New Clear Vision on Elections

This is a very similar take on elections that La Raza Unida takes. We know that the party in power makes a difference, and it cannot make a difference alone it needs the rest of society pushing and guiding.

"See, if you could just vote for the lesser evil candidate and leave it at that, if you could still threaten to vote against him or her throughout the year, if you could still leave the compromising to the officials and speak your opinions without hesitation, if you could still be a good citizen on those other 729 days, then there’d be nothing to complain about. But nobody, or almost nobody, does that."

Read more here

Who is Ordering the Arrest of Demonstrators?

During the early 20th Century the Socialist Party had about 1,000 elected officials. Over 70 were mayors. Some of them kept their police forces from attacking striking workers. Now in the 21st Century who is ordering the attack on demonstrators fighting for the working class?

"Time to Occupy the Democratic Party" says:


"But Oakland is hardly alone when it comes to Democratic mayors ordering mass arrests of Occupiers for exercising their First Amendment rights. In fact, aside from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg - a Republican turned independent - most of the mayors involved have been Democrats. Boston's Mayor Tom Menino had 141 people arrested on October 11. Under Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel, roughly 300 Occupy supporters have been arrested in a series of attempts to set up a stable base camp. In Atlanta, 52 protesters were arrested on October 26 under orders of Mayor Kasim Reed, who said the “last straw” came when a man carrying an AK-47 joined the demonstrators. But the man was rejected by the Occupiers, and what he did was legal under Georgia law. Besides, no Tea Party demonstration was ever shut down because someone there was carrying an assault weapon.

The weekend after Olsen was shot in Oakland, 27 Occupiers were arrested in Portland under Mayor Sam Adams, and 25 were arrested in Denver, under Mayor Michael Hancock. The Denver arrests were particularly violent as police in riot gear attacked peaceful demonstrators with tear gas and pepper spray pellets. Dozens more have been arrested in Des Moines, St Louis, Cincinnati, Seattle, Sacramento, and San Francisco - all with Democratic mayors.

While some mass arrests have been deliberately planned, and very professionally handled by police, the predominant pattern has been much more troubling: Despite a grudging admission that people have a right to protest, Democratic mayors have generally viewed Occupy demonstrators in a negative light, and have not shown much interest or inclination in any sort of productive relationship. The city of Los Angeles was a noted exception initially, with city council members even visiting them, and passing a supportive resolution, but more recently both the mayor and an initially enthusiastic councilmember have begun to talk about shutting them down."

At least Albuquerque has some support from City Council, even though the police have helped to shut down Camp Coyote and arrested people. It is time to get out and vote as Left as possible while staying in the streets that are ours!

More on IRV 10/13/11

Portland, Maine is another place implementing instant runoff voting.

In 2010 North Carolina was the first state to implement IRV at the statewide level. Imagine if each of the cities supporting the Occupy Wall Street movement were able to demand and implement IRV and public financing.

Instant Runoff Voting 10/11/11

If we want to change our economy we need to change how we elect the people who make the laws that regulate corporations. Maybe we can start with Albuquerque.

Minnesota Public Radio explains Instant Runoff Voting pt 1

10-08-11 Occupy reflection

Today was a great day of taking it to the banks. The march started off at UNM and went to Central and San Mateo. Along the way stopping at banks and even went into Wal-Mart. At one point the group took to the center of San Mateo and Central. Very exciting for the mobilization piece.

Lots of things happen that need to be processed and discussed.

Multi-party democracy is one part of all the things that need to be changed. Here are "left" parties you can register for in NM. When you get a voter registration form just fill in one of the three letter abbreviations in box 5.

La Raza Unida de Nuevo Mejico (LRU)
New Mexico Socialist Party (SNM)
New Party of New Mexico (PNM)
Peace and Freedom Party (PAF)
Socialist Labor Party (SLP)
Socialist Workers Party (SWP)
Worker's World Party (WWP)

10/04/11 - Left Parties

Yesterday at Camp Coyote there was a discussion of electoral politics and direct democracy. The electoral politics reviewed the reality that we currently do not have a federal level left party. We discussed needing work on that and how many electoral reforms will be necessary for that. Among the reforms necessary were same day registration, ballot access laws, and instant runoff voting.

