“I’d vote for them, if they had a chance of winning.”
I never understood that sentiment.
You know what? If you vote for them, they will have a chance of winning!
Ever notice that people only vote for a “possible winner” but then all we ever get in office is a Certified Loser?
Stuff From Hsoi 
It was that type of comment that really set me on the path of focusing on local, regional and state elections.
How can we get people that we want to elect to national office if we aren’t giving them a chance at local or state office?
What position does your (or mine)state representative or senator have regarding “hate speech” or the right to keep and bear arms? I don’t know about mine, but I’m going to find out before the next election. I’ll also find out what their competition thinks also.
The other aspect of “I’d vote for them, if they had a chance of winning.” is that many people simply don’t show up to vote.
Today’s election, according to my figures, was decided by 5% of the total population.
People tend to focus on national elections because that’s what the TV focuses on. Big elections get big ratings. I saw barely any news coverage about yesterday’s ballot measures. Even local news stations spend most of their time talking about national stories.
But local is really where it’s at. Local issues affect you far more on a daily basis than anything national. The President doesn’t fix your potholes. Your US Senator doesn’t manage the trash pickup. Your US Congressman doesn’t plow the streets when it snows. State and local really impact us far more, and it’s a shame people don’t pay more attention to those things.
And you are right. It’s on the local stage where you can build yourself up, and where the citizenry can get to know you.
It’s sad that there was probably a 5% turnout yesterday. Wife and I were #9 and #10 at our polling place, and we went later in the morning.
Don’t vote, don’t bitch.