower rather than consensus builder. I think she is going to “govern” via the Occupy Seattle crowd rather than the Council or majority of people or groups participating in our community.
Also, after they helped elect McGinn and now Sawant I see the political muscle of The Stranger.

redblack November 16, 2013 (9:20 am)

one socialist council member among nine is NOT a socialist government. it’s barely a movement.
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get a grip, righties.

Azimuth November 16, 2013 (9:30 am)

Thanks Marty S!

One self-avowed socialist on a city council does not make a socialist city. I hope she starts at a slow jog because you don’t want to hit the 50-foot thick wall called the “Seattle Process” running at full speed or you’ll never get back up.

Paul November 16, 2013 (9:36 am)

Socialists are all about finding enemies. I can already see all these expensive suits.

Lura Ercolano November 16, 2013 (12:03 pm)

Thank you Marty S. Perfect, absolutely perfect.
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A couple of days ago on a Seattle Times comment thread about Sawant, a number of apparently alarmed posters posited the concept that you shouldn’t even be allowed to vote unless you have taken Economics at a community college.
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I don’t know whether they were even in Seattle, or knew anything about the candidate. Even on this thread, who knows how many derogatory posts are even from Seattleites? A search engine picks up a news story like this one, and we could be getting lectures from know-it-alls all over the country.

Mike November 16, 2013 (12:22 pm)

Hopefully she’ll do right by the people and not just try to take down the establishment that made her family fortunate to be in the upper middle class. She’s a far cry from the average worker in Seattle. She could take no paycheck and be fine. http://www.seattlemet.com/data/files/2013/10/attachment/133/SawantKshama2013_copy.pdf

Seattlite November 16, 2013 (12:39 pm)

Azimuth: Sawant won based on Seattle voters voting for her socialistic beliefs. Seattle needs to wake up as James stated in his post above. The people of socialistic countries aren’t jumping for joy that’s why so many risked their lives to come to the USA.

JanS November 16, 2013 (12:54 pm)

Seattlite..once more, so you understand. She is separated from her husband. She is not divorced, so must disclose his information. But she has stated that they have been separated for a few years, and takes no money from him. She lives on her part time salary teaching at SCCC, and that’s it. Not exactly getting rich. Would you take away her bank account? Would that make you feel better, since she would then truly have nothing to fall back on?

The people in this city, as redblack said, need to get a grip ! And get their information correct !

cj November 16, 2013 (1:53 pm)

The kind of derogatory comments this election has brought about is a perfect example of why Seattle continues to degrade with the same majority of elected officials for a long time. They need a shake up cause obviously from what they have been doing over the recent decade think the people of Seattle do not need to have a say in how the city evolves. For you stick in the muds though I wouldn’t worry, the district carving that you voted in will likely help make sure any deviation from the status quo does not happen again.

Lura Ercolano November 16, 2013 (1:54 pm)

Mike – If you are going to reference a form like that, why not look at what it actually says? The form says there is no property, no real estate, minimal assets, and two paychecks under $20,000. And, yes, a legal spouse who has a nice current income. But without accumulated bank accounts and property, how can you say anyone is fine without a paycheck?

Lura Ercolano November 16, 2013 (2:15 pm)

And some thoughts on so-called socialism, capitalism, etc.
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Consider as one example our Metro bus service. An extreme non-socialist view might have no taxes whatsoever going to support bus service. An ideologically reasonable position, perhaps.But that’s not what we have. We do have a tax-supported bus system, and I don’t think that’s going away anytime soon.
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So the question is, does that tax-supported bus system exist primarily to subsidize developers? Or to ship a cheap supply of workers to businesses in South Lake Union? Or does the system exist to provide quality of life to the regular citizens who are paying the taxes that run the buses?
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Or consider medicine. I know numerous elderly people (All Republicans) who are receiving luxurious socially funded health care. Perhaps if the nation hadn’t gone that route in the first place – if we had stayed completely away from socialized medicine – then maybe our health care system would have evolved differently and we wouldn’t need socially funded care. But the decision to use tax dollars to socially fund luxurious health care fro elders was made long before I could vote.

