I am an election candidate

Discussion in 'Elections & Campaigns' started by Greenleft, Mar 20, 2019.

  1. Greenleft

    Greenleft Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2013
    Messages:
    1,482
    Likes Received:
    417
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Gender:
    Male
    It's been months, but I didn't want to talk about an election that is months away so I waited until now.

    In just under a month on April 17th my country Indonesia will hold elections. All legislative seats, national, provincial and local will be up as well as the Presidency. Only regional executive offices: governors, mayors and regents are held in off years.

    I am a municipal candidate for my city legislature. My party is the party of the challenger for the Presidency who is Prabowo Subianto.

    I am running because I have been obsessed with politics for years and I thought if I am going to talk about politics, I should try doing it myself. My platform will focus mainly on issues I have personally experienced including the regular blackouts. I did want to address the open manholes in the sidewalks, but the government sealed them just before the elections. It's very obvious why.

    If I win, not only will I petition the government for funding for projects, but I'll also be the councilor who oversees the projects in the field to make sure they are carried out fully. If there is not enough layers of asphalt for fixing the potholes in the roads, I'll be there personally to point it out.

    Many of my voters are telling me that there is not enough clean running water for their houses so that definitely needs to be addressed. I'll also focus on auditing the government budget and making bureaucracy run more smoothly.

    I'll conclude by saying that if you really want to make a difference with how your country is run, the local level is where you can be most effective. I didn't want to run for Parliament because I don't want to be far away from my constituents and be out of touch with their day to day lives.
     
  2. Spooky

    Spooky Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2013
    Messages:
    31,814
    Likes Received:
    13,377
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Well good luck.

    Since I know nothing about your nations politics I can't really give you any advice.
     
  3. HonestJoe

    HonestJoe Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2010
    Messages:
    14,839
    Likes Received:
    4,815
    Trophy Points:
    113
    I’ve total respect for anyone who gets involved in local politics for all the right reasons as you seem to be. I can only wish you the best of luck in doing right by your constituents.
     
    Alan Ford likes this.
  4. Greenleft

    Greenleft Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2013
    Messages:
    1,482
    Likes Received:
    417
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Gender:
    Male
    Thanks for the well wishes.

    Another policy proposal of mine is creating zones for holding parties. On special occasions people here like to hold parties and play loud music past midnight at their houses making it impossible for neighbors to sleep. I've also personally experienced this.
     
    Sallyally likes this.
  5. saveliberty

    saveliberty Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2017
    Messages:
    800
    Likes Received:
    407
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Gender:
    Male
    My experience was you accumulate more detractors than friends. Also, many think you do it for personal gain and not to actively help your fellow citizens. Good luck.
     
    Alan Ford likes this.
  6. kazenatsu

    kazenatsu Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    May 15, 2017
    Messages:
    34,623
    Likes Received:
    11,201
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Corruption, but more importantly bureaucrats only doing what's in their own best interest and not what's in the public good, are big issues in Indonesia.

    A lot of these government workers know what should be done but their boss is blocking them, because the boss wants what's good for that department. Probably a lot of this is in the higher level mid-management where most of the smaller decision-making policy is made. Unfortunately it's difficult for politicians to micromanage that.
     
    Last edited: Mar 23, 2019
  7. doombug

    doombug Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 19, 2012
    Messages:
    56,871
    Likes Received:
    22,778
    Trophy Points:
    113
    I will vote for you since foreigners are now able to vote in foreign elections. If anyone complains just tell them obama said it was ok.
     
  8. Greenleft

    Greenleft Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2013
    Messages:
    1,482
    Likes Received:
    417
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Gender:
    Male
    Yes, corruption is a serious issue. I'm not taking the typical approach however in my campaign because it's a tired and used slogan to just say "no to corruption". My approach is I will make government services run more efficiently. I say to voters that IF government expenditures don't add up, I'll report it. I'm not playing the role of "corruption hunter" because that's the campaign strategy everyone else uses.

    I've been advised that if I win (which I'll admit won't be easy), I should install a recording device in my office in case anyone approaches me with under-the-table deals.
     
  9. Aleksander Ulyanov

    Aleksander Ulyanov Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2013
    Messages:
    41,184
    Likes Received:
    16,180
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    Do you think the public is ready to be ruled by someone who actually posts on Internet Message Boards?

    Comb your hair and wear a nice suit, with a tie and TIGHTEN IT UP. I see so many nowadays who spend thousands on Versace and then blow the whole thing by showing a quarter inch of shirt above the knot, Use a collar clip or even a clip on tie, (but there be careful the collar is well-stayed) but keep the knot all the way up.

    I
    f you are the only one in a suit (AND TIE, not even world leaders can get away with a tieless suit), at the debates you WILL win. Trust me on this, politics EVERYWHERE is the last bastion of suit wearing. I dunno about Indonesia but that is an Iron Law any where else

    I´d put on Google Glasses and a hidden 360 bodycam all archived to the Cloud if you win, and adopt a strict rule that all meals and anything else are your treat. I have read somewhere that most corruption is actually setups nowadays so be super scrupulous and careful in that area.
     
    Sallyally likes this.
  10. Greenleft

    Greenleft Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2013
    Messages:
    1,482
    Likes Received:
    417
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Gender:
    Male
    Well, I don't think a city councilor in a city few outside my country have heard of will get too much criticism for that if the President of the third most populous country can freely tweet.

    Very good advice. I'll just double check with the police every there is an offering of cash or personal expenses paid for whatever favor or task outside of my salary.
     
  11. Aleksander Ulyanov

    Aleksander Ulyanov Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2013
    Messages:
    41,184
    Likes Received:
    16,180
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    **** the police, get an attorney and pay him yourself. Trust no one.
     
