We the People… A GMP Political Activism Project. Part 10: ELECTION REFORM

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2018-2020 Platform for an informed electorate — Part 10 — ELECTION REFORM

Good Men Project Political Activism Social Interest Group, lead by Lisa Hickey, Publisher of the Good Men Project, and me, Carol Bluestein, has been working to develop a platform which supports a governmental agenda that includes basic human rights, equality, and justice for all.

In the short term, we are looking to educate our voters about the issues for 2018-2020 elections.

In the long term, we are looking at a change in our election strategy, moving from a primarily two-party system to Proportional Representation, and from a one choice vote to a Ranked Choice Voting / Instant Runoff- as proposed by FairVote. This would give all voters a voice and a group of people that represent them seated in Congress. The result would eliminate the possibility that our government would be controlled by any one party.

The GMP Platform is non-partisan and seeks to ensure:

• All human beings shall have equal access to Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.
• The Judicial, Legislative, and Executive branches of government remain separate.
• The separation of Church and State.
• No human being, for any reason, be subjected to persecution, subjugation, and/or discrimination.
• Facts, science, and research matter.

Part 10 of “We the People…,”: ELECTION REFORM

Each week, Good Men Project Political Activism Social Interest Group will post another section of the GMP Platform. We are in support of advancing the conversation to help define the ideology and philosophy for our elected officials and in our courts.

Reforms to our Internet communications and access

The reforms below are in a direct response to our country falling behind other democratic/open society countries which are far excelling our meager rankings when it comes to measuring health – physical and mental, education, height (believe it or not), live births, and income. This is doubly troubling in that once upon a time, we were in undisputed first place. As our country as moved from a mixed economy — government and industry and consumer protection groups pulling their equal weight, to an industry heavy model, the needs of government and the people have suffered.

Our Election Process

To make changes that if not favor the people are in balance with people and industry. The government protects the people and Industry protects the economy. It is not an either or but a together, a mixed representation. The election of representatives is critical so that our “Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth.” Abraham Lincoln

In the US, we are beset by Russian interference in our voting and election process, we have gerrymandered districts that may not represent the true nature of a region, and we have an Electoral College which has proven that it will not do the work it was designed to do and therefore removes the presidential election out of the voice of the popular vote.

In the US, we have allowed corporations to pour unlimited amounts of money into elections to buy the election in favor of their position, regardless of the effect on the other 99% of the country.

For these reasons alone, we must revise our most precious right, the right to vote and have our vote count.

Change is up to the people – us.

“Taxation without Representation” was the battle cry of the Revolutionary War. To ensure that we have the choice, the free and unfettered choice to vote for individuals who we believe will represent our interests and the will of the people, we must take a look at our ineffective systems and revise them as soon as possible.

Part 10: Election Reform

1.Establish Election Day as national holiday so workers can vote

2.People are automatically registered when they interact with government agencies and their information proves citizenship: i.e. jury duty, social security, car registration, passport, etc.

3.End gerrymandering

4.Address Electoral college issues: Eliminate OR Revise

• Change from appointment EC members to ELECTED
• Change number of members from each state to reflect shifting populations

5.Secure the Vote (as secure as Bitcoin/Blockchain). One person, one vote, one time

• Paper ballot back-up
• Demand mailed paper ballots until machines are un-hackable
• Nationwide oversite agency as part of a constitutional protections. Rule of law which cannot be changed

6.Prisoners are citizens and may vote by special ballot. Change the 13th amendment. (Check on current rulings of people in psychiatric hospitals.)

7.Change elections funding

• End Citizens United
• Set a fixed amount that each candidate can spend

8.Revisit Primaries – Elections / Caucuses exclusive / look into how it is connected to electoral college

9.Enforce Rules of transparency.

10.Move to Proportional Representation: different factions, gaining enough votes, would have representation in Congress. The percentage require would be up for discussion. Main reason to adopt this is to make sure that no one party can hold the Congress and the White House and make decisions without collaborating with the minoriy parties.

• Benefits:
  • A more representative governmental body
  • Power is more dispersed
  • More and smaller parties
  • More coalition cabinets
  • Easier for third parties to get a voice
  • Limit ability of President/PM to act independently
  • Must use consensus to get results
• Concerns:
  • Tend to produce minority governments—rely on consensus, might be more unstable.
  • May lead to fringe groups getting more power
  • Possibly more work involved managing system

11.Ranked Choice Voting: gives each voter the ability to rank their choices for any position in any party so that their vote counts. It’s a back up should the first choice not have a chance, the second would be used, until one of the candidates gets your vote. A version of this has been proposed in the house.

Fair Representation Act (HR 3057) gives voters of all backgrounds and all political stripes the power to elect House Members who reflect their views and will work constructively with others in Congress. Under the Fair Representation Act, there will be more choices and several winners elected in each district. Congress will remain the same size, but districts will be larger, each electing 3, 4, or 5 winners. Voters will be free to rank their choices without fear of “spoilers.” No district will be “red” or “blue.” Every district will fairly reflect the spectrum of voters.

VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!

Links to the whole “We The People” Series

Part 1: Human Rights 
Part 2: Social Welfare 
Part 3: Jobs, Income, and Social Security 
Part 4: Education 
Part 5: Environment 
Part 6: Government
Part 7: Law and order/Judicial Systems/Rights
Part 8: National Security and Infrastructure
Part 9: Taxes
Part 10: Election Overhaul (final)

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“Here’s the thing about The Good Men Project. We are trying to create big, sweeping, societal changes—–overturn stereotypes, eliminate racism, sexism, homophobia, be a positive force for good for things like education reform and the environment. And we’re also giving individuals the tools they need to make individual change—-with their own relationships, with the way they parent, with their ability to be more conscious, more mindful, and more insightful. For some people, that could get overwhelming. But for those of us here at The Good Men Project, it is not overwhelming. It is simply something we do—–every day. We do it with teamwork, with compassion, with an understanding of systems and how they work, and with shared insights from a diversity of viewpoints.” —– Lisa Hickey, Publisher of The Good Men Project and CEO of Good Men Media Inc.
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