My (Rejected) Letter to NY Times About the CT Assembly
The NY Times ghosted me. Probably an automated ghost, as I did get an automated response that my letter had been received, along with a promise, “(You will receive an auto-reply only once every four days.)”
Anyway, that’s ok, Mr. Times. I figured you were out of my league, but sometimes, you gotta make your move, if only for the story to tell afterwards. Here’s my story (that is, I knew I could just share my letter here on Substack, in the very likely event that it was not published by the New York Times):
Note: They have a very strict 200 word limit for letters-to-the-editor.
>Max Clark
Los Angeles, CA
(***) ***-****
>I’m writing in response to Hélène Landemore’s article, “No Shy Person Left Behind”. The article focused on the growing movement of citizens’ assemblies, “groups of ordinary people, selected by lottery, who come together to learn about a public issue, hear from experts and advocacy groups, deliberate with one another and make recommendations.” I volunteer with Public Democracy LA and we also advocate for citizens’ assemblies. We are proud of the LA Charter Assembly we helped facilitate, but here’s our dirty secret: we are activist refugees.
>Unfamiliar policies, or those without appeal to voting blocs, are sidelined by politicians and parties who prioritize electoral success above all else. Citizens’ assemblies bypass this systemic problem with elections.
>In my case, advocacy for Henry George’s Land Value Tax (LVT) has been ineffective. We are living on a Monopoly board. Ownership of Boardwalk and Park Place enables landlords to siphon the wealth of laborers. The Land Value Tax reclaims their wages.
>Most economists support the LVT, yet most politicians ignore it. This is why I advocate for citizens’ assemblies, not because I have a burning desire to assemble random strangers, but because policies like the LVT exist and everyday Americans can recognize its justice.
In progress without poverty,
Max Clark