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
Showing posts with label Voter Registration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Voter Registration. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Saturday, October 8, 2011
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)
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)
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
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)
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)
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)
Thursday, January 20, 2011
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!
Monday, November 22, 2010
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.
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.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
One Step Voting
Voter registration practices also limited the pool of voters. Over American history, requirements for voter registration have included residency, property or income, gender and race or ethnicity. The exact set of requirements varied by location, with different political parties trying to disqualify the constituents of their opponents from the right to vote. The imposition of voter registration requirements, and the other election reforms enacted at the beginning of the 20th Century, had dramatic effects on voter participation. Hansen (2001) reports that turnout declined in the South from 64.2% in 1888 to 29.0% in 1904. Outside the South, turnout fell from 86.2% in 1888 to 67.7% in 1912. Clearly the imposition of voter registration requirements imposed an important new hurdle on voter participation in the United States.
The hurdle of voter registration stands higher for certain groups of voters. The seminal work by Rosenstone and Wolfinger (1980), using the 1972 Current Population Survey’s Voter Supplement (CPS-VS), demonstrated that voter registration practices --- in particular practices like the extent to which election offices were open in evenings and during weekends, absentee voting, and the length of the pre-election closing period, all had some effect on voter turnout because they made it more difficult and costly for voters to participate. But the registration closing deadline had by far the greatest impact on turnout in the Rosenstone and Wolfinger study; residents of states with 30-day closing deadlines were anywhere from 3 to 9 percent less likely to turnout than residents of states with election day voter registration. And the impact of the registration closing deadline was greater for voters with lower levels of educational attainment, and those who were generally less able to navigate the voter registration process in their state.
...
In this paper we review the literature on the linkage between voter registration and turnout, with a particular emphasis on how election day registration works and how it impacts voter turnout. We then present our analysis of the 2000 CPS-VS, in which we estimate the potential national impact of election day registration in the United States. Using a novel counterfactual analysis, we examine not only the question about how much voter registration and turnout would increase if every state used election day registration, we also estimate the impact of this change on the composition of the American electorate. We find that the very groups who would be expected to find election day registration an easier process, those who are younger, more residentially mobile, lower on the socioeconomic ladder, nonwhite, and newly naturalized citizens of the US, would benefit in important ways from election day registration.
Read more on One Step Voting from the Voting Technology Project
The hurdle of voter registration stands higher for certain groups of voters. The seminal work by Rosenstone and Wolfinger (1980), using the 1972 Current Population Survey’s Voter Supplement (CPS-VS), demonstrated that voter registration practices --- in particular practices like the extent to which election offices were open in evenings and during weekends, absentee voting, and the length of the pre-election closing period, all had some effect on voter turnout because they made it more difficult and costly for voters to participate. But the registration closing deadline had by far the greatest impact on turnout in the Rosenstone and Wolfinger study; residents of states with 30-day closing deadlines were anywhere from 3 to 9 percent less likely to turnout than residents of states with election day voter registration. And the impact of the registration closing deadline was greater for voters with lower levels of educational attainment, and those who were generally less able to navigate the voter registration process in their state.
...
In this paper we review the literature on the linkage between voter registration and turnout, with a particular emphasis on how election day registration works and how it impacts voter turnout. We then present our analysis of the 2000 CPS-VS, in which we estimate the potential national impact of election day registration in the United States. Using a novel counterfactual analysis, we examine not only the question about how much voter registration and turnout would increase if every state used election day registration, we also estimate the impact of this change on the composition of the American electorate. We find that the very groups who would be expected to find election day registration an easier process, those who are younger, more residentially mobile, lower on the socioeconomic ladder, nonwhite, and newly naturalized citizens of the US, would benefit in important ways from election day registration.
Read more on One Step Voting from the Voting Technology Project
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
From an Ally 11/9/10
RE: Election Day Registration (aka Same Day Voter Registration)
It was defeated in the NM Legislature last session. And it would have been only during early voting, where you would be connected to the voter registration computers.
It was defeated in the NM Legislature last session. And it would have been only during early voting, where you would be connected to the voter registration computers.
The League of Women Voters is in favor of it. They are also against requiring more voter ID. Having a Republican Sec. of State and Gov. will make this worse, too.
Michelle Meaders
Michelle Meaders
Election Day Registration
Election Day Registration or Same Day Voter Registration would be a great way to improve our turnout and registration levels.
There are several bills being worked on for this. Vermont's S124 is one example.
