Michel in his last post managed to imply that I:
1. May just be in this for partisan political gain,
[quote="michelmanen":26z8jtiv]I must say that I am very saddened to see your comments below -and I would like to hope thsat they are due to a misunderstanding on your part rather than an attempt to use these issues for electoral purposes.[/quote:26z8jtiv]
2. A good builder but perhaps not suited to other roles
[quote="michelmanen":26z8jtiv]I do respect your skills as a builder; I am much less persuaded you would make a great Chief Justice or Public Information Officer.[/quote:26z8jtiv]
3. Possibly an anti-democrat.
[quote="michelmanen":26z8jtiv]The second interpretation (which I do not claim is necessarily what you meant) is that the team who originally built both sims somehow has, because of that, some kind of proprietary interest in our community that goes beyond the buildings they built and therefore are entitled to go on managing and running all levels of governance of our community because of their contribution in building the sims.[/quote:26z8jtiv]
All this is couched in language intended to make it innuendo rather than direct assertion. I better set the record straight before people actually begin to believe what he suggests.
1. I am a reluctant candidate
I signaled my willingness to serve only because I very much believe in the CDSF's mission and trust the people to make the CDS a better place. The CSDF may need me. I am willing to serve, but its not really one of my personal ambitions.
While I like the CSDF best, I also know trust the people in the Simplicity and the DPU to do quite a good job if elected. I even trust most of the people in CARE to do quite a good job.
I think electing Michel as Chancellor would be truly terrible for the CDS. Remember a vote for CARE is a vote for an executive with Michel as its head. It is not all all clear what power he would have over CARE's RA representatives.
2. I am no slouch.
Even though I came from a working-class background and had to work my way though college, I have two graduate degrees from top US universities (U. of Washington and NYU) and over twenty years in software development management, the most recent seven years in university-based research projects. I think I need not be restricted to building only.
3. I am about as democratic as can be.
I come from a moderate-left US perspective, and there are interesting differences between US and european approaches. I have worked on political campaigns and on issues, most importantly on health care.
One thing that is a bottom line. Democracy means one person - one vote, and that people have a right to choose their representatives and influence legislation. Non-elected officials with a life-time tenure have no right to overrule the legislature*. A possible "exception" being where legislation directly contradicts the constitution, which is even more directly the product of an agreement accepted by the citizenry.
I came to the CDS because it is democracy, and I see the survival of our system, as a democracy, as far far more important than getting elected or one party doing better than another. I personally do feel the survival of democracy here is the real issue in this election.
*For contrast see Michel's argument before the SC that the court could override legislation not directly as odds with the ratified constitution.