"iBrattleboro should endorse candidates," or so I've heard.
While the sentiment is appreciated, media endorsements are silly exercises.
Media endorsements are like big kids in the playground trying to control what game gets played. "Great, dodge ball again." Figures. They are the big kids. We small kids always get hit with the ball, and can never convince them to play a simple game of checkers. It's a rigged system in favor of those who have more strength and size, but everyone gets the illusion of being a team player - until you are whacked in the head and have to sit on the sidelines.
True endorsements come from the citizens, as their votes are counted. Each of us gets to endorse the candidates we feel would do best for the town.
There are a few reasons I see it as pointless to endorse candidates in the form of an official iBrattleboro endorsement.
1. Endorsing is top-down
Typically, the highest levels of a media outlet make the decision. In our case, that would mean Lise and I would get together, decide who we think is best for the town (if somehow we were presumptuous to think we knew what everyone needed and wanted), then tell all of you in the strongest possible, glowing words why we feel you should all listen to us and do what we think.
Of course, Lise and I would have to agree, too, which isn't always the case and we like it that way.
2. Endorsing assumes we know better than you do
Why would we presume to know better than you? Sure, we pay close attention to many town issues but so do you. You may know something we don't, or have a different point of view. This town is filled with expertise on many subjects.
We think you know best what you want and we trust you to make good decisions. You took the Voter's Oath. You live and work here. You can decide for yourself.
3. Endorsing serves the interest of the endorser
Should media businesses have more of a say than the child care center, auto mechanic, or freelancer? The answer is clearly no, but some use their successful media operations to try to work for their own interests, usually ad dollars.
Would you choose a daring endorsement to sell some papers short-term, or a business-friendly candidate that could assure you steady advertising income throughout the year?
The process isn't always clear to people as the editorials are often unsigned and unattributed. Who is making this important decision and telling us what they want us to do? Do they even live in town? What makes them more qualified than, say, you or me? Probably nothing, other than privileged access to a printing press.
If we did do endorsements, the only reason to do so would be to either influence the politics of the town in our favor or to please advertisers. We'd probably consider our big spenders to make sure we weren't going to ruffle any feathers by endorsing the wrong candidate and losing an account. And if we did that, we certainly wouldn't want it to be known that we made decisions that way.
4. Newspaper endorsements are often unsigned, unattributed, and therefore meaningless.
Newspaper endorsements were more understandable when there were multiple papers going in a market. The Republican paper would endorse the Republicans and the Democratic paper would do the opposite. The muckrakers would offer their perspective. Voters could assume that the owner of each paper was calling the shots and arguing for their slate.
Lately, though, with single chain newspapers dominating most markets, it is no longer a rivalry among local paper owners. It's more like a single corporate voice telling the entire area what to do. Where does the voice come from? Most likely, it's a combination of people, and a combination of motives. The common thread is to sell more papers and increase advertising revenue.
5. Elections are where these decisions get made, by everyone.
Again, we see our role (and yours) as information gathering and presenting before the election. If we all do a good job, we'll all know more about our choices than when the campaigns started. That's it.
We trust you to do your own endorsements by rallying for your candidate and ultimately going to the polls to cast your vote. You make the endorsement that counts.
As for iBrattleboro endorsements, site users have already endorsed a number of candidates through stories, comments and poll votes. So in a way, iBrattleboro does endorse candidates, all of them, in fact.
Feel free to endorse your candidates below.