Someone asked if there were differences in outcomes between proportional representation and "winner take all." The winner take all systems tend to have two parties, and lean more to the right in general when compared with proportional representation. Another idea presented was for those who do not participate in the primaries to register with a left political party. This will begin to build collective electoral action. Below are a list of left political parties recognized by NM.

Not all independents identify as left or right.

Independents:

Independent (IND)
Independent New Mexican Party (NMI)

Left:
La Raza Unida de Nuevo Mejico (LRU)
New Mexico Socialist Party (SNM)
New Party of New Mexico (PNM)
Peace and Freedom Party (PAF)
Socialist Labor Party (SLP)
Socialist Workers Party (SWP)
Worker's World Party (WWP)

Voting Matters Blog

A blog that is keeping up with voting issues in New Mexico. See what is going on with voting reform in Santa Fe. The City Councilors are the ones holding up electoral reform! Learn more at VotingMatters

A Way of Life by Enrique Cardiel

I am registered with La Raza Unida because to me it represents my way of life. A way where we make sure that all have what they need to thrive and grow. A way were we have to be strong enough to take care of each other. We the idea of “we the people” taking care of our common welfare is a reality.

We need by the people and for the people to be a strong reality. The market is not providing jobs, housing, or quality health care. So we need to find ways to make that happen. The people who have chosen to register LRU are some of the most dedicated advocates and I am proud to stand with them to make the world a better place for all of us.

I will continue to be registered LRU because our government has chosen to redistribute the wealth toward the wealthiest of society. That needs to change, and it will not change without a strong people's movement and political parties that are openly for regular working people. We need a family friendly economy and real democracy! And I believe that's what LRU stands for!!!

Voting as Part of Community Organizing by Roberto Martinez

I became a member of La Raza Unida in 2003, after getting to know party members in Albuquerque who are also involved in other organizing efforts for social, environmental and economic justice. I am a member of the party because I'm tired of voting for the lesser of two evils, and want to do my part to elect good people who will represent my vision for a better world. But most importantly, I want to be part of a movement that uses voting as part of larger community organizing strategy to create justice for poor and working class communities.

Welcome Home By Rusita Avila

I am from Albuquerque. I went away to school at 18 years old and gained my voice. I was extremely involved in student movements while at Brown University in Providence, RI. I developed more as a community organizer and was ready to fight all injustices every place they showed their ugly faces. I returned to Albuquerque in 1994 to find a void. I found my home with LRU.

I quickly got involved in LRU as a supporter and helped with the youth organizing. For a long time I was a “Democrat supporting LRU”. It took awhile to overcome the fear to commit to LRU as my political party.

I changed my party affiliation to LRU because of the party platform of supporting all people’s struggles and fighting against all injustices. LRU is inclusive and welcomes everyone. It’s important to me that it is family friendly, gay/lesbian/bisexual friendly, and puts at the forefront workers' rights. A living wage is the only way people can live.

I also like saying that I’m “La Raza Unida” whenever someone tries to get me sign up to vote or lobby a candidate or issue. It’s still in style!

In Lak Ech: Tú eres mi otro yo By Maria Brazil

In Lak Ech: Tú eres mi otro yo. Si te hago daño a ti, Me hago daño a mí mismo. Sí te amo y respeto, Me amo y respeto yo.

You are my other me. If I do harm to you, I do harm to myself. If I love and respect you, I love and respect myself.

The Raza Unida Party represents the potential to reach this ancient concept that was taught through action by my parents and grandparents. The platforms that are presented by the LRU show these ideas as a way to move toward a more just and equal society. Without organization and an understanding of our past and present we cannot dream a future. The reasons that the LRU began still exist. Without a way to organize ourselves we are scattered. Third party options are needed as a way to truly be able to express our desire for a better world…more voices, better outcome. That's why I am registered LRU.

An Invitation to LRU by Maria Munguia

I moved to Albuquerque ten years ago. Being invited to register LRU was, to me, an invitation to become part of a community of gente that cares about each other. I am passionate of many things in life, but being an advocate for social justice is the most compelling.

One Proposal for Third Party Work

Much of this relates to the work of LRU. Moving to unity and beyond sectarianism will be a major move forward for democracy. A multi-party democracy is possible and will improve our lives by increasing our voices!