There are several bills being worked on for this. Vermont's S124 is one example.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Another Reason to Register and Vote - LRU!
Register La Raza Unida by writing in "LRU" in box 5 of your New Mexico Voter registration form! But not until after the election!!!
Monday, February 15, 2010
Ping Pong
It seems like all that is needed for US voters to flip flop is a crisis. Many are expecting that to be true in the November elections as the economy continues to drag along.
Had the minimum wage been increased at the beginning of this crisis, the people working at those jobs would be spending more and in turn creating new jobs. Instead we have banksters continuing to rob society blind with tax payer money.
We'll see if this year brings another ping pong election. Most people only see two options, the openly corporatist party and the party of the middle-class. The illusion that "everyone" thinks they are middle-class in the US is not true. While those identifying as middle-class has grown, one study shows 47 percent of voters identify as working-class. And given that voter turnout is higher among college educated and higher income groups this number may be low.
So it is time for the working class to figure out what is in the interest of working families and organize, network, and vote for family friendly, working friendly, and justice friendly parties and candidates!
Had the minimum wage been increased at the beginning of this crisis, the people working at those jobs would be spending more and in turn creating new jobs. Instead we have banksters continuing to rob society blind with tax payer money.
We'll see if this year brings another ping pong election. Most people only see two options, the openly corporatist party and the party of the middle-class. The illusion that "everyone" thinks they are middle-class in the US is not true. While those identifying as middle-class has grown, one study shows 47 percent of voters identify as working-class. And given that voter turnout is higher among college educated and higher income groups this number may be low.
So it is time for the working class to figure out what is in the interest of working families and organize, network, and vote for family friendly, working friendly, and justice friendly parties and candidates!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Tax the Wealthy!
It is always useful to think about what is possible. We often use the term "third party" and that's incorrect. That falls under the assumption that a "two-party" system is normal or natural. It is not, it is designed, just like markets.
Anything designed can be changed. And, in Oregon voters increased taxes on the wealthy!
But many in the Chicana and Chicano Movement are against voting. The same is true in many movements who are frustrated by politics as usual. There has been a lot of money invested in getting people not to vote. Watch this and remember that School Bond Election for Albuquerque Public Schools is Tuesday, February 5.
Anything designed can be changed. And, in Oregon voters increased taxes on the wealthy!
But many in the Chicana and Chicano Movement are against voting. The same is true in many movements who are frustrated by politics as usual. There has been a lot of money invested in getting people not to vote. Watch this and remember that School Bond Election for Albuquerque Public Schools is Tuesday, February 5.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
40th Anniversary of La Raza Unida
January 17 is the anniversary of La Raza Unida. And this year marked the 40th. We had a general meeting and not much special here in Albuquerque. Looking at the needs of the US there is a need to approach things on a broader scale.
The winner take all voting system of the US requires that any electoral party have a broad enough platform to attract voters. The US culture of individualism, and generally anti-government libertarianism makes a labor or social democratic party extremely difficult. But, it is not impossible.
That is what we need now, a party, or parties that will engage working people as workers. We need unions to engage all workers as a class. The pretense that we are all "middle-class" doesn't confront the realities of the corporate-driven society we live in now. Class consciousness is difficult to develop in an individualistic society. But, it is not impossible.
We "left" or "progressives" or "radicals" need to learn and move forward. The sectarian ideological purity approach of the past didn't work then and it won't work now. We need to balance practicality and move toward our principles. We need to take what we can get and move forward. There are examples where third parties have made some inroads. We can learn from them and build upon them.
We need to be practical, we need to be connected to the communities we want to impact, and we need to build locally. There are many barriers to parties that represent working families. One of the main ones is the electoral system itself. It is tough, but not impossible!
Register Raza Unida by placing "LRU" in box 5 of NM election forms!
The winner take all voting system of the US requires that any electoral party have a broad enough platform to attract voters. The US culture of individualism, and generally anti-government libertarianism makes a labor or social democratic party extremely difficult. But, it is not impossible.
That is what we need now, a party, or parties that will engage working people as workers. We need unions to engage all workers as a class. The pretense that we are all "middle-class" doesn't confront the realities of the corporate-driven society we live in now. Class consciousness is difficult to develop in an individualistic society. But, it is not impossible.
We "left" or "progressives" or "radicals" need to learn and move forward. The sectarian ideological purity approach of the past didn't work then and it won't work now. We need to balance practicality and move toward our principles. We need to take what we can get and move forward. There are examples where third parties have made some inroads. We can learn from them and build upon them.
