[Platform] BALLOT INITIATIVES UPDATE. Consider putting them to workin your community! Join the ABWG.

[John Walsh]

Again I agree with Betty - my experience also.
But I cannot agree to spend precious time on something I have already  
tested on many occasions and found wanting.
If others want to find out for themselves, can I say I told you so? ;-)
john walsh


On Apr 7, 2008, at 8:37 PM, Betty H. Zisk wrote:

> I am more than willing to help with coordinated campaign on state  
> ballot issues. I am not willing to take on a leadership position  
> because I have been deeply disappointed in the past at all the  
> noise we mke with few genuine results. The nuclear freeze issue in  
> early 1980s was one that succeeded--and began locally in W MA with  
> just a few counties. But it developed into a serious signature  
> gathering effort and a campagne that sought binding results. I  
> still think advisory issues are a sad waste of time. But I will  
> work for same if that is all we can figure out how to do. Betts Zisk
> -----Original Message-----
> From: gary hicks [mailto:gooberthink06 at yahoo.com]
> Sent: Monday, April 07, 2008 4:25 PM
> To: John Walsh; John Andrews
> Cc: Cdlc; Betty H. Zisk; platform at green-rainbow.org; State Com
> Subject: Re: [Platform] BALLOT INITIATIVES UPDATE. Consider putting  
> them to workin your community! Join the ABWG.
>
> if i recall, the last antiwar initiative involving local ballots  
> had some big-time success. that is, it passed in a huge number of  
> legislative districts. the problem wasn't lack of success. the  
> problem was -- and remains-- whether we have people in our movement  
> with the ability and talent to go to these successful districts and  
> organize them into a statewide movement to pass a binding piece of  
> legislation.
>
> as for posing these forms of activities against candidacy politics,  
> remember:
>
> >>one of the way the neocons, etc. came to power these past three  
> decades was their ability to make systematic use of ballot  
> questions in such a way as to pressure, etc. legislators. see mike  
> davis, PRISONERS OF THE AMERICAN DREAM, the chapter on the  
> development of conservative politics.
>
> >>there's no particular reason to juxtapose the items under  
> discussion. there's enough work in all of these areas for everyone  
> to do something.
>
> gh
>
> John Walsh <john.walsh at umassmed.edu> wrote:
> Agreed.
> BUT what I am saying (and Betty also I think) is that we have been
> there and done that. And others including Neighbor to Neighbor
> tried to use these things as an organizing tool. So did MassCare for
> single-payer. So did antiwar groups.
> What did we get? Nada, zip, nothing. So I am very skeptical based
> on a lot of unhappy experiences.
> You know the old definition of insanity.
> jw
>
>
>
>
> On Apr 7, 2008, at 2:56 PM, John Andrews wrote:
>
> > In reply to Betts and John Walsh,
> >
> > Hey, this sounds like a *strategy* discussion! Even though we
> > don't have a clear, universally accepted strategy, we aren't just
> > going ahead blindly. I think there is a little method in our
> > madness. Here are some observations on the strategy that seems to
> > be emerging, based on what I've heard from people kicking around
> > ideas on the ballot initiative.
> >
> > The main goal of the advisory questions is to organize locally and
> > to do outreach, not to pass a binding law. A secondary goal is to
> > put the local rep on the spot if they don't shape up. If you walk
> > away after the question passes, it will probably be forgotten very
> > soon. So its what happens afterward in the district that
> > determines how successful the effort was.
> >
> > The questions that people have been focusing on so far are ones
> > that seem ripe for organizing and outreach. There are some major
> > active constituencies behind global warming, health care, and
> > foreclosures. These are hot button issues. And the Democrats
> > aren't solving the problems. This is a chance for the GRP to move
> > into the forefront of those major movements. This is riding the
> > wave. The hope is that we can be welcoming and inclusive and pull
> > in people who are not sure about the GRP in general, but will come
> > to realize, once they start working with us, that we offer the
> > most principled leadership for the things they really care about.