Sarah November 16, 2013 (2:47 pm)

I voted for her based on her platform and her articulate grasp of the issues. Here in West Seattle we have seen what happens when developers get free-range rubber stamps on any project they want ion our remote hamlet. It’s about time to have someone who questions the status quo. That said, she’s a smart woman and will govern with her brain, not with what some of you fear. Socialism means public education, fire-departments, roads, medicare, libraries, parks; there are so many common good “socialist” things you take for granted everyday, even in a democracy. Get over it. I’m glad she won.

wscommuter November 16, 2013 (3:57 pm)

She will be harmless. She has already (see her post-Conlin concession statement) indicated that she has no intention of working with the rest of the council and our new mayor – she instead intends to, apparently, seek public demonstrations, etc. to advance her causes. So, in other words, she will throw temper tantrums to no effect.

What Ms. Savant’s election really means is just that the city council will have 8 members, rather than 9, for the next couple of years. She can spout her beliefs and opinions (good for her) and she will have no effect. So be it.

wscommuter November 16, 2013 (4:06 pm)

Oh – and Sarah – no, as a matter of fact, socialism does not mean “public education, fire departments,” etc. Just about all modern, post-industrial societies of all political-economic stripes provide such things. Capitalist societies too, as it happens.

Socialism, depending on the country and how it is applied, means government control, or outright ownership, of certain elements of an economy, as opposed to private ownership/control of those same entities in a free-market system.

Rest assured, I don’t fear Ms. Savant at all. Bless her for her views, however misinformed I may feel that she (and you) are. Part of a democracy. I’m quite at peace with her harmless role as a member of the council. She will be an ineffective politician, unless – unless – she realizes she has to actually govern in the real world, with all those worthless capitalists she holds in such contempt (forgive my sarcasm, but her description of Mr. Conlin, after he conceded, as a corporate hack was as stupid as it was offensive).

Lura Ercolano November 16, 2013 (4:29 pm)

“government control, or outright ownership, of certain elements of an economy, as opposed to private ownership/control of those same entities in a free-market system.”
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But wscommuter, that description DOES apply to our public education and fire departments. Explain how it doesn’t apply?
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Time will tell whether she is an effective council member, etc. Perhaps her election will encourage more qualified candidates of all political persuasions to run for election.

Seattlite November 16, 2013 (4:40 pm)

wscommuter — Well said.

JanS — I have know idea what you are talking about.

Ex-Westwood Resident November 16, 2013 (6:11 pm)

What American right-wingnuts call liberal is what’s considered mainstream in the rest of the world.

Kbear,
You do realize that “the rest of the world” adheres to the definition of “Liberal” as what we “call” “Classic Liberal(ism)” as defined below:
Classical liberalism is a political philosophy and ideology belonging to liberalism in which primary emphasis is placed on securing the freedom of the individual by limiting the power of the government.
The term “Liberal” was commandeered by the Progressive Movement of the 1910-20’s after the American people soundly rejected “Progressivism”
I had that confusing issue cleared up for me by friends in England YEARS ago.
The labels for AMERICAN political philosophy is 180 degrees out from the rest of the world.

KBear November 16, 2013 (8:10 pm)

Ex-Westwood, thanks for the Wikipedia quote.

JanS November 16, 2013 (8:22 pm)

Seattlite…apologies…I meant my comment for the one before you posted by Mike. I got the name wrong. Again, apologies. Mike posted a link to her financial form, citing her (separated from) husband as being a big source of income, since he works for Microsoft. I was just correcting his impression.

Have a great rest of the weekend :)

JanS November 16, 2013 (8:35 pm)

Lura E…could you please explain what you called a “luxurious healthcare for elders”. What do you consider luxurious about it? Elders have to pay premiums for Medicare, Part A, and for other parts. And deductibles, and copays…what do you think is luxurious about that?

Ex-Westwood Resident November 16, 2013 (10:46 pm)

Kbear,
If you don’t like the Wikipedia quote, how about one from Princeton?