We need to be practical, we need to be connected to the communities we want to impact, and we need to build locally. There are many barriers to parties that represent working families. One of the main ones is the electoral system itself. It is tough, but not impossible!
Register Raza Unida by placing "LRU" in box 5 of NM election forms!
Friday, August 14, 2009
Need to Keep Organizing
Here are a couple of good short posts from Wellstone.
Grassroots vs Astroturf
"If it wasn't before, it's obvious now that the right still knows how to organize. And with powerful channels of message dissemination (see: Fox News) sending misinformation, anti-reformers are riling up a small but vocal group that could dismantle the best shot at real reform we've ever had.
That's why it's not enough for progressives to just dismiss the vocal minorities we're seeing in the news and wait for the political backlash. We have to turn our anger and frustration into action. So, don't just get mad--get organized."
Same Day Registration Increases Youth Vote
"The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) just published a report on election law reform and its connection to youth voter turnout. More specifically, they found election day registration (EDR) is key to increase the youth vote.
In the nine states that currently have EDR, youth are 41% more likely to vote than youth in other states. In addition, five of the eight states with the highest youth vote, Minnesota, Iowa, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, and Maine, all have EDR. Although CIRCLE acknowledges that EDR is not beneficial for all ages or even all youth, it is an important step in encouraging youth to be active citizens."
* * *
La Raza Unida will be encouraging people to support the "Public Option" and push for Universal Health Care as the follow-up!
Grassroots vs Astroturf
"If it wasn't before, it's obvious now that the right still knows how to organize. And with powerful channels of message dissemination (see: Fox News) sending misinformation, anti-reformers are riling up a small but vocal group that could dismantle the best shot at real reform we've ever had.
That's why it's not enough for progressives to just dismiss the vocal minorities we're seeing in the news and wait for the political backlash. We have to turn our anger and frustration into action. So, don't just get mad--get organized."
Same Day Registration Increases Youth Vote
"The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) just published a report on election law reform and its connection to youth voter turnout. More specifically, they found election day registration (EDR) is key to increase the youth vote.
In the nine states that currently have EDR, youth are 41% more likely to vote than youth in other states. In addition, five of the eight states with the highest youth vote, Minnesota, Iowa, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, and Maine, all have EDR. Although CIRCLE acknowledges that EDR is not beneficial for all ages or even all youth, it is an important step in encouraging youth to be active citizens."
* * *
La Raza Unida will be encouraging people to support the "Public Option" and push for Universal Health Care as the follow-up!
Monday, August 10, 2009
Recognized Parties in NM
Parties and their abbreviations that are acceptable to the Secretary of State
American Independent Party (AIP)
Citizen's Party of New Mexico (CNM)
Constitutional Party (CON)
Democratic Party (DEM)
First New Mexican Party (FNM)
Independent (IND)
Independent New Mexican Party (NMI)
La Raza Unida de Nuevo Mejico (LRU)
Libertarian Party (LIB)
Natural Law Party of New Mexico (NLP)
New Mexico Alliance Party (NAP)
New Mexico Green Party (GRN)
New Mexico Socialist Party (SNM)
New Mexico Taxpayers Party (NMT)
New Party of New Mexico (PNM)
Peace and Freedom Party (PAF)
People's Constitutional Party (PCP)
Prohibitionist Party (PRO)
Reform Party of New Mexico (REF)
Republican Party (REP)
Socialist Labor Party (SLP)
Socialist Workers Party (SWP)
Worker's World Party (WWP)
Other (OTH)
When registering you put the initials in Box 5 of the NM voter registration form. If you put none, leave blank, or a line through the party box you are registered as "Decline to State" (DTS)
"Left" parties are the ones that support policies which make people healthier and happier - such as 6 months paid paternaty/maternity leave, living wages, paid education through higher ed, Universal Health Care (the not for profit kind), full employment, subsidized child care (like a universal Head Start idea), paid vacations for ALL workers (often about 6 weeks).
How do you think these policies can be implemented here?