> > It's a step-by-step process.
> >
> > A binding statewide ballot question is much more difficult You
> > need to gather almost 100,000 signatures and should probably be
> > prepared to raise $300,000 to fund the effort. The GRP doesn't
> > seem ready to undertake such an effort this year. Perhaps, we can
> > lay a foundation with the district questions, and then decide to
> > do this in the future. Crawl, walk, and then run.
> >
> > My own opinion is that doing the district questions right is going
> > to require us to get focused as never before. Time is short and we
> > don't have many volunteers. We need to get the language drafted,
> > start recruiting volunteers, and get some signature-gathering
> > started in the targeted districts. The signatures have to be
> > turned in by July 7. Then we may get a breather until the fall.
> > The Platform Committee is convening a Ballot Advisory Working Group
> > to think through the process and give some guidance to the effort.
> > I imagine that each question will be handled by a separate
> > subgroup. Hopefully we will have questions on the ballot in
> > several districts. I'm hoping that the Advisory Ballot Working
> > Group takes shape this week and that a more definitive call for
> > volunteers gets out in ten days or so. We should get a clearer
> > picture when Platform reports to State Committee on April 12.
> >
> > - John Andrews
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Sun, Apr 6, 2008 at 12:12 PM, Betty H. Zisk wrote:
> > When last I looked at MA laws there was a way to get serious ballot
> > questions on the table. It required a huge number of signatures but
> > occasionnally we won. Why is Mass Green Rainbow party not doing a
> > serious
> > ballot question? Advis questions havent won for so long I dont
> > remember
> > them.
> >
> > I have come back from my long weekend in Calif (oral history
> > project on
> > first 20 years of Green Party) invigorated. I was asked at a SF
> > Meeting of
> > about 20 Greens about the details of the Green Rainbow merger/name
> > change.
> > They seemed fascinated that we could accomplish this. But I was  
> sad to
> > report honestly to them that we are no longer faithful to
> > ecological values.
> > Please correct me if I am wrong but I think peace and justice
> > issues have
> > taken a prominent place and that we have forgotten one or two of
> > ten key
> > values. I respect the focus on poverty and health. I dont find
> > anything any
> > more that loves the earth. Forgive me for speaking bluntly. Betts
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: John Walsh [mailto:john.walsh at umassmed.edu]
> > Sent: Sunday, April 06, 2008 11:22 AM
> > To: Betty H. Zisk
> > Cc: Jill Stein; platform at green-rainbow.org; State Com; Cdlc
> > Subject: Re: [Platform] BALLOT INITIATIVES UPDATE. Consider
> > putting them
> > to workin your community! Join the ABWG.
> >
> >
> > These are all advisory questions. And we have tried this exercise
> > so many
> > times over the years - with single-payer, the war on Iraq, etc.
> > They all
> > came to nothing - and they never worked for education or
> > "mobilization"
> > either. In fact my interest in the GRP grew out of the conviction  
> that
> > electing people was the only way forward. So to me this is a step
> > backward.
> > (I respect the good intentions of those doing this - in my heart I
> > like
> > them but in my head I know they are wrong.)
> > john walsh
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Apr 6, 2008, at 10:57 AM, Betty H. Zisk wrote:
> >
> > I support all four of these ballot proposals. My only question is
> > whether
> > they are strictly advisory questions or whhether they are
> > serious ballot
> > proposals for which we would need to gather signatures. If they
> > are just
> > advis questions I am not really interested. I am happy to work
> > hard on
> > health care including signature gathering. Or any other serious
> > proposal.
> > Not happy to work on advis question. Betts Zisk (For yr info I
> > wrote a
> > whole
> > book on ballot questions in four states including MA. I have
> > never taken
> > advisory questions seriously. But I am not clear on language
> > here. I
> > volunteer wholeheartedly if they are binding questions.) B
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: platform-bounces at green-rainbow.org
> > [mailto:platform-bounces at green-rainbow.org]On Behalf Of Jill Stein
> > Sent: Monday, March 31, 2008 1:53 PM
> > To: platform at green-rainbow.org; State Com; Cdlc
> > Subject: [Platform] BALLOT INITIATIVES UPDATE. Consider putting
> > them to
> > workin your community! Join the ABWG.
