Transcript for the Piece Audio version of The Power of One
GEO BEACH "The Power of One" [script]
The Power of One
by Geo Beach
[HOST INTRO:]
Poet and political junkie Geo ("JEE'-oh") Beach does Democracy from the cave of Plato's Republic to the shores of Homer, Alaska.
Whose Democracy is it? Hey, you tell me.
I live up in Alaska, America's Platonic projection of ideals and aspirations, battleground of absentee environmentalists and armchair roughnecks. Not quite outer space, but it's definitely this country's final frontier.
We used to say "Anyone can get elected up here". The all-time favorite governor is called Bush Rat, and that's a compliment. Alaska had the only card-carrying Libertarian elected to a state legislature in America. And 24 years after he had been voted governor as a Republican, a guy who said he got his ideas from some "Little Man" was elected governor as an Independent while receiving less votes than marijuana on an accompanying ballot proposition.
Like I said, anyone.
But someone had to vote for 'em. And the power of individual votes can be awesome in isolated elections. Bush Rat squeaked into office for his second term grabbing the crucial statewide primary by just 98 votes, and that same year a future five-term senator and senate president was first elected by a single vote. Sometimes elections are one vote shy - four years ago a tie in Norton Sound was decided by coin toss, perhaps the country's least egregious example of money in politics.
But someone has to vote for 'em to begin with right? Well, not exactly.
Alaska is also the only state in modern history where the entire congressional delegation got into office by special election and appointment.
Senator Ted Stevens was appointed in 1968 by the guy who listens to the "Little Man". And Ted's been reelected happily ever after. Now he's President Pro Tem of the US Senate - third in line to replace Bush-Two as POTUS.
After incumbent Representative Nick Begich, together with Cokie Roberts's father, died in a plane crash while campaigning, challenger Don Young was soundly trounced by the dead candidate and only got into the House later by special election. But he's been reelected as Alaska's sole representative 15 times since - and has taken to waving an 18-inch walrus penis bone around the US House. Like I said, this country's final frontier.
And last year Senator Murkowski, er, Senator Lisa Murkowski became the first child appointed to the senate by a parent when ex-Senator Frank Murkowski, as the new Alaska Governor Murkowski, appointed her to the post. Alaska State Representative Lisa had been on the short list for US Senator along with US Senator Ted's son, Alaska Senator Ben Stevens, who himself had been appointed to a seat in the Alaska Senate. Now Ben's majority leader, next in line to be Alaska Senate President.
Got it? Democracy is the power of one. Question is, which one?
There must be someone who prays for nepotism. Nick Begich's son was just elected mayor of Anchorage.
Okay, time to crawl out of the cave. Sure, Plato favored government by aristocracy. But the aristocracy in your dictionary - "a hereditary ruling class" - is not what he meant. In Plato's day, when they knew their Greek roots, aristocracy meant "government by the best".
Appointment, nepotism, incumbency.
Whose Democracy is it? There's only one answer. Yours.
No, not necessarily your Democracy. But it is still your answer.
So what's it gonna be?
[BACK ANNOUNCE:]
Poet Geo ("JEE'-oh") Beach is a member of AIR - the Association of Independents in Radio. He comes courtesy of Tempest studios in Homer, Alaska.
Geo Beach - "The Power of One" from Tempest studios is part of public radio's special coverage, Whose Democracy is It?
Major support for Public Radio's special coverage, Whose Democracy is It?, comes from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
(P)(C) 2003 TEMPEST MEDIA PRODUCTIONS
HOM AK USA 99603-3600 907-235-1212