American Independent Party (AIP)
Citizen's Party of New Mexico (CNM)
Constitutional Party (CON)
Democratic Party (DEM)
First New Mexican Party (FNM)
Independent (IND)
Independent New Mexican Party (NMI)
La Raza Unida de Nuevo Mejico (LRU)
Libertarian Party (LIB)
Natural Law Party of New Mexico (NLP)
New Mexico Alliance Party (NAP)
New Mexico Green Party (GRN)
New Mexico Socialist Party (SNM)
New Mexico Taxpayers Party (NMT)
New Party of New Mexico (PNM)
Peace and Freedom Party (PAF)
People's Constitutional Party (PCP)
Prohibitionist Party (PRO)
Reform Party of New Mexico (REF)
Republican Party (REP)
Socialist Labor Party (SLP)
Socialist Workers Party (SWP)
Worker's World Party (WWP)
Other (OTH)
When registering you put the initials in Box 5 of the NM voter registration form. If you put none, leave blank, or a line through the party box you are registered as "Decline to State" (DTS)
"Left" parties are the ones that support policies which make people healthier and happier - such as 6 months paid paternaty/maternity leave, living wages, paid education through higher ed, Universal Health Care (the not for profit kind), full employment, subsidized child care (like a universal Head Start idea), paid vacations for ALL workers (often about 6 weeks).
How do you think these policies can be implemented here?
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Community Organizing - 07/09/09
Community Organizing - something that seems vague to many people. In essence it is work that comes from the sense that we care. We care about ourselves, our neighborhoods, and our larger communities. And that caring creates a sense of responsibility in us to do something about those we care about. It usually involves fighting those who make money or gain privilege from the suffering of others. And so we organize to build the strength to carry out our responsibilities for the people and places we care about.
Wellstone Action has one description of community organizing. Not all organizers are paid. Often paid organizers forget that and play out their own versions of privilege and can sometimes be patronizing.
Most organizers are respectful and responsive to community. Many are dedicated and work above and beyond what their paychecks cover.
In the end we need to build community power to counterbalance the corporate power that has been supported in our country, state, and county. That's why La Raza Unida is working hard for voter registration and community power building!
Wellstone Action has one description of community organizing. Not all organizers are paid. Often paid organizers forget that and play out their own versions of privilege and can sometimes be patronizing.
Most organizers are respectful and responsive to community. Many are dedicated and work above and beyond what their paychecks cover.
In the end we need to build community power to counterbalance the corporate power that has been supported in our country, state, and county. That's why La Raza Unida is working hard for voter registration and community power building!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Ex-Felon Voting Rights Change in Washington
Governor signs bill allowing some ex-felons voting rights. We're greatful that Ballot Access News keeps track of this important type of news. There is a lot going on now. Visit the site!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Join the Party Party (4/14/09)
Saturday, April 18 at 5:30 pm1028 Ann St. SW apt. 5
Join the Party Parties are house meetings set with the intention of giving new people a sense about La Raza Unida Party and the work we are doing. We are currently building some good voter registration through these events.
Join the Party Parties are house meetings set with the intention of giving new people a sense about La Raza Unida Party and the work we are doing. We are currently building some good voter registration through these events.
Quotes from Spoiling for a Fight 1
"Though most people commonly think of parties as national organizations, nearly all party building happens at the state and local levels. ...
Third parties succeed when people get elected under that party's banner or the party's candidate gets enough votes to affect the larger political debate and change people's political awareness. A third, more subjective measure of success is when a third party shows that it is not a flash-in-the-pan phenomenon but actually builds an enduring organization that is self-supporting and growing. ...
The idea of "bearing witness" against a corrupt and seemingly impenetrable political system can be noble. But it is usually not very political in the sense of actually affecting the direction of the country. That requires a willingness to engage in dialogue with real voters, not just true believers, no matter how hard that may be. So one critical element of third-party growth is whether the party's activists are outward focused (on winning elections or moving issues) or inward focused (on often irrelevant organizational or ideological battles). ..."
- From Spoiling for a Fight
This seems to point at the tough work of building a real base is the key work. Registering voters, developing volunteers, donors, and leaders. In essence we need activists - volunteer at first and eventually paid - who do the nuts-and-bolts of building the party, supporting candidates, and getting the word out.
Lots of working-class and poor people know that the current set up isn't helpful to them. They are blown off as apathetic, but knowing you are locked out is not apathy. So what to do?
Build options! Large numbers of people are interested in alternatives. Many people support aid to poor families, eliminating corporate welfare, reductions in military spending, universal health care, poison free communities, better labor conditions, healthy energy systems, healthy food, and many more progressive issues that come down to working people having real power.
So get out there and register someone!