Here is an excerpt...
"We need an alliance culture that is about respectful listening, cooperation and the common good (“an injury to one is an injury to all”), as distinct from the currently-dominant culture’s individualism, power-seeking and greed. Indeed, today’s right-wing culture has evolved into a mean-spirited, dishonest and violence-producing approach to politics that is a dangerous and very real threat to our common survival and progress. To the extent that we model a very different way of standing up for our beliefs in an organized way, to that extent will we win over large numbers of people and, over time, expose and isolate the ultra-rightists."

And here is a list of common demands that the author proposes, most of which are on the LRU platform:

*Debates that include all candidates,
*Proportional representation,
*Instant runoff voting,
*Campaign finance reforms,
*Tamper-proof and open-software computer voting machines,
*Abolishment of ‘corporate personhood,’
and Repeal of restrictive ballot access laws.

Two Rhode Island Legislators Want December Run-Offs When No One gets 50% in November

Two Rhode Island legislators say they will introduce a proposed state constitutional amendment in 2011, providing that when no one in a November election for federal or state office gets as much as 50% of the total vote, the state will hold a run-off in December. See this story.

One wonders if the two legislators are aware of alternate election systems that would solve the problem they perceive, without adding to the expense and probable poor voter turnout in their proposed December run-offs.

The article mentions that the Attorney General’s race last month is an example of a race in which no one got 50% in November. In that race, the vote was: Democartic 43.1%; Republican 29.0%; Moderate Party 14.4%; two independent candidates, one of whom polled 9.6% and the other 4.0%.

* * *
It is possible that Instant Runoff Voting could be a cheaper answer!

Dec, 2010 Ballot Access News

This newsletter has some very important news stories. Below is a sample.

2010 WAS BEST MID-TERM ELECTION FOR MINOR PARTY AND INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES IN OVER 75 YEARS

OCTOBER 2010 REGISTRATION TOTALS

MORE DEBATES ARE INCLUSIVE

MINOR PARTY PARTISAN WINS

INSTANT RUNOFF VOTING NEWS

Overview of State Legislative Elections from BAN

From Ballot Access News:

Tim Storey has this comprehensive summary of the results of state legislative elections, including a map that shows which major party controls each state’s legislature. Unfortunately, the article does not mention that independents or minor party members were elected to state legislatures in ten states this year.

***

This article like many avoid dealing with the anti-democratic nature of the "winner take all" electoral system which limits choices for voters which is a huge part of the low voter turnout. And given that more and more people are feeling that the two parties are serving the rich at the cost of the working people of the United States, more are proposing a progressive split from the Dems.

It will be tough for any changes in power without structural changes in the electoral system. The question is how do we achieve those types of changes. We need either a major uprising of the population or truly pro-democratic, and inclusive elected officials to be a large enough group to make the changes. Until then we need to find cracks in the systems we interact with to practice real democracy that includes the excluded.

RIP David Nolan - Multi-Party Democracy Advocate

The November 23 edition of the New York Times has a lengthy and respectful obituary for David Nolan. The obituary is also notable for seeming to suggest that minor parties have an important influence on the free circulation of ideas, even when they are not numerically strong.

The Washington Post obituary also has some of the characteristics of the Times obituary.

From Ballot Access News

US Desires Third Party

"Given the lack of alternatives, it perhaps is no surprise that Americans' desires for a third party are as high as they've been in at least the last seven years. And while the formation of an official third party is not imminent, that desire may be manifested in voters' strong anti-incumbent sentiments this year."

While there are significant barriers to third party development put in place by corporate sponsored parties this desire cannot be denied forever. A multi-party democracy would have better voter turnout, be more representative, and would reduce much of the useless deadlock of our current system. You can register La Raza Unida by putting "LRU" in box 5 of your NM Voter Registration Form.

Instant Runoff Voting would eliminate the "Spoiler Effect"

Instant Runoff Voting would eliminate the "Spoiler Effect" and provide real choice for voters!

In several races this past Tuesday the two-party system (duopoly) worked to give voters a minority view. If the vote is split between two similar candidates who have more than 50% and someone with less than 50% wins because of it then the duopoly system works against democracy and does not represent voter choice!

IRV would eliminate wasted votes, increase voter turnout, and increase voter choice!