[statecom-discuss] Local Ballots 2008 Initiative and request for language, Potlucks in March

[Ron Francis]

  Dear Statecom folks,
   
  One of the models that the membership committee (circa 2005) explored was the idea of a Party-led local ballot question(s) as a way of developing local chapters.  It is high time that this strategy be tried.  (Note that a related strategy is being tried in Somerville in which the party - State and National - got behind a ballot question led by a community group (... a different strategy but clearly related.))
   
  For several reasons I believe that this strategy (Party led, Party-signature local ballot questions - probably on one but maybe on two issues max - for 2008 leading to statewide in 2010) is the best strategy for the GRP to pursue at this time and look forward to discussing the reasons why at upcoming strategy sessions.  (Also see arguments below).
   
  In the meantime I invite people to help out with the preparation work necessary to get this strategy moving before it is too late.  If a critical mass of people would like to pursue this strategy then perhaps it will happen.
   
  Some people might feel that this is jumping the gun on our strategy sessions.  It is not.  What this effort represents is a doing the homework to develop one possible strategy to the point where it is ready to go if enough GRPs want to do it.
   
  In four weeks two meetings will be held, one in Eastern MA and one in Western Mass for people interested in this strategy.  Both will be potlucks held on Saturday March 3rd and Sunday March 4th respectively.  Times and places to be arranged.
   
  One thing that needs to be done is to begin suggesting specific ballot question language that scores well on each of the following criteria and submit the text of the ballot questions on this newly established thread.  People can then begin to edit the ballot question
   
  The local ballot questions would have the party signature on it and would call for a specific instruction to be given to the State Rep in the district as most ballot questions do.
   
  Here are some criteria that should be considered in developing the text.
   
  a) The ballot questions must be such as to challenge the ROOT causes of a particular social change issue and possibly associated with abolishing poverty but not necessarily.
   
  b) The ballot question must be clearly distinguishable from any intiatives that would be supported by Progressive Democrats - our competitors for social justice minded people.
   
  Just to get the ball rolling I will throw out one example that I am not particularly wedded to, and instead throw out for general discussion and as an example.
   
  "Shall the State Represetative from this district be instructed to vote in favor of a living wage law that covers state employees that work over 500 hours per year, the employees of state service contractors that hold contracts worth over $25,000 per year, and employees of large retailers with gross revenues over $1,000,000.  The law would call for payment of $10.00 per hour if the employer provides health insurance of at least $2.50 an hour, or $12.50 per hour if not and all amounts are indexed annually."
   
  I would like to see other ballot question language as well on other issues such as IRV or health care and then let the issues compete based on a variety of factors including the degree to which we can make this issue a party signature issue
   
  Below is some of the background for this initiative:
  Please call if you are interested in discussing this or would like to help in the process.
  Ron Francis 617 230-2835
   
  Background and rational for this strategy:
   
  Our party needs to be identified with a particular issue that we have a passion about.
   
  It is essential that we choose ballot question that clearly exposes the root causes of the system of power that elites and corporations in the US hold over ordinary people.   It is also essential that the established Democrats and most of the Progressive Democrats be unable to support the ballot question.  This can be done by choosing an issue that exposes the Democrats (supposedly the party of the working person) so that people will choose GRP over Democrats because they see the Democrats for what they really are.
   
  The Someville ballot Questions on Palestine met the above requirements:  They got to the root cause of a social problem and had language that could not be supported by Progressive Democrats in Somerville since the upper echelons of the Democratic Party made it clear to local Democrats that the Party is zionist and that these local Democrats (some of whom are even Progressive Democrats) would go no where if they were openly anti-zionist.  These Progressive Democrats in Somerville must now answer to voters who in fact voted at a 45% level for the Right of Return of Palestinian Refugees. 
   
  A similar effort is needed for a poverty-related issue.
   
  This propsal is intended to develop a dozen or so local ballot questions in 2008 that lead to a 2010 statewide ballot question that firmly plants in the public's mind what the party stands for.  This could be coordinated with a Statewide candidacies if the party is at that level of development and has a candidate in place by Summer of 2009.
   
  If this plan works it sets up the party to win a substantial percentage of the vote in A) many local races or B) in just a few local races and then connected to a statewide candidacy anchored on the ballot question issue.