I want more progressive candidates, even in Red States! Therefore, I will:

[hfojvt]

21. I actually did hold an office

and kind of made a difference.

I served on the local water board for four years, from 2009-2013.

Before I ran, the water rates were increased often like this

15% for the small customers
3% for the middle customers
0% for the largest customers.

In 2012 though I managed to convince the board, even though I was not at the meeting (so probably Mike did most of the work) to have a rate increase like this

0% for the two lowest rates
2% for the three rates above that.

Does that make a difference? I doubt it. The difference between 15% and 0% is a mere dollar per month.

But for me, it is quite an outrage for the poorest customers, about 1,000 of us to pay an extra dollar per month and then subsidize Wal-mart (a much larger customer) with 0% rate increases. Other large customers being subsidized - the local golf courses, car washes, and schools, and city government.

Even if it is only $1 per month. Why should that dollar be taken from my pocket and put into the pocket of Wal-mart?

I also was the main force pushing the Department to pay off their loan, saving them perhaps $40,000 a year in interest.

But being on that board was about 100 hours of volunteer time a year, so I quit after one term, and one of the richest guys in town took my seat.