Classical liberalism is a philosophy committed to the ideal of limited government and liberty of individuals including freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and free markets.
http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Classical_liberalism.html

Luigi November 17, 2013 (2:13 am)

The best part about her winning is that now you get to see just how little the fake-left understands socialism. Its exactly as little as the goofy right wingers do.

Combat liberalism indeed. About time we started kicking out corporatists of blue as well as red.

JoB November 17, 2013 (9:52 am)

“She will be an ineffective politician, unless – unless – she realizes she has to actually govern in the real world, with all those worthless capitalists she holds in such contempt”
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funny.. that’s about the same sentiment levied against occupy
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yet…they have managed to carve a substantial foothold in local politics
i am betting Ms Sawant will do the same.
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i’m with luigi
“About time we started kicking out corporatists of blue as well as red.”
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captainDave November 17, 2013 (12:01 pm)

She is a great deterrent for anybody thinking about building businesses of any kind in Seattle.
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Maybe her visions of government and union control of the private sector will be successful and everybody will live happily ever after like they do in beautiful Detroit?
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If her and her comrades get their way, Seattle could be a burned out shell of a city in less than a decade. Unlike the auto industry that relied on heavy machinery, most of the technology businesses in Seattle can unplug and move away almost overnight.
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If there is no substantial economic base, where are the taxes going to come from to pay for all the services she envisions? Sawant’s agenda is similar to the recipe that led to Detroit’s rapid demise. Detroit was once considered the most affluent city in America–similar to Seattle in a lot of ways.
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How did a socialist ever become an economics professor anyway? Isn’t that an oxymoron? Throughout history, Socialists have used one-sided economic arguments as propaganda to brainwash the masses just long enough to seize political control. It’s an old playbook.
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I think this election shows that there are not enough people in Seattle anymore who understand (or care about) the fundamentals of a free society. Seattle is now solidly on track to match the level of misery achieved by the same socialist agenda that made Detroit what it is today.

Seattlite November 17, 2013 (2:55 pm)

captainDave — One wonders if Detroit’s demise and how it happened is even known to some Seattle voters. Socialism equals government controlling all aspects of one’s life. Some people like to be sheep in a herd — no responsibility, accountability, credibility. Mediocrity reigns. Leadership is stagnant in Seattle.

JoB November 17, 2013 (5:05 pm)

too many sheep
not enough leaders
might just be
what got Sawant elected…
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;-0

WScommuter November 17, 2013 (10:27 pm)

JoB … are you serious? You think the Occupy movement has established a “substantial foothold on local politics”?

As much as I respect much of what Occupy folks believe, they have been wholly ineffective in politics, both locally and nationally. And pretty much for the very reason that Ms. Savant most likely will be as well. Because in that arrogant, self-important “purity of thought” that drives extremists on both the right and left, there is no room left for the shades of gray that actually define how society – and politics – work.

redblack November 18, 2013 (5:49 am)

Socialism equals government controlling all aspects of one’s life. – Seattleite
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no, it doesn’t. you’re thinking of totalitarianism, or authoritarianism.
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stop conflating economic models – like socialism, communism, and capitalism – with forms of government.
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e.g. the united states does not have a capitalist government. we have a limited representative democracy. our economy and monetary system are capitalist. (more like corporatist, but… whatever.)

WestofJunction November 18, 2013 (7:59 am)

OWS (or occupy my parent’s basement) as an effective political movement? Good grief, they were a bunch of whiners waiting for handouts. They bought into half of materialsm, just not the half to pay for it. They were unable to feed, police, or even clean up after themselves. Unlike the 1960’s counterculture who were willing to live off the grid growing their own food, making their own clothing, etc.

Phil dirt November 18, 2013 (10:17 am)

I think it was Margaret Thatcher who said, “The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people’s money.”

Tuesday November 18, 2013 (2:29 pm)

Right on, Phil Dirt, right on. Spending other people’s money is always cheap. Also, $15/hr min wage will only hurt poor and young people looking for jobs. Coffee will be like $8 a cup and cupcakes, don’t even get me started on the price of cupcakes! People will buy less coffee and cupcakes and then there will be less need for coffee and cupcake employees. And then people will be all…