Moore: Apathy Portends Low Turnout This Primary Election
Monday, September 05, 2016
Russell J. Moore GoLocal MINDSETTER™
It’s one of the biggest ironies I’ve experienced following politics. Ask your neighbor their opinion on the presidential election, and you’re likely to hear an ear full.
Yet ask the average person their opinion on the primary election that’s going to take place one week from Tuesday in the Ocean State and you’re likely going to be met with a blank stare, or shoulder shrugs.
Yet despite those facts, the biggest impact that an individual can have in the Democratic process is on the local level. A regular Joe cannot really impact a presidential election in any meaningful way. Even if you’re from a swing state, and the vast majority of American’s aren’t, then the presidential election is mostly out of your hands. It’s impossible for the average person influence enough people to change the tide in a meaningful way.
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Yet if you’re interested in working, it’s not impossible for just one person to singlehandedly swing an election. With little more than ink, paper, and a copy machine, a motivated individual could deliver flyers to every single house in the district either supporting or opposing a candidate and therefore influencing an election. That person would immediately become a power player in Rhode Island, or at least city or town politics.
Don’t get me wrong, none of this is to say it’s easy. But it’s certainly possible.
Power of the People
Yet, most Rhode Islanders seem to pay little attention to the governmental body that has the biggest impact on their lives—the General Assembly. That’s the body whose powers are plenary, except for checks from the US and state constitution. They make all the rules and we all are forced to follow them.
A week from tomorrow, average, everyday Rhode Islanders will have their say (in some cases, only) at the ballot boxes. In some instances, it will be their only say, since some races are only contested as primaries with the winner facing no opposition during the general election. In other general elections, there’s only token resistance. In other words, I think the most important election will be the one nobody pays attention to.
For example, the election in Representative District-5 in Providence that features savvy political veteran and House Majority Leader John DeSimone and newcomer Marcia Ranglin-Vassell. That’s an election that could change the composition of House leadership, yet there wouldn’t be much of a surprise if turnout in that election doesn’t eclipse 15 percent. And that election may very well have the highest turnout in the state.
A big reason for this is because democracy in America has become mostly an entertainment sport, not much different from the Red Sox playing against the Yankees. It’s just another form of what Americans care most about: entertainment. At some point in their lives, usually while they’re young, Americans pick which “team” they want to root for—either the Republicans or the Democrats. Humans are impressionable, so their team is usually influenced by the team their parents or friends support.
Entertainment Purposes Only
Then, to borrow a phrase from Governor Gina Raimondo, they hunker down. They disregard the facts and stories that reflect poorly on their preferred “team”. And they play close attention to the information that makes the team they don’t like look poorly.
Roger Ailes understood this truth. About 20 years ago, he realized that there wasn’t a national cable network that was catering to Republicans, so he created Fox News. Now, it’s routinely the highest rated cable news network—mostly because it doesn’t have much competition for the Republican appetite.
That’s the reason why Fox News and MSNBC are doing so well. They both cater to the each side of the political spectrum.
Most of the big money donors understand this and therefore donate money to the candidates from both parties. That way, they prevail, regardless of which candidates wins. Of course, there are true believers out there like the Koch brothers on the right side of the spectrum and folks like George Soros on the left—but it would surprise most Americans just how many big money folks donate to both sides.
Can We Make a Difference?
In Rhode Island, most people are born and raised Democrat. That’s probably the single biggest reason why Democrats dominate the state legislature. That means the whole us vs. them aspect of politics doesn’t exist much.
And in a vitally important primary election, that dynamic isn’t there either.
The other major impediment to motivation in the electoral process is apathy. There’s a sense that corruption is inevitable, regardless of who gets elected. I see the argument, but I know there are good people who want to see Rhode Island flourish and who are running. But they’ll falter without the support of good folks.
In any event, if folks want to actually have some say in how they’re governed, they ought to get involved at the local level. The first step towards doing that is to vote.
Russell Moore has worked on both sides of the desk in Rhode Island media, both for newspapers and on political campaigns. Send him email at [email protected] and follow him on twitter @russmoore713.
Related Slideshow: Spending on Lobbying at the Statehouse
Below are the lobby groups that spent the most at the Statehouse in 2014. All expenses are included. Data were obtained upon request from the Secretary of State’s office. Individual company and organization expenses were grouped together into lobby groups, such as the tobacco lobby, the gun lobby, the banking and finance lobby, and the pharmaceutical industry lobby. Lobbies are listed in order of least to most spent. For each, the lobby category or name is listed, the total amount spent, any key lobbyists or lobby firms, and the names of the individual companies or other organizations that comprise the lobby. Note: for each lobby only a representative few lobbyists or lobby firms are listed. The listing is not exhaustive.
