Sophie’s Next Paycheck?
Here’s the conversation had on the way to school with my daughter whose first paychecks in life came from Young Democrats for America in 2008 and Mathieson for Delegate in 2009:
Sophie: “A lot of the kids at school [First Colonial HS] are getting paid to work for this guy Rigell.”
Me: “You know he’s a right-winger Republican, right?”
Sophie: “So I suppose you won’t let me work for him, right?”
I told her it was up to her if she wanted to work for him. I also explained that he’s paying now, but it’s all in run up to a primary that ends June 8. Both camps (Repug and Dem) will again be paying kids in run up to the general in November, and that she could probably get a paying gig with Glenn Nye starting after Labor Day.
Sophie: “But I could make some $ now if I worked for Rigell.”
Me: “Is that what’s it about for you… making $ even if it’s in support of somebody who is terrible and terribly wrong?”
Sophie: “Yeah.”
So we’ll see. This should be an interesting test for my daughter’s God-given (and mother-nurtured) left leanings.
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May 21st, 2010 at 6:42 pm
I am surprised. Here all along I thought the High School students were volunteers for extra credit, or involved with a campaign for ideological reasons and pizza. Now I find they are on the payroll! No wonder we are all screwed up with kids that are political astute to the tune of what’s in it for moi. Thanks Scott Rigell.
May 22nd, 2010 at 5:24 am
I will present a situation I myself experienced. Back in the gubernatorial primaries, I cast my absentee vote for Creigh Deeds. While on the road I got on my cell phone to do my best to get out the vote for Creigh. I talked with my college student daughter encouraging her to cast her vote for Creigh. No problem, one her friends was involved in campaigning for Deeds so it was an easy sell.
Later the General Election came up. Once again I had cast my vote for Deeds through an absentee ballot and I engaged in my own GOV effort again. While conversing with my daughter I pointed out her previous vote and the efforts of her friend. Her response: “But Daddy, the only reason she campaigned for Creigh is because she was on the payroll.” I was left speechless. Would the members of my daughter’s generation be willing to campaign for Satan himself if the paycheck was large enough?
May 22nd, 2010 at 1:03 pm
Well, I mean what kid is gonna spend their summer campaigning for nothing? Very few. Its good to give kids an incentive to work as well as getting them out there and engaged. They can’t vote, next best thing.
May 22nd, 2010 at 2:13 pm
Well Scott, if a HS student’s motivation to distribute a handful of fliers door to door is ten bucks a pop rather than ideology, how many fliers will wind up in the trash can? Think about it.
May 23rd, 2010 at 8:46 am
I might be a candidate your daughter (and you) could support and feel good about until June 9!
Please check out my website or give me a call.
May 23rd, 2010 at 4:33 pm
Jessica wins with me.
Perhaps there is a Republican candidate who exists who might tempt me to vote against Glenn Nye. But if Jessica is not the Republican nominee Glenn still gets my vote!
May 23rd, 2010 at 10:20 pm
Wow, thank you, David. I just need your vote June 8 right now- we can talk NOV later!
Tell your friends! I think I’m the only candidate who surfs, too… we’ll have to YouTube that soon – I take the ocean (and planet) seriously.
May 24th, 2010 at 5:45 am
I can’t vote for Ms. Sandlin, because I live in the wrong district. However, I have read her positions on the issues and found them to be well thought out. A “reasonable Republican” is an endangered species these days. For whatever it is worth (which isn’t much), she has my endorsement in the Republican primary.
May 24th, 2010 at 6:52 am
Jessica,
I’m an independent and I was going to sit the primary out, but you have convinced me to cast an absentee ballot (I’ll be on the road come election day). I’ll also talk you up to my friends and family. I am a pretty strong supporter of Glenn Nye, but I wouldn’t mind seeing someone running against him who would challenge me to consider voting otherwise.
No promises yet on November, but as long as the absentee ballot shows up before I head out the door you have won my vote in the primary.
May 24th, 2010 at 7:55 am
Little David, thank you so much! Every VOTE really is a VOICE. Getting my message out has been challenging, but now I’m seeing that it resonates more with the folks I thought it would resonate with- hence my appearance on this blog (found through Sierra Club FB).
David C, I’ll take the endorsement of an everyday citizen over the endorsement of a politician any day of the week- thank you so much.
I am grateful for your kind words, and simpatico thoughts.
May 29th, 2010 at 2:28 pm
Go, mom!
Not all of us high schoolers are helping with these elections just for money – a lot of us (myself included) are in it for the ideals and experience. It’s tough to spend time on something when you can’t find a reward in it for you (hence the payrolls), but if you can it’s so worth it. I must admit, however, if my mom wasn’t running I don’t know if I would have given politics and how it influences my life a second thought, yet now that I have a connection it’s something I would like to stay involved in to get my voice heard! Try finding a candidate your daughter can connect with, VB Dem, and she’ll get a lot more out of it than money in the short-term if she’s willing to try! Time is money, yes, but experience and insight are money plus some.
Vote Jessica Sandlin on June 8th! <3
May 29th, 2010 at 4:36 pm
Rebecca,
Your mom got my vote. My absentee vote went into the mail yesterday.
Thus far Glenn still has my vote in November but in May I will still be willing to dream.