    Sallyally likes this.
  12. crank

    crank Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2013
    Messages:
    54,812
    Likes Received:
    18,482
    Trophy Points:
    113
    semoga beruntung, untukmu :)
     
    Greenleft likes this.
  13. Well Bonded

    Well Bonded Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2018
    Messages:
    9,049
    Likes Received:
    4,354
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Document everything, keep copies of all e-mails on a device that only you have control over, don't converse with anyone unless it is witnessed or recorded, watch your back, don't trust your friends and respect your enemies (at least they are upfront about hating you) and verify everything.
     
    Alan Ford likes this.
  14. DennisTate

    DennisTate Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2012
    Messages:
    31,491
    Likes Received:
    2,601
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male

    I have an unusual suggestion for you.................

    Reseach the basic idea of risking your relatively less valuable national currency on an attempt to insure / back up the USA petro dollar.

    I personally am Canadian and I will be trying my best to promote linking the Canadian dollar to the USA petrodollar so that its fall is no worse than to par level with our loonie.

    http://www.politicalforum.com/index...-the-usa-dollar.349935/page-5#post-1069892639


    http://www.politicalforum.com/index...ada-and-unified-field-theory-of-m-w-p.548225/
     
  15. Greenleft

    Greenleft Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2013
    Messages:
    1,482
    Likes Received:
    417
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Gender:
    Male
    Palace intrigues for 5 years. Sounds like fun.
     
    Thought Criminal likes this.
  16. Par10

    Par10 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 23, 2019
    Messages:
    4,230
    Likes Received:
    3,737
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    If you win, can I please have the money from the Indonesia national lottery that I won several years ago?
     
  17. Greenleft

    Greenleft Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2013
    Messages:
    1,482
    Likes Received:
    417
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Gender:
    Male
    I don't know how much I can do as a city councilor, but I'll do a little research on the lottery in Indonesia. What happened? You bought a scratch ticket in a grocery store in Bali?
     
  18. Alan Ford

    Alan Ford Member

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2018
    Messages:
    43
    Likes Received:
    25
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Amid your final push, Greenleft, towards the home-stretch next week, Best Wishes!
     
    Last edited: Apr 9, 2019
  19. Greenleft

    Greenleft Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2013
    Messages:
    1,482
    Likes Received:
    417
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Gender:
    Male
    It has not been a fun experience. I did enjoy talking with voters about the issues and today's really big rally with the other party candidates, but most of the time I've been occupied with jumping hoops to appease the stringent rules of the electoral commission and paying and reassuring campaign staff that more funds are on the way.

    Many people including members of my own family have been badgering me to distribute bribes to get votes. They say Indonesians don't care about better living standards and just view elections as a time to receive goodies like t-shirts and large bills. Everyone but my father is telling me that the only way to make a change is to win an election by cheating and then changing the way the government is run when you have won. Another candidate running in another district told me "You must win by any means necessary. Your idealism will never work" I may very well lose, but if I win by distributing bribes, that will be held against me while in office and I can never attempt to clean up the system.

    At least if I lose with dignity, I can plant seeds of thought for how future elections should be run. If I win, I will feel very... what's the word? Justified? Vindicated? If I lose, I will literally draw the number of votes I received on a piece of paper, frame it and hang it on my wall as a testament to how many people will not take bribes!
     
  20. Well Bonded

    Well Bonded Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2018
    Messages:
    9,049
    Likes Received:
    4,354
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Ah the old Democrat way of winning an election.
     
  21. Greenleft

    Greenleft Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2013
    Messages:
    1,482
    Likes Received:
    417
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Gender:
    Male
    I just voted. Will find out in half a day or so the results. By the way, this is the world's biggest single day election and for multiple offices. While the United States and India have bigger populations, India breaks up their elections in phases for logistical reasons and the turnout in the United States tends to be much lower.
     
    Alan Ford likes this.
  22. Steady Pie

    Steady Pie Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2012
    Messages:
    24,506
    Likes Received:
    7,247
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    Do you:

    1. Support nuclear power outright
    2. Support only solar, wind, etc.
    3. Support only solar, wind, etc - but would vote for a mix of nuclear and renewables if it was that or the status quo.
     
  23. Greenleft

    Greenleft Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2013
    Messages:
    1,482
    Likes Received:
    417
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Gender:
    Male
    Thanks for asking. It's actually my favorite issue. I would go with the third option. Nuclear is a step in the right direction, but there are numerous safety concerns and not only is it not renewable, but all the materials used to build a nuclear power plant is a LOT of resources and expensive to maintain.

    Not related to the question (you can stop reading if you are not interested):

    The electoral commission is taking at least a week to a month to release the results. That means I cannot know with 100% certainty if I won or lost.

    I probably lost. The way we do things here is that after the votes have been cast, each polling station immediately counts and announces the results in front of polling station witnesses. I did not hire witnesses in every polling station so I did not have people come to me or call me to report bad or good news. The electoral commission will then do their own second vote count and announce the result to the media several days later.

    The reason I say I probably lost is that if I won, people who DID witness the first count in the polling stations would flock to me to congratulate me. I received zero calls or visitors.

    Now my priority will be activism to make sure the winning candidates from my political party to keep their campaign promises. I still hold my my party membership card after all.
     
  24. Steady Pie

    Steady Pie Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2012
    Messages:
    24,506
    Likes Received:
    7,247
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    Good on you for being involved, even if we probably disagree on almost everything.

    For the record, I support a nuclear grid, with household solar, voluntarily adopted electric vehicles, and the legality of internal combustion engines going forward.
     
  25. Alan Ford

    Alan Ford Member

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2018
    Messages:
    43
    Likes Received:
    25
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Hi Greenleft,

    Are the results in yet?

    I'm sure An amazing experience win or lose.
     

Share This Page