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#30
Lobby: Medical Services
Total Amount 2014: $70,000
Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Joseph Walsh, Government Strategies Inc.; Richard McAuliffe, Mayforth Group
Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: Laser Spine Institute, East Side Clinical Laboratory, Radiation Therapy Services, Inc.
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#29
Lobby: Advocacy Animal Rights
Total Amount 2014: $76,048
Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Robert Goldberg
Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: Humane Society of the U.S., Rhode Island Society for the Prevention Against Cruelty to Animals, PETA
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#28
Lobby: Auto Manufacturing
Total Amount 2014: $76,092
Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Carolyn Murray, F/S Capitol Consulting
Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: Honda North America, Inc., General Motors LLC, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, Inc.
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#27
Lobby: Wind Energy
Total Amount 2014: $76,739
Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Richard McAuliffe, Mayforth Group; Christopher Vitale, Capitol City Group
Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: Wind Energy Development, LLC, Deepwater Wind, Cape Wind Associates, LLC
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#26
Lobby: Waste Disposal and Recycling
Total Amount 2014: $76,846
Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Richard McAuliffe, Mayforth Group; Andrew Annaldo
Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: Sims Metal Management, Narragansett Bay Commission, Mattress Recycling Council
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#25
Lobby: Renewable Energy General
Total Amount 2014: $78,087.54
Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Joseph Walsh, Government Strategies Inc.
Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: Broadrock Renewables LLC, Acadia Center
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#24
Lobby: Marijuana Industry
Total Amount 2014: $82,194
Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Bradford Group
Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: Thomas Slater Compassion Center, MPP (Marijuana Policy Project)
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#23
Lobby: Auto Tech Industry
Total Amount 2014: $93,400
Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Leonard Lopes, The Victor Group, LLC; Matthew Lopes, Pannone Lopes Devereaux & West, LLC
Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: AudaExplore, Applus Technologies
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#22
Lobby: Car Insurance
Total Amount 2014: $95,420
Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Richard McAuliffe, Mayforth Group; Robert Goldberg
Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: Progressive Insurance, Rhode Island Automobile Insurers Coalition, Allstate Insurance Company, AAA Southern New England
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#21
Lobby: Real Estate Development
Total Amount 2014: $103,250
Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Zachary Darrow, Capitol Communications Group, LLC; Stephen Alves
Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: High Rock Development, CV Properties LLC
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#20
Lobby: Payday Loan Industry
Total Amount 2014: $111,636
Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Bill Murphy
Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: Advance America Cash Advance Centers, Inc.
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#19
Lobby: Charter Schools and Education Reform
Total Amount 2014: $115,470
Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Bill Fischer, True North Communications; Francis McMahon, Advocacy Solutions
Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: RI Campaign for Achievement Now, Rhode Island Scholarship Advocates, Inc., Rhode Island Mayoral Academies, R.I. League of Charter Schools
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#18
Lobby: Supply Chain Services
Total Amount 2014: $120,000
Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Leonard Lopes, The Victor Group
Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: McLane Company
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#17
Lobby: Medical Professionals
Total Amount 2014: $127,533
Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Advocacy Solutions
Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: UEMF, RI Psychological Association, RI Medical Society, RI Association of Naturopathic Physicians, Rhode Island Radiology Society, Rhode Island Radiology Society, Rhode Island Optometric Association, The Rhode Island Association of Nurse Anesthetists, Chiropractic Society of Rhode Island
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#16
Lobby: Environment and Conservation
Total Amount 2014: $148,938
Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Richard McAuliffe, Mayforth Group; Abel Collins
Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: Sea Research Foundation, Rhode Island Land Trust Council, Sierra Club Rhode Island Chapter, Rhode Island Association for Recreational Preservation, The Nature Conservancy, Grow Smart RI, Environmental Defense Fund, Environment Rhode Island, Clean Water Action, Audubon Society of RI
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#15
Lobby: Computer and Tech Industry
Total Amount 2014: $157,333
Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Richard McAuliffe, Mayforth Group; William Lynch, Adler Pollock & Sheehan
Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: The Travel Technology Association, Entertainment Software Association, Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard Company, Consumer Electronics Association
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#14
Lobby: Higher Education
Total Amount 2014: $157,513
Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Francis McMahon, Advocacy Solutions
Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: Providence College, URI Foundation, The College Board, Johnson & Wales University, Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Rhode Island
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#13
Lobby: Software Industry
Total Amount 2014: $174,000
Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Andrew Annaldo
Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: Redflex Student Guardian, DRN, Inc./Vigilant Solutions, Veritec Solutions, LLC, SAS Institute Inc.
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#12
Lobby: Long-term Care Industry
Total Amount 2014: $193,550
Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Joseph Walsh, Government Strategies, Inc.; Advocacy Solutions
Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: Visionary Healthcare Network, LLC, Rhode Island Health Care Association, Leading Age Rhode Island, Community Living of RI, Inc., Alfa, Rhode Island Partnership for Home Care, Atria Senior Living Inc., The Rhode Island Assisted Living Association, Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island
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#11
Lobby: Tobacco
Total Amount 2014: $200,786
Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Carolyn Murray, F/S Capitol Consulting
Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: RAI Services Company, Altria Client Services Inc. and its Affiliates, Cigar Association of America, Inc.
