Feel Good Story of the Day!

[makattak]

http://www.latimes.com/local/education/la-me-oxy-political-class-20141130-story.html

Students at Occidental College got full credit for working for political campaigns.

From the article:

In what is believed to be the only college program of its kind, the undergraduates in the Campaign Semester course spent at least 2 1/2 months, often seven days a week, 12 hours a day, working on behalf of candidates in contested states.

None won.

And in an absolutely AMAZING coincidence:

All of the students worked for Democratic candidates

Do read the whole article for all of the Schadenfreude.

[230RN]

"...but I do think it's become less democratic and it's difficult to get good people in office..."

A, it's not supposed to be a democracy, and B, that depends on your definition of "good."

In what is believed to be the only college program of its kind, the undergraduates in the Campaign Semester course spent at least 2 1/2 months, often seven days a week, 12 hours a day, working on behalf of candidates in contested states.

<snip>

Like all students, Kaminsky had to find her own housing; she stayed with another Udall staffer.

Oh, plenty of time to establish residency and register to vote in those contested areas.... and possibly additionally voting from  your home address as well as the school's address.

That's kind of a dirty little secret, though, so don't tell anyone about it. Shhhhhhh.

That's three votes to my one.

Terry

[lee n. field]

Defeat?

Heck, can I get college credit doing Libertarian ballot petitioning?

[Scout26]

Experience is what you get when you do get what you want.

 

[HankB]

Wish I'd had that opportunity in high school or college.

I could have done a LOT of good, infiltrating working for the campaign of a Democrat. 

[Scout26]

BBBWWWWAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

"It was devastating," Kaminsky said, especially since she realized that many of the other people she had been working with didn't know what they would do next. "Everyone was out of a job," she said.

BBBWWWWAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Welcome to the real world !!!

[Hawkmoon]

BBBWWWWAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

"It was devastating," Kaminsky said, especially since she realized that many of the other people she had been working with didn't know what they would do next. "Everyone was out of a job," she said.

The simple fact that the result was "devastating" suggests that these alleged students did not approach the learning experience as a learning experience. And as for the other people being out of a job -- isn't that what's supposed to happen to workers in a political campaign once the election is over?

In addition to talking about the finer points of voter engagement and campaign donations, the students also talk about the more unsavory aspects of democracy: negative ads, doors slammed in your face and what it's like to live on pizza for weeks at a time. And, for this group, what it's like to feel depressed and cry after your candidate loses.

What, exactly, is "unsavory" about getting a door slammed in your face? In general (at least in my experience), one doesn't get a door slammed in one's face or get the phone hung up on one unless one is refusing to accept, "Sorry, I'm not interested" as a response, and one keeps badgering to other party until slamming the door or hanging up the phone is actually the best and least violent response they can or should expect.

"I don't think our representative government is broken, but I do think it's become less democratic and it's difficult to get good people in office," said Joshua Wodka, a fifth-year senior who worked for North Carolina Sen. Kay Hagan and admits he still hasn't recovered from her loss. "I'm exhausted.… I'm annoyed.

How is that NOT broken?

[wmenorr67]

The simple fact that the result was "devastating" suggests that these alleged students did not approach the learning experience as a learning experience. And as for the other people being out of a job -- isn't that what's supposed to happen to workers in a political campaign once the election is over?

Bet most thought when their candidate won the election there would be jobs galore given to them as a reward.