> > Importance: High
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Dear Platform, CDLC, Locals, GRPers et al,
> >
> >
> > This is to update folks on the status of the local ballot question
> > initiatives, which State Com voted to explore at the last
> > meeting. The
> > proposal suggested considering what ballot questions would have
> > a base
> > of support that would make them successful and enhance our
> > presence in
> > existing issue-oriented networks. Several volunteers, partly
> > based in
> > subcommittees of Platform, have been exploring this and have
> > reported
> > exciting progress on four possible initiatives, some of which is
> > described below. The proposed initiatives thus far (that I'm
> > aware of)
> > are: Secure Green Future (Green Jobs and Fossil Fuel Phase-Out),
> > Health
> > Care, Housing Foreclosures, IRV. (Note, you'll have to scroll to
> > the
> > bottom of the discussion below to get to the health care proposal.)
> >
> >
> > Platform is also asked in the State Com ballot initiative
> > proposal to
> > establish an Advisory Ballot Working Group, (ABWG). We encourage
> > anyone
> > who is, or would like to commit to working on ballot
> > initiatives, to
> > consider volunteering for the ABWG. Members of locals who are
> > interested
> > in using one or more initiatives to do issue-based organizing in
> > their
> > communities are especially encouraged to join. One of ABWG's
> > tasks is to
> > consider how many such initiatives can be supported by the
> > Party, what
> > resources are available to do so, and what districts would be most
> > productive to target.
> >
> >
> > We'll consider where the various initiatives stand at our next full
> > platform phone meeting, (TBA). If you are interested in
> > participating in
> > the ABWG, please let me know and we'll keep you posted on upcoming
> > meetings.
> >
> >
> > Thx.
> > jill
> >
> >
> > UPDATE ON 4 DRAFT INITIATIVES CURRENTLY BEING WORKED ON:
> >
> >
> > I. IRV - Being explored by Dave England and Eli Beckerman.
> > Potential to
> > work jointly/co-sponsor with the World Citizens Party which is also
> > committed to advancing IRV and other likely partners. Here is rough
> > draft language for the IRV question. There is an open question
> > at this
> > point on which offices to include:
> >
> >
> > Shall the Representative from this district be instructed to
> > vote in
> > favor of legislation or a Constitutional amendment establishing
> > a system
> > of ranked choice voting (also know as instant runoff voting) for
> > all
> > general and primary elections to statewide, state district, or
> > federal
> > office (including the United States President, Senate, and House of
> > Representatives, the Governor, Treasurer, Auditor, Attorney
> > General, and
> > Secretary of the Commonwealth, as well as State Senator, State
> > Representative, and Governor's Council).
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > II. HOUSING FORECLOSURES - Spear-headed by Merelice along with
> > members
> > of the Rainbow Caucus and MAAPL (Chuck, Gary, Grace, Eva etc.).
> > Legislative language is in the process of being adapted to ballot
> > question format.
> >
> >
> > III. SECURE GREEN FUTURE (Green Jobs/Fossil Fuel Phase-Out) -
> > Platform
> > fossil fuel subcommittee (chaired by John Andrews) is coordinating.
> > Getting extensive input on draft language from advocacy groups,
> > especially State Com members fighting the coal plant expansion
> > in Fall
> > River (Nancy Lee Wood, Dave Dion, Joe Carvalho). Latest draft
> > language:
> >
> >
> > DRAFT
> > Secure Green Future
> > 2008 Local Ballot Question
> > Summary
> >
> >
> > Shall the representative from this district be instructed to
> > vote in
> > favor of legislation that:
> >
> >
> > 1) redirects taxpayer subsidies for fossil fuel energy, road and
> > airport
> > construction, and other carbon-intensive development, to an urgent
> > carbon-reducing community-based green-jobs initiative, creating
> > jobs in
> > energy conservation and efficiency, non-nuclear local clean energy
> > generation, recycling, and local sustainable food production; and
> >
> >
> > 2) phases out existing fossil fuel based power generation
> > facilities in
> > Massachusetts, beginning with the closure of coal-fed power
> > plants, with
> > a goal of 80% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2020?