Third parties succeed when people get elected under that party's banner or the party's candidate gets enough votes to affect the larger political debate and change people's political awareness. A third, more subjective measure of success is when a third party shows that it is not a flash-in-the-pan phenomenon but actually builds an enduring organization that is self-supporting and growing. ...
The idea of "bearing witness" against a corrupt and seemingly impenetrable political system can be noble. But it is usually not very political in the sense of actually affecting the direction of the country. That requires a willingness to engage in dialogue with real voters, not just true believers, no matter how hard that may be. So one critical element of third-party growth is whether the party's activists are outward focused (on winning elections or moving issues) or inward focused (on often irrelevant organizational or ideological battles). ..."
- From Spoiling for a Fight
This seems to point at the tough work of building a real base is the key work. Registering voters, developing volunteers, donors, and leaders. In essence we need activists - volunteer at first and eventually paid - who do the nuts-and-bolts of building the party, supporting candidates, and getting the word out.
Lots of working-class and poor people know that the current set up isn't helpful to them. They are blown off as apathetic, but knowing you are locked out is not apathy. So what to do?
Build options! Large numbers of people are interested in alternatives. Many people support aid to poor families, eliminating corporate welfare, reductions in military spending, universal health care, poison free communities, better labor conditions, healthy energy systems, healthy food, and many more progressive issues that come down to working people having real power.
So get out there and register someone!
Friday, March 20, 2009
Red House Meeting
We met this week at a beautiful red house and reviewed our principles and policy directions to come to prioritize policies we want to work on.
If you want to see the draft posted here please leave a comment and we'll post it. Have a wonderful first day of Spring.
The next Join the Party Party is Wednesday, April 1st at 6:30 at 2602-C Coal SE.
If you want to see the draft posted here please leave a comment and we'll post it. Have a wonderful first day of Spring.
The next Join the Party Party is Wednesday, April 1st at 6:30 at 2602-C Coal SE.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Tax Breaks (1/15/09)
New Mexico gives away $5 billion of our tax dollars every year. Some of these tax giveaways make sense. Some of these breaks might not, but a law that would have made it easy to track this was vetoed. Hopefully we get a law that lets us see this so things can be assessed. It may be that some things are over taxed and that can be changed. It could also be that some things are under taxed and that could help deal with revenue shortfalls. We wouldn't have to worry about Richardson cutting the education budget.
Taxes are the dues we pay for benefits like schools, emergency responders, and parks. Knowing our common wealth is put to good use makes us feel good. Making sure our taxes serve the common good requires that we know what is going on and respond to that. It also requires that make requests and demands on how our money is spent.
So your voice and your vote is important. We may start by individually letting politicians know what we think. Then we may move toward making a request. If we are civic-minded in any way we realize that this works better as a part of a group.
From there you make your stance on the issue public, creating more pressure. Now if you are only concerned about issues and think the political system is fine you stop there, winning or not. But if you think the system has problems you continue.
You start to identify leaders that really represent your community and you ask them to run. You build a voter base through voter education and get out the vote drives. After the elections you keep people on the elected officials and get commitments for action.
La Raza Unida is doing just that. What we are adding is the building of an independent political base by registering people La Raza Unida (LRU). This is an extra challenge and also exciting. There is little vision and knowledge for most people on multi-party democracy. That's fine, we'll build it one person at a time. We have a small and solid base, and it is growing as the 60% of people who want more alternatives find them.
Nuestra Familia E-News.
Taxes are the dues we pay for benefits like schools, emergency responders, and parks. Knowing our common wealth is put to good use makes us feel good. Making sure our taxes serve the common good requires that we know what is going on and respond to that. It also requires that make requests and demands on how our money is spent.
So your voice and your vote is important. We may start by individually letting politicians know what we think. Then we may move toward making a request. If we are civic-minded in any way we realize that this works better as a part of a group.
From there you make your stance on the issue public, creating more pressure. Now if you are only concerned about issues and think the political system is fine you stop there, winning or not. But if you think the system has problems you continue.
You start to identify leaders that really represent your community and you ask them to run. You build a voter base through voter education and get out the vote drives. After the elections you keep people on the elected officials and get commitments for action.
La Raza Unida is doing just that. What we are adding is the building of an independent political base by registering people La Raza Unida (LRU). This is an extra challenge and also exciting. There is little vision and knowledge for most people on multi-party democracy. That's fine, we'll build it one person at a time. We have a small and solid base, and it is growing as the 60% of people who want more alternatives find them.
Nuestra Familia E-News.
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