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#10
Lobby: Power Industry
Total Amount 2014: $242,001
Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Francis McMahon, Advocacy Solutions; Richard McAuliffe, Mayforth Group
Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: National Grid, UGI, Exelon Generation Company, LLC
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#9
Lobby: Telecommunications
Total Amount 2014: $262,593
Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Francis McMahon, Advocacy Solutions; Terrance Martiesian
Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: CTIA - The Wireless Association, Verizon Wireless, Verizon, T-Mobile USA, Inc., New England Cable and Telecommunications Association, Inc., DISH Network LLC, DIRECTV, AT&T Inc. and Its Affiliates
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#8
Lobby: General Business Advocacy
Total Amount 2014: $274,322
Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Kelly Sheridan, Roberts Carroll Feldstein & Peirce; Dennis J. Roberts
Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, Portsmouth Business Association, Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce, Newport County Chamber of Commerce, National Federation of Independent Business, Consumer Data Industry Association
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#7
Lobby: Construction Industry and Building Trade Unions
Total Amount 2014: $316,503
Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Richard Sinapi; Joseph Walsh, Government Strategies, Inc.; Zachary Darrow, Capitol Communications Group, LLC
Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: Shawmut Design and Construction, Rhode Island Subcontractors' Association, Rhode Island Carpenters Local Union 94, Rhode Island Builders Association, American Resort Development Association, Utility Contractors Association of RI, UA Plumbers and Pipefitters - Local 51, New England Mechanical Contractors Association, National Electrical Contractors Association, Gilbane Building Company, Dimeo Construction Company, Construction Industries of Rhode Island, Civic Builders, BuildRI, Associated General Contractors, Associated Builders and Contractor, Inc.
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#6
Lobby: Insurance (All Types)
Total Amount 2014: $343,941
Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Stephen D. Zubiago, Nixon Peabody LLP; Kelly Sheridan, Roberts Carroll Feldstein & Peirce
Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, The Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company (VALIC), RI Interlocal Risk Management Trust, Nationwide Insurance, National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC), MetLife Insurance, Independent Insurance Agents of Rhode Island, Explore Information Services, Amica Mutual Insurance Company & Its Subsidiaries, Beacon Mutual Insurance Company
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#5
Lobby: Health Insurance
Total Amount 2014: $471,555
Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Matthew Lopes, Pannone Lopes Devereaux & West, LLC; William Lynch, Adler Pollock & Sheehan
Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: United Insurance Company of America, United HealthCare Services, Inc., Tufts Associated Health Maintenance, Cigna, American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus (AFLAC), Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island, Americas Health Insurance Plans, Delta Dental of Rhode Island, Blue Cross Blue Shield of RI
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#4
Lobby: Mortgage, Banking, and Finance
Total Amount 2014: $528,808
Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Joseph Walsh, Government Strategies Inc.; William A. Farrell; Stephen Alves
Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: TIAA-CREF, Rhode Island Housing, Online Lenders Alliance, MERSCorp Holdings, Inc., DBA International, RI Mortgage Bankers Association, Rhode Island Financial Services Association, Rhode Island Bankers Association, Pegasus Capital Advisors, L.P., FMR LLC/Fidelity Investments, Axcess Financial Services Inc., Visa, Inc., H & R Block, Credit Union Association of Rhode Island, Bank of America Corporation, RI Student Loan Authority
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#3
Lobby: Gaming Industry
Total Amount 2014: $674,262
Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Robert Goldberg, Bill Murphy, R. Kevin Horan
Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: UTGR, Inc. (Twin River), Newport Entertainment and Leisure, LLC, GTECH Corporation, Newport Grand
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#2
Lobby: Pharmaceutical Industry
Total Amount 2014: $676,307
Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Matthew Lopes, Pannone Lopes Devereaux & West, LLC; Stephen Alves
Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: Mylan Inc., Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., GlaxoSmithKline, Eli Lilly and Company, RI Community Pharmacy Association, Purdue Pharma, Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc., Northeast Pharmacy Service Corporation, CVS Health, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, LP, Amgen, Alexion Pharmaceuticals
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#1
Lobby: Hospitals
Total Amount 2014: $718,354
Key Lobbyists or Lobby Firms: Robert Goldberg, George Caruolo, William Farrell, Stephen Alves
Organizations or Companies Included in the Lobby: Prospect Medical Holdings, Prime Healthcare Management Inc., Charter Care Health Partners, Southcoast Hospitals Group, Inc., South County Hospital, Hospital Association of Rhode Island, Lifespan, Care New England
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