> >
> >
> > ****************************************
> > Long Version
> >
> >
> > Shall the representative from this district be instructed to
> > vote in
> > favor of legislation to create a secure green future for the
> > people of
> > Massachusetts, such legislation to include:
> >
> >
> > 1) An EMERGENCY MOBILIZATION to address the severe triple-threat
> > of job
> > losses, sky-rocketing fossil fuel and food costs, and climate
> > crisis
> > with a green jobs initiative and a green energy transition plan, as
> > described below, with a goal of ensuring full-employment and an 80%
> > reduction in CO2 emissions by as early as 2020;
> >
> >
> > 2) A GREEN JOBS INITIATIVE redirecting taxpayer subsidies for
> > fossil
> > fuel energy production, over-development and corporate welfare
> > (including subsidies for gambling casinos, dog-tracks, high-end
> > housing,
> > weapons manufacturing, road and airport construction and
> > expansion and
> > pharmaceutical companies) to the urgent development of energy-
> > efficient
> > local businesses and cooperatives that provide jobs which
> > protect the
> > environment and create a secure green economy, increasing jobs in
> >
> >
> > --local energy-conserving businesses (including home and business
> > insulation, energy efficiency, and recycling)
> >
> >
> > --local renewable, clean, energy sources, (including wind, solar,
> > geothermal and wave energy, but excluding nuclear, LNG and all
> > other
> > fossil fuel-based technologies), and
> >
> >
> > --local sustainable food production (including CSAs [Community
> > Supported
> > Agriculture], community gardens, food cooperatives, school and
> > workplace
> > gardens), and
> >
> >
> > --green community education to assist citizens of the
> > Commonwealth in
> > actualizing personal, household, neighborhood and community changes
> > toward a sustainable future through public media campaigns,
> > educational
> > extension services and citizen information-sharing networks.
> >
> >
> > 3) A GREEN ENERGY TRANSITION PLAN for phased closure of existing
> > fossil
> > fuel based power generation facilities in the Commonwealth of
> > Massachusetts, beginning with the closure of coal-fed power
> > plants, in
> > order to achieve the 80% CO2 reduction by 2020.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > IV. HEALTH CARE EMERGENCY BALLOT INITIATIVE - The language and
> > content
> > are still very much in flux. Members of several health care
> > advocacy
> > groups promoting single payer and fighting the mandate, are
> > providing
> > input and strategic advice, including MassCare and the
> > Franklin/Hampshire Health Care Committee and an informal group of
> > mandate opponents. Two prototype proposals being considered follow.
> >
> >
> > FIRST PROTOTYPE HC EMERGENCY BALLOT INITIATIVE
> >
> >
> > DRAFT 3/17
> >
> >
> > Ballot Initiative: An Emergency Plan For A Healthy Massachusetts
> >
> >
> > Possible Summary for the ballot
> > Shall the representative from this district be instructed to
> > vote in
> > favor of a Healthy Massachusetts Plan consisting of :
> > 1) the URGENT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MASS. HEALTH CARE TRUST (MHCT)
> > - a streamlined Medicare-like "single-payer" insurance system that
> > provides comprehensive affordable health care for all without
> > the costly
> > overhead, bureaucracy, care gaps and inequities of the current
> > system of
> > private insurance - and
> > 2) the simultaneous PHASE-OUT OF THE MASS. HEALTH MANDATE (CHAPTER
> > 58), a health plan with unsustainable sky-rocketing costs and an
> > unjust
> > mandate that forces working and middle-income families to pay
> > unaffordable premiums for stripped-down coverage which does not
> > protect
> > health or financial security.
> >
> >
> > Full Text
> > Shall the representative from this district be instructed to
> > vote in
> > favor of the emergency passage of the Healthy Massachusetts Plan
> > consisting of:
> >
> >
> > --The URGENT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MASS. HEALTH CARE TRUST
> > (MHCT) - a
> > streamlined Medicare-like "single-payer" insurance system that
> > provides
> > comprehensive affordable health care for all without the costly
> > overhead, bureaucracy, care gaps and inequities of the current
> > system of
> > private insurance. The MHCT eliminates wasteful administrative
> > expense
> > and consolidates health care costs into one tax-based charge
> > proportional to income. [accurate?] The plan controls cost
> > inflation,
> > ensures comprehensive coverage, and extends insurance to all
> > without
> > increasing current costs, as demonstrated in the actual
> > performance of
> > such systems in developed countries around the world, and
> > affirmed by
> > analyses of the Congressional Budget Office, the US General
> > Accounting
> > Office, and others.
> >
> >
> > --The simultaneous PHASE-OUT OF THE MASS. HEALTH MANDATE
> > (CHAPTER 58), a
> > health plan with unsustainable sky-rocketing costs, including
> > multimillion dollar CEO pay. It is predicted to bring a $400
> > million
> > overrun next year alone. Chapter 58 also includes an unjust
> > mandate that
> > forces working and middle-income families to pay unaffordable
> > premiums
> > for stripped-down coverage that fails to provide protection for
> > health
> > or financial security. Under the proposed "Emergency Plan For A
> > Healthy
> > Massachusetts", this complex, costly and inadequate plan will be
> > phased
> > out as comprehensive, universal insurance becomes operational
> > under the
> > Mass. Health Care Trust.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > SECOND PROTOTYPE BALLOT HC EMERGENCY BALLOT INITIATIVE
> > From Ben Day, MassCare. An abbreviated version of this
> > (appropriate
> > for
> > appearing on the ballot) is under development.
> >
> >
> > "WHEREAS access to health care should be a right for all
> > residents of
> > Massachusetts and should be provided as a public good by the
> > Commonwealth Massachusetts; and
> >
> >
> > WHEREAS health care sold as a commodity leads to unaffordable
> > health
> > care costs and high levels of discrimination in access to care
> > based on
> > one's place of residence, income, race, gender, age, and other
> > social
> > identities; and
> >
> >
> > WHEREAS it is unfair to penalize the uninsured for the failings
> > of the
> > current health care system, or to tie the health care crisis to the
> > responsibility of individuals;
> >
> >
> > WE INSTRUCT THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THIS DISTRICT to support the
> > implementation of a single payer health care system for
> > Massachusetts,
> > and to repeal individual mandates for Massachusetts residents."
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Platform mailing list
> > Platform at green-rainbow.org
> > http://www.green-rainbow.org/mailman/listinfo/platform
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Platform mailing list
> > Platform at green-rainbow.org
> > http://www.green-rainbow.org/mailman/listinfo/platform
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > John V. Walsh, MD
> > Professor of Physiology
> > University of Massachusetts Medical School
> > 508-856-3360 (Office)
> > 508-868-1653 (Cell)
> > john.walsh at umassmed.edu
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Platform mailing list
> > Platform at green-rainbow.org
> > http://www.green-rainbow.org/mailman/listinfo/platform
> >
>
> John V. Walsh, MD
> Professor of Physiology
> University of Massachusetts Medical School
> 55 Lake Avenue, N.
> Worcester, MA, 01655-0127
> Phone (work): 508-856-3360
> Phone (cell): 508-868-1653
> email: john.walsh at umassmed.edu
>
> _______________________________________________
> Platform mailing list
> Platform at green-rainbow.org
> http://www.green-rainbow.org/mailman/listinfo/platform
>
>
> You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of  
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John V. Walsh, MD
Professor of Physiology
University of Massachusetts Medical School
508-856-3360 (Office)
508-868-1653 (Cell)
john.walsh at umassmed.edu